Frank Spotnitz Movies

The ABC sci-fi/horror/thriller series Night Stalker was not so much a remake of the cult 1974 series Kolchak: The Night Stalker as it was a "reimagining" of the earlier show -- at least according to the series' producer, X-Files alumnus Frank Spotnitz. Stuart Townsend stepped into the old Darren McGavin role as maverick journalist Carl Kolchak, whose mission in life was to alert the world of various and sundry paranormal, supernatural, and extraterrestrial activities -- only to be made the fool each week when evidence substantiating his stories of ghost, monsters, spacemen, etc. mysteriously disappeared. Instead of answering to an acerbic, disbelieving editor (the role played by Simon Oakland in the original show), Kolchak verbally sparred, "Mulder and Scully" fashion, with his erstwhile partner, doubting reporter Perri Reed (Gabrielle Union). And whereas the "old" Kolchak was merely trying to make a living and restore his journalistic reputation, the "new" Kolchak was motivated by the unsolved murder of his wife -- which he claimed was at the hands of supernatural forces, but which the authorities suspected was his own handiwork (a dash of Fugitive there). The weekly, 60-minute Night Stalker premiered September 29, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In part one of a two-part story, border patrol guards in Northern Idaho find the remnants of a spaceship similar to the one confronted by Scully (Gillian Anderson) and the missing Mulder in Africa. Investigating, agents Reyes (Annabeth Gish) and Doggett (Robert Patrick) are frustrated by the coverup tactics of the FBI. Meanwhile, sinister forces express an unhealthy interest in Scully's baby. Originally broadcast on March 3, 2002, "Provenance" was followed by its sequel, "Providence," one week later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While pursuing his theory that shark cartilage can be used as a cure for cancer, immunologist Prof. Houghton (Timothy Landfield) is the victim of a savage attack. Former Area 51 operative Morris Fletcher (Michael McKean) is convinced that the Lone Gunmen (Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund, Bruce Harwood), the nerdy trio of conspiracy theorists who have assisted in many an X-Files investigation, are somehow connected to the assault on Houghton. Further complicating matters is the presence of two other familiar characters: the Lone Gunmen's friendly nemesis, Yves Adele Harlow (Zuleikha Robinson) and erstwhile do-gooder Jimmy Bond (Stephen Snedden). Its title drawn from an Internet phrase referring to the moment in which a popular TV show "goes bad" (e.g. Fonzie's water-ski jump over a shark on Happy Days), "Jump the Shark" first aired on April 21, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Michael Mann of Miami Vice fame was the principle guiding force behind the CBS cop drama Robbery Homicide Division. In a major casting coup, Mann managed to sign the extremely "hot" film star Tom Sizemore for the lead role of Sam Cole, a hard-nosed LAPD robbery-homicide investigator. As head of a crack team of gumshoes, the obsessive, relentless Cole solved all manner of baffling urban crimes. Lensed on high-definition film and possessed of the "cutting-edge" style which typified the Michael Mann ouevre, Robbery Homicide Division first aired on September 27, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The ninth and final season of X-Files opened with part one of the two-part thriller "Nothing Important Happened Today." The title was lifted from the diary entry made by England's King George III on July 4, 1776 -- and in both cases, the statement is misinformed, to say the least. Picking up where season eight left off, Scully (Gillian Anderson) is still wondering why her newborn baby was not captured by aliens. The plot proper begins when Scully's fellow agent Doggett (Robert Patrick) investigates the death of an EPA official whose car was forced off a bridge by a strange woman (Lucy Lawless) whose life he had saved. All the loose plot strands are knotted together by an apparent conspiracy involving Assistant Director Follmer (Cary Elwes), which seems to have been concocted to discredit evidence gathered by the missing-in-action Mulder. Part one of "Nothing Important Happened Today" originally aired on November 11, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having previously contacted the missing Mulder with claims that his wife had been abducted by aliens on a number of occasions, Duffy Haskell (Jay Acovone) now insists that his wife was murdered after giving birth to an alien baby, and that the infant was kidnapped. As Doggett (Robert Patrick) investigates Haskell's allegations, Scully (Gillian Anderson) follows a trail of clues to Zeus Genetics, an artificial insemination clinic in Maryland. Upon learning of the involvement of her own obstetrician, Dr. Parenti (Steven Anderson), and stumbling upon several other disturbing coincidences, Scully is faced with the horrific possibility that her own unborn baby is the product of alien fertilization. "Per Manum" made its American TV bow on February 18, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

"Half man, half reptile, pure terror." This was how the print ads described the main "villain" in this action-packed, and slightly self-mocking, X-Files episode. With Scully (Gillian Anderson) on maternity leave, Doggett (Robert Patrick) is temporarily partnered with novice agent Leyla Harrison (Jolie Jenkins) -- who happens to be a big fan of Scully and Mulder (David Duchovny), and has committed tons of X-Files trivia and minutiae to memory. (This character was named after a real-life X-Files fan, who tragically succumbed to cancer a few months before this episode was aired.) While investigating a murder-disappearance case in Ellicot, NY, Doggett and Harrison suddenly vanish without a trace. Though no longer connected with the agency, Mulder conducts his own search for the missing agents, ultimately confronting the wealthy Herman Stites (Zach Grenier), who is conducting some rather bizarre experiments in his mansion. Filled to the brim with inside jokes and pop-culture references, "Alone" was originally telecast on May 6, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having returned and (apparently) recovered from his previous ordeals, Mulder (David Duchovny) wants to return to the X-Files -- only to find that Deputy Director Kersh (James Pickens Jr.) wants Mulder out of the FBI altogether. Thus it is that Mulder unofficially attempts to solve the case of census worker Howard Salt (Gary Bristow), who apparently committed suicide after rushing onto the lawn of the White House, raving about an impending alien takeover. Found in the dead man's hand was a CD-ROM containing a three-word message: "Fight the Future." Risking arrest if he joins Scully (Gillian Anderson) in pursuing this case, Mulder nonetheless follows up whatever leads he has handy -- including the recent escape of the imprisoned Absolom (Judson Scott), the sinister UFO cultist who may have been responsible for Mulder's lengthy disappearance. "Three Words" originally aired on April 8, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While going through Mulder's old files, Agent Doggett (Robert Patrick) discovers that his predecessor was pursuing a case without informing Scully of the actual particulars. Hoping that this case will lead him to the missing Mulder, Doggett resumes the investigation. He ends up in Squamash, PA, where the citizens are held in thrall by legends of a shadowy forest creature that feeds on human flesh. The key to the solution seems to rest with Marie (Natalie Radford), a woman who had suddenly vanished several years earlier -- and just as suddenly reappeared. The only X-Files episode in which neither David Duchovny nor Gillian Anderson appear (save for a couple of stock-footage flashbacks), "The Gift" first aired on February 4, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Part one of a two-part X-Files story, "Sein und Zeit" begins with the disappearance of little Amber Lynn LaPierre (Megan Corletto), who was apparently abducted while sleeping in her own bed. The girl's father (Mark Rolston) suffered visions of the child's demise, while the mother (Shareen J. Mitchell) received a cryptic ransom note, which she well might have written herself (shades of the JonBenet Ramsey case). Investigating, Mulder and Scully follow the evidence to an imprisoned woman (Kim Darby) who'd been convicted of a child's kidnapping and murder back in 1987 -- while Mulder comes across clues that may lead to solving the long-ago disappearance of his own sister. Originally telecast February 6, 2000, "Sein und Zeit" was written by X-Files producers Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Real-life magician Ricky Jay plays the title role in the X-Files episode "The Amazing Maleeni." Responding to a heckler in the audience, Maleeni performs the infamous "Egyptian Dedi," in which his head appears to turn a full 360 degrees. A scant few minutes after the performance, the magician's decapitated body is found in his car. Scully assumes that the victim was murdered, pure and simple, but Mulder suspects otherwise, especially after learning that Maleeni's heckler was disgruntled rival magician Billy LaBonge (Jonathan Levit). First broadcast January 16, 2000, "The Amazing Maleeni" was written by Vince Gilligan, John Shiban, and Frank Spotnitz. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With Y2K rapidly approaching, Mulder and Scully pay particular attention to an apocalyptic cult called the Millennium Group. Their investigation begins with an apparent grave robbery -- which takes a peculiar turn when the evidence proves that the missing corpse broke out of the casket. The agents seek out the assistance of criminal profiler Frank Black (Lance Henriksen), repeating his role from the TV series Millennium, who expresses a pronounced lack of willingness to cooperate with the authorities. First telecast November 28, 1999, "Millennium" was written by Vince Gilligan and Frank Spotnitz. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide