Series Description

The Highwayman TV show was a 60 minute sci-fi/action series on NBC about a government agent who had, at his disposal, a high-tech 18-wheeler loaded with advanced weaponry and a cab that turned into a helicopter. He used his "supertruck" to patrol the highways and fight evil. He also, occasionally, hauled top secret or special cargo.

The Highwayman Cast

Sam Jones .... The Highwayman
Mark "Jacko" Jackson .... Jetto
Jane Badler .... Ms. Tania Winthrop
Tim Russ .... D.C. Montana
William Conrad .... Narrator
Claudia Christian .... Dawn (Pilot Only)
Stanford Egi .... Mister Toto (Pilot Only)

The Highwayman Trivia

Produced by Glen A. Larson who also produced another series with a high-tech vehicle titled, "Knight Rider". In fact, some of the dashboard on the Highwayman's truck is salvage from "K.I.T.T.", the artifically intelligent car on "Knight Rider".

The Highwayman was a federal marshall who was authorized to use methods that weren't exactly legal if necessary to capture the most dangerous criminals. His truck was called, "Stealth" because of its ability to become invisible in the pilot movie. For some reason, the truck never became invisible again in the regular series episodes. The special effects probably cost too much. Besides the weapons and helicopter cab, the 18-wheeler also had a futuristic car that could slide out of the back of the truck and speed away at tremendous speeds!

The high cost of special effects, explosions, and high-tech modifications to the trucks were probably some of the reasons for The Highwayman being canceled. The higher the production cost for a series, the bigger audience it has to attract to stay on the air.

The narrator of The Highwayman (William Conrad) also narrated several other shows including "The Fugitive (1963)", "Rocky, Bullwinkle, and Friends (1961)", and the 1977 miniseries: "How the West Was Won". He was also the star of several series including "Nero Wolfe (1981)" and "Cannon (1971)".

You know that the futuristic criminals had to be tough by the weaponry that The Highwayman and Jetto used to apprehend them. In addition to all the truck stuff, they also carried sawed-off shotguns rather than pistols and nightsticks.

Tim Russ who played the high-tech repairmant on The Highwayman, also starred as "Tuvok" for seven seasons on the series, "Star Trek Voyager" and as "Frank" on "Samantha Who?". Tim auditioned for the part of "Geordi LaForge on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" but "LeVar Burton" got the role.

The co-creator of The Highwayman was Glenn Larson. Glenn was also the executive producer of the series and even wrote scripts! Glenn was also a major player on the series, "Automan", "Battlestar Galactica", "Buck Rogers", "Galactica 1980", "Knight Rider", "Magnum P.I.", and "Team Knight Rider", among others.

Even though the Highwayman TV show didn't last long in the U.S., it was picked up and broadcast in numerous other countries around the world including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Episodes List With Original Air Dates

Pilot Movie

1. The Highwayman (aka: Terror on the Blacktop) (9/20/1987)

2. Road Ranger (aka: "Road Lord") (3/4/1988)
3. The Hitchhiker (3/11/1988)
4. 'Til Death Duel Us Part (3/18/1988)
5. Summer of '45 (4/1/1988)
6. Send in the Clones (4/8/1988)
7. Billionaire Body Club (4/15/1988)
8. Frightmare (4/22/1988)
9. Warzone (4/29/1988)
10. Haunted Highway (5/6/1988)