http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlf---13Q0g
Rather than respond to VK’s rants point-by-point, I’ll let my more-than-five-years of support for Glen Larson’s Movie speak for itself.
Instead, I’d like to start off by focusing on some of the common ground between VK and myself:
1. If There Could Only Be One, we would both rather see a theatrical film
than a TV-movie.
For years I’ve been saying that the natural step for the franchise to evolve is to make the transition to the big screen. But that was when we were debating if the new Knight Rider should be a TV series OR a film. We hadn’t considered the possibility of getting BOTH. Although I prefer a film, if we can get a freebie 2-hour TV-movie, which will have no affect on the production of the film, you bet I’ll be excited about it.
2. We both believe the film will be better than the TV-movie.
I said it before and I shouldn’t even have to repeat it: The film should be FAR SUPERIOR to the new TV Movie. I also expect the film to be FAR SUPERIOR to Knight of the Phoenix as well. TV is TV. Theater is Theater. There is no competition. But that doesn’t mean the NBC Movie can’t be good in its own right.
3. We both agree on how the film should be made.
This may come as a surprise: I do not know of anyone who is more in sync with my beliefs about the Knight Rider Motion Picture than VK. We both think it should be a genesis story. We both think it needs a new car (not the ’82 Trans Am.) We both think it needs a new star other than the Hoff. Now here’s where Victor and I separate ourselves from many other fans: many people agree the movie should have a new star but that Hasselhoff should play the Devon role or at least have a small cameo. I believe (and I think VK agrees) he should not be in the movie AT ALL. David Hasselhoff is too connected to the role of Michael Knight, and any appearance by him on screen would pull us out of the story. (I’d be open to seeing him appear as Garthe in a sequel.)
In spite of our similarities, VK doesn't like me. And that's OK; I'm not particularly fond of him either, so we have a nice, balanced relationship. Here’s where I think we differ: we disagree on what it means to be a Knight Rider fan.
I will often talk about the “franchise”, which is all-encompassing: it includes the great original series and some pretty poor sequel attempts. Good or bad, to me it’s all part of the World of the Knight Rider.
VK is, more accurately, a “Glen Larson’s Knight Rider” fan. It’s Glen’s way or the highway. If Glen isn’t involved, it’s not really Knight Rider and you should not support it.
This board has Hasselhoff fans, Knight Rider 2000 fans and TKR fans. (not sure if we have any KR2010 fans, but they’d be more than welcome!) And we have people who are excited about the new NBC movie. Do we have room for Larson purists who only support the original show? You bet! Absolutely. They will bring a unique passion and perspective to the fandom. But we run into conflict with militant fans; nobody should need a blessing from Glen Larson’s camp before they say what they like or don’t like.
One other way that VK and I differ: I would like KRO to be a place where people can be excited about a brand new Knight Rider coming to television; he would like to punish people for keeping an open mind about it.
I do have one favor to ask of everyone: keep in mind that when it comes to Knight Rider, the things we have in common far outnumber our differences. Whether you like the Mustang or hate it, that's OK. But please don't insult your fellow boardmembers who disagree with you.
If anyone has any concerns they would like to express privately, by all means please feel free to contact me or Neil.