knight rider
7:40AM Kyle Buchanan | Vacancy: Just days after the creators of Do Not Disturb sent out a letter to TV critics apologizing for “being the perpetrators of such bad television,” their show has become the fall season’s first cancellation. According to EW’s Michael Ausiello, the Jerry O’Connell sitcom (which aired only three episodes) will be replaced by reruns of ‘Til Death. Elsewhere on the dial, Ben Silverman pet project Knight Rider premiered third in its time slot despite having the highest viewer awareness of any new NBC show. Perhaps audiences realised that KITT is kind of a bitch? [EW] More »
5 Intelligent Screen Cars We Prefer to KITT From ‘Knight Rider’
6:10AM Kyle Buchanan | America, let’s face it: KITT from Knight Rider is kind of a bitch. Though he’s a car designed for adventuring, KITT is also a big scold, always crying, “Do this!” “Do that!” “Miiiichael, the risk factor is too high!” It remains to be seen whether the Val Kilmer-voiced vehicle in tonight’s Knight Rider reboot will prove less neurotic over time, but until then, we thought we’d take a trip down memory lane and give props to the “smart” cars we’d prefer to take a ride in. With the help of Molly McAleer, we’ve created this loving tribute to five of the best onscreen autos to ever rev their engines. Sorry, Herbie — better luck next time? [NBC] More »
Val Kilmer Replaces Will Arnett As Voice Of K.I.T.T. Due To Conflict Of Truck-Pimping Interest
8:30AM Mark | In an unexpected development sure to rock the sentient-sportscar-voiceover world, Variety reports NBC has announced that it’s had to make an 11th hour substitution in its casting of KITT for the network’s soon-to-debut Knight Rider movie, rushing last-minute saviour Val Kilmer (Val Kilmer!) into the studio to redo all of the dialogue already recorded by outgoing Mustang-inhabitor Will Arnett. More »Defamer Meets The New KITT At ‘Knight Rider’ Movie Event
5:55AM Defamer Hollywood | Even though she’s far too young to have experienced the early-1980s TV adventures of fashionably hirsute, Members Only-sponsored freedom fighter David Hasselhoff and his wisecracking – but fiercely loyal! – Trans Am during Knight Rider’s original, blockbuster run, we still dispatched Defamer videographer Molly McAleer to NBC’s Burbank headquarters for today’s event announcing the February premiere of the two-hour Rider movie they hope will relaunch the franchise into another series, figuring that she’s squarely in the demographic their newfangled primetime product is targeting.Above is her video report from the scene; disappointingly, next-generation KITT voiceover-supplier Will Arnett (this is easily the best voice-casting since Owen Wilson’s spirit was trapped inside the motorcycle in Heat Vision and Jack) was not on hand to amuse the press with the one-liners they’ll soon hear delivered by the movie’s sardonic Ford Mustang. Still, many of those laughs were replaced when a driverless KITT screeched to a halt in front of the assembled reporters and popped his trunk to reveal bound-and-gagged special guest star Hasselhoff, whom a publicist explained crashed the event without an invitation. ‘Knight Rider’ Premiere Set; Arnett to Voice KITT [TV Week] Previously: NBC Recalls Better-Rated Heyday By Reviving ‘Knight Rider’ [Defamer] More »
Ben Silverman Chooses Hulk Hogan As Emperor of His ‘American Gladiators’
7:00AM Defamer Hollywood | When NBC’s Ben “The Perfect Storm” Silverman appeared on Michael Eisner’s talk show last week to serve notice to his network rivals that his resurgent Peacock would soon be feasting on their rotting, Nielsen-dead entrails, the full extent of his programming vision was not yet clear. But since then, Silverman has made two stunning moves that demonstrate he’s utterly unafraid to strip-mine the past if that ensures a better-rated future: the revival of Knight Rider, and, according to TV Week, the appointment of ’80s wrestling icon and recently recycled VH1 celebreality star Hulk Hogan to American Gladiators hosting duty: Hogan made the rounds at NBC’s Burbank offices last week and has accepted the job. The deal is still being finalised, but sources say both parties are committed. More »
