Knight Rider Archives: Slammin' Sammy's Stunt Show Spectacular (1982)

SYNOPSIS:

Michael and K.I.T.T. save an ailing stunt show with some daredevil driving whilst trying to apprehend a wily businessman who wants to close them down.

CAST LIST:

Sammy Phillips: .............. Eddie Firestone
Lisa Phillips: ............... Susan Kase
Mario Lutenzo: ............... Phil Coccioletti
Bill Gordon: ................. Marc Alaimo
Lawrence Blake: .............. Lin McCarthy
Announcer: ................... Jimmy Weldon
Mark Phillips: ............... Adam Postil
Highway Patrolman: ........... Michael Santiago

GO TO CREW LIST

TRIVIA:

An episode that is a showcase for the stunt crew behind the series. There are plenty of jumps and two-wheel-driving, and it's an interesting twist that Michael and K.I.T.T. have to perform them the old-fashioned way.

Sammy's stunt show is located at the Saugus Speedway, which was also the site of the demolition derby in the pilot episode Knight of the Phoenix, and another race in Knights of the Fast Lane. It was also where Jack Gill taught David Hasselhoff to stunt-drive. Hasselhoff remembers, "Jack Gill was my stunt guy and we became really close friends. He really took great pride in showing me how to drive, so we went out to the Saugus Speedway and just took the car out and learned how to do 180s and 360s, how to go around the corner really quickly and fishtail out and turn back into the turn."

Slammin' Sammy's Stunt Show Spectacular was one of three first season episodes to be re-aired during the second season. The others were Give Me Liberty... Or Give Me Death and White Bird.

Marc Alaimo co-starred in the long-running series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine alongside fellow Knight Rider guest star Nana Visitor (Hills of Fire).

SCRIPT TO SCREEN:

This script underwent a lot of cuts and changes before it hit the screens:

Michael originally found out that Sammy's life was in danger by going undercover as a handyman (as he does in Edwards and Schwartz' later story THE FINAL VERDICT). When Blake returns to his office Michael is forced to duck for cover, and the writers themselves weren't sure where; they state that it's director "Bruce [Bilson]'s problem." Michael and K.I.T.T. arrive at the track at the end of Act One, just as Sammy has his accident.

Devon objects to Michael's course of action because: a) K.I.T.T. is not to be used in any profit-making venture; b) Michael is supposed to be undercover, not center ring in a circus; and c) Michael is attempting to destroy an indestructible car.

SCRIPT - 5TH DRAFT - REV. 9/15/82