[Rondadoronron]

Kolchak:the night stalker
The Ripper.
I thought id give the Kolchak box set a spin as its been awhile since I last watched it.
What I luv about the series is it completely relies on Darren Mcgavin,he really sells the show,even given the most ludicrous plot lines and dialogue his performance is superb throughout the entire series and some of the stories are straight out of Scooby Doo school of writing.Aided by his ever put upon editor Tony Vincenzo played by the wonderful Simon Oakland, a lot of the comedy comes from there love hate relationship.
The Ripper see's Kolchak being temporarily demoted to answering Dear Emily letters by Tony Vincenzo, for impersonating a Police Chief.Meanwhile Ron Updike has been given the job of investigating the Ripper murders,a copycat killer of Jack The Ripper is stalking the streets of Chicago.
Well its the 1970's so we get go-go dancers,masseurs and hookers and most of the men wearing paisley shirts.A splendidly gaudy episode with a goofy story and some nice comedy moments with rival reporter Jane Plum.One of the highlights of the episode has Kolchak caught in massage parlor sting set up by the police.
"lewd proposal he wanted to watch me with someone"
My only criticism would be the direction,it is a bit shoddy in places,mainly in the action scenes,for example the scene were the police chase the Ripper over the rooftops is abit messy.Also Ruth McDevitt who plays Emily in later episodes turns up in this episode but as a totally different character.But overall a good start to the series.