As a freelance actor during the 1950s, Lon Chaney Junior took on many bizarre projects. "The Devil's Messenger" was a 3 episode television series that was converted into a short "B" Movie. As the Devil who uses a rollerdex, Chaney seduces a suicide victim into becoming his Messenger. The woman, Santanya, delivers objects that send people to hell. The ending is explosive.
When creating the "Friday the 13th: Television Series," Paramount executives followed a similar idea.