"The Hitchhiker" (1983) TV series 1983-1991

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Directors:

Roger Andrieux
Tab Baird
(more)

Writers:

Naomi Janzen (11 episodes)
Guy Shulman (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | unknown

Release Date:

23 November 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

Fictional stories are told in this television series by The Hitchhiker. Each story is usually a mysterious thriller.

Plot Keywords:

Hitchhiker | Twist | Violence | Nudity | Anthology

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Page Fletcher

...

The Hitchhiker (15 episodes, 1983-1990)

(more)

Series Directed by
Phillip Noyce		(5 episodes, 1985-1989)
Ivan Nagy		(3 episodes, 1983)
Mai Zetterling		(3 episodes, 1985)
Brian Grant		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Richard Rothstein		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Carl Schenkel		(2 episodes, 1986)
Colin Bucksey		(2 episodes, 1987)
Bruno Gantillon		(2 episodes, 1989-1991)
Aline Issermann		(2 episodes, 1989)
Roger Andrieux		(unknown episodes)
Tab Baird		(unknown episodes)
Timothy Bond		(unknown episodes)
René Bonnière		(unknown episodes)
Randy Bradshaw		(unknown episodes)
Ryszard Bugajski		(unknown episodes)
Jerry Ciccoritti		(unknown episodes)
Robin Davis		(unknown episodes)
Christian Duguay		(unknown episodes)
Mike Hodges		(unknown episodes)
John Laing		(unknown episodes)
René Manzor		(unknown episodes)
Leon Marr		(unknown episodes)
George Mihalka		(unknown episodes)
Jorge Montesi		(unknown episodes)
Mark Rezyka		(unknown episodes)
Jacques Richard		(unknown episodes)
Michael Robison		(unknown episodes)
Reynaldo Villalobos		(unknown episodes)
David Wickes		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
April Campbell Jones		(5 episodes, 1985-1987)
Bruce Jones		(5 episodes, 1985-1987)
Christopher Leitch		(2 episodes, 1986)
Richard Rothstein		(2 episodes, 1986)
Naomi Janzen		(unknown episodes)
Guy Shulman		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Riff Markowitz	....	executive producer / producer (27 episodes, 1983-1987)
Lewis Chesler	....	executive producer / producer (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Wendy Grean	....	producer (1 episode, 1989-1990)
Jeremy Lipp	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
David Perlmutter	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Shuki Levy		(2 episodes, 1987-1989)
Haim Saban		(2 episodes, 1987-1989)

Series Cinematography by
Ron Orieux		(1 episode, 1987)
Glen MacPherson		(1 episode, 1989)
Richard Wincenty		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
John F. Link		(1 episode, 1987)
George Roulston		(1 episode, 1989)

Series Casting by
Hank McCann		(1 episode, 1985-1987)
Ben Rubin		(1 episode, 1989)
Rosina Bucci		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Richard Wilcox		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Carmi Gallo		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
David Fischer		(1 episode, 1986)
Rob Mackenzie		(1 episode, 1987)
Carmi Gallo		(1 episode, 1989)

Series Set Decoration by
Elizabeth Wilcox		(13 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Costume Design by
Nicole Pelletier		(10 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Makeup Department
Salli Baillie	....	hair stylist (1 episode, 1987)
Jan Newman	....	makeup supervisor (1 episode, 1987)
Veronica Ciandre	....	hair stylist (1 episode, 1989)
Debi Drennan	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1989)
Rachel Griffin	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)
Larry Odien	....	key makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Thomas Yee	....	assistant hair stylist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Les Kimber	....	production manager (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Marc Schlather	....	executive in charge of production (3 episodes, 1983)
Bernard Giglio	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Markowitz	....	second second assistant director (26 episodes, 1985-1987)
Tommy Burns	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Frank Ruszczynski	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Phil Gough	....	assistant property master (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Wayne McLaughlin	....	property master (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Clyde Klotz	....	assistant art director (5 episodes, 1985-1986)
Catherine Leighton	....	property master (5 episodes, 1986)
Marc Fiquet	....	props buyer / set dresser (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Jerry Clemans	....	sound re-recording mixer (1 episode, 1987)
Doug Davey	....	sound re-recording mixer (1 episode, 1987)
Chris Haire	....	sound re-recording mixer (1 episode, 1987)
Jeremy Hoenack	....	sound editor (1 episode, 1987)
Rick Patton	....	sound mixer (1 episode, 1987)
Guy Tsujimoto	....	sound recordist (1 episode, 1987)
Joseph Zappala	....	sound editor (1 episode, 1987)
Tim Archer	....	re-recording engineer (1 episode, 1989)
Gordon Chacra	....	boom operator (1 episode, 1989)
Gary Daprato	....	foley (1 episode, 1989)
Rick Ellis	....	re-recording engineer (1 episode, 1989)
Peter Harper	....	foley (1 episode, 1989)
Thomas Hidderley	....	sound mixer (1 episode, 1989)
Anthony Lancett	....	sound effects (1 episode, 1989)
Donald D. Brown	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Yuri Gorbachow	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Eric Lambi	....	assistant sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Michael Clifford	....	special effects coordinator (1 episode, 1987)
Ted Ross	....	special effects supervisor (1 episode, 1989)
James Cummins	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
S.C. Dacy	....	stunts (1 episode, 1984)
Keith Wardlow	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1987)
Minor Mustain	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1989)
Jacob Rupp	....	stunt coordinator / stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Julian Chojnacki	....	camera operator (41 episodes, 1983-1989)
Chris Helcermanas-Benge	....	still photographer (4 episodes, 1985-1989)
Roberto W. Contreras D.	....	second assistant camera (unknown episodes, 1983-1984)
Duane Gullison	....	generator operator (unknown episodes)
Michael McLellan	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)
David Perkins	....	focus puller (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Michelle Allen	....	casting: Canada (1 episode, 1987)
Ben Taylor	....	casting: Los Angeles (1 episode, 1987)
Rosina Bucci	....	casting director: Toronto (1 episode, 1989)
Emily Schweber	....	casting associate: Los Angeles (1 episode, 1989)
Gérard Moulévrier	....	casting: Paris (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lorraine Carson	....	dresser (1 episode, 1989)
Sharon Purdy	....	assistant costume designer (1 episode, 1989)

Series Editorial Department
Patrick Lussier	....	assistant editor (12 episodes, 1987-1989)
Brian Q. Kelley	....	electronic editorial (2 episodes, 1987-1989)
Bernard Giglio	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Andrew Dimitroff	....	music coordinator / music supervisor (2 episodes, 1987-1989)
Michel Rubini	....	composer: title music (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Drew Neville	....	transportation coordinator (1 episode, 1987)
Michael Curran	....	transport coordinator (1 episode, 1989)
Don Dykens	....	driver captain (1 episode, 1989)
Oliver Steins	....	driver (1 episode, 1989)
Mark Van Alstyne	....	head driver (1 episode, 1989)
John van Noord	....	driver (1 episode, 1989)
Don Poole	....	driver (unknown episodes)
Steven Sacrob	....	driver (unknown episodes)
Joe Sanchez	....	transportation coordinator (unknown episodes)
Bruce Scott	....	set driver (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Jim Chad	....	location assistant (20 episodes, 1990-1991)
Tana Tocher	....	caterer (4 episodes, 1983-1984)
Dov Schwarz	....	assistant to producer (unknown episodes, 1991)
Clifford De Spenser	....	dialogue coach (unknown episodes)
Jean-Vincent Fournier	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Christine Haebler	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Stéphane Palay	....	story editor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• La 5
• Lorimar Productions
• Mark/Chesler Productions

Distributors

• Home Box Office (HBO) (1983-1983) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• USA Network (1989-1991) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (laserdisc)
• Lorimar Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Rysher Entertainment (1995-1996)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (part 1) (9 episodes)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (part 2) (8 episodes)

Also Known As:

"Deadly Nightmares" (UK) (video compilation title)
"Le voyageur" (France)

Runtime:

France:26 min | USA:30 min (85 episodes)

Country:

France | Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) (video release) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (video release) | Canada:14A (Manitoba/Ontario) (video release) | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M

Company:

La 5

Trivia:

Nicholas Campbell appeared as the Hitchhiker in the initial trilogy of "tryout" episodes, which originally aired in late 1983. After HBO picked the show up for a full second season, Campbell was unavailable to reprise his role, so Page Fletcher took over the role. For reruns, all of Campbell's scenes were replaced with re-shot footage of Fletcher. Even on the Canadian Season 1 DVD release, a "Fletcher" version of an original Campbell episode got released by mistake.

One Of The Most Underrated Shows In Television

The Hitchhiker was a television series that was truly imaginative with every episode. Each episode was unique in that you as the viewer did not know what to expect. One episode you could be scared as hell and next could leave you in a state of bewilderment. This series also launched many successful acting careers such as Helen Hunt, Gary Busey and others. "The Hitchhiker" was a series that was ahead of its time. It is certainly one of the most underrated shows that I know of....not to mention the most frightening opening songs which helped set the tone for the viewer and the "hitchhiker's" journey in each episode.