Welcome to our new News Files page. This page will act as a quick source reference to any new, old, past and present news on Kolchak : The Night Stalker. Often, most news items will feature a link for you to click on and be guided to their page. Pictures will also be included whenever possible.
January 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR READERS!!!
2008 will be the return of "The Kolchak Journals" - sorry for delay in publishing more recent issues on a timely baysis, readers - but that is behind us now.
2008 will see a new issue in Feb as well as a return to our All-Vampire issue coming up after our "Catch-up" issue in Feb.
We will also see an update to our news on the web page (coming soon) and a COMPLETE Back Issue order page coming in the next few weeks - so keep checking this page, we got a lot of goodies coming up for you in 2008!
G. Santos, Publisher "The Kolchak Journals"
Dan Curtis Dies - 03/2006
We report with great sadness the death of Kolchak Movie Producer/Director, Dan Curtis at the age of 77. Curtis was also behind the recent 2005 ABC Night Stalker remake, when he was diagnosed with brain cancer in December. The loss comes only a month a part from actor Darren McGavin's passing in February. Both great talents will be much missed.
Actor Darren McGavin Passes Away At Age 83 2/25/06
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Darren McGavin at approximately 7:10 A.M. Pacific time today, Saturday 25, 2006. Darren was just three months short of his 84th birthday. McGavin, 83, died Saturday of natural causes at a Los Angeles-area hospital with his family at his side.
This site would like to send our regards to the McGavin family, his very close friends and his loyal fan base, who, like myself, are all feeling the loss of Mr. McGavin in our hearts today.
Services were set for March 5 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
New Night Stalker Coming To DVD In May 2/11/06
It has yet to be "Officially" announced, but early word is that the "Night Stalker" remake series from 2005 will hit DVD shelves in May 2006. TV Guide reported the rumor about a week earlier, now we have the real info. Night Stalker - the Complete series will hit the streets on May 30th and will feature all 10 episodes produced plus the script for an unproduced episode. The set will include commentary and deleted scenes as well as a featurette hosted by Frank Spotnitz. The set is slated to retail at $29.99
New Night Stalker News: ABC Series Was To Do A Take On "Strangler" Movie! 2/9/06
It seems the ABC "Night Stalker" series was going to take advantage of the series licensing the rights to the 2 TV movies of Kolchak. In an episode titled, "Timeless" Kolchak and his partner uncover a series of deaths that seem to have occurred every 35 years since the paper that they work for was founded.
Doesn't that seem to be the plot for the 2nd TV film of Kolchak, "The Night Strangler"?
Here is a capture from the episode, check out our complete episode guide, in our new Night Stalker section. For more information, order our latest issue of "The Kolchak Journals" which will have several special features on the series, as well as more pictures from the segments never aired, like this one - order fast before we run out (See Home page for ordering info).
Sci Fi To Air Complete Night Stalker Series - 4 Unaired Segments Included! 1/20/06
The Sci Fi Channel will in fact air 4 episodes never aired before by ABC this summer when the series runs for the first time on their network.
Only 6 segments made it to air by ABC, from Sept-Nov 2005, before the series was pulled due to bad ratings and slow moving, uninteresting plots.
This was a sad blow to those who did enjoy the series, as the network pulled the series in the middle of a 2-part segment. Now part 2 of that segment, as well as 3 additional segments will air this summer, making that 10 episodes made of the series. The titles to the unaired episodes are: "Into the Night," "Timeless" and "What's the Frequency, Kolchak?".
See our episode guide section with more episode details. iTunes will be offering them for down loading in the next few weeks, before they telecast on Sci Fi.
Sponsors
New Night Stalker Coming To Sci-Fi Channel This Summer 12/12/05
SCI FI Channel has acquired all ten episodes of Touchstone Television's series remake of 'Night Stalker' it was announced today by Thomas Vitale, SCI FI Channel's Senior Vice President, Programming and Original Movies. In addition to the seven episodes that aired on ABC this fall, SCI FI will have the exclusive premieres of 3 never- before-seen episodes. The series is slated to launch next summer. Follow this link for more info: http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire2005/index.php?id=33642
(May be a mistake on number of episodes, only 9 were reported to have been made - only six aired, this press release states 7 episodes made it to air? You decide?)
ABC Not To Air Night Stalker 11/15/05
The ABC network has pulled the Night Stalker off it's line up and will not air the 2nd part of last weeks episode, titled "The Sea" (see our episode guide listing on new Night Stalker page). Sources say that a total of 9 episodes were produced before the plug was pulled on production of the low rated series, The Sea would have been the 7th of the series episodes. No word yet on when or if, the final 3 episodes will turn up on the network (My Guess, it won't be till the summer), but we will keep you posted - keep checking back with us for more details.
ABC Night Stalker Cancelled! 11/13/05
Sad to report - it is official, the new ABC Night Stalker series has been cancelled! No news yet on if the network will run any of the remaining episodes, or just pull the plug on the series, which was always lagging at the very botton of the ratings - but after the very painful ratings came in for the November 10th episode - the network just called it quits! The following was posted on the official web page of Frank Spotnitz BigLight Productions:
Sunday, November 13, 2005
'NIGHT STALKER' FINIS
It is with regret that I confirm "Night Stalker" has been canceled. While I’m disappointed the series has come to an end, I am enormously grateful for the experience and the opportunity given me by the network and Touchstone Television. I would like to thank our amazingly talented cast, wonderful crew, killer post-production department, terrific writing staff, producers and partners in crime Daniel Sackheim and John Peter Kousakis, the incredible Jana Fain, and all of you who watched and enjoyed the show. It was a blast.
More on this as it developes - please view our new Night Stalker page for a more detailed account of the events.
McGavin Pleased By Fan's Outpour Of Love 10/05/05
With the release of the entire Kolchak series on DVD, actor Darren McGavin was very recently praised by his fans with e-mails, letters and comments. The actor and his family felt the need to say a few words of thanks to all his fans with a posting on a web page devoted to his work. The posting on the site:
"Darren would like to thank all his fans for the tremendous outpouring of love he has received in recent days over the release of the NIGHT STALKER series on DVD and the tribute paid him by the producer of the new "Night Stalker" series. He is overwhelmed by your emails and well-wishes and desires to thank all of you for your great loyalty and support."
Like us fans of the program knew, the series sold well on it's first time release to DVD.
Updyke To Guest Star In New Night Stalker? 09/08/05
In a recent interview, Jack Grinnage - Ron Updyke in the original Kolchak series - was contacted by his agent about a chance to play the part of a grandfather in the new ABC "Night Stalker". Grinnage, who has kept to the acting field with appearences in such TV programs as cable's, "Six Feet Under", was surprised to find out the producers had something else in mind when talking to the actor.
" My agent called me and said there’s a part of a grandfather on the new “Nightstalker” but I didn’t get an interview. The producers called me to get in touch with Darren, and I asked them ‘Are you going to use me on the show?’ and there was this silence."
Perhaps the new producers don't have that much confidence in their retooling of the classic horror show?
Kolchak/Dark Shadows Crossover Story Slated For October - 9/01/05
Moonstone Comics, which publishes 2 different Kolchak comic titles, will release it's first Kolchak book of short stories in October titled, "Kolchak: The Night Stalker Chronicles" - the book will feature 26 all-new short stories written by many fine talents. Famed Kolchak Writer Mark Dawidziak got permission from Dan Curtis to feature a one-time only short story which will cross Carl Kolchak with Barnabas Collins! Fans of both Curtis productions will be pleased (Curtis was behind the first NS TV movie). The book will include chapter break illustrations as well, such as the one we persent here for your first look anywhere! The book shall be released in October. For more info visit www.moonstonebooks.com
Kolchak Comes To DVD - 8/13/05
Universal Television has officially announced that Kolchak : The Night Stalker will be released on DVD October 4th 2005! The 3-disc set will include all 20 episodes of the series - together for the very first time - to be packaged in 3 slim cases with an outer box to hold them together (pictured). Retail price shall run at $39.99. There appears to be no DVD extras at this time. Running time will be 1028 mins. Full frame transfer (1.33:1) with English mono audio with English/Spanish subtitles.
Digital Darren: New Night Stalker Picture - 7/10/05
The new ABC series "The Night Stalker" plans to be a re-imagining of the first 2 TV movies. Producers of the series got permission from the McGavin family to pay tribute to his Carl Kolchak by featuring a digital Darren McGavin clip from the first TV movie imaged into a scene from the pilot of the new Carl Kolchak entering the new newsroom. Here, Kolchak fans, is your first look!
Welcome to our new News Files page. This page will act as a quick source reference to any new, old, past and present news on Kolchak : The Night Stalker. Often, most news items will feature a link for you to click on and be guided to their page. Pictures will also be included whenever possible. 
It has yet to be "Officially" announced, but early word is that the "Night Stalker" remake series from 2005 will hit DVD shelves in May 2006. TV Guide reported the rumor about a week earlier, now we have the real info. Night Stalker - the Complete series will hit the streets on May 30th and will feature all 10 episodes produced plus the script for an unproduced episode. The set will include commentary and deleted scenes as well as a featurette hosted by Frank Spotnitz. The set is slated to retail at $29.99
It seems the ABC "Night Stalker" series was going to take advantage of the series licensing the rights to the 2 TV movies of Kolchak. In an episode titled, "Timeless" Kolchak and his partner uncover a series of deaths that seem to have occurred every 35 years since the paper that they work for was founded.
The Sci Fi Channel will in fact air 4 episodes never aired before by ABC this summer when the series runs for the first time on their network.
SCI FI Channel has acquired all ten episodes of Touchstone Television's series remake of 'Night Stalker' it was announced today by Thomas Vitale, SCI FI Channel's Senior Vice President, Programming and Original Movies. In addition to the seven episodes that aired on ABC this fall, SCI FI will have the exclusive premieres of 3 never- before-seen episodes. The series is slated to launch next summer. Follow this link for more info: 
With the release of the entire Kolchak series on DVD, actor Darren McGavin was very recently praised by his fans with e-mails, letters and comments. The actor and his family felt the need to say a few words of thanks to all his fans with a posting on a web page devoted to his work. The posting on the site:
In a recent interview, Jack Grinnage - Ron Updyke in the original Kolchak series - was contacted by his agent about a chance to play the part of a grandfather in the new ABC "Night Stalker". Grinnage, who has kept to the acting field with appearences in such TV programs as cable's, "Six Feet Under", was surprised to find out the producers had something else in mind when talking to the actor.
Moonstone Comics, which publishes 2 different Kolchak comic titles, will release it's first Kolchak book of short stories in October titled, "Kolchak: The Night Stalker Chronicles" - the book will feature 26 all-new short stories written by many fine talents. Famed Kolchak Writer Mark Dawidziak got permission from Dan Curtis to feature a one-time only short story which will cross Carl Kolchak with Barnabas Collins! Fans of both Curtis productions will be pleased (Curtis was behind the first NS TV movie). The book will include chapter break illustrations as well, such as the one we persent here for your first look anywhere! The book shall be released in October. For more info visit 
Universal Television has officially announced that Kolchak : The Night Stalker will be released on DVD October 4th 2005! The 3-disc set will include all 20 episodes of the series - together for the very first time - to be packaged in 3 slim cases with an outer box to hold them together (pictured). Retail price shall run at $39.99. There appears to be no DVD extras at this time. Running time will be 1028 mins. Full frame transfer (1.33:1) with English mono audio with English/Spanish subtitles.
The new ABC series "The Night Stalker" plans to be a re-imagining of the first 2 TV movies. Producers of the series got permission from the McGavin family to pay tribute to his Carl Kolchak by featuring a digital Darren McGavin clip from the first TV movie imaged into a scene from the pilot of the new Carl Kolchak entering the new newsroom. Here, Kolchak fans, is your first look! 