Knight of the Phoenix: Part 1 

A detective, believed to have been killed, is given a new face and identity and is armed with an artificially intelligent super car.

Director:

Daniel Haller

Writers:

Glen A. Larson (created by), Glen A. Larson

Stars:

David Hasselhoff, Edward Mulhare, Phyllis Davis

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Hasselhoff	...	Michael Long / Michael Knight
Edward Mulhare	...	Devon Miles
Phyllis Davis	...	Tanya Walker
Pamela Susan Shoop	...	Maggie
Lance LeGault	...	Vernon Gray
Noel Conlon	...	William Benjamin
Michael D. Roberts	...	Jackson
Bert Rosario	...	Brown
Richard Anderson	...	Dr. Ralph Wesley
Vince Edwards	...	Fred Wilson
Richard Basehart	...	Wilton Knight
Ed Gilbert	...	Charles Acton (as Edmund Gilbert)
Shawn Ora Engemann	...	Lonnie (as Shawn Southwick)
Brian Cutler	...	Bar Manager
Barret Oliver	...	Buddy

Storyline

When a young detective is ambushed in a failed police stake out, he is believed to have been killed. In reality, he revives and learns that his face has been altered and his identity has been changed to Micheal Knight. The person responsible for this is Wilton Knight, a dying billionare who, convinced that one man can make a difference, has selected Micheal for the role as a crime-fighter. Now armed with a advanced car called KITT which has the equivalent armor of a battle tank, capable of speeds over 300 MPH and contains an artificial intelligence computer personality as an aide, Micheal agrees to perform his assigned role.

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Plot Keywords:

number in episode title | artificial intelligence | gadget car | knight rider | tv series pilot | 

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Taglines:

A young man set on revenge. His partner... an indestructible car.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Knight of the Phoenix: Part 1

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Burbank Airport - 2627 North Hollywood Way, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Glen A. Larson Productions, Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Pilot Episode begins with actor Larry Anderson playing Michael Long. After realizing that an opening scene (the casino act) was required to make sense of the plot additional scenes were abruptly written. Larry was called late in the afternoon to an audition, got the call that evening, and was on set the next day. Hasselhoff later dubbed over the lines, noticeable by the scene in the car with Tanya that his mouth and sound do not seem to match exactly. In the scene on the side of the road, Hasselhoff takes over for Larry but his face is hidden in darkness throughout the scene. Larry was not credited on the show. (adapted from "Don't Hassel the Hoff: the Autobiography" by David Hasselhoff and David Thompson; pg 64)

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Goofs

When KITT speaks for the first time, the red speech indicator on the dashboard is not lighting up.

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Quotes

Michael Long: [communicating via earpiece] Muntzy, be careful...
Muntzy: Hey, hey, I got ten years on ya, buddy. I'm the original man of steel. You're the one I'm worried about, you're in that bed of snakes.

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Alternate Versions

When this was originally aired, Larry Anderson's real voice was used for Michael Long. In subsequent airings, David Hasselhoff's voice is dubbed over.

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Connections

Edited into Knight Rider: Junk Yard Dog (1985)

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Soundtracks

Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Written by Eddie Schwartz (uncredited)

User Reviews

How about a movie?

I have been waiting YEARS for there to be a remake of this wonderful science fiction series. But every time they try and remake it they make a mistake - making it a "team Knight Rider" instead of "one man can make a difference," for instance.

"The Knight of the Phoenix" was the original story of Michael Long being betrayed by a woman and shot in the face, only to be "reborn" as Michael Knight under the auspices of the wealthy, humane and brilliant Wilton Knight. Similar to the first Batman movie, this mythology is ripe for the remaking into a blockbuster movie. But no one has picked up on this yet - why? All I can say is, David Hasselhoff, please spend some of your money in this direction!