TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Column: 'Knight Rider' In Need Of A Tuneup

NBC

With silly plots, dumb dialogue filled with techno-babble and lots of car stunts, "Knight Rider" continues to lose viewers. But NBC hasn't lost faith.

ADVERTISEMENT

By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2008

Call David Hasselhoff. "Knight Rider" is getting an overhaul. Maybe he can help.

NBC's remake of a 1980s favorite has never run smoothly. Critics bashed it from the beginning of this season. The problems are numerous.

First, this updated version doesn't do justice to the original series that seemed so cool back in the 1980s.

Of course, it was simple-minded cool. And it was primitive by today's standards. But it had a certain kitschy charm.

The original, recently rereleased in a 24-disc boxed set, starred big-haired Hasselhoff as Michael Knight. He was the driver of KITT, a high-tech, talking Pontiac Trans Am that ran for four seasons and 84 episodes.

The DVD set, by the way, comes in a box that plays the "Knight Rider" theme. There's a bonus disc that includes the schematics for KITT.

The new super car is a Shelby Mustang that can do amazing things such as shape-shift. It's indestructible. And there's a super computer on board that can hack in to anything.

The new KITT, voiced by Val Kilmer, is a whiney busy-body with a monotone delivery. As dull as the car is, the hunky young driver, Mike Traceur (Justin Bruening), is about as wooden as a tree stump. Mike has a sexy sidekick, Sarah, played by Deanna Russo, a former Playboy pinup who provides the weekly eye candy.

With silly plots, dumb dialogue filled with techno-babble and lots of car stunts, "Knight Rider" continues to lose viewers. But NBC hasn't lost faith. The network recently ordered a full season and a tuneup. Three series regulars - Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Yancey Arias and Bruce Davison - will be gone after episode 13.

Two mechanics, Billy (Paul Campbell) and Zoe (Smith Cho), will get more face time. NBC officials say future stories will switch gears away from super villains to helping common folk get out of trouble.

DANCING FOOLS: For the second straight season, "Dancing with the Stars" looks predictable. Brooke Burke and Warren Sapp have been the favorites and are expected to be the last two standing. Burke is the better dancer, but Sapp is popular with the fans.

VIDBITS: Bad news for NBC's "Heroes." The once-hot sci-fi series continues to lose viewers. It hit an all-time low Monday night, down 25 percent from last season. Only devoted "Heroes" geeks are bothering to keep up with the time-shifting plotlines.

• Comedy Central has renewed its nutty cop show "Reno 911" for a sixth season, with an order for 10 additional episodes beginning March 12, 2009.

• Come on down. CBS plans a post-Veterans Day salute to the troops at 9 p.m. Friday, with a special prime-time showing of "The Price is Right." Host Drew Carey, a former Marine reservist, welcomes an audience of military families. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band from San Diego also performs.

• The First Kids have an offer. "Access Hollywood" conducted an interview with Billy Ray Cyrus, father of "Hannah Montana" star Miley Cyrus, during which he said President-elect Barack Obama's daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, have been invited to guest star on the Disney Channel show. Don't hold your breath on that one.

• Lizard people return. ABC is remaking "V," the 1980s sci-fi drama series about a Nazi-like invasion of reptilian aliens. Scott Peters, who created "The 4400" for the Sci-Fi Channel, will produce.

PALIN SPEAKS: Now she talks. During the presidential election, the media was begging to talk to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin with little luck.

Without the campaign handlers, she's everywhere this week. Monday, she was on Fox News Channel. Tuesday, "Today" show host Matt Lauer was camping out at her home. Today at 4 p.m. it's Wolf Blitzer's turn on CNN, followed by Larry King at 9 tonight.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT