I’ve been really enjoying the new series of Knight Rider so far. While the first couple of episodes were perhaps a bit formulaic, over the last two or three, it really seems to have found its footing, and they’ve been really solid, enjoyable stories. Granted, last week’s Halloween episode could’ve done with a bit more KITT-action, but the teases about KARR were more than enough to make up for that.

However, the big news this week is the leak of cast changes, following a two-part story over episodes 10 and 11. This is interesting, as previously it looked like episodes 12 and 13 would be the KARR 2-parter. I wonder if those plans have changed, or if its just a mistake in the story.

However, the affected characters are Graiman, Carrie and Torres. To be honest, I’ve felt Graiman and Carrie have struggled so far int he series, and haven’t had an awful lot to do. Torres has received more focus, but then he basically nicked Carrie’s role as the FBI liason. I’ll be sorry to lose Graiman though. I like Bruce Davidson as an actor, and he filled the older, mentor slot in the show’s cast nicely (Devon for the new series if you like). Its telling that both FBI characters are leaving, and with the show being said to be getting away from the terrorist-of-the-week formula, and focusing more on Mike and KITT helping the everyman (more in line with the original show), it seems obvious that the fallout from the KARR storyline will have Knight Research severing its official ties with the Government.

I can’t help but think this may be a good thing though. If only because there has been the danger of the episodes becoming a bit formulaic over the start of the season. There seems to have been an awful lot of state-of-the-art weapons smuggling going on that the FBI were powerless to do anything about for some reason.

I am sorry to lose Graiman though. It does slant the cast younger, and I presume this is to appeal more to their target demographic. And of course, while I do like the idea of the character, as I say, it doesn’t feel like he’s had a lot to do this season so far.  I do hope that in amongst these changes though, they address some of the forced humour between Zoey and Billy.  While I wouldn’t necessarily want to lose either character, giving them a bit more depth wouldn’t hurt either.

Regarding KARR, well going from the revelations in Knight of the Living Dead, I’m still waiting to see how this plays out.  Its not been explicitly said that this new KARR doesn’t use the original’s CPU, although it is looking like a new prototype borrowing the name of the original.  Of course, given that Graiman was supposed to have been key to the original KITT’s development (and so you presume the original KARR’s as well), it does leave him looking like a bit of an idiot that he gave both prototypes not only the same name, but also the same dodgy programming that resulted in them going a bit evil.

Well, in news that seems to be shocking most of the industry, Knight Rider has received a full season order.

This is great news.  As I’ve said many times here, I’m enjoying the new series, so its good to see it getting a good chance to prove itself, especially with the fluctuating ratings, and general feeling in the industry that it would be up for the chop.   We do know that the studio had ordered four more scripts the other week, so presumably they liked what they saw.

KARR’s return (if true) should help give the show a boost as well.  Lots of trailers with clips from KITT vs KARR and Trust Doesn’t Rust to play up the return of the evil KITT should help with the general viewing public.

Some interesting developments in the new series of Knight Rider this week. Despite ratings that have been slightly concerning, the studio’s ordered 4 more scripts. A good sign. And this week’s episode had a big spike in the ratings, which is also positive.  The show’s been performing well in its target demographic apparently, so that’s good news.

But most interestingly are the rumours that KARR will be involved in episode 12. His still-active CPU at the end of KITT vs KARR has been dangling plot thread for over 20 years. Is it about to be resolved? I certainly hope so. KARR’s always been a fan-favourite, and if he is being brought back, some heavy advertising should help give the show a boost mid-season.

Now if they can just sort out getting the Hoff and William Daniels back for a couple of episodes (heck, go for broke and tie them into the KARR storyline).

I really enjoyed this week’s episode as well. While the show still has its faults (largely for me, the Billy and Zoey “banter”, which comes across painfully forced) I’m enjoying it as a good, lightweight action show. This week’s ticking timebomb plot of Mike being poisoned rattled along well and while I can’t put my finger on anything specific, this week’s episode really felt like the best yet out of the 4 that aired. Here’s hoping the show settles in over the course of its run and goes from strength to strength. I’d love it to find its feet, and get a second season.

Its always nice when music videos reference old shows I love, so here’s the video to No More Kings’ Michael (Jump In) which is a nice treat for us fans of classic Knight Rider

Well, we’re now two episodes into the first series of the new Knight Rider, and so far I’ve been enjoying it a lot.

The second episode was probably the stronger of the two so far. The first serving more to setup the arc-plot regarding Mike’s past in black ops and, of course, explain his name change to Michael Knight. This allowed the second a bit more free reign as an adventure of the week type story to throw in some nice character moments (loved the scenes with Mike and KITT watching the western) with the first episode having set things up.

Both episodes have been high on the action quota, and the second especially harked back nicely to the feel of the original series, with Mike travelling to a remote town, getting involved in street races and, as I mentioned, some nice building in the friendship between Mike and KITT.

Its also interesting to note some of the changes Gary Scott Thompson’s brought in. The “KITT cave” makes a lot of sense for the scale of the operation (realistically one engineer maintaining KITT in the back of a truck isn’t likely) although the humour from the supporting techs is sometimes forced. The arc plot with Mike’s past is welcome, and much in the style of Doctor Who, seems to be something being drip-fed into episodes for the regular viewers, while the episodes themselves remain stand-alone, probably building up to some revelations in the finale.

The changes to KITT are a bit of a mixed bag. I definitely appreciate the reasons they changes KITT’s attack mode. In the pilot, it wasn’t instantly obvious which car you were looking at in a particular scene without checking closely (the spoiler usually being the quickest give-away), and there’s no doubt this is a more aggressive-looking attack mode. However I prefer the sportier lines of KITT in his regular mode, and the blue underlighting (forming the Knight Research logo) is really just a bit over-the-top. However the good news is that the attack mode is also being used quite sparingly so far, with the Shelby remaining the main “hero” car of the piece which I definitely like.

I do miss the iPhone-inspired screen from the pilot, but the new HUD works well. Although there have been a couple of times when Mike’s been driving and its clearly obscuring his view of the road. It perhaps needs to be more obvious that KITT’s driving while Mike’s using the screen (safety first ). KITT’s new vocaliser (for want of a better term) seems a little busy to me, but I do love how they’ve included the three bars from the original series in it.

How the series fairs in the modern age of networks being quick off the mark to cancel shows remains to be seen, but, while its still finding its feet, Knight Rider strikes me as filling a gap in the market with some good “switch your brain off and enjoy the ride” action.

With Season 1 of Knight Rider due to start in about a month, there’s a load of new trailers appearing online.   Here we get a tease about turbo boost:

But, while we don’t get to see a lot, there’s a sense of fun in thisclip that hits the mark for me

So, the San Diego ComicCon brought a tonne of news over the weekend. The big news from the Knight Rider TV show, aside from the sneak peak posted earlier, was the official reveal of the new attack KITT.

Replacing the attack mode from the 2-hour TV movie, Gary Scott Thompson’s quoted as saying he felt the original looked too similar to the regular-mode KITT (something I can kind of agree with. I know that during the pilot, I had to keep checking for the spoiler to tell the difference in some scenes). He also felt that the attack mode needed to look more aggressive and threatening. Which there’s no doubt this certainly does.

I’m still undecided though.  I really don’t like the big vents on the bonnet (although I appreciate that they’re there for a practical purpose).   Its a bit too fast-and-the-furious for me, whereas the fanboy in me cries out for a KITT that looks sleek.  Certainly, anyone that was still struggling to accept the Mustang is really going to be bothered by this I suspect.

I do get a really good vibe from the 1 minute preview though.  For me, the tone came off well, and it felt suitably action-packed.  Mike adopting the Michael Knight name is a good move as well.  While I liked the iPhone inspired main screen for KITT in the pilot, the new windshield display does look cool.  Unsure about KITTs new vocaliser, but I do like how its more of a tribute to the classic three bars the original KITT had.

Slightly baffled by the repeat of the “are you a homosexual” joke however.  It wasn’t particularly funny the first time, and it seems odd to directly lift some dialogue from the pilot like that.   I wonder if it’ll make the final cut of the episode…

Only last thing I will comment on is the blue neon lighting under the attack mode KITT.  In the States it may be cool, but over here, its generally associated with muppets who’ve got a stereo more expensive than the rest of the car, and drive like complete idiots.

Not to mention, excessive neon lighting on cars gives me Joel Shumaker Batmobile flashbacks.

NBC have posted a new one minute sneak peak of Knight Rider season 1.

Looks like its going to have a lot more action than the pilot, and KITT’s going to have a lot more gadgets.

Interesting how much KITT’s been redesigned though. New dash (pity, as I liked the one in the pilot) and the transformation effects are completely reworked.

The latest Knight Rider trailer is teasing the thing fandom most felt was lacking from the 2hour pilot.  Yup.  Turbo Boost.

A key part of the fun in the original series was KITT jumping over stuff.  However Gary Scott Thompson’s suggested that the new turbo boost might not be so straight forward.   Granted, its pricey to do, but I can’t help but feel that simpler could be better in this instance.  Just have the Mustang (be it a model, CGI or old junker stunt car) jump over something.

I also note that it doesn’t sound like Val Kilmer in the ads, and the voice seems more treated.   I hope its a sign that Kilmer’s voice will have a more electronic sound to it in the series, just to give it that slight feel of something synthesized, rather than sounding like someone reading out some lines.

Also, I could be wrong, but I think the theme is sounding tweaked as well.

Well, the hype for the upcoming series has started, with two new teasers.   They use existing footage from the pilot, but have a cheekier voice over.  Perhaps playing along with the “car commercial” complaints that were lowered at the pilot?

I’ve got high hopes for this series.  I do have my doubts as to how a show like Knight Rider will do with today’s audiences over the course of a season.  The pilot benefitted immensely from the nostalgia factor.   However, I was a big fan of Gary Scott Thompson’s Las Vegas (when are we getting the last season over here???), so I know he’s got a good eye for balancing comedy with drama.  Something Knight Rider will need.

Here’s the new teasers: