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David Kano (Space 1999)
Encyclopedia
David Kano is a fictional character
who regularly appeared during the first season of the science fiction television series Space: 1999. He is of Jamaican origin and in his mid-thirties. He was played by actor Clifton Jones
.
Prior to his position on Alpha, Kano was one of several volunteer test subjects on Earth to receive an experimental cybernetic implant that would enable the human brain to interface with a computer, taking advantage of its vast memory and calculating speed. Kano was the only subject not to be rendered permanently brain damaged by the experiment. He retains the access port from this programme in the right occipital area of his skull.
as the person who had the ability to ask Computer the right questions and was privy to confidential computer output before everyone else. Kano's faith in computers in general was unshakable and he would tout human error over computer error every time.
Well liked among the Alphans, Kano was an easygoing person who got along well with fellow key staff. While typically addressed as 'Kano', Paul Morrow
was one of the few to address him by given name, indicating that the two probably knew each other for some time. While not socially inept, Kano perferred to spend most of his time with Computer, often playing chess with her. He could occasionally be seen playing chess with his fellow Alphans when seeking 'a real game' as he beat Computer every time.
The episode "Missing Link
" marks a notable instance where Kano lost his temper and harshly reprimands a junior staff member who accidentally spills coffee on him. Morrow also almost comes to blows with Kano over what he perceives as Kano's unnecessary harsh treatment of said junior staff member. However, everyone at this time is overly stressed due to Commander Koenig's being on the brink of death due to events in that episode. These harsh exchanges were promptly forgotten when Koenig recovered.
Kano first appeared in Series One's second episode "Matter of Life and Death
". The pilot episode has a similar Black character in the same position, Benjamin Ouma, played by actor Lon Satton
. (An examination of early drafts of the script for "Breakaway
" indicated Ouma was the head of the Computer Section.) Kano replaced Ouma without any reason given and Ouma was never seen on the show again. Accounts from cast and crew indicate Satton did not get along with producers and fellow actors alike (especially Martin Landau) and was removed from the series.
and Barry Morse
, Clifton Jones
did not return for the second series of the show. The absence of these characters was never accounted for in official canon. In the fan production Message from Moonbase Alpha which takes place 25 years later, Sandra Benes
briefly recalls Professor Bergman, Paul and other characters no longer with them at that time, although it is not specifically said that either is necessarily deceased. But she did not mention Kano, which suggests either an overlook on Sandra's part or that Kano was still alive and well on Alpha but had taken up residence on Alpha off-screen in a different capacity. The fan-produced "Moonbase Alpha Technical Journal" would state that he, along with Paul Morrow, had died in an Eagle crash in the time between the two series.
In the officially licensed series of novels published by Powys Media, in particular the novel Born for Adversity by David McIntee, Kano's fate is revealed. He is killed during a further attempt to link his brain to Computer, resulting in a copy of his mind being preserved within Computer's memory. With the arrival of the Psychons on the Moon, and with them an incarnation of the biological computer Psyche, Kano is transferred to Psyche and becomes one with it. He departs with the Psychons and is presumably still alive at the time of Message for Moonbase Alpha.
The actual case was that he was not rehired by the production staff as American producer Fred Freiberger
felt that the Year One supporting cast lacked character definition and had garnered no fan support.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
who regularly appeared during the first season of the science fiction television series Space: 1999. He is of Jamaican origin and in his mid-thirties. He was played by actor Clifton Jones
Clifton Jones
Clifton Jones is an actor, mostly known for his roles on British television.His most prominent role is probably that of David Kano during the first season of the science fiction series Space: 1999....
.
Character biography
As part of the Moonbase Alpha senior staff and head of the Technical Section , David Kano was the resident computer expert on Moonbase. It was said to owe his expertise to his parents, both of whom were computer programmers.Prior to his position on Alpha, Kano was one of several volunteer test subjects on Earth to receive an experimental cybernetic implant that would enable the human brain to interface with a computer, taking advantage of its vast memory and calculating speed. Kano was the only subject not to be rendered permanently brain damaged by the experiment. He retains the access port from this programme in the right occipital area of his skull.
Series one
Kano had an almost symbiotic relationship with Alpha's Main Computer, which was curiously programmed with a female voice. He also referred to the computer as 'Computer' instead of "the computer" as though it were a name. He also habitually referred to Computer as 'she' or 'her'. Kano was invaluable to Commander KoenigJohn Koenig
John Koenig is a fictional character from the television series Space: 1999. He was played by Martin Landau. He is American, apparently in his early forties.-Character Biography:...
as the person who had the ability to ask Computer the right questions and was privy to confidential computer output before everyone else. Kano's faith in computers in general was unshakable and he would tout human error over computer error every time.
Well liked among the Alphans, Kano was an easygoing person who got along well with fellow key staff. While typically addressed as 'Kano', Paul Morrow
Paul Morrow
Paul Morrow is a fictional character who first appeared in 'Breakaway', the premiere episode of the science fiction television show Space: 1999, and was portrayed by Prentis Hancock. He is a British national who appears to be in his early thirties....
was one of the few to address him by given name, indicating that the two probably knew each other for some time. While not socially inept, Kano perferred to spend most of his time with Computer, often playing chess with her. He could occasionally be seen playing chess with his fellow Alphans when seeking 'a real game' as he beat Computer every time.
The episode "Missing Link
Missing Link (Space: 1999)
"Missing Link" is the seventh episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Edward di Lorenzo; the director was Ray Austin. The final shooting script is dated 5 April 1974...
" marks a notable instance where Kano lost his temper and harshly reprimands a junior staff member who accidentally spills coffee on him. Morrow also almost comes to blows with Kano over what he perceives as Kano's unnecessary harsh treatment of said junior staff member. However, everyone at this time is overly stressed due to Commander Koenig's being on the brink of death due to events in that episode. These harsh exchanges were promptly forgotten when Koenig recovered.
Kano first appeared in Series One's second episode "Matter of Life and Death
Matter of Life and Death (Space: 1999)
"Matter of Life and Death" is the second episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Art Wallace and Johnny Byrne; the director was Charles Crichton. The original title was 'Siren Planet'. The final shooting script is dated 8 January 1974...
". The pilot episode has a similar Black character in the same position, Benjamin Ouma, played by actor Lon Satton
Lon Satton
Lon Satton Born: 1929, Philadelphia. U.S.A., is an actor and composer mostly known in Britain.- Stage works : He acted in Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill, and Ian McDiarmid's musical, "The Three Penny Opera," at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, England with Vanessa Redgrave, Joe Melia, Ronald...
. (An examination of early drafts of the script for "Breakaway
Breakaway (Space: 1999)
"Breakaway" is the first episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by George Bellak ; the director was Lee H. Katzin. Previous titles include 'Zero-G', 'The Void Ahead' and 'Turning Point'. The final shooting script is dated 22 November 1973...
" indicated Ouma was the head of the Computer Section.) Kano replaced Ouma without any reason given and Ouma was never seen on the show again. Accounts from cast and crew indicate Satton did not get along with producers and fellow actors alike (especially Martin Landau) and was removed from the series.
Series two
Along with fellow regular cast members Prentis HancockPrentis Hancock
Prentis Hancock is a British actor, best known for his television roles.He was a regular cast member of the first season of science fiction series Space: 1999 as Paul Morrow, and also appeared in a number of Doctor Who stories throughout the 1970s - Spearhead from Space and Planet of the Daleks...
and Barry Morse
Barry Morse
Herbert "Barry" Morse was an Anglo-Canadian actor of stage, screen, and radio best known for his roles in the ABC television series The Fugitive and the British sci-fi drama Space: 1999...
, Clifton Jones
Clifton Jones
Clifton Jones is an actor, mostly known for his roles on British television.His most prominent role is probably that of David Kano during the first season of the science fiction series Space: 1999....
did not return for the second series of the show. The absence of these characters was never accounted for in official canon. In the fan production Message from Moonbase Alpha which takes place 25 years later, Sandra Benes
Sandra Benes
Sandra Benes is a recurring character in the British science-fiction television series Space: 1999. She is of Western European/Burmese origin and is in her late twenties. Her role was played by actress Zienia Merton.-Character Biography:...
briefly recalls Professor Bergman, Paul and other characters no longer with them at that time, although it is not specifically said that either is necessarily deceased. But she did not mention Kano, which suggests either an overlook on Sandra's part or that Kano was still alive and well on Alpha but had taken up residence on Alpha off-screen in a different capacity. The fan-produced "Moonbase Alpha Technical Journal" would state that he, along with Paul Morrow, had died in an Eagle crash in the time between the two series.
In the officially licensed series of novels published by Powys Media, in particular the novel Born for Adversity by David McIntee, Kano's fate is revealed. He is killed during a further attempt to link his brain to Computer, resulting in a copy of his mind being preserved within Computer's memory. With the arrival of the Psychons on the Moon, and with them an incarnation of the biological computer Psyche, Kano is transferred to Psyche and becomes one with it. He departs with the Psychons and is presumably still alive at the time of Message for Moonbase Alpha.
The actual case was that he was not rehired by the production staff as American producer Fred Freiberger
Fred Freiberger
Fred Freiberger was an American film and television screenwriter and television producer, with a career spanning four decades including The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Star Trek, and Space: 1999...
felt that the Year One supporting cast lacked character definition and had garnered no fan support.
External links
- Space 1999 Cybermuseum - Moonbase Alpha Technical Manual Bio David Kano
- Space 1999 Catacombs - Character Profile David Kano