This futuristic adventure series first aired on NBC in March 1988Β and lasted until May.Β Critics described it as a cross between Mad MaxΒ (1979) and Knight Rider.
In an effort to battle crime and corruptionΒ in areas where laws often terminate (atΒ county lines on long stretches of highway), the Justice
Department institutes a test program called theΒ Stealth Project and creates a new breed of lawmenΒ called Highwaymen who work in secret.
Sam Jones – of Flash GordonΒ (1980) fame – was the Highwayman, a US Marshal who travelled around in a heavily-armoured high-tech 18-wheeler that could turn into a helicopter.
His partner was Jetto, played by an Aussie sportsman called ‘Jacko’ (pictured at left) whose main claim to fame in the US was a series of TV commercials for Energizer batteries (“OY!!!”). Jacko wasn’t much of an actor but he certainly added some lunatic charm to the show.
A girl known only as Dawn (Claudia Christian) was Highwayβs originalΒ contact. She was a government agent who posedΒ as a disc jockey and hosted ‘The Dawn Patrol’ onΒ an unnamed 50,000-watt clear channel station (“TheΒ Mighty 690 from New Orleans”).
She was replacedΒ by Tanya Winthrop (Jane Badler), an agent who met with HighwayΒ in the field as opposed to over the airwaves.
Highwayβs superior was Admiral Conte (Jack Ging), who supervisedΒ operations for the Control Center as MasterΒ Key.
The Highwayman
Sam J. Jones Jetto
Mark ‘Jacko’ Jackson Tanya Winthrop
Jane Badler Dawn
Claudia Christian Admiral Conte
Jack Ging D.C. Montana
Tim Russ
His partner was Jetto, played by an Aussie sportsman called ‘Jacko’ (pictured at left) whose main claim to fame in the US was a series of TV commercials for Energizer batteries (“OY!!!”). Jacko wasn’t much of an actor but he certainly added some lunatic charm to the show.
