by Unknown
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Dr. Von Voorman, Dr. Breland, and Dr. Numata were all on the original team assembled by Wilton Knight that designed K.I.T.T. The music heard in this episode was inspired by Harold Faltermeyer’s “Axel F.”
K.I.T.T.’s destruction in this episode marks the only time this happens in a regular season episode. Buy Out
Episode: 56
PROD. #58643
Original Airdate: February 10, 1985 (Sunday)
Rerun #1: August 23, 1985 (Friday)
Writer: Gregory S. Dinallo
Director: Jeffrey Hayden
Guest Cast: Clu Gulager (Eugene Hanson), Jesse Vint (Hank Kagan), Susanne Reed (Lilah Graham), John vanDreelen (Hans Kleiser), Robin Deardon (Melanie Mitchell), Than Wyenn (Theo Corelli), Bernie White (Eddie Deskey)
During a field test of an impenetrable alloy for automobiles, the driver is killed when a missile penetrates the car door. Michael is called in to investigate the incident and finds that the door on the car was made of an inferior grade of armor. Michael takes over as the company’s driver in order to sell the alloy to a group of foreign buyers, but complications arise when K.I.T.T. detects that the door on Michael’s test vehicle has the same inferior grade of armor. Commentary:
While not an overly exciting episode, “Buy Out” does have some entertaining moments including the scenes where Eddie tries unsuccessfully to 240
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purchase K.I.T.T. for himself. Beginning with this episode, K.I.T.T. gains his self-consciousness (possibly as a result of his destruction in the previous episode “Junk Yard Dog”). Here, he is constantly nagging Michael about his worth. In “Knight of the Juggernaut,” he is concerned with his physical appearance.
Quotes:
(K.I.T.T.) “How are you getting in?”
(Michael) “I’m going to pick the lock!”
(K.I.T.T.) “That’s illegal, Michael.”
(Michael) “So is the way we parked.”
Trivia:
The name Clu Gulager’s character, Gene Hanson, is from an uncredited writer of the previous episode “Junk Yard Dog.”
Knightlines
Episode: 57
PROD. #58644
Original Airdate: March 3, 1985 (Sunday)
Rerun #1: July 28, 1985 (Sunday)
Writer: Richard Okie
Director: Charles Watson Sanford
Guest Cast: Taylor Miller (Janet Morgan), Joe LaDue (Dan Hannegan), Hank Garrett (Stephen Barnes), Frank Annese (Soltis), Andre Gower (Billy), Bob Delegall (Lieutenant Rayford), Sally Hampton (Seline), Roy David (Jack the Cop)
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Michael investigates Janet Morgan’s claim that her husband’s supposed accidental death was in actuality a murder. Michael begins to suspect Steven Barnes and a man named Soltis, a criminal that Michael and Devon would love to capture and bring to justice. After learning that spying devices were planted throughout their latest construction project, Michael tells Barnes that he has an incriminating picture of him with Soltis. At the meeting, Janet pulls a gun on Barnes and prepares to kill him for the murder of her husband.
Commentary:
Soltis is an intriguing character for Michael and K.I.T.T. to face, but nowhere near as exciting as other villains of the third season. Barnes character doesn’t relate well to the stronger Soltis character and most of the episode is relegated to Barnes trying unsuccessfully to get Michael. A fun subplot has K.I.T.T. showing young Billy how learning can be fun. By the time the episode is finished, K.I.T.T. has managed to make him realize how important school is in his life and Billy even gets K.I.T.T. a present—
a can of motor oil.
Notes:
This is one of the only episodes that actually captures a loved one’s dismay as Janet comes out armed and ready to kill Barnes for killing her husband Kevin. Michael stops her, but loses Barnes in the process. Quotes:
(Michael, in his construction get-up, with hard hat) “How do I look?”
(K.I.T.T.) “Are you expecting something to fall on your head?”
(Michael) “Very funny. Everybody’s a comedian.”
Trivia:
Andre Gower played a character named Billy only five months earlier in The A-Team episode “Timber!.”
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The Nineteenth Hole
Episode: 58
PROD. #58627
Original Airdate: March 10, 1985 (Sunday)
Writers: Gerald Sanford and Robert Foster
Director: Georg Fenady
Guest Cast: Wendy Schaal (Jamie Downs), Michael McManus (Danny
“Rooster” Roskovich), Cliff Carnell (Joey Rome), Albert Paulsen (Mr. Caesar), Brendon Boone (Motel Clerk), Rebecca Perle (Daisy Doolittle), John La Motta (Benji Bomper), Borah Silver (Nick), Bill Harlow (Man) After receiving threatening letters ordering her to cancel a car race, Jamie Downs calls the Foundation to help her find the ones who wrote the letter and ensure that the first annual Marberry Grand Prix is a successful one. Michael arrives and finds himself undercover as a competitor in the race. The investigation turns to the Marberry Motel and Michael is shocked to realize that a group of major crime families have decided to use the motel as a cover for their business.
Jack Gill prepares K.I.T.T. for a jump in “The Nineteenth Hole”
[Courtesy of George Barris]
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Commentary:
Yet another episode that has K.I.T.T. entering a race to weed out the criminals, only this time there is the underlying story of the mob. Perhaps the best scene from this episode comes during Michael’s race with Rooster. In order to save Rooster from an electric wire stretched across the track, Michael turbo boosts over him and lands (with an array of sparks) directly on the wire.
Notes:
Watch the chase between Rooster and Michael –Michael’s clothes change from a green and white jacket to his black leather jacket!
Featured Songs:
“Shout at the Devil” by Motley Crue
Trivia:
Cliff Carnel is back in “Knight Racer.”
Knight & Knerd
Episode: 59
PROD. #58630
Original Airdate: March 17, 1985 (Sunday)
Writer: Larry Mollin
Director: Georg Fenady
Guest Cast: Arye Gross (Elliott Sykes), Steve Sandor (Mac Gifford), Tawny Moyer (Ali Raymond), Victoria Bass (Vanessa Mary Sutton), Lou Felder (Thomas Raymond), Cheryl M. Lynn (Jeanie)
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While en route to meet Dr. Raymond, Michael and K.I.T.T. are shocked to find that he was just killed by a rogue ninja who also stole a rare black crystal. Michael goes to see Ali Raymond to gain information on the black crystal that her father had recently perfected, but she is kidnapped before he arrives. Michael pursues the criminals but ends up losing them when their laser blows K.I.T.T.’s tire out. With Ali’s life in danger and time running out, Michael must uncover the reason behind the black crystal’s theft and stop the ones responsible.
Commentary:
The nerd theme is revisited for the final time (remember Marty Keen from “The Final Verdict”?) in the series and is played for all it is worth. Devon is the one who finds that his valuable items are getting damaged and Michael encourages him to give Elliott a chance. By the end of the episode, Elliott becomes a real member of the team—he and Michael are dressed identically, and Elliott takes Ali on a ride on his now all-black scooter complete with scanner and KNERD vanity license plate!
Notes:
Michael tells Ali the story of how when his father died, he went outside and shot hoops until he was too tired to think or feel. In early scripts, a special refracting windshield was developed to protect K.I.T.T. from the thermal laser instead of the chemical insulating formula seen in the episode. When Michael reaches the canyo
n to investigate, he originally shuts K.I.T.T. down for fear that he might interfere and get hit by the laser beam again.
Another cut scene has K.I.T.T. asking permission from Michael to eject him out if the laser is going to hit K.I.T.T.’s body. Michael denies his request, telling him to not be so negative.
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Featured Songs:
“Run To You” by Bryan Adams
Trivia:
Victoria Bass returns in “Knight Behind Bars.”
Ten Wheel Trouble
Episode: 60
PROD. #58645
Original Airdate: March 24, 1985 (Sunday)
Rerun #1: September 6, 1985 (Friday)
Writer: Burton Armus
Director: Robert Bralver
Guest Cast: Robert Hogan (Shatner), Babette Props (Sally Flynn), Jamie Cromwell (Curtis), Ji-Tu Cumbuka (Trucker), Christopher McDonald (Joe Flynn), Cliff Emmich (My. Lyndon), Diane McBain (Mama Flynn), Darwin Joston (Burgers), Bruce Neckels (Phil Janetti)
Michael must clear a trucker, Joe Flynn, accused of cutting the brake lines on a truck and killing the man inside. Michael visits with Mama Flynn and her daughter Sally, but is greeted with hostility and anger because Michael placed Joe in jail until his name could be cleared. Sally, a young computer genius, arranges for Michael to drive their rig in hopes of being ambushed. Michael uncovers a potential suspect, Curtis, and decides to plant a homing device on his rig in order to uncover the mastermind behind the killing. Commentary:
A rather ordinary episode, most noted for the guest appearance of James Cromwell (credited as “Jamie” here), an accomplished film and television 246
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actor. This story is mostly a rehash of season one’s “Knight Moves”—both stories involve trucking companies that are being forced into bankruptcy by a bigger organization.
Notes:
The two car flip near the end of the episode is reused from “A Plush Ride.”
Highlights:
K.I.T.T. has an interesting solution to traffic jams at the beginning of this episode—drive sideways to get out.
Quotes:
(Michael) “You might say that Bonnie is K.I.T.T.’s mother. She takes care of him with all the maternal love and the ferocity of a tigress.”
(Bonnie) “Michael’s kidding. K.I.T.T. is his. I just put him back together again.”
(Devon) “And Michael gives her a great many opportunities to do so.”
Trivia:
Sally mentions to Michael that his next stop is at Armorbuilt—a reference to the company featured only a few episodes earlier in
“Buy Out.”
K.I.T.T. has unlimited storage—at the time of this episode, he has five million K’s in storage and can introduce one million more everyday, if necessary.
Knight in Retreat
Working Title: “Weekend Dreams”
Episode: 61
PROD. #58642
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Original Airdate: March 29, 1985 (Friday)
Rerun #1: August 4, 1985 (Sunday)
Writer: Gerald Sanford
Director: Roy Campanella Jr.
Guest Cast: Ann Turkel (Bianca Morgan), Don Galloway (Harley Freeman), Randi Brooks (Tanya), Sandra Kronemeyer (Monica Brown), Dani Minnick (Veronica), David Hedison (Ted Cooper)
Needing information on a top secret missile, Bianca Morgan blackmails Harley Freeman into giving her the routing information for the cargo she is seeking. Once she retrieves the information, Bianca kills Harley and makes it look like a suicide. Bonnie asks Michael to look into his death as she has known him for years and can’t believe he would kill himself. Determined to get inside Bianca’s retreat that Harley stayed at, Michael disguises himself as “Dr. Knightwood, Nuclear Physicist” and attempts to uncover the real reason behind Harley’s death while at the same time trying not to blow his cover. Commentary:
Ann Turkel returns to the Knight Rider set after playing Adrianne Margeaux in season two’s “Soul Survivor” and “Goliath Returns.” The series frequently asked former guest stars to return for later episodes as completely different characters and many times, fans would not know the difference. Ann Turkel’s case is quite different—she was a high profile guest star in both of the aforementioned episodes and should not have returned as a different character in this episode. Overlooking that, the episode plays out very well and includes some cute scenes with K.I.T.T. trying to ward off a lonely cub.
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Notes:
Don Peake on composing the four and a half minute chase sequence heard here: “I was having writer’s block. I called Jack Smalley, a famous musician and composer, and asked for his advice. He said,
‘Don, listen to me. It’s just a guy in a black car.’ I said, ‘But, no! It’s Michael! It’s K.I.T.T.!’ He repeated, ‘Don, it’s just a guy in a black car.’ I sat down and started writing.”
When K.I.T.T turbo boosts over the red 4X4 at the end of the episode, a finger can be seen pressing the button when no one is supposed to be driving!
When Michael shows Bonnie the photograph of Bianca near the beginning of the episode, her face is looking up. A few minutes later, Michael shows her the same photo and Bianca’s face is looking down!
When K.I.T.T. uses his Sub-Zero feature, all the windows ice up except the rear hatch.
Featured Songs:
“Careless Whisper” by Wham!
“Strut” by Sheena Easton
Quotes:
(K.I.T.T.) “Michael, whatever happened to the good old days when we simply turbo boosted over fences and crashed through walls?”
Trivia:
The retreat used here by Bianca can also be seen as Adrienne and Garthe’s mansion in “Goliath Returns.”
Megafax Industries is also mentioned in “Knight of the Drones.”
This episode shows the guest star list twice—once at the beginning and once during the end credits.
Tuflex-coated bullets can penetrate K.I.T.T.’s tires.
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Knight Strike
Episode: 62
PROD. #58647
Original Airdate: April 5, 1985 (Friday)
Rerun #1: August 16, 1985 (Friday)
Writer: Gregory S. Dinallo
Director: Georg Fenady
Guest Cast: Judy Landers (Sheila), Jack O’Halloran (Rawleigh), Logan Ramsey (Edgar), Katherine Baumann (Tyler Jastrow), Richard Herd (Lyle Jastrow), Paul Tuerpe (Fletcher), Biff Yeager (Tom O’Mally), Mark Giardino (Sergeant Gottlieb), Wendy Oates (Clerk), Michael Masters (Tuxedo), Virginia Peters (Martha)
When a shipment of high powered weapons is stolen from a military depot, Michael is assigned to investigate the theft. While at a sharpshooter convention, Michael runs into Sheila, an attractive young blonde who is selling the weapons. Michael asks where she got them, and Sheila shows him where the entire weapons shipment was hidden. Meanwhile, Tyler and Lyle Jastrow realize that Michael is a real threat to their operation and arrange a trap for him. Michael is en route to their next target when Jastrow’s associates, Rawleigh and Fletcher, bury Michael and K.I.T.T. alive inside a tunnel.
Commentary:
The season may have been winding down, but the action in this episode surely didn’t! Michael and K.I.T.T. are constantly being attacked by gunfire, laser beams, and even a tunnel caving in on them! Another welcome surprise in this episode is the return of Judy Landers (she had previously guest starred in season one’s “Forget Me Not”) as Michael’s “Lady of the Week.”
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Notes:
During several scenes of this episode, the footage is reversed (Michael presses the overhead console buttons with the wrong hand and is seen driving from the passenger seat).
Featured Songs:
“Neutron
Dance” by The Pointer Sisters
Trivia:
Paul Tuerpe returns in “Knight of the Rising Sun.”
Circus Knights
Episode: 63
PROD. #58633
Original Airdate: May 5, 1985 (Sunday)
Rerun #1: July 21, 1985 (Sunday)
Writer: David R. Toddman
Director: Harvey Laidman
Guest Cast: Michelle NiCastro (Terri Major), James Callahan (Jeff Barnes), Chuck McCann (Bombo), Sharon Hughes (Tiger), Tom Williams (Ringmaster)
While visiting Circus Major, Michael, Bonnie, and Devon witness an acrobat’s death. Michael goes undercover as “Turbo Man” and his faithful talking car after his death is ruled suspicious. With buzz about Michael and K.I.T.T.’s new act, Bombo the clown sets out to rig an explosion in order to make sure the circus closes for good. As K.I.T.T. turbo boosts through the ring of fire, he warns Michael of the bomb and Michael leaps to safety. Michael eventually traces the bomb back to another person, Knight Rider Season Three •
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Tiger, who admits that Bombo is the one who told her to burn down the clothing tent. Michael learns that a group called IDT, led by Jeff Barnes, wants the circus to fail so they can own the land.
Commentary:
The end of the third season closes with a case of deja-vu as “Circus Knights” feels just like another “Slammin’s Sammy’s Stunt Show Spectacular” (but without the race track). Following in the pattern of reinventing first season stories (as in “Ten Wheel Trouble” and its relation to
“Knight Moves”), Michael and K.I.T.T. join the circus as Turbo Man in order to weed out the ones trying to close it. The turbo boost through the
“ring of fire” is fantastic as well as Michael and K.I.T.T.’s showdown with a flamer thrower. The only thing one has to wonder is why K.I.T.T. never detected Major’s physical condition while he was on the trapeze before he fell to his death.
Notes:
When Michael and Terri are talking to Barnes in his office, the background shows that Michael parked K.I.T.T. illegally in front of a fire hydrant!
Quotes:
(Michael) “Okay K.I.T.T., break a leg.”
(K.I.T.T.) “In my case, it’s ‘blow a tire’.”
Trivia:
Tom Williams returns in “Knight Racer.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
KNIGHT RIDER SEASON FOUR
Fourth Season Technical Credits