After the success of the X-Files, inspired by the TV movies and series Kolchak The Night Stalker starring Darren McGavin, X-Files producer and writer Frank Spotnitz rebooted Kolchak as Night Stalker. The pilot aired on September 29, 2005. This time around, Carl Kolchak (originally played by McGavin) was played by Stewart Townsend, and Tony Vincenzo (originally played by Simon Oakland) was now portrayed by Cotter Smith. In this version, the news service is The Beacon. The series introduced Perri Reed (Gabrielle Union) and Jain McManus (Eric Jungmann). In this version, Kolchak was still a reporter following strange cases but was also in search of the killer of his wife. Darren McGavin, in his distinctive Kolchak garb, made a cameo by being digitally dropped into the background of a scene using footage taken from one of the TV movies. Unfortunately, it was up against CSI that killed it in the ratings, so only 6 of the 10 produced episodes aired. When Syfy Channel obtained the series, they also aired the ones not shown on ABC. ("Pilot" Night Stalker, TV Event)
