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

Creator:

Richard Di Lello
(more)

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 (61 episodes, 1988-1991)
Arthur Taxier	...	Lt. Carl Zymak (61 episodes, 1988-1991)
Mykelti Williamson	...	Deacon Bridges (47 episodes, 1988-1991)
Wendy Kilbourne	...	Devon King (44 episodes, 1988-1990)
Jerado Carmona	...	Jerado / ... (30 episodes, 1988-1991)

Series Directed by
Eric Laneuville		(10 episodes, 1989-1991)
James Quinn		(8 episodes, 1989-1991)
Robert Singer		(8 episodes, 1989-1990)
Peter Levin		(4 episodes, 1989-1991)
Michael Zinberg		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Bradford May		(3 episodes, 1989)
James A. Contner		(3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Kevin Hooks		(2 episodes, 1988-1989)
Matt Clark		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Colin Bucksey		(2 episodes, 1989)
Larry Gross		(2 episodes, 1989)
Randall Zisk		(2 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Writing credits
Richard Di Lello		(61 episodes, 1988-1991)
David Israel		(14 episodes, 1988-1991)
John Schulian		(12 episodes, 1989-1991)
Stephen Zito		(8 episodes, 1988-1990)
Robert Singer		(7 episodes, 1989-1991)
James Kramer		(5 episodes, 1990-1991)
Michael Marks		(5 episodes, 1990-1991)
Randall Zisk		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Tom Towler		(3 episodes, 1990)
Peter Bonventre		(2 episodes, 1989-1991)
Julie Sayres		(2 episodes, 1989)
Thania St. John		(2 episodes, 1989)
Charles Robert Carner		(2 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Produced by
Robert Singer	....	executive producer (61 episodes, 1988-1991)
David Israel	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer / ... (60 episodes, 1988-1991)
Randall Zisk	....	co-producer / producer / ... (60 episodes, 1988-1991)
John Schulian	....	co-producer / supervising producer (44 episodes, 1989-1991)
Jim Michaels	....	associate producer (43 episodes, 1989-1991)
John F. Perry	....	producer (38 episodes, 1988-1990)
Stephen Zito	....	supervising producer / co-producer (38 episodes, 1988-1990)
Penny Adams	....	producer (22 episodes, 1990-1991)
James Kramer	....	producer (22 episodes, 1990-1991)
Robert Butler	....	executive producer (17 episodes, 1988-1989)
Richard Di Lello	....	supervising producer / producer (17 episodes, 1988-1989)
Eric Laneuville	....	producer (17 episodes, 1990-1991)
Tom Towler	....	co-producer (13 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Original Music by
Ross Levinson		(43 episodes, 1989-1991)
Brad Fiedel		(15 episodes, 1988-1990)
Peter D. Kaye		(2 episodes, 1991)

Series Cinematography by
Bradley B. Six		(38 episodes, 1988-1990)
Gordon Paschal		(22 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Film Editing by
Philip Sgriccia		(28 episodes, 1988-1991)
Roger Bondelli		(11 episodes, 1989-1991)
Noel Rogers		(10 episodes, 1990-1991)
Dennis C. Vejar		(8 episodes, 1988-1989)
Gordon Ferris		(3 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Casting by
Jacklynn Briskey		(39 episodes, 1988-1990)
Eliza Roberts		(15 episodes, 1990-1991)
Geraldine Leder		(7 episodes, 1990)

Series Production Design by
Jim Pohl		(2 episodes, 1991)

Series Art Direction by
Jim Pohl		(53 episodes, 1988-1991)
Jim Poynter		(5 episodes, 1991)

Series Set Decoration by
Jim Poynter		(56 episodes, 1988-1991)
Kris Boxell		(5 episodes, 1991)

Series Costume Design by
Marcee Smith		(22 episodes, 1990-1991)
Arlene Encell		(14 episodes, 1988-1989)

Series Makeup Department
Michael Pachal	....	hair stylist (60 episodes, 1988-1991)
Mindy Hall	....	makeup artist / key makeup artist (38 episodes, 1988-1990)
Debra Coleman	....	makeup artist (22 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Production Management
R. Robert Rosenbaum	....	executive in charge of production (61 episodes, 1988-1991)
Jim Behnke	....	production manager (30 episodes, 1989-1990)
John F. Perry	....	unit production manager (17 episodes, 1988-1989)
Michael D. Most	....	post-production supervisor (15 episodes, 1988-1989)
John Slosser	....	production manager (14 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Isabeau	....	second assistant director / first assistant director: second unit (22 episodes, 1990-1991)
Tom Zapata	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (19 episodes, 1989-1990)
Annie Spiegelman	....	second assistant director (16 episodes, 1988-1989)
John Slosser	....	first assistant director (14 episodes, 1989-1990)
Toby Lovallo	....	first assistant director (12 episodes, 1989-1991)
Kenneth D. Collins	....	first assistant director (11 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jim Behnke	....	first assistant director (8 episodes, 1988-1989)
Linnea Ebba Wicklund	....	second assistant director (5 episodes, 1990)
Janet Davidson	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1991)
Craig West	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1988-1989)
David Whorf	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1989)

Series Art Department
Loren Hillman-Morgan	....	lead scenic (61 episodes, 1988-1991)
Michelle Souza	....	property master (49 episodes, 1988-1991)
Doug E. Williams	....	carpenter (24 episodes, 1988-1990)
Jennifer Clinard	....	painter (23 episodes, 1990-1991)
Richard W. Clot	....	construction coordinator (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Stephen J. Gardner	....	property master (9 episodes, 1991)

Series Sound Department
Steve Powell	....	production sound mixer (58 episodes, 1988-1991)
Chris Long	....	post-production sound supervisor / supervising sound editor (44 episodes, 1989-1991)
Mike Mitchell	....	post-production sound (31 episodes, 1989-1991)
Ron Garrard	....	sound recordist (23 episodes, 1990-1991)
Ken Pawlak	....	boom operator (16 episodes, 1988-1989)
Richard Raderman	....	supervising sound editor (16 episodes, 1988-1989)
Michael Meier	....	cableman (13 episodes, 1990-1991)
Doug Grindstaff	....	sound manager (9 episodes, 1988-1989)
Michael E. Lawshe	....	post-production sound (6 episodes, 1990-1991)
Marty Church	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)
Dan Gleich	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Dan Hiland	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Mark L. Mangino	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Dan Chase	....	special effects technician (32 episodes, 1990-1991)
John McLeod	....	special effects supervisor (23 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Stunts
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunt performer (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jeffrey McDancer	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Charlie Brewer	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Wally Crowder	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Kevin Thompson	....	lighting technician (41 episodes, 1988-1991)
Dennis Pope	....	key grip (23 episodes, 1990-1991)
Eric Blum	....	electrician (16 episodes, 1988-1989)
F.X. Crowley	....	electrician (16 episodes, 1988-1989)
Joe Crowley	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Bill Pelkey	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Bobby Powell	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
John Tissavary	....	grip (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Barbara Miller	....	executive in charge of casting (61 episodes, 1988-1991)
Patricia de Oliveira	....	casting: San Francisco (60 episodes, 1988-1991)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barbara Kassal	....	costume supervisor (43 episodes, 1989-1991)
Arlene Encell	....	costume supervisor (3 episodes, 1988)
Marcee Smith	....	costume consultant (2 episodes, 1989)

Series Music Department
Daniels McLean	....	music editor (59 episodes, 1988-1991)
Brad Fiedel	....	composer: theme music (52 episodes, 1989-1991)
Greg Sill	....	music supervisor (32 episodes, 1990-1991)
Richard Berres	....	music supervisor (28 episodes, 1988-1990)
Tim Boyle	....	score mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
David Pappas	....	driver (22 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Other crew
Robert Butler	....	executive consultant (44 episodes, 1989-1991)
Richard Di Lello	....	creative consultant (44 episodes, 1989-1991)
Melissa J.L. Smith	....	post facilities manager (39 episodes, 1988-1991)
Mary Kay Kelly	....	executive production coordinator / production coordinator (38 episodes, 1988-1990)
Julie Sayres	....	story editor (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Michael Marks	....	executive script consultant / executive story editor / ... (21 episodes, 1990-1991)
Bianca Cioffi-Zaring	....	assistant to writer (16 episodes, 1988-1989)
Deborah Arakelian	....	story editor (7 episodes, 1988-1989)
Carmen Allard	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 1991)
Steve C. Porter	....	stand-in (4 episodes, 1989-1990)
Carol DePasquale	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Bruce Devan	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Paula Frankel	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Teddi Siddall	....	special thanks (1 episode, 1989)
Constance Wofsy	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge the advice and cooperation of (1 episode, 1989)

Production Companies

• December 3rd Productions
• Gangbuster Films Inc. (1988-1989)
• Lorimar Television (in association with)

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1988-1991) (USA) (TV)
• Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF) (2004) (Belgium) (TV)

Other Companies

• Larson Sound Center  sound post-production (1988-1989)
• Laser Edit  post-production services
• Lorimar Studios  sound post-production (1989)
• Mobilization Against AIDS  advice and cooperation (episode "Someone to Love (1989)")
• San Francisco AIDS Foundation  advice and cooperation (episode "Someone to Love (1989)")
• San Francisco AIDS Foundation, The Women's Support Group  advice and cooperation (episode "Someone to Love (1989)")
• San Francisco General  advice and cooperation (episode "Someone to Love (1989)")
• San Francisco Studios  stage facilities
• The Center for Population Options ACT-UP  advice and cooperation (episode "Someone to Love (1989)")
• The San Francisco Larkin Street Youth Center  special thanks for their assistance (episode "Planes (1990)")

Also Known As:

Runtime:

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

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

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:

Jack Killian:[shouting, as someone is pounding at his front door, waking him up] Whoever you are, you're going to die!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Supernatural: Salvation (#1.21)" (2006)

Excellent show that was overlooked by the viewing public

I was a college student when this show first appeared on NBC, and quickly grew to love it. Set in San Francisco, "Midnight Caller" was a well-thought-out and well-scripted drama that wasn't afraid to tackle some of the biggest issues of our time (e.g. the episode where Jack Killian with no notice discusses AIDS live on the air). He and the rest of the characters (played by an able supporting cast) all had depth, all had various warts... just like real people. The show also did a good job of reacting to and chronicling major events, such as the episode where various characters recounted on air their reactions to the 1989 World Series earthquake. As some have previously said, it also had a great soundtrack. (The title song was later re-recorded by jazz trumpeter Rick Braun on his CD, "Intimate Secrets," with song composer Brad Fidel accompanying him on piano.) Unfortunately, "Midnight Caller" was never a ratings darling, and was dropped by NBC after three seasons. A show well worth being on DVD!