ON A RUN : After 2 Decades and Plenty of Viewers, ‘The Fugitive’ Still Has No Place to Hide

. . . Dr. Richard Kimble, an innocent victim of blind justice, falsely convicted of the murder of his wife, reprieved by fate when a train wreck freed him en route to the death house, freed him--to hide in lonely desperation, to change his identity, to toil at many jobs. Freed him--to search for a one-armed man he saw leave the scene of the crime. Freed him--to be relentlessly pursued by a police lieutenant obsessed with his capture . . . .

Whenever KDOC pulls “The Fugitive” off the air for a while, Claudia Draeger gets a flood of calls and letters. And if the station keeps it on, she still gets them: “People call up and thank me,” says Draeger, the program director for the independent station in Anaheim (Channel 56) that is showing “The Fugitive” Monday through Friday night at 10.

Fortunately for Draeger and “Fugitive” fans, KDOC has no plans to take the series off the air--at least not for a while. The station, which has been running the series on and off since May, 1986, has the rights to it for several more rounds.

Of all the vintage shows that make up the bulk of KDOC’s programming, Draeger says, only “Dark Shadows” has as spirited a following. When the channel pulled the series a while back, figuring that would build up interest for a future run, the letters that poured in were angry indeed: “Obviously,” one viewer wrote to Draeger, “you have an idiot programming your station!”

Now, calls come in every week--Draeger alone gets about 20--from fans who just want to let the station know that they are thrilled the show is still on, or who ask when their favorite episodes will be aired.

The most-requested episode is “The Judgment,” a choice that should surprise no one. A two-parter in which the one-armed man is finally brought to justice and that obsessed police lieutenant, Philip Gerard, finally calls off the dogs, “The Judgment” set a viewing record when it first was aired, on Aug. 29, 1967--almost exactly 21 years ago.

Why does the series remain so popular? Draeger thinks it is because its messages still hold up. Also, “some people think it’s the best-written show in TV history,” she says.

Viewers will have plenty of chances to decide that for themselves. A total of 120 “Fugitive” episodes were filmed, and KDOC shows them in order. Friday night was the quarter-way point; starting Monday, years Two, Three and Four can be seen. Here are some of the more notable episodes that will show up in the next several weeks:

“Nemesis” (Monday). Kimble, on the run in the wilderness, is stuck with Lt. Gerard’s son (Kurt Russell), who proves to be as much of a pain as Phil Sr.

“World’s End” (Tuesday). The daughter of the lawyer who defended Kimble tries to help find the one-armed man--but won’t tell Kimble why.

“Escape Into Black” (Wednesday). The Fugitive has amnesia and forgets that he is actually innocent.

“Tiger Left, Tiger Right” (Friday, Sept 2). When Kimble is mistaken for a wealthy man and is kidnaped, the police try to save him--only to find out he’s the Fugitive.

“Corner of Hell” (Friday, Sept. 9). Gerard gets to see how it feels to be wrongly accused and sentenced to die.

“The Survivors” (Thursday, Sept. 22). Kimble returns to the home of his in-laws, who are not a fun group.

“May God Have Mercy” (Monday, Sept. 26). A man (Telly Savalas) who blames Kimble for his daughter’s death finds out what Kimble’s really made of.

“Wings of an Angel” (Monday, Oct. 3). Wounded during a heroic act, Kimble is taken to--of all places--a prison hospital and is recognized by a blackmailing trusty.

“Trial by Fire” (Monday, Oct. 10). There’s a witness out there who can help Kimble get a new trial--but there’s a catch.

“Landscape With Running Figures” (Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 11 and 12). A two-parter in which Kimble helps an injured woman--who turns out to be Gerard’s wife.

“The Fugitive” is shown on Channel 56, KDOC, Mondays through Fridays at 10 p.m.