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Episode: 30
PROD. #57810
Original Airdate: December 4, 1983 (Sunday)
Rerun #1: July 8, 1984 (Sunday)
Writer: Janis Hendler
Director: Winrich Kolbe
Guest Cast: Leslie Wing (Layla Charon Callan), Robert Reynolds (Christopher “Cray” Callan), George Murdock (Judge Oliver Callan), Joseph Hindy (Reverend Tom Baylor), Beau Starr (Jacques Charon), Will MacMillan (Sheriff Casey), Larry Moss (Henri Lecroix), Dick Durock (Officer Brown), Jack Gill (Paul Lecroix)
Michael is sent deep into a Louisiana bayou to save a young lady from her ex-husband, escaped prisoner Christopher Callan. During a chase, Michael loses Callan when K.I.T.T. becomes incapacitated in a swamp. With K.I.T.T.’s systems malfunctioning and no way to contact Devon or April to help diagnose and correct the problems, Michael is on his own to capture Christopher Callan and ensure Layla’s safety.
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Commentary:
K.I.T.T. is “trashed” in this episode due to a foreign chemical in the swamp and it is enjoyable to see both his and Michael’s frustration over the malfunctions. A classic April moment can be observed during the closing scene where Michael finally returns to the semi. She completely ignores Michael’s injuries and immediately runs to K.I.T.T. exclaiming
“Oh my god…what have they done to you?”
Notes:
The teaser features a different “System Malfunction” monitor shot than what appears in the episode.
Highlights:
This episode introduces K.I.T.T.’s pyroclastic lamination, a heatresistant coating on his outer shell that keeps him cool in temperatures up to 600 degrees. Featured Songs:
“Mr. Radio” by Trisha Yearwood
“Personally” by Karla Bonoff
“I’m So Lonesome” by Willie Nelson
Trivia:
George Murdock returns in “Mouth of the Snake” and Team Knight Rider’s “The A List;” Dick Durock is back in the finale “Voo Doo Knight.”
Knightmares
Episode: 31
PROD. #57830
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Original Airdate: December 11, 1983 (Sunday)
Rerun #1: April 13, 1984 (Friday)
Rerun #2: July 29, 1984 (Sunday)
Writers: Tom Greene and Janis Hendler
Director: Sidney Hayers
Guest Cast: Laura Bruneau (Cara Caulfield), Mike Genovese (Frank Poole), Susan Kellermann (Nurse Langly), Nick Dimitri (Duke), J. Jay Saunders (Officer Bowman), William Boyett (Desk Sergeant), Marty Schiff (Taxi Driver), Bruce Paul Barbour (Police Officer) While chasing a criminal into an abandoned dam, Michael is seriously injured in an explosion. He awakens in a hospital bed and states his name as police officer Michael Long, his former identity, and promptly discharges himself. Cornering him in a dead end alley, K.I.T.T. coerces Michael into the car and returns him to the Foundation. There, Devon and April tell Michael that his former identity is dead, and that he is now Michael Knight. With Michael’s memory impaired, he must uncover the one responsible for his accident and recover a rare ore before it is sold to foreign buyers.
Commentary:
Season two is rich with stand-out episodes, and “Knightmares” is no exception. Quite noticeable in this episode is how much K.I.T.T. really cares for Michael by refusing to let him be alone and trying to get him to remember his life as Michael Knight. Tom Greene comments on Michael and K.I.T.T.’s supposed “gay” relationship: “The network was afraid that Michael and K.I.T.T. were having a gay relationship! If you remember, they looked after each other, and K.I.T.T. was a bit prissy, sort of like Felix Unger of The Odd Couple fame…Michael being a macho-slob like Oscar. Knight Rider Season Two •
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The network at first were very uncomfortable with Michael’s soon-to-be trademark ‘cry’ when in trouble: ‘K.I.T.T., I need you!’”
Notes:
This episode features flashback clips from “Brother’s Keeper.”
Several references to the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, Tom Greene’s favorite film can be heard here: the characters Frank Poole and Officer Bowman take their names from characters in the movie. K.I.T.T. also paraphrases HAL, the 2001 computer, by saying, “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Michael.”
Highlights:
After Michael’s comlink is destroyed, April gives him a new one with a boosted intake receptor.
This episode marks the first and only time that K.I.T.T. is driven by April.
Quotes:
(Michael) “K.I.T.T.! I need you!”
(K.I.T.T.) “It’s about time!”
Trivia:
Michael Long lived at 1834 Shoreborne Avenue, and worked at the 11th Precinct Police Station. His serial number was 10509, badge number 8043. In “Knights of the Fast Lane,” we see Michael’s badge number as 1262.
The newspaper article on Michael Long reads: “Police Officer Vanishes, Presumed Dead. Officer Michael Long was presumed dead today when his car was found in the desert.” This is inconsistent with the pilot episode, where Wilton says that he placed a stolen body from the morgue in Michael’s car.
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The dam featured here is used again in “Redemption of a Champion.”
The turbo boost over the construction site was not as easy as it looks, according to Tom Greene. “Jack’s wife was there that day and she had this feeling that something bad was going to happen. Jack did the jump, but it was one of the few times where he almost lost control of the car and nearly ran down David Hasselhoff!”
Silent Knight
Working Title #1: “The Fiddler”
Working Title #2: “Fiddler’s Dream”
Working Title #3: “Knight and the Gypsy”
Episode: 32
PROD. #57817
Original Airdate: December 18, 1983 (Sunday)
Teleplay By: Robert W. Gilmer and Janis Hendler
Story By: Stephen B. Katz
Director: Bruce Kessler
Guest Cast: Paul LaGreca (Tino Petro), Janet DeMay (Marta Petro), Stephen Liska (Casey), Giorgio Tozzi (Stephano Petro), Robert Miranda (Paolo), Lloyd Alan (Nick), David Proval (Skip)
A group of three men rob a bank and one of the men steals a pocket watch to keep for himself. Seeing this, a young gypsy boy named Tino steals the watch from the thief and runs right into K.I.T.T. and Michael. Michael proceeds to take him to the hospital only for K.I.T.T. to point out the injuries he is claiming are real are in fact fake and he has a gold pocket watch. Michael brings him back to his sister and they suggest that Tino stay Knight Rider Season Two •
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with his uncle Stephano until the robbers can be caught. Stephano doublecrosses Tino and turns him over to the robbers, leaving Michael the task of not only finding Tino, but apprehending the three robbers as well. Commentary:
“Silent Knight” was the only attempt by the series to air a Christmas themed episode. Michael promises to pick up his tux throughout the episode but gets sidetracked and Devon warns him not to miss this Foundation’s annual Christmas banquet. Devon even recruits K.I.T.T. to remind Michael and force him to get his tuxedo before the shops close. K.I.T.T. ponders the meaning of Christmas while Michael educates him on the finer points of the holiday.
Notes:
This episode was preempted in most of the United States due to the Christmas season, making it one of the hardest uncut Knight Rider episodes to find from NBC.
Featured Songs:
“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor
“Owner of a Lonely Heart” by Yes
“Gypsy” by Fleetwood Mac
Quotes:
(K.I.T.T.) “Absolutely not. I must draw the line somewhere, and that monstrosity is it.”
(Tino) “What are you talking about? This is an art object.”
(K.I.T.T.) “That is a phone and I am not a booth.”
(Tino) “It’
s the last thing I’m taking.”
(K.I.T.T.) “It’s the last thing you’re NOT taking.”
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Trivia:
If the Bank of R. Gilmer sounds familiar, that’s because Robert Gilmer wrote and co-produced this episode.
Tom Greene says they originally wanted to cast real gypsies for the parts. “I told them we really didn’t need real gypsies at all and to cast based on the role.”
A Knight in Shining Armor
Episode: 33
PROD. #57832
Original Airdate: January 8, 1984 (Sunday)
Rerun #1: June 3, 1984 (Sunday)
Writers: Janis Hendler and Tom Greene
Director: Bernard McEveety
Guest Cast: Daphne Lee Ashbrook (Katherine Granger), Art Lund (Charlie Granger), Lance LeGault (Christopher Stone), David Cowgill (Scott), Thomas F. Wilson (Chip), Julie Ronnie (Stacey)
A masked man breaks into the Foundation’s guest cottage and kills Charlie Granger, a long-time friend of Devon’s. He takes a treasure map from Charlie and leaves. Devon wants Michael to find Katherine, Charlie’s daughter, and protect her since the key to Charlie’s treasure is in her locket. Devon tells Michael that the guardian to Charlie’s estate, Christopher Stone, came to visit him and after a trip to his house, Michael believes that Stone is the culprit. Katherine calls Stone again and he convinces her that Michael is the one who killed Charlie. Stone asks for her to meet him down the street and she does. Stone pulls a gun on her and forces her into the car demanding she take him to the treasure. Knight Rider Season Two •
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Commentary:
Although slow at times, this episode does have its high points including a spectacular reverse turbo boost through a cave wall! Katherine’s behavior is quite annoying during most of the episode, but she manages to soften a bit after Michael opens her eyes to the caring and loving side of her father that she never knew. The scenes with Devon talking to Christopher Stone have multiple F.L.A.G. employees walking in the background and really gives viewers a sense of how many people work at the Foundation on any given day.
Quotes:
(K.I.T.T.) “Michael, that young lady is such a brat, I can’t help but wonder why anyone would leave her a goodbye note, let alone a treasure.”
(Michael) “K.I.T.T., she’s Charlie’s daughter. Blood is thicker than water.”
(K.I.T.T.) “So is my motor oil but he didn’t leave anything for me.”
Trivia:
David Cowgill returns in Team Knight Rider’s “Choctaw L-9;” Julie Ronnie is back in “The Wrong Crowd.”
This is the only time the Foundation’s guest cottage is seen. The ejection scene is reused footage from “Chariot of Gold.”
Diamonds Aren’t a Girl’s Best Friend
Episode: 34
PROD. #57833
Original Airdate: January 15, 1984 (Sunday)
Rerun #1: April 22, 1984 (Sunday)
Writers: Robert Foster and Robert Gilmer
Director: Jeffrey Hayden
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Guest Cast: Cameron Mitchell (Bernie Mitchell), Jo Ann Pflug (Nina Jurgenson), Wendy Kilbourne (Lauren Janes), Elizabeth Lindsey (Rachel Robinson), Rene Assa (Miller), Nicholas Guest (Chris Carlson), Nancy Ellison (Photographer), Lu Leonard (Mable)
Michael and K.I.T.T. investigate the case of a model found dead in her apartment after an apparent suicide. Lauren, a fellow model, believes that her friend was murdered. Michael goes undercover as Lauren’s boyfriend to try to find out what is really going on. Soon, Michael catches on to the fact that the modeling agency owner and director are smuggling jewels into the country on the bodies of their models. Devon goes undercover to set up Bernie Mitchell, the famous head of the modeling agency, but the plan goes slightly wrong when Lauren lets on that she knows a little too much and is kidnapped.
Commentary:
K.I.T.T. crosses into Mexico, but has trouble returning. A properly placed phone call from Devon is needed as he is looked over with a fine tooth comb before the car is allowed to pass by the Mexican authorities at the border. This is the first episode in which we learn that K.I.T.T. is afraid of flying (a character trait we later learn was programmed by Bonnie). Featured Songs:
“Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan and Rufus
“Human Touch” by Rick Springfield
Quotes:
(Mable to her dog) “That young man was talking to his car, Maurice. Can you imagine? Talking to something that can’t talk back?”
Trivia:
Rene Assa is back in “Knight By a Nose.”
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Bernie’s computer states his last name as “Michel” when it is really
“Mitchell.”
White-Line Warriors
Working Title #1: “Mister Alarm”
Working Title #2: “Weekend Warriors”
Episode: 35
PROD. #57828
Original Airdate: January 8, 1984 (Sunday)
Rerun #1: June 3, 1984 (Sunday)
Writer: Richard C. Okie
Director: Robert E.L. Bralver
Guest Cast: Mary Beth Evans (Cindy Mattheson), Woody Brown (Ron Prescott), Hugh Gillin (Chief Rupert Craig), Allyn Ann McLerie (Marietta Mattheson), Sammy Jackson (Handsome Anson James), Sal Landi (Ty), Tim Gillin (Officer Apted), Milt Oberman (Manny Carmichael), Frank Garret (Mace Beaudry)
A string of weekend robberies leads Michael to Vista Beach where he must find the prime suspect, Ron Prescott. His investigation is hindered by Chief Rupert Craig, an arrogant police officer who has made finding the culprit his personal crusade. Michael finds Ron and takes him back to the Foundation for safe keeping until he is able to find the real culprit. During another robbery, Michael discovers a connection between it and a particular song being played on the radio. Commentary:
“White-Line Warriors” is a great episode that deals with a group of racers who are using the competitions as a cover for a string of burglaries. The 198
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radio station makes K.I.T.T. an offer to become their permanent news person after broadcasting Chief Craig’s confession. Michael is constantly bothered by Manny Carmichael, a car alarm salesman who won’t take no for an answer. Michael tries to convince him that he already has the best alarm system, but Manny keeps trying to break in to K.I.T.T. and almost manages to get arrested!
Highlights:
K.I.T.T. gets muzzled with the installation of Silent Mode. Featured Songs:
“Maniac” by Michael Sambiello
“Breakdown” by Tom Petty
“Little Red Corvette” by Prince
“Crumblin Down” by John Cougar Mellencamp
“Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac
“Love Is A Battlefield” by Pat Benetar
“I’ve Got It” by Andrae Crouch and The Disciples
Quotes:
(Michael) “You know, K.I.T.T., sometimes I think I’ve got the best job in the whole world. A lot of men would die for duty like this.”
(K.I.T.T.) “You nearly have on several occasions.”
(Michael) “You’re all heart, buddy.”
Trivia:
Mary Beth Evans guest stars in “Deadly Knightshade.”
The scene where Chief Craig pulls Michael over and confronts him about his mysterious past was added late in the writing process. The episode was written around the comedic scenes between Michael and the annoying car alarm salesman. When producers realized they couldn’t stretch it for an hour, the “weekend warriors”
story was added.
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Race for Life
Working Title: “Short Notice”
Episode: 36
PROD. #57826
Original Airdate: February 5, 1984 (Sunday)
Rerun #1: June 17, 1984 (Sunday)
Writers: Bruce Belland and Roy M. Rogosin
Director: Georg Fenady
Guest Cast: Lynne Marta (Laura Phillips), Scott Getlin (Rick), James Arone (Tony), Hank Brandt (Dr. Carney), Robyn Lively (Becky Phillips), Mario Marcelino (Julio Rodriguez), Jesse Aragon (Santos Rodriguez), Toni Nero (Terri), Vincent Barbour (Conqueror), Frank Lugo (Shopkeeper), William Harlow (Trooper)
April’s niece, Becky Phillips, is rushed to the hospital after she becomes very ill. The doctor informs Michael and April that she will need a bone marrow transplant or she will die. With the race against time on, Michael sets out to find the only compatible donor for Becky’s rare blood type—
Julio Rodriquez. Michael checks out Julio’s address but instead finds a group of protective gang members and a shopkeeper who won’t talk. Commentary:
This episode has a very serious underlying tone to it masked by action and some comedy. However, “Race for Life” does entertain as we see Michael and K.I.T.T do everything they can to bring young Becky the only registered donor in the country. Michael appears to have more determination than April and it clearly is shown throughout his search. Notes:
This is the only time we see, or even hear about, any of April’s family. 200
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K.I.T.T. uses his “police mode” for the first and last time in this episode.
Highlights:
This episode of Knight Rider is dedicated to the memory of Marcel Rafael Marcelino, who died while his father, Mario, was filming this episode. Mario played the role of Julio.
Trivia:
William Harlow returns in “The Nineteenth Hole.”
Robyn Lively was nominated for Young Artist Award (Best Young Actress—Guest in a Television Series) for her role in this episode. Speed Demons
Working Title: “The Speed Demons”
Episode: 37
PROD. #57837
Original Airdate: February 12, 1984 (Sunday)
Rerun #1: June 10, 1984 (Sunday)
Writers: Tom Greene and Janis Hendler
Story By: Stephen B. Katz
Director: Bruce Seth Green
Guest Cast: John Macchia (Kelly Travis), Lydia Cornell (Sabrina Travis), Bruce Bauer (Lee Carstairs), Madison Mason (Roger Floyd), Christine DeLisle (Darlena Webster), Michael Champion (Wade Fontaine), Ethan Wayne (Danny Duvall), Kurt Fuller (Cameraman), Larry Huffman (Race Announcer)
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