Shadow Chasers
Encyclopedia
Shadow Chasers is a 1985
American mystery
television series created by Brian Grazer
and Kenneth Johnson. It includes 13 episodes, nine of which were shown on the ABC
television network, the remaining four on the Armed Forces Network. It debuted on November 14, 1985, and was produced by Warner Brothers Television.
Shadow Chasers featured straight-laced British anthropologist Jonathan MacKensie (played by Trevor Eve
), who was blackmailed by his department head, Dr. Julianna Moorhouse (Nina Foch
) of the fictional Georgetown Institute Paranormal Research Unit (PRU) , into investigating a supposed "haunting" involving a teenage boy (Bobby Fite
) in return for a research grant. He paired up with flamboyant tabloid reporter Edgar "Benny" Benedek (Dennis Dugan
) in an attempt to short-cut the time involved, and over Moorhouse's objections. Benny and Jonathan did not get along, but managed to solve the case without killing each other. The episodes continued in this vein, with Jonathan and Benny grudgingly learning to respect and admire each other in typical Odd Couple
fashion. Only nine episodes were actually shown in the U.S. Four others were only shown overseas on the Armed Forces network during the original run of the series. The pilot has often rerun on cable, particularly the Mystery Channel.
The show was the lowest-rated of 106 programs for the 1985-1986 TV season, (due in part to being broadcast in the same time slot as NBC's The Cosby Show
and CBS's Magnum, P.I.
) averaging only a 5.8 household rating. This competition had been the focus of a series of humorous commercials for the series, starring luminaries of the time as Ricardo Montalban
of Fantasy Island
and Ron Howard
(Brian Grazer
's partner in Imagine Entertainment
). While heavily advertised during the network's mini-series North and South
, the commercials proved to be prophetic, in that the series drew small audiences, and was frequently pre-empted in some markets.
1985 in television
The year 1985 involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1985.For the American TV schedule, see: 1985-86 United States network television schedule.-Events:*January 1 – VH1 launches in the United States....
American mystery
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
television series created by Brian Grazer
Brian Grazer
Brian Thomas Grazer is an Academy Award-winning American film and television producer who co-founded Imagine Entertainment in 1986 with Ron Howard. Together they have produced many acclaimed films, including Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind .- Career :Brian Grazer began his career as a producer...
and Kenneth Johnson. It includes 13 episodes, nine of which were shown on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television network, the remaining four on the Armed Forces Network. It debuted on November 14, 1985, and was produced by Warner Brothers Television.
Shadow Chasers featured straight-laced British anthropologist Jonathan MacKensie (played by Trevor Eve
Trevor Eve
Trevor John Eve is a British film and television actor. In 1979 he gained fame as the eponymous lead in the detective series Shoestring and is also known for his role as Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd in BBC television drama Waking the Dead.-Early life:Eve was born in Sutton Coldfield,...
), who was blackmailed by his department head, Dr. Julianna Moorhouse (Nina Foch
Nina Foch
Nina Foch was a Dutch-born American actress and leading lady in many 1940s and 1950s films.- Personal life :...
) of the fictional Georgetown Institute Paranormal Research Unit (PRU) , into investigating a supposed "haunting" involving a teenage boy (Bobby Fite
Bobby Fite
Bobby Fite is an American film and television actor. A professional child actor and model since the age of 12, he is best known for his recurring role as J.T...
) in return for a research grant. He paired up with flamboyant tabloid reporter Edgar "Benny" Benedek (Dennis Dugan
Dennis Dugan
Dennis Dugan is an American director, comedian, and actor. He is most famous for his partnership with comedic actor Adam Sandler, with whom he directed the films Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Grown Ups, Just Go With It, and Jack and...
) in an attempt to short-cut the time involved, and over Moorhouse's objections. Benny and Jonathan did not get along, but managed to solve the case without killing each other. The episodes continued in this vein, with Jonathan and Benny grudgingly learning to respect and admire each other in typical Odd Couple
Odd Couple
Odd Couple is a 1979 Hong Kong film directed by Lau Kar Wing , who also stars, alongside Sammo Hung. It was the first film to be released by Gar Bo Motion Picture Company , an independent production company set up by Hung, Lau and producer Karl Maka.The movie is a showcase for the different...
fashion. Only nine episodes were actually shown in the U.S. Four others were only shown overseas on the Armed Forces network during the original run of the series. The pilot has often rerun on cable, particularly the Mystery Channel.
The show was the lowest-rated of 106 programs for the 1985-1986 TV season, (due in part to being broadcast in the same time slot as NBC's The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
and CBS's Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I. is an American television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from 1980 to 1988 in first-run broadcast on the American CBS television network....
) averaging only a 5.8 household rating. This competition had been the focus of a series of humorous commercials for the series, starring luminaries of the time as Ricardo Montalban
Ricardo Montalbán
Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalbán y Merino, KSG was a Mexican radio, television, theatre and film actor. He had a career spanning six decades and many notable roles...
of Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
and Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
(Brian Grazer
Brian Grazer
Brian Thomas Grazer is an Academy Award-winning American film and television producer who co-founded Imagine Entertainment in 1986 with Ron Howard. Together they have produced many acclaimed films, including Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind .- Career :Brian Grazer began his career as a producer...
's partner in Imagine Entertainment
Imagine Entertainment
Imagine Entertainment is a film and television production company founded in 1986 by director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer.Its productions include the television series 24 and Arrested Development and the films Apollo 13 , A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code .-Organization:Karen...
). While heavily advertised during the network's mini-series North and South
North and South (TV miniseries)
North and South is the title of three American television miniseries broadcast on the ABC network in 1985, 1986, and 1994. Set before, during, and immediately after the American Civil War, they are based on the 1980s trilogy of novels North and South by John Jakes. The 1985 first installment, North...
, the commercials proved to be prophetic, in that the series drew small audiences, and was frequently pre-empted in some markets.
Cast
- Dennis DuganDennis DuganDennis Dugan is an American director, comedian, and actor. He is most famous for his partnership with comedic actor Adam Sandler, with whom he directed the films Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Grown Ups, Just Go With It, and Jack and...
as Edgar 'Benny' Benedek - Trevor EveTrevor EveTrevor John Eve is a British film and television actor. In 1979 he gained fame as the eponymous lead in the detective series Shoestring and is also known for his role as Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd in BBC television drama Waking the Dead.-Early life:Eve was born in Sutton Coldfield,...
as Dr. Jonathan MacKensie - Nina FochNina FochNina Foch was a Dutch-born American actress and leading lady in many 1940s and 1950s films.- Personal life :...
as Dr. Juliana Moorhouse
External links
- Shadow Chasers at tv.comTV.comTV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...
- Shadow Chasers Home Page