THE NEW "KOLCHAK"

Sometimes, a pilot is proposed for which I don't want to suggest a crossover. And in the following case, I'm only going to banish it to Earth Prime-Time Delay anyway, where most remakes of old TV shows end up.

ABC is bringing back "Kolchak: The Night Stalker," the '70s series about a Chicago crime reporter who investigates supernatural phenomena. Stuart Townsend ("The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen") will take the lead. And Gabrielle Union (who stars opposite Cedric the Entertainer in the upcoming "Honeymooners" movie) will play Townsend's sidekick and fellow ink-stained wretch.The original series was spun off from the successful TV movie "The Night Stalker." But it lasted only one season on ABC.

Lazy fat bastard that I am, here is a modified reprint of what I posted a week or so ago to Lee Goldberg's blog:

I've seen it reported that Stuart Townsend has been cast as the new Kolchak.

Hoo boy.

After his pretty boy turns in 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' (the whole movie a criminal offense against the comic book series) and in 'Queen Of The Damned', I would have cast him instead as Janos Skorzeny.

But he probably would have turned that down as being too much of "Been There, Done Lestat".

Kolchak should have a rumpled, everyman charm and humor about him; a man not afraid to show his fear in the face of danger and still plow ahead in search of the story.

Years ago, McGavin suggested that since he was "too old and fat" to play the part again, perhaps Nick Nolte might be a good choice. Now, it could be Nolte's too old and frazzled a choice.

But I had two suggestions. Unfortunately, they may both be tied up in other TV projects right now, although the fate for at least one of them might be up in the air.

My picks to play Carl Kolchak?

Either Dennis Leary or Ron Eldard.

Both of them can handle the blend of drama, adventure, and humor and could easily toss off the sarcastic retorts to the authorities blocking his access to a big scoop.

And I could easily buy into either one of them as the bottom-feeding investigative reporter living on the outskirts with a passion for the story. Townsend? Not a chance.

Ah well. I can still dream, and there are always the Darrin McGavin originals still in circulation.....

BCnU!
Tele-Toby

Posted to Lee Goldberg's blog by: Toby O'Brien March 23, 2005 08:22 AM