What the hell was that?!?!?!
The premier episode of Knight Rider was terrible. I mean, really, really, really terrible. The kind of terrible which can only be made when that much money is involved.
Straight off, the “Ford Rep” who insisted that it was necessary for force a Ford (F-150?) pickup into the show needs to be shot. Preferably dragged into the street, beaten soundly, then shot.
Next, the drunken producer who felt the show needed a little “sex” and dreamed up the contrived excuse to get The Girl in her underwear… First, good job. Second, may you never work in show business again.
Finally, whoever wanted to add “mystery” by having Mike not remember his past (“Oh yeah, you asked to marry me 3 years ago. Did I forget to mention that?”) I simply ask that the reproductive sterilization is complete.
Seriously tho, it’s freaking Knight Rider, it shouldn’t be possible to get this wrong. Yet, somehow, they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
This should be taught in classes as an example of less is more. It’s like children making television. Everything is turned to 11. I could be fine with KITT changing colour, that would have been fine – cool even, but no – he has to change into a freaking pickup or the ugliest muscle car ever seen. One moment KITT is doing 377MPH, the next – he can’t catch a sports car. What? What kind of supercar is KITT suppose to be?
The writing on this show amounts to a legacy assassination. I loved Knight Rider when I was a kid and so did you. (Don’t lie, you did.) I know it was 80′s television pap but in my mind’s eye it was awesomeness given shape and corny dialog. What I needed from the new series is something to stand up to that. And don’t tell me it can’t be done, Battlestar Galactia is a prime example that it can. And it would have been simple. Tone everything down to the point where we can believe it’s true-ish and it’d be remarkable.
The last shot of the car sums everything up perfectly. You have the blood red of KITT’s scanners, the emerald green of the LASERS(!!!) and the deep blue glow from under the car. Primary colours for toddlers.
If I had been there, I could have saved it. I could have told them, I would have told them – “That’s stupid”.
And that might have made all the difference.
