Kitt vs Karr

[fred]

I note that Paul Frees is the voice of Karr in the season 3 episode and he sounds a lot like Darth Vader. Does Paul also voice Darth in Star Wars? I also note a reference made to George Lucas during the episode too..

[HondaSiR]

It was James Earl Jones who provided the voice of Darth Vader.

[MURDOCK]

PAUL FREES WHO THE HELL IS THAT,EVERY ONE KNOWS KARRS VOICE WAS PROVIDED BY PETER CULLEN.

[HungarianKnight]

PAUL FREES WHO THE HELL IS THAT,EVERY ONE KNOWS KARRS VOICE WAS PROVIDED BY PETER CULLEN.

In Trust doesn't Rust, Karr was really voiced by Peter Cullen (also known as Optimus Prime), yet in Kitt VS Karr, Karr was voiced by Paul Frees. I think this is because Cullen died, but maybe I have just wrote something silly...

[KITTfan]

I've read that Peter Cullen was busy with other pojects when KITTvsKARR was made so they hired Paul Frees.
If I remember correctly, Pete Cullen is still alive but Paul Frees died already in the 80's.

By the way, excactly 20 years ago, 12.2.1986 at 19:30-20:30 on MTV2 K.I.T.T. vs K.A.R.R. episode was aired 1st time in Finland I'm going to watch it tonight from my vhs-tape at 19:30-20:30 as a anniversary episode

-KITTfan-

[FuzzieDice]

Paul Frees also used to be the "Ghost Host" at Disney's Haunted Mansion in Orlando Florida.

[Akaihiryuu]

I personally liked Peter Cullen's portrayal of KARR more than Paul Frees'. It sounded similar to his Optimus Prime voice, only evil. The season 3 opener mentions that Michael was not the first FLAG field agent. They mentioned that the first was killed by a convicted murderer, and it happened shortly before they found Michael, and that Wilton put the FLAG project on hold until they found Michael (and construction of KITT began at the same time). Makes you wonder if that guy that died might've been KARR's driver, and if KARR acting out of self preservation instead of preservation of human life somehow allowed that guy to kill him. Something to think about. The time he died and the FLAG project was put on hold would've been about the same time that KARR was decommissioned. I also think that they started with Michael Long's Trans Am to build KITT...they certainly made a point of focusing the camera on that car up until the point where Michael was shot.

[Lost Knight]

I've read that Peter Cullen was busy with other pojects when KITTvsKARR was made so they hired Paul Frees.
If I remember correctly, Pete Cullen is still alive but Paul Frees died already in the 80's.

Not quite. The producers wanted K.A.R.R. to have a more sinister voice, hence the new creepy change to his personality. Peter Cullen's portrayal was naïve to the point where I almost felt sorry for KARR; Paul Frees' portrayal made KARR a manipulative sociopath.

[rusti_knight]

Cullen is still alive...

And kicking last I heard, since people are voting for him to voice Prime in the upcoming Transformers movie.

[msKEN]

Pete Cullen's credits include Optimus Prime as well all know, and also Eeyore from Whinnie the Pooh. Very much still alive.

[The Knight Ten Thousand]

Not quite. The producers wanted K.A.R.R. to have a more sinister voice, hence the new creepy change to his personality. Peter Cullen's portrayal was naïve to the point where I almost felt sorry for KARR; Paul Frees' portrayal made KARR a manipulative sociopath.

You took the words right out of my mouth!

[AtariKnight]

I've read that Peter Cullen was busy with other pojects when KITTvsKARR was made so they hired Paul Frees.
If I remember correctly, Pete Cullen is still alive but Paul Frees died already in the 80's.

Not quite. The producers wanted K.A.R.R. to have a more sinister voice, hence the new creepy change to his personality. Peter Cullen's portrayal was naïve to the point where I almost felt sorry for KARR; Paul Frees' portrayal made KARR a manipulative sociopath.

I always felt that Cullen's KARR had a slightly autistic Personality, He had trouble communicating with Tony and Rev, Was obsessed about surviving and became aggitated very easily.

They're all signs of someone with particular levels of autisim.

[KnightRyderX]

On the subject of Kitt Vs Karr....

For those interested in a Film Location for that episode, the scene where Michael first meets the girlfriend of the guy who has posession of KARR (can't think of his name) was shot @ 121 N. Main St. in SEAL BEACH, CA. The store in that episode is called ENDLESS SUMMER and it still exits to this date. Across the street you will find a pub called IRISHER, which also still exits. The scene where KARR tricks the girl to get inside was filmed at nearby SEAL BEACH PIER.

Sorry if this has been posted before, just a heads up for those who are interested.

[Knight Rocker]

Also on the same subject, the girl's name is Mandy and I thought she was HOT!

[whet]

Talking of Mandy or indeed john have they appeared in anything else since Knight Rider??

[KARR77]

I think KARR was definetly more naive in season one simply for the fact that he was locked away for such a long time before he was broken out. Season two KARR is a whole different creature all together, definetly more manipulative and sociopathic when he doesn't get what he wants, sort of like some of my ex girlfriends hehe.

[Akaihiryuu]

I think it would've been neat if KARR had been a 2nd gen Trans Am ('70-'81, the model used in Smokey and the Bandit), since he was older. They could've added a KITT-like scanner to the front of him and everything. They probably didn't have the budget for it though, so they just filmed another KITT. Also, it's likely that KARR wasn't that much older, probably less than a year, and he probably wasn't active for very long before he was put in storage (probably when the previous FLAG agent mentioned in Knight of the Drones was killed...I still have to wonder if he drove KARR at any point). That would put KARR's construction sometime in '81, probably later in the year (since KITT was made in the summer/fall of '82). The '82 model Trans Am would've been out then, since cars are usually released in the previous year. But I wish they had given KARR some history, actually mention when/how he was used. I don't think he was considered a failed experiment immediately, or within just a couple of days. The 2nd gen Trans Am body would've given them a reason to built KITT, instead of just modifying KARR's computer. Heck, they could've just swapped out KARR's CPU for KITT's, and finished him very quick! KITT and KARR were identical except for that. Makes you wonder why Wilton wasted so much time and resources building KITT. Maybe he was just getting senile in his old age and forgot that KARR hadn't been dismantled. But still, if KARR had been an older model Trans Am, that would've given them a reason to build a new car. I guess they did state though, that when the previous FLAG operator was killed, Wilton put the whole FLAG project on hold, and Michael wasn't found until about 6 months later, and KITT was built in a rush at this point.

Interesting article on the Firebird...sadly they only have pics of the 1st and 2nd gen ones, but then pics of 3rd and 4th gen ones are easy to find:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Firebird

And of course, one for the Camaro. The 3rd gen Z28 was identical to KITT in every way except for some styling differences. I think it would've also been neat to make KARR a Z28 (the Chevy equivalent of the Trans Am, identical except for styling) instead of a Trans Am, to make them look a little different:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camaro