Knight of the Phoenix (Knight Rider episode)
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| “Knight of the Phoenix” | |||||||
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| Knight Rider episode | |||||||
 Michael's first look at KITT's interior. |
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| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 1 |
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| Written by | Glen A. Larson Tom Greene Harker Wade |
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| Directed by | Daniel Haller | ||||||
| Guest stars | Deborah Ludwig Davis Phyllis Davis Ed Gilbert Shawn Southwick Vince Edwards Larry Anderson Herb Jefferson, Jr. Lance LeGault Robert Phillips Richard Basehart Richard Anderson Tyler Murray Pamela Susan Shoop Brian Cutler Victoria Harned Alma Beltran Barett Oliver Michael D. Roberts Bert Rosario Noel Conlon Charles Napier John Quade Ed Hooks Dennis C. Alpert Harold 'Hal' Frizzell Red West Bill McKinney Dennis Fimple |
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| Production no. | 101 & 102 | ||||||
| Original airdate | September 26, 1982 | ||||||
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| List of Knight Rider episodes | |||||||
Knight of the Phoenix is the two-hour long pilot to the popular 1980's television show Knight Rider, which starred David Hasselhoff, Edward Mulhare, Richard Basehart, and William Daniels (who was uncredited as the voice of KITT). It first aired September 26, 1982, and was written by Glen A. Larson and directed by Daniel Haller. The pilot was rebroadcast as a two part episode during further broadcast syndication.
The only regular cast member that didn't appear in the pilot is Patricia McPherson. Many celebrity guest stars were featured including Vega$'s Phyllis Davis and her sister Deborah Ludwig Davis, Baretta's Michael D. Roberts, actress Pamela Susan Shoop and former child star Barret Oliver. The pilot also features Elvis Presley's two best friends, Lance LeGault and Red West.
[edit] Plot
The episode begins during an evening at the Circus Circus casino in the Las Vegas Strip where Los Angeles police detective Michael Long, (played by Larry Anderson with voice overdubed by David Hasslehoff), is on special assignment to protect Tanya Walker, (Davis), and Charles Acton, (Ed Gilbert), technology executives who have become recent victims of apparent industrial espionage.
During the assignment, Long is betrayed by Tanya, who shoots him in the head and leaves him to die on a desert highway. Luckily, he is soon rescued by Devon Miles, (Mulhare), and billionaire philanthropist Wilton Knight, (Basehart), who take him to Wilton's private estate.
There, Long undergoes plastic surgery to reconstruct his face which was disfigured when the bullet shattered against a steel plate in his head he received during the Vietnam War. When the bandages are removed, Long has a different face and a new identity as Michael Arthur Knight, (now played by Hasselhoff). Devon tells Michael that Long has been declared dead. He is then offered a job to work for "The Foundation for Law and Government", (aka FLAG), a division of the Knight Foundation. Since the killers believe Long is dead, this will give him a better chance of infiltrating their organization and bring them to justice.
At first, Michael refuses the offer, but during his recovery he becomes curious as to what technicians are working on in a nearby garage. Wandering inside, he finds the engineers have completely modified his Trans Am and Devon offers him a test drive of the vehicle which is called the "Knight Industries Two Thousand" (KITT). Michael is overwhelmed by the car's capabilities, one of which is an advanced AI computer that talks to him. Devon tells him KITT will protect him and assist him on his missions if he takes the job with FLAG.
Later, Michael meets with Wilton Knight who is dying from an unrevealed illness. On his death bed, Wilton tells him that "one man can make a difference" and encourages him to become a modern-day knight who will protect the innocent and bring criminals to justice. After Wilton dies, Devon informs Michael that his shooter, Tanya Walker and her associate Fred Wilson have achieved top positions within a Silicon Valley computer company called Comptron. Devon suspects the criminals will embezzle millions form the company and steal their technology.
Michael begins his investigation by spying on Comptron employees who frequent a nearby bar called the House of the Rising Sun. There, he meets a waitress named Maggie, (Pamela Susan Shoop), who becomes angry when Michael asks her about Tanya Walker. Maggie is fired from the bar for her outburst, but Michael finds her later to apologize. He learns she the recent widow of a Comtron executive who she believes was murdered by Walker when he began asking too many questions. Arriving at Maggie's apartment, Michael meets her young son Buddy, (Barret Oliver). Maggie informs Michael that Comtron is sponsoring a demolition derby the next day. Michael thinks it's a good idea to attend and offers to take Maggie and Buddy with him.
The next day Michael informs Devon about the derby and to Devon's surprise says he will enter KITT hoping the car will attract Walker's interest and allow him to get close to her. Meanwhile, as a comic relief, two bumbling car thieves try every means available to break into KITT's interior but to no avail. They are dumbfounded when Michael simply walks up and KITT lets him open the door without so much as a key. Michael takes Maggie and Buddy to the derby and enters KITT as planned. Meanwhile, Buddy slips away and gets inside KITT just as Michael starts the competition. Unable to turn back now, Michael enters the contest and gives Buddy a joy ride. KITT manages to take out every opponent on the track without so much as a scratch. This of course perks Tanya's interest who soon begins plotting to get her hands on the amazing car.
With KITT as bait, Michael sets an appointment to meet Tanya at the House of the Rising Sun, but upon his arrival Michael confronts a group of thugs and a bar-room brawl ensues. Michael is arrested and taken to jail. KITT gets into his own predicament as he gets impounded and taken to a Comtron garage. There, technicians try to reverse engineer him, but KITT's impenetrable body armor makes getting inside impossible. From jail, Michael calls KITT with his wristwatch communicator. KITT manages to escape the garage and busts through the jail cell wall to rescue Michael.
Michael then races back to Comtron where he enters the building with a gun (something he doesn't normally carry in later episodes). There, he catches Walker and Wilson in the act of stealing chip schematics as they prepare their getaway. During the scuffle with a security guard, Michael is shot in the shoulder and begins to lose blood. Michael flees and makes it back to KITT who suggests he go to the hospital. Michael refuses and orders KITT to chase after Tanya and Wilson. Meanwhile Wilson calls for road blocks and orders a helicopter pilot to destroy the car. KITT however, easily avoids the barricades.
Tanya and Wilson head to an airport where a private jet awaits them. Michael intercepts the jet and forces it off the runway causing it to explode. Tanya, who now recognizes Michael Knight and Michael Long, steps from her car and in rage and tries to kill him point blank by shooting at the driver-side window of KITT. Unaware the glass is bullet proof, the bullet bounces off and strikes Tanya in the chest killing her.
As police arrive, Michael takes off with KITT driving him to the hospital. After his recovery, Michael visits Maggie and promises her son one last ride inside KITT. Later, Michael meets Devon aboard his private jet where Michael agrees to stay on with FLAG and carry out Wilton Knight's dream. They celebrate the partnership with a drink.
[edit] Production
The pilot episode opening scenes were filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada on the night of July 8, 1982; the recovery scenes were filmed in Los Angeles, California through the days and nights of July 26 - August 18, 1982; and the detective scenes were filmed in Silicon Valley, California through the days and night August 19 - August 26, 1982.[citation needed]
The pilot's soundtrack includes songs by Quarterflash performing "Harden My Heart", the The Eagles performing "Take It Easy" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling"; Fleetwood Mac performing "Don't Stop"; James Taylor performing "Carolina In My Mind"; Pat Benatar performing "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", and Deborah Ludwig Davis who performed "Proud Mary" in a cameo for the casino scene. There is also an extra scene featuring Willie Nelson's rendition of Elvis Presley's "Always On My Mind" featured in Television screenings, but not on the DVD version.
During the first day of filming Hasselhoff mentions that he had a stomach ache in the plastic surgery/recovery scenes which caused him to convincingly moan and groan with pain.
