One of our frequent commenters “Nick C” has been told that NBC is trying to “save” Knight Rider by some pretty novel means. According to Nick, NBC is in negotiations to bring both “The Hoff” (David Hasselhoff) and the original voice of K.I.T.T. (William Daniels) back to the show. Not just back for a guest cameo, but back on a permanent basis. The show started relatively well for NBC, particularly in the 18-34 male demo, but has drifted lower over time.
While we have no way of independently confirming the reports or whether if true they will actually come to anything, but it does raise the fun question:
Whose Return Is More Likely to “Save” Knight Rider: The Hoff or The Original Voice of K.I.T.T.?
Seidman: Unless we’re talking about ratings in Germany, the answer is NEITHER. The only thing that can really save this show is better writing. The Hoff will do more for bit torrent downloads worldwide than he’ll do for the ratings. Sure, there may be a brief blip. But because I have to pick a side, I’ll go with William Daniels and the original voice of K.I.T.T. as KR’s savior. Daniels was outstanding as the voice. I’m not hating on Val Kilmer, since that may be the best part of the current show, but, he’s no William Daniels, and if you’re going to have an old school show, you need the old school voice. Plus Daniels was on hit shows like ER St. Elsewhere and Boy Meets World (as more than a voice, and realistically, how could I possibly pick against Mr. Feeny?).
The Hoff has some bad side effects here in the U.S. Fans mocked Dallas Mavericks’ star Dirk Nowitzki for his love of the Hoff’s music in the 2006 NBA playoffs and psychologically, he’s seemingly never recovered.
On the other hand, Daniels does not have his own branded web site including games like Hoff Pac Man and Hoff Frogger (you think I’m making this up? You can’t make stuff like this up!).
And though I know there will certainly be an A Team comeback on NBC sooner or later, maybe what would really save the show is Mr. T, in both the role of Knight AND the voice of the car.
I pity the fool who doubts Mr. T’s ability to save the show!
So yeah, Daniels. I mean neither.
Gorman: Such little faith you have in the power of The Hoff! I love Daniels’ voice, but return of David Hasselhoff would definitely have a better chance of saving the show.
He’s got multi-generational appeal! He’s been on US television since 1975. For many, there can be no other Michael Knight.
He’s got international appeal! He was the star of, and now the very wealthy syndicator of Baywatch, the most watched TV show in the world.
He’s a comeback story! He’s had life struggles, put on a little weight, had a bit of Nip/Tuck done. He’s the John Daly of television (although much richer, poor John).
He’s a freak show! For everyone fan that tunes in, you might get as many viewers to watch the spectacle of his return to broadcast network prime-time.
It’s The Hoff or Bust!
Whose Return Is More Likely To "Save" Knight Rider?
- The Hoff (51%, 257 Votes)
- Even Both Will Fail, it's Beyond Saving! (27%, 139 Votes)
- The Original Voice of K.I.T.T. (22%, 110 Votes)
Total Voters: 506
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Gotta side with Robert on this one. How much good did the original cast of 90210 do to help the redux?
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39092
That mentions “season 2,” but I hear they’re trying hard for him coming back ASAP. The William Daniels stuff I hear is far more rumor. Hassellhoff already played the father in the pilot.
My understanding of the Hassellhoff situation is this:
1. He was in the pilot as the father of the Mike Tracer character and as the original Michael Knight, driver of Knight Industries Two Thousand (Tracer drive Knight Industries Three Thousand).
2. They rebooted the series and tried to get the Hoff back to play another part! I wish I was making this up! However they decided lets have the Hoff guest star as someone else. The Hoff turned them down.
3. The show started sliding in ratings, and the effort to get Hassellhoff back started again, this time to reprise the role that made him more famous than the Soap Opera star he was.
This show is so poorly run it really amuses me. They try the whole “It’s a reboot, and not based on the pilot,” but then when Tracer is “killed,” and has to pick a new name he picks “Michael Knight, just like my dad.”
If Daniels comes back the rumor I hear, is that he’d be the voice of the original KITT and speak only to the Hoff via his watch. Something about FORD not wanting the original car to return.
I’ve heard from too many interesting people the “KR is trying to get the Hoff back,” for it not to be true. The Daniels stuff I’d label as complete rumor. Still with the director of the Anaconda movies claiming the Hoff can’t return due to KR just seems to back it all up.
I know that with the quickly fading ratings, NBC has nothing to lose and everything to gain from trying to get them or one of them back.
i watched the pilot when it first aired and was absolutely stunned at how bad it was. i mean, i still have nightmares…
Yeah, that pilot was awful. I mean it was beyond bad. It was however watched by millions and NBC said “ok so the fans didn’t like it, we can fix that!” The “fix,” is definitely more enjoyable than the pilot but still not “good.” The original wasn’t good TV either but it was a heck of a lot easier to like than the new one.
I got a kick as a kid watching the stuntman drive KITT dressed as the car seat. That was noticeable but amusing in a way.
Anything that brings back Mr. Feeny, I’m all for… even if the show tanks.
Both! That would be SO cool. But if not both have William Daniels back!
He’s the only real actor anyways…
That show is absolutely horrible. They need to cancel it already.
Wait…they are entertaining the thought of bringing in Hasslehoff to SAVE the show? This is a joke, right?
I can’t even believe this show got the green light!
Here’s a quote I got from David Hasselhoff in a video I did back in August for Knightrideronline.com it offered a small glimmer of hope that William Daniels could possibly return.
“I was the one who brought the show back. You know I was the one that pitched it to NBC. I said go ahead run with it. Now we are brining it back again as a series. You know they tried to hook all the new audience with the new guys and now I’m coming back and hopefully I’m bringing… well all these guys that said what happened to the old KITT… So we got some surprises in store.”
Watch the video for yourself at. http://knightrideronline.com/news/2008/08/david_completes_his_gumball_30.php
Without the chemistry of Hasselhoff and Daniels together this is destined to fail. It also suffering without the late great Edward Mulhare and Patricia MacPherson as the supporting cast has no personality.
William Daniels is in his eighties and there is nothing anywhere that says he would be interested.
Too much Hollywood effects, not nearly enough of what made the series special in the first place.
The origional series still works today despite how campy some episodes were, this format is just not appealing.
I was so ticked off the onlt time I watched this show I actually wrote a little minireview to sort out my impressions. First, I couldn’t figure out why a show you would think was for teenaged guys had as its advertisors Kay jewelers, Rolex watches ( local,) and other luxury goods. Then I got it: this show is for 35 year old women and their tween daughters, at least that was clearly the target. Ergo, nothing can save this show based on the assumption that it was designed to be like the old show. I’d say Hasselhoff as a campy pop idol would be the best slim chance. Did anyone notice the car was not even important to the plot, except insofar as it interfaced with the real star, the mainframe computer tended by the two cute tweens who kept a running commentary on the seductive technique of the gorgeous, phone-sex voiced brunet lead? Well, I sure did. I repeat, check out the first twenty minutes of this show and the first ten advertisors or so and you’ll figure it out. The Nielsens used to only the first two ad slots anyway, and probably still do.
LOL Jay, I have to disagree! This show is one huge male fantasy cliche from how they have the female lead Sara half-dressed for no apparent reason most of the time, to having the geeky tech assistant Billy hooking up with the sexy Asian computer geek who happens to love World of Warcraft. Puh-lease! (Also, the techs aren’t exactly teeny boppers. They looked like they were in their mid 20’s).
The Kay jewelers ads are there to brainwash men into thinking that all women love bright shiny things and so if you buy her some of our overpriced carbon, she’ll think you’re great. How could it be targeted at women when none of those ads show women buying the jewelry for themselves and women don’t generally wear Rolexs.
Nobody including me cares much about Knight Rider, but it was a sloppy post so I will amend my statements while holding somewhat to an interior line behind my original one. Yes, it is surely a male teen fantasy, and not a subtle one. But no doubt can exist that shows are after NEW 18 to 35 year old women viewers, since they do 90% of the household purchasing. Going by your logic, if men wear Rolezxes, women buy them. Men rarely buy jewelry, but you are probably right about Kay jewelry trying to induce panic and guilt in male shoppers. I diodn’t list the other ads I wrote down, but they were NOT aimed at teenaged males. Again, by your own logic, if the show is aimed at teenaged men, how many of them buy Rolexes or diamonds, unless they’re drug-dealers operating at a very high level of society. I myself pointed out the female lead – sorry, but she was beautiful – sounded more like a phone sex operator than whatever she’s supposed to be. And as for the poor tech guy not fortunate enough to meet with your approval, I guess one man’s geek is another man’s regular guy.
Jay– no I get what you’re saying. I’ll have to check out the ads the next time I watch Knight Rider. It’s just that I’m one of the (way underrepresented) women that like action shows/movies, and I’m always annoyed by how blatantly they try to pander to a male audience. I haven’t seen any effort to appeal to female viewers except for perhaps the anemic romance SL– but really that was needed for the narrative anyway.
And don’t get me wrong– I LOVE Billy! Though at least 60% of that love is residual BSG Billy love
Am I reading this correctly? Is Val Kilmer the current voice of KITT? I find that odd. Val Kilmer is too talented an actor, and too big a name, for such a spot. Then again, I thought Christian Slater was “too big for TV” too
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Am I reading this correctly? Val Kilmer is the current voice of KITT? I find that odd. Then again, I find it equally odd that Christian Slater starred in a TV Series that didn’t make it
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” According to Nick, NBC is in negotiations to bring both “The Hoff” (David Hasselhoff) and the original voice of K.I.T.T. (William Daniels) back to the show. Not just back for a guest cameo, but back on a permanent basis.”
I am a true visionary! I said that weeks ago!
And not just the HOFF and the voice of KITT, but KITT himself – a black Trans Am – updated with new technology but the same body. They could destroy the current lame FAST AND FURIOUS style car in the Season finale along with it and Michaels son, Justin Time or whatever his name is. Mission #1, REVENGE by the HOFF while he chomps on cheese burgers while driving in each episode. Michael drops a chunk on the floor and KITT intones “Michael, as much as you might want to, please dont eat that burger off the floor of the car…”
Of course that may not help. But its a worth a shot. Maybe a guest spot by AIRWOLF would help? LOL!
Epic fail on the part of NBC. Neither of these ideas will work. The show in it’s current form is doomed, and bringing back the old guard has limited effect. And why they’re investing so much in this junk show while good shows they have are having a hell of a time coming back from writer’s strike limbo is beyond me.
I’ve barely seen one commercial for Chuck all week, and that was combined with a Heroes ad. I’ve heard that Canada is getting more commercials for Chuck than the U.S. And that’s probably all Warner Brother’s doing, not NBC.
These rumors are starting to get pretty crazy. It’s one thing for AICN to publish rumors, but this site usually is a little bit better, since your data always come from facts (ratings) and not some unverified comments.
Anyway, as someone who has ran a Knight Rider side for over 13 years (waits for laughter) we’ve have relationships with people on the show – and these rumors are nothing more than that. Even it’s something fans would want, the calm head realizes that Hoff might bring in ratings for a guest appearance, but will not save the show until the writing gets solid. It’s just distracting the larger issue with the episodes not being strong enough to hold the audience.
There is a lot of strong elements with this new series and hopefully the reboot will deliver stronger Mike and KITT focused episodes that will give the audience what it needs.
neps, this post is not about reporting that Hoff is coming back. It merely says there’s this rumor, now let’s have some fun speculating what the ratings would be like if it were true.
neps, has running a Knight Rider site for 13 seasons left you entirely without a sense of humor? This was intended to be a “fun” poll/discussion on the alternatives. Did Robert’s or my response both not seem a bit comical? (OK, granted, neither of us are comedy writers) Whether or not the rumors are true is entirely beside the point to me.
Julia, as ususal, has the faster, more youthful typing speed!
neps, so you’re saying that NBC never approached Hassellhoff to come back to the show? Because you haven’t killed that rumor on your site yet at all.
The William Daniels part is from what I hear mostly rumor, but possible for one show. The Hoff stuff is supposed to be bringing him back as a regular.
I agree the writing sucks, but the Hoff wants creative control. So if he got it, wouldn’t that help the writing? I mean could that show get any dumber?
Sorry if I came off more tight than I meant it, again it comes nothing but respect for this site and exhaustion by the rumors in general – we get beaten over the head with having to answer stuff like this on our site…
I’ve heard alot of stories about Hoff returning – we know GST and Hoff met for lunch, and we know that originally Hoff brought the series to NBC to do (the MK’s son angle) and has felt burndt since. I think more often than not it’s been Hoff trying to come back to the show, and frankly him getting treated unfairly by NBC on it. Though I’m sure that’s something that can easily be rectified.
Daniels is nearing 82 – so I wouldn’t wish the man having to do a weekly series again. Although it would require him to phone it in, he has more years behind him than he does ahead – so you couldn’t have him replace Kilmer.
What I had heard, and heard a few rumblings a couple months ago (but have since stopped since hoff is in Korea now filming a ‘movie’) was that he was going to come back for a mutli-episode arch – but not be recurring. If that rumor was to come about again, I would be for that – and then you could have Daniels come back as well.
This isn’t the 80s’ – as much as I look back to the original with nostalgia, I realize that having Hoff shouldn’t be a priority for the team behind the new one. Its about getting the message and the stories right. I agree with Seidman on that – it’s the writing stupid.
Mandi – thank you for kindly clarifying. I probably had a little snarkiness in my rejoinder. As I said, I was so intrigued by the ads I wrote them down. I often do that when a show doesn’t seem to jive with the ads. I thought the opening shower scene could appeal to both sexes, and I certainly concur that female action fans should be catered to ( or pandered to, depending on your POV ) as much as male fans. Personally I was mesmerized by the Scifi doubleheader of Blade Runner and Sin City last weekend, which I think cut across gender lines.
Everyone give it a chance, The Hoff and William Daniels (KITT’s Voice) both can save this TV Series, I don’t know why so many people are negative about the new Knight Rider. The new Knight Rider is pretty cool, I enjoy watching it, the writers really need to get on the ball and tie in the original series with the new, some flash backs of the original KITT and maybe a team up of the new KITT and Original KITT, will win back the original series fans. Changing things like making KARR a weird robot is not helping the series, the orignal KARR the protytpe to the original KITT was cool, I can’t say the same for the KARR in this series.