TV COPS WEEKEND - Things get spooky

The X-Files wasn't the first detective show to feature a supernatural element but it was the most successful, running nine seasons and spawning two (thus far) big budget movies. The show was created by Chris Carter who had it in mind to write something along the lines of the cult hit, Kolchak The Night Stalker which starred Darren McGavin as a crime reporter who can't help but get involved in odd happenings.

Initially the series too a format of standalone episodes - these early days are known as the monster of the week phase, but in later episodes story arcs were set up. These latter arcs saw the series become bogged down in its own mythology and for many people, myself included, the early years were the best.

The fist five seasons were filmed in Canada but the location was then moved to the United States because David Duchovny was upset with having to spend so much time away from his home and family. During the seventh series Duchovny became a semi-regular character and Robert Patrick was brought in as a replacement. A spin off series, The Lone Gunmen was also developed but this was a relative flop and the X-Files finished after a ninth season.

Mulder and Scully did return however for two cinema movies and there are rumours of a third soon to go into development.