Cassandra Blair,
Lara Parker is so wonderful in such films as "Save The Tiger," "Washington Behind Closed Doors,"and in her many appearances in such TV shows as "Kojak"and "Hawaii 5-0." Nevertheless, Ms. Parker's appearance in "Kolchak - The Night Stalker," is NOT, IMHO, her finest moment on the screen (including both 25 feet or 25 inches).
To be fair, this particular "Kolchak" episode involving modern day witches, has to be, IMHO, the worst "Kolchak" episode ever (even worse than that extremely inane episode, where a headless motorcycle rider, carrying a sword and attired like the "immortal" Buzz Hackett, drives around Chicago, decapitating the bikers who had previously "offed" him).
Don't get me wrong. I think that Darrin McGavin is wonderful as Carl Kolchak, the down-on-his-luck newspaper reporter, who invariably gets involved investigating paranormal crimes/stories. In fact, Mr. McGavin shows great wit and humor as Kolchak in these off-the-wall stories involving vampires, werewolves and dopplegangers, etc. (I understand that David Chase, creator/writer of "The Sopranos," was a young and upcoming writer for some of the very amusing "Kolchak" TV episodes, and of course, the original Kolchak TV film, directed by Dan Curtis, is outstanding!)
It's just that the witch episode (with Ms. Parker) is so lame and uninspired. I mean, how dopey is it when those mannequins come to "life" and plod (and, I mean plod!) after Carl Kolchak during the episode's finale? And, as Ms. Parker laughed so frequently (and so convincingly, and completely in character) as Angelique on "Dark Shadows," it's just seems silly to see her laughing in that incessant manner after Carl Kolchak leaves the witches' coven in that scene from this particular Kolchak episode.
I guess every actor has appeared in a film, play or TV show that he or she wishes had never been made. I understand that Paul Newman would not go to see his first onscreen performance in the kitschy "Silver Chalice" until he got drunk with his friends before departing for the movie theater. And, the late Robert Morley, a very fine British character actor, once said that he preferred to appear in stage performances, because if the play was a stinker, it would probably be short-lived and no one would ever see it again (unlike certain tacky episodes of TV series!).
In conclusion, I hope that I have not offended any Lara Parker fans (of whom, I consider myself also to be one). Suffice it to say, I'd rather see this extremely talented and beautiful actress in "Race With The Devil" than in this particularly schlocky episode of "Kolchak - The Night Stalker."
Bob the Bartender, avid Tony Vincenzo fan.
