KR'08/'09 - Some "Airwolf" Influences?

[trissybabes]

Has anyone noticed some influences from "Airwolf" in Knight Rider 08/09?

A couple of things I've noticed that leads me to this conclusion:

1: When someone opens KI3T's doors, there's a subtle "hiss" as if the cabin were pressurised.

2: KI3T was dumped out of the back of a C-130 Hercules in "Day Turns into Knight". I know KI2T was too in the original series' season 4 episode "Sky Knight" but Airwolf got there first in early '84 when The Lady was dropped out of the back of a Herc in the 1st season episode "Echos From The Past".

3: A couple of lines have been delivered by Bruening that are VERY Jan-Michael Vincent/Stringfellow Hawke-ish - can't think of the examples off-hand but will go back and have a butchers.

4: Network Execs have meddled with the format! Airwolf's first season was PERFECT but on granting a second season, CBS Execs demanded a raft of format changes, bringing in a female cast member, watering down of storylines and restriction of stories focussed outside the US. These changes eventually grated so much with series Exec Producer Donald Bellisario, that he left at the end of season 2.

I feel a similar thing is happening with Knight Rider now - though there is some debate as to who wants what - the NBC Execs, or GST.

Anyone else spot other similarities?

[knightendo77]

The difference being of course, that NBC's meddling isn't "meddling" as such, rather that they're trying to get the show back to the way it should be, a la the 80's show. GST went off on some wild tangent and unfortunately the programme was very un-Knight Rider at the beginning. NBC are trying to fix this, I just hope this shows faith in them that it CAN do well, and I also hope GST sees that the show can be a hit but not in the way he originally intended. I think he'd be great running a 'proper' KR.

[whet]

No I don't see any connection TBH.
Airwolf when you look back at it was somebody's idea at the time and the budget could not strech to a show about a helicopter, hence that's why your usualy just seen Airwolf for a few minutes at the end.

Ok as many of you know my feeling on the new series of Knight RIder, I do feel it started very poor, but these last 3 episodes have been awesome.

Evrey week since then it has got better and better.

If anything I'd say TOS of Knight RIder is more an infulance on Airwolf, I doubt there would have been an Airwolf if Knight Rider had never happend.

[Mr.Marcus]

Actually the budget for Airwolf at the time was very high, one of the highest on network TV and I think the highest on CBS. Airwolf, seasons 1-3 only, is a classic. You can't compare this current abomination to Airwolf. You really can't compare it to TOS either. I think the best comparison is b/w KR08 and TKR. Even Viper was a better series.

[Alan1972]

if you watch "The Triangle" you will see Charles Graiman in what looks like a black Bell 222.