Highwayman, The

1 9 8 8 (USA)
10 x 60 minute episodes

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 combat crime and corruption in areas where laws often end (at county lines along long stretches of highway), the Justice Department launches 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 12-ton, 18-wheeler Mack truck that could transform into a helicopter. He also carried an awesome handgun capable of firing grenades like bullets.

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 Energiser 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 rather than 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

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