Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985 TV series)
A revived anthology series with colorized Hitchcock introductions.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American television anthology series that aired from 1985 to 1989. It is an updated version of the 1955 series of the same name. The series originally ran on NBC for one season and then on the USA Network for three more seasons, totaling 76 episodes.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Horror
- Drama
- Mystery
- Thriller
- Crime
- Presenter
- Alfred Hitchcock (colorized stock footage)
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 4
- Episodes
- 76
- Producer
- Alan Barnette
- Mary Kahn
- Barbara Laffey
- David Levinson
- Susan Whittaker
- Executive producers
- Christopher Crowe
- Jon Slan
- Michael Sloan
Facts from the source article.
Background
In 1985, NBC aired a made-for-television film based upon the series, combining newly filmed stories with colorized footage of Alfred Hitchcock from the original series introducing each segment. The film included four segments: "Incident in a Small Jail," "Man from the South," "Bang! You're Dead!," and "An Unlocked Window." It was a ratings success.
Format
The new series debuted on September 29, 1985, retaining the same format as the film: newly filmed stories (a mix of original works and updated remakes of original series episodes) with colorized introductions by Hitchcock. NBC cancelled it after one season, but USA Network produced three more seasons, shifting production from Los Angeles to Toronto with budget cuts. Directors included Tim Burton, David Chase, Burt Reynolds, Atom Egoyan, Joan Tewkesbury, and Thomas Carter.
Production
Despite good reviews, NBC cancelled the series because, according to NBC Entertainment President Brandon Tartikoff, it did not pair well with Amazing Stories on Sunday nights. Parents seeking an "electronic babysitter" were put off by the shift from colorful whimsy to murder stories, and many chose ABC's Wonderful World of Disney instead. USA Network, which had been airing the original series, saved it by ordering a 13-episode second season.
More in Television Series by Universal Television
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