Happy Birthday Michael Knight (Sr.)

Today is the "official" birthday of Michael Long, who became the first Michael Knight.



Born on January 9th, 1949 (according to his tombstone in the episode A Good Knight's Work, he turns 61 years old today.

Will we see him again? Time will tell...

Happy Birthday, Patricia McPherson!

Many Happy Returns to Patricia McPherson, the one and only Bonnie Barstow, who celebrates her birthday today! Knight Rider fans the world over will join the Knight Rider Archive in wishing her a great day!

Knight Rider trivia buffs will know that it was actually Bonnie's birthday three days ago (November 24th). Both character and actress share the same birthstone: Topaz. That's a kind of Topaz Connection.

Happy Birthday, Peter Parros!

Best wishes to Peter Parros (RC3), who celebrates his birthday today! On behalf of Knight Rider fans, the Knight Rider Archive sends Peter Many Happy Returns of the day!

Happy Birthday, Deanna Russo!

Many Happy Returns to Deanna Russo, who celebrates her birthday today! Deanna plays Sarah Graiman on the new series, and I'm sure that Knight Rider fans the world over will join the Knight Rider Archive in wishing her a great day!

Happy Birthday, Justin Bruening!

Many Happy Returns to Justin Bruening, who turns 30 today! Best wishes from Knight Rider fans around the world!

Tonight on Fiver - Knight Rider!

Tonight sees the debut of last year's Knight Rider TV movie at 8pm on Fiver!

"Sarah Graiman (Deanna Russo) is a 24-year old Ph.D candidate at Stanford University, following in her genius father Charles' (Bruce Davison) footsteps. But when men attempt to abduct her, Sarah receives a mysterious call from K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) warning her that he's a creation of Charles, who also invented the first K.I.T.T. 25 years ago -- and that her father is in serious danger.

"Sarah and K.I.T.T. track down her best friend from childhood, Mike Tracer (Justin Bruening), a 23-year-old ex-Army Ranger, whom Sarah hasn't seen since he left home at 18. Having served in Iraq, Mike is now jaded and lost and initially resistant. Eventually he agrees to help Sarah and the two set out to discover who's behind the attempt to procure K.I.T.T. and find Charles. Along the way, Carrie Rivai (Sydney Tamiia Poitier) plays the agile yet tough FBI agent who has a long-standing friendship with Charles and Sarah. Due to those ties, she is brought into the mix to help in the search."

Fiver is available as channel 176 on Sky, channel 152 on Virgin, and channel 30 on Freeview! A +1 service is available on Sky channel 177.

All UK fans, don't miss it!

Knight Rider Guest Star Passes Away

Actor Henry Gibson, who played Donald Crane in Voo Doo Knight -- the final episode of Knight Rider: The Original Series -- died on Monday at his home in Malibu after a short battle with cancer. He was 73.

Gibson was perhaps best known for his work on Laugh-In in the 1960s, where he delivered satirical poems while holding a giant flower, but his many TV appearances included spots on 77 Sunset Strip, The Beverly Hillbillies, Bewitched, The Dukes of Hazzard, MacGyver, Simon & Simon, Early Edition, and Glen Larson series Magnum PI, The Fall Guy, Cover Up, and Quincy ME. He portrayed Judge Clark Brown for five seasons on Boston Legal.

Movie appearances included The Long Goodbye, Wedding Crashers, The 'Burbs, Innerspace, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Switching Channels and The Blues Brothers. He voiced Wilbur in the 1973 version of Charlotte's Web.

Gibson was born James Bateman in Germantown, Pa, in 1935, and after serving in the Air Force and studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts he created his 'Henry Gibson' comic persona -- a pun on the name of playwright Henrik Ibsen.

Gibson is survived by three sons and two grandchildren.

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - I Love The Knight Life

Don't miss the series finale of Knight Rider at 8pm on the UK Sci-Fi Channel!

"Everyone needs a little help -- A plane carrying a 10 year-old federal witness has crashed or so it seems. Mike (Justin Bruening) tries to help the DEA Agent Jessie Renning, by informing her that the crash has been faked and that the drug dealer that killed his father has kidnapped the boy. Considering this information for a brief moment, she instead arrests him for hindering her investigation. Meanwhile, Sarah (Deanna Russo) tries to make a deal with the Deputy Director of National Intelligence for autonomy for the SSC's future cases. Running out of time, Mike and K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) need to find the boy before he is forced to tell where the drugs have been hidden and is killed."

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Be there!

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - Knight and the City

Don't miss the latest shadowy flight into the dangerous world of the Knight Rider at 8pm on the UK Sci-Fi Channel!

"Everyone needs a little help -- A plane carrying a 10 year-old federal witness has crashed or so it seems. Mike (Justin Bruening) tries to help the DEA Agent Jessie Renning, by informing her that the crash has been faked and that the drug dealer that killed his father has kidnapped the boy. Considering this information for a brief moment, she instead arrests him for hindering her investigation. Meanwhile, Sarah (Deanna Russo) tries to make a deal with the Deputy Director of National Intelligence for autonomy for the SSC's future cases. Running out of time, Mike and K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) need to find the boy before he is forced to tell where the drugs have been hidden and is killed."

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Be there!

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - Fly By Knight

Don't miss the latest shadowy flight into the dangerous world of the Knight Rider at 8pm on the UK Sci-Fi Channel!

"Everyone needs a little help -- A plane carrying a 10 year-old federal witness has crashed or so it seems. Mike (Justin Bruening) tries to help the DEA Agent Jessie Renning, by informing her that the crash has been faked and that the drug dealer that killed his father has kidnapped the boy. Considering this information for a brief moment, she instead arrests him for hindering her investigation. Meanwhile, Sarah (Deanna Russo) tries to make a deal with the Deputy Director of National Intelligence for autonomy for the SSC's future cases. Running out of time, Mike and K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) need to find the boy before he is forced to tell where the drugs have been hidden and is killed."

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Be there!

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - Fight Knight

Don't miss the latest shadowy flight into the dangerous world of the Knight Rider, tonight at 8pm on the UK Sci-Fi Channel!

"Down for the count -- Mike's (Justin Bruening) old Army friend recruits his help to investigate the suspicious death of a tough-as-nails drill sergeant Jack Burber. Mike learns that the drill sergeant was participating in an underground fight club for military veterans for extra money. In order to find out what really happened, Mike has to infiltrate the fight club and try not to get himself killed in the ring."

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Be there!

Knight Rider Guest Star Passes Away

John Quade, who played Dolan (a Comtron heavy) in the 1982 Knight Rider pilot, passed away on August 9th. He was 71.

Quade had a long and successful career as a character actor, appearing in several Clint Eastwood movies, such as Every Which Way But Loose, Any Which Way You Can, High Plains Drifter and The Outlaw Josey Wales. TV credits included guest spots on Kung Fu, The A-Team, The Rockford Files, CHiPs and Hill Street Blues. He was also a member of the 'Glen Larson stock company', appearing in several of the Larson's other offerings The Fall Guy, Buck Rogers, The Highwayman, Manimal, BJ and the Bear, and Quincy ME. He worked again with David Hasselhoff on Baywatch in 1990.

Most of Quade's characters were bad guys, but his wife Gwen Saunders said the reality was much different. "He was one of the nicest men you'd ever want to know, but he looked mean and nasty... He looked like he could do murder and mayhem at any moment, but he was a big teddy bear -- the kind that he just loved little kids, but they were always afraid of him."

Knight Rider fans will remember Quade fondly for his performance as Dolan, who laughed when Michael Knight warned him that he was "heavily trained in martial arts", and was later shocked after Michael and K.I.T.T. turbo-boosted through the side of his semi trailer.

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - Exit Light, Enter Knight

Don't miss the latest shadowy flight into the dangerous world of the Knight Rider at 8pm on the Sci-Fi Channel UK!

"Bait and switch -- Mike (Justin Bruening) jumps into the thick of a bank heist and tries to stop it, but instead becomes one of the robbers' hostages. Oddly, the robbers do not seem interested in the bank's money. Apparently, they have a specific plan that includes the safe deposit boxes and the husband of one of their hostages. Unable to communication with K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) and his team, Mike tries to enlist the help of the other hostages to stop the robbers from escaping. Unfortunately, one of the so-called hostages is one of the robbers, which makes Mike's job even more difficult."

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Be there!

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - Knight To King's Pawn

K.A.R.R.!

It's the one that we've all been waiting for... Knight To King's Pawn!

"Time to fight back -- Sarah is not coping well with her father's death and decides to leave town. Concerned, Mike goes looking for her and in return gets the answers he has been searching for about his past. Meanwhile, the NSA has decided to dismantle the SSC now that Dr. Graiman is dead and they can then move forward with K.I.T.T.'s nemesis K.A.R.R. With Torres' permission they take out K.I.T.T.'s chip that contains his personality and memories and place it in K.A.R.R. Upset by what has happened, Mike, Sarah, Billy and Zoe devise a plan to find where K.I.T.T. has been taken and get him up and running and destroy the evil K.A.R.R. once and for all."

It's on the Sci-Fi Channel UK at 8pm, and you do not want to miss this one!

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Knight Rider Mustang to be Auctioned!

Premiere Props and Ted Moser of Picture Car Warehouse are auctioning off over 100 vehicles from the Picture Car Warehouse collection as well as costumes and props from some of today's hottest films. Featured alongside cars from Transformers, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and The Fast and the Furious is the 1969 Mustang Mach 1 featured in the Fly By Knight episode of Knight Rider. The vehicle -- VIN #9R02M177034 -- features automatic transmission, a blue exterior with gold pony stripe and black hood scope, and a black interior. The custom paint job and interior were all redone for Knight Rider.

The auction will be held on Saturday, August 15th at Los Angeles Center Studios, at 450 S. Bixel Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017. A preview of the items takes place from 9am – 11am and the auction opens at 11am. Guests can take a tour of the car bay and see a presentation showcasing the cars up for auction along with a demonstration of special car tricks, like car flips!

Fans can also place live bids online at iCollector.com or Remotebidder.com with the preview beginning August 15th at 9am and the live auction starting at 11am. For more information, please visit Premiereprops.com or call (310) 322-PROP / (888) 761-PROP.

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - Day Turns Into Knight

Tonight we have Part Two of Knight Rider's big "reboot"!

"Mike and K.I.T.T. continue on their quest to stop a terrorist from detonating a nuclear weapon and killing the ambassador -- Mike (Justin Bruening) and K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) are now transporting a bomb in the trunk of the car, but in order for it not to explode they must stay above 100 miles-per-hour. Trying to come up with a plan to disable the bomb, they load K.I.T.T. onto the plane to buy some time and keep up their speed. Clinging to life, Rivai (Sydney Tamiia Poitier) manages to give a clue to find where the terrorist is hiding. Meanwhile, Sarah (Deanna Russo) receives some upsetting news about her dad. Bruce Davison, Yancey Arias and Paul Campbell star. Smith Cho recurs and Rick Hoffman and Richard Roundtree guest star."

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Watch as Day Turns Into Knight at 8pm on the UK Sci-Fi Channel!

Knight Rider 2008 - Now Available on DVD!

Fans of the Justin Bruening Knight Rider can now own the series on Region 1 DVD! The 4-disc set includes every episode from the first season, plus the feature-length pilot episode that reintroduced the show in February of last year.

"An iconic TV classic is back and better than ever in the reinvented, updated, and super-charged Knight Rider Season One. From executive producers Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity franchise), David Bartis (The O.C.) and Glen Larson (Battlestar Galactica) comes this action-packed series about the coolest car ever created, K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Three Thousand), that's equipped with artificial intelligence capable of hacking into any computer, the weapons system of a jet fighter, and incredible custom body technology that allows it to transform into other vehicles. Relive every Season One episode as an elite team of crime-fighters work with K.I.T.T. to track down elusive, high-tech villains. You won't want to miss this fast-paced ride to the wild side!"

Special features include featurettes The Icon Reborn, K.I.T.T. - From 2000 to 3000 and Knight Rider - Legacy, and the commentary track for the pilot episode with Justin Bruening, Deanna Russo and Executive Producer Dave Bartis seems to have been ported over from the earlier Suncoast release of the TV movie.

The collection runs at approximately 802 minutes, and the video is presented in anamorphic widescreen. Audio is English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, and English subtitles are also be provided.

Vote For Knight Rider at Sci-Fi!

Scifi.co.uk are running a poll where fans can vote for their favourite show on the channel -- and Knight Rider is one of them. Show your support for Mike and K.I.T.T. and head on over there to vote!

At the time of writing, Knight Rider is the favourite Sci-Fi Channel show with viewers, beating the likes of Dollhouse, Heroes, and A Town Called Eureka with 26% of the vote!

SciFi.co.uk - Vote For Your Favourite Sci Fi Show

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - Don't Stop the Knight

Tonight it's all change for Knight Rider.

"Mike and K.I.T.T. try to rescue a kidnapped foreign ambassador from a terrorist in time for peace talks -- Mike and K.I.T.T. are sent on an endless string of mini-missions by a crazy terrorist in exchange to keep Ambassador Olara Kumali (guest star Vanessa Williams) alive, but they soon realize that they are part of a bigger plan. Trying to outsmart the terrorist, Rivai and a team of FBI agents find themselves in an explosive situation. Meanwhile, Sarah and Dr. Graiman try to fix a sick robot. Yancey Arias and Paul Campbell star. Smith Cho recurs and Rick Hoffman guest stars."

This is Part One of the pivotal story arc that sends the show back to its roots, and the beginning of the end for three of the series' co-stars.

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Don't Stop The Knight, Sci-Fi Channel UK, 8pm. Don't miss it!

Happy Birthday, David Hasselhoff!

Many Happy Returns to David Hasselhoff, who celebrates his birthday today!

David is probably best-known to most of Knight Rider's current audience as a judge on America's Got Talent, but to children of the '80s, he was Michael Knight (and his evil twin Garthe) in Knight Rider: The Original Series.

On behalf of Knight Rider fans around the world, The Knight Rider Archive sends David best wishes for the day. To see how Michael Knight celebrated his birthday in 1985, click here!

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - Knight Fever

Be there for tonight's Knight Rider episode, Knight Fever, on the UK Sci-Fi Channel at 8pm!

"K.I.T.T. may have met his match when he falls victim to a destructive computer virus -– Mike (Justin Bruening) must stop the spread of a computer virus that threatens a total global meltdown. The job gets much harder when K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) is infected. Meanwhile, Mike’s jealousy begins to show when Sarah (Deanna Russo) reconnects with an old flame (guest star Jeffrey Pierce, The Nine), who may be the key to solving the latest mission. Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Paul Campbell, Yancey Arias and Bruce Davison star. Smith Cho recurs."

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Don't miss it!

K.I.T.T. and Michael (Jackson)

Tonight sees the public memorial of "King of Pop" Michael Jackson, who posed with one of the K.I.T.T. cars for a photoshoot in 1984.



Jackson has other connections with the show: his song Torture (performed while part of The Jacksons) was featured in Knight of the Drones and Dead of Knight, and he was name-checked in two episodes: Circus Knights (Terry Major, played by Michelle NiCastro, talks about the struggle of keeping her circus alive in "a world of pay TV, satellite dishes and Michael Jackson concerts") and Junk Yard Dog (where K.I.T.T. asks, "Can Michael Jackson moonwalk?").

An unfilmed script, Girls' Knight Out by Richard Okie, featured yet another reference to Jackson: Michael and Bonnie are dancing at a nightclub, and Michael makes an elaborate dance move. Bonnie laughs, saying "Don't tell me -- you've been taking lessons from Michael Jackson." Michael replies, "No way... Michael Jackson's been taking them from Michael Knight."

Watch Deanna Russo's New Web Series!

Deanna Russo has been keeping busy since Knight Rider was cancelled... her latest project has just made its debut online! Called Real Life With Married People, it's a comedy web series created by Celia Finkelstein and Destin Berthelot, and directed by Deanna.

The first episode, entitled Game Night, is online now. More info can be found at RealLifeWithMarriedPeople.com, where you can watch the episodes, learn about the show, the cast and the crew, and see behind-the-scenes photos!

Be sure to check back for updates on the other cast members of Knight Rider!

Real Life With Married People

YouTube.com - Real Life With Married People: Game Night

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - Knight of the Zodiac

Be there for tonight's Knight Rider episode, Knight of the Zodiac at 8pm on the UK's Sci-Fi Channel!

"Mike, K.I.T.T. and Billy head to Vegas to take on a money laundering ring -- Mike (Justin Bruening) goes undercover in Vegas to bust a money laundering operation. Billy (Paul Campbell) joins Mike and K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) on the mission, only to spark a romantic adventure of his own. Meanwhile, Dr. Graiman (Bruce Davison) locks horns with an old rival and former flame, who comes to assess how "green" the K.I.T.T. Cave is. Deanna Russo, Sydney Tamiia Poitier and Bruce Davison star. Smith Cho recurs."

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Don't miss it!

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - Three Hours of KR

Be there for three hours of Knight Rider from 6 pm on the UK Sci-Fi Channel! First up is a repeat of the first two episodes -- A Knight in Shining Armor and Journey to the End of the Knight -- followed by the latest episode I Wanna Rock and Roll All Knight:

"A criminal couple with congressional ties threatens to reveal the secrets of Knight Industries -- Knight Industries is hot on the trail of a Bonnie & Clyde-esque criminal couple, only to discover their true identities have a serious impact on a national congressional race. As the mission unfolds, Mike (Justin Bruening) and K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) are forced into action to save Agent Rivai (Sydney Tamiia Poitier). Deanna Russo, Paul Campbell, Yancey Arias and Bruce Davison star. Smith Cho recurs."

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Don't miss it!

Happy Birthday, Bruce Davison!

Many Happy Returns to actor Bruce Davison, who celebrates his birthday today!

Bruce played Dr. Charles Graiman -- creator of the Knight 3000 -- in 2008's Knight Rider pilot movie and first 12 episodes. He turns 63 today. This site sends best wishes from Knight Rider fans around the world.

You can read more about Bruce at his page here.

New Knight Rider on iTunes (UK)

New Knight Rider (2008) has been made available for download on the UK's iTunes store! Fans can buy each episode for £2.49 in either standard definition or HD, with Dolby 5.1 surround sound audio. At the time of writing, the first six episodes are available (in sync with the Sci-Fi Channel broadcasts), and the first episode A Knight In Shining Armor is ranked #8 in the Top 10 TV Episodes!

iTunes Store - Knight Rider 2008

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - Knight of the Living Dead

Be there for tonight's Halloween-themed episode, Knight of the Living Dead, at 8 pm on the UK Sci-Fi Channel!

"Trick or Treat -– Halloween turns deadly when a tech is murdered inside Knight Industries headquarters -- An infiltrator murders a tech inside Knight Industries headquarters and the team must find them before they kill again. Meanwhile, Mike (Justin Bruening) and Sarah (Deanna Russo) are stuck on a flight during a storm and must try to stop K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) before he self-destructs. Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Paul Campbell, Yancey Arias and Bruce Davison star. Smith Cho recurs."

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Don't miss it!

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - Knight of the Hunter

Be there for the latest adventure of Mike and K.I.T.T. on the UK Sci-Fi Channel... Knight of the Hunter, tonight at 8 pm!

"Mike and K.I.T.T. must stop a rogue military officer before he blows up a dam -– Mike (Justin Bruening) goes undercover as a Marine gone AWOL to track down a rogue military officer. A beautiful undercover agent from across the pond joins Mike to help him solve the crime. Back at the SSC, Billy (Paul Campbell) undergoes some combat training of his own with the help of Zoe (Smith Cho). Deanna Russo and Yancey Arias also star. K.I.T.T. is voiced by Val Kilmer."

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Don't miss it!

Happy Birthday, Rebecca Holden!

Many Happy Returns to Rebecca Holden, who celebrates her birthday today!

Rebecca played resident cybertechnician April Curtis in the second season of Knight Rider: The Original Series. I'm sure Knight Rider fans the world over will join the Knight Rider Archive in wishing her a great day!

You can find plenty of information and pictures of Rebecca at her cast page.

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - A Hard Day's Knight

Don't miss tonight's Knight Rider episode, A Hard Day's Knight, at 8 pm on the UK Sci-Fi Channel!

"When Mike (Justin Bruening) is lethally poisoned, he must fake the assassination of a billionaire tech mogul in order to secure the antidote. K.I.T.T. is voiced by Val Kilmer. Deanna Russo, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Paul Campbell and Yancey Arias star. Smith Cho recurs."

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Don't miss it!

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - Knight of the Iguana

Don't miss tonight's Knight Rider episode, Knight of the Iguana, at 8 pm on the UK's Sci-Fi Channel!

"Mike's new mission sends him and K.I.T.T. south of the border with an unlikely new partner -– Mike (Justin Bruening) and Zoe (Smith Cho) go undercover in Baja as a honeymooning surfer couple in order to stop terrorist weapons from getting into the States. Sarah (Deanna Russo) and Billy (Paul Campbell) are brought into the mix and they quickly find the mission taking an unusual turn. K.I.T.T. is voiced by Val Kilmer. Bruce Davison and Yancey Arias also star."

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Don't miss it!

K.I.T.T. in LEGO

Firas Abu-Jaber, a member of MOCPages.com (a community for LEGO enthusiasts), has a gallery of his highly-detailed personal creations built with the toy bricks, including the original K.I.T.T.!

In the series of photos, the car performs feats from the TV show such as Ski Mode and Turbo Boost. Actual functional elements to the model include opening doors, trunk, sunroof and headlights, and even an update to the car with the "C-Mode" feature added in the fourth season!

Fans of the new series can check out Firas' Shelby GT500. Firas considers that car to be the best of his LEGO creations... although this one is not a Knight Industries version.

MOCPages: Knight Industries 2000 (K.I.T.T.)

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - Journey to the End of the Knight

Don't miss tonight's Knight Rider episode, Journey to the End of the Knight, at 8 pm on the UK Sci-Fi Channel!

"Mike must infiltrate a racing gang with the help of an old Army buddy -- Mike (Justin Bruening) reunites with a former Army buddy (guest star Johnny Messner, The O.C.) to bring down a drag racing gang that is smuggling weapons overseas. Sarah (Deanna Russo) joins Mike and K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) on this dangerous undercover mission, much to her father's (Bruce Davison) dismay. Paul Campbell and Yancey Arias star. Smith Cho recurs."

Don't miss it!

Knight Rider Premiere a Huge Hit in the UK

The UK Sci-Fi Channel have announced that last night's season premiere of A Knight In Shining Armor was a huge ratings winner, with Knight Rider pulling in record numbers for the second week in a row and improving on the ratings of the 2-hour pilot. This news comes less than a day after NBC has pulled the plug on a second season... could the Sci-Fi Channel provide Knight Rider with a lifeline? The press release follows:

London, 20 May 2009: NBC Universal Global Networks today celebrates another ratings win for its Sci-Fi channel in the UK. First run dramas Knight Rider and Dollhouse together attracted over 700,000 viewers to make Sci-Fi the #1 pay-TV broadcaster during the highly competitive 8pm - 10pm timeslot.

Last week saw the premiere of the feature-length Knight Rider pilot -- based on the 1980s original series -- deliver Sci Fi's best series ratings since the first run of Heroes in 2007 (0.69 TVR). The second, 60 minute-long episode debuted last night at 8pm topped these results with a 0.93 TVR*, up 35% on the premiere. The results further cement Knight Rider's position as the second best performing series on Sci Fi in over eight years.

The show was immediately followed by the highly-anticipated premiere of Dollhouse at 9pm, a new fantasy drama from Buffy and Angel creator Joss Whedon. The show premiere generated an impressive 0.72 TVR* - a 331% uplift on the channel's slot TVR performance for the year to date.

"We've been continuously investing in new acquisitions for Sci Fi and believed that we were onto a winner by pairing up brand new Knight Rider with Dollhouse," commented Jon Farrar, Programming Director (UK), NBC Universal Global Networks. "Last night's ratings are testimony to the success of our acquisitions and programming strategy which, for Sci Fi, centres around iconic titles with exceptional production values such as Knight Rider and Dollhouse."

Both series will continue to premiere back-to-back every Tuesday at 8pm and 9pm respectively, on Sci Fi and Sci Fi HD.



*Source: BARB/TNS Live data + VOSDAL based on exact transmission times 8pm-10pm includes timeshift viewing (8pm - 10pm). All data is for Adults in M/C Homes except for # comparison with multi-channel stations in same slot based on viewing % amongst Ads in Dig Cab/Sat Homes. Programme comparison is based on live performances.

Sci-Fi.co.uk - Sci-Fi Celebrates Second Week of Hit Ratings

Knight Rider Cancelled

It's the news that Knight Rider fans around the world were dreading... but it's not unexpected. The latest revival of the Knight Rider concept that started last year does not appear in NBC's 2009-2010 Fall Schedule, meaning it will not be back for a second season.

The news comes just as the series has proved popular on the UK Sci-Fi Channel along with other networks around Europe, and as Universal Home Video prepare to release the series on DVD in Region 1 and Region 2.

Fans that are passionate about the show are urged to join Knight Rider Online's campaign for Knight Rider: Season 2. Your signature on the petition, one letter or one email to the network could make a difference. And, after all, that is what Knight Rider has always been about.

Come what may, the Knight Rider Archive sends its best wishes to all of the cast and crew responsible for bringing KR back to TV screens around the world. Thanks for the ride.

Knight Rider: Season 1 DVD Box Art (Region 1)

Yesterday came the announcement that Knight Rider (2008) was coming to DVD in the US on 28th July, 2009. Now TVShowsonDVD.com have been provided with box art for the upcoming collection, which you can see below!



TVShowsonDVD.com - Official Studio Packaging Picture for the 2008 Remake Series

Knight Rider Season 1 on Region 1 DVD Announced!

Word reached the Archive last Friday that UK fans can expect Knight Rider: Season 1 on DVD in September -- now it looks like the US is going to beat them to it! TVShowsonDVD.com have got the scoop on the release date of the Region 1 set, as Universal Home Video have announced that it will retail from 28th July, 2009!

Special features seem to be identical to the Region 2 version, including featurettes The Icon Reborn, K.I.T.T. - From 2000 to 3000 and Knight Rider - Legacy, and the commentary track for the pilot episode with Justin Bruening, Deanna Russo and Executive Producer Dave Bartis seems to have been ported over from the earlier Suncoast release of the TV movie. The collection will be a 4-DVD set running approximately 802 minutes, presented in anamorphic widescreen video. Audio is English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, and English subtitles will also be provided.

Package art isn't available yet, but TVShowsonDVD have revealed the studio description of this release:

"An iconic TV classic is back and better than ever in the reinvented, updated, and super-charged Knight Rider Season One. From executive producers Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity franchise), David Bartis (The O.C.) and Glen Larson (Battlestar Galactica) comes this action-packed series about the coolest car ever created, K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Three Thousand), that's equipped with artificial intelligence capable of hacking into any computer, the weapons system of a jet fighter, and incredible custom body technology that allows it to transform into other vehicles. Relive every Season One episode as an elite team of crime-fighters work with K.I.T.T. to track down elusive, high-tech villains. You won't want to miss this fast-paced ride to the wild side!"

TVShowsonDVD.com - Knight Rider 2008 Season 1 DVD Announcement

Tonight on Sci-Fi UK - A Knight In Shining Armor

Buckle up as the UK's Sci-Fi Channel brings Knight Rider to British TV screens! Tonight at 8 pm, Knight in Shining Armor:

"In the series premiere, Mike's new mission brings him face-to-face with people from a past he does not remember -– Mike (Justin Bruening) and K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) are assigned a seemingly easy package delivery –- until they realize the package is actually a man with vital top secret code decryption built into his DNA. The mission gets complicated when the enemies, including a mysterious woman (guest star Paula Garces, The Shield), seem to know a great deal about Mike and a past he can’t recall."

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin. The show is also available in HD.

Don't miss it!

KnightCon 2009 is Coming...

Knightcon UK -- the only event in the UK to celebrate Knight Rider -- is coming!

Once again they have lots of things in store, from K.I.T.T. replicas on display with free show-and-shine and trophies, memorabilia, screen-used props, raffles, a K.I.T.T. replica parts auction from the top vendors around the world, a screening of the now-famous KnightCon DVD and lots more fun and suprises with details to follow.

If anyone has a K.I.T.T., a Firebird or any other American or TV car, they can be entered in the event by contacting knightconuk@hotmail.co.uk.

Region 2 Knight Rider: Season 1 DVDs Announced!

Universal Playback are set to release Knight Rider (2008): Season 1 on Region 2 DVD on 14th September, 2009! The 4-disc set will include the pilot movie and all 17 episodes, plus an array of bonus content! Features currently listed are episode commentaries, The Icon Reborn, K.I.T.T. - From 2000 To 3000, Knight Rider: Legacy and a Gag Reel -- but at this early stage these may be subject to change.

The collection has a RRP of £34.99, but discounts can be found online, and it's available for pre-order from various outlets, including:

Universal Playback: Knight Rider 2008 - Season 1 DVD

Amazon.co.uk: Knight Rider 2008 - Season 1 DVD

Play.com: Knight Rider 2008 - Season 1 DVD

New TV Spot and Info

Knight Rider was a big hit on the Sci-Fi Channel, thanks in no small part to their advertising. If you missed the UK premiere of the pilot movie, the channel is presenting encores -- 10pm tonight, 5pm on Saturday and 7pm on Sunday, with the series commencing at 8pm on Tuesday.

Sci-Fi is available as channel 129 on Sky, and channel 135 on Virgin.

New Knight Rider Book!

A brand new book dedicated to the original Knight Rider series, plus Knight Rider 2000 and NBC's most recent spin-off is being released in Europe! The 344-page guide to KR (in the German language) has been licensed by NBC Universal Television distribution.

The book, written by Elmar A. Schulte, also contains a preface by original composer Stu Phillips, character and episode guides, and information about stunts and special effects for both series.

Unfortunately for international fans, no orders will be accepted or fulfilled outside of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is available from various online outlets in Germany for 34,90 Euros.

For more information visit:
The 'Das Knight Rider Buch' Website

New Knight Rider a Hit on UK Sci-Fi Channel!

The UK Sci-Fi Channel have announced that last night's premiere of the 2008 Knight Rider revival was a huge ratings winner. The press release follows:

London, 13 May 2009: NBC Universal Global Networks today reveals that the premiere of brand new Knight Rider has delivered its SCI FI channel's best series ratings since the first run of Heroes in 2007. Over half a million viewers tuned in for the high-octane, feature-length pilot which guest starred David Hasselhoff.

The premiere made SCI FI the #1 non-terrestrial entertainment channel amongst all adults in digital cable and satellite homes.

SCI FI also enjoyed a steep uplift amongst young adults, with 33% of viewers aged 16 - 34, up nearly 60% on the channel's average. Surprisingly, women aged 16 - 24 outnumbered their male counterparts in the same age group by 6 share points, proving that cars aren't just for the boys.

Jon Farrar, Programming Director (UK), NBC Universal Global Networks commented, "We've always said that the return of K.I.T.T. is an historic TV moment and the viewers have clearly agreed with us. We're thrilled with the ratings and really proud to bring such an iconic series back to life on the SCI FI channel. We've introduced the show to a whole new age group... a generation of young viewers can finally understand why us over 35s get so excited about a talking car."

The series is based on the 1980s vehicle which helped drive actor David Hasselhoff to worldwide fame, but has been completely updated for the 21st century audience. K.I.T.T. is now voiced by actor Val Kilmer and boasts state of the art weaponry, plus the ability to transform or change colour. At the wheel is Justin Bruening, an actor new to UK audiences but a well-established heart-throb in the USA after starring in soap opera All My Children. Bruening plays Mike Traceur, the son of original character Michael Knight.

The series will continue to premiere on SCI FI every Tuesday at 8pm and is also available in high definition on SCI FI HD (available on the Sky platform). Following the feature-length pilot last night, Knight Rider will continue in one hour instalments and go back-to-back with the UK premiere of Dollhouse, another highly anticipated fantasy from Buffy creator Joss Whedon, which starts next Tuesday 19 May at 9pm.

Sci-Fi Channel - Knight Rider is Ratings Winner for Sci-Fi

Knight Rider Guest Star Passes Away

Word has reached this site that Victor Millan -- real name Joseph Brown -- passed away last month aged 89.

A well-known character actor, he was the Dean of Theater Arts at Santa Monica College and appeared in over 80 films including cinema classics Giant and Touch of Evil, and TV shows such as The Streets of San Francisco, The Fugitive, Wanted: Dead or Alive, and Bonanza.

Knight Rider fans will remember him as Latin-American President Eduardo Casafranca -- the target for an assassin -- in the first season episode Forget Me Not.

Tonight on UK Sci-Fi - Knight Rider!

Tonight sees the long-awaited UK premiere of last year's new Knight Rider series at 8pm on The Sci-Fi Channel!

"Sarah Graiman (Deanna Russo) is a 24-year old Ph.D candidate at Stanford University, following in her genius father Charles' (Bruce Davison) footsteps. But when men attempt to abduct her, Sarah receives a mysterious call from K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) warning her that he's a creation of Charles, who also invented the first K.I.T.T. 25 years ago -- and that her father is in serious danger.

"Sarah and K.I.T.T. track down her best friend from childhood, Mike Tracer (Justin Bruening), a 23-year-old ex-Army Ranger, whom Sarah hasn't seen since he left home at 18. Having served in Iraq, Mike is now jaded and lost and initially resistant. Eventually he agrees to help Sarah and the two set out to discover who's behind the attempt to procure K.I.T.T. and find Charles. Along the way, Carrie Rivai (Sydney Tamiia Poitier) plays the agile yet tough FBI agent who has a long-standing friendship with Charles and Sarah. Due to those ties, she is brought into the mix to help in the search."

All UK fans, don't miss it!

K.I.T.T. Makes MSN's Top TV Tech

MSN have included the Knight Industries Two Thousand in their list of TV's Top Technology. "Between the swoosh of red light on the grille to the repartee with Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff), K.I.T.T. made a whole generation grow up wanting a talking car," they write.

"K.I.T.T. (short for Knight Industries Two Thousand) was clever enough to drive at high speeds while also bantering with the Hoff in a British accent, and could even be contacted through a modified wristwatch. The car’s Turbo Boost came in handy for slow-mo jumps over obstacles and its 300mph speed was also fairly useful. In this case the car was very much the star."

MSN UK - TV's Top Tech Gallery

New Knight Rider Comes to UK Sci Fi Channel!

The long-awaited UK debut of 2008's Knight Rider series has finally been announced! The series premieres on the SCI FI channel this May, and will also available in HD!

Sci Fi's press release follows:

"The iconic 1980s television classic that became a high-speed smash hit comes roaring back to life with this updated, high-octane action series! The new K.I.T.T. design is better than ever! Equipped with a supercomputer capable of hacking almost any system, a nanotechnology that allows it to change shape and colour, and an artificial intelligence that makes it the ideal crime-fighting partner, K.I.T.T. is the coolest ride on the planet!

"Behind the wheel is sexy young lead character Mike Tracer and distracting Mike from his crime-fighting is Sarah Graiman and let's just say they have 'history'! Starring Justin Bruening, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Bruce Davison, with Val Kilmer as the voice of K.I.T.T."

Sci Fi also have a mini-site dedicated to the show, where you can access some video interviews, galleries, forums, and an episode guide! Be sure to check it out at:

Sci Fi Channel (UK) - Knight Rider

Don't miss it!

Amazon Taking Pre-Orders on New Series DVD!

TVShowsonDVD.com report that Amazon.com are taking pre-orders for Knight Rider: Season 1 on DVD!

The title still hasn't been officially announced by Universal Studios Home Entertainment, and there isn't a release date yet, so perhaps some caution is necessary. Amazon are listing prices though, showing a SRP of $59.98, but making the set available at a discounted $41.99. No cover art is available -- the above image is being used by Amazon, but is actually a promotional ad for the series' debut on NBC.

Amazon.com - Knight Rider (New): Season 1

TVShowsonDVD.com - Knight Rider DVD news: Pre-Order the 2008 Knight Rider series from Amazon

NBC Streams Original Series: Season 1!

As of Wednesday, NBC.com have started streaming the Complete First Season of Knight Rider: The Original Series, starring David Hasselhoff. Unfortunately for fans around the world, the episodes are only available for Stateside viewers.

Check them out at:

NBC.com - Knight Rider: The Original Series

Remembering Edward Mulhare

Today would have been Edward Mulhare's 86th birthday.

The actor, who starred in Knight Rider: The Original Series as Michael Knight's mentor Devon Miles, passed away in 1997 at the age of 74. Edward is still in the thoughts of Knight Rider fans around the world.

You can read more about Edward, including biographical and filmography information, at his cast page.

Tonight... Knight Rider: I Love The Knight Life

Tonight: The Season (and perhaps the Series') Finale!

Don't miss the latest shadowy flight into the dangerous world of the Knight Rider at 8/7c on NBC!

"Stronger than is humanly possible -- Mike (Justin Bruening) and K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) are trying to track down a stolen serum that maximizes the recipient's physicality before it gets into the wrong hands. With the help of the lab's research assistant, Billy (Paul Campbell) learns some information about the serum that will help Mike when he takes on the now powerful thief. Meanwhile, Sarah (Deanna Russo) is overwhelmed with her new duties and quickly learns how much work it will take to reinstitute the Foundataion for Law and Government. Smith Cho stars. Kevin Alejandro and Mini Anden guest star."

Be there!

Knight Writers Think Small

This week it's Matt Pyken contributing to NBC's Official Knight Writers Blog, and he talks about his episode Knight And The City... an episode that was created in the spirit of The Original Series.

"As a group -- the writers, the studio, the network -- all agreed that the original KR formula – one man and one car taking on a bad guy, saving a pretty girl, and making things right was a pretty sweet template for a series," Pyken writes. "When the 're-boot' was contemplated, I immediately decided, with deliberate intent, to tell small stories. By small I mean that Mike and K.I.T.T. don’t need to save the world every week. By small I mean the stories don’t always have to come to the SSC through some quasi-governmental source. By small I mean we see some kick-ass action, unravel a mystery, have a few laughs along the way, and by the end of the episode Mike and K.I.T.T. make a couple of lives a little better, and straighten out their own karma a little in the process."

But it wasn't all plain sailing. Pyken's episode was met with a lot of internal resistance, "but to GST’s credit, it made it to air as the penultimate episode of Season 1."

Pyken is pleased with the finished result. "If there is a second season," he says, "these are the kinds of stories I’d like to tell."

Knight Writers Blog: Think Small

Knight And The City Highlights!

NBC's Official Knight Rider Website has posted highlights from Wednesday night's episode, Knight And The City. In this clip, Mike and K.I.T.T. deal with a tough crowd. It's only available to the Knight Rider fans in the USA, but if you can, check it out!



NBC.com: Knight And The City Highlights

On This Day: 19th February, 1984

Today sees the anniversary of another classic Knight Rider show, Goliath Returns. Originally airing as a movie-of-the-week, it was the second of three feature-length adventures of the 1983-84 season.

Garthe Knight escapes from prison with the aid of Goliath, rebuilt and now completely invulnerable thanks to the efforts of Adrianne St. Clair, who has also evaded justice. Together they set about kidnapping a prominent scientist in order to sell him to a foreign power, but not before Garthe has also kidnapped Devon and April to force a final confrontation with Michael and K.I.T.T.

It's a fan-favourite, and rightfully so. Written during a long lunch at the Hamburger Hamlet in Hollywood by producers and staff writers Robert Foster, Robert W. Gilmer, Janis Hendler and Tom Greene, Goliath Returns was the first show to bring back successful badguys to challenge Michael and K.I.T.T.

Garthe and Goliath previously appeared in the second season premiere Goliath. Their accomplice, Adrianne St. Clair, previously crossed paths with Michael and K.I.T.T. in the episode Soul Survivor -- although for that episode she was credited as 'Adrianne Margeaux'; the name-change isn't explained, and she is referred to as 'Margeaux' in the episode.

If you haven't seen it, it comes highly recommended and is available on DVD as part of Knight Rider: Season 2.

Tonight... Knight Rider: Knight and the City

Don't miss tonight's latest adventure for Michael and K.I.T.T. at 8/7c on NBC!

"Nothing like a little Zen in your life to help you relax -- Mike (Justin Bruening) decides to visit one of his old haunts, Sonny's bar, during his decompression time. When Mike arrives, he notices that the crowd has changed for the worse. After learning of Sonny's death in a car accident, Mike is pleased to hear that his daughter Julie is now running the bar. He offers to lend a hand in order to bring the bar back to its original glory. Meanwhile, Mike gets suspicious when he hears of the recent fires at the bar and discovers that someone has secretly being trying to get Julie to sell the place."

Be there!

On This Day: 17th February 2008

It's already a year since Knight Rider returned to NBC as a movie-of-the-week. This feature-length pilot was the fourth attempt to revive the Knight Rider concept, after two earlier TV movies (Knight Rider 2000, Knight Rider 2010) and a syndicated series (Team Knight Rider).

The story focused on Sarah Graiman (Deanna Russo), a 24-year old Ph.D candidate at Stanford University, who was following in her genius father Charles' (Bruce Davison) footsteps. But when men attempt to abduct her, Sarah receives a mysterious call from K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) warning her that he's a creation of Charles, who also invented the first K.I.T.T. 25 years ago -- and that her father is in serious danger.

Sarah and K.I.T.T. track down her best friend from childhood, Mike Tracer (Justin Bruening), a 23-year-old ex-Army Ranger, whom Sarah hasn't seen since he left home at 18. Having served in Iraq, Mike is now jaded and lost and initially resistant. Eventually he agrees to help Sarah and the two set out to discover who's behind the attempt to procure K.I.T.T. and find Charles. Along the way, Carrie Rivai (Sydney Tamiia Poitier) plays the agile yet tough FBI agent who has a long- standing friendship with Charles and Sarah. Due to those ties, she is brought into the mix to help in the search.

Unsurprisingly, the movie didn't set the world alight critically, but it did well enough in the ratings for NBC to commission a full season of new Knight Rider adventures.

Knight Light App For iPhone

i-Doodz have unveiled a brand new app for the iPhone and iPod Touch, which is available for download at the iTunes Store for £0.59p!

Knight Light turns your iPhone or iPod Touch into the hood-mounted scanner of K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider: The Original Series, complete with scanner sound effects!

The app is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch, and requires iPhone 2.2 Software Update.

Valentine's... Knight!

Treat that special someone in your life to a Knight Rider themed E-card, courtesy of NBC! They have a selection of six available, featuring all the cast members of the show with a humourous message ("You can check under my hood anytime"; "You get my heart racing"; "My work is classified. My feelings for you are not").

Notes From The Underground: I Can't Win

Billy has updated his Notes From The Underground Blog, and reveals the results of his recent survey -- is 'sandwich' funnier than 'boat'? More importantly, he thanks readers for the contribution of help with the lip-reading video last night.

This week he signs off with a special message:

"I don't usually make such appeals, but if there's a show you like to watch that is 'on the bubble' for renewal, tune in and spread the word. Get your friends to watch too. And your family. And your friends' family. And even some people you don't really like. The people who work on those shows will be greatly appreciative... I assume."

Notes From The Underground: I Can't Win

Knight Writers Blog on Fly By Knight!

Dave Andron offers insight into the creative process behind his episode Fly By Knight over at NBC's Official Knight Writers Blog.

"Anytime I sit down to write anything, that initial idea is always the hardest part," he writes. "Especially in the middle of a season of television, when you’ve just wrapped shooting on your last episode, so you’re already kind of beat up and exhausted and you get into the office the next morning and sit down at your desk and there’s this eerie calm as you set up your laptop and stare at that blank screen and think, 'Oh man, I am so screwed…'

"But then, you have a coffee and bang your head against the wall for a while and talk to your fellow writers and somehow you get an idea: What if a plane went missing? Okay, that’s something. And what if Kitt, for the first time since we started the show, takes the initiative and gets Mike up at four in the morning to investigate instead of the other way around? That could be fun. And what if when Mike and Kitt arrive at the spot where the transponder failed, the plane had crashed! Cool. But then what? Okay, maybe the plane crash isn’t a real plane crash, maybe it’s been faked! But why would anyone fake a plane crash…?

"And onwards and onwards until hopefully you’ve got a story that doesn’t suck."

Fly By Knight contains Andron's favourite K.I.T.T. material so far. "What else can I tell you? I think, looking back at those first moments of panic, this episode turned out kinda great."

Knight Writers Blog: Fly By Knight

Fly By Knight Highlights!

NBC's Official Knight Rider Website has posted highlights from last night's episode, Fly By Knight. In this clip, K.I.T.T. is wanted by the law and disguises himself. It's only available to the Knight Rider fans in the USA, but if you can, check it out!



NBC.com: Fly By Knight Highlights

Notes From The Underground: Any Lip-Readers...?

Billy is asking for help via his Notes From The Underground Blog. He and the team are trying to find a young boy that has been kidnapped:

Click on the picture to be taken to F.L.A.G.'s Surveillance section. "Check out the last three files," Billy writes. "We're trying to figure out where his abductors are taking him, and we think a clue is in those videos. These videos all come from the same gas station.

"In the one marked "Abduction/Shooting," the kid says something to the security camera, but there's no audio. I tried to figure it out myself, but all I got was a recipe for making coconut brownies, and I'm guessing that's not what he's shouting as he's been carried away by a gun wielding man."

If you're able to help, head on over straight away and let him know at:

Notes From The Underground: Any Lip-Readers Out There?

And don't forget to watch the episode! It's Fly By Knight, tonight on NBC at 8/7c!

Tonight... Knight Rider: Fly By Knight

Don't miss the latest shadowy flight into the dangerous world of the Knight Rider at 8/7c on NBC!

"Everyone needs a little help -- A plane carrying a 10 year-old federal witness has crashed or so it seems. Mike (Justin Bruening) tries to help the DEA Agent Jessie Renning, by informing her that the crash has been faked and that the drug dealer that killed his father has kidnapped the boy. Considering this information for a brief moment, she instead arrests him for hindering her investigation. Meanwhile, Sarah (Deanna Russo) tries to make a deal with the Deputy Director of National Intelligence for autonomy for the SSC's future cases. Running out of time, Mike and K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) need to find the boy before he is forced to tell where the drugs have been hidden and is killed."

Be there!

SciFiWire Talk To Justin Bruening

SciFiWire have posted an interview with Justin Bruening from the set of I Love The Knight Life -- now the season finale -- where the star of Knight Rider talks about the changes that have recently swept through the show.

"People will be able to relate more," Bruening says of the show post-'reboot.' "They reinvented the show, so it's going to be more of the original format, where it was usually Michael and K.I.T.T. going out on missions. When you do a mission on a global scale, there's too much to fit in 42 minutes. With a more localized murder-mystery mission, you can get more in-depth. In this, we can have a smaller mission with more twists and turns that can make it interesting. We still have these grand-scale missions, just not this week."

With Mike on the road assuming the 'young loner' mantle of the original Michael Knight, he now sees less of his co-stars. "Obviously, I'm sad to see people go," Bruening explains. "They are great friends, and I've learned a lot from them, but the way it happens, it makes the story stronger, and it makes the remaining four characters much stronger. We all have to step up instead of relying on the other cast members. It gives us more to do."

The fact that the remaining cast members have more to do is something that has pleased Knight Rider fans on internet forums, who have complained vocally since the show premiered that the show lacked focus and that Mike was often not the driving force behind the capture of the bad guys -- regularly being bailed out of trouble by Sarah (Deanna Russo) or the team in the SSC. Now that Sarah is in charge of operations back at the SSC, the action and adventure is firmly Mike's department... but how does Justin see the dynamics of their other relationship changing?

"I wish I knew, and I don't even think my character even knows," he says. "We are getting to the point where we come together, events have happened, and it makes us shut down in terms of romance. In [I Love The Knight Life], there is a new girl from my past, someone I knew from my childhood, and Sarah knows of her. Oddly enough, she is going through things that are almost a carbon copy to what Sarah is going through. This episode is a new step for Michael and has nothing to do with Sarah. And Michael doesn't know what's going on with Sarah, and he's starting to get frustrated. In episode four, she knew he loved her, and still nothing. It's like 'Why beat a dead horse?'"

Of course, major relationship that defines Mike's character -- and the only relationship that really matters in a show called Knight Rider -- is that between Michael Knight and his car. "The relationship that is developing is more brotherly," Bruening says. "It's basically the same principle as Iron Man, where he was a normal guy without the suit. When K.I.T.T. is around, Michael knows he's not going to get hurt. That also allows us to joke around more. In the midst of gunfire, because he's bulletproof, it's fun to play the opposite of what you normally would. At the same time, we do care about each other like a family. K.I.T.T. continues to learn, and in an upcoming episode he gains even more personality, to the point he starts playing practical jokes on me. It's a buddy-cop show with the banter. The one thing I would be excited to see is K.I.T.T. becoming angry and how he would retaliate."

So, no modern takes on classic episodes such as Killer K.I.T.T. this season then, but Bruening reveals that K.I.T.T. has plenty of aggressive ammunition in the season finale. "K.I.T.T. gets some new guns that exhaust his ammunition, which is 8,000 rounds, in seven seconds," he says. "It's pretty impressive, but I actually make fun of him for only lasting seven seconds. That's the fun part of the show. K.I.T.T. is becoming such a strong character that we're trying to find a way to make the scenes humorous."

So far, after Gary Scott Thompson's Exit Light, Enter Knight and Wednesday's Fight Knight the majority of fans are pleased with Knight Rider's new direction. Hopefully the network will follow suit. Bruening himself is happy with the result. "I think it's always fun to reinvent. It's exciting. There are changes, and you see progress that way. It's not stagnant, and it makes sense why we change. Plus, it makes it more like the original series with missions. Sarah is more of the mechanic, and she runs the place. Billy and Zoe are the computer techs, so knowing everyone's expertise allows Michael to call the right guy."

SciFiWire.com - Knight Rider Got An Overhaul...

Notes From The Underground: Crime-Solving, Billy-Style

The subject of Billy's Notes From The Underground this week is 'mystery', which gives Knight Industries' resident tech a chance to reveal his Patented Presolved Mystery Solutions!

"There are mysteries everywhere we look," he writes. "Well, to the untrained eye, at least. As a man of science, though, I don’t believe in mysteries. If you can’t explain something, then you’re just not trying hard enough. As my old college professor used to say -– 'a mystery is merely a story without a proper ending.'"

Here are two of his pre-solved mystery solutions:

"A person is found dead in a room with no windows and just one door that’s locked from the inside," he writes. "He's also been shot in the head, and the gun lays by his side. The death must be suicide, right? Wrong! It’s foul play! Check the walls. You’ll find that one wall is newer than the other three. That’s because the killer built his own wall and is currently hiding behind it. Why? Insurance fraud! You'll find his life insurance policy substantially changes in the event of suicide, which is why someone went to a great deal of trouble to stage one."

The second, more relevant mystery and its solution: "Your former army drill sergeant is found dead, and the local sheriff claims it's a drug overdose? Don’t believe him!! Small town sheriffs are frequently in cahoots with the local underground fight club organizers. Your old army friend was actually murdered by the fight club organizer and the sheriff helped cover it up."

If you have any presolved mystery solutions -- or you think "boats" are funnier than "sandwiches", head on over and tell him at:

Notes From the Underground: Crime-Solving, Billy Style, Part 1

Knight Writers Blog on Fight Knight

This week it's Rob Wright offering thoughts and feelings by way of NBC's Official Knight Writers Blog, focusing on last night's episode Fight Knight. This episode is notable as on the surface it seems to follow the template of many TV series from the 1980s, "Michael Knight comes to town to help a friend in need. In so doing, he gets into a heap of trouble with local tough guys, a femme fatale... even a Sheriff who just might be hiding a sinister secret. Will Mike save the girl? Who knows! First he and Kitt must work together, fighting and driving, to stop the bad guys before time runs out." If it sounds familiar, that's because it could apply to several Original Series episodes -- and that was Wright's intention all along!

"It takes 8 days to shoot an episode of Knight Rider," he says. "Well, we spent three of them shooting all the fights in the cage sequences... plus another night for the bar brawl." It was a tough shoot -- Hawaii aside, this episode took the cast and crew furthest from LA -- and it was particularly rough on Justin. "[He] reminded me that he went to bed sore every night on this episode. Why? Because even with all our visual effect capability... even with the use of Justin’s amazing, MMA blackbelt stunt-double Antal Kalik... even with the vast array of options that camera trickery offers, there are still moments where your actor has take a punch. In a show centering on cage fighting, those moments add up!"

Wright gives props to guest stars Tiki Barber and Michael O'Hearn (American Gladiators' Titan) -- "due to their unique builds both these guys did all their own fighting and stunt-work. I’m pleased to say both of them kicked ass" -- and also to Stunt and Fight Co-Ordinators Danny Wynands and Dino Haines. "As you can tell, we worked our actors pretty hard on this show (as we do on every show) but we always did it with a safe and well-choreographed fight plan," he says. "It's 'cause of guys like Danny and Dino -– and the rest of our team of stuntmen and women -– that the director and producers can go and make good action sequences great."

Wright also reveals that Meghan Markle, who plays Annie, only learned the extent of her fighting duties after she got the part! "Luckily, she’s a natural athlete who was able to step up to the plate and deliver," he says.

Knight Writers Blog: Exit Light, Enter Knight

More Fight Knight Highlights!

NBC's Official Knight Rider Website has posted more highlights from last night's episode, Fight Knight. In this second clip, Mike infiltrates an underground fight club to investigate a murder. It's only available to Knight Rider fans in the USA, but if you can, check it out!



NBC.com: Fight Knight Highlights - Clip Two

Fight Knight Highlights!

NBC's Official Knight Rider Website has posted highlights from last night's episode, Fight Knight. In this clip, K.I.T.T. directs Mike through an informal autopsy. It's only available to the Knight Rider fans in the USA, but if you can, check them out!



NBC.com: Fight Knight Highlights - Clip One

Fight Knight Interviews From NBC

The Official Knight Rider Website has posted a new behind-the-scenes video. This one goes behind-the-scenes for tonight's episode Fight Knight, guest starring Football Legend Tiki Barber and Titan from American Gladiators.

Tonight... Knight Rider: Fight Knight

Don't miss the latest shadowy flight into the dangerous world of the Knight Rider, tonight at 8/7c on NBC!

"Down for the count -- Mike's (Justin Bruening) old Army friend recruits his help to investigate the suspicious death of a tough-as-nails drill sergeant Jack Burber. Mike learns that the drill sergeant was participating in an underground fight club for military veterans for extra money. In order to find out what really happened, Mike has to infiltrate the fight club and try not to get himself killed in the ring."

Be there!

On This Day: 3rd February, 1985

Today sees the anniversary of another classic Original Series show, Junk Yard Dog.

A raid on a toxic waste dump goes terribly wrong when K.I.T.T. is destroyed. In an attempt to rebuild the supercar, the Foundation must call in the original team assembled by Wilton Knight, but there are fears that the car will never be the same again...

Notes From The Underground: Time To Redecorate

In Billy's latest Notes From The Underground he talks about his latest challenge: to "spruce up" the office.

Following is Billy's list of the things he's decided he needs to get:

1. Couches
"I know Knight Industries got us all 'orthopedically designed and scientifically tested desk chairs for optimal efficiency over prolonged stationary activity,' but, c'mon... I just want something, you know... COMFORTABLE. (and I think 'stationary activity' is a total oxymoron)

2. New Foosball Table
"Obviously. Yeah, I know we already have one. But for complete foosiness, you should replace your foosball table every 16 to 18 months. It's a fact."

3. Liquid Nitrogen
"In a subterranean lair that has everything, it's the one thing we never had enough of. At least, we never had enough to make ice cream with it. The key to making good ice cream is in the crystallization process. The faster you can get the ingredients to crystallize, the more flavorful and smoother the ice cream will taste. If I use liquid nitrogen as the coolant, it'll crystallize almost instantly, creating... perfect ice cream."

4. Fireman's Pole
"Why? 'Cause it's that fastest way to get from point A to point B. And because I hate stairs. Ever since my football injury back in the day, stairs have been a bit of a pain for me. Yes, I said football injury. I was playing Madden '98 on the original Playstation when I slammed my knee into a coffee table during a victory celebration gone horribly awry. Just one question: where does a non-firefighter buy one?"

If you can think of any other essentials that Billy might have missed, get over there and tell him at:

Notes From the Underground: Time To Redecorate

Knight Writers Blog on Exit Light, Enter Knight

Over at NBC's Official Knight Writers Blog, Eric Buchman offers some behind-the-scenes photos and trivia about Wednesday night's show, Exit Light, Enter Knight.

"This episode wasn't originally supposed to air in this slot," Buchman says of Exit Light, the last episode to be filmed before the series was put on hiatus, "but by getting moved up, I actually think it helped add some tension that might not have been there had this episode aired later in the season.

"It's hard to put the main character of any show into serious 'will he/she make it?' jeopardy, let alone a character named Michael Knight on a show called Knight Rider, but after the last three weeks, hopefully this is at least one time where Mike's life might actually feel truly threatened. Could even Michael Knight be the next character to go?

"For the danger to be credible in the episode, the threat of violence had to feel real," Buchman continues. "The bank robbers had to feel like a real threat. So we show more people getting shot (by the bad guys) than we typically do. Every shot fired, especially a shot in the direction of another human being, is carefully monitored by numerous crew members. Safety is essential, as even working with blanks can be dangerous. (even the air that is shot of out of a gun firing a blank can critically injure a person at close range)."

During the filming of the siege, Buchman reveals that over 4000 bullet shells were expended (and each and every one was picked up when the shoot was completed)!

Buchman also gives a few teasers for next week's episode: Fight Knight! Head over there and check them out:

Knight Writers Blog: Exit Light, Enter Knight

New Behind-The-Scenes Video: Meet the VFX Masters

The Official Knight Rider Website has posted a new behind-the-scenes video. There is a team behind every VFX shot in Knight Rider... in this clip you meet the two that lead the army!

Tonight... Knight Rider: Exit Light, Enter Knight

Don't miss the latest shadowy flight into the dangerous world of the Knight Rider at 8/7c on NBC!

"Bait and switch -- Mike (Justin Bruening) jumps into the thick of a bank heist and tries to stop it, but instead becomes one of the robbers' hostages. Oddly, the robbers do not seem interested in the bank's money. Apparently, they have a specific plan that includes the safe deposit boxes and the husband of one of their hostages. Unable to communication with K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) and his team, Mike tries to enlist the help of the other hostages to stop the robbers from escaping. Unfortunately, one of the so-called hostages is one of the robbers, which makes Mike's job even more difficult."

Be there!

New Behind-The-Scenes Video: VFX

The Official Knight Rider Website has posted a new behind-the-scenes video. This one is a comprehensive reel of some of the best VFX shots from Season 1.

Notes From The Underground: Change You Can Believe In

Billy talks about the huge changes that have rocked the Knight Rider world over at Notes From The Underground.

"A week ago, I worked at a company with hundreds of employees, a massive government contract, and the combined resources of the FBI, CIA, and even NASA at our disposal," he writes. "Today I work with three other people. That's it. No government contract. No unlimited resources. They say it only takes one man to make a difference... I hope they're right, whoever they are, because that's pretty much what we are now. But you know what? I think we can totally do it."

And he signs of with something that will bring smiles to fans of the Original Series:



Read more from Billy at:

Notes From the Underground: Change You Can Believe In

Knight Writers on Knight To King's Pawn

Eric Buchman fills in for writers Patrick Massett and John Zinman in the latest installment of NBC's Knight Writers Blog. The duo also write for Friday Night Lights, and were unable to contibute to Knight Writers.

"[Knight To King's Pawn] hopefully answered a few questions for you," Buchman writes: "What Mike had 'forgotten' in Iraq and why, what has Torres been secretly up to, and even what happened to one of the trademarks of the original series (F.L.A.G.). For those of you who are new to the Knight Rider universe, The Foundation for Law and Government is the organization that operated the original K.I.T.T. in the 80s series.

"Our effects guys worked around the clock these last few months on the showdown between K.I.T.T. and K.A.R.R. I'm writing this right now at 7:30pm on the west coast, and I can't wait to watch it all in high definition when it airs a half hour from now over here. Our effects are done by a company called Master Key Films that formed to do this show. They started as just two people last spring, and they've grown into a small army today. In the video section of this site, you can see highlights of their work from season 1, and you can go to MKVFX.com to see even more."

On the subject of visual effects, Buchman also reveals a few trade secrets: how they shoot the satellite images, and how they achieve the effect that K.I.T.T. is driving by himself. "The original series had a variety of tricks they used," he says. "We added one more trick. If you look in this photo, you'll see a driver wearing all black. In the final shot, we'll use computers to simply erase him, a luxury they didn't have back then. This works for distance shots, but for close-ups of the seat, well... we still have to use some of the old tricks."

Buchman also pays tribute to departing actor Yancey Arias, who is pictured with writers Rachel Mellon and Teresa Huang (I Wanna Rock & Roll All Knight).

Next week sees another change to the running order -- Exit Light, Enter Knight the last episode filmed for Season 1, preempts I Love The Knight Life.

Knight Writers Blog: Knight To King's Pawn

Knight To King's Pawn Highlights!

NBC's Official Knight Rider Website has posted highlights from Wednesday night's episode, Knight To King's Pawn. In this clip, you can see the shutting down of the SSC! It's only available to Knight Rider fans in the US, but if you can, check them out!



NBC.com: Knight To King's Pawn Highlights

Tonight... K.A.R.R.!

K.A.R.R.!

It's the one that we've all been waiting for... Knight To King's Pawn!

"Time to fight back -- Sarah is not coping well with her father's death and decides to leave town. Concerned, Mike goes looking for her and in return gets the answers he has been searching for about his past. Meanwhile, the NSA has decided to dismantle the SSC now that Dr. Graiman is dead and they can then move forward with K.I.T.T.'s nemesis K.A.R.R. With Torres' permission they take out K.I.T.T.'s chip that contains his personality and memories and place it in K.A.R.R. Upset by what has happened, Mike, Sarah, Billy and Zoe devise a plan to find where K.I.T.T. has been taken and get him up and running and destroy the evil K.A.R.R. once and for all."

It's on NBC at 8/7c, and you do not want to miss this one!

Knight Rider Guest Star Passes Away...

Actor Don Galloway, who guest-starred on two episodes of Knight Rider: The Original Series, passed away in a Reno, Nevada hospital on January 8th following a stroke. He was 71.

He was best-known for his co-starring role as Detective Sergeant Ed Brown in the popular crime drama Ironside, and also appeared on Marcus Welby, M.D., Love, American Style, Fantasy Island, Hotel, Charlie's Angels, Dallas, MacGyver and Murder, She Wrote.

Galloway will be familiar to Knight Rider fans as Gilbert Cole -- the corrupt lawyer who frames Stefanie Mason (Catherine Hickland) in Season One's White Bird, and Harley Freeman -- a mentor of Bonnie who is used in a plot to steal a missile guidance system in Season Three's Knight In Retreat.

Galloway is survived by his wife, Linda Marie, two daughters from his first marriage, Tracy and Jennifer, two stepchildren, Sheila and Robert, and three grandchildren.

Next Week: K.A.R.R. Returns!

Knight Rider Online caught the teaser for next week's epic battle between K.I.T.T. and K.A.R.R.! The episode -- Knight to King's Pawn -- airs next Wednesday night, 8/7c! Don't miss it!

Magazine Watch: SFX on the Reboot

The UK's SFX magazine has a new interview with Gary Scott Thompson regarding the current "reboot" we're seeing, and the new direction that Knight Rider is taking. It's a situation the network has forced on the showrunner, he reveals.

"When we spoke, NBC were still leading me to believe we were going in a certain direction," Thompson tells the magazine. "We had written scripts and shot episodes that detailed Mike's past and had flashbacks to what happened, and these were things we were forced to take out -- kicking and screaming, by the way. They just felt it was too dark. But it wasn't; it was just telling what happened and him trying to piece together his memory. It gave a sense of mystery that's missing and made it stand out more than just being a fluffy show.

"We had pitched NBC on the first 13 episodes and his backstory was a big part of that, so that by the time we got to episode 13 we had pieced together the puzzle, and from 13 to 22 we'd sort of solve what was left to solve about it. Once the network saw the cut of [A Hard Day's Knight], they had us rip all of it out and it's been a scramble to replace it. This is really the network's reboot. They don't like when I say that, but these are marching orders coming down."

It's been reported that the format the show will take is a lot more reminiscent of the Original Series: a modern-day Lone Ranger concept, with Mike and K.I.T.T. driving across the country and helping the common man. The seeds of this were sown in last night's episode, Day Turns Into Knight: "The dying wish of one of the characters is that they go back to what they had originally started with, before they got too involved with the government," Thompson says. "Mike is told to go back to the idea that one man can make a difference; that he should go out and help people who need help and not take on the terrorist of the week. As a result, they've kind of gone rogue and will be operating outside of the law. So the government shuts them down and what they do from there is the show's new direction."

What does Thompson think of the new direction? "I think the drama's good, especially in those episodes. We're just starting on the ones after that -- the reboot. Now it's like, 'what do we do?' and they actually ask that question. They go forward from there and fulfil someone's dying wish. It'll work, touch wood."

It's SFX, issue 179, February 2009, out now!

Notes From The Underground: One of a Kind

Billy has a tribute to Dr. Charles Graiman in his latest blog.

"Charles Graiman was a leader in many fields. The science mags liked to talk about his work in robotics and artificial intelligence, but there wasn't an area of science he didn't have a firm grasp on. Dr. G was far more than a scientist. He was a teacher. He was a father. He was my boss. He was my friend.

"I've been working for Dr. G for quite some time at Knight Industries, in their research division. Thanks to him though, we did far more than just research. Under Dr. G's guidance, we worked around the clock to preserve the balance between good and evil in this world. We made a difference."

In the Knight Rider world, that's the most important thing.

Read more from Billy at:

Notes From the Underground: One of a Kind

Knight Writers Blog on Day Turns Into Knight!

Dave Andron has chipped in with his thoughts about last night's episode over at NBC's Knight Writers Blog! Andron took over the writing duties from Rob Wright, who scripted the first part of the story that left the characters "in as dire a situation as he could conjure: the warehouse blown up and Carrie down; Mike and Kitt forced to act as the couriers of a nuclear bomb; and a madman vanished with one African Ambassador. Sounds great, right? It was. Except that then it became my job to figure out how to fix everything."

The task was complicated on a number of levels, since Andron -- who scripted last year's 2-hour pilot movie -- also had to create a "graceful and meaningful exit" for two main characters that he created and helped cast in the show.

The story also provided the team with some other challenges: "The opening sequence with 'Speeded Kitt' our stunt unit shot over two days on a freeway we shut down in Long Beach," he continues. "I think it’s some of the best practical stunt work we’ve seen on this show yet. We didn’t actually land a plane on a highway (land a what on a what?! you'll see) but we didn’t have to, because our VFX team came up huge in a timeframe that is basically asking the impossible. All of our actors turned in stellar performances (for further examples see Smith hold her own with Richard Roundtree; John Briddell as the stern yet caring ‘Dr. Yost’ [a tip-of-the-hat to the movie Speed, which was written by Graham Yost - KRA]; and Rick Hoffman being, well, Rick Hoffman) but especially the ones we were saying goodbye to, which made their departures all that much more difficult.

"Isn’t there some old saying, about how the things in life that are the most difficult end up being the most rewarding? I’d say that sums up this episode for me. Made me proud to be part of this show, to see what it’s capable of. And I think you’ll understand what I mean when you watch it," he says.

Knight Writers Blog: Day Turns Into Knight

Day Turns Into Knight - Highlights!

NBC's Official Knight Rider Website has posted highlights from last night's episode, Day Turns Into Knight... where speeding it fun -- but not like this! It's only available to Knight Rider fans in the US, but if you can, check them out!



NBC.com: Day Turns Into Knight Highlights

There is also a clip of DOND model Anya from the previous week's show, Don't Stop the Knight:

NBC.com: DOND Model Anya on Knight Rider

Tonight... Knight Rider: Day Turns Into Knight

Tonight we have Part Two of Knight Rider's big "reboot"!

"Mike and K.I.T.T. continue on their quest to stop a terrorist from detonating a nuclear weapon and killing the ambassador -- Mike (Justin Bruening) and K.I.T.T. (voiced by Val Kilmer) are now transporting a bomb in the trunk of the car, but in order for it not to explode they must stay above 100 miles-per-hour. Trying to come up with a plan to disable the bomb, they load K.I.T.T. onto the plane to buy some time and keep up their speed. Clinging to life, Rivai (Sydney Tamiia Poitier) manages to give a clue to find where the terrorist is hiding. Meanwhile, Sarah (Deanna Russo) receives some upsetting news about her dad. Bruce Davison, Yancey Arias and Paul Campbell star. Smith Cho recurs and Rick Hoffman and Richard Roundtree guest star."

Watch as Day Turns Into Knight at 8/7c on NBC!

On This Day: 14th January, 1983

26 years ago today was the original airdate of a pivotal episode of Knight Rider: The Original Series, and Knight Rider mythology. Hearts of Stone was the first show of the 1982-83 season's "back nine" block of episodes, and the first that was written and produced by Robert Foster.

It's not the most popular of all the shows, but it remains one of the most important. Foster's approach to the material was vastly different to the earlier episodes; there was still humour, but the overall tone was less light-hearted. Suddenly, Michael Knight found himself in situations where he was really threatened, and faced fights that he might not be able to win -- whether it's driving into the middle of a hi-tech gang war or being roughed-up by arms dealers.

The show that Foster inherited was on shaky ground. The show was actually on the verge of cancellation until the extremely popular November '82 episode Trust Doesn't Rust. It was Foster's approach that saw the show successfully ride out three more seasons on NBC.

It's a situation that is being repeated for the most part right now. The current Knight Rider production team dared to try something different for a new audience; some of it worked, a lot of it didn't. And now that we are entering the business-end of the season -- that will see the series either cancelled or renewed -- Knight Rider is finally returning to its original premise: a lone crusader championing the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

Knight Rider (Classic) on iTunes

UK iTunes customers are now able to purchase every episode of David Hasselhoff's original Knight Rider series, after the online store added seasons 3 and 4 to the service.

Season 1 is available for £16.99, while Season 4 can be purchased in its entirety for £31.29. The middle two seasons are available by episode only, and all individual shows cost £1.49 each -- including the feature-length adventures Knight of the Drones and Knight of the Juggernaut, which haven't been split into two parts like the earlier TV movies!

No sign of any of the sequels, or a UK release of the current series (which is available in iTunes' US store). Stay tuned.

On This Day: 10th January, 1986

23 years ago we had one of the last great Knight Rider: Original Series episodes. Killer K.I.T.T. pitted Michael Knight and the F.L.A.G. team against K.I.T.T., who has been re-programmed and, in true Exorcist-style, has become evil.

Happy Birthday, Michael Knight (Sr.)

Today is the "official" birthday of Michael Long, who became the first Michael Knight.



Born on January 9th, 1949, he turns 60 years old today.

Will we see him again? Time will tell...

New Behind-the-Scenes Video

NBC's Official Knight Rider Website has a new "making-of" video focusing on the series' green screen process, used for special effects and driving sequences. This one takes us behind-the-scenes on an upcoming sequence with K.A.R.R.! Unfortunately it's only available to Stateside audiences, but if you can, check it out!



NBC.com: Green Screen Action

Notes From The Underground: Tell Me Something Good

Billy has taken the unusual step of updating his blog from work. Something shocking has just happened... something "too unreal to believe. And then there are some sights that are so real, you don’t want to believe them. I really, really hope that my eyes are lying to me. I hope didn’t just see what I thought I saw."

Get on over there to find out what Billy has just seen. But, if you haven't seen last night's show, you might want to check that out first -- there are big spoilers.

Notes From the Underground: Tell Me Something Good

Knight Writers Blog on Don't Stop The Knight!

Rob Wright is this week's contributor to NBC's Knight Writers Blog, and he talks about Don't Stop the Knight! It was the first of a two-parter that will have huge ramifications in the new Knight Rider universe, and to reflect that they tasked Mike and K.I.T.T. with a series of Herculean labours. Wright thinks that they delivered, and talks about the various elements that made this particular show work.

"We had the good luck of casting master evil do-er Rick Hoffman in the role of the show's main villain, 'Chris Stevens,'" he says. "Rick is a great actor, who not only nailed the character, but was able to improvise within the framework of his scenes to make Stevens more than a bad guy...he’s a bad guy you’ll love to hate.

"For the central 'insurmountable obstacle' we tasked Mike with rescuing African Ambassador 'Olara Kumali' played by Vanessa Williams. As you’ll see, Vanessa spends most of the episode in a pretty tight space, but she was still able to bring depth and humanity to her character -– plus some mighty fight. Thank you, Vanessa!"

With regard to Mike's 'Herculean labours', Wright says: "In this show we have four of them -– each once crazier the last. First is a prison break, which we shot at a real prison... Next comes the theft of the x-ray machine, where Mike gets tasered in the butt... After this comes the exchange with the three Russian agents, affectionately known to the crew as 'The Hotskies'... Finally, there’s the face-off between Stevens and Mike at the abandoned sugar mill."

Follow the link to read more about those tasks -- Wright shares a lot of behind-the-scenes trivia (including how the Attack K.I.T.T. was damaged during filming!) But, if you haven't seen the episode yet, beware! There are spoilers...

Knight Writers Blog: Don't Stop The Knight

Don't Stop The Knight - Highlights

NBC's Official Knight Rider Website has highlights from last night's episode, Don't Stop The Knight! It's only available to Knight Rider fans in the US, but if you can, check it out!



NBC.com: Don't Stop The Knight Highlights

Tonight... Knight Rider: Don't Stop The Knight

Tonight it's all change for Knight Rider.

"Mike and K.I.T.T. try to rescue a kidnapped foreign ambassador from a terrorist in time for peace talks -- Mike and K.I.T.T. are sent on an endless string of mini-missions by a crazy terrorist in exchange to keep Ambassador Olara Kumali (guest star Vanessa Williams) alive, but they soon realize that they are part of a bigger plan. Trying to outsmart the terrorist, Rivai and a team of FBI agents find themselves in an explosive situation. Meanwhile, Sarah and Dr. Graiman try to fix a sick robot. Yancey Arias and Paul Campbell star. Smith Cho recurs and Rick Hoffman guest stars."

This is Part One of the pivotal story arc that sends the show back to its roots, and the beginning of the end for three of the series' co-stars.

Don't Stop The Knight, NBC, 8/7c. Don't miss it!

Notes From The Underground: Y2K + 9?

Billy updated his Notes From The Underground last night, and he talks about the events of Knight Fever. He apologises for the lack of regular updates lately; they've been having 'technical difficulties' in the office.

"You can blame it on the new year. You can blame it on an increased workload. Or you can blame it on an experimental nano-virus that's deadlier to tech than Ebola is to people. Your pick. But if you pick the first two, you're wrong.

"Anyways, I got A LOT of work to do this week. We almost lost every system we have running. Be thankful that when things get ugly in your workplace, your boss doesn't have a self-destruct button at his or her disposal. (I'm assuming you don't work on a nuclear-powered submarine, a starship, or in a secret underground lair full of super-classified technology).

"Okay, I'm off to enjoy the rest of 2008 a bit before I have to buckle back down to work in 2009. See ya in the year of the Ox."

He also responds to reader questions about the blonde ponytail in the picture from the Christmas party (see left). "Let's just say there's a reason why her face had to be cut out of the pic. And that reason might have something to do with an ex-boyfriend of hers who's extremely jealous of me and my studliness. Or it could just be that the photographer messed up. Your pick. (but I prefer that you think it's the first one)"

Notes From the Underground: Y2K + 9?

Knight Writers Updated

Knight Rider writer and co-executive producer Matt Pyken is this week's contributor to NBC's Knight Writers Blog. The focus is last night's episode Knight Fever, which he describes as "easily the most frustrating episode of the season"... which goes some way to explain why the second episode filmed -- originally scheduled to air in early October -- has been delayed and delayed until it finally saw the light of day on New Year's Eve.

"The idea was to have Kitt contract a tech-eating virus (think Ebola for machines) and nearly die," Pyken says. "Well, that’s what we shot and planned to put on screen -– the special effects were another matter entirely. Turns out it's harder to make a virus look cool on screen than we ever expected. Two special effects teams and seven months later, we sort of realized that less is more. The virus you see now is the result."

The original series had its share of episodes that were filmed early on and delayed until later in their respective seasons (Inside Out, A Plush Ride, Big Iron, Out of the Woods), but episodic TV in the mid-1980s didn't develop characters from episode to episode in the same way as shows do today. How would this episode, written and filmed when the production team -- and actors -- were new to the characters slot in to the present continuity? It turns out that this was one of the major obstacles they had to overcome, and it involved extensive rewriting.

"We shot this episode way back in July, well before Kitt developed his current 'personality,'" Pyken explains. "He was supposed to be a little more robotic and so Mike's and Sarah's responses to him in the original script were more like that of a big brother or big sister talking to their much younger, far less experienced sibling. But now the episode airs as number ten, and Kitt's AI is much more developed. The solution? Re-write all of Kitt's dialogue to fit. Easy, right? Think again. Imagine you were having a conversation with your seven year-old brother, then you have exactly the same conversation six months later –- except the seven year-old is now eighteen. I doubt the answers would be the same, (though I gotta admit, I'm still kinda the same dude I was when I was seven). Anyway, we’ve already shot both Mike's and Sarah's sides of the conversations -– way back in July. But now we have to change Kitt's entire attitude -- his point of view, his 'feelings' about what's taking place. All new dialogue. It took some doing."

The question is, did it work?

"In the end, I think turning episode 2 into episode 10 ended up falling under the banner of the 'law of unintended consequences' -- meaning it turns out it makes more sense in the new slot than the old," Pyken says. "We know Kitt really well by now, and we understand how much he means to Mike and Sarah and vice-versa. And despite Mike and Sarah’s relative coolness toward one another lately, it's clear their love and friendship is still rock solid."

If you missed last (K)night's show because of New Year commitments, be sure to check it out at NBC.com. Big changes next week as the series moves into the business-end of the season and hits the highly-publicised 'reboot' button.

Knight Writers Blog: Knight Fever

Knight Fever Highlights

NBC's Official Knight Rider Website has updated with video highlights from last night's episode, Knight Fever. In this one, "Mike puts the 'man' in 'manual.'" It's only available Stateside, but if you can, check it out!



NBC.com: Knight Fever Highlights