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Knight of the Rising Sun
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Voo Doo Knight
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APPENDIX I
TEAM< KNIGHT RIDER
EPISODE GUIDE
First Season Technical Credits
Associate Producer: Geraint Bell
Director of Photography: Jacques Haitkin
Production Designer: Dan Whifler
Costume Designer: Natasha Stanton
Edited By: Chris Worland
Unit Production Manager: Amy Sydorick, Scott Hohnbaum First Assistant Director: A. H. Gayner
Second Assistant Director: James Grayford
2nd Second Assistant Director: Emma Humphrey
Casting by: Dennis Gallegos, Ann Wilkinson
Extras Casting: Central Casting Corporation, Cenex West Incorporated Stunt Coordinator: Richard Butler
Action Directors: Scott McAboy, Gil Wadsworth
Stunt Performers: Rick Avery, Greg Binkley, Brad Bovee, Jeff Cadiente, Jay Caputo, Doc Charbonneau, Chris Cole, Gilbert Combs, Eric Cord, Lori Crowder, Phil Cullotta, Lowell Dean, Mark Delessandro, Chris Durand, Kurtis Epper, Richard Epper, John Escobar, Debbie Evans, Donna Evans, Dane Farwell, Bruce French, Troy Gilbert, Andrew Gill, Jack Gill, David Graves, Tom Harper, John Hateley, Donna Hee, Marcia Holly, Jim Hudson, Brett Jones, Donna Keegan, Henry Kingi, Lane 379
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Leavitt, Brett Miller, Bob Minor, Neon Orsati, Denney Pierce, Casey Plaretti, Spiro Razatos, Scott Rogers, Rick Smith, Wesley Thompson, Frank Torres, Jefferson Wagner, Merritt Yohnka First Assistant Cameras: Dave Tanaka, Heather Lee
Gaffer: Adam Jones
Key Grip: Chris Byers
Action Unit Wardrobe Design: Josephine Monmaney
Wardrobe Design Assistant: Patrick Guzzo
Transportation Coordinator: Michael A. Burnett
Transportation Captain: Chris Sharff, Christopher Waldoch Action Unit Assistant Director: Rob Hyland
Action Unit Director of Photography: Maurice McGuire Action Unit 1st Assistant Cameras: Marc Lyons, Rick Taylor Action Unit Gaffer: Dave Bouza
Action Unit Key Grip: Jack Sarino
Action Unit #1 Assistant Director: Rob Hyland
Action Unit 2nd Assistant Director: Adeeb Samhat
Pyrotechnics and Special Effects by: Ultimate Effects SFX On-Set Supervisor: John Hartigan
Special Visual Effects by: Introvision
Sound Recordist: Jim Slingluff
Script Supervisor: Linda Kwan
Make-up/ Hair Supervisor: Jori Jenae
Location Manager: Matthew R. Cassell
Art Director: Paul Miller
Set Dresser: Ann Shea
Property Master: Gordon Polk
Firearm Specialist: Jeff Wagner
Company Drivers: William “Bud” Burnette, Clint Coyle, Haryl Deason, Jim Giannolis, Charles Moore, William Smallwood, John T. Davis, Tony Wood Production Accountant: Victor Licas
Assistant Production Accountant: Amelia Ross
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2nd Assistant Production Accountant: Julian LaFleur Production Coordinator: Jennifer Kerrigan-Webster, Liz Wilkes Set Coordinator: Cassandra Heredia
Post Production Sound: EFX—The Sound of Pictures
Sound Supervisor: Liisa Mallinen
Sound Effects Editor: Jeffrey R. Whitcher
Rerecording Mixers: Larry Benjamin, Liz Sroka, Zeke Salas Supervising Music Editor: Tony Dimito
Assistant Editor: Nancy Perry, Sean McKinley
2nd Assistant Editor: Alex Marquez
Post Production Coordinator: Debra Wash
Electronic Post Production and Digital Visual Effects: ENCORE Hollywood
TKR Vehicles Supplied by: Ford Motor Company
Supervising Executive for the Action Pack: Alex Beaton First Season Regular Cast
Brixton Karnes (Kyle Stewart)
Christine Steel (Jenny Andrews)
Duane Davis (Duke Depalma)
Kathy Trageser (Erica West)
Nick Wechsler (Kevin “Trek” Sanders)
Tom Kane (Voice of Dante)
Nia Vardalos (Voice of Domino)
Kerrigan Mahan (Voice of Attack Beast)
Andrea Beutner (Voice of Kat)
John Kassir (Voice of Plato)
Linda M. McCullough (Voice of SkyOne)
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First Season Episode Descriptions
Fallen Nation (Series Premiere)
Working Title: “Blackout”
Episode: 01
PROD. #V0501
Original Airdate: Week of October 6, 1997
Rerun #1: Week of December 22, 1997
Rerun #2: Week of August 16, 1998
Writers: Rick Copp & David A. Goodman
Director: Spiro Razatos
Guest Cast: Conrad Bachmann (General Steven Butler), Paul Michael (Lt. Mark Davis), Cheryl Carter (Marine Sergeant), Douglas Fisher (James the Butler), Penny Griego (Reporter), Tiiu Leek (Reporter), Jonas Morales (Davis’ Driver)
Kyle sends the team to investigate the disappearance of a military general by a mysterious new group known only as Fallen Nation.
Commentary:
The series premiere of Team Knight Rider gives the viewer a sense of familiarity while at the same time establishing the show as a separate entity from Knight Rider. Michael and K.I.T.T. never saved the world, but it becomes clear from the start that TKR was formed to take on the larger than life villains and global threats (they manage to stop a nuclear missile from destroying the nation’s capital). The car’s personalities vary greatly from K.I.T.T.’s—Dante is the wisecracking know-it-all; Attack Beast has quite a temper; Domino is seductive; Kat is often afraid; and Plato talks only in riddles. The end of this episode begins a season-long storyline involving Jenny’s search for her real father, Michael Knight. She sneaks TEAM KNIGHT RIDER EPISODE GUIDE •
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into the situation room and tries to access the Foundation’s files on Michael, but needs a level six security clearance level.
Notes:
Brixton Karnes on “Fallen Nation”: “When the first episode aired in October, we were wrapping up the last episode in production.”
The yellow stripes seen on the shoulders of the TKR uniforms disappear after this episode. When Duke is thrown through the air by an explosion and lands on Beast, viewers can clearly see that Beast’s windshield is cracked. To dispose of two corrupt guards, Domino activates her ejection seats—a classic Knight Rider trademark.
Executive Producer David A. Goodman can be heard as the voice of the television newscaster.
TKR writer Marcus Miller: “The TKR toys from Mattel were actually created before the cars were designed for the show. They were much cooler, and we had planned to make the cars be able to do some of the things that the toys could do, such as having a saw blade extend from Domino in order to clear some trees in her path.”
The Magnificent T.K.R.
Episode: 02
PROD. #VO508
Original Airdate: Week of October 13, 1997
Rerun #1: Week of December 15, 1997
Rerun #2: Week of August 10, 1998
Writer: John Scheinfeld
Director: Gil Wadsworth
Guest Cast: Alan Gelfont (Jean-Claude Laval), Roger Callard (Driver), David Combs (Daniel Waldo), Aymara Dellana (Maria), Stephanie 384
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Fabian (Kid #1), Romeo Fabian (Kid #2), Russel Gannon (Desperado
#2), Dennis Haydon (Desperado #1), Pete Leal (Pablo), Louis Meserole (Desperado #3), Noon Orsati (Desperado #4), Rick Smith (Desperado
#5), Abraham Verduzco (Jesus)
During a high-speed car
chase, Jenny accidentally forces a dangerous criminal to take a small Mexican town hostage.
Commentary:
Trek’s idea of putting Dante’s chip and other technologies into the rental car was a bit far-fetched. It’s hard to believe that Trek could put enough technology into the car to allow Dante to drive it, close the door, and scan the buildings. Also, Dante’s body moved immediately after he was installed into the car, smashing into the rental several times. Jenny doesn’t seem to be worried about being shot in Domino even though Domino’s top was down (this is the case throughout the entire season). The story did have some redeeming qualities, including Trek’s constant jokes towards Waldo (“Hey, they finally found you!”) and a good old-fashioned showdown between a desperado with his revolver and Domino with her lasers. Notes:
Christine Steel on this episode: “I loved the western theme. It was very dusty and we were on location. I don’t see it as being a bad episode; it was fun to shoot. E! Entertainment even came out on the set to do interviews with all of us.”
Duke recounts a story in which Beast is badly damaged by an indestructible car named “The Wrecker.” Dennis (who won’t be seen until “SkyOne”) brings Beast back to life.
When Kat displays her voice modulator on the screen of the situation room, the information below lists her driver’s name as Erica Starr.
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The A List
Working Title: “Power Weekend”
Episode: 03
PROD. #VO505
Original Airdate: Week of October 20, 1997
Rerun #1: Week of December 29, 1997
Rerun #2: Week of August 24, 1998
Writers: Rick Copp & David A. Goodman
Director: William Warren
Guest Cast: George Murdock (Roy Bullman), Dennis Howard (Gene Duncan), Monica Schnarr (Dr. Magda Matleonski), Chris Cote (Richard Norton), Bill Bishop (Engineer), Dennis Bowen (Scientist) Betty DeGeneres (Office Worker), Tom Dewier (Rieley), Brian LaRosa (Jimmy the Valet), Alison Moreno (Secretary), Eddie Padilla (Male Assistant), Wynona Smith (Meter Maid), Wesley Thomson (Ronald Peters), Tracy Wilson (Jaclyn Duncan), David McCallum (Mobius) Trek and Erica go undercover at a wealthy businessman’s estate to uncover the reason behind the death of two high profile CEO’s. Commentary:
A decent episode with some fun scenes including Plato’s rants after he is damaged and the dialog between Trek and Erica. The end of this episode has Kyle wondering if Bullman was acting alone while a mysterious man (later to be identified as Mobius) watches them over a monitor. Mobius would become the team’s main nemesis throughout the first season. Notes:
Kathy Trageser on the fight scene: “That pool fight was hilarious. When it looked like we were fighting, we were actually laughing really hard.”
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This episode is dedicated “In Loving Memory to Nancy Perry.”
Changes between script and screen include only one CEO committing suicide (by driving off a cliff in his Mercedes) and the mysterious benefactor’s identity being revealed as Erica’s supposedly dead husband.
The man who plays Roy Bullman in this episode—George Murdock—is one of the few TKR guest stars to appear in the original Knight Rider series as well. Alison Moreno returns in “The Bad Seed.”
Mobius makes his first appearance. He returns in “The Iron Maiden,” “Et Tu Dante,” “Angels in Chains,” and “Legion of Doom.”
This episode marks the only time that Plato drives by itself. K.R.O.
Episode: 04
PROD. #VO502
Original Airdate: Week of October 27, 1997
Rerun #1: Week of March 2, 1998
Rerun #2: Week of August 30, 1998
Writer: Steven Kriozere
Director: Spiro Razatos
Guest Cast:
Bill Bumiller (James Marland), Alan Coates (Martin Jantzen), Bruce French (Frank the Pilot), Gregg Binkley (Mike the Co-Pilot), Robert Peters (Fred), Frank Floyd (Hollis), John B. Wells (Voice of K.R.O.) The team must stop a Knight Foundation vehicle gone bad when K.R.O., the Knight Reformulation One, reactivates itself and escapes from a cargo jet.
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Commentary:
“K.R.O.” is a very solid episode that bridges the gap between Knight Rider and TKR. Fans of the original series no doubt feel a sense of familiarity with this episode—it has many similarities to Knight Rider’s K.A.R.R., another evil super car. During their search for the crashed airplane, Jenny and Kyle discuss James Marland—he was hand picked to replace Devon Miles, revamp the Foundation, and invent new car technologies. We hear how high the Foundation thinks of Michael Knight when Martin Jantzen says, “Unfortunately, lightning seldom strikes twice” to which Kyle replies, “Too much for you? Stepping into those shoes.” We also learn that F.L.A.G. originally wanted Kyle and K.R.O. as the team to replace Michael and K.I.T.T.
Notes:
Brixton Karnes on this episode: “My favorite episode is ‘K.R.O.’
because Kyle chose the higher road. The episode was Kyle looking at his dark side—what could have gone wrong if he had made different choices. I had no reference to the original show but I was the leader of a kick-ass team.”
Steve Kriozere on “K.R.O.”: “I really enjoyed [it] because it linked and continued the legacy of Knight Rider. What an honor! Mattel even made a K.R.O. matchbox car with a teeny-tiny little Jantzen figure. Way cool!”
This episode also marks the return of the stuntman responsible for most of the stunts on Knight Rider, Jack Gill.
Bill Bumiller had auditioned for the role of TKR’s leader, Kyle Stewart. He did not win the part and was incorporated into this episode instead as James Marland.
This episode is dedicated to Edward Mulhare, who died of lung cancer on May 24, 1997. 388
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Jantzen was with F.L.A.G. from 1990 to 1994. In his profile, it states that he was with the “Knight Rider branch” of the Foundation for Law and Government.
Inside Traitor
Episode: 05
PROD. #VO511
Original Airdate: Week of November 3, 1997
Rerun #1: Week of March 9, 1998
Rerun #2: Week of September 7, 1998
Writers: Kevin Stevens & Marcus Miller
Director: Spiro Razatos
Guest Cast: Shawn Christian (Adam Galbraith), Newell Alexander (F.L.A.G. Officer), Buckley (Chelsea O’Riley), David Matzke (Guard), Kahlil Sabbagh (Obad Jamal), Craig Tsuyumine (Akito Hiroshi) Kyle thinks that Erica has gone back to her criminal ways when it appears that she tried to shoot Jenny during a car chase.
Commentary:
“Inside Traitor” mainly focuses on Erica’s past as a con artist and leaves the team wondering if she has gone back to her old ways. Kyle runs off without telling the team in “Out of the Past,” while Trek does the same thing in “Apocalypse Maybe.” We see the EMP gun for the first time, although it was introduced in “EMP.”
Notes:
Kathy Trageser on her bathtub scene: “We had never met before we got into that tub.”
This episode marks the beginning of the Team Knight Rider “Get Ready to Ride” sweepstakes in which viewers could win various TEAM KNIGHT RIDER EPISODE GUIDE •
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prizes including a 1998 Mustang GT convertible, Best Buy gift certificates, JVC stereo head units, and TKR merchandise. The promotion aired during the ending credits for 4 weeks. Newell Alexander returns as the F.L.A.G. official in “Choctaw L-9,”
“SkyOne,” and “Angels in Chains.”
This is the only episode where the team sports their black TKR jackets. Choctaw L-9
Working Title: “Black Hawk L-9”
Episode: 06
PROD. #VO509
Original Airdate: Week of November 10, 1997
Rerun #1: Week of March 16, 1998
Rerun #2: Week
of September 14, 1998
Teleplay By: Steven Kriozere
Story By: Steven Kriozere & Jefferson Smith
Director: John Weidner
Guest Cast: Jesse Corti (Section Shief Maddox), David Cowgill (Agent Kobak), Daniel Riordan (Judd/Reid Northmoor), Kara Steiner (Miss Kari), Karen Steiner (Miss Kassidy), Newell Alexander (F.L.A.G. Officer), Doug Cox (Keith), Randy Rudy (Ray), Steve Forrest (Shadow) Kyle is suspended from the team after it appears he killed an innocent bystander while pursuing the theft of a top secret military helicopter. Commentary:
The mysterious Shadow makes his first appearance in this episode. When Kyle is at a loss concerning the whereabouts of the missing driver after losing his position by accidentally blowing up a truck on a mission, the 390
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Shadow appears and tells Kyle that all he wants is justice. Hoping to get back to the team, we see Dante convince Kyle that he has been set up. Notes:
The Shadow returns in “Angels in Chains” and “Legion of Doom.”
Everything to Fear
Episode: 07
PROD. #VO506
Original Airdate: Week of November 17, 1997
Rerun #1: Week of March 23, 1998
Rerun #2: Week of September 21, 1998
Writers: Regge Bulman & Clay Eide
Director: Gil Wadsworth
Guest Cast: Anthony Crivello (Edward Linder/The Raven), Craig Littler (Philip Webb/Professor Webster)
Jenny is kidnapped by an assassin as part of a plot to force Duke into helping him commit a murder. Commentary:
Although Jenny is relegated to only a few lines in this episode, “Everything to Fear” is still a fairly well-written story that has the entire team searching for Jenny. We learn more about the car’s capabilities here, such as the fact that all the vehicles have an emergency manual override code that only their drivers know.
Notes:
Beast’s override code, Sierra-Tango-1-6-3-0-9, is a direct reference to a line uttered by Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. TEAM KNIGHT RIDER EPISODE GUIDE •
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SkyOne
Episode: 08
PROD. #VO503
Original Airdate: Week of November 24, 1997
Rerun #1: Week of March 30, 1998
Rerun #2: Week of September 28,1998
Writers: Rick Copp & David A. Goodman
Director: Spiro Razatos
Guest Cast: Jim Fyfe (Dennis the Mechanic), Jim Piddock (Max Amato), Newell Alexander (F.L.A.G. Officer), Rick Copp (Clayton, the SkyOne Chef), Lowell Dean (Captain J.P. Wyatt), Brett Miller (Dorien), Brooke Susan Parker (Charlote)