A BELATED FAREWELL TO DARREN McGAVIN. The actor who had enough charm to light up a major city died on February 25, 2006. It was always my intention to make mention of it but I haven't managed to do it until now. It's probably because I don't really know what to say. Anyone who has seen Darren McGavin in ANYTHING knows how great he was. What could I possibly add that isn't crystal clear when seeing him up there on the screen? He will perhaps forever be known as Carl Kolchak; and that's not too bad an epitaph. The original Night Stalker was the highest rated TV movie up to that time. Sure, the story and premise were great but the lion's share of the credit has to go to McGavin. Especially when you watch the TV Series which followed (which I've done about 3 times since it was released on DVD last year). The reason for the show's watchability is not really the scripts (which quickly devolved into what was called at the time "the monster of the week"). The reason the show can be watched and re-watched rests on the shoulders of Darren McGavin; he's so damn likeable, charming, funny, fresh and surprising in his acting that the viewer is sorry to see the end credits. We want more. That's probably the greatest testament I can give to Darren McGavin: he always left us wanting more. Very few actors can make that claim. He was, of course, priceless as the father in "A Christmas Story", as Murphy Brown's father and in his small role in David Lean's "Summertime" starring my all-time fave Katharine Hepburn. He was even fantastic in an unsold 1961 TV pilot for a show called "Witchcraft" hosted by Franchot Tone and based on the horror stories of William B. Seabrook (which can be found on Alpha Video's DVD "Lights Out and Other Supernatural Tales). He's the same old Darren McGavin; the episode almost plays like Kolchak: The Early Years! I guess the point I'm trying to make here is that Darren McGavin had talent, personality, charm and inventiveness. Those are precious commodoties these days. And it goes without saying that there will never be another Darren McGavin. We'll miss you, sir.