Wendy Kilbourne on Matt Houston

In one of Wendy Kilbourne's earliest television appearances, she popped up briefly in a first season episode of Matt Houston. In the 1983 episode titled 'The Showgirl Murders', Wendy Kilbourne gets a few moments of screen-time playing Joyce (who just got off the bus from Des Moines), who shows up for an audition for a night club show. She even gets to say a couple lines before being swept off the screen, though she doesn't really get to interact with Matt Houston star Lee Horsley.

Wendy Kilbourne would return to Matt Houston the following year, though her role was still not a substantial one. This time, however, she would at least get her name on the opening guest credits and get to share the screen with star Lee Horsley.




1984 was the year that Wendy Kilbourne's TV career really started to take off. Just five days before her second episode of Matt Houston would originally air on ABC in January 1984, her first big guest role on Knight Rider would air on NBC. She would follow up these appearances with featured roles on Riptide and The A-Team (plus a minor role on Cover Up) that same year.


Here are some images of Wendy Kilbourne in the second season episode of Matt Houston called 'Houston Is Dead':

Janet Julian in Choke Canyon

In 1986, Janet Julian starred in two movies, Ghost Warrior and Choke Canyon, both science fiction influenced cult classics. 1986 was arguably the pinnacle of Janet Julian's acting career, with years of hard work on TV and in low-budget movies seemingly about to pay off with face-time in feature films. While neither Choke Canyon or Ghost Warrior were huge movies, they remain cult classics and a great way to see Janet Julian show off her charm and appealing beauty.

In Choke Canyon, Janet Julian plays Vanessa Pilgrim, daughter of John Pilgrim, the evil head of the Pilgrim Corporation. When the Pilgrim Corporation needs to illegally dump some toxic waste in a specific location in Utah, they must first remove a physicist turned cowboy (Dr. David Lowell, played by Stephen Collins) who has leased the location for 99 years. Since the cowboy-scientist is conducting safe-energy research which can only be conducted in this specific canyon, he does not want to give up his lease. The Pilgrim Corporation decides to wage war and regain the territory, but they encounter much resistance from Dr. Lowell, who acts like a one man army in order to defend his right to conduct sound wave experiments in the area. Eventually, Dr. David Lowell encounters Vanessa Pilgrim and proceeds to kidnap her in a ploy to have the Pilgrim Corporation quickly replace scientific equipment that was destroyed. Shortly thereafter, Vanessa joins forces with Dr. Lowell in his mission to bring down her father's company.

The first time we see Vanessa Pilgrim onscreen is during a protest outside of the Pilgrim Corporation's headquarters. She does not agree with everything her father does, but yet she maintains a relatively cordial relationship with him. We see Vanessa attending one of her father's parties and also see her playing tennis with him. David Lowell eventually gives her a talking to, demanding that she choose sides. Of course, she picks the side of the good doctor and agrees to help destroy the nefarious Pilgrim Corp.

Supposedly, Janet Julian beat out several other up-and-coming actresses for this part. I'd have to say that the correct choice was made. Janet Julian looks great here with a beautiful mane of brunette hair. She also seems to have a lot of fun with her role, bringing a great deal of energy and charm. Her chemistry with co-star Stephen Collins is also quite agreeable.

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Here are some images of Janet Julian in Choke Canyon:

Barbara De Rossi in Son Contento

In 1983, Barbara De Rossi co-starred alongside Francesco Nuti in the movie Son contento. It's an Italian film and thus is in the Italian language. Since I don't speak Italian, and the movie has not been subtitled or dubbed as far as I know, I have not had the opportunity to actually watch it.

Roughly, Son contento (which translates to 'I'm Happy' in English) is about a stand-up comedian (played by Francesco Nuti who looks a bit like an Italian Martin Short) whose girlfriend (Barbara De Rossi) decides to leave him. After she walks out on him, he hits rock bottom. Eventually, he gets it together again, reconnects with his girlfriend only to lose her once more.

Son contento was produced during Barbara De Rossi's heyday in the 1980s and she looks fantastic in the film. I only wish I could actually watch the movie properly. Maybe it will be released with subtitles someday. Maybe I should learn Italian!


Here are some images of Barbara De Rossi in Son contento:

Wendy Kilbourne is Devon King on Midnight Caller

In 1988, Wendy Kilbourne was cast as Devon King, the wealthy owner of a radio station, on the NBC hour-long drama Midnight Caller. Beginning in 1984, she had maintained a solid presence on American television, guest starring on several popular TV series and taking part in the miniseries North and South and North and South Book II. She was cast in the failed pilot for Condor in 1986 and also joined the cast of the TV show version of the movie Nothing in Common the following year. Her hard work eventually paid off with her casting in Midnight Caller. Though the show was not exceedingly well-watched at the time, its controversial topics helped make it a cult favorite. Midnight Caller was at least good enough and watched by enough people to get three seasons.

One of the selling points of Midnight Caller, beyond the broaching of contentious subject matter, was the relationship between the star of the show, ex-cop turned late-night radio talk show host Jack Killian (played by Gary Cole), and rich radio station owner Devon King. Their interactions on the show were always fun and there was a rather obvious sexual tension between the two.

Of course, Jack Killian and Devon King did not end up together. Wendy Kilbourne left Midnight Caller at the beginning of the third season and was replaced by actress Lisa Eilbacher. The show was not given a fourth season. Coincidence? I don't know but I do think Wendy Kilbourne was an integral part of Midnight Caller and her leaving definitely hurt the show.

Here are some pics of Wendy Kilbourne and Gary Cole from Midnight Caller:

Some cast photos from Midnight Caller: