Tread Perilously is a podcast in which hosts Erik Amaya and author Justin Robinson watch the “worst” episodes of popular TV shows, attempting to determine if they would continue to watch the series based on the most off-key moments.

This Week: Knight Rider‘s “Trust Doesn’t Rust”

Tread Perilously straps in for a visit with Knight Rider and its first season episode, “Trust Doesn’t Rust.”

Michael Knight (a young loner) learns about a prototype version of his trusty car, KITT, known as the Knight Automated Roving Robot — KARR, if you prefer. When KARR is reactivated by a couple of hobos, he goes on a crime spree as he attempts to evade “the slammer.” While Michael and KITT fail to track down the rogue robot car, one of the hobos kidnaps KITT’s cyber-technician Bonnie, leading to a laser fight and a tense game of chicken.

Justin discovers the world of the Knight Rider for the first time and finds himself confused by “a man who does not exist.” KARR immediately becomes the Libertarian presidential candidate for 2020 with Charles Bronson as his running mate. Erik tries to explain creator Glen A. Larson’s fascination with catty computers and gay robots. The dynamic between a carousing oaf and a talking car is explored. Chicken becomes an important test in KARR-era masculinity. Erik determines that self-preservation is a bad thing to program into artificial intelligence and also laments his inability to do a Paul Frees impression.

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