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

Unusually, Michael contacts Devon via phone. Typically in the series, he would do so via one of KITT's monitor screens.

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Goofs

When Micheal Knight is being pulled over for sleeping while driving, as the patrol car pulls up to K.I.T.T., it is clearly a different car with stock Trans-Am tail lights and a Blue with White lettering Nevada License Plate.

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Quotes

[Michael insists on going after Tayna, despite a serious gunshot wound]
Devon Miles: KITT, can he make it?
K.I.T.T.: You want the truth, in front of him?
Michael Knight: If I'm going down, I'm taking them with me!

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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

Featured in Knight Rider: Chariot of Gold (1983)

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Soundtracks

Proud Mary
Written by John Fogerty (uncredited)
Performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival (uncredited)

User Reviews

Thank God for nostalgia

I'll tell you, it's a good thing we've got nostalgia, cause that's really all this show has going for it. I remember watching this show, and being impressed, not only but the futuristic design of KITT, but the stories weren't half bad. Now I'm bearing in mind, that the episodes I'm remembering most likely were long after first season, maybe even 3rd or 4th, because, number one, I don't remember any of these episodes, and number two, the KITT in these episodes is quite primitive compared to the one I remember. I mean, his little voice light is just a flashing read light. I vaguely remember it being like that. I have great memories of the episodes where his voice light changes to the bouncy equalizer type light that measure his inflection. As of now, the only feature he has is pursuit mode, where he's capable of getting up to high speeds, surveillance mode, auto mode, and the ever present, and constantly standard turbo boost. I'm finding myself hungering for later seasons so I can see some of my favorites like when he could jam up other car's breaks, and the ever impressive "super pursuit mode."

All this aside, lets take a look at some of the episodes. The episodes in general in this season...well, they're just bad. The writing is terrible, Hasselhoff is abhorid as Knight himself, and these issues make me question how in God's good green earth did this show get picked up for another season, let alone 5 in total. I just finished watching an episode in which Micheal had to protect the arrival of what were called "leaders of several 'well off' third world countries," which in itself slayed me. Anyways, so all this happens, Micheal saves them all from assassination with the help of his automotive friend, and the show leaves the viewer watching these foreign dignitaries with Knight in a country and western bar getting absolutely HAMMERED so they can "unwind" before they stop terrorism. Come on now. It's absolute pure camp, but then again, maybe that's some of the driving force that keeps me watching.

So lets break it down.

Pros: -KITT is still pretty cool despite his primitive state

-The opening credits and theme music will always kick ass.

-Every episode ends with a voice over of the eccentric millionaire who saved Michael in the first episode, built KITT, and began the "Foundation for Law and Government" saying "Micheal Knight. A lone crusader in a dangerous world....the world of....the Knight Rider."

Cons:

-Only one, but it's a big one....everything from the writing, acting, staging, production value of this show, at least in the first season is just plain horrible, with very, very few redeeming qualities.

That's all I got....hope it makes sense.