"Midnight Caller" (1988) TV series 1988-1991

Creator:

Richard Di Lello

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

25 October 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Jack Killian is an ex-cop in San Francisco. He quit the police force after accidentally shooting his partner...

Plot Keywords:

Radio | Detective | San Francisco California | Radio Phone In

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Gary Cole	...	Jack 'Nighthawk' Killian (61 episodes, 1988-1991)
Dennis Dun	...	Billy Po (60 episodes, 1988-1991)
Arthur Taxier	...	Lt. Carl Zymak (60 episodes, 1988-1991)
Wendy Kilbourne	...	Devon King (44 episodes, 1988-1990)
Mykelti Williamson	...	Deacon Bridges (39 episodes, 1988-1991)
Jerado Carmona	...	Jerado / ... (25 episodes, 1988-1991)

Runtime:

60 min | Sweden:49 min | 60 min (61 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

San Francisco Studios, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

December 3rd Productions

Trivia:

One of the earliest episodes dealt with the aftermath of AIDS, as Jack's old girlfriend (played by Kay Lenz) develops the disease, and Jack hunts down the man who infected her. The episode was eventually rewritten to show compassion for people with AIDS, and won Kay Lenz an Emmy award.

Quotes:

[at the end of every episode]
Jack Killian: This is Jack Killian, the Nighthawk, on KJCM, 98.3, and good night America... wherever you are.

A Unique TV Show - Would Love To See It Again

Here's a television program I haven't watched since it went off the air over 15 years ago, and I'd give anything to see it again on a DVD package.

Gary Cole, as "Jack Killion," was THE coolest guy on TV at that time, and I mean the kind of "cool" associated with Craig Stevens of TV's "Peter Gunn," or Steve McQueen in the 1950s and '60s movies. Cole a.k.a. "The Nighthawk" in here was just cool....what else can you say?

Jack was a combination late-night radio talk show host and an ex-cop. If I recall, he was off the force after a tragedy cost the life of his partner and the event was still haunting him. He would hear a bunch of troubled people on the radio, some needing assistance quickly or they would be a crime victim. Jack would help them out.

The atmosphere was very moody, the music was good and the whole thing was just different, very different from most "crime shows." Until I looked at the title page I couldn't remember anyone else on the show but I've never forgotten this program. I can only hope I see it again some time.