Original 1984 NBC Knight of the Drones Opening Video

[Joe Huth]

I just uploaded the original "Knight of the Drones" opening theme. This is from my 1984 NBC taping of it. Unfortunately, even on the fixed season 3 DVDs, they still use the standard season 3 opening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyo8zQ3p3S4

Joe

[Chitown Knight]

Thanks Joe, I have a question for you. I saw the original "Knight of the Drones" opening titles for the first time only a few months ago, and I made a video clip of it from a Sci Fi Channel rerun of the episode. After watching it a few times, I realized something. Many Knight Rider fans know that the special "Knight of the Drones" opening titles were created to hide KITT's new dashboard, but there's one part they forgot to hide: KITT's newly-redesigned ignition sequence:



Do you think that it was just an oversight on their part (i.e. they just forgot), or do you think that they intentionally put that in there to give the viewers a clue that KITT might be getting a new dashboard in this episode?

[Joe Huth]

I did notice that too, and your guess is as good as mine as to why they used the new ignition sequence. It could have been a teaser for the fans, or maybe they thought that since the ignition sequence wasnt used much in season 1/2 that no one would notice. Good eye, though.

Joe

[Chitown Knight]

Thanks, I've been wondering about that for a while now. I'm kind of leaning toward the "teaser" theory.

A couple more observations:

1) In the original "KOTD" opening titles, two of the turbo boosts (the awesome one over the car carrier in "The Ice Bandits" and the one where they turbo boost through some kind of white grid on top of a truck, I forgot which episode that was from) are noticeably louder than they are on the standard Season 3 opening titles. It's like there's an extra "boost" sound effect.

2) If the Sci Fi Channel and Sleuth Channel reruns of "KOTD" can have the original opening titles (and they do), there's absolutely no reason why Universal couldn't have put them on the Season 3 DVD version of the episode. Other than laziness, perhaps.

[Joe Huth]

I completely agree. I'll have to catch a rerun of Drones on Sci-Fi and tape the opening, so I have a better copy of it for the future.

I did notice the sound effects were enhanced, too. I plan on recreating the Drones opening using the existing DVD footage.

That turbo through the glass is from "Halloween Knight".

Joe

[James_kr]

I did notice that too, and your guess is as good as mine as to why they used the new ignition sequence. It could have been a teaser for the fans, or maybe they thought that since the ignition sequence wasnt used much in season 1/2 that no one would notice. Good eye, though.

Joe

I agree, it was hardly used in Season 1 or 2 you only really see it once in season 1 in "A Plush Ride" where he presses the power button to start KITT. Also in season 2 when KITT starts it usually goes along with the voice modulator lights.

I don't think anyone would notice, it was about as noticeable as KITT's changed consoles.

[rhdaussiekitt]

can any one post a clip of kitt telling michael about his new dash?

[Jenna]

i dont know what differnt about it it looks the same to me the music is up beat though but stil is same

[Joe Huth]

Jenna,

Look closer - the "Drones" opening does not show ANY clips of KITTs new dashboard (except the presviously mentioned ignition sequence) while the standard season 3 opening only shows the new dash, not the old one.

Joe

[Jenna]

oh ok il have watch it again i expected more out of it but did anyone watch it on dvd they show first half of the episode before the opening credits that was kind of neat.oh anyone notice

Devon and Bonnie credit is alwyas the same through 2 3 n 4 season

[James_kr]

I liked the new pictures of the Season 1/2 Dash like the camera angle. I wish they used that in the last 2 seasons. It only changed slightly in season 2.