Knight Rider

Network: NBC
Status: New Series
Timeslot: Wednesday 8 PM EST
Premiere: September 24th
Website: www.nbc.com/Knight_Rider

Update December 2008: Despite moderate ratings, NBC gave this series an early full season pickup. However, the peacock network has had a change of heart after seeing the show's numbers continue to spiral down and cut the back-nine order to four. They had also previously announced a retooling that would move away from the espionage aspects the series has focused on so far and closer to the feel of the original series. Apparently we will only see four episodes of the make-over version, though. The last four episodes will begin airing in February after the show’s winter break, and it seems unlikely at this point that the show will see life beyond that.


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This series acts as a sequel to 1980’s show of the same name created by schlock-TV mogul Glen A. Larson (the original Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, The Fall Guy). In that series, 80’s male pin-up icon, David Hasselhoff, starred as Michael Knight who traveled about in his high-tech, AI-equipped, talking car named K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand) rounding up bad guys and performing all-around good deeds. Sort of like the Lone Ranger with a super-car as Larson envisioned it. In the 21st century update, Michael Knight’s estranged son, Mike Traceur (Justin Bruening), will take the driver’s seat in the newest version of K.I.T.T. (this time voiced by Val Kilmer). Mike’s girlfriend played by Deanna Russo and her father (who created the vehicle) played by Bruce Davison will be along for the ride as well as support for K.I.T.T. and his driver.

The series launched with a back-door pilot which aired in February of this year. The new show runner of the series, Gary Scott Thompson, has actually made several changes to the premise from the pilot and has promised to ramp up the action from the pilot. Also, Russo’s Sarah Graiman will become a regular part of the team and we will see a more “bad ass” version of her character. Thompson has also suggested that Hasselhoff may make a return as Michael Knight along with the original K.I.T.T. and that we will be introduced to the new “K.I.T.T. Cave” in the upcoming series. And I am sure that somewhere along the way the cast and crew will tell you that the remake is a “darker”, “edgier”, version of the 80’s series with some “shadowy” organization lurking around just to make it seem like it is hip with the current genre scene. Whatever. Look for a lot of pretty people, fast cars, and mindless action. And yeah, I’m guessing the viewers will definitely tune in.

Update 9/9/08: Knight Rider’s executive producer and cast discussed the changes between the pilot and the series in an interview with Sci Fi Wire.