This futuristic adventure series first aired on NBC in March 1988 and lasted until May. Critics described it as a cross between Mad Max (1979) and Knight Rider.
In an effort to battle crime and corruption in areas where laws often terminate (at county lines on long stretches of highway), the Justice
Department institutes a test program called the Stealth Project and creates a new breed of lawmen called Highwaymen who work in secret.
Sam Jones – of Flash Gordon (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 Highway’s original contact. She was a government agent who posed as a disc jockey and hosted ‘The Dawn Patrol’ on an unnamed 50,000-watt clear channel station (“The Mighty 690 from New Orleans”).
She was replaced by Tanya Winthrop (Jane Badler), an agent who met with Highway in the field as opposed to over the airwaves.
Highway’s superior was Admiral Conte (Jack Ging), who supervised operations for the Control Center as Master 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.
