Cobra (American TV series)

Cobra is an American action/adventure television series starring Michael Dudikoff.[1][2] It ran for one season in syndication from 1993 to 1994.

Cobra
Cobra Title card
Created byStephen J. Cannell
Craig W. Van Sickle
Steven Long Mitchell
StarringMichael Dudikoff
Allison Hossack
James Tolkan
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes22
Production
Running time60 Minutes
Production companiesGladstone Gate Productions
Cannell Entertainment
Distributor20th Century Fox Television
Release
Original networkSyndicated
Original releaseSeptember 16, 1993 (1993-09-16) 
May 13, 1994 (1994-05-13)

Premise

Robert "Scandal" Jackson, Jr., is an ex–Navy SEAL who went A.W.O.L. after refusing to blow up an enemy command center housing civilians. He disappeared to the wilderness of Alaska, changing his name and appearance, and became a teacher in a small Inuit community. But a part of his past caught up to him and he was shot in the face, his comatose body left for dead. He awoke in the hospital three weeks later and found himself with a new face and a new chance at life, thanks to a woman named Danielle LaPoint.

Danielle offered him a job with "Cobra", an undercover anti-crime agency that provides justice for victims who haven't benefited from the system. Scandal is reluctant to leave his Alaskan life behind, but then Danielle's boss, Dallas Cassel, makes him an offer he can't refuse: the chance to catch the man who murdered his father five years earlier. From behind the wheel of his classic AC Cobra, Scandal dispenses justice in the fictional Bay City.

Background

Starring Michael Dudikoff (the American Ninja series), Allison Hossack, and James Tolkan (the Back to the Future trilogy), Cobra was created by television producer Stephen J. Cannell, along with Steven Long Mitchell and Craig W. Van Sickle (both of whom later went on to create/executive produce The Pretender for NBC), and was filmed on location in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin were the show's supervising producers and went on to executive produce Diagnosis: Murder and Martial Law, among other series. Matt Dearborn, an executive consultant on Cobra, produced several Disney Channel sitcoms, including Even Stevens.

Cobra was originally titled Viper. However, Chrysler Corp. sued Stephen J. Cannell for trademark infringement, and also because Chrysler was already working with CBS on a series called Viper that was to feature a brand new Dodge Viper concept car. (That show ultimately aired on NBC.) Since that other Viper series centered on a quasi modern-day Knight Rider, and Cannell's series centered on crime fighters named "Viper", Cannell believed the name could be changed without sacrificing the creative concept of the series, and so the title was changed to Cobra.[3] Three episodes had already been filmed when the title change took place, so it appears Scandal would have still been driving the Cobra even with the show called Viper.

Canadian rock band Saga was hired to produce the main theme and several additional songs for the series, to be featured in specific episodes, but most were never used. Their 1994 album Steel Umbrellas contained most of these songs. There were lyrics written and performed for the Cobra theme, "Someone is Out There," but only the instrumental version was used in the series.

Characters

Robert "Scandal" Jackson, Jr. (Michael Dudikoff): A martial artist, an expert marksman, an ex-Navy SEAL, and a former investigator for NSI, Scandal is perfectly suited to be Cobra's lead field operative. The only part of his past that remains is his vintage Cobra, which he helped his father restore when he was younger.

Danielle LaPoint (Allison Hossack): The daughter of Cobra's founder, Quentin Avery, Danielle is more or less Scandal's partner. Her mother was killed ten years earlier, and as a result she turned to helping victims like herself by working for Cobra. She holds a Ph.D in Psychology from Harvard University and was personally responsible for recruiting Scandal after arguing with her father that he was the perfect choice.

Dallas Cassel (James Tolkan): A former F.B.I. agent, Dallas is the director of Cobra. He almost got off on the wrong foot with Scandal when he faked Scandal's death in order to secure him an honorable discharge from the Navy, but Scandal ultimately realized it was for the best.

Episodes

No.Title[4]Directed by[4]Written byOriginal air dateProd.
code[4]
1"Pilot (Part 1)"
"Cobra (Part 1)"
Brad TurnerStephen J. Cannell & Steven Long Mitchell & Craig W. Van SickleSeptember 16, 1993 (1993-09-16)55101
2"Pilot (Part 2)"
"The Continuation of Cobra (Part 2)"
Brad TurnerStephen J. Cannell & Steven Long Mitchell & Craig W. Van SickleSeptember 23, 1993 (1993-09-23)55101
3"Push It"Brad TurnerSteven Long Mitchell & Craig W. Van SickleSeptember 30, 1993 (1993-09-30)55108
4"Honeymoon Hideaway"Jorge MontesiStephen J. CannellOctober 7, 1993 (1993-10-07)55118
5"Nowhere to Run"Jeff WoolnoughWilliam Rabkin & Lee GoldbergOctober 14, 1993 (1993-10-14)55116
6"The Gnome"Jorge MontesiTom SzollosiOctober 21, 1993 (1993-10-21)55106
7"Mr. Chapman, I Presume"Brad TurnerSteven Long Mitchell & Craig W. Van SickleOctober 28, 1993 (1993-10-28)55113
8"Hostage Hearts"Neill FearnleyMatt DearbornNovember 4, 1993 (1993-11-04)55117
9"I'd Die for You"Neill FearnleySteven Long Mitchell & Craig W. Van SickleNovember 11, 1993 (1993-11-11)55107
10"Something In The Air"Brad TurnerLee Goldberg & William RabkinNovember 18, 1993 (1993-11-18)55114
11"Playing with Fire"Lyndon ChubbuckSteven Long Mitchell & Craig W. Van SickleNovember 25, 1993 (1993-11-25)55121
12"Death on the Line"Mario AzzopardiLee Goldberg & William RabkinJanuary 6, 1994 (1994-01-06)55119
13"Diamond in the Rough"Mario AzzopardiLee Goldberg & William RabkinJanuary 13, 1994 (1994-01-13)55123
14"Lost in Cyberspace"Lyndon ChubbuckStory by: Michael Zand & Terri Treas
Teleplay by: Michael Zand
January 20, 1994 (1994-01-20)55120
15"Blast from the Past"Brad TurnerMorgan GendelJanuary 27, 1994 (1994-01-27)55125
16"Death Dive"Brad TurnerStory by: Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin and Vivienne Radkoff
Teleplay by: Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin
February 3, 1994 (1994-02-03)55105
17"Caged Fury"Brenton SpencerStory by: Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin and Bruce Cervi & John Lansing
Teleplay by: Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin
February 10, 1994 (1994-02-10)55112
18"A Few Dead Men"Brad TurnerJohn LeMastersFebruary 17, 1994 (1994-02-17)55126
Don S. Davis guest stars as Sergeant Thorne.
19"Haunted Lives"Jeff WoolnoughWilliam Rabkin & Lee GoldbergFebruary 24, 1994 (1994-02-24)55110
20"Lorinda"Brad TurnerE.F. WallengrenApril 30, 1994 (1994-04-30)55124

Alice Ghostley guest stars as Lorinda McClure.


Note: Scenes from Stingray episodes "Pilot" and "Gemini" were reused in the episode.
21"Precious"Brenton SpencerSteven Long Mitchell & Craig W. Van SickleMay 6, 1994 (1994-05-06)55122
22"Aces and Eights"Brad TurnerBill NussMay 13, 1994 (1994-05-13)55104

Home media

Canada

On February 13, 2007, Visual Entertainment released Cobra: The Complete Series on DVD in Canada. The 5-disc set also features several bonus features including episode summaries and a photo gallery.

United States

Mill Creek Entertainment released the complete series on DVD in the United States on September 29, 2009.[5]

See also

  • T.H.E. Cat—a forerunner of the "expert(s) help(s) people in trouble" genre

References

  1. Schwarzbaum, Lisa; Svetkey, Benjamin (1993-09-17). "New on cable, syndication, and PBS". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2016-06-08. Cobra (starts the week of Sept. 13) An hour-long action series with Michael Dudikoff (American Ninja) as an AWOL Navy SEAL recruited by a super-secret organization known as COBRA.
  2. Mendoza, N. F. (1994-01-30). "WITH AN EYE ON . . . Michael Dudikoff rides the fast lane with 'Cobra' series". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  3. Benson, Jim (1993-03-24). "Cannell nixes 'Viper' title". Variety. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
  4. From the United States Copyright Office catalog: "Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search 'Title': "Cobra : no."]". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
  5. Cobra DVD News: Box Art For Cobra Archived 2009-06-25 at the Wayback Machine
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