The Hitchhiker (TV series)
{{Short description|Television show filmed in Vancouver}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = The Hitchhiker.png
| caption = Title screen
| genre = Anthology
Horror
Mystery
| starring = Page Fletcher
Nicholas Campbell
| composer = Paul Hoffert
Shuki Levy
Michel Rubini
Haim Saban
| country = United States
Canada
France
| language = English
| num_seasons = 6
| num_episodes = 85
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = Lewis Chesler (1986–1987)
Riff Markowitz (1986–1987)
Richard Rothstein
Jeremy Lipp
Jacques Methe
David Perlmutter
| runtime = 30 minutes (approx.)
| company = Chester/Perlmutter/Markowitz Productions
| channel = HBO (1983–1987)
First Choice (1983–1987)
USA Network (1989–1991)
La Cinq (1989–1991)
| first_aired = {{Start date|1983|11|23}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1991|02|22}}
}}
The Hitchhiker (also known as Deadly Nightmares in the United Kingdom and Le Voyageur in France)"[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085031/releaseinfo Release Info]" at the IMDb. Retrieved 30 August 2015. is a mystery horror anthology television series. It aired from 1983 to 1987 on HBO, and First Choice and NTV in Canada. The series moved to the USA Network from 1989 to 1991.
Synopsis
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 1984-1991 (82 episodes). There were a total of 85 episodes over six seasons (39 first runs on HBO and 46 first runs on USA).
Production
The series was a United States/Canada/France co-production. It was filmed in Vancouver and Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Paris, 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 36 episodes), and La Cinq, Atlantique & Quintina Productions (Seasons 5-6 for a total of 46 episodes).
The Hitchhiker was created by Lewis Chesler and Riff Markowitz, later joined by Richard Rothstein. The pilot episode consisted of three stories. Richard Rothstein wrote two and Jeph Loeb and Matt Weissman wrote the third.
Paul Hoffert created the theme music for the show.{{Cite web|url=http://www.paulhoffert.com/|title=Parked Page for: paulhoffert.com|website=www.paulhoffert.com}}
Episodes
=Series overview=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Season
! rowspan="2" |Episodes ! colspan="2" |Originally aired ! rowspan="2" |Network |
|---|
| First aired
! Last aired |
| style="background: #F16C6C;"|
| 1 | 3 | {{Start date|1983|11|23}} | {{End date|1983|12|14}} | rowspan="4"|HBO |
| style="background: #EEE8AA;"|
| 2 | 10 | {{Start date|1984|11|13}} | {{End date|1985|04|09}} |
| style="background: #DA70D6;"|
| 3 | 13 | {{Start date|1985|09|15}} | {{End date|1986|04|22}} |
| style="background: #D2B48C;"|
| 4 | 13 | {{Start date|1987|02|17}} | {{End date|1987|05|12}} |
| style="background: #B0C4DE;"|
| 5 | 26 | {{Start date|1989|05|22}} | {{End date|1989|12|16}} | rowspan="2"|USA Network |
| style="background: #FDA364;"|
| 6 | 20 | {{Start date|1990|09|21}} | {{End date|1991|02|22}} |
=Season 1 (1983)=
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{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 1
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Shattered Vows
| DirectedBy = Ivan Nagy
| WrittenBy = Lewis Chesler
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1983|11|23}}
| ShortSummary = A greedy man (Bruce Greenwood) and his older rich wife's greedy stepdaughter become lovers and plan to kill the woman using cursed voodoo-like dolls.
| LineColor = F16C6C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 1
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = When Morning Comes
| DirectedBy = Ivan Nagy
| WrittenBy = Lewis Chesler
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1983|11|30}}
| ShortSummary = A sleazy music producer finds a gorgeous, seductive female intruder hiding in his cabin in the woods during a rainstorm. Is she a dream come true or an escaped homicidal mental patient?
| LineColor = F16C6C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 1
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Split Decision
| DirectedBy = Ivan Nagy
| WrittenBy = Lewis Chesler
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1983|12|14}}
| ShortSummary = In this black comedy, a desperate real estate salesman tries to convince two strange, attractive twin sisters, whose father was a magician, to sell their house.
| LineColor = F16C6C
}}
}}
=Season 2 (1984–85)=
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{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 2
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Lovesounds
| DirectedBy = David Wickes
| WrittenBy = Jeph Loeb & Matthew Weisman
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1984|11|13}}
| ShortSummary = Audio engineer hired to install his strange top notch sound system with a mind of its own for an egotistical music conductor (Klaus Kinski) falls hard for the man's beautiful, neglected wife.
| LineColor = EEE8AA
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 2
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = Remembering Melody
| DirectedBy = Christopher Leitch
| WrittenBy ={{StoryTeleplay|t= Alvin Sapinsley|ex1=George R. R. Martin|ex1label=Based on a short story by}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1984|11|27}}
| ShortSummary = Ted Miller, a self-centered yuppie attorney runs into his old flame and former college roommate Melody, who still clings to her 60s values. When he allows Melody to stay in his apartment, things fall apart when she realizes he has sold out his beliefs for success.
| LineColor = EEE8AA
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 2
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Face to Face
| DirectedBy = David Wickes
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Richard Rothstein|t= Robert J. Avrech}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1984|12|04}}
| ShortSummary = Homely and desperate transsexual Nina Russell hires prominent, but sleazy and arrogant plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Hamilton (Robert Vaughn) to create a more alluring and attractive face for her.
| LineColor = EEE8AA
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 2
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = And If We Dream
| DirectedBy = Mai Zetterling
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Richard Rothstein|t= Leora Barish}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1985|01|15}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = EEE8AA
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 2
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Petty Thieves
| DirectedBy = Christopher Leitch
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Richard Rothstein|t= William Darrid}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1985|01|29}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = EEE8AA
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 2
| EpisodeNumber = 9
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = Videodate
| DirectedBy = Richard Rothstein
| WrittenBy = Richard Rothstein
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1985|02|16}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = EEE8AA
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 2
| EpisodeNumber = 10
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = A Time for Rifles
| DirectedBy = David Wickes
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|ex1=Stanford Whitmore|ex1label=Written by|s=H.A. DeRose}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1985|03|02}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = EEE8AA
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 2
| EpisodeNumber = 11
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = Man at the Window
| DirectedBy = Christopher Leitch
| WrittenBy = Michael Janover
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1985|03|12}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = EEE8AA
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 2
| EpisodeNumber = 12
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = Hired Help
| DirectedBy = Mai Zetterling
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|ex1=Stanford Whitmore|ex1label=Written by|s=Gail Glaze}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1985|03|26}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = EEE8AA
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 2
| EpisodeNumber = 13
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = Murderous Feelings
| DirectedBy = Mai Zetterling
| WrittenBy = Charles Israel
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1985|04|09}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = EEE8AA
}}
}}
=Season 3 (1985–86)=
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{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 3
| EpisodeNumber = 14
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Nightshift
| DirectedBy = Phillip Noyce
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= April Campbell Jones & Bruce Jones|t= William Darrid}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1985|09|15}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = DA70D6
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{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 3
| EpisodeNumber = 15
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = Out of the Night
| DirectedBy = Brian Grant
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Richard Rothstein|t= Marjorie David}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1985|10|29}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = DA70D6
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 3
| EpisodeNumber = 16
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = The Killer
| DirectedBy = Carl Schenkel
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Richard Rothstein & Christopher Leitch|t= April Campbell Jones & Bruce Jones}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1985|11|12}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = DA70D6
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 3
| EpisodeNumber = 17
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = W.G.O.D
| DirectedBy = Mike Hodges
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Richard Rothstein|t= Thomas Baum}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1985|11|26}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = DA70D6
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 3
| EpisodeNumber = 18
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Man's Best Friend
| DirectedBy = Philip Noyce
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= April Campbell Jones & Bruce Jones|t= Nevin Schreiner}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1985|12|10}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = DA70D6
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 3
| EpisodeNumber = 19
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = Ghostwriter
| DirectedBy = Carl Schenkel
| WrittenBy = Thomas Baum
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1986|01|07}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = DA70D6
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 3
| EpisodeNumber = 20
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = O.D. Feelin'
| DirectedBy = Richard Rothstein
| WrittenBy = Richard Rothstein & Christopher Leitch
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1986|01|28}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = DA70D6
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 3
| EpisodeNumber = 21
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = Dead Man's Curve
| DirectedBy = Roger Vadim
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Christopher Leitch|t= John Harrison}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1986|02|11}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = DA70D6
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 3
| EpisodeNumber = 22
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = The Curse
| DirectedBy = Phillip Noyce
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Richard Rothstein & Christopher Leitch|t= Thomas Baum}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1986|02|25}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = DA70D6
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 3
| EpisodeNumber = 23
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = True Believer
| DirectedBy = Carl Schenkel
| WrittenBy = William Kelly
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1986|03|11}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = DA70D6
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 3
| EpisodeNumber = 24
| EpisodeNumber2 = 11
| Title = Last Scene
| DirectedBy = Paul Verhoeven
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Richard Rothstein|t= Robert J. Avrech}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1986|03|25}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = DA70D6
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 3
| EpisodeNumber = 25
| EpisodeNumber2 = 12
| Title = Man of Her Dreams
| DirectedBy = Phillip Noyce
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= April Campbell & Bruce Jones|t= Gary Ross}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1986|04|08}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = DA70D6
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 3
| EpisodeNumber = 26
| EpisodeNumber2 = 13
| Title = One Last Prayer
| DirectedBy = Brian Grant
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= April Campbell & Bruce Jones|t= Leora Barish & Henry Bean}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1986|04|22}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = DA70D6
}}
}}
=Season 4 (1987)=
|background=#D2B48C
|overall=
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|title=
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{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 4
| EpisodeNumber = 27
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Perfect Order
| DirectedBy = Daniel Vigne
| WrittenBy = Marjorie David
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|02|17}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = D2B48C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 4
| EpisodeNumber = 28
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = Minuteman
| DirectedBy = Chris Thomson
| WrittenBy = Thomas Baum
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|02|24}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = D2B48C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 4
| EpisodeNumber = 29
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Dead Heat
| DirectedBy = Kees Van Oostrum
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= William Rontog|t= Maurice Noel}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|03|03}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = D2B48C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 4
| EpisodeNumber = 30
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = Why Are You Here?
| DirectedBy = Chris Thomson
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Christopher Leitch|t= Christopher Leitch & L. M. Kit Carson}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|03|10}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = D2B48C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 4
| EpisodeNumber = 31
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Homebodies
| DirectedBy = Carl Schenkel
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Christopher Leitch & Richard Rothstein|t= Christopher Leitch}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|03|17}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = D2B48C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 4
| EpisodeNumber = 32
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = Doctor's Orders
| DirectedBy = Reynaldo Villalobos
| WrittenBy = Thomas Baum
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|03|24}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = D2B48C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 4
| EpisodeNumber = 33
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title = The Legendary Billy B.
| DirectedBy = Chris Thomson
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Marjorie David|t= L. M. Kit Carson}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|03|31}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = D2B48C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 4
| EpisodeNumber = 34
| EpisodeNumber2 = 8
| Title = In the Name of Love
| DirectedBy = John Laing
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= Richard Rothstein, Christopher Leitch & Jeremy Lipp|t= Jeremy Lipp}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|04|07}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = D2B48C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 4
| EpisodeNumber = 35
| EpisodeNumber2 = 9
| Title = Made for Each Other
| DirectedBy = Thomas Baum
| WrittenBy = Thomas Baum
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|04|14}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = D2B48C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 4
| EpisodeNumber = 36
| EpisodeNumber2 = 10
| Title = Joker
| DirectedBy = Colin Bucksey
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= James Padrino|t= William Gray & Robert Reneau}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|04|21}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = D2B48C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 4
| EpisodeNumber = 37
| EpisodeNumber2 = 11
| Title = Best Shot
| DirectedBy = John Kent Harrison
| WrittenBy = John Kent Harrison
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|04|28}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = D2B48C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 4
| EpisodeNumber = 38
| EpisodeNumber2 = 12
| Title = Secret Ingredient
| DirectedBy = Colin Bucksey
| WrittenBy = Gail Glaze
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|05|05}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = D2B48C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|The Hitchhiker season 4
| EpisodeNumber = 39
| EpisodeNumber2 = 13
| Title = Cabin Fever
| DirectedBy = Clyde Monroe
| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s= April Campbell, Bruce Jones & David Latt|t= April Campbell, Bruce Jones & Jon Boorstin}}
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1987|05|12}}
| ShortSummary =
| LineColor = D2B48C
}}
}}
=Season 5 (1989)=
- "The Martyr" (1989-04-22)
- "In Living Color" (1989-04-29)
- "Dark Wishes" (1989-07-01)
- "Garter Belt" (1989-07-07)
- "Shadow Puppets" (1989-07-08)
- "Renaissance" (1989-07-14)
- "The Miracle of Alice Ames" (1989-07-15)
- "Code Liz" (1989-07-21)
- "Her Finest Hour" (1989-07-22)
- "Together Forever" (1989-07-28)
- "Phantom Zone" (1989-08-04)
- "Spinning Wheel" (1989-08-05)
- "Square Deal" (1989-08-11)
- "Part of Me" (1989-08-12)
- "Fashion Exchange" (1989-08-18)
- "Hootch" (1989-09-16)
- "Coach" (1989-09-30)
- "The Verdict" (1989-11-04)
- "Hit and Run" (1989-11-10)
- "Studio 3X" (1989-11-11)
- "Striptease" (1989-11-17)
- "The Cruelest Cut" (1989-11-18)
- "The Dying Generation" (1989-11-24)
- "My Enemy" (1989-11-25)
- "Power Play" (1989-12-09)
- "Pawns" (1989-12-16)
=Season 6 (1990–91)=
- "Fading Away" (1990-09-21)
- "Tough Guys Don't Whine" (1990-09-28)
- "Riding the Nightmare" (1990-10-05)
- "Strate Shooter" (1990-10-12)
- "Hard Rhyme" (1990-10-19)
- "Toxic Shock" (1990-10-26)
- "New Dawn" (1990-11-02)
- "A Function of Control" (1990-11-09)
- "Trust Me" (1990-11-16)
- "Windows" (1990-11-23)
- "Working Girl" (1990-11-30)
- "White Slaves" (1990-12-07)
- "Tourist Trap" (1990-12-14)
- "Homecoming" (1991-01-11)
- "Living a Lie" (1991-01-18)
- "Made in Paris" (1991-01-25)
- "A Whole New You" (1991-02-01)
- "Offspring" (1991-02-08)
- "Secrets" (1991-02-15)
- "New Blood" (1991-02-22)
Cast
Like the much earlier Twilight Zone series, with which it had a lot of other commonalities, The Hitchhiker served as starting point for many actors, some of whom would go on to gain greater recognition elsewhere. Notable cast members (in alphabetical order):
- Kirstie Alley: Angelica in "Out of the Night" (1985), Jane L. in "The Legendary Billy B." (1987)
- Susan Anspach: Claudia in "Dead Man's Curve" (1986)
- Sandra Bernhard: Rat in "O.D. Feelin" (1986)
- Rachel Blanchard: Karen O'Neill in "Riding the Nightmare" (1990)
- Karen Black: Kay in "Hired Help" (1985)
- Susan Blakely: Melody in "Remembering Melody" (1984)
- Timothy Bottoms: Peter in "Joker" (1987)
- Melissa Brennan: Denise in "Homebodies" (1987)
- Gary Busey: Reverend Nolan Powers in "W.G.O.D." (1985)
- Robert Carradine: Frank in "Garter Belt" (1989)
- Christopher Collet: Jimmy in "Homebodies" (1987)
- Bud Cort: Wax in "Made for Each Other" (1987)
- Peter Coyote: Alex in "Last Scene" (1985)
- Willem Dafoe: Jeffrey Hunt in "Ghostwriter" (1985)
- Joe Dallesandro: Julien 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)
- Zach Galligan: Dick Raskin in "Toxic Shock" (1990)
- John Glover: Miles Duchet in "Striptease" (1989)
- Elliott Gould: Augie Benson in "A Whole New You" (1990)
- Erin Gray: Leslie in "Together Forever" (1989)
- Bruce Greenwood: Jeff Boder in "Shattered Vows" (1983)
- Antony Hamilton: Jim Buckley in "Man of Her Dreams" (1986)
- Lisa Hartman Black: Cheryl in "Her Finest Hour" (1989)
- Jill Hennessy: Marla Cross in "Striptease" (1989), Elisabeth in "Pawns" (1989)
- C. Thomas Howell: Gerald Brumner in "White Slaves" (1990)
- Helen Hunt: Donette in "Why are You Here?" (1987)
- Lauren Hutton: Tess O'Neill in "Riding the Nightmare" (1987)
- Claude Jade: Monique in "Windows" (1990)
- Margot Kidder: Janie in "Nightshift" (1986)
- Klaus Kinski: Kurt Hoffmann in "Love Sounds" (1985)
- Lorenzo Lamas: Tom Astor in "Trust Me" (1990)
- Audrey Landers: Priscilla Packard in "Split Decision" (1983)
- Judy Landers: Frances Packard in "Split Decision" (1983)
- Kelly Lynch: Theresa/Melissa in "Joker" (1987)
- Michael Madsen: John Hampton in "The Man at the Window" (1985)
- Virginia Madsen: Christina in "Perfect Order" (1987)
- David Marshall Grant: Jake in "Windows" (1990)
- Darren McGavin: Old Man in "Nightshift" (1986)
- Belinda Montgomery: Carla Magnuson in "The Man at the Window" (1985)
- Carrie-Anne Moss: Lookalike in "My Enemy" (1989)
- Ornella Muti: Sister Teresa in "True Believer" (1987)
- Franco Nero: Dr. Peter Milne in "Murderous Feelings" (1985)
- Jerry Orbach: Cameron in "Cabin Fever" (1987)
- Geraldine Page: Lynette in "W.G.O.D." (1985)
- Joe Pantoliano: Brother Charles in "The Miracle of Alice Ames" (1988)
- Bill Paxton: Trout in "Made for Each Other" (1987)
- James Remar: Ron in "Homebodies" (1987)
- August Schellenberg: Bob Ames in "When Morning Comes" (1983)
- Michael Schoeffling: Lance in "Dead Man's Curve" (1986)
- Jenny Seagrove: Meg in "Killer" (1985)
- Gene Simmons: Mr. Big in "O.D. Feelin" (1986)
- Tom Skerritt: Detective in "True Believer" (1985)
- Alexandra Stewart: Jackie Winslow in "Shattered Vows" (1983)
- Alan Thicke: Mickey Black in "Tough Guys Don't Whine" (1990)
- Shannon Tweed: Barbara in "Videodate" (1984), Dr. Rita de Roy in "Doctor's Orders" (1987)
- Robert Vaughn: Dr. Christopher Hamilton in "Face to Face" (1984)
- Fred Ward: Luther Redman in "Dead Heat" (1987)
- Alberta Watson: Jill Friedlander in "Remembering Melody" (1984)
- Bruce Weitz: Ray in "Hit and Run" (1989)
- Vincent Grass: Police Officer in "White Slaves", "Part of Me" and "The Miracle of Alice Ames" (1989)
- Olivier Rabourdin: Denis LeBreaux in "A Whole New You" (1991)
Syndication
In 1995, The Hitchhiker entered syndication. To make the HBO episodes suitable for US broadcast television, edits were made, both for content (to remove nudity/gore/adult language) and for running time, to get them down to the standard 22-minute length needed to insert commercials. Reruns in foreign markets, such as Canada and Europe, often still contained the nudity/language/gore.
After 1983, (but prior to the 1995 syndication), the first three episodes had footage edited and/or re-shot to replace Nicholas Campbell with Page Fletcher, in order to preserve continuity during reruns. The Hitchhiker was syndicated by Rysher Entertainment (since absorbed by CBS Television Distribution) up until 2000.
Home media
Lorimar Home Video released four VHS volumes of HBO episodes to the rental market in 1987 (a trade ad for the first two volumes confirms those were also released on Beta format). Volume 1 contained "W.G.O.D", "The Curse" and "Hired Help". Volume 2 consisted of "Nightshift", "Dead Man's Curve" and "Perfect Order". The third volume had "Ghostwriter", "And If We Dream" and "True Believer". The final Lorimar tape had "Videodate", "Man's Best Friend" and "Face to Face". These four volumes were also issued on laserdisc the following year.
Budget label Goodtimes Home Video also released a single VHS volume containing three of the USA Network episodes in 1989. That tape contained "Her Finest Hour", "In Living Color" and "My Enemy".
HBO Home Video released a three-volume set on DVD between 2004–2006, featuring various episodes from the series. The two-disc, three-volume sets contain a selection of 30 episodes, most from the HBO-produced episodes but also including some that were made for the USA Network.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00013D54Y|title=The Hitchhiker: Volume 1|website=Amazon|date=12 April 2005}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006Z2NYA|title=Hitchhiker V2|website=Amazon|date=12 April 2005}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HEVZ94|title=The Hitchhiker, Vol. 3|website=Amazon|date=31 October 2006}}
In Australia, Volumes 1 and 2 were issued together in a single set, but instead of 20 episodes, the Australian set consists of only 17, leaving out "The Legendary Billy B.", "A Whole New You" and "Dead Heat".
In the United Kingdom, only the first HBO volume was released. This particular release contained nine episodes instead of 10. As with the Australian set, "The Legendary Billy B." is omitted from this release.
In Canada, Koch Entertainment released Canadian seasons 1 and 3 (which correspond to US Seasons 1-3 and 5, respectively) on DVD in 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0001E7LL6|title = The Hitchhiker: The Complete First Season|date = 20 April 2004}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0002J9T5G|title = The Hitchhiker: The Complete Third Season|date = 12 October 2004}} On October 18, 2005, Koch released The Complete Fourth Season (which corresponds to US Season 6).{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.ca/Hitchhiker-Complete-Fourth-Season/dp/B000AM6MSC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=382SN1OHUUVW7&keywords=hitchhiker+fourth+season&qid=1642604219&s=dvd&sprefix=hitchhiker+fourth+season%2Cdvd%2C58&sr=1-1 | title=The Hitchhiker- the Complete Fourth Season | date=18 October 2005}} According to Koch, the reason Canadian Season 2 (US Season 4) was not released was due to them not being able to find out who owned the Canadian distribution rights to those particular episodes.
Alliance Home Entertainment released The Hitchhiker: The Complete Collection on DVD in Canada on October 11, 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Hitchhiker-Complete-Collection/15837 |title=The Hitchhiker DVD news: Release Date for the Hitchhiker - the Complete Collection | TVShowsOnDVD.com |access-date=2011-08-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916034525/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Hitchhiker-Complete-Collection/15837 |archive-date=2011-09-16}} Despite being labeled as "The Complete Collection", the set actually combines the three previously-released, incomplete HBO Home Video compilation volumes into one set.
Between the three HBO volumes and the Canadian season sets, all episodes of the show were released on home video except for "Minuteman" and "Doctor's Orders" (both of which came from US Season 4).
As of 2025, The Hitchhiker is not available on HBO's streaming service, Max.
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" | ||||
| Year
! Award ! Result ! Category ! Recipient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=4|1987 | rowspan=4|CableACE Awards | rowspan=3|Nominated | Actress in a Dramatic Series | Jenny Seagrove (For episode "Killer") |
| Actress in a Dramatic Series | Kirstie Alley (For episode "Out of the Night") | |||
| Actor in a Dramatic Series | Michael O'Keefe (For episode "Man's Best Friend") | |||
| style="background-color: #EAEAEA;"
| Won | Actor in a Dramatic Series | Gary Busey (For episode "WGOD") | ||
| 1999 | Gemini Award | Nominated | Best Sound in a Dramatic Program or Series | Tim Archer, W. Michael Beard, Rick Ellis, Thomas Hidderley, and Anthony Lancett |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.thehitchhiker.com Official site] at HBO.com
- {{IMDb title|id=0085031|title=The Hitchhiker}}
- {{epguides|id=Hitchhiker|title=The Hitchhiker}}
- [http://www.manhunter.net/soundtrack/michel-rubini.html Profile and photograph of Michel Rubini (one of the composers of the TV series soundtrack score)]
{{HBONetwork Shows}}
{{USANetwork Shows}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hitchhiker (TV series), The}}
Category:HBO television dramas
Category:1983 American television series debuts
Category:1991 American television series endings
Category:1980s American anthology television series
Category:1980s American drama television series
Category:1990s American drama television series
Category:1980s American science fiction television series
Category:1990s American science fiction television series
Category:1983 Canadian television series debuts
Category:1991 Canadian television series endings
Category:1980s Canadian anthology television series
Category:1980s Canadian drama television series
Category:1990s Canadian drama television series
Category:1980s Canadian science fiction television series
Category:1990s Canadian science fiction television series
Category:French anthology television series
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:USA Network television dramas
Category:Fiction about hitchhiking