Sidekicks (TV series)

Sidekicks is a martial arts television series, a spin-off of the Walt Disney 1986 special, The Last Electric Knight.[1] The series starred Ernie Reyes Jr. as Ernie Lee, the Last Electric Knight, and Gil Gerard as Sergeant Jake Rizzo. Sidekicks aired as part of ABC's Friday night primetime lineup during the 1986-1987 season at 9 pm. After Life with Lucy was cancelled, Sidekicks moved to Saturdays at 8 pm.

For other uses, see Sidekick (disambiguation).
Sidekicks
GenreAction / Adventure / martial arts
Written byJeremy Lew
Steve Stoliar
Directed byJames Fargo
StarringErnie Reyes Jr.
Gil Gerard
Nancy Stafford
Keye Luke
Theme music composerRare View
Country of originUSA
No. of episodes23
Production
EditorBille Brame
Running time30 min
Production companiesMotown Productions
Walt Disney Television
Release
Original networkThe Disney Channel
ABC
Original releaseSeptember 26, 1986 (1986-09-26) –
June 13, 1987 (1987-06-13)

Synopsis

Sergeant Jake Rizzo (Gil Gerard) is chosen by Sabasan as tutor of his grandson Ernie Lee (Ernie Reyes, Jr.), the last heir of an ancient clan of special martial artists and a highly trained karate fighter.

Through the series, Ernie often tends to get into dangerous situations where bullies at school or in the streets of Los Angeles threaten him or his friends, or in dangerous situations where his adoptive father ends up needing his help after criminals which he has captured try to escape or try to harm him. With help of his quick moves, unique powerful skills and the clever advice of his deceased grandfather, Ernie manages every time to overcome all of the dangerous situations he gets into and manages to overwhelm his opponents.

Characters
  • Ernie Lee - played by Ernie Reyes Jr. - The Last Electric Knight, the main character of the series. Ernie is a young boy who specializes in martial arts.
  • Sergeant Jake Rizzo - played by Gil Gerard - Ernie's adoptive father, works as a police officer
  • Sabasan - played by Keye Luke - Ernie's deceased grandfather, who appears through the series in short flashbacks. As Ernie is faced with new dilemmas in each episode, he often meditates in order to reach the appropriate solution. In a similar fashion to Luke's role as Master Po in Kung Fu, Ernie recalls advice previously given to him by Sabasan which helps him in the present.
  • Patricia Blake - played by Nancy Stafford - Sergeant Rizzo's love interest
  • Capt. Blanks - Rizzo and Mooney's commanding officer, played by Vinny Argiro
  • Det. R.T. Mooney - Sgt. Rizzo's partner, played by Frank Bonner

Episode list

TV movie
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
"The Last Electric Knight"James FargoDan GordonFebruary 16, 1986 (1986-02-16)

Season 1
No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Are These Your Kicks?"Allen ReisnerRichard Chapman & Bill DialSeptember 26, 1986 (1986-09-26)
2"Open House"Kim MannersSteve StoliarOctober 3, 1986 (1986-10-03)
3"I Hate the Neighbors"Allen ReisnerBob ComfortOctober 17, 1986 (1986-10-17)
4"My Dad the Crook"Vincent McEveetyW. Reed MorganOctober 24, 1986 (1986-10-24)
5"Down and Out in Van Nuys"Vincent McEveetyElia KatzOctober 31, 1986 (1986-10-31)
6"Thrill of the Chase"Ric RondellBob ComfortNovember 7, 1986 (1986-11-07)
7"Catherine the Not-So-Great"Helaine HeadJohn KostmayerNovember 14, 1986 (1986-11-14)
8"My Dad's Bigger Than Yours"Nick HavingaChris Miller & Michael SuttonNovember 22, 1986 (1986-11-22)
9"The Birds and the Killer Bees"UnknownUnknownNovember 29, 1986 (1986-11-29)
10"I Remember Mama, But Does She Remember Me?"UnknownUnknownDecember 13, 1986 (1986-12-13)
11"Grey Belts"Sig NeufeldGary RosenDecember 20, 1986 (1986-12-20)
12"The Cousin Who Fell to Earth"Victor LoblCasey KellyJanuary 3, 1987 (1987-01-03)
13"The Boy Who Saw Too Much"Allen ReisnerReed MoranJanuary 10, 1987 (1987-01-10)
14"Just for Kicks"UnknownUnknownJanuary 17, 1987 (1987-01-17)
15"Kicked Upstairs"Judy VogelsangRichard Chapman & Bill DialJanuary 31, 1987 (1987-01-31)
16"An Eye for an Ear"Ric RondellRichard Chapman & Bill DialFebruary 7, 1987 (1987-02-07)
17"The Next Best Thing to Winning"UnknownUnknownFebruary 14, 1987 (1987-02-14)
18"The Patusani Always Rings Twice"UnknownUnknownFebruary 21, 1987 (1987-02-21)
19"Petty Cache"UnknownUnknownFebruary 28, 1987 (1987-02-28)
20"The Worst of the Mohicans"UnknownUnknownMarch 7, 1987 (1987-03-07)
21"Playing for Keeps"UnknownUnknownJune 6, 1987 (1987-06-06)
22"Read Between the Lines"UnknownUnknownJune 13, 1987 (1987-06-13)

Alternative titles
  • Le Chevalier Lumière (French title)
  • ילד הקראטה (Yeled Ha-Karate) (Israeli title, translated: The Karate Kid)
  • El Karateca eléctrico (Latin American title)
  • El Pequeño Karateca (Argentinian, Chilean, Colombian and Venezuelan title)
  • O Pequeno Mestre (Brazilian title)
  • 태권소년 어니 (Korean title)
  • 功夫小子 (Gongfu Xiaozi) (Chinese title)
  • Az utolsó(elektromos)lovag (Hungarian title)
  • Partnerzy (Polish title, translated: Partners)
  • Partnerid (Estonian title, translated: Partners)

Series ownership

DePasse Entertainment as successor to Motown Productions and Disney-ABC Domestic Television as a successor to Walt Disney Television currently own series rights.

References
  1. Cotter, Bill (1997). The Wonderful World of Disney Television. Hyperion Books. pp. 332–335. ISBN 0-7868-6359-5.
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