It takes a clear mind and a strong heart not to let negative reviews get to you. We've all fallen victim to criticism, and whether it was warranted or not, we've suffered through our fair share of hurt feelings. However, sometimes the only thing you can do is the best you can, whether an audience will accept it or not.

Simon Oakland was more than willing to be open about the issues regarding his series, Kolchak: The Night Stalker.

Oakland played Tony Vincent, Kolchak's editor-in-chief. Although the two men were frequently at odds with one another, Tony was an ally to Kolchak, sometimes even a friend.

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But while the show's supernatural premise is certainly appreciated today, the show lasted roughly a year before its untimely cancellation. Even during the original airing of Kolchak, Oakland knew that the series wasn't necessarily doing well with audiences.

"We've been treading water, I know," said the actor during an interview with The Columbia Record. "They wanted to keep the show, so we've been picked up and are making 22."

Funnily enough, Oakland didn't necessarily concern himself with what the critics thought, or how popular the series was.

"Frankly, I haven't been looking at the ratings," said the actor. "I do my work as an actor and let the big boys worry about it. I do the best I can with the material I have. As a show, it's a good idea, and I only hope that it will eventually catch on. Finding the right formula for it has been tough, but the scripts are getting better."

Oakland remained an optimist; even if a show like Kolchak went away, he was confident in the trajectory of his own career.

"I go anywhere there's work," said Oakland. "I've made a living and saved a little money, and so I can choose what I want to do. I can go to Broadway, to Chicago, or some small dinner theatre."