The Hitchhiker (TV series)

infobox television
show_name = The Hitchhiker


caption = Cast
format = Science Fiction
runtime = 30 mins.
rating =
creator =
starring = Page Fletcher Nicholas Campbell
country = CAN/USA/Flag|France
network = HBO and USA Network
first_aired = 1983
last_aired = 1990
num_episodes = 85
imdb_id = 0085031
tv_com_id = 920

"The Hitchhiker" was a television series mystery anthology that aired from 1983 to 1987 on HBO, First Choice (The Movie Network) in Canada and 1989 to 1990 on the USA Network.

Each episode is introduced and concluded by a mysterious wanderer known only as "The Hitchhiker," and explores the foibles of humanity and its dark spirit. The title character was played by Nicholas Campbell from 1983-1984 (3 episodes), and Page Fletcher from 1984-1990 (82 episodes).

Filming History

The series was a Canada/United States/France co-production. It was filmed in Vancouver and Toronto, Ontario, Canada and France.The Show was produced by Corazon Productions (Season 1 for a total of three episodes), Quintina Productions (Seasons 2-4 for a total of thirty-six episodes), and Atlantique & Quintina Productions (Seasons 5-6 for a total of forty-seven episodes).

In 1996, The Hitchhiker entered syndication and was re-edited (to remove the violence and/or nudity/sexuality that were featured on the HBO runs), They also re-shot the first three Nicholas Campbell episodes with Page Fletcher to preserve continuity during the syndication runs. The Hitchhiker was syndicated by Rysher up until 2000.

There were a total of 85 episodes over six seasons (39 first runs on HBO & 46 first runs on USA).

The series is available on DVD, with two different versions on the market. The HBO 2 disc sets for sale in the US contain episodes that are out of sequence to the order that they appeared in. The Alliance Atlantis DVD box sets for sale in Canada show the episodes in the same order in which they were broadcast in Canada.

Cast

Like the much earlier Twilight Zone series, with which it had a lot of other commonalities, The Hitchhiker served as an important starting point for many actors, some of whom would go on to gain greater recognition elsewhere:

(in alphabetical order):
*Kirstie Alley: Angelica in "Out of the Night" (1985), Jane L. in "The Legendary Billy L." ((1987)
*Sandra Bernhard: Rat in "O.D. Feelin" (1986)
*Karen Black: Kay in "Hired Help" (1985)
*Timothy Bottoms: Star in "Joker" (1987)
*Robert Carradine: Frank in "Garter Belt" (1989)
*Peter Coyote: Alex in "Last Scene" (1985)
*Willem Dafoe: Jeffrey in "Ghostwriter" (1985)
*Joe Dallesandro: Star in "Fashion Exchange" (1988)
*Michael Des Barres: The Wise Man in "O.D. Feelin" (1986)
*Brad Dourif: Billy B. in "The Legendary Billy B." (1987)
*Louise Fletcher: Mother Birch in "Offspring" (1991)
*Elliott Gould: Star in "A Whole New You" (1990)
*Helen Hunt: Donette in "Why Are You Here?" (1987)
*Lauren Hutton: Tess in "Riding the Nightmare" (1987)
*C. Thomas Howell: Star in "White Slaves" (1990) (Ironically, C. Thomas Howell was also the protaganist of another HBO production, The Hitcher)
*Claude Jade: Monique in "Windows" (1990)
*Margot Kidder: Star in "Nightshift" (1986)
*Klaus Kinski: Kurt Hoffmann in "Love Sounds" (1985)
*Kelly Lynch: Theresa/Melissa in "Joker" (1987)
*Lorenzo Lamas: in "Trust Me" (1990)
*Belinda Montgomery: in "The Man at the Window" (1985)
*Michael Madsen: in "The Man at the Window" (1985)
*Virginia Madsen: in "Perfect Order" (1987)
*Darren McGavin: Old Man in "Nightshift" (1986)
*Ornella Muti: Sister Teresa in "True Believer" (1987)
*Franco Nero: Star in "Murderous Feelings" (1985)
*Geraldine Page: Lynette in "W.G.O.D." (1985)
*Bill Paxton: Trout in "Made for Each Other" (1987)
*Michael Schoeffling: Lance in "Dead Man's Curve" (1986)
*Gene Simmons: Mr. Big in "O.D. Feelin" (1986)
*Tom Skerritt: Detective in "True Believer" (1985)
* Shannon Tweed: Barbara in "Videodate" (1984)
* Robert Vaughn: Star in "Face to Face" (1984)
* Fred Ward: Star in "Dead Heat" (1987)
* Alberta Watson: Jill Friedlander in "Remembering Melody" (1984)

External links

* [http://www.manhunter.net/soundtrack/michel-rubini.html Profile and photograph of Michel Rubini (composer of the TV series soundtrack score)]
*
* [http://www.thehitchhiker.com The Official web site of HBO's The Hitchhiker]