KNIGHT RIDER is one of the best TV series ever made. Beginning with an action-packed and thrilling pliot episode, we were taken for an unforgettable ride with David Hasslehoff's Michael Knight and his supercar, KITT (voiced unforgettably by William Daniels). Today, the show isn't as popular as once was but still many faithful fans who love it to bits. I'm one of them. Knight Rider is forever.
26 Reviews
A man and his crime-fighting supercar
Mr-Fusion3 January 2018
'Knight of the Phoenix' is the classic introductory episode, and within this first go-around, you'll find most of what made this show a hit.The personalities of both Devon and K.I.T.T. are pretty close, and the stunt driving is present and accounting for. But it doesn't have the Hasselhoff charm. Michael Knight goes all-in on the lone wolf act, mouthing off to his support staff and barking orders. The cheerful hero isn't yet born, and sometimes it's awkward. But it's not a huge problem, and so long as you can get past the small SoCal town as Silicon Valley, this makes for a watchable start to a memorable series.
7/10
7/10
Who said that?
Calicodreamin4 December 2021
Good start to the series in terms of setting up the dynamic duo. The whole set up with the Hoff getting a new face felt unnecessary, like we didn't event get to really see the old Michael. Decent storyline and acting. Gotta love the 80s fit.
Why do poeple complain?
shahmatt23 March 2003
I've gone through several of these comments and seriously, some of those complaints are just ridiculous. I mean, Yes the show acting wasn't the best and Yes the car stunts do show some obvious errors. Hell I once recorded the show in a video tape and saw a guy sneaking around within the car when it was supposed to be empty. Big boo boo there. I replayed it and showed it to all my friends. And Yes... the truck Did seem a bit small for the car and everyone else in it.. to move around. But you know, those shows entertained us to no end. We didn't give a damn abt special effects at that age.. we didn't care abt the mistakes they made as long as they weren't so glaring. The storyline was good, the stunts were fun to watch, the dialogue witty, and frankly this was a show my entire family ran to the tv to watch on friday nights and we didn't miss it unless the sky was raining comets :-p... bottom line, by being too judgemental abt the show, exploring its scientific aspects just spoils the thing. Since when did entertainment require you to Think? Knight Rider was a typical example of what real quality was about and the 80's had the best of all tv shows. Its a pity that modern shows come up with so many special effects, it doesn't get entertaining any more. the new Team Knight Rider is absolutely dreadful. Damn them for spoiling the original image. If Anybody wants to bring KR back, they shouldn't. It was a good show, but bringing it back will spoil what a lot of ppl already remember about the original Knight Rider.
Knight of the Phoenix: Part 1
Prismark1028 November 2017
The first part of the series opener sees cop Michael Long betrayed by a glamorous executive who he is protecting from industrial espionage in Las Vegas. Long's partner is shot dead and the glamorous lady shoots Long in the face.
He survives thanks to reconstructive surgery financed by an eccentric billionaire philanthropist Wilton Knight. Long has a new identity as Michael Knight, he is given a black super car called K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand) that is almost indestructible and has artificial intelligence.
Wilton wants Michael to work for Knight Industries and make a difference against criminals who think they are too big to touch. Michael is reluctant at first even though Wilton Knight is dying, his assistant Devon Miles tries to persuade Michael to change his mind.
After Wilton dies, Devon informs Michael that his shooter and her associate are working in Silicon Valley where they plan to steal their technology.
Michael sets off to investigate and discovers just how advanced KITT car actually is.
David Hasselhoff is never going to be a great actor but has enough charisma and mischief to pull this show off thanks to the advanced car KITT.
In the opener Michael Knight is rather charmless, there is certainly too much country music with also a bit of Fleetwood Mac thrown in. The episode tails off once he arrives at some bar near Silicon Valley and this is only part one of a two part episode.
However the star off the show is KITT. Now we have self driving cars, intelligent personal assistants such as ALEXA in the living room. Knight Rider was ahead of its time somewhat.
He survives thanks to reconstructive surgery financed by an eccentric billionaire philanthropist Wilton Knight. Long has a new identity as Michael Knight, he is given a black super car called K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand) that is almost indestructible and has artificial intelligence.
Wilton wants Michael to work for Knight Industries and make a difference against criminals who think they are too big to touch. Michael is reluctant at first even though Wilton Knight is dying, his assistant Devon Miles tries to persuade Michael to change his mind.
After Wilton dies, Devon informs Michael that his shooter and her associate are working in Silicon Valley where they plan to steal their technology.
Michael sets off to investigate and discovers just how advanced KITT car actually is.
David Hasselhoff is never going to be a great actor but has enough charisma and mischief to pull this show off thanks to the advanced car KITT.
In the opener Michael Knight is rather charmless, there is certainly too much country music with also a bit of Fleetwood Mac thrown in. The episode tails off once he arrives at some bar near Silicon Valley and this is only part one of a two part episode.
However the star off the show is KITT. Now we have self driving cars, intelligent personal assistants such as ALEXA in the living room. Knight Rider was ahead of its time somewhat.
a 80s icon
Holly_Golightly_17 February 2002
Knight of the Phoenix was the pilot for the Knight Rider series. This show was so great it one of the 80s icons. There as been so many remakes of this series but this is the one that stands out. K.I.T.T is the first attraction for the show but once every women see David Hasselhoff thats what makes them come back every week. I believe they couldn't have picked any one better for the role of Michael Knight. As for the other actors they were great to like Edward Mulhare as Devon. Patricia McPherson as Bonnie Barstow now she was great and it was sad to see her leave but it was great when she came back. The one thing this show lacked in was romance, we thought one of these days Michael and Bonnie will get together but it never happened. It didn't lack in it total we would see Michael trying his best to make his move on Bonnie but half of the time she never got what he was trying to do. If you haven't see this you have no idea what your missing out on. I recommend you at the least give it a chance.
Still had a few kinks to work out
Fluke_Skywalker1 May 2024
Warning: Spoilers
*- Note. This review is for the entire pilot, not merely "Part 1".
Even without the obvious nostalgia, Knight Rider may just be my favorite television series of all-time. A fact confirmed the last few months as I've cherry picked my way through various episodes. But I'd yet to revisit the pilot. Something that I rectified today.
Like many pilot episodes, "Knight of the Phoenix" still had some kinks to work out. The biggest here is that K. I. T. T. doesn't feel like the one that we know. He's very cold and clinical here. You expect going in that it will take some time for he and Michael to bond, but had K. I. T. T. remained as he does here, the chemistry between he and Michael would never have developed and the series would've sank as a result.
The 'Hoff on the other hand more or less has Michael down cold. He's a tinge less easy going here, not yet possessing what I've dubbed the "Cheerful heroics" which would come to define the character. But he's already a likable protagonist and carries this first episode on his Member's Only clad shoulders.
One of the other highlights is that the episode is a cavalcade of 70's/80's guest actor players. There's go-to baddie Lance LeGault, Richard Anderson, Bert Rosario, Charles Napier, Michael D. Roberts. Even Battlestar Galactica's Herbert Jefferson Jr. Shows up! But it's the impossibly beautiful, stunning, sexy, awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, make you believe that there is a God Phyllis Davis who steals the show. This woman could've made me do terrible things and I'd have thanked her for it.
Overall "Knight of the Phoenix" is a reasonably entertaining start, but grading on a curve. It just doesn't match the series at its best.
Even without the obvious nostalgia, Knight Rider may just be my favorite television series of all-time. A fact confirmed the last few months as I've cherry picked my way through various episodes. But I'd yet to revisit the pilot. Something that I rectified today.
Like many pilot episodes, "Knight of the Phoenix" still had some kinks to work out. The biggest here is that K. I. T. T. doesn't feel like the one that we know. He's very cold and clinical here. You expect going in that it will take some time for he and Michael to bond, but had K. I. T. T. remained as he does here, the chemistry between he and Michael would never have developed and the series would've sank as a result.
The 'Hoff on the other hand more or less has Michael down cold. He's a tinge less easy going here, not yet possessing what I've dubbed the "Cheerful heroics" which would come to define the character. But he's already a likable protagonist and carries this first episode on his Member's Only clad shoulders.
One of the other highlights is that the episode is a cavalcade of 70's/80's guest actor players. There's go-to baddie Lance LeGault, Richard Anderson, Bert Rosario, Charles Napier, Michael D. Roberts. Even Battlestar Galactica's Herbert Jefferson Jr. Shows up! But it's the impossibly beautiful, stunning, sexy, awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, make you believe that there is a God Phyllis Davis who steals the show. This woman could've made me do terrible things and I'd have thanked her for it.
Overall "Knight of the Phoenix" is a reasonably entertaining start, but grading on a curve. It just doesn't match the series at its best.
One man can make a difference
coltras3512 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
When a young detective is ambushed in a failed police stake out, he is believed to have been killed. In reality, he revives and learns that his face has been altered and his identity has been changed to Michael Knight. The person responsible for this is Wilton Knight, a dying billionaire who, convinced that one man can make a difference, has selected Michael for the role as a crime-fighter. Now armed with an advanced car called KITT which has the equivalent armor of a battle tank, capable of speeds over 300 MPH and contains an artificial intelligence computer personality as an aide, Michael agrees to perform his assigned role.
A really good pilot episode of a 1980's gem, which is a bit more serious than the following episodes. Hasselhoff really owns the role of Michael Knight, who had been betrayed by a woman, got a new identity, and is out for vengeance. Knight is like the Lone Ranger and Kitt - the super car- is like Tonto and hi-ho silver all in one. There's a tense action finale featuring a truck, helicopter and an ironical death of villainous woman when she tries to shoot Knight through Kitt's car window. A great start to one of my favourite 80's series.
A really good pilot episode of a 1980's gem, which is a bit more serious than the following episodes. Hasselhoff really owns the role of Michael Knight, who had been betrayed by a woman, got a new identity, and is out for vengeance. Knight is like the Lone Ranger and Kitt - the super car- is like Tonto and hi-ho silver all in one. There's a tense action finale featuring a truck, helicopter and an ironical death of villainous woman when she tries to shoot Knight through Kitt's car window. A great start to one of my favourite 80's series.
THE GREATEST TV SHOW EVER!!!
ekaj9 August 2002
I have seen only one other tech show like this, but not as good as this one! I have only watched the repeats on WGN between the years of: 1995-1998. But I have not seen any thing come close to topping this program!
IT IS THE COOLEST!!!
IT IS THE COOLEST!!!
Beginning of An Era
shelbythuylinh22 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
David Hasselhoff became a star after his turn on Young and the Restless as former Police LT and Green Beret soldier plus ladies' man Michael Long turned Michael Knight.
He is shot but a metal plate makes him survive on it there. And that he is given an new ID and a wisecracking car named Knight Industries Two Thousand or KITT for short.
And that he wants to seek revenge on the woman who betrayed and shot him. As dying kind hearted billionaire Wilton Knight allowed him to do so. And so was the start of the series there still a classic.
He is shot but a metal plate makes him survive on it there. And that he is given an new ID and a wisecracking car named Knight Industries Two Thousand or KITT for short.
And that he wants to seek revenge on the woman who betrayed and shot him. As dying kind hearted billionaire Wilton Knight allowed him to do so. And so was the start of the series there still a classic.
OK to watch
Stibbert25 March 2006
David Hasslehof and his talking car may not be the brightest moments in television, but not the darkest neither.
While it may have been a good idea at the time, this just doesn't hold up today. The story is all through silly and would maybe make it in a children's cartoon today. The beginning was really vague and confusing. It kind of made sense later, but still. It's never really believable and you never really forget you're just watching TV. You'll also find the regular clichés in there. Like the take-out-five-guys-alone-in-a-bar-fight-cliché, meet-sexy-girl-with-kid-cliché and not to mention the rich-and-powerful-secret-organization-cliché.
The acting is OK. It's acting and there is no doubt about it. The characters are OK. They make a character of the car and that is good.
The stunts and special effects are obvious, you see the ramps for the jumps and the driver who is not supposed to be there. All together it's not very impressive, but it's fun enough to watch.
As for cinematography it's OK. No shots is bad and here and there, there is a cool one and the lightning is nice. The music is not bad neither. In fact I'd say that theme is the best thing with this whole movie. The rest of the score is good too.
All together this is not quality TV at it's best. Never the less, I found it too be rather entertaining and OK to watch.
While it may have been a good idea at the time, this just doesn't hold up today. The story is all through silly and would maybe make it in a children's cartoon today. The beginning was really vague and confusing. It kind of made sense later, but still. It's never really believable and you never really forget you're just watching TV. You'll also find the regular clichés in there. Like the take-out-five-guys-alone-in-a-bar-fight-cliché, meet-sexy-girl-with-kid-cliché and not to mention the rich-and-powerful-secret-organization-cliché.
The acting is OK. It's acting and there is no doubt about it. The characters are OK. They make a character of the car and that is good.
The stunts and special effects are obvious, you see the ramps for the jumps and the driver who is not supposed to be there. All together it's not very impressive, but it's fun enough to watch.
As for cinematography it's OK. No shots is bad and here and there, there is a cool one and the lightning is nice. The music is not bad neither. In fact I'd say that theme is the best thing with this whole movie. The rest of the score is good too.
All together this is not quality TV at it's best. Never the less, I found it too be rather entertaining and OK to watch.
It's still nice
USSS_Agent1 November 2003
I catch it everyday at 5 PM on the SciFi Channel. I remember watching Knight Rider as a kid and just hypnotized by it's "coolness". I look at it now and I still get hypnotized. Sure, some situations are a little excessive in terms of "reality" but we got a talking car that drives itself. I love the whole "talking car" bit, it's awesome. I wonder to myself if they remade it to a more modern beat, would it work? I mean, imagine the KITT system in something like a Rousch Stage 3 Mustang or maybe an import like a Nissan Skyline. It'd be great. David Hasselhoff is unfortunately irreplaceable but if I had to choose everybody over again, Michael and RC could be Bill Belamy and Peter Facinelli off of Fastlane from FOX networks. Tiffany could play Bonnie's character. Devon could be Charles Shaughnessy (Maxwell Sheffield off of "The Nanny"). Yeah, yeah, I bet everyone is going "Ha,ha,ha, not those people, in the same room". Ah well, I tried. That's why I'm not a director or producer, just a writer. Two episodes that stuck out to me is where Michael goes in as a lead singer for a band that had it's original leader killed, he sings, it's just funny. I mean, he did do theater. Another episode was one he married his girlfriend that had left him because "FLAG" was taking up his life. Anyways, it was just a REALLY DRAMATIC episode that felt like a jagged pill. You had to take this highly entailing (or what could have been) story in one hour. It was rushed and whatnot, but it was pretty nice. It had a nice twist here and there, so even though it should have been stretched out in TWO hours, it's not bad. Thanks for reading!
Knight Rider: Knight of the Phoenix
Scarecrow-884 September 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Michael Long, a cop that was part of a sting operation regarding industrial espionage that goes awry resulting in his being shot in the face and left for dead by those responsible for stealing microfilm, barely survives (thanks to a metal plate in his head!).
Thanks to a dying wealthy man named Wilton Knight (Richard Basehart, the veteran of film and television, particularly of the television series "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"), Long is given facial reconstructive surgery, emerging as Michael Knight (with the face of 'The Hoff', the one and only David Hasselhoff) who carries a desire for revenge and retribution, particularly for the woman who shot him, Tanya Walker (Phylis Davis).
Along with Fred Wilson (Bert Rosario) and his triggerman Vernon Gray (the great heavy Lance LeGault, known for his many villainous parts on 70s/80s television action and sci-fi), Tanya has set her sights on locked secrets located within the headquarters of a prosperous Silicon Valley business known as Comron (Tanya has seductively won over the heart of the company's owner). It'll be up to Michael Knight to stop her and Wilson, but not without resistance.
Aided by the wonderful voice of St. Elsewhere's William Daniels as KITT (the voice of Knight's ultra-cool supercar) and Edward Mulhare, as Devon Miles the one left in charge of Knight's industry and business, who will offer assistance when needed, Hasselhoff—that charm, charisma, cocky smile, handsome face, and "corny-cool", along with that awesome slick, black leather jacket—became a pop culture icon with "Knight Rider" one of the best, most memorable action shows of the 80s. With quite an elaborate, sleek design inside and out, that marvelous black paint job, the running red light at the nose, the car was quite a bit of eye candy for gearheads (or aficionados of cars that look like futuristic vehicles out of a James Bond movie) and lots of action stunts (I LOVE this era where car explosions and crashes were of the norm with the likes of "A-Team" and "Fall Guy" populating television screens) kept kids like I was very happy. The Hoff's first potential love interest is the delicious Pamela Susan Shoop (the hot babe who gets her face burnt to a crisp by Michael Myers thanks to an overheated steam bath in "Halloween II") whose husband was killed by Tanya because he was nosing around too much (he was an employee at Comron). Shoop's son is played by Barret Oliver (many will know him as the tyke who loves to read in "The Neverending Story"), actually hiding in KITT much to Michael's startled surprise during the awesome demolition derby sequence of this pilot movie. A ton of character actors with wonderfully familiar faces show up in various parts to hinder Michael on his mission, including Charles Napier, John Quade, and Red West, strong-arm men (and truck drivers) hired by Tanya to cause him harm. Such cool stunts include KITT driving right through a truck trailer (not to mention walls and doors), and turbo flying over another diesel truck! Tanya and Wilson try several times to stop KITT, failing miserably time and again. The one-two punch of KITT and The Hoff—how could "Knight Rider" *not* be a hit?!? For laughs Michael D Roberts and Bert Rosario are two hoods who try multiple times to steal KITT, actually getting a chance to drive off in it, not prepared for the "ejection" that comes with stealing Michael Knight's ride.
Thanks to a dying wealthy man named Wilton Knight (Richard Basehart, the veteran of film and television, particularly of the television series "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"), Long is given facial reconstructive surgery, emerging as Michael Knight (with the face of 'The Hoff', the one and only David Hasselhoff) who carries a desire for revenge and retribution, particularly for the woman who shot him, Tanya Walker (Phylis Davis).
Along with Fred Wilson (Bert Rosario) and his triggerman Vernon Gray (the great heavy Lance LeGault, known for his many villainous parts on 70s/80s television action and sci-fi), Tanya has set her sights on locked secrets located within the headquarters of a prosperous Silicon Valley business known as Comron (Tanya has seductively won over the heart of the company's owner). It'll be up to Michael Knight to stop her and Wilson, but not without resistance.
Aided by the wonderful voice of St. Elsewhere's William Daniels as KITT (the voice of Knight's ultra-cool supercar) and Edward Mulhare, as Devon Miles the one left in charge of Knight's industry and business, who will offer assistance when needed, Hasselhoff—that charm, charisma, cocky smile, handsome face, and "corny-cool", along with that awesome slick, black leather jacket—became a pop culture icon with "Knight Rider" one of the best, most memorable action shows of the 80s. With quite an elaborate, sleek design inside and out, that marvelous black paint job, the running red light at the nose, the car was quite a bit of eye candy for gearheads (or aficionados of cars that look like futuristic vehicles out of a James Bond movie) and lots of action stunts (I LOVE this era where car explosions and crashes were of the norm with the likes of "A-Team" and "Fall Guy" populating television screens) kept kids like I was very happy. The Hoff's first potential love interest is the delicious Pamela Susan Shoop (the hot babe who gets her face burnt to a crisp by Michael Myers thanks to an overheated steam bath in "Halloween II") whose husband was killed by Tanya because he was nosing around too much (he was an employee at Comron). Shoop's son is played by Barret Oliver (many will know him as the tyke who loves to read in "The Neverending Story"), actually hiding in KITT much to Michael's startled surprise during the awesome demolition derby sequence of this pilot movie. A ton of character actors with wonderfully familiar faces show up in various parts to hinder Michael on his mission, including Charles Napier, John Quade, and Red West, strong-arm men (and truck drivers) hired by Tanya to cause him harm. Such cool stunts include KITT driving right through a truck trailer (not to mention walls and doors), and turbo flying over another diesel truck! Tanya and Wilson try several times to stop KITT, failing miserably time and again. The one-two punch of KITT and The Hoff—how could "Knight Rider" *not* be a hit?!? For laughs Michael D Roberts and Bert Rosario are two hoods who try multiple times to steal KITT, actually getting a chance to drive off in it, not prepared for the "ejection" that comes with stealing Michael Knight's ride.
The most unique pilot for any tv show
knightofthephoenix25 November 2003
For the series as a whole, Knight Rider has not been given the credit it deserves. Alot of people discredit it with simply saying, "cheesy" or "bad acting" but in it's heyday, it was Columbo in a sportscar. With interesting plots and storylines that Sherlock would find a mystery and a car more Fast and Furious than anything Paul Walker can drive, one can only wonder why such a show was discredited. To have mass appeal takes genuinity but one must also realize that you CAN'T ENTERTAIN EVERYONE. And from what I've read, it seems that alot of the comments are made by people who have seen the show only in passing. Not realizing, that if it were not for Knight Rider, "The Evil TWIN" episodes of other tv shows may not be as popular. Knight Rider had set the trend for this...as clearly seen on VH1's show "I remember the 80's" The pilot episode alone contributes a unique stance for most tv show pilots. Reconstructing the main character into another person! To me, it seems like this could've very well inspired Robocop! A police officer given a new identity through plastic surgery. I cannot believe shows on a smaller caliber have survived to hit the big screen (i.e. Charlie's Angels, Mod Squad, SWAT and now Starsky and Hutch?) And the Knight Rider legacy just lingers like a shadowy flight into a television show...that never existed.
Larry Anderson stars as Michael Long
safenoe11 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Talk about nostalgia, and yes I love Knight Rider, and it really transformed television and of course created The Hoff. But I was always curious about who played Michael Knight before David Hasselhoff took over, and it was Larry Anderson who played Michael Long. I don't think Larry is related to Harry "Night Court" Anderson. Anyway, due credit is given to Larry years later thankfully with social media and all. Anyway, Knight Rider really captured the imagination and made William Daniels a star with his wry voice of KITT. In a reboot I'd love for KITT to have a southern accent or a British accent.
Good tv-series
pablofuray3 July 2002
I remember this when I was younger, I thought it was brilliant that there was a talking car, that could do almost anything, unlock doors, crash though brick wall without damage, etc and best of all, drive it's self, still now it was brilliantly done to have a car that could do that, with turbo jump and other accessories, although looking at the acting by Hasselhoff looks wooden, and the story lines a bit had to believe. There are repeats of this tv series still running, I still like it. I would let any youngster watch as it is well done for the time. How long will it be till we actually get cars that will talk to you or do this for real, not to long into the future.
Probably the Best TV pilot ever
foster_31628 January 2002
Warning: Spoilers
The 2-part pilot for Knight Rider that aired September 26, 1982 is probably one of the best TV pilots ever made. **SPOILER ALERT** Michael Long, an undercover police detective who was working to bring down criminals who had infiltrated COMTRON, a computer company in the Silicon Valley region of Northern California, was shot in the face by Tanya Walker and left for dead. Millionaire Wilton Knight takes him to the headquarters of the Foundation to give Michael a new face through plastic surgery, a new identity and a new car, KITT, which looked prehistoric to the way it looked at the end of the series. Before Michael Long became Michael Knight, he was at WIlton's bedside before he passed and said the most famous line of the show "You were spared to lead the great fight. Don't turn away in fear. One man can make a difference and you are going to be that man". After that, Michael had one thing on his mind, to bring down Tanya Walker and prevent the ripping off of COMTRON. The climax of the pilot has Tanya trying to leave town by plane, but Michael using KITT as a weapon, takes out a wing which leads to the plane eventually exploding. Also, when Tanya tries to shoot Michael again, the bullet bounced off of KITT's window back at Tanya killing her. To put it in perspective, the pilot in most people's view was the best episode of the series, and with me it ranks up there with the other two major two part episodes in the series, "Goliath" and "Knight of the Juggernaut".
A confused start
Leofwine_draca29 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
The first episode of the massively popular KNIGHT RIDER TV show and we get off to a confusing start, with a different actor playing the lead at the outset before being transformed via surgery into David Hasselhoff. The rest of the episode merely sets the wheels in motion, so to speak, and all of the talking car introduction feels passe given that pretty much everyone on the planet knows the central conceit and knows it well by now. Still, veteran performer Richard Basehart is a welcome presence here, even if everyone else is still finding their feet.
classic
sTAn-696 June 2002
I remember when we eventually got our cable back in the mid-80's. Knight Rider came on our screens along with Airwolf and those other shows you also might remember well. I was a child and Knight Rider was fun, a car that actually can talk and think. Coool. Well, I strongly doubt I will be still as much impressed more than 15 years later, but it was really entertaining at that time.
Space Hunter Vehicle Used in Knight Rider
rpwhaley5 May 2005
The large jeep like vehicle from the movie SPACE HUNTER was used as Kitt's nemisis for an 2 part episode of Knight Ridder in Season 4 called "Knight of the Juggernaut". It was modified with a battering ram and larger tires. The episode took place in Chicago in late 1985.
"Michael and K.I.T.T.'s latest assignment, to guard a volatile new isotope in Chicago, looks as if it could be their last, when the late Wilton Knight's daughter Jennifer plans to shut down their division of FLAG, and suspends Michael. But meanwhile, international terrorist Phillip Nordstrom kidnaps Devon, and uses hi-tech laser surgery on a criminal to create an impostor, as part of Nordstrom's plot to get his hands on the valuable isotope. Even though suspended, Michael becomes suspicious of (the impostor) Devon's behaviour and investigates but Nordstrom plans to get rid of their interference, coating K.I.T.T. in a chemical to break down his molecular amour coating, before turning loose "The Juggernaut" a deadly mobile battering ram... "
"Michael and K.I.T.T.'s latest assignment, to guard a volatile new isotope in Chicago, looks as if it could be their last, when the late Wilton Knight's daughter Jennifer plans to shut down their division of FLAG, and suspends Michael. But meanwhile, international terrorist Phillip Nordstrom kidnaps Devon, and uses hi-tech laser surgery on a criminal to create an impostor, as part of Nordstrom's plot to get his hands on the valuable isotope. Even though suspended, Michael becomes suspicious of (the impostor) Devon's behaviour and investigates but Nordstrom plans to get rid of their interference, coating K.I.T.T. in a chemical to break down his molecular amour coating, before turning loose "The Juggernaut" a deadly mobile battering ram... "
How about a movie?
rodentsfoe25 August 2002
I have been waiting YEARS for there to be a remake of this wonderful science fiction series. But every time they try and remake it they make a mistake - making it a "team Knight Rider" instead of "one man can make a difference," for instance.
"The Knight of the Phoenix" was the original story of Michael Long being betrayed by a woman and shot in the face, only to be "reborn" as Michael Knight under the auspices of the wealthy, humane and brilliant Wilton Knight. Similar to the first Batman movie, this mythology is ripe for the remaking into a blockbuster movie. But no one has picked up on this yet - why? All I can say is, David Hasselhoff, please spend some of your money in this direction!
"The Knight of the Phoenix" was the original story of Michael Long being betrayed by a woman and shot in the face, only to be "reborn" as Michael Knight under the auspices of the wealthy, humane and brilliant Wilton Knight. Similar to the first Batman movie, this mythology is ripe for the remaking into a blockbuster movie. But no one has picked up on this yet - why? All I can say is, David Hasselhoff, please spend some of your money in this direction!
Cool Car, Cool Hero, Cool Action!
Big Movie Fan16 May 2002
Warning: Spoilers
I've said it so many times but the 1980's were just great. Nothing can compare to them. The music was great, the fashion was great, the hairstyles were great and the 80's were just the best time for TV shows. Why can't they do good shows any more?
(PLOT SPOILER AHEAD)Knight Rider was one of many classic shows from the 80's. The pilot episode was fantastic. Michael Knight was previously a policeman called Michael Long. Following an accident he damaged his face and had plastic surgery. Michael Long was no more-Michael Knight was the man. He was given a super car called K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand)which could do just about anything apart from fly.
The pilot series set the ball rolling for the TV series. There was intrigue, action, suspense and a talking car. What more could any fan want?
(PLOT SPOILER AHEAD)Knight Rider was one of many classic shows from the 80's. The pilot episode was fantastic. Michael Knight was previously a policeman called Michael Long. Following an accident he damaged his face and had plastic surgery. Michael Long was no more-Michael Knight was the man. He was given a super car called K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand)which could do just about anything apart from fly.
The pilot series set the ball rolling for the TV series. There was intrigue, action, suspense and a talking car. What more could any fan want?
MAN AND CAR FIGHT CRIME. mAN TALKS TO CAR COPS LOOK AT HIM SUSPICIOUSLY
redsounder7 July 2001
KNIGHT RIDER was a family show with a long run about a guy who fights crime with a super high tech car that can do anything. It was very popular in it's long run despite the critics pans of the show. The show was about a cop who gets a face surgery and fights crime for a secret think tank. The show was a action sci-fi hour in the "man from uncle" escapist tradition. The series one was of NBC's most popular genre shows of the 1980's.
Thank God for nostalgia
jivetalkingrobot4 September 2004
I'll tell you, it's a good thing we've got nostalgia, cause that's really all this show has going for it. I remember watching this show, and being impressed, not only but the futuristic design of KITT, but the stories weren't half bad. Now I'm bearing in mind, that the episodes I'm remembering most likely were long after first season, maybe even 3rd or 4th, because, number one, I don't remember any of these episodes, and number two, the KITT in these episodes is quite primitive compared to the one I remember. I mean, his little voice light is just a flashing read light. I vaguely remember it being like that. I have great memories of the episodes where his voice light changes to the bouncy equalizer type light that measure his inflection. As of now, the only feature he has is pursuit mode, where he's capable of getting up to high speeds, surveillance mode, auto mode, and the ever present, and constantly standard turbo boost. I'm finding myself hungering for later seasons so I can see some of my favorites like when he could jam up other car's breaks, and the ever impressive "super pursuit mode."
All this aside, lets take a look at some of the episodes. The episodes in general in this season...well, they're just bad. The writing is terrible, Hasselhoff is abhorid as Knight himself, and these issues make me question how in God's good green earth did this show get picked up for another season, let alone 5 in total. I just finished watching an episode in which Micheal had to protect the arrival of what were called "leaders of several 'well off' third world countries," which in itself slayed me. Anyways, so all this happens, Micheal saves them all from assassination with the help of his automotive friend, and the show leaves the viewer watching these foreign dignitaries with Knight in a country and western bar getting absolutely HAMMERED so they can "unwind" before they stop terrorism. Come on now. It's absolute pure camp, but then again, maybe that's some of the driving force that keeps me watching.
So lets break it down.
Pros: -KITT is still pretty cool despite his primitive state
-The opening credits and theme music will always kick ass.
-Every episode ends with a voice over of the eccentric millionaire who saved Michael in the first episode, built KITT, and began the "Foundation for Law and Government" saying "Micheal Knight. A lone crusader in a dangerous world....the world of....the Knight Rider."
Cons:
-Only one, but it's a big one....everything from the writing, acting, staging, production value of this show, at least in the first season is just plain horrible, with very, very few redeeming qualities.
That's all I got....hope it makes sense.
All this aside, lets take a look at some of the episodes. The episodes in general in this season...well, they're just bad. The writing is terrible, Hasselhoff is abhorid as Knight himself, and these issues make me question how in God's good green earth did this show get picked up for another season, let alone 5 in total. I just finished watching an episode in which Micheal had to protect the arrival of what were called "leaders of several 'well off' third world countries," which in itself slayed me. Anyways, so all this happens, Micheal saves them all from assassination with the help of his automotive friend, and the show leaves the viewer watching these foreign dignitaries with Knight in a country and western bar getting absolutely HAMMERED so they can "unwind" before they stop terrorism. Come on now. It's absolute pure camp, but then again, maybe that's some of the driving force that keeps me watching.
So lets break it down.
Pros: -KITT is still pretty cool despite his primitive state
-The opening credits and theme music will always kick ass.
-Every episode ends with a voice over of the eccentric millionaire who saved Michael in the first episode, built KITT, and began the "Foundation for Law and Government" saying "Micheal Knight. A lone crusader in a dangerous world....the world of....the Knight Rider."
Cons:
-Only one, but it's a big one....everything from the writing, acting, staging, production value of this show, at least in the first season is just plain horrible, with very, very few redeeming qualities.
That's all I got....hope it makes sense.
Major disappintment....
hoebo20 March 2003
I remember watching a number of 80's TV series, The A-Team, Streethawk, Airwolf, Magnum p.i, and Knight Rider. However when I recently looked over them again, this was terrible. For some reason my memory of a cool guy and his talking car, was corrupted. David Hasslehoff is his usual talentless self, the stunts are phoney and bland and the stories are utter rubbish.
I don't know why I had this memory of a great show, coz the series was a major letdown.
Unlike Magnum, or the A-Team which drew its strength from its weaknesses and hold their charm, Knight Rider just looks awful.
I don't know why I had this memory of a great show, coz the series was a major letdown.
Unlike Magnum, or the A-Team which drew its strength from its weaknesses and hold their charm, Knight Rider just looks awful.
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