Michael Kincaid
Created by Jim French

MICHAEL KINCAID, an investigative reporter for the fictional cable TV Investigative Channel, specializes in stories that are strange, bizarre, supernatural, and/or extra-terrestrial. He is assisted by his "shooter" or videographer, Shelly Mars. The emphasis of the story line and main character is on investigating and not reporting - in fact many of his stories (cases) don't even make it to the tube. Often his boss won't believe him; you might not either unless you follow Kincaid on some of his assignments.

For example, in the episode "The Place," Kincaid investigates a series of robberies in which the crooks always fire a Tommy Gun, but there are no bullet holes and no bullet casings. The fingerprints left at the crime scene are those of criminals that have been dead for 30 years. Just your nice, neat, typical news story, eh?

Starting with Episode 016, "The Find," Kincaid got a new managing editor, Randall Bigelow, played by Richards Sanders of WKRP in Cincinnati fame.

Kincaid, The Strange-Seeker is a current-day radio drama series by Jim French that started in the mid-1990's and stars Terry Rose as Kincaid. It currently airs as part of Imagination Theater on KNWX in Seattle and is broadcast on the internationally-syndicated Imagination Theatre that also airs French's The Adventures of Harry Nile and The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Previously, the show was heard in the Seattle area as part of The PEMCO Imagination Theater on KNWX (episodes 009-013) and The KIRO Mystery Playhouse on KIRO (episodes 001-008.) Twenty episodes have been produced so far and new episodes are coming.

Jim French is also the creator of the early seventies P.I. radio drama, Dameron, , featuring a globe-trotting trouble-shooter.

NOTES:

• Audition/Pilot Show
  The Kincaid character first appeared in an KIRO Mystery Playhouse episode, "The Man Who Died Twice," on April 14, 1996. In this episode the main character was called ROBERT KINCAID and he was an investigative reporter for the fictional New York Bulletin newspaper. He becomes involved in investigating the death of a terminally-ill patient at a nursing home. His investigation turns up much more than just a possible case of euthanasia. Terry Rose also played KINCAID in this episode.
  .
  According to Larry Albert of Jim French Productions, "'The Man Who Died Twice' was not a pilot per se. After the show was recorded and aired, several of Jim's friends saw the potential of this character for a series. However, we were all thinking of a newspaper series. When Jim decided to develop the show we were all surprised to see where he was taking it. I guess you could say that 'The Man Who Died Twice' is a de facto pilot."
  .
• Recorded Live!
  This series is unusual for modern radio series in that all episodes of this series up through episode 015 have been recorded before a LIVE audience. Episodes 001-014 and the audition/pilot were recorded at the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle. Episode 15 was recorded at The Kirkland Performance Center in Kirkland, WA. Regular recording sessions take place at the Kirkland Performance Center at roughly 3 month intervals. Admission for the recording session is $7.00 for Adults and $6.00 for students & seniors.
  .
  Want to get the feel of attending a LIVE radio drama recording session? Read Warming Up the Crowd: The PEMCO Imagination Theater Warm-Up with Jim French.

RADIO

• KINCAID, THE STRANGE-SEEKER
  (1997-Present, Syndicated)
  First Broadcast: September 15, 1996
  Status: Ongoing
  Writers: Jim French ("A Dog Named Who" Jim French and Terry Rose)
  Directed by Pat French and Jim French
  Produced by Jim French
  Music: Graham Pleet
  Sound Effects: Cheryl Jacobs, David Persson, Scott Anderson, David Freed and Sean O'Meara.
  Engineers: Peggy Stokes and Jason Chevy
  Announcers: Dean L. Smith and Jim French
  Starring: Terry Rose as MICHAEL KINCAID
  with John Gilbert as "Lippy" LIippman (through episode 15)
  Richard Sanders as Randall Bigelow (starting with episode 16)
  and Mary Ann Dorwart and Katherine Shield as Shelley
  Guest Stars: Larry Albert, Bill Brooks, Frank Buxton, Karen Kay Cody, Karen Corbitt, Jan D'Arcy, Diane Felty, David Freed, Pat French, Cynthia Geary, Demene Hall, Phil Harper, Paul Herlinger, Russell Johnson, Peggy Jordan, Daniel von Koschembar, Rick May, Mike McLaughlin, Jerry Miller, Jack Morton, Lee Paasch, Marlene Phillips, Joy Rinaldi, Dave Ross, Wantland Sandel, Richard Sanders, Dean L. Smith, Stephan Weyte, Jim Wilkie, and Douglas Young.
  
  .

• "Felicia" (September 15, 1996)
• "The Place" (April 20, 1997)
• "The Woman From Under The Ice" (October 19, 1997)
• "Final Mission" (January 18, 1998)
• "Appointment In Time" February 8, 1998)
• "Goblin Factory, The" (October 25, 1998)
• "New Guy At the Morgue" (November 8, 1998)
• "Something for Everyone" (January 10, 1999)
• "A Dog Named Who" (February 21, 1999)
• "Dobsky Engine" (August 23, 1998)
• "The Thirst Of The Blade" (October 11, 1998)
• "Writers' Block" (August 22, 1999)
• "The Final Chapter" (October 10, 1999)
• "Star Channel, The" (December 4, 1999)
• "A Town Called Limbo" (December 31, 2000)
• "The Find" (September 9, 2001)
• "A Work In Progress" (October 14, 2001)
• "The Santa Test" (December 23, 2001)
• "The License Plate Caper" (April 21, 2002)
• "Natural Causes" (September 22, 2002)
  .
• All episodes dates are when they first appeared on Imagination Theatre. (They originally aired in Seattle as part of the late KIRO Mystery Playhouse or its current successor PEMCO's Imagination Theatre.) .

LISTEN TO IT!

• To find out if a station in your area broadcasts Imagination Theater, call the syndicator, Transmedia toll-free at 1-800-229-7234. You can also listen to Imagination Theatre at their web site, broadcast in Real Audio. Their site also provides background information, a listing of affiliate stations, a current episode guide, and ordering information for tapes and CDs.

TAPES and COMPACT DISCS

• You can find out lots more about Michael Kinkaid and Jim's other characters and series. Go to Jim's web site at: Jim French Productions. There you will find information on several Kincaid, The Strange-Seeker episodes that are available on cassette and compact disc.
  .
  As well, the syndicator of Imagination Theatre, Transmedia, has the episodes available on compact disc and tape.

RELATED LINKS

• Charlie Summer's The Nostalgia Pages Web Site
  This site has a Phorum (Forum) that allows fans and collectors to post questions and discuss Jim French's radio dramas. Charlie also has another Phorum devoted to another great radio detective series, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.

INFORMATION SOURCES

• Interviews conducted by Stewart Wright with Jim French in 1998.
• Larry Albert of Jim French Productions who provided episode titles, episode initial airing dates, and recurring characters information.
• Jim French Productions can be reached at jrfproductions@yahoo.com

Respectfully submitted by Stewart Wright - September, 2001, updated January 2003.
Copyright by Stewart Wright. Thanks, Stewart.

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