KITTSite Interview Dave Bartis

KITTSite.com have just finished rolling out their San Diego Comic-Con interviews, and last but not least is Knight Rider producer Dave Bartis. He has some interesting things to say about the series versus February's TV movie, about the new series versus the original, and about the possible return of fan-favourite K.A.R.R.

He says of the new episodes, "It is feature quality action, and it's fun, aspirational escapist storytelling. To me, I can't come home from a hard day at work and sit down and watch something as intense as The Sopranos; I need to prepare myself for that. But this is fun. It's something you can watch with your whole family. My kids happen to think this is the coolest thing I've ever done. They've never said that about anything I've ever done before. So, I could watch the show with my nine-year-old. My wife liked it, and my parents actually liked it -- this is truly an 8 o'clock broadcast show."

KITTSite.com: Dave Bartis Interview

Justin Bruening on Canadian Entertainment Tonight

Knight Rider Online have been tipped off that the Canadian Entertainment Tonight programme ran a feature on Knight Rider, with an interview -- and guided tour of the K.I.T.T.-Cave -- with Justin Bruening:



Knight Rider Online: Justin Bruening Interviewed by ET Canada

Paul Campbell Interview with BuddyTV

John Kubicek of BuddyTV.com got to interview Paul Campbell onset, which can be viewed via YouTube below:



BuddyTV: Exclusive Video Interview with 'Knight Rider' Star Paul Campbell

NBC K.I.T.T. Cave Timelapse

NBC.com have posted some cool timelapse footage of the construction of the huge K.I.T.T.-Cave set over at their Official Knight Rider Site:



It's currently restricted to US viewers, but the Knight Rider Online team have a YouTube capture which you can view at the link below:

YouTube.com: Knight Rider Online's Version

Gary Scott Thompson on Knight Rider

Newsarama.com have an interview with new series showrunner Gary Scott Thompson, where he talks about bringing Knight Rider into the 21st Century, the differences between his show and the original, and the possibility of David Hasselhoff's return. He had this to say about the first episode:

“My idea was really to try and bring a feature mentality to a TV show which is to do an on-the-edge of your seat action packed show once a week in prime time TV,” he said. “Now whether we can pull it off every week, I’m not sure but the first episode has over 700 visual effects in it and that is more than a feature has. It’s a massive undertaking but the plus side is once you do it, you learn how to do it, how to do it quickly, and be more cost effective. The initial phase is the tough part but we really just went flat out balls-to-the-walls. We want to entertain, have fun, to be up to date, be technologically advanced, and make a popcorn movie where it’s one hell of a wild ride for one hour every week. Hopefully, people will tune in to see what happens next and what kind of crazy stuff these guys get into.”

Newsarama.com: Producer Gary Scott Thompson on the New Knight Rider

Magazine Watch

The UK's SFX Magazine includes Knight Rider in their fall preview, and give it a 3-out-of-5 excitement factor. They do, however, place their faith in Gary Scott Thompson, who is interviewed in the piece. He talks about the level of competition the new series faces, not just from other TV shows and movies, but interactive computer games and how they're going to compete with that. Thompson describes this incarnation of the show as "fast cutting, fast-paced, the cool car, sexy girls, cool-looking guys, fighting and everything." SFX also refer to the new Knight Rider team as an extension of Team Knight Rider, although this is almost certainly a misunderstanding of the new team dynamic. There is still no word on a UK broadcast for the movie or series.

It's issue #174, October 2008, on sale now!

Big Changes...

It's less than a month now until the new series hits, and it's almost time for an update here at the Knight Rider Archive -- and it's the biggest one yet! Stay tuned to the site over the next few weeks for masses of new content, pictures, guides and articles covering every incarnation of Knight Rider! Keep your scanners peeled...

You don't want to miss it!

Magazine Watch

Fans of Deanna Russo -- Sarah Graiman in the new Knight Rider -- will be pleased to know that she has done an interview and photoshoot for the September issue of the US Maxim magazine. She talks about her character's makeover in terms of getting in on the action and fight sequences, and assures the fans that they aren't butchering the franchise: "The most important part of Knight Rider was the car, and we're putting it on the highest pedestal we can -- honoring it as this incredible machine. Nowadays, everybody has a talking car, with GPS systems and OnStar, but this K.I.T.T. is on a whole new level."

Thanks to Knight Rider Online for the pointer!

Maxim.com: Deanna Russo Riding Shotgun in New Knight Rider

George Barris, K.I.T.T. and K.A.R.R.!

Knight Rider Online have a feature in their blog on the Autoseum car show attended by George Barris, a K.I.T.T. replica... and a K.A.R.R replica! Check it out:



Knight Rider Online: Barris & K.I.T.T. at Star Cars for the Autoseum

SciFiWire Visits the K.I.T.T. Cave!

SciFiWire paid an exclusive visit to the set of Knight Research's SSC (Satellite Surveilance Center) -- better known by its nickname: The K.I.T.T.Cave! The lab is an elaborate set at Santa Clarita Studios, just north of Los Angeles, and represents K.I.T.T.'s multilevel underground hideout. The computers on the set were inspired by futurists at Microsoft, executive producer Gary Scott Thompson told them. "We met with their technology people to see what they have coming up, and we were surprised that we were actually coming up with ideas that they weren't going to be doing for another 10 or 20 years or so. But we used some of their ideas."

Among the high-tech equipment: tables that that can download information from a telephone or computer set on top of them and computers that can manipulate images at the flick of a finger. "I just move my hands over the computers, and someone in the back is flipping lights and buttons to make it look like I'm doing something," cast member Paul Campbell (Billy) said. Bruce Davison confessed that he's really a technophobe: "I'm not into this technical gadgetry at all," he said. "I had to learn a lot, but it has been fun."

According to SciFiWire, "the producers promise that the series will be less campy than the original 1980s show, while remaining funny and family-oriented. But there will be lots of eye candy: Thompson said the first episode has more than 700 special effects. "I'm not sure we will be able to keep up that level of fast action, but we're going to sure try," he said.

"The show will update the characters and premise first introduced in a television movie/backdoor pilot that aired on NBC in February. Bruening's character has been given a mysterious past involving his experiences in the Iraq War, and he will have disdain for Blackwater personnel in particular.

"When someone says, 'So your car can talk; so what, so can mine?' then Knight says, 'Yeah, but can your car do this?'" Thompson said."



SciFiWire: Knight's K.I.T.T. Cave Revealed

Official Knight Rider Site Updated

NBC's Official Knight Rider site has got an update as we're now only a month away from the premiere. Some links are still non-functional, but expect to see new additions such as Episode Guides, NBC Exclusives, Games and a Knight Rider-dedicated store come online in the coming weeks.

NBC.com: Knight Rider Official Site

New NBC TV Spot

NBC have aired yet another TV spot in their onslaught of Knight Rider publicity! This one is essentially an update of a promo that aired way back before the February TV movie, with some new shots of the Attack Mode car, Turbo Boost, and the popular Comic-Con transformation footage included. Check it out:



Well done to the Knight Rider Online team for the capture!

Knight Rider Online: Back By Popular Demand - Turbo Boost

K.I.T.T. on Staten Island - Update

The Knight Rider Online team have an update on the George Barris and K.I.T.T. Staten Island appearance that was revealed yesterday. They have learned that the Andrew Kissel SPM replica may possibly be replaced with another:

"Originally, an infamous version of the Super Pursuit Mode K.I.T.T. was scheduled to be on display, but due to some travel issues, this may not happen and a terrific K.I.T.T. replica will be there instead."

They also have details of yet another appearance by Barris at the Autoseum Car Show this weekend. The event helps to sponsor the construction of a car museum at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in East Garden City on Long Island. The show is open from 10am till 5pm on Saturday and Sunday and costs $7 per person, with free entry for children under 12. They are also offering a special talegate event after hours on Friday for $50, which includes dinner and a meet-and-greet with George Barris himself.

Newsday.com report:

"The vehicles include the original Batmobile from the Batman TV show; General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard; K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider; the Monkeemobile from The Monkees; the Ford Grand Torino from Starsky and Hutch; and the "Drag-U-La" from The Munsters. Original cars from the movies include the Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters, James Bond's Aston-Martin DB5 from Goldfinger; the Triple X cars from xXx starring Vin Diesel and xXx: State of the Union with Ice Cube and Samuel Jackson; and the van from Scooby Doo."

Knight Rider Online: Two Chances to Meet George Barris and K.I.T.T.

Newsday.com: A Car is Born at Auto Show at Aviation Museum

David Hasselhoff Returns?

Sci-Fi Wire have been talking to new series showrunner Gary Scott Thompson, who revealed yesterday that David Hasselhoff is making final arrangements for an appearance on the show.

"He may make an appearance later this season," Thompson told them. "He is talking to NBC next week, and we are working out everyone's schedule... I don't want to put him in just for the sake of having him drop by; I want there to be a good reason for him being there and have it be part of the story. I talked to David about a way of doing that, and so far he likes it. It's a cool idea."

Thompson says that Hasselhoff is "still a big fan of the show obviously. "He has known Bruce [Davison] for a long time, and when I met with him, he basically gave me his blessing, and I told him everything I wanted to do. And he said 'That's awesome.' I do not want to get the fans' hopes up or anything, but I'm talking to NBC, and he's talking to NBC and it's all a matter of timing."

Stay tuned!

Sci-Fi Wire: Hasselhoff Returns to Knight?

George Barris & K.I.T.T. Replica at Staten Island

Legendary Hollywood car customizer George Barris will be appearing with a K.I.T.T. replica at Soundsation, a car audio shop at 2311 Forest Ave., at the corner of South Avenue on Staten Island. Viewing hours will be from noon until 7 p.m. Tuesday and from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. next Wednesday, and it's totally free.

The event was arranged by Soundsation owner and car gadget king Lambros Vassiliou, and will be the second for his friend Barris, who last summer dazzled the crowds with his original 1966 Batmobile. Vassiliou hopes the free event will inspire guests to make a difference with an important cause, as the event doubles as a fundraiser for Sarah Boschi, a 5-year-old Tottenville girl who suffers from two rare and painful genetic diseases, familial Mediterranean fever and hyper-IgD syndrome.

This particular K.I.T.T. -- a replica of the 1985-86 season's Super Pursuit Mode -- recently made headlines around the world when it was to be auctioned off as part of the estate of murdered businessman Andrew Kissel.



SiLive.com: Knight Rider car to make appearance on Staten Island

Kristina Anapau Guest Stars

Moviehole.net have a short report about the new series that reveals that Cursed star Kristina Anapau guest stars in an upcoming episode, which seems to have a racing theme:



Moviehole.net: Cursed Star Gets Her K.I.T.T. On!

Justin Bruening Talks About The New Series

National Ledger have published a short interview with Justin Bruening from the Knight Rider set, in which he reveals that the new show will be "less campy and darker" than the original '80s series and February's TV movie.

"It's still funny," he tells them. "Directors, everybody just loves to come on our set. We just laugh. It's not ER. We have a talking car, for crying out loud." He goes on to say that K.I.T.T. "continues to evolve, to learn like a child. It's like HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey, but not in the evil sense.

"The hero is going to win at the end of the day. Sometimes people need that kind of story. There's enough stories where the good guys don't win."

He also reveals that his wife, former All My Children costar Alexa Havins, recently joined him on the set. "Life is kind of Knight Rider right now," he said. "It's a huge life change. The biggest challenge is trying to find that balance between life and 14-hour days of work. My wife was out on the set last week -- it helped that we were shooting at the beach in Palos Verdes -- and brought our dogs to work."

National Ledger: Videoland View - Knight Rider

A Better Look at the NASCAR K.I.T.T.

E! Online have a better look at the Knight Rider car that will be racing in NASCAR on Saturday; the overhead designs reveal that the car has a Knight 3000-style scanner! Check it out:



E! Online: Knight Rider's Latest Hasselhoff-Free Design

Travis Kvapil Talks Knight Rider

The publicity machine regarding Knight Rider's presence at NASCAR on Saturday is going into overdrive. Travis Kvapil, who will be driving NBC's No. 28 Knight Rider Ford, has been talking about it.

"This is such an awesome sponsor for our team at Bristol," commented Kvapil. "The television series Knight Rider is a show that everyone can get hooked on. I think it’s really cool that NBC has chosen to reinvent the series for the Fall line-up. The best part about the show was always the car, K.I.T.T., and this is amazing that I get to drive a version of K.I.T.T. for the night race at Bristol. It’s every guy’s dream to feel like they are an action hero and I get to have that chance under the lights of Bristol with our No. 28 Knight Rider Ford."

"We're really excited about it," he said. "You know, unfortunately, we haven't had fulltime sponsorship, but that's given us the opportunity to have some really cool partners, and this is another one. Lafayette Ford and CHP [California Highway Patrol] were some of my favorites, and now the Knight Rider car -- it's going to be really cool. I grew up watching Knight Rider and I was a fan of K.I.T.T. It's just very cool that I get the opportunity to drive it. I'm looking forward to it, it's going to be fun, and I think there's going to be a lot of excitement around it. It should be really cool."

"The stealth look and feel of the car coupled with Travis Kvapil at the helm has us very excited about this race," said John Miller, Chief Marketing Officer, NBC Universal Television Group President, The NBC Agency. "This event exemplifies the adrenalin and action the Knight Rider series will deliver and illustrates the strength and compatibility of our sponsor partnership with Ford."

The premiere of the No. 28 Knight Rider Ford will take place on August 23rd, 2008 for the Sharpie 500 when Kvapil and his Yates Racing teammate, David Gilliland, travel to Bristol Motor Speedway for the 24th race of the 2008 Sprint Cup Series season. The Sharpie 500 will be broadcast on ESPN Saturday, August 23rd with television coverage beginning at 7:00 pm EST and radio coverage provided by the Performance Racing Network.

PaddockTalk.com: Yates, NBC Announce Driver Travis Kvapil To Drive 'Knight Rider' Ford

Motorsport.com: Kvapil - Ford interview 2008-08-19

BuddyTV Visit the K.I.T.T. Cave!

BuddyTV.com have posted an article with some video of their exclusive Knight Rider set visit to the "K.I.T.T. Cave." John Kubicek, BuddyTV's senior writer, said: "My first instinct when entering the Knight Rider set was to run around like a little boy, touching all the computer monitors, running up the metal stairs and sitting in K.I.T.T.'s driver's seat. Or maybe that's just me. Either way, being on the set is like being a kid in a candy store, and I got the impression that's exactly how the cast feels as well."

And from their interviews, it seems that is exactly how the cast feels! Justin Bruening says, "We have a lot of fun on this show!"

"A lot of expectations are built up around Knight Rider," Bruce Davison told them, "but I think everybody should just sit tight and wait and they're going to be pleasantly surprised. There's going to be a lot of surprises."

Paul Campbell, who plays Billy, said: "This is a man and a car essentially, but it's a whole different show. The car is ridiculous. It's so cool!" Deanna Russo adds that driving K.I.T.T. is probably the biggest perk of the job.

Also of note is that BuddyTV's coverage includes the first glimpse of the updated "KR"/Knight Research logo, that goes some way to showing that KR (or "King of the Road") is more than just product placement in the new Knight Rider world.

In the next few weeks, as we get closer to the show's September 24 premiere, BuddyTV will be unveiling even more videos of the cast, crew and set of Knight Rider, so stay tuned.



BuddyTV: Knight Rider On-Set Exclusive Video Preview

Knight Rider at NASCAR

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that NBC has teamed up with Ford Motor Co. and Yates Racing, which operates two motorsports teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, on a promotion for Knight Rider: The Series.

"As part of the partnership, Travis Kvapil will drive the specially painted No. 28 Knight Rider Ford for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday.

"The stealth look and feel of the car coupled with Travis Kvapil at the helm has us very excited about this race," said John Miller, chief marketing officer at NBC Universal Television Group and president of the NBC Agency. "This event exemplifies the adrenaline and action the Knight Rider series will deliver."

Added Kvapil: "It's every guy's dream to feel like they are an action hero, and I get to have that chance under the lights of Bristol with our No. 28 Knight Rider Ford."

The race will be broadcast Saturday on ESPN.



Hollywood Reporter: Knight Rider Meets NASCAR for Promo

Sci-Fi Wire Predict Knight Rider's Success

Sci-Fi Wire are running a feature that takes a look at the new generation of science fiction and fantasy TV shows debuting this fall, and make a prediction of Knight Rider's success:

"Last spring, NBC aired a TV movie/backdoor pilot to revive the franchise that made David Hasselhoff a star. The network is following up with a full-fledged series about the iconic car known as K.I.T.T. and the humans who run him. Equipped with state-of-the art technology, artificial intelligence and the voice of Val Kilmer, K.I.T.T. is partnered with Justin Bruening as Mike Tracer, the estranged son of Hasselhoff's Michael Knight, who continues his father's legacy by fighting bad guys on the open road. The movie did well enough, so there may be an audience for this show. The new show runner, Las Vegas' Gary Scott Thompson, has revamped the series to amp up the action, and he's added a bunch of new characters. Plus, this is a title with some history -- but so was Bionic Woman, so that's no guarantee of ratings success. Odds of success: 5 to 1"

Sci-Fi Wire: Fall's Sci-Fi TV Hits -- And Misses

New TV Spot #2

NBC have aired a short TV spot showing what every Knight Rider fan has demanding: Turbo Boost!

K.I.T.T.: "How about a little Turbo Boost?"
Mike: "This isn't Grand Theft Auto IV, K.I.T.T."
K.I.T.T.: "You're right. I'm a lot more fun."



Well done to Knight Rider Online for the capture!

New TV Spot #1

NBC have promoted Knight Rider: The Series with another TV spot, featuring the first footage of K.I.T.T. transforming into Attack Mode.

"For 3 decades it's been an American Icon, and this Fall it'll be completely transformed..."



Well done to Knight Rider Online for the capture!

Jalopnik Drive The Knight 3000

Jalopnik.com are reporting at the 2008 Woodward Dream Cruise -- the largest one-day automotive event in the world -- and they have scored what has to be the best ride there:  They're cruising in the Knight 3000!

"Unlike most of those used in filming, this isn't a fancy-pantsified Mustang GT. Nope, it's a heavily-modified GT500KR, with light bar and all... It's got more horsepower than the run-of-the-mill King of the Road. If you happen to be cruising down Woodward, or sitting on the sidelines today — keep an eye out for a midnight black 'stang with the cobra on the front — one of our team will more than likely be behind the wheel."

They will be posting a review of the car on September 1st, but until then they have posted a gallery of the gorgeous car.



Jalopnik.com: Jalopnik Drives K.I.T.T. in Woodward Dream Cruise

Knight Rider: The Complete Series DVD Artwork

TVShowsonDVD.com have posted the box-art for the upcoming October 21st release of Knight Rider: The Complete Series on Region 1 DVD. It includes everything found on the earlier, individual season releases, but comes in a "Collectible K.I.T.T. Gift Box with Flashing Lights and Sound Chip."



The blurb from the back of the box:

Shift into high gear as all four seasons and 84 action-packed episodes of Knight Rider come together for the first time in one amazing collection! David Hasselhoff is back as charismatic crimefighter Michael Knight, the driver of the world's most dynamic, high-tech talking car, K.I.T.T.

As this brave duo take on criminals, crooks and those eager to exploit K.I.T.T.'s impressive technology for their own evil purposes, you'll be blown away by their explosive adventures that set the standard for all TV action series to come. With 24 discs tricked out with an impressive array of bonus features, it's one complete DVD trip you can't afford to miss!

TVShowsonDVD.com: Knight Rider: The Complete Series DVD Box Art

NBC Behind the Scenes

NBC have updated their Official Knight Rider page with another video: a two-minute behind the scenes look at the new series, with some soundbites from Gary Scott Thompson and Dave Andron. It features clips from the pilot movie and the series, plus some really cool animatics of K.I.T.T.'s transformations into Attack Mode and his F-150 disguise. Check it out:



NBC.com - Knight Rider Behind the Scenes

NBC Airs New TV Spot!

As we get closer to September 24th, NBC have aired another new TV spot for Knight Rider: The Series, and my friends over at Knight Rider Online have captured it:



"What can I say? K.I.T.T. Happens!"

Knight Rider Online: K.I.T.T. Happens - 20 Second Teaser

More on K.I.T.T.'s Gumball Experience

Reports about the Gumball Rally are starting to appear across the news websites, and The LA Times online blog have a good piece that captures the excitement, and ultimate disappointment, of Saturday night. They also run some quotes from Hasselhoff, who also "discussed his off-road adventures, including riding alongside rally cars filled with Russians and a Range Rover with 'Arab sheiks,'" and they spoke with George Fechter -- one of the K.I.T.T. drivers and the son of the man responsible for Hasselhoff's famous Night Rocker European music tour, who owns the $40,000 restored replica.

There also some photos and videos of the event.



LA Times - Knight Rider Car Breaks down in Hollywood

New NBC TV Spot

NBC have aired a new ten-second TV spot promoting Knight Rider: The Series. It opens with a close-up of K.I.T.T.'s iconic scanner, and we hear a newly-synthesized Val Kilmer voice over saying: "You May Call Me K.I.T.T."

Knight Rider Online captured it during the coverage for the Olympics:

The Gumball Finish Line - For K.I.T.T.

David arrived in Hollywood last night, but unfortunately it was without K.I.T.T. Sadly, the Knight 2000's Gumball Rally experience wasn't quite like old days: he broke down. Apparently they were also pulled over twice -- you'd think that the police would go easy on a car that saved the world so many times... Perhaps they just wanted to be able to say they gave Michael Knight a ticket!



Knight Rider Online have posted some photos of the event, and K.I.T.T.'s late appearance. Some members have also posted about their experiences in the forums:

Knight Rider Online - Gumball Photos

NBC Sneak Peek Special

Knight Rider fans Stateside can expect to see some behind-the-scenes footage and interviews from the new series when NBC airs The NBC Primetime Preview on several of its broadcast and online platforms from 30th August to 28th September. The 30-minute show, hosted by Chuck star Zachary Levi, will give viewers a sneak peek at the upcoming fall TV season, and will be offered to NBC's 232 TV stations; cable networks USA, SCI FI, Bravo, UniHD, Chiller, mun2, MSNBC, CNBC, Oxygen, Sleuth, NBC2Go; on-demand and broadband, as well as at nbc.com.

RedEye | Show Patrol: NBC Packing Fall TV Sneak Peek into Half Hour Special

Access Hollywood Get "First Look"

Access Hollywood have also posted video of their set visit and brief interview with Justin Bruening. Here we get another brief tour of the K.I.T.T.-Cave.

Access Hollywood - Knight Rider: First Look

Knight Rider Driving School

Justin Bruening recently attended the Ford High Performance Racing School in Tooele, Utah in preparation for filming, and Access Hollywood have a short behind-the-scenes clip.

Access Hollywood.com - Knight Rider Driving School

In the Knight Rider: Season One release, David Hasselhoff talked about his own similar experience -- he went out to the Saugus Speedway with stunt driver Jack Gill for a crash course in Knight Driving!

Thanks to Knight Rider Online for the pointer!

Gumball!

By now David is on the road, driving an original K.I.T.T. for the first time in 22 years! Regular video updates are being fed to his website www.davidhasselhoff.com, and I'm sure my friends over at Knight Rider Online will be updating with some photos!



And here he is at an old Knight Rider location:

Hasselhoff.com - Video Blog: San Francisco

Meanwhile, Knight Rider Online have been investigating the car that David is driving, and have some really cool before-and-after restoration pictures. Be sure to check them out!

Knight Rider Online - The Story Behind the Gumball 3000 K.I.T.T.

On This Day: 1982

Today is an important date in Knight Rider mythology: 26 years ago today police officer Michael Long was shot in the face at point blank range in the Nevada desert.



He was found by millionaire industrialist Wilton Knight, who hired the best doctors and plastic surgeons in the country to give Michael a new face, modelled on his estranged son Garthe. The result: Michael Knight, who looked a lot like David Hasselhoff!

And so, the story began...

Hasselhoff and K.I.T.T. Take Part in Gumball 3000!

Saturday sees the start of Gumball 3000, an epic 3000-mile, eight-day road rally from San Francisco to the Beijing Olympics. 120 amazing cars will make the trek driven by film stars, musicians, sports stars, the cast of Jackass, and most importantly of all... David Hasselhoff will be driving K.I.T.T.!

From San Francisco, the route incorporates overnight stops in Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas, with VIP parties each night. Upon reaching Las Vegas, all participants will be flown directly to Pyongyang, North Korea, to spend the night watching the incredible 'Mass Games' (their spectacular annual display of arts and sport) as part of a global "friendship" initiative.

Following the Mass Games and the "first ever" western music performance in Pyongyang promoting peace and friendship, all participants will be flown on to Hangzhou, China to be reunited with their vehicles. From there the Rally then heads north to Shanghai and Xuzhou, before crossing the finish line in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Saturday, August 16, just in time for the Gumballers to watch a week of Olympic finals.

Gumball3000 Website

Justin Bruening Talks New Knight Rider

KITTSite have started to roll out their interviews from the San Diego Comic Con, and have started with the human star of the show: Justin Bruening!

Bruening has long professed to be a fan of the Original Series, and got a chance to share what it meant to become Michael Knight: "It was the same feeling that I had when David Hasselhoff said it to me, except I got to express it this time," he said. "When I read the script of the first episode, I was like, 'Shut up! Am I really now? That's awesome!' And it makes sense. You can't have Knight Rider without Michael Knight." He says of the first episode, "It's kind of like the original [1982] pilot; it's a nice little origin story."

One of the major problems fans had with February's TV movie was the lack of any kind of interactivity with K.I.T.T., a view that Justin agrees with. "In the pilot, there were some really boring moments where we're just sitting in the car and K.I.T.T.'s driving and nothing's going on, so now what we've added is that my character always drives," he said. These issues have also been addressed by updating the cockpit with a new Heads-Up Display. "It's kind of like Minority Report. I can move files; I can view video files. At one point I move the speedometer up there so I can look at it. Everything is interactive. People can come up on a chat line and actually talk to me from headquarters [on there], and I think that's my favorite feature, because every week we'll get something new," he says.

What about the original K.I.T.T.? "I'd love to drive that," he says, "even if our car could transform into that, would be freakin' sweet."

KITTSite also took the opportunity to ask him a question that has fuelled much discussion on Knight Rider forums for years: is he a Bonnie or an April man? "Bonnie was the original, and then she got replaced with April, and then Bonnie came back, and they didn't explain anything in that," he explains. "And Sarah -- she's kind of like Bonnie a little bit. [Deanna and I] did a screen test and they had her come out in a mechanic's outfit, and I was like 'Now I get it. Now I understand why there's a girl!'"

KITTSite.com - Justin Bruening Interview

An Icon Reborn!

Using the "Icon Reborn" tagline used to promote February's TV movie, NBC have aired a new 30-second promo for the new series. This time we get to see a few more snippets from the opening episodes, including the popular transformation sequence. More Muscle. Bigger Missions. Bet your car can't do that!