The show had potential for humor, but what emerged was a somber program that veers uncomfortably close to glorifying Hitler. Kolchak is an irritating reporter and sets a bad example; he’ll do practically anything to get a story. A recurring problem is the series' writing, which frequently descends into something resembling Nazi ideology—the murder victims are consistently women with dark hair and dark eyes. Thi…

The TV series Kolchak: The Night Stalker originally aired for one season in 1974-1975, comprising 20 episodes. Plans existed to film two more, but Darren McGavin requested his release from the contract due to a demanding schedule and the fact that he was rewriting scripts and handling production tasks without compensation. Mediocre ratings also contributed to his decision. The network agreed to let him go, leaving tw…