TRIVIA:

David Hasselhoff on Goliath: "Everybody remarks on [this] episode -- honest to God, everybody does. And when I was doing it with my little earring, I thought I am never going to work again. And when my father saw it he said, 'Michael Knight's evil twin is a better actor than Michael Knight!'"

In this episode, K.I.T.T. races at about 160 kms an hour and nearly collides with a huge truck. The scene was worked out to the last inch. "They wouldn't let me do that scene," David said. "There were two stunt drivers and we set up the cameras in the middle of the desert. Each driver was told to get as close as possible to the other. The truck would hold to a straight line and Jack [Gill], in the car, would turn at the last second. Each driver had a radio in the car and that helped control the scene. It appeared that they collided, but that was just special effects. It's very sophisticated. We first shot the cars going by each other. Then we put in a car without a driver, and made it look as if it hit the truck."

Another scene involves David's character jumping from the roof of a moving truck into a passing car. "That scene required a double," David admitted. "It appeared that I had to jump from the truck into the back of a moving car. That really wasn't me. However, I did have to jump from a moving tow-truck used in that scene into the back of a car, then knock out the guy driving the car. That turned out to be the scariest stunt I had to do. The driver held down the gas pedal until I could get hold of the steering wheel. Then I had to push him over and drive away. It wasn't easy." (Extracts from the Knight Rider Album, by Chip Lovett).

This episode marked a turning point in the series -- it was the first time K.I.T.T. was ever seriously damaged. It also introduced two formidable foes in Garthe Knight and Goliath, who join K.A.R.R. in the list of evil counterparts.

Other episodes where the car is damaged include KNIGHT OF THE DRONES, JUNK YARD DOG and KNIGHT OF THE JUGGERNAUT.

For those interested in the Knight family tree, this episode introduces Garthe (Wilton's son) and Elizabeth Knight (Wilton's ex-wife). Garthe's sister Jennifer can be seen in Knight of the Juggernaut, while Garthe himself reappears in GOLIATH RETURNS.

SCRIPT TO SCREEN:

The first draft gives Garthe a limp -- presumably obtained while he was in Africa, although never explained. The idea was dropped, however, to keep him as Michael's physical match.

The writers were torn between two songs to use for Garthe's theme -- Sympathy for the Devil and Gimme Shelter, both by the Rolling Stones. The episode uses Gimme Shelter.

The ramjet makes its first appearance in the second draft. Originally, Michael and K.I.T.T. attempted to leave the desert as slowly as possible; the shooting version saw them lose control, travelling at over 300 mph.

Early drafts saw Michael's search for Ron's tapes hindered by two thugs, Biggs and Statton, who steal them from him at the bus depot. A chase through the streets of Las Vegas ensues, with explosive results.

The scripts reveal that Elizabeth Knight is the mystery caller to General Maddux's office.

SCRIPT - 1ST DRAFT - REV. 7/22/83
SCRIPT - 2ND DRAFT - REV. 7/27/83

NITPICKS:

* Nitpicks contain spoilers

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FILMING LOCATIONS:

Garthe's Warehouse:
13500 Blue Diamond Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89135

Caesar's Palace Hotel & Casino:
3570 Las Vegas Blvd, South, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Garthe & Elizabeth's Hotel Suite:
Ann-Margret Suite, Caesar's Palace Hotel (as above)

Rita's Apartment:
Casino Center Apartments, 414 South 1st St., Las Vegas, NV 89101

Red Bluff & Surroundings:
Valley of Fire State Park, Overton, 29450 Valley of Fire Rd, Overton, NV 89040

Desert Rendezvous:
Jean Dry Lake, Nevada

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