NBC's 'Cliffhangers' Fails to Topple ABC's '70s Hits

In the late 1970s, NBC faced a significant challenge as ABC dominated television ratings with its popular shows "Happy Days" and "Laverne & Shirley." To counter this, NBC introduced "Cliffhangers" in February 1979, a unique program conceived by Kenneth Johnson.

The series was designed to emulate classic Hollywood serials, presenting viewers with three concurrent, action-packed narratives per episode. These stories included "The Curse of Dracula," a modern take on the vampire mythos; "Stop Susan Williams," a journalist uncovering an international conspiracy; and "The Secret Empire," a blend of Western and science fiction themes.

Despite this innovative approach, "Cliffhangers" failed to attract a substantial audience and could not overcome ABC's established successes. The show was canceled in May 1979 after airing only 10 episodes, receiving largely negative reviews for not living up to its ambitious promotional claims.

However, the network saw potential in two of its storylines. In 1979, the segments "The Curse of Dracula" and "Stop Susan Williams" were repurposed into separate television movies: "The World of Dracula" and "The Girl Who Saved the World." This format allowed audiences to engage with individual stories without the interruption of unrelated plots, and "The World of Dracula" notably starred Michael Nouri in the title role.