List of Midnight Caller episodes
Midnight Caller is a drama television series that aired on NBC. It was created by Richard DiLello, and was one of the first television series to address the dramatic possibilities of the then-growing phenomenon of talk radio.[1][2] The series ran 3 seasons from 1988 to 1991, airing a total of 61 episodes.
Series overview[]
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||
| 1 | 17 | November 25, 1988 | May 9, 1989 | ||
| 2 | 21 | September 19, 1989 | May 22, 1990 | ||
| 3 | 23 | September 28, 1990 | May 17, 1991 | ||
Episodes[]
Season 1 (1988–89)[]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by [3] | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code [3] | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Conversations with the Assassin" | Thomas Carter | Richard DiLello | October 25, 1988 | 201062 | 21.7[4] |
| Series pilot. After accidentally shooting his partner, policeman Jack Killian retires from the force and takes up a job as a late night radio talk show host. But Jack is soon pulled back into his former crime-fighting lifestyle when a female serial killer who calls herself "Angel", and is infatuated with Jack, begins calling the station and telling him about all of her murders. Guest stars: Jenny Wright, Kay Lenz. | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "12 Gauge" | Robert Butler | David Israel | December 6, 1988 | 177403 | 19.6[5] |
| Jack tries to stall a spurned lover calling his radio from committing a murder-suicide with his girlfriend while the police try to track the man down and rescue the woman. Guest stars: Ed O'Neill, Yvette Nipar. | |||||||
| 3 | 3 | "After It Happened" | Mimi Leder | Stephen Zito | December 13, 1988 | 177404 | 18.7[6] |
| Jack helps an old flame of his track down the man who impregnated her after a one-night stand...which also left her infected with HIV. Guest stars: Julia Montgomery, Richard Cox. | |||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Payback" | Kevin Hooks | TBA | December 20, 1988 | 177405 | 19.7[7] |
| 5 | 5 | "Bank Job" | Michael Zinberg | Stephen Zito | January 3, 1989 | 177407 | 18.7[8] |
| While trying to cash a cheque, Jack finds himself taken hostage in a bank robbery. Guest stars: Charles Cioffi, Matt Clark, Susan Walden. | |||||||
| 6 | 6 | "The Execution of John Saringo" | Reynaldo Villalobos | Richard DiLello | January 10, 1989 | 177406 | 22.1[9] |
|
Jack interviews death row inmate John Saringo (Joe Spano) just before he is executed. Spano won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his performance as Saringo. | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | "A Kiss for the Dying" | Peter Levin | TBA | January 17, 1989 | 445158 | 22.5[10] |
| After his son is suspected for the death of a girl he was seen with, a newspaper publisher eyeing Jack for a job uses his influence to get his son off without charges, begins a smear campaign against the deceased girl, and even provides a witness who Jack interviews on his radio show. However, when Jack starts looking into the girl’s death, he makes a startling discovery. Guest stars: Peter Michael Goetz, Darrell Fetty, Richard Bradford, Suzanne Weber. | |||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Trash Radio" | Larry Gross | Carol Mendelsohn | January 31, 1989 | 445159 | 19.9[11] |
| Guest stars: Mitchell Laurance, , Robert Romanus. | |||||||
| 9 | 9 | "No Exit" | John Patterson | TBA | February 7, 1989 | 445152 | 18.8[12] |
| 10 | 10 | "Fathers and Sins" | Robert Singer | TBA | February 14, 1989 | 445160 | 20.7[13] |
| 11 | 11 | "The Fall" | Peter Levin | TBA | February 21, 1989 | 445161 | 20.0[14] |
| 12 | 12 | "Promise to a Dead Man" | Eric Laneuville | TBA | March 7, 1989 | 445162 | 21.6[15] |
| 13 | 13 | "Blame It on Midnight" | Bradford May | TBA | March 28, 1989 | 445164 | 19.0[16] |
| 14 | 14 | "Ethan's Call" | Matt Clark | TBA | April 4, 1989 | 445166 | 18.7[17] |
| The son of the officer Jack shot and killed ask's Jack for help. | |||||||
| 15 | 15 | "Baby Chase" | Larry Gross | TBA | April 11, 1989 | 445163 | 19.2[18] |
| Jack turns to his audience for help when a doctor's baby is kidnapped by a young woman with mental health problems. | |||||||
| 16 | 16 | "Wait Until Midnight" | Eric Laneuville | TBA | May 2, 1989 | 445167 | 21.5[19] |
| Proceeds from an armoured truck robbery arrive at the address of a blind woman by mistake. Starring David Morse and Meg Foster | |||||||
| 17 | 17 | "Blues for Mr. Charlie" | Robert Singer | TBA | May 9, 1989 | 445165 | 21.7[20] |
Season 2 (1989–90)[]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by [3] | Original air date | Prod. code [3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 1 | "The Tarnished Shield" | Kevin Hooks | September 19, 1989 | 445903 |
| A friend of Jacks commits suicide after calling into the show, and this sets off a chain of events that causes jack to mistrust his previous training officer. | |||||
| 19 | 2 | "Evil Is Live Spelled Backward (Part 1)" | Bradford May | September 26, 1989 | TBA |
| A caller to the show appears to be killing random people to get Jacks attention | |||||
| 20 | 3 | "Evil Is Live Spelled Backward (Part 2)" | Bradford May | October 3, 1989 | TBA |
| As the killings continue, no one is safe. | |||||
| 21 | 4 | "Mercy Me" | Michael Zinberg | October 24, 1989 | 445904 |
| 22 | 5 | "Watching Me, Watching You" | Colin Bucksey | October 31, 1989 | 445905 |
| Devon is stalked | |||||
| 23 | 6 | "Take Back the Streets" | Colin Bucksey | November 7, 1989 | 445907 |
| A confrontation between drug dealers and residents of the street they use for dealing leads to a tragic end. | |||||
| 24 | 7 | "Someone to Love" | Robert Singer | November 14, 1989 | 445906 |
| Jacks ex Tina Cassidy returns, now dying of AIDS and asks Jack to help settle her affairs in her final days. | |||||
| 25 | 8 | "End of Innocence" | Colin Bucksey | November 28, 1989 | 445908 |
| Jack comes to the aid of a woman when she is jailed for refusing to reveal the location of her daughter, who she believes is being abused by her ex-husband. | |||||
| 26 | 9 | "Blood Red" | James Quinn | December 5, 1989 | 445909 |
| 27 | 10 | "Do You Believe in Miracles?" | Robert Singer | December 19, 1989 | 445910 |
| Jack gets dragged into a situation involving a missing Church statue and a turf war. | |||||
| 28 | 11 | "Based on a True Story" | Michael Zinberg | January 16, 1990 | 445911 |
| The 1989 San Francisco earthquake hits and Jack has to help residents connect with their families over the radio. | |||||
| 29 | 12 | "Planes" | Randall Zisk | January 30, 1990 | 445912 |
| When a young boy is left by his mother and her boyfriend at a gas station, Jack try's to help him stay out of trouble | |||||
| 30 | 13 | "Kid Salinas" | James Quinn | February 6, 1990 | 445913 |
| Jack helps an illegal alien boxer being taken advantage of by his promoter. | |||||
| 31 | 14 | "A Snitch In Time (Part 1)" | Eric Laneuville | February 20, 1990 | 445914 |
| After a hit and run Jack is accused of the death of a young lady, with a witness claiming he told her all about what happened. | |||||
| 32 | 15 | "A Snitch In Time (Part 2)" | Eric Laneuville | February 27, 1990 | 445915 |
| The case against Jack mounts up, but Jack starts to see thee issues with the statements. | |||||
| 33 | 16 | "The Reverend Sound Bite" | Peter Levin | March 6, 1990 | 445916 |
| A young black man is seemingly attacked and blames the SFPD, namely Carl, Jack tries to prove his friend is innocent, while also showing the Reverend has an agenda for getting involved. Carl also deals with issues relating to his marriage. | |||||
| 34 | 17 | "Wrong Side of the Wall" | Matt Clark | March 27, 1990 | 445918 |
| An ex convict is trying to go straight but his old partner wants him for one last job, he asks Jack to help him return to prison by taking him hostage in the station. | |||||
| 35 | 18 | "Three for the Money" | Robert Singer | April 3, 1990 | 445917 |
| Jacks Father and brother get mixed up with a girl and a missing Buddha. | |||||
| 36 | 19 | "Protection" | James A. Contner | May 1, 1990 | 445919 |
| Jack has to help a couple being targeted by a drug cartel. | |||||
| 37 | 20 | "The Hostage Game" | Charles Robert Carner | May 8, 1990 | 445921 |
| When a childhood friends brother is taken hostage on a plane, Jack try's to calm the man down, but fearing he has no option but to try and get his brother released, he takes drastic action, leading to a tragic showdown. | |||||
| 38 | 21 | "Nighthawk's Got the Blues" | Robert Singer | May 22, 1990 | 445922 |
| Jack is not himself, he is upsetting everyone, including his listeners and not even his friends can talk to him. Devon has to make a choice that will be difficult for her, she also tells Jack a personal secret. | |||||
Season 3 (1990–91)[]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by [3] | Original air date | Prod. code [3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 1 | "Burned Beyond Recognition" | Eric Laneuville | September 28, 1990 | 446251 |
| Jack takes part in a bachelor auction for charity and discovers the woman who buys a date from him is a murder suspect. | |||||
| 40 | 2 | "The Language Barrier" | James A. Contner | October 5, 1990 | 446252 |
| Problems between Italian and Chinese people living in North Beach come to a head, and Billie Po gets caught up in the troubles. | |||||
| 41 | 3 | "Old Friends" | Robert Singer | October 12, 1990 | 446253 |
| Jack investigates the nursing home where his father figure recently died. | |||||
| 42 | 4 | "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" | James Quinn | October 19, 1990 | 446254 |
| Devon has a surprise when Richard Clark returns and ask her to marry him, Jack is incensed that he has come back and just wants to take Devon away. | |||||
| 43 | 5 | "Sale Away" | Rob Bowman | October 26, 1990 | 446255 |
|
Jack, Richard and Devon argue about almost everything, Devon gives birth to a baby boy and makes a decision that will change all there lives. Note: Last regular appearance of Wendy Kilbourne First appearance of Lisa Eilbacher | |||||
| 44 | 6 | "Life Without Possibility (Part 1)" | Eric Laneuville | November 2, 1990 | 446256 |
| After convicts from a local prison revolt and take some guards hostage, they call the station and ask Jack to air their grievances on the air. | |||||
| 45 | 7 | "Life Without Possibility (Part 2)" | Eric Laneuville | November 9, 1990 | 446257 |
| As tensions rise, Killian becomes the target of a man he put away. | |||||
| 46 | 8 | "Ryder on the Storm" | Fred Gerber | November 16, 1990 | 446258 |
| A DJ from Killian's past comes back to San Francisco looking for forgiveness for an accident that happened 20 years before. | |||||
| 47 | 9 | "Home to Roost" | Robert Singer | December 7, 1990 | 446259 |
| Killian's friend, a cop about to retire, is accused by an immigrant of atrocities during the Vietnam War. | |||||
| 48 | 10 | "With Malice Towards One" | James Quinn | December 14, 1990 | 446274 |
|
Jack recounts a story from soon after he started at KJCM, which involves a released convict seeking revenge, not just on Jack but a former girlfriend of both men. Note: Features a Special Guest Star appearance by Wendy Kilbourne As Devon King | |||||
| 49 | 11 | "That's Amore" | James A. Contner | January 4, 1991 | 446260 |
| After a chef is kidnapped from a restaurants that Nick owns, Jack gets involved in the lives of the chef, his wife and the man she left him for. | |||||
| 50 | 12 | "Her Dirty Little Secret" | Betty Thomas | January 25, 1991 | 446261 |
| 51 | 13 | "Uninvited Guests" | James Quinn | February 1, 1991 | 446262 |
| 52 | 14 | "Play Blotto... and Die" | Eric Laneuville | February 8, 1991 | 446263 |
| A man who was taken into witness protection asks Jack to help him collect lottery winnings of $46 million, while avoiding the man that wants him dead. | |||||
| 53 | 15 | "Can't Say N-N-No" | Randall Zisk | February 15, 1991 | 446264 |
| 54 | 16 | "Blood Ties" | Win Phelps | March 1, 1991 | 446265 |
| 55 | 17 | "The Added Starter" | Eric Laneuville | April 5, 1991 | 446266 |
| 56 | 18 | "The Loneliest Number" | Peter Levin | April 12, 1991 | 446268 |
| 57 | 19 | "A Cry in the Night" | Philip J. Sgriccia | April 19, 1991 | 446267 |
| 58 | 20 | "The Leopard" | James Quinn | April 26, 1991 | 446269 |
| 59 | 21 | "The City of Lost Souls (Part 1)" | Eric Laneuville | May 3, 1991 | 446270 |
| 60 | 22 | "The City of Lost Souls (Part 2)" | James Quinn | May 10, 1991 | 446271 |
| 61 | 23 | "The City of Lost Souls (Part 3)" | James Quinn | May 17, 1991 | 446272 |
References[]
- ^ John J. O'Connor (November 14, 1989). "Review/Television; 'Midnight Caller' Continues Its AIDS Story". The New York Times. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Allan Johnson (January 2, 1996). "Downright Nasty – Return Of 'American Gothic' Puts Gary Cole's Evil Sheriff Back In Charge". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
...NBC's 1988-91 series "Midnight Caller," which was light years ahead of its time when it came to dealing with talk radio.
- ^ a b c d e f From the United States Copyright Office catalog: "Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "Midnight Caller"]". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. November 2, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306129406.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. December 14, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306143538.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. December 21, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306159082.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. December 29, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306127986.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. January 11, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306165080.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. January 18, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306171627.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. January 25, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306147740.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. February 8, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306179902.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. February 15, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306163263.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. February 22, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306175741.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. March 1, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306152931.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. March 15, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306172200.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. April 5, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306171172.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. April 12, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306166319.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. April 19, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306176608.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. May 10, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306210811.
- ^ "Nielsen ratings". USA Today. May 17, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306203436.
External links[]
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- Lists of American drama television series episodes