Knight Rider

This is as an impressive reboot. The original was b rated and loved it anyways. This version was great too in the same manner

I actually didn't much like the first half of the show. Having watched the original 1982 series, I immersed myself in the dynamic between Michael and KITT as they solved the cases, and only just in the last few episodes did I feel that same magic happen between Mike and KI3T. There were still plenty of moments I enjoyed, and the other side characters are all great. It was just starting to get good, and it goes and gets cancelled without even a second season. Such a shame. It's a worthy watch, if a little over the top as far as the showy tech and special effects go.

I've seen a lot of hate on this show, and honestly a lot of it is just people going "not muh" and touting the 1982 series as so much better. You know why the original seemed so much better? Characters were given room to grow, and that takes a lot of production. Knight Rider 2008 had just barely begun tapping into that potential, so of course to many it's going to fall short. This is a suitable sequel series to the original, I'm just sad it had gotten cancelled after 17 episodes.

This show is getting a bad rap for the simple reason is that people are expecting some kind of masterpiece. This show is a present time follow up to the 1982 series starring David Hasselhoff and features a futuristic car that was created to fight crime. Although it started out a little too ambitious by involving the FBI as the owners of KITT and took on story lines that were large in scope, it has now moved toward the original premise of the original with a small operation proving that one man (and a super cool car!)can make a difference.

The thing about this show is that it is just pure simple enjoyment and shouldn't be looked at for more than that. It features a cool car, doing cool things with a sexy cast that plays well together. I mean people talk about the original like it was Shakespeare or something, but in reality it was nothing more then fun as well. I mean the story lines were far fetched and gimmicky as much if not more then this series, but the 2008 version constantly gets knocked for it. My advice to anyone that watches this show is to put away any pretentious preconceptions of what it is "supposed" to be and sit back and enjoy the ride. Television is supposed to be a fantasy diversion from our hectic lives and that is exactly what this show provides.

So if you liked the Old Knight Rider..When it was first proposed to Universal Studios They had the Pilot and 2 episodes..Universal denied the series due to the cost of the New 3rd Generation Firebirds..Just before they Cancelled it ..There was a Horrible Train accident in the General Motors Train yard in Van Nuys CA..Over 200 new Firebirds were Damaged..Last minute Universal Studios bought the cars and Knight Rider went on for 6 seasons..I'm guessing the new Knight Rider series went thru the same problem..Mainly going thru the Recession I know Ford Motor Corp.helped out..Doing a Motion Picture is a one time Vehicle Expense..When you have a TV series that is based on Cars ..it gets CRAZY Expensive...insurance/ stunt drivers/ permits..etc..Too Bad i really liked the New Series..

So having been a child of the 80's where Knight Rider, The A Team, and other such Glen Larson staples were a religion for me I sat down with the full DVD season 1 box set of this remake fully prepared to growl and hate my way through the entire thing.

Annoyingly, frustratingly, and hating myself when I admit it, this wasn't actually as bad as I was expecting.

Yes granted the best way to look positively at this rendition is to not actually compare it it the first run, and especially not the god awful other attempted reboots since the ending of the 4 season run of the original.

The first second you see B list movie staple Bruce Davison in the cast list you know you aren't dealing with the likes of shawshank or schindlers list.

That not withstanding, the series itself has some amusing moments, and Val Kilmer replacing Bill Daniels as KITT isn't as bad as many would expect either.

Yes its shameless lower primetime shenanigans and is completely filled with bare skin heavy pretty girls and leading man handsome men all giving pouty looks and eyelid heavy looks just off camera at every opportunity but when its such blatant americana like it is, this can be overlooked if not forgiven.

The car itself is well designed, the mustang being a very good choice. However the transforming abilities are just a step too far for the suspension of belief for me.

A welcome return was the appearance of KARR with the original voice talents as well.

When you watch this you'll need to be aware of the first series, but try not to cast an opinion based on the warm memories you may have of it as a child.

Justin Bruening is a valiant attempt to replicate the Michael Knight character and is fleshed out in terms of back character a little more than David Hasslehoff was but still, its a channel 5 type budget show so you aren't expecting george clooney levels of talent.

Speaking of the Hoff, his cameo makes a welcome addition to the pilot and is strangely subdued and serious which you wouldn't expect.

All in all, a fun show but not one you'd really expect to be renewed even tho a second season may be fun.

Watch it on a weekend afternoon when you have nothing better to do, its really not that bad and you'll enjoy it if you want a brainless few hours just to enjoy some typical man time with cars, explosions and the like.