15 Really Cool Facts You May Or May NOT Know About 'Knight Rider' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-05-2011, 09:28 PM

“Knight Rider: a shadowy flight into the dangerous world of a man…who does not exist. Michael Knight, a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.” Knight Rider (1982-1986) was a ratings success in its own day and a pop culture symbol that has endured to our time, producing several sequels and revivals since the flashing red lights of K.I.T.T. first crossed television screens. Let’s take a look at some things you might not know about this famous show.

1. Knight Rider was conceived of as a modern remake of The Lone Ranger. One mysterious individual, aided primarily by his beloved ride, fights a private war against injustice.

2. But the initial impetus to create it came from a 1979 episode of B.J. and the Bear. This 1979-1981 television show focused on the life and struggles of a trucker and his pet chimpanzee against corrupt law enforcement officers. One particular episode entitled “Cain’s Cruiser” featured a technologically advanced police cruiser. Knight Rider producer Richard Lindheim saw potential for a show about such a vehicle and started developing the idea.

3. NBC initially hesitated to pick up Knight Rider — or at least one that included K.I.T.T. talking. They had memories of a 1965-66 sitcom called My Mother the Car, regarded by many television critics and historians as the worst show in television history. That show featured a car that was the reincarnation of its owner’s deceased mother.

4. K.I.T.T., which stands for Knight Industries Two Thousand, was originally named T.A.T.T. for Trans Am Two Thousand because the design was based on the Pontiac Trans Am.

5. The stunt work was hard on the cars, and the show typically ruined four to nine each season. The Trans Ams were sold by GM to the producers for $1 each. Each one cost about $18,000 to modify into K.I.T.T.

6. Two of these cars were modified just for jumps. They were given a lightweight fiberglass body, stock car quality shock absorbers, a stripped interior, and a powerful engine. Each one weighed only 1,500 pounds, thus making the jumps easier.

7. All of those cars, however, were the stunt cars. There was one “hero car” which was used for the non-stunt scenes with David Hasselhoff (Michael Knight). This vehicle was designed by Michael Sheffe, a toymaker for Mattel. Sheffe and his crew were given only two weeks to design and build K.I.T.T. before shooting began. It was barely completed in time before shooting because Scheffe and his team had no time to order custom parts. They had to purchase materials locally or fabricate items themselves with equipment and materials on hand.

8. The pulsating red lights on the front end of K.I.T.T. were taken directly from the Cylons of classic Battlestar Galactica. They modulated according to eight different pre-programmed patterns that could be varied with whatever mood directors wanted K.I.T.T. to express.

9. In some scenes, K.I.T.T. drives himself. When that happens, the driver was actually in the backseat driving blind, or K.I.T.T. was being towed on a cable.

10. Although K.I.T.T. and Michael Knight had many conversations, William Daniels, the voice of K.I.T.T., rarely interacted with David Hasselhoff. Daniels worked in a soundbooth alone without even complete episode scripts. He simply read his lines, which were then mixed into the episode’s sound. In fact, Hasselhoff and Daniels only saw each other at the show’s Christmas parties.

11. K.I.T.T. was originally conceived of as having a robotic temperament devoid of personality. Daniels refused to participate in the show unless he was able to develop K.I.T.T. as a character.

12. The writers had K.I.T.T. destroyed and rebuilt during the third season because commercially available cars started to have K.I.T.T.-like features, such as vocalized notifications (e.g. “Your oil temperature is too high.”)

13. The episode “Give Me Liberty…Or Give Me Death” featured a scene in which Michael Knight and K.I.T.T. raced an orange 1969 Dodge Charger. This was an homage to The Dukes of Hazzard, a contemporary show with a somewhat similar premise. During the episode (29:30), K.I.T.T. jumps over the Charger.

14. In the Knight Rider story, Michael Knight, before he went underground and assumed his secret crime fighting role, was engaged to a woman named Stevie Mason. This aspect of the character’s life was developed in the episode “White Bird”, in which Stevie was played by actress Catherine Hickland. At the end of the season wrap party, David Hasselhoff proposed to Hickland by inviting her to open the hood of a cake made to look like K.I.T.T. Inside was an engagement ring.

15. Although it wasn’t, strictly speaking, a crossover, a two-part episode of Diff’rent Strokes took place on the set of Knight Rider. During that episode, the characters played by Gary Coleman and Shavar Ross sneaked onto the set of Knight Rider and almost got killed.

http://www.neatorama.com/2011/06/03/...-knight-rider/

Mace Dolex · 03-06-2014, 08:33 PM

I watched Diff'rent Strokes too and remember the episode with Knight Rider, it wasn't exactly a crossover storywise more like a guest shot for David Hasselhoff on DS.

And I don't think William Daniels had supplied KITT's voice for those episodes.

MacLeaper · 03-10-2014, 10:51 AM

I love Knight Rider! This is a childhood favorite for me- and the facts here were quite interesting to read. I knew about a few things (like the "Diff'rent Strokes" crossover) but a lot of others were news to me. I'm glad William Daniels insisted on giving KITT a personality- the show wouldn't have been quite the same without it and definitely wouldn't have had the same chemistry with Michael Knight and KITT otherwise.

Edward216 · 08-23-2014, 02:04 AM

I can't believe I ever watched this show when I was a teenager! If I ever come across it somewhere now I just think it's awful. And David Hasselhoff simply can't act. I mean the idea of the talking car with all the high tech stuff is cool, but other than that it's a lame show. I don't even like William Daniels as KITT's voice either. But personally I don't think he's a particularly good actor either. I think he always comes off really stiff and unemotional.

Ed.

Mace Dolex · 10-19-2014, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward216

I can't believe I ever watched this show when I was a teenager! If I ever come across it somewhere now I just think it's awful. And David Hasselhoff simply can't act. I mean the idea of the talking car with all the high tech stuff is cool, but other than that it's a lame show. I don't even like William Daniels as KITT's voice either. But personally I don't think he's a particularly good actor either. I think he always comes off really stiff and unemotional.

Ed.

Yeah I agree with you, when I was a kid I didn't know any better and thought KR was the greatest show ever.

and about 90% of the series episodes are terrible, sorry to all fans but its the truth and Hasselhoff's acting is painful at times.

In would say the only good episodes are the ones with KITT's evil version KARR, whenever an episode delves into Michael Knight's prior past as Michael Long and whenever KITT gets trashed and upgraded.

MacLeaper · 10-27-2014, 12:41 PM

You all are welcome to your opinions of course, but I've always liked David Hasselhoff's acting just fine. It worked fine for the series, in my opinion. Oh well- not everyone is going to like the show, of course. I thought it was totally cool as a kid and I still think Knight Rider is totally cool now.

06-05-2011, 09:28 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	15 Really Cool Facts You May Or May NOT Know About 'Knight Rider' “Knight Rider: a shadowy flight into the dangerous world of a man…who does not exist. Michael Knight, a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.” Knight Rider (1982-1986) was a ratings success in its own day and a pop culture symbol that has endured to our time, producing several sequels and revivals since the flashing red lights of K.I.T.T. first crossed television screens. Let’s take a look at some things you might not know about this famous show. 1. Knight Rider was conceived of as a modern remake of The Lone Ranger. One mysterious individual, aided primarily by his beloved ride, fights a private war against injustice. 2. But the initial impetus to create it came from a 1979 episode of B.J. and the Bear. This 1979-1981 television show focused on the life and struggles of a trucker and his pet chimpanzee against corrupt law enforcement officers. One particular episode entitled “Cain’s Cruiser” featured a technologically advanced police cruiser. Knight Rider producer Richard Lindheim saw potential for a show about such a vehicle and started developing the idea. 3. NBC initially hesitated to pick up Knight Rider — or at least one that included K.I.T.T. talking. They had memories of a 1965-66 sitcom called My Mother the Car, regarded by many television critics and historians as the worst show in television history. That show featured a car that was the reincarnation of its owner’s deceased mother. 4. K.I.T.T., which stands for Knight Industries Two Thousand, was originally named T.A.T.T. for Trans Am Two Thousand because the design was based on the Pontiac Trans Am. 5. The stunt work was hard on the cars, and the show typically ruined four to nine each season. The Trans Ams were sold by GM to the producers for $1 each. Each one cost about $18,000 to modify into K.I.T.T. 6. Two of these cars were modified just for jumps. They were given a lightweight fiberglass body, stock car quality shock absorbers, a stripped interior, and a powerful engine. Each one weighed only 1,500 pounds, thus making the jumps easier. 7. All of those cars, however, were the stunt cars. There was one “hero car” which was used for the non-stunt scenes with David Hasselhoff (Michael Knight). This vehicle was designed by Michael Sheffe, a toymaker for Mattel. Sheffe and his crew were given only two weeks to design and build K.I.T.T. before shooting began. It was barely completed in time before shooting because Scheffe and his team had no time to order custom parts. They had to purchase materials locally or fabricate items themselves with equipment and materials on hand. 8. The pulsating red lights on the front end of K.I.T.T. were taken directly from the Cylons of classic Battlestar Galactica. They modulated according to eight different pre-programmed patterns that could be varied with whatever mood directors wanted K.I.T.T. to express. 9. In some scenes, K.I.T.T. drives himself. When that happens, the driver was actually in the backseat driving blind, or K.I.T.T. was being towed on a cable. 10. Although K.I.T.T. and Michael Knight had many conversations, William Daniels, the voice of K.I.T.T., rarely interacted with David Hasselhoff. Daniels worked in a soundbooth alone without even complete episode scripts. He simply read his lines, which were then mixed into the episode’s sound. In fact, Hasselhoff and Daniels only saw each other at the show’s Christmas parties. 11. K.I.T.T. was originally conceived of as having a robotic temperament devoid of personality. Daniels refused to participate in the show unless he was able to develop K.I.T.T. as a character. 12. The writers had K.I.T.T. destroyed and rebuilt during the third season because commercially available cars started to have K.I.T.T.-like features, such as vocalized notifications (e.g. “Your oil temperature is too high.”) 13. The episode “Give Me Liberty…Or Give Me Death” featured a scene in which Michael Knight and K.I.T.T. raced an orange 1969 Dodge Charger. This was an homage to The Dukes of Hazzard, a contemporary show with a somewhat similar premise. During the episode (29:30), K.I.T.T. jumps over the Charger. 14. In the Knight Rider story, Michael Knight, before he went underground and assumed his secret crime fighting role, was engaged to a woman named Stevie Mason. This aspect of the character’s life was developed in the episode “White Bird”, in which Stevie was played by actress Catherine Hickland. At the end of the season wrap party, David Hasselhoff proposed to Hickland by inviting her to open the hood of a cake made to look like K.I.T.T. Inside was an engagement ring. 15. Although it wasn’t, strictly speaking, a crossover, a two-part episode of Diff’rent Strokes took place on the set of Knight Rider. During that episode, the characters played by Gary Coleman and Shavar Ross sneaked onto the set of Knight Rider and almost got killed. http://www.neatorama.com/2011/06/03/...-knight-rider/
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03-10-2014, 10:51 AM	#3
MacLeaper Child of the 80s Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 20, 2001 Posts: 3,359	I love Knight Rider! This is a childhood favorite for me- and the facts here were quite interesting to read. I knew about a few things (like the "Diff'rent Strokes" crossover) but a lot of others were news to me. I'm glad William Daniels insisted on giving KITT a personality- the show wouldn't have been quite the same without it and definitely wouldn't have had the same chemistry with Michael Knight and KITT otherwise.
	__________________ "Oh boy!" - Dr. Sam Beckett "You can do anything you wanna do if you put your mind to it." - MacGyver "Have mercy!" - Uncle Jesse "Ha, I kill me!" - ALF "I am The Way, The Truth and The Life. No man comes to The Father but by Me."- Jesus Christ (John 14:6)

03-06-2014, 08:33 PM	#2
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,666	I watched Diff'rent Strokes too and remember the episode with Knight Rider, it wasn't exactly a crossover storywise more like a guest shot for David Hasselhoff on DS. And I don't think William Daniels had supplied KITT's voice for those episodes.

08-23-2014, 02:04 AM	#4
Edward216 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 4,625	I can't believe I ever watched this show when I was a teenager! If I ever come across it somewhere now I just think it's awful. And David Hasselhoff simply can't act. I mean the idea of the talking car with all the high tech stuff is cool, but other than that it's a lame show. I don't even like William Daniels as KITT's voice either. But personally I don't think he's a particularly good actor either. I think he always comes off really stiff and unemotional. Ed.

10-27-2014, 12:41 PM	#6
MacLeaper Child of the 80s Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 20, 2001 Posts: 3,359	You all are welcome to your opinions of course, but I've always liked David Hasselhoff's acting just fine. It worked fine for the series, in my opinion. Oh well- not everyone is going to like the show, of course. I thought it was totally cool as a kid and I still think Knight Rider is totally cool now.