“Friday the 13th: The Series” is a horror TV show from the United States and Canada that aired for three seasons, from October 3, 1987, to May 26, 1990, in first-run syndication. The plot centers on Micki and Ryan, who own an antique store, and their assistant, Jack Marshak, as they attempt to retrieve cursed antiques and secure them in the store’s vault.
The show was initially going to be called “The 13th Hour,” but producer Frank Mancuso, Jr. believed this title would deter viewers. He chose the name “Friday the 13th” to attract a larger audience. Despite sharing the name, the series has no narrative ties to the “Friday the 13th” film franchise; Jason Voorhees and other characters from the movies do not appear. In the UK, the show was listed as “Friday’s Curse” on TV schedules, although ITV referred to it as “Friday the 13th: The Series” during commercial breaks.
There are several connections between the TV show and the film series in terms of cast and crew. Frank Mancuso, Jr., who produced the TV show, also produced the “Friday the 13th” movies from Part 2 to the last one distributed by Paramount. John D. LeMay, the star of the TV show, later starred in “Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday.” Guest star John Shepherd played Tommy Jarvis in “Friday the 13th: A New Beginning,” and episode director David Cronenberg appeared in “Jason X.” Additionally, Fred Mollin, Rob Hedden, and Tom McLoughlin worked on both the TV show and the film series behind the scenes.