I just watched the KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER episode "Mr. R.I.N.G." about a robot that wants to become more human. I was surprised when it is revealed that the robot was created by The Tyrell Institute.

So was someone working on BLADE RUNNER a NIGHT STALKER fan? Was Tyrell in both works a reference to something else? Or is it just an incredible coincidence?

Eldon Tyrell appears in P.K. Dick's 1968 novel, so if anyone was paying homage it was probably the writer(s) of Mr. R.I.N.G.

Personally I think it's just a coincidence.