This is the first episode of the short-lived series "Kolchak: The Night Stalker", but it marks the third of Darren McGavin as the title character. This is because the show had previously been two made for TV movies--"The Night Stalker" and "The Night Strangler". The first film was set in Las Vegas, the second in Seattle and now the series is set in Chicago--all because Kolchak cannot hold down a job!
"The Ripper", not surprisingly is about Jack the Ripper. Murders similar to the old Jack the Ripper murders take place and they are so similar Kolchak wonders if perhaps this killer is somehow still alive--though it would make him well over a hundred years old. Additionally, this guy, whoever he is, has incredible strength and bullets don't seem to harm him. But, as always, Kolchak is in the doghouse with Vincenzo (Simon Oakland)--and he's been assigned to do the Miss Emily column--a Dear Abby type of personal advice column.
Structurally, this show is pretty much what all the Kolchak shows were like--Kolchak irritates his boss, Vincenzo as well as the local police. And, his evidence seems to vanish or is confiscated by the cops. And, in the end, Kolchak is able to defeat a seemingly unstoppable fiend. Not exactly new in that sense, but, as always, entertaining.
"The Ripper", not surprisingly is about Jack the Ripper. Murders similar to the old Jack the Ripper murders take place and they are so similar Kolchak wonders if perhaps this killer is somehow still alive--though it would make him well over a hundred years old. Additionally, this guy, whoever he is, has incredible strength and bullets don't seem to harm him. But, as always, Kolchak is in the doghouse with Vincenzo (Simon Oakland)--and he's been assigned to do the Miss Emily column--a Dear Abby type of personal advice column.
Structurally, this show is pretty much what all the Kolchak shows were like--Kolchak irritates his boss, Vincenzo as well as the local police. And, his evidence seems to vanish or is confiscated by the cops. And, in the end, Kolchak is able to defeat a seemingly unstoppable fiend. Not exactly new in that sense, but, as always, entertaining.