Kitt gets a makeover and the team scrambles to find a car in time for its owners return. The storyline was decent and featured some cool cars. The acting from the supporting actors was mediocre.
3 Reviews
Those flames are optional
Calicodreamin10 December 2021
KITT Kiboshes Custom Carnappers!
GaryPeterson6711 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Would Wilton Knight find KITT's makeover in this episode a sacrilege? Only if he utterly lacked a sense of humor like his sociopath son Garth. And KITT was already humiliated with garish decorations back in "Slammin' Sammy's." This was a lighthearted and fun episode with much to commend it to Knight Industries' inspired canon, from a compelling mystery to a cast that captures the era.
Did you notice this is the second episode in a row to feature a young woman who lost her father and is carrying on his work? This time around it's Denise Miller as Carrie Haver, whose sole bequest from her late father was his custom car, with which Carrie hopes to earn a living entering it into car shows for cash prizes. Denise Miller also played an orphan in her fondly remembered role as Jilly Papalardo on BARNEY MILLER spinoff FISH. By the time this episode aired, however, she was best known for playing Archie Bunker's niece Billie on ARCHIE BUNKER'S PLACE.
Miller is just one of the familiar faces filling this episode's cast. Albert Salmi as Buck was in everything from THE TWILIGHT ZONE to PETROCELLI to CADDYSHACK. He usually played heavies, so it was no surprise when Buck was unveiled as the baddie, in cahoots with his wiggy wife Angel Tompkins, who played many a femme fatale in many a series over the decades. I knew the villain couldn't be sweet Melinda O. Fee (Suzanne Weston), erstwhile co-star with David McCallum in the short-lived INVISIBLE MAN series from '75. Suzanne's past grand theft auto charge, her verbal volleys with the sassy Carrie, and even pulling a gun on Michael were just red herrings.
Speaking of the mid-Seventies, fans of Filmation's Saturday morning live-action show ISIS will recognize Bruce Cutler as Buck's bearded flunky Dobie. His role is minor, however, and what's more he breaks action show protocol in the climactic shootout when, instead of throwing the empty pistol, he gently sets it on the floor!
The series is still young, but both Angel Tompkins and Bruce Cutler are making their second and final appearances here. Tompkins previously appeared in the first season's "Nobody Does It Better" (the one with Wally from LEAVE IT TO BEAVER). Cutler's first appearance came way back in the pilot movie.
Our next guest showed up in many movies and shows, but I always associate Bernard Fox with Dr. Bombay on BEWITCHED. He played with aplomb the British gentleman whose stolen car gave impetus to the episode. I love that scene when Smythe Zoombombs Devon's video call to Michael, grandiosely saluting while the blindsided Devon winces. Watching these two warhorses drive down the highway together I envisioned them in a live-action "World of Commander McBragg" sketch.
Speaking of comedy duos, the poor man's Abbott and Costello played by custodians Leroy and Hector provided laughs and boasted up n' comer Robert Pastorelli, who five years later landed his long-running role as lazy contractor Eldin on MURPHY BROWN. Michael Huddleston (son of character actor David Huddleston) played the hapless Hector. I liked the little ding that chimed when Hector finally got Leroy's point (though neither sap ever got a cheerleader). Leroy and Hector's story ran parallel to the main narrative; they never met Michael, but they did have a close encounter with KITT they'll never forget! With their coveting fast cars and hot chicks, they reminded me of those two appliance store clerks in Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" video that came along a couple years later.
The plot was thin but served effectively to show off all the cool cars, to set up the mystery of who was stealing the custom classics, and for Michael to help Carrie get back her father's prized possession (not to forget Smythe's precious Pennington). It also gave the cast enjoyable scenes, such as Angel Tompkins playing the drunken lush with Devon and especially her later scene with KITT ("Wait a minute, they don't program cars with bad grammar!").
Miller was an impressive and sympathetic leading lady, only 20 at the time of filming, and presented a strong contrast to the older and worldly-wise Fee, who resented Miller's youth (and ample chest, considering her snarky training bra remark). Michael was a perfect gentleman, agreeing only to condescend to a chaste kiss with the vertically challenged Carrie.
I suffered through the requisite gunplay, fisticuffs, and car chase ending with Michael yanking the villain from his car by the collar (though taking care to place Buck's cowboy hat on his head). And I wish that greasy catfight was left on a cutting room floor! Mere bagatelles in a very enjoyable episode.
Did you notice this is the second episode in a row to feature a young woman who lost her father and is carrying on his work? This time around it's Denise Miller as Carrie Haver, whose sole bequest from her late father was his custom car, with which Carrie hopes to earn a living entering it into car shows for cash prizes. Denise Miller also played an orphan in her fondly remembered role as Jilly Papalardo on BARNEY MILLER spinoff FISH. By the time this episode aired, however, she was best known for playing Archie Bunker's niece Billie on ARCHIE BUNKER'S PLACE.
Miller is just one of the familiar faces filling this episode's cast. Albert Salmi as Buck was in everything from THE TWILIGHT ZONE to PETROCELLI to CADDYSHACK. He usually played heavies, so it was no surprise when Buck was unveiled as the baddie, in cahoots with his wiggy wife Angel Tompkins, who played many a femme fatale in many a series over the decades. I knew the villain couldn't be sweet Melinda O. Fee (Suzanne Weston), erstwhile co-star with David McCallum in the short-lived INVISIBLE MAN series from '75. Suzanne's past grand theft auto charge, her verbal volleys with the sassy Carrie, and even pulling a gun on Michael were just red herrings.
Speaking of the mid-Seventies, fans of Filmation's Saturday morning live-action show ISIS will recognize Bruce Cutler as Buck's bearded flunky Dobie. His role is minor, however, and what's more he breaks action show protocol in the climactic shootout when, instead of throwing the empty pistol, he gently sets it on the floor!
The series is still young, but both Angel Tompkins and Bruce Cutler are making their second and final appearances here. Tompkins previously appeared in the first season's "Nobody Does It Better" (the one with Wally from LEAVE IT TO BEAVER). Cutler's first appearance came way back in the pilot movie.
Our next guest showed up in many movies and shows, but I always associate Bernard Fox with Dr. Bombay on BEWITCHED. He played with aplomb the British gentleman whose stolen car gave impetus to the episode. I love that scene when Smythe Zoombombs Devon's video call to Michael, grandiosely saluting while the blindsided Devon winces. Watching these two warhorses drive down the highway together I envisioned them in a live-action "World of Commander McBragg" sketch.
Speaking of comedy duos, the poor man's Abbott and Costello played by custodians Leroy and Hector provided laughs and boasted up n' comer Robert Pastorelli, who five years later landed his long-running role as lazy contractor Eldin on MURPHY BROWN. Michael Huddleston (son of character actor David Huddleston) played the hapless Hector. I liked the little ding that chimed when Hector finally got Leroy's point (though neither sap ever got a cheerleader). Leroy and Hector's story ran parallel to the main narrative; they never met Michael, but they did have a close encounter with KITT they'll never forget! With their coveting fast cars and hot chicks, they reminded me of those two appliance store clerks in Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" video that came along a couple years later.
The plot was thin but served effectively to show off all the cool cars, to set up the mystery of who was stealing the custom classics, and for Michael to help Carrie get back her father's prized possession (not to forget Smythe's precious Pennington). It also gave the cast enjoyable scenes, such as Angel Tompkins playing the drunken lush with Devon and especially her later scene with KITT ("Wait a minute, they don't program cars with bad grammar!").
Miller was an impressive and sympathetic leading lady, only 20 at the time of filming, and presented a strong contrast to the older and worldly-wise Fee, who resented Miller's youth (and ample chest, considering her snarky training bra remark). Michael was a perfect gentleman, agreeing only to condescend to a chaste kiss with the vertically challenged Carrie.
I suffered through the requisite gunplay, fisticuffs, and car chase ending with Michael yanking the villain from his car by the collar (though taking care to place Buck's cowboy hat on his head). And I wish that greasy catfight was left on a cutting room floor! Mere bagatelles in a very enjoyable episode.
Custom K.I.T.T.
Prismark104 August 2018
Bernard Fox guest stars as Colonel Smythe who has lent his vintage car to Devon Miles who promptly loses it in a custom car scam.
The scam involves a ditzy blond rear ending your car and thereby damaging the target car. It assumes the driver will get out leaving the keys in the car and then rummage around in the blond's car looking for her insurance details as the blond drives off with the target car and leaving her own car behind. Not a sophisticated plan!
However the plan seems to work and there has been a spate of custom car thefts. Michael and KITT investigate by attending a custom car show. The initial suspect is the woman who runs the show, but Michael needs to retrieve Colonel Smythe's car soon as Devon has not told him that his car was stolen.
A silly episode, the scene at the climax when Micheal and a woman who also had her car stolen are following the crooks. They are hiding outside the garage when the woman suddenly exclaims look my stolen car and tips off the bad guys. Such poor writing.
The scam involves a ditzy blond rear ending your car and thereby damaging the target car. It assumes the driver will get out leaving the keys in the car and then rummage around in the blond's car looking for her insurance details as the blond drives off with the target car and leaving her own car behind. Not a sophisticated plan!
However the plan seems to work and there has been a spate of custom car thefts. Michael and KITT investigate by attending a custom car show. The initial suspect is the woman who runs the show, but Michael needs to retrieve Colonel Smythe's car soon as Devon has not told him that his car was stolen.
A silly episode, the scene at the climax when Micheal and a woman who also had her car stolen are following the crooks. They are hiding outside the garage when the woman suddenly exclaims look my stolen car and tips off the bad guys. Such poor writing.
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