Knight Rider Returning to DVD From Mill Creek

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Paul Nuthall

It’s been ten years since Universal Home Video released Knight Rider on DVD, first as individual season boxed sets, then as a Complete Series package. Now Mill Creek Entertainment is reissuing Knight Rider Seasons 1 and 2 on May 3rd. Both full-season sets are $14.98 SRP, with the episodes spread across 4 discs.

With the episodes newly remastered in high definition, can a Blu-Ray release be far behind? Mill Creek have licensed a clutch of other classic shows from Universal including Airwolf, Miami Vice, Quantum Leap, Sliders and The Rockford Files – with Airwolf getting a Blu-Ray release on the same day. Knight Rider on an HD format may not be too far away, especially after a Blu-Ray set has already hit the shelves in Japan (albeit with mixed reviews).

Knight Rider Season 1 DVD Mill Creek Entertainment

Knight Rider Season 1 DVD – Mill Creek Entertainment

Today’s Hero, Driving the Car of Tomorrow!

Gear up for action with superstar David Hasselhoff and his supercar, K.I.T.T., as they throttle crime in every high-octane episode from the first season of Knight Rider. The series follows the thrilling adventures of Michael Knight, a detective thought to be dead, who’s been given a new face and identity. His assignment: to fight crime with the help of an artificially intelligent, talking car named K.I.T.T., a high-speed, futuristic weapon outfitted with high-tech gadgets and a personality of its own.

Starring David Hasselhoff (TV’s Baywatch), Edward Mulhare (Von Ryan’s Express), Patricia McPherson (Prime Risk) and William Daniels (TV’s Boy Meets World), with guest stars Richard Basehart (TV’s Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea), Richard Anderson (TV’s The Six Million Dollar Man), Maria Conchita Alonso (The Running Man), Charles Napier (Rambo: First Blood Part II), Alan Oppenheimer (TV’s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe), William Sanderson (TV’s Newhart), Alejandro Rey (TV’s The Flying Nun), Tina Louise (TV’s Gilligan’s Island), and Tony Dow (TV’s Leave It To Beaver).

Contents:

Disc 1:
Episode 1: Knight of the Phoenix: Part 1 – Sept. 26, 1982
Episode 2: Knight of the Phoenix: Part 2 – Sept. 26, 1982
Episode 3: Deadly Maneuvers – Oct. 1, 1982
Episode 4: Good Day at White Rock – Oct. 8, 1982
Episode 5: Slammin’ Sammy’s Stunt Show Spectacular – Oct. 22, 1982

Disc 2:
Episode 6: Just My Bill – Oct. 29, 1982
Episode 7: Not a Drop to Drink – Nov. 5, 1982
Episode 8: No Big Thing – Nov. 12, 1982
Episode 9: Trust Doesn’t Rust – Nov. 19, 1982
Episode 10: Inside Out – Nov. 26, 1982
Episode 11: The Final Verdict – Dec. 3, 1982

Disc 3:
Episode 12: A Plush Ride – Dec. 10, 1982
Episode 13: Forget Me Not – Dec. 17, 1982
Episode 14: Hearts of Stone – Jan. 14, 1983
Episode 15: Give Me Liberty… or Give Me Death – Jan. 21, 1983
Episode 16: The Topaz Connection – Jan. 28, 1983

Disc 4:
Episode 17: A Nice, Indecent Little Town – Feb. 18, 1983
Episode 18: Chariot of Gold – Feb. 25, 1983
Episode 19: White Bird – March 4, 1983
Episode 20: Knight Moves – March 11, 1983
Episode 21: Nobody Does It Better – April 29, 1983
Episode 22: Short Notice – May 6, 1983

Knight Rider Season 2 DVD Mill Creek Entertainment

Knight Rider Season 2 DVD – Mill Creek Entertainment

Turbo Boost, K.I.T.T.!

Ride shotgun with mysterious crime fighter Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) and the hottest car on four wheels, K.I.T.T., as they chase elusive criminals in each action-packed episode. The heart-pounding second season of Knight Rider packs in even more thrills, more high-speed chases, and more full-throttle excitement with dynamic duo Michael Knight and K.I.T.T. in the action series that left all others in the dust.

Starring David Hasselhoff (TV’s Baywatch), Edward Mulhare (Von Ryan’s Express), Rebecca Holden (The Sisterhood), and William Daniels (TV’s Boy Meets World), with guest stars Barbara Rush (When Worlds Collide), Catherine Mary Stewart (Weekend at Bernie’s), Dana Elcar (TV’s MacGyver), Geena Davis (Thelma & Louise), Bernard Fox (TV’s Bewitched), Robert Pastorelli (TV’s Murphy Brown), Thomas F. Wilson (Back to the Future trilogy), Jo Ann Pflug (M.A.S.H.), Cameron Mitchell (TV’s The High Chaparral), Robin Lively (The Karate Kid, Part III), Lydia Cornell (TV’s Too Close for Comfort), Kurt Fuller (Midnight in Paris), Ann Turkel (Humanoids from the Deep), John Vernon (Animal House), Joanna Pettet (Casino Royale), Apollonia Kotero (Purple Rain), Catherine Hickland (TV’s One Life to Live), and Stuart Whitman (The Comancheros).

Contents:

Disc 1:
Episode 1: Goliath: Part 1 – Oct. 2, 1983 (97 minutes)
Episode 2: Goliath: Part 2 – Oct, 2, 1983
Episode 3: Brother’s Keeper – Oct. 9, 1983
Episode 4: Merchants of Death – Oct. 16, 1983
Episode 5: Blind Spot – Oct. 23, 1983

Disc 2:
Episode 6: Return to Cadiz – Oct. 30, 1983
Episode 7: K.I.T.T. the Cat – Nov. 6, 1983
Episode 8: Custom K.I.T.T. – Nov. 13, 1983
Episode 9: Soul Survivor – Nov. 27, 1983
Episode 10: Ring of Fire – Dec. 4, 1983
Episode 11: Knightmares – Dec. 11, 1983

Disc 3:
Episode 12: Silent Knight – Dec. 18, 1983
Episode 13: A Knight in Shining Armor – Jan. 8, 1984
Episode 14: Diamonds Aren’t a Girl’s Best Friend – Jan. 15, 1984
Episode 15: White-Line Warriors – Jan. 29, 1984
Episode 16: Race for Life – Feb. 5, 1984
Episode 17: Speed Demons – Feb. 12, 1984

Disc 4:
Episode 18: Goliath Returns – Feb. 19, 1984 (97 minutes)
Episode 19: A Good Knight’s Work – March 4, 1984
Episode 20: Mouth of the Snake – April 8, 1984 (97 minutes)
Episode 21: Let It Be Me – May 13, 1984
Episode 22: Big Iron – May 27, 1984

More information as we get it!

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Halloween Knight: All The Hidden Movie References

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Paul Nuthall

Halloween Knight

1. Psycho

PSYCHO HOUSE – Used in one major sequence in the episode and extensively in promotional materials, the whole episode is designed to get Michael and K.I.T.T. to the famous Psycho House.

NORMAN BAINES – This character, played by Kurt Paul, is a gag based on Anthony Perkins’ most famous role – Psycho‘s Norman Bates.

TAXIDERMY – Norman Bates’ favourite pasttime… and Norman Baines’ too, judging by the inside of his apartment: …

NORMAN’S CAR

2. Hitchcock Movies

REAR WINDOW – The plot of Halloween Knight revolves around Bonnie, who after recently moving into a new apartment witnesses a murder in another residence across the way. This plot was borrowed from perhaps Alfred Hitchcock’s most personal film, the 1954 release starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly. Stewart plays LB Jeffries, a photographer who is incapacitated after breaking his leg and witnesses a traveling salesman murder his wife in an adjacent apartment. Like Bonnie, he eventually becomes the target of the murderer himself.

THE KEY

I CONFESS

TORN CURTAIN

THE LADY VANISHES

3. Halloween: Season of the Witch

4. Gone With The Wind

RHETT BUTLER AND SCARLETT O’HARA

5. Battlestar Galactica

CYLON WARRIOR – Simon arrives at the Foundation Halloween Costume Ball dressed as a mixture of Darth Vader (Star Wars) and Cylon Warrior from Glen Larson’s earlier show Battlestar Galactica.

6. Creature From The Black Lagoon

7. Bewitched

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Remembering Edward Mulhare

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Paul Nuthall

Today – April 8, 2015 – would have been Edward Mulhare’s 92nd birthday. The distinguished actor passed away in 1997, but join us as we celebrate the life of the man who embodied Devon Miles…

Though born in Ireland, the actor Edward Mulhare specialised in portraying suavely cultivated Englishmen of droll wit and sometimes dubious morals.

Having established himself in the late-Fifties as a Broadway star when he succeeded Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady, he spent the last 40 years in the United States, where his prolific work on stage, screen and television made him a popular player and box-office attraction, particularly in touring productions. His early career included notable work in the theatres of Ireland and England, including West End appearances with Orson Welles and Gladys Cooper.

Mulhare was born in Cork in 1923. Educated at St Nessan’s School and North Monastery, he spent a few months reading medicine at the National University of Ireland before deciding to follow his passion for theatre, and at 19 he made his professional debut at the Cork Opera House playing in successive weeks Murdo in The First Mrs Fraser and Cassio in Othello. Joining the newly formed Dublin Theatre Guild, who were recruiting talent from all over Ireland, he played Bill Walker in Shaw’s Major Barbara, Horace Giddens in Hellman’s The Little Foxes and La Hire in Shaw’s St Joan.

He made his first appearance in England with an Ensa unit as Max De Winter in Rebecca. After sporadic employment with the Gate Theatre in Dublin and club theatres in London, in 1950 he was named leading man of the Liverpool Repertory Company, which had spawned Rex Harrison and Michael Redgrave. The following year he played Othello once more, this time as Lodovico to Orson Welles’ Moor at the St James’ Theatre, produced by Laurence Olivier. Though this by Kenneth Tynan, who described Welles as having “the courage of his restrictions”, it was generally well received.

In 1952 Mulhare was part of the John Gielgud season at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, and with Gielgud he subsequently went to the Rhodes Festival at Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), in Richard II. In 1953 he made his film debut in Thorold Dickinson’s Israeli-made film Hill 24 Doesn’t Answer. In this potent drama of the fight for modern Israel, he was top-billed as one of four soldiers defending a hill outside Jerusalem in the 1948 war. The same year he had a featured role as Sidney Willis MP, in the West End production of The Night of the Ball with Gladys Cooper and Wendy Hiller.

A turning-point in his career came in 1957, when he was chosen to succeed Rex Harrison in the Broadway production of My Fair Lady. With his suave urbanity and clipped British accent, he proved a popular successor and played the role for three years, his Elizas including Julie Andrews, Sally Ann Howes and Anne Rogers. When Rex Harrison saw the show for the first time as a member of the audience, he found Mulhare “very good – I was enchanted with the whole performance”.

In 1960 he went with the show to Russia then decided to settle in the US, where he found steady employment on stage, screen and television. On Broadway he starred in The Devil’s Advocate (1961) and succeeded Michael Wilding in Jean Kerr’s hit comedy Mary, Mary (1961). Later he starred in a Los Angeles production of The Sound of Music, and with Anne Rogers, who had become one of his closest friends, he toured the US in the musical Camelot and play Death Trap as well as revivals of My Fair Lady. In the early Seventies he toured 159 American cities in a production of Shaw’s Don Juan in Hell with Myrna Loy, Ricardo Montalban and Kurt Kasznar. “Edward Mulhare made a superb Devil,” said Loy later. “He possessed all the charm and wit for the part.”

On screen he was one of the British prisoners-of-war, an army padre who impersonates a German officer during a daring escape in Von Ryan’s Express (1964), and he was an effectively smooth villain in two spoofs of James Bond movies, the hit Our Man Flint (1966) starring James Coburn, and the dire Caprice (1967) in which he was a duplicitous cosmetics tycoon, involved in a covert drugs operation, who recruits Doris Day as an industrial spy.

His prolific television work started in England with two episodes of The Adventures of Robin Hood (1956). American series in which he appeared included Murder She Wrote, Streets of San Francisco, Outer Limits, Hart To Hart, Battlestar Galactica, and regular roles in two further series, both of which becane hits.

When the 1941 film The Ghost and Mrs Muir was converted to a television series in 1968, Mulhare again followed in Harrison’s footsteps as the ghost of an irascible sea captain who shares a Cornish cottage with an attractive widow (Hope Lange, in Gene Tierney’s original role). The show ran for two years and made Mulhare a household name.

He was to have an even bigger success in 1982 with Knight Rider, in which he was the dapper Devon Miles, mentor to an undercover policeman (David Hasselhoff), who has been killed but brought back to life and given a lavishly equipped car (which could leap 50 feet in the air – and talk) in which to defend the unfortunate and fight injustice. With particular appeal to young audiences, it was the first show on the NBC network to hold its own against Dallas on CBS, and ran for five years and 90 episodes.

Mulhare continued to act until diagnosed with cancer a few months ago, and has a role in the forthcoming Jack Lemmon / Walter Matthau film Out to Sea.

Tom Vallance

Edward Mulhare, actor: born Cork, Ireland 8 April 1923; died Los Angeles 24 May 1997.

See also: Obituary: Edward Mulhare | The Independent

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Glen A. Larson: 1937-2014

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Paul Nuthall
Glen A. Larson

Glen A. Larson: 1937-2014

Glen A. Larson, the legendary Hollywood writer-producer and creator of Knight Rider, has passed away. He was 77.

Born Glen Albert Larson on January 3, 1937, his parents moved the family to Los Angeles while he was still an infant. These were the days before television, and a love of the art of storytelling was germinated while listening to hour after hour of popular radio shows. This love of the entertainment industry led him to pursue a job as a page at NBC, then back home to watch such live anthologies as Lux Video Theatre and Matinee Theatre on the fledgling medium of television.

In 1956, while still attending Hollywood High School, Larson and his group The Four Preps were signed to a long-term contract by Capitol Records. Along with bandmates Bruce Belland, Ed Cobb and Marv Ingram, Larson recorded such hits as Twenty Six Miles (Santa Catalina), Big Man and Dreamy Eyes. The group are cited as a major influence for the later Beach Boys.

The Four Preps were enormously successful over the next ten years, and appeared on The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, Gidget, The Ed Sullivan Show and American Bandstand; they played college campuses around the country and toured the world. But Larson’s personal life now included a new wife and child and he wanted to get off the road, so he pursued a career in television and sold a story idea for a 1966 episode of The Fugitive entitled In a Plain Paper Wrapper. The shooting script was co-written with Jackson Gillis, a veteran TV writer who would go on to write two episodes of Knight Rider (Blind Spot and Hills of Fire). The episode guest-starred Lois Nettleton, Michael Strong, and a young Kurt Russell.

That script proved to be a major turning point in Larson’s career; soon afterwards he sold another script to the Robert Wagner-starring hit It Takes a Thief. He had found his calling: In the span of that same season, he joined the writing staff, became a Story Editor and then Producer of the series.

A result of this unprecedented success saw an offer of a production deal with Universal Studios. Larson signed and never looked back. Over the next ten years he was enormously successful, working on McCloud, The Virginian and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. He also began a run of creating a huge number of classic hit shows that endure to this day, including Alias Smith and Jones, Switch, Quincy, ME, BJ and the Bear, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and the iconic Battlestar Galactica. He was also instrumental in shaping The Six-Million Dollar Man, his first collaboration with Lee Majors.

The 1980s were not quite so prolific, but provided Larson’s resume with some of his greatest, most enduring hits. In 1980 he helped rework Donald Bellisario’s Magnum, PI pilot script (Don’t Eat the Snow in Hawaii), and the co-production between Glen Larson Productions and Bellisarius went on to become one of the biggest hits of the ’80s. For Twentieth Century Fox Television Larson created, wrote and produced The Fall Guy, his second collaboration with Lee Majors and one of his personal favourites of all his shows. It was at this point he was approached by Universal to complete his production deal – he owed them one last show, and they had an idea about a show based around a talking car.

Knight Rider Created by Glen A Larson

Knight Rider Created by Glen A. Larson

Larson learned that the concept had been shopped around almost every producer in Hollywood, but none had been able to get a handle on it. Larson knew exactly how to attack the idea. “In some ways [the Knight Rider] concept is called a bullshit premise,” he said on the DVD commentary. “Put another way it’s a fantasy premise. But the more steeped in reality you can make it, the more your feet are on the ground with your science and the things you are reaching for, the more likely people will be compelled by it and say, ‘You know, that’s just kind of possible.’ Maybe we’re on the fringes of it. Now they do have automatic braking systems, it’s on my new car. If you get too close to something, the car will brake. The next step you do when you have a premise like this is you fill it up with really good actors… and suddenly you’ve made it all believable, and it’s a joy to watch.”

Because the deadline for pilot season was fast approaching there wasn’t time to produce an entire TV movie. The decision was made to produce a network presentation comprised of several key scenes from Larson’s script. Larson called in favours all around Hollywood to cast it according to his philosophy of making a fantasy premise believable: Edward Mulhare, Richard Basehart, Richard Anderson, Vince Edwards, Lance LeGault, Bill McKinney, Dennis Fimple… all reliable character actors and stars he had worked with many times before who would considerably raise the profile of the pilot. “This was network proof,” he said.

Not quite; when the show was turned in, NBC executives returned to Larson with two problems: “They weren’t sure whether the car should talk, and they weren’t sure about Hasselhoff,” Larson said. “What did they buy? What did we sell?” Larson wouldn’t budge, and the show moved forward. “If you believe in something, you must will it through, because everything gets in the way. Everyone tries to steer the ship off course.”

Under contract as the Executive Producer and showrunner of The Fall Guy at Twentieth Century Fox, Larson left Knight Rider in the capable hands of R.A. Cinader, Steven E. de Souza and Hannah Shearer. “I tried to stay with things until I thought they were on their feet and they learned to walk and talk,” he said. The show went on to ride out four successful seasons, and made a superstar of David Hasselhoff. “I’m David Hasselhoff, and I was ‘created by Glen Larson,'” David Hasselhoff said in the Knight Rider DVD commentary, a fitting tribute.

After Knight Rider, Larson created and executive-produced Automan, Manimal and Cover-Up while still working on The Fall Guy.

He famously brought his musical talent to the shows he created, composing the distinctive theme tunes to many including Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, BJ and the Bear, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, The Fall Guy, Battlestar Galactica and Knight Rider.

The late 1990s saw the beginning of a revival of these classic shows, as the generations raised on them came of age. Knight Rider had already spawned a made-for-TV reunion in 1991 (Knight Rider 2000), and received a sequel series in 1997 (Team Knight Rider) and a 2008 reboot. The 2000s saw the movie rights to these properties being snapped up once again by the studios: The Fall Guy, Magnum, PI, Manimal, Battlestar Galactica and, of course, Knight Rider are all in development for the big screen treatment ensuring that the name Glen A. Larson will endure for a very long time to come.

Knight Rider end

Knight Rider Closing Screen

Some tributes Tweeted by Larson’s Knight Rider alums:

First season producer, and writer of classic Knight Rider episodes Trust Doesn’t Rust and Inside Out, Steven E. de Souza:

Guest star Keith Coogan, who played Davey in Good Day at White Rock (as Keith Mitchell):

Guest star Lydia Cornell, who played Sabrina Travis in Speed Demons:

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In Memoriam: Denny Miller

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Paul Nuthall
Denny Miller in Knight Rider

Denny Miller in the Knight Rider episode ‘The Rotten Apples’

Denny Miller, who played Big Ed Barton in the third season Knight Rider episode The Rotten Apples, has died. He was 80.

Perhaps best known for the classic TV Western Wagon Train (he played scout Duke Shannon in more than 100 episodes across three seasons), Miller was also the first blond Tarzan on the big screen (in 1959’s Tarzan, The Ape Man). He was recommended for the role by fellow Knight Rider bad guy William Smith (who played Harold T. Turner in the first season episode Short Notice).

Miller was a strapping 6-foot 4-inches, and in the 1950s he played basketball at UCLA for the legendary coach John Wooden. In his senior year, while he was working as a furniture mover to pay for school, Miller was discovered on Sunset Boulevard by a Hollywood agent who signed him with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. His screen test was directed by legendary director George Cukor.

Hundreds of guest spots on television followed over a career spanning 30 years, with Miller appearing in episodes of Gilligan’s Island, Have Gun — Will Travel, The Rifleman, Ben Casey, The Fugitive, I Spy, The High Chaparral, Hawaii Five-O, The Streets of San Francisco, I Dream of Jeannie, Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, The Rockford Files, Hardcastle and McCormick, Barnaby Jones, Charlie’s Angels, Dallas, and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. He also guested on a number of other Glen Larson shows, including Quincy, M.E., Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Magnum, P.I., McCloud, and The Fall Guy. In his Knight Rider segment, Miller was the ringleader of a gang of modern-day cattle rustlers who were trying to force a young woman off her ranch. His character drove the menacing monster truck Bearfoot.

In addition to his film and television credits, Miller also wrote two books: an autobiography entitled Didn’t You Used To Be… What’s His Name?, and a book about obesity in the United States titled Toxic Waist?…Get To Know Sweat!

In January he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease and passed away in Las Vegas on Tuesday, September 9.

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David Hasselhoff and K.I.T.T. in New Samsung Smart Home Ad

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Paul Nuthall

K.I.T.T. is more than a little jealous of David Hasselhoff’s new Samsung Smart Home in this great new ad!

Some cool Knight Rider-related trivia: The girl holding the boom microphone who David asks if she has ever seen Knight Rider is none other than Katie Gill – Jack Gill’s daughter! Jack was Stunt Coordinator for much of Knight Rider’s 4 year run. David thought up the dialogue when he found out Katie was on the commercial!

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Remembering Richard Basehart

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Paul Nuthall
Richard Basehart

Richard Basehart, circa. 1969

“Knight Rider: a shadowy flight into the dangerous world of a man who does not exist. Michael Knight, a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.”

Today (August 31) would have been Richard Basehart’s 100th birthday, and we couldn’t overlook the centenary of the actor who played the pivotal role around which the entire mythology of Knight Rider is based. Basehart played Wilton Knight, the dying multi-millionaire who designed and built K.I.T.T. (and K.A.R.R.), fathered Garthe, founded the Foundation for Law and Government and bequeathed to Michael Long the belief that “One Man Can Make a Difference!”

Richard Basehart: One Man Can Make a Difference

Richard Basehart (Wilton Knight) tells David Hasselhoff (Michael Long) that “One man CAN make a difference.”

Basehart was born in Zanesville, Ohio, and spent much of his early childhood in an orphanage because his mother died due to complications from childbirth. His father was Harry Basehart, a newspaperman who edited the local Sunday Times Signal publication, and struggled to balance the demands of his career and raising five small children.

Young Richard originally had ambitions to follow his father into journalism, and after graduating from high school he established himself as the hottest cub reporter on the paper – even uncovering a scandal at City Hall that toppled the administration. He lost his job after an altercation that ended with him punching a detective involved with the case in the face. Forced to search for new opportunities, he remembered the fun he had as a 12 year-old playing with the local Wright Players Stock Company and resolved to look for acting opportunities. It wasn’t long before he was accepted into Philadelphia’s famed Hedgerow Theater where he went on to play an astounding 40 roles in just five years, cutting his teeth on everything from Shakespeare to George Bernard Shaw. (Fellow Knight Rider guest star Logan Ramsey, who appeared in No Big Thing and Knight Strike, also began his professional acting career at the Hedgerow.)

After a stint on Broadway he came to the attention of Hollywood, and in 1947 he made his film debut in Cry Wolf alongside Barbara Stanwyck and Errol Flynn. That began a successful and varied screen career of almost four decades’ duration. He selected his roles carefully to avoid typecasting, while recognising that “I couldn’t be a straight leading man. You’ve got to be bigger and prettier than I am.” As a result, he found a niche playing heroes, villains, the mentally disturbed, and many other types, often in a rugged and forceful manner. Besides making the occasional stage appearance, he further stretched his talents by performing in many European films, most notably Fellini’s La Strada (1954) in which he gave a sensitive performance as the Fool. Other roles include Ishmael in Moby Dick (1956) and the title role in the black-and-white film Hitler (1962). He also appeared frequently on television including a long stint on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea opposite yet another Knight Rider guest star, David Hedison (Knight in Retreat).

Richard Basehart and David Hedison in 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'

Richard Basehart and David Hedison in ‘Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea’

Other notable appearances include guest spots on Rawhide, Naked City, Route 66, Lost in Space, Ironside, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Hawaii Five-O, Columbo, Marcus Welby, MD, The Streets of San Francisco, and Vega$. There were also memorable turns as an Irish sailor who courts a widow in Gunsmoke (‘Captain Sligo’, 1971), an abusive schoolteacher in Little House on the Prairie (‘Troublemaker’, 1976), and a stranded spaceman on The Twilight Zone (‘Probe Seven – Over and Out’, 1963).

One of his most famous roles – certainly to readers of this site – was as Wilton Knight, the billionaire benefactor responsible for sending Michael (David Hasselhoff) on his quest for justice in Knight Rider. What might surprise many fans is that Basehart’s role amounted to little more than a few day’s filming; his scenes were rushed into production for a presentation reel to sell the show to NBC network executives, and later incorporated into the feature-length pilot. It’s testament to the actor that the role had so much weight as to be a presence felt throughout the series, and even appearing in flashback in the 1991 reunion movie Knight Rider 2000. “Richard Basehart [was] a classic actor,” says Glen A. Larson. “To get him to play the father figure, and any time you can take a ‘bullshit premise’ and cast it up and give it some dimension, Basehart was automatic.”2

Richard Basehart as Wilton Knight (1982)

Richard Basehart as Wilton Knight (1982)

Like his Knight Rider character, Basehart created a non-profit, philanthrophic organisation that highlighted his compassionate side. In 1971, whilst driving along a busy Los Angeles freeway, Richard and his wife Diana watched in horror as someone in a car ahead of them nonchalantly tossed a dog out of the car window to a grisly death. Both Richard and Diana were animal lovers and very aware of the daily cruelties that so many animals endured. Their shock and outrage that day motivated them to gather fellow actors and members of the community together to work to stop such inhumane treatment, forming Actors and Others For Animals which operates to this day.3

Another cause that was championed by the Baseharts was the wellbeing and treatment of senior citizens. They appreciated that both animals and the elderly were frequently ignored and outcast. Actors and Others went on to establish The Richard Basehart Fund to help seniors and their pets. Please consider making a donation to this wonderful charity.

Basehart passed away in 1984 at the age of 70 following a series of strokes. His distinctive voiceover continued to introduce Knight Rider for its remaining two years until its cancellation in 1986. Just a month before his death, Basehart was the announcer for the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and can be heard at the 02:35 mark of this video:

“So bright. So brief.”

He is buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. His grave is inscribed with the words “His like shall never come again.” He is also remembered with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6250 Hollywood Blvd.

“One Man Can Make a Difference, Michael.

Michael Knight, a lone crusader in a dangerous world… the world of the Knight Rider.”

Sources:

1. Official Website for Richard Basehart (http://www.richardbasehart.com/
2. Knight Rider DVD Commentary featuring David Hasselhoff and Glen A. Larson
3. Actors and Others for Animals: Our History; Actors and Others for Animals: Donations

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Paul LaGreca Remembers ‘Silent Knight’!

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Paul Nuthall
Paul LaGreca as Tino in Knight Rider

Paul LaGreca as Tino in Knight Rider

Remember Tino, the gypsy kid being terrorized by bank robbers in Silent Knight, Knight Rider‘s 1983 – and only – Christmas-themed episode? Paul LaGreca, who played Tino, has been kind enough to share his memories of his time on the Knight Rider set with us, talking about his character, his favourite scenes and David Hasselhoff!

“I arrived on the Knight Rider set on a VERY hot October day,” Paul remembers. “I was to play Tino, a punk kid who continually gets into mischief. My costume had me in a corduroy jacket in the West Covina heat. I was nervous before shooting, so all I had for breakfast was an apple and a cup of coffee.

“The very first shot of the day was my insisting to be let out of the car because I had to vomit (I was faking it of course to get away from the bad guys). Over and over again I said in the car, ‘I’m gonna be sick, let me out.’ The windows were rolled up, I had no air and say something enough times and believe it as an actor and I believe you can fool yourself!! All of a sudden I felt it coming up …. I tried to breath and push it down, but it was no use!! Once again I had to say the lines, ‘I’m gonna be sick.’ If you watch the scene now you can see that I was pale as a ghost and sweaty. I begged to stop rolling, opened the window and vomited out of it!!!!

Paul was genuinely ill during the kidnapping scene

Paul was genuinely ill during the kidnapping scene

“David Hasselhoff was so great. Since it was my first shot, the director was afraid I had the flu and suggested replacing me. I begged him not to explaining that I did not eat well, I was nervous, it was hot, plus my lines were I’m gonna throw up! Give me a break!! He believed me, but made me go rest and the crew changed the shooting schedule around me.

“David gave me something to relax my stomach and he genuinely felt bad for me. He even offered to let me rest in his trailer instead of mine. I will never forget his act of kindness. I got well quickly and my next shot was with him – the scene where K.I.T.T. takes me on a joy ride…. I was still pale … I did not get sick again, and he saved my job.”

Unlike some Knight Rider guest stars, Paul had a lot to do as Tino: he was constantly being chased by bad guys and he got to take K.I.T.T. for a spin. His favourite scene in the whole episode was the fight scene in the corn field. “It appealed to the New York boy in me and we had so much fun. David and I made a good team fighting the bad guys. My guest spot on Knight Rider will always be one of the highlights of my life.”

Paul LaGreca as Tino with David Hasselhoff in <i>Knight Rider</i>

Paul’s favourite scene from his Knight Rider episode

Paul has just started a YouTube channel where he will begin uploading a lot of his older and more recent work, including his new web series The Sit Room.

Paul LaGreca

Paul LaGreca today

We extend our thanks to Paul for taking the time to share his experiences with us!

Posted in Actors, Guest Stars, Interviews, Knight Rider, Original Series | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Knight Rider Coming to Blu-Ray in Japan!

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Paul Nuthall

Knight Rider fans have been looking forward to a high-definition release of the show since the introduction of the format, and now lucky fans in Japan can own every episode of the series – plus the Knight Rider 2000 and Knight Rider 2010 TV movies – in crystal clear 1080p! Can a US and European release be far behind?

Current available specs for the set are:

Video
Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Resolution: 1080p
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1

Audio
TBA

Subtitles
Japanese

Discs
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Twenty six-disc set (24 BDs, 2 DVDs)

Packaging
Figure/replica/props/memorabilia included

Playback
Region A

Those specs state that audio is yet to be announced, but a precedent has already been set: Universal have already released a Complete Series Blu-Ray collection of their popular mystery series Columbo for the Japanese market – and that series included a Japanese language track in addition to the original English mono; it’s not a stretch of the imagination that the Knight Rider set will receive the same treatment.

The RRP for the set is ¥58,000, which is about $565 USD before import charges. The set will be released on November 27, 2014!

Knight Rider Complete Blu Ray Box - November 27, 2014!

Knight Rider Complete Blu Ray Box – November 27, 2014!

Posted in Blu-Ray, Knight Rider, Knight Rider 2000, Knight Rider 2010, Merchandise, Original Series | Tagged , | 2 Comments

See Catherine Hickland’s Comedy Hypnosis Show on Tour!

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Paul Nuthall
Catherine Hickland - The World's Only Celebrity Hypnotist

Catherine Hickland – The World’s Only Celebrity Hypnotist!

Knight Rider‘s Catherine Hickland (Stevie Mason in White Bird, Let It Be Me and The Scent of Roses) has forged a successful career as a stage hypnotist since recently walking away from acting. Now she is taking her show on a summer tour to several US State Fairs where you can see her – or even be a part of the show!

The Delaware State Fair takes place from July 17-26, 2014, and Catherine will be performing two shows each night at 8pm and 10pm.

Catherine will be taking her show to the Ohio State Fair from July 29 – August 3, 2014, on their Main Street Stage. Show times are 6pm and 8:30pm, with an additional 3pm show at the weekend.

The show moves on to the State Fair of West Virginia from August 8-16, 2014, where Catherine will be performing three times a day at 12:30pm, 3:30pm and 7pm (with only two shows at 12:30pm and 7pm on Sunday, August 10 and Monday, August 11).

Head on over to her official website for more information about the show, and future tour dates!

Posted in Actors, Events, Guest Stars, Knight Rider, Original Series | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on See Catherine Hickland’s Comedy Hypnosis Show on Tour!