"Night Stalker" (2005) TV series 2005-

Writer:

Gregory Storm

Seasons:

1

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

What if everything you feared was real?

Plot:

Kolchak and his partner, Perri, investigate his wife's mysterious murder and end up uncovering something much more disturbing...

Plot Keywords:

Female Reporter | Remake Of Cult Classic | Investigative Journalism | Remake Of TV Show | Based On TV Series

Cast

Stuart Townsend	...	Carl Kolchak (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Gabrielle Union	...	Perri Reed (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Eric Jungmann	...	Jain McManus (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Cotter Smith	...	Tony Vincenzo (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Al Whiting	...	Uniformed Cop (6 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Directed by
Daniel Sackheim		(2 episodes, 2005)

Series Writing credits
Jeffrey Grant Rice		(10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Frank Spotnitz		(10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Gregory Storm		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Robert Parigi	....	co-producer (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Frank Spotnitz	....	executive producer (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Adam Armus	....	supervising producer (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Nora Kay Foster	....	supervising producer (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
John Peter Kousakis	....	co-executive producer (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Darin Morgan	....	consulting producer (8 episodes, 2005-2006)
Daniel Sackheim	....	executive producer (5 episodes, 2005-2006)
Dan Curtis	....	consulting producer (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Suzanne Lauer	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
William Schmidt	....	consulting producer (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Robert P. Cohen	....	coordinating producer (2 episodes, 2005)
Gary LaPoten	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Michael Wandmacher		(10 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Cinematography by
Rick Maguire		(2 episodes, 2005-2006)
Robert Primes		(2 episodes, 2005)
Clark Mathis		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Christopher Cooke		(4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Marta Evry		(4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Sunny Hodge		(3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Jimmy Hill		(unknown episodes)
Peter Keller		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Mia Levinson		(10 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Production Design by
Bernard Hides		(7 episodes, 2005-2006)
Waldemar Kalinowski		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Alex Hajdu		(10 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Set Decoration by
Shirley Starks		(9 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Costume Design by
Victoria J. Auth		(9 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Makeup Department
Debra Denson	....	makeup artist (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Aaron Koons	....	makeup effects lab technician (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Shutchai Tym Buacharern	....	makeup artist: Gabrielle Union (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Judy Twine	....	key makeup artist (7 episodes, 2005-2006)
Bob Smithson	....	contact lens technician (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Roddy Stayton	....	hair department head (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Matthew W. Mungle	....	special makeup effects artist (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Roxy D'Alonzo	....	special makeup effects artist (2 episodes, 2005)
Ruth Haney	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)
Neal Kennemore	....	sculptor lab work (unknown episodes)
Rich Knight	....	lifecast mold maker: W.M Creations (unknown episodes)
Glenn Pulliam	....	special makeup effects crew (unknown episodes)
Robin Slater	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Clinton Wayne	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Michael Cedar	....	unit production manager (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Robert P. Cohen	....	unit production manager (2 episodes, 2005)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Anne Carroll	....	second second assistant director (4 episodes, 2005)
David K. Riebel	....	second assistant director (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Barry K. Thomas	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 2005-2006)
Cecilia Sweatman	....	second assistant director: second unit (2 episodes, 2005)
Yor-El Francis	....	trainee assistant director (unknown episodes)
Jay Torres	....	second unit director (unknown episodes)
Rudy Van Zyl	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Don Bracken	....	props (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Michael F. Loomer	....	on-set dresser (8 episodes, 2005-2006)
Lorin Flemming	....	assistant art director (7 episodes, 2005-2006)
Gaston Wurth	....	set dresser (6 episodes, 2005-2006)
Robert Scott Kyker	....	property master (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Andre Sowards	....	on-set dresser (4 episodes, 2005)
Lisa Fiorito	....	property assistant (unknown episodes)
Jessica McDonald	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Steve Park	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
David Scott	....	property constructor / propmaker (unknown episodes)
Abigail Sheiner	....	art department coordinator (unknown episodes)
Miles Teves	....	concept artist (unknown episodes)
Justine Wu	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Richard Lightstone	....	sound mixer / production sound mixer (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Gabriel Cubos	....	boom operator (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Dicken Berglund	....	adr mixer (8 episodes, 2005-2006)
Joe Earle	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Victor Iorillo	....	sound supervisor (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Elmo Ponsdomenech	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Bob Costanza	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Tommy Goodwin	....	foley mixer (unknown episodes)
Kevin Roache	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Scott McGowan	....	special effects makeup (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Eric Coon	....	special effects technician (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Ken Rudell	....	special effects foreman (5 episodes, 2005-2006)
Kelly Kerby	....	special effects coordinator (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Bob Gleason	....	special effects (unknown episodes)
Jonathan Kombrinck	....	pyrotechnician (unknown episodes)
Al Marangoni	....	special effects foreman (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Tim Jacobsen	....	visual effects producer (8 episodes, 2005-2006)
Mat Beck	....	visual effects supervisor: EntityFX (unknown episodes)
Kim Boyle	....	visual effects producer: EntityFX (unknown episodes)
William Higgins	....	compositor: EntityFX (unknown episodes)
Yoshiko Hirata	....	compositor: EntityFX (unknown episodes)
Eli Jarra	....	digital effects artist / visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Kymber Lim	....	senior visual effects producer: EntityFX (unknown episodes)
Mark Alan Loso	....	compositor: EntityFX (unknown episodes)
John Mitchell	....	3D artist: EntityFX (unknown episodes)
Rik Panero	....	data I/O manager (unknown episodes)
Tricia Pifer	....	visual effects producer: Entity FX (unknown episodes)
Jeremy Renteria	....	data I/O: Entity FX (unknown episodes)
Andrea Shear	....	3D artist: EntityFX (unknown episodes)
Terry Shigemitsu	....	lead 3D artist: EntityFX (unknown episodes)
Marty Taylor	....	visual effects supervisor: EntityFX (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Danny Weselis	....	stunt coordinator (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Jared S. Eddo	....	lead stunt double (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Angela Meryl	....	stunt double: Gabrielle Union (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Daniel Arrias	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jack Carpenter	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
G. Peter King	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Justin Sundquist	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Boni Yanagisawa	....	utility stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Bill Greenberg	....	electrician (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Jules Labarthe	....	camera operator: "a" camera / camera operator (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Michael Maloney	....	grip (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Jimmie R. Owens	....	grip (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Jorge Pallares	....	camera operator (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Robert Stenger	....	first assistant camera (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Sharla Cipicchio	....	assistant camera: second unit (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Scott Fieldsteel	....	rigging gaffer (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Martin Reder	....	lighting technician (7 episodes, 2005-2006)
Deron Tse	....	additional grip: second unit (5 episodes, 2005-2006)
Corwin A. Bibb	....	chief lighting technician (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
David Dowell	....	first assistant camera (4 episodes, 2006)
Michael Chambliss	....	hot head technician / remote head technician (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Michael Pizzuto	....	key grip (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Euripides Núñez	....	camera operator: second unit (3 episodes, 2005)
Andrea Sachs	....	gaffer (3 episodes, 2005)
Onofrio Nino Pansini	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 2005-2006)
Brian Bernstein	....	additional camera operator (unknown episodes)
Kristen Eccker	....	second assistant camera: second unit (unknown episodes)
Reece Glover	....	grip: second unit (unknown episodes)
Joe Hendrick	....	second assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Tomoka Izumi	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Andrea Miraglia	....	grip (unknown episodes)
Brian S. Osmond	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Andi Ruane	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)
L. Andrew Sigler	....	grip (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Michele Short	....	casting associate (8 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Brooke Fein	....	set costumer (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Miranda Kelley	....	set costumer (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Patricia McLaughlin	....	costume supervisor (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Maria Lorenzana	....	costumer (6 episodes, 2005-2006)
Tina Ficaro	....	costume supervisor (unknown episodes)
Deanna M. Saul	....	costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Erin Dodgen	....	colorist (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Jonathan Thornhill	....	post-production coordinator (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Dana B. Wilson	....	assistant: editor (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Ryan Michael Miller	....	title sequence editor: yU+co. (unknown episodes)
Brian Sherwin	....	post-production coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
P.J. Bloom	....	music supervisor (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Philip Glass	....	composer: theme / composer: theme music (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Micha Liberman	....	music editor (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Susie Bench	....	orchestrator (2 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Transportation Department
Steve Duncan	....	transportation coordinator (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Joe Meylor	....	transportation captain (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Jack Jay Reece	....	driver: production van (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Tim Sisson	....	transportation captain (6 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Other crew
Thu Pham	....	assistant to line producer / production staff / ... (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Cheryl D. Sims	....	payroll accountant (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Sabrina Somma	....	additional medic (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Charles Fagin	....	key assistant location manager (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Mark L. Ruberg	....	script coordinator (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Peter Sands	....	location manager (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Adam Sussman	....	story editor (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Thane Watkins	....	production accountant (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Austin Wright	....	accounting clerk (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Gabrielle Glorious	....	first assistant accountant (8 episodes, 2005-2006)
Katherine Kousakis	....	office production assistant (8 episodes, 2005-2006)
Dan Harder	....	production medic (5 episodes, 2005)
Simran Baidwan	....	assistant: executive producer (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Noah Baylin	....	executive story editor (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Jana Fain	....	production associate (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Nancy Mosher Hall	....	production coordinator (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Tricia Ronten	....	script supervisor (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Thomas Schnauz	....	executive story editor (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Clinton Trucks	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 2006)
Christian Breiding	....	production staff (2 episodes, 2005)
Stephen Clarke	....	set production assistant (2 episodes, 2005)
Mike Tsucalas	....	set production assistant / set production assistant: re-shoots (2 episodes, 2005)
Michael Betz	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Michael Chambliss	....	hot head technician/operator (unknown episodes)
John Chechitelli	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Liz Gaffney	....	production secretary (unknown episodes)
Melanie E. Gonzalez	....	set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Nicole Marostica	....	publicist (unknown episodes)
Omar McClinton	....	post-production finance: Touchstone Television (unknown episodes)
Richard G. Orozco	....	key assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Nik Perleros	....	additional set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Samuel Proof	....	set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jon Recher	....	key set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Huey Redwine	....	stand-in (unknown episodes)
Jeff Saldin	....	digital utility (unknown episodes)
Ben Shelton	....	set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Diana Taffolla	....	art accountant (unknown episodes)
Matt Tulve	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Patricia Warren	....	production secretary (unknown episodes)
Scott C. Williman	....	pre-rigger (unknown episodes)
Mari Wilson	....	additional script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Touchstone Television
• Big Light Productions

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2005) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Buena Vista Television (2005) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• AXN (????) (El Salvador) (TV)
• Bravo Television (2006) (UK) (TV)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)
• Canadian Television (CTV) (2005) (Canada) (TV)
• Sci Fi (2008) (Japan) (TV)
• Sci-Fi Channel, The (2006) (USA) (TV)
• Telekanal TV3 (2007) (Russia) (TV)

Special Effects

• Entity FX
• yU+Co. (title sequence)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Filmtools  expendables
• Khaos Digital  video playback services

Also Known As:

Runtime:

60 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Center Studios - 450 S. Bixel Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Touchstone Television

Trivia:

In a newsroom scene in the pilot, the image of Darren McGavin (the original Kolchak from the 1970s movies and TV series) can be seen standing at one of the desks, dressed as the 1970s Kolchak, chatting with one of the reporters. This image was digitally sampled from an episode of "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" (1974) and placed into the scene.

Movie Connections:

Remake of "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" (1974)

Soundtrack:

Vladimir's Blues

I want to know!

In the spirit of full disclosure, and just because I am simply lazy, this review also appears as a general posting on a message thread on the show's IMDb page...

I personally liked the show. I actually saw it on re-runs on Space (the Canadian counterpart to SyFy) and not during the original airing of the show. It struck me that this new incarnation of "Night Stalker" was a show very much in the vein of "Millenium", a wonderful, wonderful show created by Chris Carter and starring the talented Lance Henriksen. It had that same brooding, dark and suspenseful atmosphere, but more than that it also had almost the same substance and heart as that show. Style was never, at least in my mind, put over substance. Of course as others have pointed it also shared certain similarities with "X-Files".

It is true, that it was quite dark for a prime-time, network TV series, and liking it might have been an acquired taste...but the contention that this show was overly pessimistic, hopeless and depressing, is in my mind, unfair and unwarranted. The show only aired six episodes before it was cancelled and never got the chance to establish itself, evolve and show its true potential. We will never know what would and could have been. On the DVD set Frank Spotnitz does hint at and discusses what the future had in store for the characters and their respective story lines as well as the over all theme of the show, Good VS. Evil.

Stuart Townsend and Gabrielle Union were excellent together as was the rest of the cast. The stories in each episode were crafted as stand-alone narratives, but they also neatly fitted into the overall arch of the show and Kolchak's one-man crusade to find out the truth about what happened to his wife as well as expose all the strange cases he came across, trying to understand the nature of the dark, the evil, the things that go-bump in the night, which most of us ignore and pretend don't exist.

The more I think the more I see "Night Stalker" if not parallel, at least mirror other similar shows like HBO's "Carnivale" and CW's "Supernatural". But "Millennium" remains the show most comparable to "Night Stalker".

Lastly I have to add, that the narration which Stuart Townsend did at the beginning/intro and end/outro of each episode was quite wonderfully chilling and gave me goosebumps each and every time, and I mean this as the highest compliment. That world-weary voice Carl Kolchak brought every week, heavily burdened by the knowledge and awareness of the darkness and evil which lurk out there, made this show a must-see! Too bad it didn't get a fair shake...