I just watched the pilot, someone taped it for me and I thought it was pretty good. I to watched the original series (in re-runs) and I loved it. The previous comments seem to focus on the fact that this new "version" is not like the original..well why should it be? It should be able to stand on it's own, you aren't going to be able to re-incarnate Darrin McGavin in someone else, nor should the show be a carbon copy of the original...you have to take it for what it is....and it is certainly better than reality based television I can say that for it.

the show was better this week (10/13- maybe out of respect to Chris Carter) with the "worst fears" plot & multiple victims. Also, Kolchak encountered some eccentric charracters, like the original had, & K exhibited more sarcasm than smoldering intensity, for a change. Burning down the house was EXACTLY the kind of thing Darren McGavin's version would have done. K needs to solve his wife's murder so he can move on & have some fun with the role. Gabrielle Union's character is just a distraction unless they find something more interesting to do. I'm afraid she might need to be killed off. Kolchak's character is better suited toa seedier class of people, anyway. However, these producersdo have a right to their own vision. Maybe theey had to sanitize it so the suits @ ABCWould buy it & now they can go distinctive. Here's hoping.

the show was better this week (10/13- maybe out of respect to Chris Carter) with the "worst fears" plot & multiple victims. Also, Kolchak encountered some eccentric charracters, like the original had, & K exhibited more sarcasm than smoldering intensity, for a change. Burning down the house was EXACTLY the kind of thing Darren McGavin's version would have done. K needs to solve his wife's murder so he can move on & have some fun with the role. Gabrielle Union's character is just a distraction unless they find something more interesting to do. I'm afraid she might need to be killed off. Kolchak's character is better suited toa seedier class of people, anyway. However, these producersdo have a right to their own vision. Maybe theey had to sanitize it so the suits @ ABCWould buy it & now they can go distinctive. Here's hoping.

I too was disappointed in the series. It does not have the energy, the wit, or the realism of the original. Where's the morbidly jazzy music? Where's the ongoing noir-style narration? Where's the snappy patter? Several things were outright absurd. Kolchak driving a new Mustang? Kolchak having a swimming pool in his fashionable penthouse? Are you kidding? Turning the show from a solo into a team effort, and making the characters young and good-looking, were also mistakes. Check it out when Carl, Perri and Jain are together. You'd swear you're really watching Clark, Lois and Jimmy. What's missing most is that Kolchak has no one to fight against. This Vincenzo is only too willing to go along with Carl. The authorities may suspect him of murder, but they're not attempting to suppress his stories. Heck, he's suppressing himself! Consequently, a huge portion of the conflict is gone. I wanted to like this show so much, I really did. But it's more X Files than Night Stalker. The true test is: if you took the name off the show, and changed the name of the Kolchak and Vincenzo characters, would anybody recognize the source? The answer: probably not. Beyond the concept of a reporter investigating supernatural stories, this series bears no resemblence to the original.

I remember watching the original Kolchak, The Night Stalker series in 1974-75. The tension between Kolchak and Vincenzo kept it interesting. Darren McGavin was perfect for the original role and the theme song was memorable. I am willing to give the new series a chance although it's running against one of the CSI shows which will be tough. I would re-cast the show as follows: Carl Kolchak: Ryan Renolds or Jason Lee Tony Vincenzo: Danny Devito FBI Investigator: Brian Dennehy Vampire: Rupert Everett The original theme song should have been updated and included. The plot was OK but there are much better plots that Kolchak fans would find more compelling. Like the genius Dan Curtis once said, "it's what you don't see and imagine that is the most frightening."

I remember watching the original Kolchak, The Night Stalker series in 1974-75. The tension between Kolchak and Vincenzo kept it interesting. Darren McGavin was perfect for the original role and the theme song was memorable. I am willing to give the new series a chance although it's running against one of the CSI shows which will be tough. I would re-cast the show as follows: Carl Kolchak: Ryan Renolds or Jason Lee Tony Vincenzo: Danny Devito FBI Investigator: Brian Dennehy Vampire: Rupert Everett The original theme song should have been updated and included. The plot was OK but there are much better plots that Kolchak fans would find more compelling. Like the genius Dan Curtis once said, "it's what you don't see and imagine that is the most frightening."

It's been many years since I watched the original series, so I'm racking my brain trying to remember what it was like. All I can remember is Kolchak chasing after a lot of vampire types. I was a bit disappointed in last night's first episode, but I'm willing to give it another try. It does have potential if the writers can exercise it in time before ABC lowers the axe. Here's hoping episode 2 is much spookier.

There was one other nod to the original show. You can see Darren McGavin's hat in the new Kolchak's apartment; the scene where she's just found the photos, and he's just gotten her the beer. It's on a stand or something in the hallway. I'd consider liking the show more if they named it something else. But, hey, at least if we see any palm trees, they'll be someplace they belong. But, yeah, the humor is completely missing from this one, and without that, it's just another show...

Did you happen to notice the "guest appearance" of the original Kolchak, though? He was in the newspaper offices. I thought it was a nice touch.