Reviews, reviews, reviews (spoilers)

[sarfraz]

Yeah, I know I'm spoiling it for myself but I couldn't help reading published reviews. They seem generally negative though (spoiler warning!):

http://io9.com/5051540/not-even-naked-c ... rom-itself" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://screenrant.com/knight-rider-2008 ... -vic-3722/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.buddytv.com/articles/knight- ... 22842.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

....are they missing the point that Knight Rider is meant to not be taken seriously???

Sarfraz

[neps]

Good idea for a thread sarfraz - found this one too:

http://www.tvjab.com/review-knight-ride ... episode-1/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Shapeshifter]

I said to someone in my office, "The 2 hour reviews ran about 8 to 2 negative. I think this one will be about 50-50."

So far, so good.

This show was never about the critics, anyway.

[Michael Pajaro]

There was a big show back in the 80s that people loved but critics did nothing but roll their eyes at it. The show was blasted for having "hand-me-down" plots and comic-book-level writing and bad bad acting. It was the butt of countless jokes about how ridiculous television had become.

All together now, what was that show?

[adamtrek]

All together now, what was that show?

Alf?

[sarfraz]

.....my memories very vague. I remember this dude, he had curly hair, wore a black leather jacket and drove around in black car with some flashing lights. Think it was a Corvette or something like that....can't quite remember the name of that show.


Sarfraz

[PHOENIXZERO]

Really, that could describe a lot of popular shows from the 80s, including Knight Rider. I think I'm going to stay away from the reviews, they'd probably just give me a worse headache.

There were a few nice homages to the original series that were mentioned here already but man... I still wish KITT would have drove through that door... KITT needs some more "Superman" like moments. I've been thinking of the new KITT in a way to relate him to how Superman was from after the reboot back in the mid-80s, hopefully going along those lines KITT will become more uhhh powerful, as time goes on, hopefully a few seasons and not just a few episodes..

[JJSoCrazy]

Here is a review from insideline:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Ne ... eId=131990" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Joe

[PHOENIXZERO]

Ouch, he does have a point on that chase though. Too much attention was played with the drama and talking and not enough on the driving and actually going fast. Hopefully the CGI gets a fixed up a little where it needs it most before it officially airs. Hopefully things really do improve as it goes.

[Shapeshifter]

Here's a good one...

http://www.sfuniverse.com/2008/09/18/kn ... or-review/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PHOENIXZERO]

In the end it was for the most part fun (even with the out of place "humor") and made me look forward to the next episode, hopefully the SFX and driving action will improve and it'll continue to be a fun ride because IMO there is a real lack of fun on television. Everything is just so serious... Well there are some fun shows like Psych and I think I'll put Monk, Reaper and maybe Chuck in that category as well, I'm sure I could actually make a list of at least shows I've watched that fit into that category too but they're all mostly different from each other.

[BlueChaos]

If I'd really want to watch something serious, like saving the world stuff, I'll go watch HEROES instead. But for some -serious fun- , there's nothing better to watch than Knight Rider. All of us entitled to our own opinions, I guess.

[weeezl]

http://canadianpress.google.com/article ... nOyRXhwSwA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PHOENIXZERO]

So they sort of knock Knight Rider but not pointing out how the Mentalist seems like a Psych ripoff, minus the humor and the earlier mentioned fun?

[Knight4life]

Knight Rider got 4.6/10 on IGN.

[PHOENIXZERO]

Just came across this...

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/t ... 23.article" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Knight4life]

Guys this is a BAD sign coz most of the shows that have been critically panned by critics get cancelled way 2 early.....seriously i am worried.Producers need to check the reviews.Does NBC really want to ruin one of their shows again?

[Michael Pajaro]

Guys this is a BAD sign coz most of the shows that have been critically panned by critics get cancelled way 2 early.....seriously i am worried.Producers need to check the reviews.Does NBC really want to ruin one of their shows again?

Shows don't get cancelled for bad reviews. They get cancelled for bad ratings. If a show needed good reviews to stay on the air Baywatch wouldn't be the #1 television show of all time. Frankly, the original Knight Rider might not have made it based upon its reviews.

The show should do pretty well for the premiere. It has HUGE awareness and strong "brand recognition". Knight Rider fans have been surprisingly supportive of how good it was, ("surprising" because os some disappointment from the 2-hour movie), and people have told us that their kids absolutely loved the show.

Viewers love fun, escapist television. How much more escapism can you get than two half-naked hardbodies racing inside a 200mph fireball?

[Michael Pajaro]

Apparently the thumb line really struck a nerve with reviewers:

Newsday.com: "a story line that yields this priceless line from KITT: "Mike, you have got to get his thumb back at all cost."

Variety: "the boss (Yancey Arias), who gets to speak the perhaps never-before-uttered line, "Mike, you have to get his thumb back at all costs!"

Of course, one person thinks Torres said the line, another thinks KITT said it. (This is one reason I don't have a lot of respect for blog-based reviewers.)

The harsh Variety review does surprise me though. I expect reviewers to tear apart the dialog and acting, because this isn't exactly The Sopranos. But I don't understand why they ignore talking about the action or the humor. If you're going to judge a show, at least judge it on what it is trying to do.

In the fine tradition of the original series, I say let it be a critically-panned, viewer-loved show.

[FuzzieDice]

I been reading the reviews of people on iTunes and they are saying bad things too. I don't know why. I personally liked the show. I hope it won't discourage NBC from continuing the series.

[Knight4life]

http://www.daemonstv.com/2008/09/23/kni ... ly-review/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Critics wanna slaughter this show for good............

[Michael Pajaro]

I like this one:

http://blogs.tampabay.com/80s/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"So savor the total cheestacular satisfaction that you'll find if you decide to check out the new Knight Rider series on NBC, debuting tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern time."

[Shapeshifter]

Here's an actually informative interview with GST where he addresses some of the criticism of the show and really explains what they were trying to accomplish, and the challenges they face...

http://www.forbes.com/media/2008/09/24/ ... mpson.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Knight316]

I just read this article about Ben Silverman...it doesn't bode well for us if KR is Ben's baby so to speak.

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/m ... man-quits/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Garthe Knight]

Here's an actually informative interview with GST where he addresses some of the criticism of the show and really explains what they were trying to accomplish, and the challenges they face...

http://www.forbes.com/media/2008/09/24/ ... mpson.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What I don't understand, whenever I read an interview with GST, it all sounds so great. But then I see the attack mode...
And of course it's just the first episode, but I hope he will live up to his promises and listens to the critics of the fans and not the haters.