Series synopsis
Houston Knights is an American drama crime television series that premiered on CBS on March 11, 1987. It ended on June 7, 1988. It was created by Jay Bernstein, Michael Butler. It stars Michael Paré, Michael Beck, John Hancock and Robyn Douglass.
Houston Knights is an American crime drama set in Houston, Texas. The show ran on CBS from 1987 to 1988 and had 31 episodes. The core of the show was the partnership between two very different cops from two different cultures. Chicago cop Joey LaFiamma, played by Michael Paré, is transferred to Houston after he kills a mobster from a powerful Mafia family and a contract is put out on him. Once there, he is partnered with Levon Lundy, played by Michael Beck, the grandson of a Texas Ranger.
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Premise
Houston Knights is an American crime drama set in Houston, Texas. The show ran on CBS from 1987 to 1988 and had 31 episodes. The core of the show was the partnership between two very different cops from two different cultures. Chicago cop Joey LaFiamma, played by Michael Paré, is transferred to Houston after he kills a mobster from a powerful Mafia family and a contract is put out on him. Once there, he is partnered with Levon Lundy, played by Michael Beck, the grandson of a Texas Ranger.
Although as different as night and day, and after a rocky beginning they form a successful partnership and become friends. This is aided to a certain extent by an event where a hitman from Chicago who holds the contract to shoot La Fiamma arrives in Houston and is ultimately killed by Lundy.
During the series, it is revealed that both La Fiamma and Lundy have their own personal demons; La Fiamma's Chicago police partner had been killed when he went ahead while La Fiamma had waited for backup to arrive. Lundy's wife had been killed by an explosion that was intended to kill him.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Michael Paré as Joey La Fiamma
- Michael Beck as Levon Lundy
- John Hancock as Clarence 'Chicken'
- Robyn Douglass as Joanne Beaumont
- Richard Bright
- Edward Albert
- Andreas Katsulas
- Jeffrey Combs
Supporting cast
- Brian Stokes Mitchell
- Cameron Dye
- Kathryn Holcomb
- LeVar Burton as Jason Evans
- James Morrison as Steven Kayden
- William Bumiller as Simon Heath
Guest cast
- Richard Bright
- Edward Albert
- Andreas Katsulas
- Jeffrey Combs
- Brian Stokes Mitchell
- Cameron Dye
- Kathryn Holcomb
- LeVar Burton as Jason Evans
- James Morrison as Steven Kayden
- William Bumiller as Simon Heath
Episodes
This series spans 2 seasons with 31 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 9 | March 11, 1987 | April 29, 1987 |
| Season 2 | 22 | September 15, 1987 | June 7, 1988 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Mirrors (1) There are two underlying stories here. The first is the murder of a Houston business man. The other is the pasts of LaFiamma and Lundy. It is the conflict between a Northerner detective suddenly transferred to a foreign land called Texas. Lundy is a laid-back cowboy. LaFiamma is pushy. How they investigate crimes are totally opposite. At the end of this episode they are both transferred to the Major Crime Unit, under an officer who formerly was Lundy's partner. |
March 11, 1987 |
| 2 | Mirrors (2) | March 11, 1987 |
| 3 |
North of the Border The story is about an wealthy American going into a Mexican border town and getting away with murder. Efrain Figueroa is introduced here as Sgt Estaban Gutierrez as a recurring character. Estaban is a Matamoros, Mexico cop. He travels to Houston in the hopes of finding the killer, only to find the man is an important lawyer with connections. |
March 18, 1987 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Moving Violation An off-duty officer is killed doing some private investigation. It is soon learned that he was working on a stolen car ring. The Knights spot a daylight heist of an Excaliber and follow it to a warehouse. As the Knights moved around inside the warehouse, Joe discovers HIS car, a Shelby Cobra, stolen in Chicago months ago. Two suspects escape in Joe's car! Later the car is ditched and one of the men runs into a blind woman as he escapes. Using Joey as a guide she gives a detailed description of the man. In the end, Joe's car is taken in evidence, but he does it get back. In this episode, Jamie Kincaid is introduced. She is the wife of the off-duty officer. |
September 15, 1987 |
| 2 |
Heads, I Win - Tails, You Lose The show has two separate storylines. One deals with date rape, the other with a prison breakout. In the date rape, a man at a fitness center feels women are coming on to him because of how they dress when they exercise. This storyline gives us the impression that Joe is a women's rights activist. In the prison breakout, the Knights get involved with a retired Texas Ranger who feels the justice system has failed. He hinders their investigation. It is discovered that a recent armor truck heist was not for the money but for the prison breakout. Levon uses an 18-wheeler to stop the truck. |
September 22, 1987 |
| 3 |
Desperado The Desperado is Bodine,(Rex Smith of STREETHAWK), who robs from the bank that repossessed his oil rig, his house and his life. He is a modern day Robin Hood as he gives the money he takes to street people and other unemployed oil workers. No one wants to give him up. Then he mets the daughter of the banker that destroyed his life. Soon Ms Devane is the Desperado's getaway driver. Things change for the 'good bad guy' when he randomly shots a bank guard, and Ms Devane discovers she has been duped. Bodine shots a cab driver in his desperate flight to freedom but now the citizens who were on his side are also trying to capture him. He foolishly makes the wrong choice when cornered by the Knights. |
October 6, 1987 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | CBS |
|---|---|
| First aired | March 11, 1987 |
| Last aired | June 7, 1988 |
| Runtime | 45 minutes |
| Status | ended |