October 2, 2008
Last week, we talked about how the critics have been harsh in judging the NBC debuting series, Knight Rider, the remake of the 1982 series of the same name. A number of BuddyTV readers responded with mixed reactions, but an important fact to point out is that some viewers actually want to see this show regardless of what the television critics say. Meanwhile, the stars of the show recently shared their thoughts on their characters and the work they put into creating the show.
"It's a lot different [than the movie]," executive producer Gary Scott Thompson explained. "I think the movie just sort of set the table and bridged the gap between the original series and this series. That's how we like to look at it. This is a much faster pace."
September 26, 2008
On Wednesday, NBC brought us a remake of Knight Rider, which looks like it’s in trouble after garnering only 7.3 million viewers. In fact, E! Online reports that Knight Rider’s entrance may be comparable to another failed NBC remake, but much worse. If one can recall, Bionic Woman experienced little if not no success at all. With a little push from the writers’ strike, the show ended after seven episodes.
Nonetheless, Knight Rider landed on the third spot following ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, which garnered 15.6 million viewers and FOX’s Bones, which yielded 9.6 million. Recently, Kristin Dos Santos of E! Online reviewed the first episode of Knight Rider. Find out what she had to say after the jump.
September 24, 2008
The reviews for NBC’s new Knight Rider, premiering tonight at 8pm, have been mostly negative. TV critics seem determined to mock its cheesiness, implausibility and general lack of coherence. The frustrating thing is that those critics don’t seem to understand the context in which Knight Rider should be viewed.
To compare the series to other serious dramas is a mistake. One cannot review Knight Rider using the same criteria one uses when reviewing Mad Men or Lost. Is Knight Rider cheesy? Of course it is, but why should that surprise anyone? This is a show about a talking car that solves crimes.
September 23, 2008
Fans looking for an early peek at the new Knight Rider have been in luck all week, because NBC, in a deal with Hulu, has been streaming the entire first episode online for the past week. The episode is also posted on BuddyTV:
Watch Knight Rider Series Premiere
The fun, action-packed hour introduces the new cast while bringing back several stars of the TV movie, including leads Justin Bruening and Deanna Russo as Mike and Sarah. During BuddyTV’s Knight Rider set visit, we spoke to both of them about the changes from the movie to the TV show and the joys of working with KITT. Continue reading to watch their full video interviews.
September 17, 2008
The new Knight Rider doesn't premiere until next week, but NBC is trying to build buzz by airing the entire first episode online starting today at Hulu.com. The network is also premiering several other shows one week early, including Chuck and Lipstick Jungle.
As for Knight Rider, the premiere delivers the kind of fun, sexy action fans might expect from a series being run by the man behind NBC's Las Vegas and the Fast and the Furious franchise. In the first 10 minutes, KITT transforms, catches on fire, and the two attractive leads (Justin Bruening and Deanna Russo) strip down to their underwear.
September 11, 2008
The green screen is the most useful weapon in a TV show’s special effects arsenal. For Knight Rider, it’s an absolute necessity, since trying to film the various car chases would be impossible otherwise. When BuddyTV visited the set of the new Knight Rider, we spent most of the day in the massive KITT Cave, then took a quick final trip to the green screen sound stage.
Imagine a huge warehouse that could easily fit about three 747s. Now cover half of it with a green screen. The sight is overwhelming, the sheer volume of lime green as far as the eye can see. In the middle of it all, a hollowed out car where Justin Bruening spends some very long days. Continue reading for more details and to see exclusive video footage of Bruening and the green screen.
September 3, 2008
The Knight Rider set is split into two levels. There's the ground floor where the crew operates on KITT and takes care of all the technical requirements, then there's the upper catwalks that loom over the command center. That's where Yancey Arias works. On the new Knight Rider, Arias plays Alex Torres, the man who oversees the operations and assigns the missions for the team.
While on the set of Knight Rider, BuddyTV went up on the second level to talk to Arias about his role in the show, his fascination with the show's technology and his thoughts on the relatively young writing staff of the show. Continue reading for the highlights, or to watch our exclusive video interview.
August 27, 2008
Paul Campbell seems to be finding a very specific niche for his career. On Battlestar Galactica, be played the somewhat geeky Billy, and now once again he's playing a geeky guy named Billy on a reimagining of a cheesy sci-fi show from the past. However, like BSG, the new Knight Rider is less about kitsch and more about making a modern update of a classic.
BuddyTV spoke to Paul Campbell during our exclusive Knight Rider set visit. The hot young star who BuddyTV named one of the sexiest stars to watch this season had plenty to say about his role on the series, his relationship to KITT and the original series, and the comparisons to his Battlestar Galactica role. Keep reading for the highlights and to watch our exclusive video interview.