Viper

A typical case of a show being built around a star,and in this case its a Dodge Viper.The original NBC shows were imaginative and futuristic,with Chrysler being in every scene (future Mopar prototypes got air time,a 1971 'Cuda and a 70 Challenger appeared,and of course the Viper).One episode even featured a 1950s Ford Concept car (it was a handmade clone though)...the car that eventually became the Batmobile at the hands of George Barris.They called the car the Baxley on the show,due to a Mr Baxley being the focus of that episode.A unique show that was unfortunately doomed from its conception. When NBC dropped the show,Dorian Harewood was dropped as well,Gerraro was gone,and so was Astor the "star" of the show.Syndication brought a new driver,a female support member,and a female partner.Franklin Walters remained,but his character was tweaked and not for the good either.Astor returned for the final season,and the female computer specialist disappeared.Would be nice if they could air the NBC episodes again...or on DVD.

Viper was Dodge's way of introducing their new Viper car to the public and it got the point across. The beginning of the series was simple, but for the most point well written. It surrounds a ingenious scientific engineer who designs a weapon to fight crime that doesn't use bullets. The reason is because the scientist himself was placed in a wheelchair due to a stray bullet in a shootout between the police and criminals. The car metamorphs from a red Viper to a gray heavily plated Dodge Viper and uses a energy projectile tazer gun called the Pulse Missile, along with a mobile camera unit not unlike the one used in Speed Racer. It took a little while to carry over, but the CGI grafix were up to speed for the time in television. The characters were stereotyped, but enjoyable. Overall a good series until towards the end when it got bounced around for a time slot and then the cast was changed too many times. It was the automobile sci-fi for the 90s and should be seen not only as a tv series but an add for Dodge Motors, just check the credits, they funded it. Take the time because its not Knight Rider, but it fills a void. Look for it early mornings, and I mean early (4a.m. Central Standard) on the Sci-fi channel. Enjoy.