What a Godawful show! Of course, it was foolish to try and update the original. I really dug the first "Night Stalker." Yes, the special effects were lame- I remember one episode where Kolchak was menaced by a guy wearing a rubber alligator head- but the writing was clever and the show was pretty spooky in a dark, early '70's kinda way.
The original wasn't bad at all... kind'a goofy with McGavin dressed like a carnival pitchman.