The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance
Martin Kove as John Kreese
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:20:49Read transcript
- It is called one of the biggest Dion Waiters categories in 106 or 107 episodes; three nominees are named, with Tommy's eligibility left open.
- Kreese is barely in the movie yet puts up huge stats, a bench player with a double-double in 14 minutes.
- Dutch, played by Chad McQueen, is the scariest Cobra Kai and the one who would lead a coup against Johnny; his loss to Daniel seems unrealistic.
- The tournament announcer ('Daniel LaRusso is going to fight!') is praised for his jacket-collar look and mysterious identity and is initially given the award.
- An anecdote about an anchor questioning low energy in a pre-show rehearsal before a strong live show is used to compare the announcer's rehearsal footage with his performance when the red light goes on.
- The announcer pick is disputed: Tommy is ruled ineligible and Dutch is not in it enough, leading to Kreese over the MC.
- The announcer is looked up as Bruce Malmuth, said to have died in 2005, who also announced in Karate Kid II and appeared in Lean on Me and Pentathlon.
- The award goes to Kreese, though the karate announcer could have won.