Alfred Hitchcock Presents, sometimes called The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents, is an American television anthology series that orignally aired on NBC for one season from September 29, 1985 to May 4, 1986, and on the USA Network for three more seasons, from January 24, 1987, to July 22, 1989, with a total of four seasons consisting of 76 episodes. The series is an updated version of the 1955 eponymous series.

Background

In 1985, NBC aired a new 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 segments were "Incident in a Small Jail," adapted and directed by Joel Oliansky, "Man from the South," adapted and directed by Steve De Jarnatt, "Bang! You're Dead!," adapted by Harold Swanton and Christopher Crowe and directed by Randa Haines, and "An Unlocked Window," adapted and directed by Fred Walton. The film was a ratings success.

Format

A new Alfred Hitchcock Presents series debuted on September 29, 1985 and retained the same format as the film – newly filmed stories (a mixture of original works and updated remakes of original series episodes) with colorized introductions by Hitchcock. The new series lasted only one season before NBC cancelled it, but it was then produced for three more seasons by USA Network (which is now co-owned with NBC under NBCUniversal), and shifted production from Los Angeles to Toronto, where the show's new Canadian producing partner Paragon Motion Pictures was based, along with several budget cuts to the series.[1][2] Name directors who helmed episodes included Tim Burton, David Chase, Burt Reynolds, Atom Egoyan, Joan Tewkesbury, and Thomas Carter.

Episodes

Main article: List of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985 TV series) episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
Pilot film4May 5, 1985 (1985-05-05)
122September 29, 1985 (1985-09-29)May 4, 1986 (1986-05-04)NBC
213January 24, 1987 (1987-01-24)April 18, 1987 (1987-04-18)Syndication
321February 6, 1988 (1988-02-06)August 6, 1988 (1988-08-06)Syndication
420October 8, 1988 (1988-10-08)July 22, 1989 (1989-07-22)Syndication

Notable guest stars

Series pilot

Other episodes

References

  1. ^ Schneider, Steve (September 28, 1986). "CABLE TV NOTES; Five Series to Bow on USA Network". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Boyer, Peter J.; Times, Special To the New York (July 29, 1986). "PRODUCERS CUT COSTS OF ACTION SHOWS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 13, 2023.

External links