Old Time Radio: The Zero Hour (1973)

 Mutual Radio sought to give the CBS Radio Mystery Theatre some competition. Unfortunately, The Zero Hour was a half hour show, as opposed to the hour long Mystery Theatre. The series lasted 10 months (September 1973-July 1974) encompassing two "seasons" and formats to match.

Originally, Zero Hour would feature a complete five part serial each week. That didn't work, due largely to a glaring lack of promotion. A format change enacted in the spring of 1974 shifted the focus to one featured star per week, appearing all five days in five different dramas. This format offered a diversity in its leads from singer Mel Torme to veteran actors Joseph Campanella (ex-Mannix, The Bold Ones), Peter Lupus (Mission: Impossible), and Dick Sargent (ex-Bewitched, Broadside, et al). Rod Serling (ex-Night Gallery, Twilight Zone) is the series host.

From June 1974, here's "Riders Wanted: Share Expenses". Lupus is joined by Vic Perrin (ex-The Outer Limits), Julie Bennett, Hans Conreid, and Casey Kasem (American Top 40, etc.).

Standard fare, but, again, Mutual shot itself in the collective foot by not doing enough to call attention to this series, which has not been released on CD or DVD. There was an audio tape release, but that's it.

Rating: A-.