There are a lot of television pilots out there that never ended up seeing the light of day, but thankfully our savior the internet has dredged up a gem that has to be seen to be believed.

“Heat Vision and Jack” is a pilot created in 1999, which tells the tale of a super-genius ex-NASA astronaut and his talking (?) motorcycle. The pilot was directed by Ben Stiller and stars Jack Black as astronaut “Jack Austin”, who’s sidekick talking motorcycle, named “Heat Vision”, is voiced by Owen Wilson. That combination of talent alone should be more than enough to peak your interest, and trust me: you won’t regret the 30 minutes of bliss this video provides.

So here’s the basic premise: Jack Austin, NASA astronaut, is exposed to intense rays from the sun when his space capsule strays two close to the core of our solar system. Upon his return home, it’s discovered that during the daytime on earth, the suns rays transform him into a super-genius. Intrigued by this revelation, NASA decides to remove Austin’s brain: the only really logical thing to do in such a situation. Austin of course attempts to flee the scene by calling his roommate to pick him up on his motorcycle. In the ensuing action, Austin’s roommate is shot by an “experimental ray”, which merges him with this motorcycle, aptly named “Heat Vision”.

And so it goes that Heat Vision and Jack flee to the wide open roads of the United States, in a very “Knight Rider” inspired manner. It’s worth it to note that the pilot’s creators were definitely playing off the cheesy “dark-hero” tv programs of the mid 80s. Knight Rider, the A-Team, The Hulk, you see these inspirations popping up throughout the episode: from the plot lines and acting to the hilarious special effects, it’s clear their intent was to pay homage to these classics.

Have a watch on youTube, and remember: knowledge is power. FOR REAL!