I've only seen 10 episodes of THE HITCHHIKER, but they were on a DVD anthology. So I'm guessing they represent the best that the show had to offer. If that's the case, then I would hate to see the worst episodes. THE HITCHHIKER was a smarmy, badly written TWILIGHT ZONE retread. It even took its name from a classic TZ episode. How could such swill have garnered multiple Emmy nominations? Payola?I assumed each episode would begin with the Hitchhiker (Page Fletcher) getting out of the car of that week's main character and delivering his narrative. But that was never the case. And his monochromatic, soundbite-length attempts at profundity always fell short, particularly if one compares him to THE TWILIGHT ZONE'S Rod Serling.THE HITCHHIKER focused on bad people getting their comeuppance, either by natural or supernatural means. Alas, the bad people in question are so one-dimensional, I didn't give a damn what happened to them one way or the other. The writing here is surprisingly weak for a show that lasted six years on a major cable network (HBO). While THE TWILIGHT ZONE frequently served up timeless morality plays, THE HITCHHIKER, in a fashion typical of the 1980s, offered style over substance. While it may have been a stepping stone for up-and-comers like Willem Dafoe, Helen Hunt and Kirstie Alley, it was a decided low point for established performers like Darren McGavin, Peter Coyote, Margot Kidder and Gary Busey.If you want an anthology series that appeals to the intellect and not the prurient interest, eschew this crap for THE TWILIGHT ZONE or THE OUTER LIMITS.

I never saw the HBO episodes unedited (My parents refused to get HBO). However, I began to date a girl who liked shows like this and I became hooked.At one point in the series the hitchhiker seem to be Paris. How could a hitchhiker have the money to hike in Europe? My only problem with the show was Page Fletcher--well not so much Page Fletcher but a particular part of Page Fletcher that the directors seem to like a lot--his butt. Apparently a lot of women watched this show as well and liked his tight jeans shots (that's what I read). Maybe all the directors' close up Fletcher's caboose help to introduce the sagging jeans era that rap popularized! Hopefully if the sells of the DVD goes well the show will be put back into late-night syndication.

"The, Hitchhiker" had it all mixed into every episode a little suspense, drama, terror, revenge, sex, and fun. This series always kept you on the edge of your seat you never knew what was going to happen, every episode was well written and the acting was clever the series featured many movie stars and stars of other series. I remember watching most of my episodes of "The, Hitchhiker" in the early 90's on the USA Network it became an every Friday and Saturday night thing with me that was to tune in and watch "The, Hitchhiker". I remember that HBO originally started this series in the mid 80's and it lasted until 1989. Each episode starts out with the eerie theme music which in my opinion was one of the best in TV history. Then Page Fletcher who was just great as the hitchhiker starts each episode off with an introduction speech and then summarized the story with a closing speech in the end. Each episode was full of mystery and suspense one of my favorite was "The, Legendary Billy B." with Kirstie Alley as a nosy reporter who gets what she deserves. Almost every episode featured beautiful women and it's bulk of sexy moments. My favorite and most remembered was "Videodate" with the hot and sexy Shannon Tweed. I miss this series so much I wish that some network would once again start showing reruns. To my knowledge no network shows "The, Hitchhiker" reruns, I was told that certain episodes are available on VHS volume tape I wish I could find the tapes or someone would let me know where I could find the tapes at. "The, Hitchhiker" was one of my favorite series of all-time I suggest you watch many episodes if you haven't, you will be glad you did.

Until the past few years, the only thing I had remembered about this series was the haunting opening theme song. I have since watched many of the episodes, and I have a mixed review. For me, the show seemed to lose some creativity after the second season. The early episodes were often great, and almost every episode was clever, imaginative, and at times, somewhat creepy. For whatever reason, the later episodes just don't interest me the same way. But whether you watch an early show or a late one, this is a program that should be checked out, if only to hear that theme song...