Night Stalker casting

[Perry Holley]

I dunno, I can't really picture Kolchak as being young and pretty...

Article (http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|93925|1|,00.html)

[Pamela Jarvinen]

might as well just be another X-Files at this point in the description.

Of all the people they could have chosen, this really is far from anything imaginable to true Kolchak fans.
I am always bothered when a director resorts to the idea of taking something that has a fan-following and completely changing it to something else.
Isn't the point that it has its own fan-following the reason it was chosen to re-introduce in the first place? I would rather see Frank Spotnitz write something completely new and never call it Kolchak, than have the memory dishonored by completely disassembling it.

My husband and I belong to a few Kolchak forums and they all are talking about how angered they are with the latest developments. Many have said that when the movie is completed, they will never bother seeing it.

[monkeysweat]

young and pretty
That's a prerequisite to being on television now.

[DonC]

I dunno, I can't really picture Kolchak as being young and pretty


Neither can I, but Darren McGavin's Kolchack did pretty well with the ladies.

[JeffreyWKramer]

That's the fellow who was supposed to be Aragorn? Gods, I'm glad they recast that part. He looks more a hobbit.

[Leslie Lee III]

might as well just be another X-Files at this point in the description.

Of all the people they could have chosen, this really is far from anything imaginable to true Kolchak fans.
I am always bothered when a director resorts to the idea of taking something that has a fan-following and completely changing it to something else.
Isn't the point that it has its own fan-following the reason it was chosen to re-introduce in the first place? I would rather see Frank Spotnitz write something completely new and never call it Kolchak, than have the memory dishonored by completely disassembling it.

My husband and I belong to a few Kolchak forums and they all are talking about how angered they are with the latest developments. Many have said that when the movie is completed, they will never bother seeing it.

Well that only speaks to the shallowness of the Kolchak fans. Stuart Townsend is an excellent actor and I'm shocked he's actually going to be doing TV.

And Viggo was boring as all hell. Townshend definitely would have been a better choice.

[DDM]

Kolchak never had a female sidekick; he always did his investigations by himself. The Kolchak character also possessed a few quirks. This "update" seems to be taking out all the quirks & making another sad generic movie with little having nothing to do with the original.

[Elias Bogan]

Its funny that people havent even seen a minute of footage from the new show and they are already condeming it based on casting. Stuart Townsend and Gabrielle Union are both great actors and maybe you should wait for the show to cast judgement.

Heck, I bet thought DH was gonna bomb given that "has been" Teri Hatcher was the lead role and now its the # 2 scripted show on television!

[Leslie Lee III]

Its funny that people havent even seen a minute of footage from the new show and they are already condeming it based on casting. Stuart Townsend and Gabrielle Union are both great actors and maybe you should wait for the show to cast judgement.

But they aren't ugly! This show is going to suck because they aren't ugly!

[Grant]

That's the fellow who was supposed to be Aragorn? Gods, I'm glad they recast that part. He looks more a hobbit.

Apparently he originally auditioned for Frodo. But yeah I'm glad they recast too.

[GremlinClr]

I really don't care who plays him, I just wish the networks would (shock!) come up with more new ideas instead of remakes and bad reality shows.

[Shellhead]

Well that only speaks to the shallowness of the Kolchak fans. Stuart Townsend is an excellent actor and I'm shocked he's actually going to be doing TV.

And Viggo was boring as all hell. Townshend definitely would have been a better choice.

You raise a debatable point. Is there any point at all to casting aside from picking a great actor?

Personally, I think that some actors are better suited for certain roles than other actors. And Viggo is a good example of that. If you read The Lord of the Rings, you will find that Aragorn was not supposed to come across as a riveting character who takes the center stage of every scene. Early on, he is supposed to come across as low-key and slighty seedy in appearance. Only near the end is Aragorn supposed to assume a more dignified and lordly manner.

[Leslie Lee III]

You raise a debatable point. Is there any point at all to casting aside from picking a great actor?

Personally, I think that some actors are better suited for certain roles than other actors. And Viggo is a good example of that. If you read The Lord of the Rings, you will find that Aragorn was not supposed to come across as a riveting character who takes the center stage of every scene. Early on, he is supposed to come across as low-key and slighty seedy in appearance. Only near the end is Aragorn supposed to assume a more dignified and lordly manner.

And I spent 10 hours watching those movies and it never got to that point. I never felt any seedyness in the beginning either. I'd have to watch the movies again to recall a single line he said, quite the opposite with Stuart Towneshend even though I liked his films less. Don't hate him because he's beautiful people, as he's very talented and you will come across as the shallow ones, not the casting directors.

[Corrina]

The point of the character of Kolchak is that he was a washed-up reporter who'd landed at the poor man's version of the Associated Press. (UPI, really, but it was a fictional UPI.) I believe alcohol played a part, though I'm not sure if they ever said specifically.

Kolchak was on the downswing of his career and his life, which is what made him so interesting because he was such an unlikely hero. Casting someone young and pretty, even if they are a good actor, misses the whole point of Kolchak's character in the original series.

[Pamela Jarvinen]

the Kolchak fans commenting about the choice of actors or changes has absolutely nothing to do with their personal opinions of the actor's talent. it has everything to do with their in depth knowledge of the Kolchak character they know and have come to love over the years.

I will be the first to agree that both actors mentioned are fine actors, but in my honest opinion I also agree that not every actor is suited to every part.
You know that is why they have a casting department that interviews and screen tests actors--- to choose the 'best' one for the part. If this particular lead actor is the best one for this part, it is obvious that the role is not minutely like that of the original Kolchak character.

Is it a shallow view, or an honest one, that I would not cast Peewee Herman to play a part in a movie about the life of Mr. T either? Both people have their own personalites and personas, and neither would play the part of the other very well. It would not be their lack of skill, just a fact that they have already made 'their impression' on others as to what their character should look act and feel like. Darren McGavin made the same type of impression on his many Kolchak fans

[Leslie Lee III]

the Kolchak fans commenting about the choice of actors or changes has absolutely nothing to do with their personal opinions of the actor's talent.

And that's a big, big problem. Stuart Townshend is better than 95% of the actors on TV, you'd think that the near guarantee of quality acting performance topped with the obvious attempt at ABC to make this project high quality and successful would make fans excited. I don't think Kolchak has to be ugly or older to be an unlikely hero whose career is on the downswing, one only need to look at "Closer" for a similar sort of fellow played by an equally young and pretty British man. But it's sort of moot though. Kolchak fans weren't numerous enough to get the show past one season in the first place, so a fresh start that will gain some new fans instead of just keeping the old ones happy is very necessary. Regardless, Townshend is a great actor and I'm very excited about this now that he's on-board.

[Elias Bogan]

With Townsend and Union cast in the show, ABC will probably pick up the show and put it on the fall schedule. "Lost" is supposedly moving to 9pm to anchor two new drama's on wednesday nights at 8 and 10 respectivly and I think "Kolchak" will be one of them.

8:00 The Catch
9:00 Lost
10:00 Kolchak: The Night Stalker

Wouldn't that be an awesome abc wednesday night???

[Corrina]

Kolchak fans weren't numerous enough to get the show past one season in the first place, so a fresh start that will gain some new fans instead of just keeping the old ones happy is very necessary. Regardless, Townshend is a great actor and I'm very excited about this now that he's on-board.

But it's a different show, a fresh start as you just said. That's the point I was trying to make. It's still about finding the X-Files type stuff but now the lead character will be different.

And since it was the lead character that was the appeal of the show, at least to me, why should I be interested in a new one, with the lead basically being a new character with the same name?

[Leslie Lee III]

But it's a different show, a fresh start as you just said. That's the point I was trying to make. It's still about finding the X-Files type stuff but now the lead character will be different.

And since it was the lead character that was the appeal of the show, at least to me, why should I be interested in a new one, with the lead basically being a new character with the same name?

Well the lead is a better actor than the original for starters. The rest we'll see when the show actually starts filming. The character might be nearly completely the same, there's just a superior talent playing him now. Why worry?

[Grant]

I don't think I've seen Stuart Townsend in a good movie to be honest with you. Keep in mind these are all genre movies like League of Extraodinary Gentlemen and Queen of the Damned but I can't recall being impressed with his acting ability.

[Pamela Jarvinen]

well, from what I've read many of the fans thought Dan Curtis' original comment to have Scott Bakula portray Kolchak was a good one, but I guess he wouldn't be attractive enough to pull in a reasonable crowd of viewers...

Afterall he only pulled in five years on "Quantum Leap" and a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama Series, plus 7 other nominations for Emmys and Golden Globes. And his four years with "Enterprise"... Yes I can definitely see where there could not possibly be any other choices that would have worked or been worthy for this Kolchak part. Add in the fact that they are also in production for a remake of Quantum Leap now. Of course in remaking this series, they didn't choose to bring it back in the original format either, but they also didn't choose to bring it back using a different actor playing Scott Bakula's part. This time it will be about his daughter who is going into the time to find her Dad (played by Scott Bakula). The fans on that series actually seem quite ecstatic, and I'll include myself in that boat.

[Pamela Jarvinen]

on a lighter note, Elias I totally agree with your 'hot list' pick for 1) Ashlee Simpson. I like both those Simpson girls, they are just so darn'd perky and cute! Ashlee doesn't see to act as dingie as her sister plays at times, but I still think they are both beautiful girls, and have that girlish sweet quality.

I've actually never seen "lost", but I have heard plenty of good things about it. I've been hesitant to get on that bandwagon, because I have already missed so much, I'm afraid it won't make alot of sense.

[Leslie Lee III]

well, from what I've read many of the fans thought Dan Curtis' original comment to have Scott Bakula portray Kolchak was a good one, but I guess he wouldn't be attractive enough to pull in a reasonable crowd of viewers...

Afterall he only pulled in five years on "Quantum Leap" and a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama Series, plus 7 other nominations for Emmys and Golden Globes. And his four years with "Enterprise"... Yes I can definitely see where there could not possibly be any other choices that would have worked or been worthy for this Kolchak part.

Well maybe if UPN was a bit quicker to cancel Enterprise he would have been in the running...on second thought, maybe not.

[Stony]

I would have preferred to see Townsend make a "Dorian Grey" movie... I thought he was the best part of LXG

[Gislef]

I've replied elsewhere, but to note...

I will be the first to agree that both actors mentioned are fine actors, but in my honest opinion I also agree that not every actor is suited to every part. Yoknow that is why they have a casting department that interviews and screen tests actors--- to choose the 'best' one for the part. If this particular lead actor is the best one for this part, it is obvious that the role is not minutely like that of the original Kolchak character.

I would note that we don't know yet what "the role" is as Spotnitz has planned. If the role is a cynical-and-sarcastic reporter who tends to hit the bottle, is surrounded by skeptics, and strives desperately to prove himself and his stories of the supernatural-but-factual despite cover-up at every level, then how is that unlike the original Kolchak character?

Alternately, if that is the role, then how is Townsend unable to portray the role? What in his fairly extensive movie career suggests he cannot play such a role?

Or does the role mandatory-require that the words "age 50" and "American" be inserted to be the "pure" original Kolchak character?

(Now, if the above isn't the "role" Spotnitz has planned, then there _are_ issues - but we don't know that yet.)

Is it a shallow view, or an honest one, that I would not cast Peewee Herman to play a part in a movie about the life of Mr. T either? Both people have their own personalites and personas, and neither would play the part of the other very well. It would not be their lack of skill, just a fact that they have already made 'their impression' on others as to what their character should look act and feel like. Darren McGavin made the same type of impression on his many Kolchak fans

The first flaw with the above is that Kolchak is not a biographical pic, but a remake. Biographical films have different audience expectations. Although I imagine there are folks that complained that Ben Kingsley as an Englishman was unsuitable to the role of Gandhi, too... :)

If we're talking (as a better analogy) an A-Team _remake_, then the question is, is the character in question defined primarily by his physicality as Mr. T was - i.e., African-American, big, muscular, action-type character? In this case, the answer is yes.

I don't think Kolchak is defined by his looks in the same way.

And finally, yes, Darren McGavin made a definite "impression." I'd argue there's no actor in Hollywood who could bring to the table the same look/impression. And I suspect very few would want to - who wants to try to emulate an actor in a 30-year role with no freedom to do their own take on the same basic sarcastic-cynical "role" described above?

There's only one Darren McGavin, and he ain't available. So do we settle for a clone, or an actor who can take the same basic role decribed above (and IMO age, appearance, and nationality aren't the primary aspects of that role) and run with it?

[Shellhead]

At this point, my only major objection is the inclusion of the female colleague character. Comparisons to the X-Files will probably dog this new Kolchak to it's early (mid-season cancellation) grave.

[Gislef]

My main thought on the matter is this.

If folks were this negative back in the 70s (and there was an Internet to distribute it - I touch on this in Moonstone's first trade paperback/compilation in the afterward), then we wouldn't be having this discussion now.

What if, after the Night Stalker movie aired and they started dropping news about the directoin the Kolchak concept was heading with Night Strangler and beyond, we heard stuff like this:

"McGavin's all wrong for the part. He's always played a tough guy who punches his way out of stuff, or a villain. He's the right age but the personality they're going with for Kolchak is all wrong for him. I can't possibly imagine him as a comedy-type guy who "grovels nicely" in front of some villain, drops mirrors, cowers from monsters, etc.."

"What's Richard Matheson doing writing a semi-comedy horror (Night Stangler and TV series based on what he set up in Strangler)? He's a serious s.f. writer."

"What's Dan Curtis doing directing a semi-comedy horror? He does serious horror like 'Dark Shadows' and 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'."


Or to take a few other examples...

"How can they get Richard Dean Anderson to play O'Neill? He's nothing military like Kurt Russell - cripes he was the guy who wouldn't carry a gun on McGyver!"

"Why'd they make Starbuck a woman...?!?"

*shrug* When creative folks do remakes, they change things. That's how it goes.

Misc.:

Yeah, the partner thing concerns me. A little. Yeah, Kolchak was a solo kinda guy. On the other hand, most detective/investigator types in the 70s were. And...it's not the 70s any more. TV these days, and audiences, are geared toward more of a shared kind of characterization thing. And a partnership does open up the dramatic possibilities.

The folks that are saying they won't watch (and I've only heard 1, maybe 2 say that): they'll watch. They may not admit it, but they'll watch if only to tell everyone "We told you so." :D And go into great detail about the problems they saw, even though they never watched it...

[Shellhead]

Yeah, the partner thing concerns me. A little. Yeah, Kolchak was a solo kinda guy. On the other hand, most detective/investigator types in the 70s were. And...it's not the 70s any more. TV these days, and audiences, are geared toward more of a shared kind of characterization thing. And a partnership does open up the dramatic possibilities.


Fair enough. The partner thing concerns me a lot, because 30 years have passed since Kolchak first aired. Nearly half the viewing audience is going to see a man and a woman investigating the occult together and think "X-Files rip-off."

[Gislef]

Yeah, I know, but what can you do? The world moves on. Putting a man solo as the lead on a show immediately diminishes its appeal for 50% of your audience (unless you're counting on the male's sexiness... :) and heaven forbid that Townsend is good-looking).

Besides, sionce X-Files came out every genre show (what few there are - anyone remember 'Miracles'?) inevitably gets compared to X-Files anyway. :mad:

[Pamela Jarvinen]

There is a casting description contained in the following article I have read at the Futon Critic (http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/gofuton.cgi?action=newswire&id=6842):

NIGHT STALKER (ABC) - Stuart Townsend ("The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen") has booked the title role while Gabrielle Union ("Bring It On") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, a revival of the 1972-75 series about a reporter named Carl Kolchak who had a tendency to uncover mysteries involving vampires, serial killers and other freakish occurrences. Carl's character is detailed in the casting notice as: "Mid 30s. A man of intense purpose but zero pretense, a man who takes his own path but pays dearly for it, Kolchak is a talented investigative reporter who's just started working for the L.A. Beacon after leaving a successful journalism career in Phoenix. As a reporter, Kolchak has an uncanny instinct and ability to read people; he rarely takes notes, preferring instead to listen. Capable of charm and sensitivity as well as a steely determination. Star Name Only." Union then is understood to play Perri Reed, who's described as: "Late 20s. Very attractive, Reed is the senior crime reporter at the Beacon; she's been there four years. A born reporter--intelligent, tenacious, resourceful and chronically curious." Dan Sackheim ("Hawaii") is directing the Touchstone Television-based pilot from a script by executive producer Frank Spotnitz ("The X-Files").

[BoosterBronze]

I'm reserving judgment until I see the show, but I beleive the casting gives reason to worry about the integrity of the show to the source material.

If they were remaking "Dark Shadows" with Bernie Mac as Barnabas, I think we'd have reason to think the show is straying.

If they were remaking "Casablanca" with Ray Romano, we'd have reason to think they might be taking a serious departure from the original.

If they were remaking "Battlestar Galactica" and they had a chick as Starbu... wait... damn.

Well, you get my point.

[Pamela Jarvinen]

Mark Snow, who originally did the X-Files sound track will be doing the score for the pilot of Kolchak.

[Gislef]

Finally, I got ahold of Frank Spotnitz and got to do the first of (hopefully) several interviews with him.

Also up-to-date reviews (finally) of all the comics.

http://www.geocities.com/gislef/klchkhom.htm

[Dennis K]

the Kolchak fans commenting about the choice of actors or changes has absolutely nothing to do with their personal opinions of the actor's talent. it has everything to do with their in depth knowledge of the Kolchak character they know and have come to love over the years.

I will be the first to agree that both actors mentioned are fine actors, but in my honest opinion I also agree that not every actor is suited to every part.
You know that is why they have a casting department that interviews and screen tests actors--- to choose the 'best' one for the part. If this particular lead actor is the best one for this part, it is obvious that the role is not minutely like that of the original Kolchak character.

Is it a shallow view, or an honest one, that I would not cast Peewee Herman to play a part in a movie about the life of Mr. T either? Both people have their own personalites and personas, and neither would play the part of the other very well. It would not be their lack of skill, just a fact that they have already made 'their impression' on others as to what their character should look act and feel like. Darren McGavin made the same type of impression on his many Kolchak fans


Excellent post.

[Pamela Jarvinen]

thanks Santa... now don't go bringing me a lump of coal again this year, 'kay? :)

by the way, similar scenario and name, "Kojak (http://www.usanetwork.com/series/kojak/flash.html)"; the new series...Ving Rhames (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000609/) is playing the lead. Anyone remember the original series enough to comment?
I remember the series somewhat, and I can actually compare Ving to Telly Savalas' character very well. Ving exudes that strong, street-smart characterism in many of his other roles. No, Ving isn't greek, but I think he has the 'who loves ya baby' dialogue down pat, just the same.
time will tell if he is able to pull it off, but I am betting it will get good reviews.
in the past few years, cop shows have proved to be award winners with large followings... maybe this one will pay off for USA.