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Another relatively low-stakes affair, Slammin’ Sammy’s Stunt Show Spectacular—try saying that five times fast—continues the trend of laid-back episodes where even the supposedly tense moments never feel tense, thanks to KITT’s sentient, virtually indestructible nature. The opening teaser, which has Michael falling asleep behind the wheel, hardly screams excitement when we all know KITT can drive perfectly well on his own. Besides, Michael already nodded off behind the wheel back in Knight of the Phoenix, so even that feels like old ground. But with the story centered around a car stunt show, the episode gives KITT plenty of opportunities to show off.
The Plot
Michael and KITT go undercover at Slammin’ Sammy’s Stunt Show Spectacular after a series of mysterious accidents suggests that someone is sabotaging the popular traveling attraction. Posing as a stunt driver, Michael must uncover the culprit while navigating rivalries behind the scenes, dangerous stunt sequences, and a criminal scheme that puts both the performers and the audience at risk.
My thoughts
Chances are the stunt team behind the show came up with the story, or at least the setting, for this episode. Slammin’ Sammy’s Stunt Show Spectacular gives them plenty to do, with an abundance of car stunts that aren’t just performed by a customized black Trans Am. For the stunt crew, this must have been one of the most enjoyable episodes to work on, or at the very least one of the busiest.
Following in the footsteps of A Good Day at White Rock, this is another lighthearted outing with relatively low stakes for Michael. In fact, KITT does almost all of the heavy lifting. The story is fairly simplistic, and the saboteur is easy to identify almost from the moment he appears on screen, making this a low-tension episode that instead leans into comedy and action. Humor has always been one of Knight Rider‘s greatest strengths, and much of it comes from KITT. His dry, sarcastic wit, his reaction to being covered in star-shaped stickers, and the way he toys with someone attempting to sabotage him are among the episode’s highlights. That scene does expose one odd inconsistency, however: despite his advanced sensors, KITT somehow fails to identify the saboteur, even though the man isn’t wearing any kind of disguise.
This episode is clearly designed to make KITT the star of the show, pushing Michael into the background where he’s left to awkwardly flirt with Bonnie while effortlessly winning over this week’s love interest, Lisa.
Slammin’ Sammy’s Stunt Show Spectacular is such a breezy episode that it even borrows the closing moments from Knight of the Phoenix, complete with a variation of the narration heard over the series’ opening titles, to pad out its runtime. It’s a peculiar choice, especially since it also brings back KITT’s rather odd-looking bumper. Even so, it’s an entertaining episode that strikes a satisfying balance between humor, action, and spectacle, while giving the show’s real star every opportunity to shine.
Knight Rider tropes
KITT shenanigans
KITT gets to perform all sorts of stunts in this episode, but his standout moment comes when the saboteur attempts to tamper with him while he appears to be in standby mode. By now we’re used to crowbars having no effect on KITT’s doors, but things get even better once the saboteur crawls underneath the car and discovers he’s met his match. KITT repeatedly drives back and forth slowly before eventually deflating his tires, forcing him to abort his mission. It’s a genuinely funny sequence, but as mentioned earlier, it also highlights one of KITT’s more baffling moments. Despite having the saboteur completely at his mercy, he neither catches nor identifies him, instead allowing him to run away.
Damsel in distress
Lisa, Sammy’s daughter and the only prominent woman at the stunt show, is never really placed in danger. Instead, she exists solely as this week’s love interest for Michael.
Child in peril
There are no child characters in this episode. While plenty of children can be seen in the stands watching the stunt show, they are never placed in any danger.
Michael’s undercover identity
This one is a bit of a gray area. Michael goes undercover as a stunt driver, but he continues to use his real name and only conceals KITT’s true nature by pretending he’s an ordinary car. Still, since he spends most of the episode dressed as a stuntman and infiltrating the stunt show to investigate the sabotage, I’d count this as a genuine undercover assignment.
The Villains
The episode treats the saboteur’s identity as a mystery leading up to a big reveal, but it’s obvious who he is almost as soon as he appears on screen. He takes his orders from Bill Gordon, who in turn works for the real mastermind, Lawrence Blake. Gordon is entertaining in his sleazy role, but Blake only appears in two scenes and fails to leave much of an impression.
Notable gadgets
This is the first episode in which KITT is outfitted with a brand-new feature. Much like James Bond’s gadgets from Q Branch, it just so happens to be exactly what’s needed for this week’s mission before quietly disappearing from the series, never to be seen or mentioned again. In this case, KITT gains the ability to oxygenate the interior cabin on command. At first, it seems like an oddly specific addition, but it proves surprisingly useful after Michael is drugged and begins to lose consciousness behind the wheel.
Memorable guest stars
None. Once again, Knight Rider fills the guest cast with relatively obscure character actors rather than recognizable stars.
Random observations
The FLAG truck is still the same bland white semi.
Stock footage from the pilot makes another appearance, complete with shots of KITT’s odd-looking front bumper.
Speaking of that bumper, KITT once again performs jumps that end in nose dives, yet somehow emerges without so much as a scratch.
Michael seems to have a surprisingly strained relationship with everyone at FLAG. Bonnie openly shows her irritation with him on several occasions, Devon’s trademark snobbery often makes him look down on Michael as an ordinary everyman, and even KITT occasionally ends up trading barbs with him.
