Well those four extra scripts must have won over NBC, because today The Hollywood Reporter and Variety are reporting that NBC has picked up Knight Rider for the complete season of potentially 22 episodes.
From THR:
NBC has picked up "Knight Rider" for a full season, sources say.The network has ordered another nine episodes of the Wednesday night action-drama, which is produced by the network's sister division Universal Media Studios.
"Rider" has been modestly rated since its premiere, typically matching CBS' comedy block for second place in its 8 p.m. time slot. The most recent episode was seen by 6.9 million viewers, and earned a 2.3 adults 19-49 rating and 7 share.
The "Rider" pickup marks the first freshman fall NBC series to receive a full season order, joining CBS' "The Mentalist," Fox's "Fringe" and CW's "90210."
Originally NBC had approved 13 episodes to film and air for the new series. Last week NBC ordered four more scripts showing signs that NBC was interested in extending the run. Today is our first confirmation of this as fact.
Congratulations to all our friends in the cast and crew, and we look forward to continuing the ride!
**UPDATE: NBC's official release after the jump!
NBC TO PICK UP NINE ADDITIONAL EPISODES OF 'KNIGHT RIDER' TO COMPLETE FULL-SEASON ORDER FOR 2008-09UNIVERSAL CITY - October 21, 2008 - NBC will pick up nine additional episodes of its the freshman drama series "Knight Rider" (Wednesdays, 8-9 p.m. ET) to provide the series with a full-season order for 2008-09, it was announced today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.
"Gary Scott Thompson and the great cast and crew of 'Knight Rider' continue to deliver fun, action packed adventures every week," said Silverman. "Kitt and Michael will continue to travel across the country on their fun, escapist ride pursuing bad guys and saving the day."
"Knight Rider" premiered its new season on Wednesday, September 24 (8-9 p.m. ET).
The series is averaging a 2.4 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 7.4 million viewers overall so far this season in "live plus same day" averages. "Knight Rider" is the #1 regular series in its competitive time period in all key adult-male demographics and won the slot in adults 18-49 with its most recent telecast on October 15.On the heels of NBC's hit movie, the iconic 1980s television classic comes roaring back to life as a reinvented, updated and super-charged action series showcasing the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand). Absolutely the coolest car ever created, KITT is equipped with "AI" (artificial intelligence) that is capable of hacking almost any system. Its weapon's systems match that of a jet fighter, its body is capable of actually transforming into other vehicles and it uses sophisticated holographic imagery to elude villains.
"Knight Rider" stars Justin Bruening ("Cold Case"), Deanna Russo ("NCIS"), Sydney Tamiia Poitier ("Veronica Mars"), Paul Campbell ("Battlestar Galactica"), Yancey Arias ("Kingpin") and Bruce Davison ("Breach"). Smith Cho ("Blades of Glory") recurs. David Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C."), Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity"), Matt Pyken ("Las Vegas") and Gary Scott Thompson ("Las Vegas," "The Fast and The Furious") are executive producers.
Based on characters created by Glen Larson, "Knight Rider" is from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions.
