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KNIGHT RIDER: KILLER K.I.T.T.

January 10, 1986
SEASON 4, EPISODE 13
Production #60226
Filmed: (12)
Reruns: May 30, 1986

Writer: ................... Simon Rose
Director: ................. Chuck Bail

SYNOPSIS:

An embittered former F.L.A.G. technician who was responsible for much of K.I.T.T.'s technology reprograms the vehicle to enact revenge on the Foundation. It's first mission -- to kill Michael Knight.

CAST LIST:

Marco Berio: .............. Harvey Jason
Bronwyn Appleby: .......... Andrea Howard
Crossing Guard: ........... Anne Ramsey
Gordon: ................... Andy Epper
Farrell: .................. Tony Epper

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TRIVIA:

Of all the episodes in which K.I.T.T. turns bad (CHARIOT OF GOLD, SOUL SURVIVOR), here he is at his nastiest, demonstrated by the loss of William Daniels' voice and actual physical attempts on Michael's life. And the use of the word "Ain't."

This is the first episode to feature RC3's dirt bike; he got it for free, and Devon jokes that he "was robbed." Bonnie calls it a "pile of junk." The episode also sets up the running gag that no matter how much effort RC puts into repairing it, someone or something will always make it fall apart...

Devon makes a reference to the days during World War II when he used to ride a motorcycle. RC3 can't believe it, but Devon told a similar story in the episode SPEED DEMONS.

Bonnie states at the episode's conclusion that she and Dr. Albert are working on safeguards to prevent K.I.T.T.'s systems from ever being tampered with again.

Writer Simon Rose was a Writer-Producer on rival series The Dukes of Hazzard. Unlike many other writers from that series, Rose's Knight Rider script was produced; fellow Dukes writer Bruce Howard told author David Hofstede: "I tried to get on Knight Rider, but they gave me a hard time. I said, 'But I wrote for a car before!'" (The Unofficial Dukes of Hazzard Companion, Renaissance Books).

Anne Ramsey was married to actor Logan Ramsey, who appeared in the episodes NO BIG THING and KNIGHT STRIKE.

SCRIPT TO SCREEN:

The script likens K.I.T.T.'s descent into evil to the movie The Exorcist. K.I.T.T.'s evil voice is described as "modified... a malevolent tone with an Exorcist hiss."

The script describes a short scene in which K.I.T.T. crashes through a bus bench while trying to kill Michael. The sequence is changed significantly in the episode -- in the draft dated 10/31/85, K.I.T.T. chases Michael down and brings a loading dock crashing down on top of him. In the episode he slams into a hot dog stand with Michael pinned to his hood.

Marco makes an interesting comment about K.I.T.T.: "It is a tool... It belongs to whoever controls it, and for whatever we choose to use it." Many of the series' writers seemed to forget that the family of Knight Rider characters think of K.I.T.T. as a he. At various intervals in this script, Bonnie and others also refer to K.I.T.T. as an "it." All these references were changed in filming, as with other scripts before and after.

SCRIPT - 5TH DRAFT - REV. 10/31/85

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TEASER:

Teaser

SOUNDTRACK:

Finally Found A Home
- Huey Lewis & The News

VEHICLES:

Crown Supercoach
Yamaha XT 250

K.I.T.T.'S FUNCTIONS:

Anharmonic Synthesizer
Anti-Theft System & Charges
Attack Mode
Audio/Video Record
Audio Playback (Tape)
Auto Cruise
Auto Door Left & Right
Auto Roof Left & Right
Auxiliary Comlink Channel
Damage Report
Fingerprint Scan
Image Enhancement Program
Infrared Tracking Scope
Manual Override
Map Search
Passive Laser Restraint System
Signal
Super Pursuit Mode
Surveillance Mode
System - Protect
Tinted Windows
Video Analyzer
Video Playback
Voice Projection
Zoom-In