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Television Review: Knight Rider 3000 (2008)
02/18/08
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Woops, I meant this one:
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Knight Rider is the third new light-scifi show I've seen of the season, after Bionic Woman and Terminator. I'd put it behind Terminator and about even with the deceased Bionic Woman.
A group of bad guys steal technology from inventor Charles Graiman (Bruce Davison). Needing somebody to break the inscription code on Graiman's computers, the thieves go after his daughter, Sarah (Deana Russo). She's saved by K.I.T.T 3000, Graiman's super car that escaped from the ambush to search for Sarah whom he finds and automatically, through pre-programming, takes Mike Traceur (Justin Bruening). Mike is Michael Knight's, from the original series, son, a former Army ranger in debt to a loan shark.
There's also an F.B.I. agent who doesn't do much of anything.
The series is well-made, if not totally compelling. Some of the chase scenes are very good, especially the crash at the end. The star of the show is K.I.T.T. and it doesn't disappoint. I'm guessing that the producers went with a Ford because GM doesn't sell the Chevy Camaro from Transformers or the Firebird and didn't want to go with the Grand Prix. K.I.T.T is a black 550 HP Ford Shelby GT500KR Mustang. His upgrades include the ability to hack into security systems, nanotech that absorbs damage, and the ability to change colors.
The car-human banter is acceptable and the mandatory AI-human feelings-talk ("I don't have feelings") is blissfully short.
Politics/ Message:
There's a homosexual edge to the show that some people might find "revolutionary," and others grating. In one scene, Mike is in bed with two girls and the commercials have the male-voiced, but "neat" sounding K.I.T.T. jealous of Mike's date.
The seemingly superfluous Carrie Ruvai (Sydney Tamiia Poitier) is a lesbian- a promiscuous one at that. In her first scene, she's leaving her apartment and a beautiful, in-bed, blond whom she "just met."
This breaks new ground as it's very rare for action-oriented shows to have homosexual characters; they're usually seen in soap operas like Desperate Housewives or female-oriented comedies like Grey's Anatomy. Since her lesbianism isn't a part of the story, it's obviously an attempt to "mainstream" the behavior (I know our homosexual brothers and sisters are part of our society, but TV doesn't have to be a cross section of our population- there'd be more ugly people.). I personally don't like it. It's another thing to explain to the kids, adds an unwanted and distracting political angle, and frankly, is a hindrance to our nation's attempt to hold an ordered family life as the ideal.
Finally, at the beginning of any social revolution, revolutionaries present the previously scorned on their best behavior. What happens if Ms. Ruvai begins to seduce other women? Will America see it as playfully as it does, say, James Bond or Face from the A Team's conquests or will the seduction carry with it a sense of corruption?
Tags: differences knight rider original, night rider
17 comments
I personally don't like it. It's another thing to explain to the kids, adds an unwanted and distracting political angle, and frankly, is a hindrance to our nation's attempt to hold an ordered family life as the ideal.It is a sad thing that this author thinks that gay people aren't a part of an ordered family life. Let's face it, the conservative view of family is dead in this country and for good reason...it no longer exists. Having to explain real life situations and differences in people's sexual preference is something that every parent must do. Television is a reflection on society and comparing ugly people to gay people is something that is beyond offensive to gay people. Personally, I'm glad that gay characters are making more of an appearance on main-stream television. The same people that don't want gay people portrayed as mainstream are the same people that didn't want black people or interracial couples portrayed as "normal". Just wanted to give my opinion on this critic's archaic thoughts. Oh yeah, the show was pretty terrible.
Personally I dont' have an issue with homosexuality but there is a responsibilty when it comes to prime time programing. I was psyched to see a cool show featuring the infamous KITT but instead I was disappointed and shut it off after 20 minutes. Seeing the lead character who is supposed to be the "hero" (ex military ranger, etc..) lying in bed with a girl and then having a second girl climb in bed with them when we are first introduced to the character really irked me. Yes I know that the young generation has no respect for anything (others, relationships, themselves - it's the narcassitic generation), must network TV advocate this behavior? I don't mind lesbian characters i a caring responsible relationship way but again, introducing her by showing us a law enforcement officer callously heading out to work and being cold to the "one night stand" left in her bed... Geez... tell her there's a donut and some hot coffee waiting for her on the table and give her a soft kiss goodbye.
I also thought Val Kilmer was weak as the voice of KITT.
I should have known something was amiss when the promo party was at the Playboy mansion. What is this.. a Baywatch knockoff?
This show is WEAK and I bet it wont last a season.
Since I don't mind black people on television, you're just showing your own bigotry and stereotyping. Homosexuality is a behavior and race is what one is, physically.
By "conservative" family do you mean a father married to the mother and with children. Why would you want to see that model decline? do you even know what you're hoping for?
And, I wasn't saying gay people were ugly. I was just saying that their presence isn't an effort at equal representation.
I thought it was terrible. In fact, I couldn’t even watch the entire thing. I tuned out after two of the pathetic “villains” while supposedly in a 100mph+ chase along a winding road in a mini-van and managed to stop just short of colliding with an oncoming truck!The homosexuality was a blatant attempt to appeal to teenage boys. Television will really break new ground when the hot FBI agent is shown in bed with two men and the man is interrupted while snuggling another man.
I am getting tired of this. I will never ever agree with homosexuality. That doesn't make me a bigot or anything, I just don't want to be a homo, I don't want them displaying public affection in front of me or my kids. What is wrong with that? Get this, it's not ME you have to worry about accepting your rump ranging behavoir... it's your own concience! if it bother's you that much when people disagree with homo lifestyle, then it must be wrong! It can be compared to you not liking a colorful decent shirt or suit I wear, and you want me to stop wearing it..... hey pal, that's not your right telling me I can't wear a shirt....and then how about if I try to MAKE you accept my shirt...... what if you don't want to accept my shirt?See the point? You all are trying to MAKE society accept your homsexuality, and your so bothered by your own concience that you think the shame will go away of society says its ok..... What the Heck???!!!
Nobody has to accept anything or respect or agree with anything. We have a disagreement about whether something is positive, negative or neutral. Let's just be clear on the disagreement.
We're all sinners and all that. My only problem with public homosexuality is that it's against what I (emphasis) think is the ideal family situation and the one I wish to promote for my society. Divorce is also not ideal (if less counter-whatever) and I don't want television proclaiming the joys of divorce, but I'm not going to call divorced people "bad."
Forget the homosexuality, this show, or at least its pilot, was awful. Were I a member of that community, I would not want any part of my lifestyle represented on that poorly written show. The new 'Mike' is stale, the love interest is boring, and the action scenes were lacking. Val Kilmer's K.I.T.T. voice sounded like cardboard tastes. This show should die soon.
Your right, homo's aside, there was the promiscuity part also. It was if it were cleverly placed to get a feel for what the public will say. Hoep they adjust it accordingly. Family values are more profitable, not this crap. 
The show was tripe, full of cliches, stupid characters & overacting. A 2 hour Ford commercial with Ford commercials in between. What a waste of time. 
I am glad to read that most everyone else who tuned in thought it was as crap as I did - I turned it off after 30 minutes as I could no longer withstand it's assault on my intelligence.For me, the plot was cheesy, the characters were stereotypical and the acting was thin.
The highlight (or would it be a lowlight?) of the 30 minutes I did see was when KITT was being chased through the mountains by bad guys - why couldn't the fabled 550hp Shelbyville Cobra outrun a mini-van?
I was also insulted by the constant barrage of Ford advertising. I thought Transformers pushed and exceeded reasonability with pushing Chevy but that was nothing compared to this.
Needless to say, I won't be tuning in when Knight Rider becomes a weekly occurrence. I am, however, willing to take bets on how long it will last - the over/under is 8.5 weeks. Any takers?
Very very very disappointing!!!
I grew up watching the original Knight Rider (hardcore fan or was) when i first saw the previews of the new Knight Rider I was very excited to see it air.
Unfortunately, it stunk!
Story made no sense from it original. It seems like they just put everything together at the last minute to sell Fords. The plot sucks, I hope Glen Larson the creator of the original did not right the story for this crap...
The technology was old nothing new, I feel the the old K.I.T.T. was more advanced, it even had a shooting laser.
The homo thing wasn't much of a bother its reality (Will & Grace, The L Word, Roseanne they all have homos) but as mentioned before the 2 girls with the star of the show was a weak attempt to sale the show. I mean we always knew that Michael Knight was a playboy or lady's man but we never saw him in an orgy.
The inventor story line or plot did not make sense it was a team of scientist that built K.I.T.T. which was funded by Wilton Knight who was a billionaire and what the hell happened to Devon the head of the F.L.A.G. foundation (you know the old man who had an accent and was always in a mansion, limo or airplane). For crying out loud the original had Michael Knight talking to his car from his wristwatch and now its a craping ear piece, my bluetooth ear piece for my cell phone looked more advanced.
This show was sad!
Who the hell wrote this CRAP?
Who designed the new car (Were was Michael Sheffel the original designer for both K.I.T.T. and the Delorean for Back to the Future?) and its boring old antique tricks? I would have assembled a better story line free of charge. Did they even watch the original pilot or at least 5 episodes of the original show?
It's sad to know that NBC would release this!
Do they even have a creative department?
Not to mention real actors. So Val Kilmer gained so much weight he is now the voice for K.I.T.T. WTF?????
Once again they destroyed Knight RIder!!!
Can they get the people the put together Smallville to revive this show?
-thisGUSthing
Oh yea!
And the Theme song was super lame...
This won't air as a full complete season.
-thisGUSthing
Author says the gay thing is new, but, have any of you seen "Torchwood?" There is more gayness in that show than there is in the Janet Jackson Dancers. We have gone from no gayness in any show, to over the top scenes where 2 guys are beating the crap out of one another and they come out of this kissing. It's just too much gay. Networks need to chime it back a bit. 
I didn't care for the TV show at all, now Baywatch, I could watch that. 
You are right. Baywatch was much better, especially with all of those suntanned babes on the beach. 
you are very-very good. 
I tried to watch the 1st episode. I had to shut it off after 7 minutes, and I hated every second of it.I remember being enthralled by the original. I even wrote a paper about the premier episode for school.
Luckily, Hulu has the original Knight Rider episodes (called Knight Rider Classic) for me to revisit and enjoy.
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