Okay, so as you know, I talk a lot, but nevertheless I’m still kinda new. I haven’t really been paying attention to this movie thing, but here are my thoughts if they interest you:
- Always open to hearing fan input, even if they don't agree with my response to it.
First, as to the pesky little problem of this new TV show…
Yes there have been other KR relaunch attempts without GL. …And we fans hated them. …But we like this one. And I think that really says something. -Even if the rest of the world hasn’t caught up with us yet.
- I disagree partially. The ratings slump during the second airing shows that while people may have liked watching the premiere once, many didn't come back to view it a second time. Don't get me wrong this does not mean that people "hate it". There were a lot of new viewers out there who liked the idea of bringing Knight Rider back to the small screen but it's proven that they also felt that while there are things the backdoor pilot did right, there were a great number of things that left a lot to be desired before it could really go to a full series.
I believe fans new and old want Knight Rider back on the air, but they want to be assured that what comes on isn't going to crash and burn before it's had a chance to really develop properly. I have great faith that Gary Scott Thompson will at least take some of our concerns into consideration when revising and reintroducing Knight Rider to the small screen once more this September. It is my hope as a fan that the second time out, things will be more impressive and lasting. I don't expect perfection from a pilot of any sorts but I do want a reason to keep watching and how that is achieved is what really matters. Don't exclude the history or mythology of Knight Rider, work within what you can and avoid revisionist history at all costs when it comes to the original four seasons.
Because it's a continuation and not a complete reboot, it must adhere to certain rules to maintain its existance as a credible branch of what came before, rather then deviate entirely away from it. I want that "wow" factor that keeps me wanting to see what happens next and I want to believe that when Mike Tracer interacts with KITT, it feels like KITT is really there responding. That's one of the greatest testaments to David's career, he really helped sell the idea that KITT was right there talking back. The illusion was handled so well in editing, there are people who just now realize where KITT's voice box really was, which was above the steering wheel and not off to the side of the dash.
Now there is always the possibility that they end up changing the new TV show in such a way that we all hate it. Then I guess the movie could do anything. Then again the average joe out there will say to themselves, oh come on they are remaking KR again, give it up already.
Now if the show is a hit… I’m kinda already attached to these new characters. But I guess Dave Andron owns them? That complicates the matter.
- If you look at say Smallville and Superman Returns (yeah but this is the closest example I can use really). Superman Returns was the return of Superman to the big screen while Smallville continues to explain his pre-Superman suit days. Both deal with the same character but handle him in different approaches.
While Superman Returns left a lot to be desired, some people still like elements of it because at its core it's still the story of Superman with all the familair elements we've come to expect from the Fortress of Solitude to the S shield on his chest and the characters reprising their roles such as Lex, Louis, Clark, Jimmy, etc.
Different actors, simular design aspects but still the same genre. Smallville takes itself into another direction and yet you still have these connections that exist between both worlds. Smallville just recently introduced the "S" shield from Superman Returns as well, rather then the classic DC comics version.
It's true that unlike Knight Rider, these two properties are owned by the same studio, but they still took different directions with their approach to both television and theatrical presentations.
I believe with the concept of Knight Rider, it is possible for two different visions to co-exist as long as there is an agreement of what is and what is not acceptable to the overall intention of the concept. This being for instance, Michael Knight won't kill people for no reason, KITT won't be red white and blue, KITT won't be some sort of bike, Devon Miles is Wilton's assistant, not a younger street-wise teenager, Garthe Knight won't be "the good guy", KITT will not willingly endanger human life etc, etc.
Certain aspects of Knight Rider must translate from one vision to the next for it to remain Knight Rider and not be some concept "in name only". The biggest being the
car MUST talk, that's the #1 thing that makes Knight Rider set apart from any other show out there, especially at present. Is it just that? No, the second element is
the relationship between the owner and the car. Mike and KITT, or Michael and KITT you must believe these two interact. Lastly but most importantly,
One Man Can Make a Difference. This must be the recurring theme whether it's a continuation or a reimagining.
I guess the last one which is arguably exclusive to Knight Rider is
turbo boost. People can debate whether it's cheesy or dated or whatever but there is nothing that sells a KITT car more to us as fans then seeing the sucker jump over anything in it's way. It's just a technological marvel, modern cars still cannot achieve without the assistance of a ramp. (Yeah I know the stunts used ramps, but I'm talking "story" here not effects work).
In the world of Knight Rider
we believe a car can jump just like in Superman, that a man can fly.
These are staples of Knight Rider mythology that cannot be changed for the sake of "new directions" or "updating dated material". So in that sense, I hope people can embrace the idea that two visions of Knight Rider
can still manage to co-exist, rather then compete.
It's really going to be up to the audiences themselves to decide which they prefer or if they prefer both. I think one deciding element will be the design of the car and the "wow" factor it has. Who is going to "get it" and who is going to miss the mark.
I believe all the rights to the television version of the 2008 Knight Rider belong to Universal and NBCU. Andron's creative rights really depend on the terms of his contract. He didn't "create" Knight Rider, he "expanded" on it so he may have limited rights to the characters he invented independent from the original series.
I believe both visions of Knight Rider can branch off in their own directions and still keep the fans satisfied enough in Knight Rider itself. I mean really think about this, you have not only one KR project returning from the ashes but two and that's
two opportunities to get it right and one of them is by the creator himself.
Whichever the fans prefer, I promise you this much...you haven't seen everything yet. By the time this year is over, there will be no doubt that 2008 was the year that Knight Rider resurrected itself back into the spotlight and the years to come will only make the torch we've carried for this cult favorite burn even brighter.
It is back and it is back in a big way.
As you might know I have very little love left for DH, which I guess would please you movie folks. But… just look at justinbruening.net and I as examples… If this show is huge, us girls will accept no substitutes.
- It's no secret that NBCU wants to cash in on Justin's sex appeal, not to mention reach a broader audience with it's lesbian ties to Carrie Rivai but that's show business and these days sex and violence sells. It will take more then a pretty boy driving a "hot" car to make the show last, that's where the sex appeal ends and the writing begins.
I think Justin has a lot of potential but its up to the director to get it out of him and the rest of the cast.
I do not dislike "David", I dislike his "Hoff" persona. As humble David he no doubt made Knight Rider the hit that it was along with the supporting cast and crew. Collectively he did carry that show by making us believe K.I.T.T. was more then a stageprop and some post-production voice work. David, when he wishes to do so can bring a lot to the table and I wish he would really understand how much the fans look up to him not for Baywatch or his music but for the role model he protrayed on tv that every guy wanted to be growing up and that was Michael Knight.
Not Lt. Mitch Buchannon, Not "The Hoff, not even David Hasselhoff...
...Michael Knight.
=VK=
