Mayjor fuckup!!!!!!!

Why a FORD!!!!

Why not the real hoff!!!!

DISCRACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This pilot does a great disservice to those of us who grew up with the original Knight Rider. Download the pilot of that on bittorrent. Thats a real gem.

Sure, the acting wasn’t the best. And I felt the FBI agent really had zero to do through most of the show. Plus, yes, the scene where we find out the FBI agent is a lesbian felt… FORCED. I felt like, once again, Hollywood is preaching to me about what they think I should feel is acceptable behavior.

But, if the writers and producers were to LISTEN TO OUR CRITICISMS at this point and take them into account when writing new episodes, they just might have a hit on their hands.

How many pilots these days are… well… pretty BAD? The vast, vast majority of them. But with a little thoughtfulness and listening, the folks behind this show might be able to make some adjustments, get into a groove, and have a hit on their hands that is popular BOTH with young people and the older old-show fans!

I too missed seeing and hearing the old KITT. I kinda felt that instead of walking off into the grass, Hasselhoff should have walked back, gotten into the old KITT, and drove off.

However, I have NO DOUBT that they’re saving that kind of “stunt” for any series that might come from this movie. I’m thinking: The new Michael and new KITT get captured / in-trouble and the old Michael and KITT come “out of retirement” to save them! (Hey, those KITT parts in Graiman’s workshop could have been SPARE PARTS that he’d pulled out of mothballs to refer to.)

I do believe that the bad guys were played well, but the “feel” of the threat behind them felt minor… at least until they actually KILLED somebody, which, in my opinion, should have been much, much earlier in the show, just to feel like they were more dangerous.

However, I’m sure the decision to underplay the threat a bit was done in order to play-up the heroes instead. (Ever notice how shows will seem to get bored with heroes after a few episodes and start playing “crazy villian of the week” a la 60’s Batman? I think it’s lazy writing / lack of creativity on their part. I’ve been married for 11 years now and I’m still surprised quite often by things my wife will say or do or tidbits from her history I had not known. Plus, people change.

But, I digress. The show is indeed about the car first, the people second.

I thought the car was very well done. I too had been worried after hearing comments about having KITT “transform”, that it would be fast, forced, and stupid. But they did a good job with it.

Michael’s final move against the bad guys seemed REALLY, REALLY stupid to me. First of all, he knew KITT was bullet-proof, but how did he know KITT could withstand such a collision and thereby protect him? He couldn’t have! There was no evidence that KITT could take that kind of punishment. So, to me, it seems he either took a huge leap of faith or decided to sacrifice himself. And for what? What were the odds that such a high-speed crash would NOT have killed Graiman ?? Looked to me like the guys in the front seat died. And the sherrif in the back seat didn’t look alive to me. So, 75% chance of death to the occupant?

Stupid, stupid move / lazy writing / lack of creativity.

But there WERE PARTS of the show that seemed much more inspired and done with more thought and effort.

I should mention that I really enjoyed the music. I thought it was surprisingly refreshing. Seems like we get a lot of bland background music in shows today.

To the folks behind the show, based on what I saw with this pilot movie, I would recommend:

1) Let’s get a bit more realistic with regards to chase scenes, crashes, bad guys and their motivations, and people getting hurt. (Remember the Batman movie from a few years ago? Realism actually works pretty well in sci-fi !)

2) Pay your writers well, but demand creativity, especially in final resolutions to conflicts and the development of characters (including the car’s personality).

3) More of the new/old theme music!

Anyways, I thought to myself at the end of watching it: Would I look for and watch a series based on this? I quickly thought of the few shows I commit to watching: Lost, Battlestar Gallactica… umm… I think that’s it right now. Would I add the new Knight Rider?

I decided I’d at least watch it for the first 4 or so episodes… to give it a chance.

And I’m hoping the powers-that-be in Hollywood feel the same way. Looking forward to seeing Michael and KITT again!

Don’t get me wrong, I loved Knight Rider as a kid. Hasselhoff’s overacting was hilarious, the cheese made it worth watching. But this new incarnation is just plain awful.