knight rider online

I doubt any of you Americans waited to see this show on it's NBC premier, as Knight Rider is your dearest nerd pleasure. It most indeed is mine

What I want to do with this post thread is make it as simple as possible for the execs of the show to review. Look, there isn't a noob out there who is going to know what the hell is up with the KR insignia, the old style turbo boosts, the Ford placement products, etc..etc. To everyone else who watches TV, I don't think these things matter. It's really how it is all going to be done on TV. And I want this show to stick around. But, there has to be some improvements for this old fan to be able to kick back and really enjoy it along with everyone else.

I mentioned this in another thread, and it was the over acting with some of the key players from Knight Research. I understand that this is GST's own pilot for the series, and he is trying to catch an audience. What threw me off on this first episode was it felt like an exclusive release for a syndicated program....it looked cheap (aside from the SFX), that's what I'm trying to say. From the speed story, cramming in all these characters down our throats in one sitting, to the background music scoring playing through the entire episode. Really, cheesey music sometimes can take away from a moment. Like, take this for example from the first episode: Michael and KITT are beneath that bridge waiting for "the package", and we all have to hear that cheesey crap music playing in the background. I felt rushed during that moment, I'm sorry. I didn't like that, and a few other scenes as well.

KITT is KITT. We all know what he is basically going to be capable to do, right? BUT, from what I'm gathering from this first episode is that KITT might be the best developing character this show is going to offer. They are dropping subtle hints. Far from that, is those lovebirds that I'm already sick of, (Billy and Zoe)...what a horrible job introducing those two! Sarah and Mike has something interesting. And Mr. Graiman is a very likable character as well. Focus is definately the key for these episodes, and not everyone needs to play a part in the story lines.

Please add some effects to KITT's voice! I can't stand how he sounds like the rest of the cast. He's a computer, make him sound like a telephone ala' KI2T, I don't care. Just do something for his voice. And, the scanner needs to sync with the speed of the scanner lights, or vice versa.

That's my two cents. Do the rest of you believe this thread may help NBC?

Overall I loved the show. I think they packed in a lot of action that it kinda offset the viewer a bit from some of the inaccuracies. Heck, I'm sure we picked to pieces inaccuracies of the original pilot and other episodes! That will always happen. But overall it was great!

Yes, I do think that KITT's voice needs some kind of resonating effect, possible a bit more echo and bass to sound like an in-car stereo system more than just like the rest of the cast. However, it's hard to get that effect across on TV speakers, or even computer speakers. It might be actually better on a HD with surround sound, and our TV/computers aren't picking up the nuances in the voice. We'll have to see what people say about it on the 24th, etc. I know my TV won't pick it up as it's old to begin with.

I didn't notice the scanner sound/light sync problem. That's because there was just so much other things going on that I could not keep track of a lot of things! So if it's out of sync, it sure slipped by me (as probably a dozen other things as well).

I think I'll give the show a few more episodes and watch how it grows though. They are just getting started with this and I think it was an astounding start!

Oh yeah, as am I. I'll watch it no matter what, that's how gay I am for Knight Rider! And I know that too much criticism is bad for any show to go with. I know the story to Bionic Woman's demise.

Does anybody even know why they bothered with a special announcer, or with Val using the robo-sound effects playing KITT in the commercials? Perhaps they were trying to seek the viewers preferences?? I'm wondering if there is a separate team away from the Knight Rider project that is producing the commercials. Whatever the commercial producers did, I liked that (the voice effects) alot better than what I seen in the show, which this time around seemed like they did nothing to Val's voice at all. No computer chopping to make him sound the least bit AI.

I really can't get into the details of what I would fix to improve the show and since it's only a first episode, it's pretty unfair to start judging it right out the gate.

Based upon the first premiere though, my suggestions would be these because overall I give the first episode a B, it's a far cry better then TKR or Knight Rider 2000 but there's still some things there that could use vast improvement, especially from a design standpoint.

1. I really can't identify with the fishglobe/HAL voice box approach. I know that it's HAL from 2001 and Glen was heavily inspired by that but I think its out of place in a show that's basing itself on intense action based sequences. 2001 is a fairly slow movie. Also the voice "globe" seems very inconsistant to really visualize it as a extension of KITT i.e. a "face" of the AI to identify with.

There is something more personable about the three lined bargraph look that you just can't ignore. Perhaps consider using it inside the globe or something more identifiable then a red dot and some ghosting sine lines.

With respects to the "voice" of Kilmer, I understand KITT is still learning but you have to consider that William Daniels added some emotional inflection when the situation became tense, you could really identify with KITT more based on Daniel's performance. The personality of the new KITT needs some serious improvement if you intend for Michael and KITT to really become partners and not just "operatives".

I mention this only because in the original series pilot, "Knight of the Pheonix", by the time the two hours was up you really had a firm grasp of the relationship between Michael and KITT and you could relate to their emotional situations. I don't feel any relation to this KITT thus far, he comes across as just a machine and not something that actually has life to it. I am very much aware KITT is just a machine, not something more.

Perhaps this will change later down the line as you've mentioned that KITT will "evolve" but I do stress don't take too long to establish this relationship your you're going to lose the audience. They'll love "the car" more then they actually love KITT "the character" and that's problematic for sustaining a long term audience.

2. Turbo boost was interesting, incorporate more of the original sound effect for it to really tie it back with the original show more. It seems very muddled by roaring fire and squeeling engines more so then a unique effect that should stand alone from his other functions.

Kudos on using the original scanner sound effect but I have to agree with others, sync it up with the lights on the front otherwise it just feels tacked on rather then functional. The hood scanner feels more decorative then actually functional and it should be emphased more on what exactly it can do. In the original series when KITT would scan something or go into survaillance mode, the camera would typically show a close up of the scanner doing something that effected that transition. The scanner light didn't just rove back and forth because it "looked good".

3. 4. Give Michael control of KITT by actually doing something instead of having KITT do everything automated When KITT activates all the features himself, I feel there's a loss of physical connection with the car. You can't just do everything with voice commands, it's going to wear thin quickly. Michael should be in command of KITT and I see that to some degree but give him more physical interaction then just controlling the steering wheel and voicing commands.

Make him press some frigging buttons or something to activate the more impressive and unique features. Moving things around on the HUD is a nice start but that's not controlling the actual features that make the show exciting, that's just pushing around graphics. Michael and KITT's relationship still seems extremely distant despite the fact I am gathering its been several months since the time frame of the events in the backdoor pilot.

5. Give the car engine a more turbine sound (both KITT modes). It just sounds like every other car out there. I know you're emphasizing muscle cars and whatnot but KITT is one of a kind, make him more unique then a run of the mill stock looking Shelby GT 500KR. It's obvious that the villains know how to track down the car regardless of its shape (tracking signals, etc) so being "like every other car out there" to blend in really isn't effective.

6. If you put in the purple haze tint effect in the title sequence when you show KITT driving through the desert or whatever it really will tie it more closely with the original series and I believe fans will really admire that. It's something fairly inexpensive to do and will further emphasize the "continuation" you're looking for.

7. Why is everything handled on the HUD? This is going to wear thin after awhile, might want to consider going back to the concept of Michael looking at some form of video screens for seperate video transmissions, especially if he wants to talk in private. I dislike the fact that every time Michael wants to do something off the grid, KR can listen in and see everything that goes on in the car. This means in any given situation when he turns off the monitoring, the KR team will suspect he's up to something suspicious. There should be trust in a team environment, clearly there isn't much so far.

Let's see some more dash interaction.

8. Why is Carrie Ravai in such a position of power? She's a horrid FBI agent who does things extremely out of protocol with real trained FBI agents I realize the purpose but it made absolutely no sense for a real believable "threat" scenerio. Furthermore why do you invest so much dependency on the FBI having control of Knight Industries or it's affiliates? I just don't agree with this "under another banner" approach.

9. Make the friggin plane/transport more interesting if it's going to function as the "semi" for KITT it needs to be memorable, not typical. Paint it black, give it some red lines if you want to lose the "gold" from the original semi. If you're going to blatantly slap a KR logo on the bottom of KITT and on the badges (when he shifts to Attack Mode) you might as well take the extra mile and put the snake emblem on the plane's tail fin too.

Keep the level of design consistant. Don't spend so much time building up the KITT cave as this sleek high tech concealed command center then skimp on the transports. Even the idea of KITT having to drive through a hang bay seems very out of place compared to all the other technology out there. I understand you're probably going for less suspicious, ordinary locations on the surface like military bases but really at least show KITT going down some specialized door that opens up inside the bay so we can see where KITT actually goes inside the bay, rather then magically appearing down a specially lit tunnel that happens to pull into this underground cave. It's just vastly more interesting to actually show where these things are being concealed rather then try to use editing tricks to cover it up.

When Batman pulled the Batmobile into the Batcave "tunnel" leading to his inner sanctum in Tim Burton's Batman you had this great transition from the ordinary world into the specialized one. Superman with his Fortress of Solitude same thing. Even in spy adventures like James Bond or the movie xXx there's something more magical about showing how a secret underground facility is concealed within the ordinary world where people would easy miss it.

Show that transition, it's important. It's just as much narrative as it is visually appealing.

10. Why would a secret organization like Knight Research and Development which is supposed to operate undercover advertise it's emblem where average people can see it and therefore track down where it's coming from? It makes absolutely no sense for a giant KR emblem to be plastered on the bottom of the car just so it can show it off when it turbo boosts.

You don't advertise yourself when you're a secret organization, it defeats the purpose of being off the grid.

11. Ditch the GT500KR logos on the seats, they're extremely distracting and scream advertising where it doesn't need to be. You got enough exposure with the exterior badges and endless car "stat" quotes in your advertising.

12. I'm going to say this even though the standard response is. "it needs those to go fast". Sqaure off those blasted front pipes, it completely destroys the lines of the car and lose the blank frying pan hubcaps, they're just massive eyesores. I want to like the Attack KITT but these two very prominant central focal points destroy my acceptability of the car's design. Surely there is another approach you can take I would be more then happy to give ideas if anyone in the industry wishes to contact me about it. (send a PM)

That's really all I can think of at the moment without going into spoilers, which I will not do. I did put what I felt might be considered spoilers in the spoiler tags.

I'm trying to help out here, I am not attacking or insulting the series. I think it has some great potential. There are some things visually I believe need to be settled before it will have a chance for long term success.

As a first episode, it had an interesting story that didn't bore me, had a good balance of action, and gave some of the characters (especially the new ones) some personality to establish the tone for the rest of the series. Out of respect for those who haven't seen the episode yet, I won't post a more specific review until after the premiere.

These points are to be taken as suggestions from a person who understands (and wrote a book about) the mythology of the series.

To the team of KR staff/crew and Gary Scott Thompson, I say so far nice work.

=VK=

Hey Nick, nice post, I hope the NBC guys are listening. I agree with everything you pointed out except one.

"There is something more personable about the three lined bargraph look that you just can't ignore. Perhaps consider using it inside the globe or something more identifiable then a red dot and some ghosting sine lines."

They did in fact use it inside the globe. I don't know what version you watched, but I downloaded it on iTunes and it was very clear and the sound was way better than the Amazon and Hulu ones. If you get a chance, I suggest watching it again, and look closely, as the three lined bar graph is the whole base of the sphere animation. It is overlayed with the red ghosting lines to give it a feeling that it is something new. It is the KI3T and not the KI2T, so it makes since to give it an update. That is to not take away from your other fine points you brought up already.

RE: three line bargraphs

- Maybe it was the on compression NBC.com, I didn't see it. I saw more a matrix number/letter effect surrounding the background at times happening in a spherical pattern. I'll look closer when the HD episode airs, maybe it will be more visable then.

=VK=

I genuinely want Knight Rider to succeed. "Man on a mission" storys are missing from primetime which is too cluttered with procedurals. I watched the Season Premiere and am sorry to say it won't survive unless major changes are made.

What is this CSI: KITT? This whole central group of characters interacting between government agencies with video monitors and technology around every corner is horrible. Michael Knight was a people's champion. A lone ranger who drove in to help the underdog, the downtrodden, the noble souls being trampled by greed and ego.

I am sorry but tone down the special effects every 30 seconds and focus on the story and the stunts. When I say story, I don't mean "top secret DNA" or "napalm missles". I mean genuine interaction between characters that isn't all sarcasm or sexual innuendo. Michael did no investigation beyond asking KITT to search files. We need to see him actually behind the wheel of the car on the road keeping green screen to a minimum.

The main point I can try to make is that everyone involved has to stop trying to be cool and try to develop a genuinely compelling story. If you prove you are good, cool comes with the territory.

If anyone reading this works on the show, I know a good writer for you to work with. He is great with story development. If you respond to this message with your email address and I will get you in contact with him.

I agree the advertising of the seats and advertising in general of the Ford products is rediculous. They get enough exposure and to scream advertisement of FORD on everything is dumb.

Like I said in one of my other posts, the transformation is ok for KITT, but not as a pickup truck...again advertising for FORD and this time in their truck line. KITT is NOT meant to be a truck PERIOD. KITT is supposed to be the most advanced car on the planet. IF thats so, then KITT should be able to ride train or subway tracks with its own features.

The tailpipes definately don't fit, totally look added in CG. They need to be more realistic looking.

One observation regarding VAL's voice. He sounds very soft spoken monotone here in episode 1, but that reminds me of Season 1 of the original series. KITT's voice was less robotic and sounded very soft spoken. Then as the seasons progressed, the voiced changed a bit and KITT became the personable KITT we truely remember.

I really do think that things will change slowly like the original series, BUT the obvious things that have been repeatedly posted are what needs immediate change.

And Finally, again I will say that the background music has GOT TO GO. Its horrible and makes me cringe. I want to be able to absorb everything being said and done instead of having to try and hear over the most annoying crap music mixing I have ever heard.

Oh and MORE STUNTS, LESS CG

Great episode other than that.

Agreed with some of your suggestions Victor. But a few I disagree with...

"I dislike the fact that every time Michael wants to do something off the grid, KR can listen in and see everything that goes on in the car. This means in any given situation when he turns off the monitoring, the KR team will suspect he's up to something suspicious. There should be trust in a team environment, clearly there isn't much so far."

I got the idea that that's going to be a plot point, at least in terms of FBI vs Foundation people.


"Make the friggin plane/transport more interesting if it's going to function as the "semi" for KITT it needs to be memorable, not typical."

But given the observation station is inside a nondescript warehouse, it seems they're going for low-profile when it comes to public exposure (giant KR under KITT in super mode notwithstanding). So keeping the exterior plain makes sense.



"I understand you're probably going for less suspicious, ordinary locations on the surface like military bases but really at least show KITT going down some specialized door that opens up inside the bay so we can see where KITT actually goes inside the bay, rather then magically appearing down a specially lit tunnel that happens to pull into this underground cave."

1. I'd say that's a bit nit-picky, for ma anyway.

2. Who says the base is underground? Everyone keeps talking about it colloquially as a cave...but I'm not sure it's actually supposed to be underground. That may be an assumption.