Sidekicks (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Sidekicks is a 1986
-1987
Disney Channel
martial arts
TV series, a spin-off
of the original Walt Disney one-time special, The Last Electric Knight. The series starred Ernie Reyes, Jr.
as Ernie Lee, the Last Electric Knight, and Gil Gerard
as Sergeant Jake Rizzo. Sidekicks aired on ABC Friday nights at 9pm and then Saturdays at 8pm.
) is chosen by Sabasan as tutor of his grandson Ernie Lee (Ernie Reyes, Jr.
), the last heir of an antique clan of special martial artists and a highly trained karate
fighter.
Through the series, Ernie tends to often 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.
1986 in television
The year 1986 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1986.For the American network television schedule, please see 1986-87 American network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:*September 6 –...
-1987
1987 in television
The year 1987 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1987.For American TV schedule, see: 1987–88 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:...
Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
TV series, a spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
of the original Walt Disney one-time special, The Last Electric Knight. The series starred Ernie Reyes, Jr.
Ernie Reyes, Jr.
Ernie Reyes, Jr. , is an American actor, martial artist, action choreographer, director, producer, filmmaker, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer.-Early life:...
as Ernie Lee, the Last Electric Knight, and Gil Gerard
Gil Gerard
Gilbert C. "Gil" Gerard is an American actor. He is most famous for his role as Captain William "Buck" Rogers in the 1979-1981 television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.-Early life:...
as Sergeant Jake Rizzo. Sidekicks aired on ABC Friday nights at 9pm and then Saturdays at 8pm.
Synopsis
Sergeant Jake Rizzo (Gil GerardGil Gerard
Gilbert C. "Gil" Gerard is an American actor. He is most famous for his role as Captain William "Buck" Rogers in the 1979-1981 television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.-Early life:...
) is chosen by Sabasan as tutor of his grandson Ernie Lee (Ernie Reyes, Jr.
Ernie Reyes, Jr.
Ernie Reyes, Jr. , is an American actor, martial artist, action choreographer, director, producer, filmmaker, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer.-Early life:...
), the last heir of an antique clan of special martial artists and a highly trained karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
fighter.
Through the series, Ernie tends to often 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 artsMartial artsMartial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
. - Sergeant Jake Rizzo - played by Gil GerardGil GerardGilbert C. "Gil" Gerard is an American actor. He is most famous for his role as Captain William "Buck" Rogers in the 1979-1981 television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.-Early life:...
' - Ernie's adoptive father. Works as a Police officer. - Sabasan - played by Keye LukeKeye LukeKeye Luke was a Chinese-born American actor. He was the first Chinese-American contract player signed with RKO, Universal and, later, MGM and is generally acknowledged as the leading Asian-American actor of this era of American cinema.-Background:...
- Ernie's deceased grandfather. Appears through the series in short flashbacksFlashback (psychological phenomenon)A flashback, or involuntary recurrent memory, is a psychological phenomenon in which an individual has a sudden, usually powerful, re-experiencing of a past experience or elements of a past experience. These experiences can be happy, sad, exciting, or any other emotion one can consider...
. In each episode Ernie is faced with different dilemmas to which he cannot find solutions. Most of the times, after he uses meditation he is capable of remembering relevant advice Sabasan gave him in the past which helps him gain success. - Patricia Blake - played by Nancy StaffordNancy StaffordNancy Elizabeth Stafford is an American prolific character actress of stage, speaker and author, known for her roles in soap operas and television. She came to prominence in the 1980s as Ben Matlock's law partner and friend, Michelle Thomas, on Matlock , before she played Judge Bell on Judging Amy...
- Sergeant Rizzo's love interest. - Capt. Blanks - played by Vinny ArgiroVinny ArgiroVinny Argiro is an American actor who has appeared in such television shows as The Job, NYPD Blue, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Who's the Boss? and such films as Bulworth, Mars Attacks!, Ed Wood and Risky Business.-External links:...
- Det. R.T. Mooney - played by Frank BonnerFrank BonnerFrank Bonner is an American actor and television director best known for playing sales manager Herb Tarlek on the television sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.-Life and career:...
Episode list
- "The Last Electric Knight" (PilotTelevision pilotA "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
) / 1986.02.16 - "Are These Your Kicks?" / 1986.09.26
- "Open House" / 1986.10.03
- "I Hate the Neighbors" / 1986.10.17
- "My Dad the Crook" / 1986.10.24
- "Down and Out in Van Nuys" / 1986.10.31
- "Thrill of the Chase" / 1986.11.07
- "Catherine the Not-So-Great" / 1986.11.14
- "My Dad's Bigger Than Yours" / 1986.11.22
- "The Birds and the Killer Bees" / 1986.11.29
- "I Remember Mama, But Does She Remember Me?" / 1986.12.13
- "Grey Belts" / 1986.12.20
- "The Cousin Who Fell to Earth" / 1987.01.03
- "The Boy Who Saw Too Much" / 1987.01.10
- "Just for Kicks" / 1987.01.17
- "Kicked Upstairs" / 1987.01.31
- "An Eye for an Ear" / 1987.02.07
- "The Next Best Thing to Winning" / 1987.02.14
- "The Patusani Always Rings Twice" / 1987.02.21
- "Petty Cache" / 1987.02.28
- "The Worst of the Mohicans" / 1987.03.07
- "Playing for Keeps" / 1987.06.06
- "Read Between the Lines" / 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 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)