Did you know that Michael Knight once got married, lost his wife, and tracked down her killer all in one VERY SPECIAL episode of Knight Rider? I did. I saw that show back in the ’80s and never forgot its glory. I knew I was destined to review it one day.
Did you know that the woman Michael married had in previous seasons twice appeared on the show before? I didn’t. Hoist on my own petard again.
With the conjunction of Valentine’s Day and Sunday’s premiere of the new Knight Rider movie on NBC, the stars aligned. Thus today do I post a review of the first chapter of the great tragic romantic saga, one that puts the Bard to shame. I like to call this tale THE BALLAD OF STEVIE AND MICHAEL.
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!
#1 by Matthew Fudge on February 14, 2008 - 10:18 am
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What bothers me as adult (though never crossed my mind as a kid) is exactly what remit ‘the foundation’ have to fight crime? I mean, who do they think they are? Michael Knight isn’t exactly low profile and actually seems to work in concert with the police sometimes. Does he have a special vigilante license, and if so, can I get one?
In terms of the plotting, you shouldn’t be too hard on it, it was for kids (like me), who didn’t notice for years that every episode was almost identical.
#2 by Ken Begg on February 14, 2008 - 10:29 am
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Technically, it’s also illegal for anyone other than the authorities to have a flashing light on their car. So there goes KITT’s hood thingie.
#3 by JessicaR on February 14, 2008 - 2:12 pm
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Thanks to the Netflix Watch Instantly feature a friend and I have been riffing through another Glen Larson opus, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. We just watched an episode with the classic “character spots another character that bears an uncanny resemblance to a long dead loved one”. We were almost giddy taking bets on how long it would be before, gasp, sob, he had to cradled his dying beloved in his arms and lose her all over again.
#4 by Ken Begg on February 14, 2008 - 3:59 pm
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You have the soul of a stone, woman. And now, I repair…for I have something in my eye!
#5 by JessicaR on February 14, 2008 - 9:54 pm
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My heart has been hardened good sir, because my prayers for the immediate and horrible death of Twiki continue to go unanswered.
#6 by lyzard on February 15, 2008 - 4:50 am
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In my sicker moments I can picture a buddy comedy starring Twiki and Bubo the Owl.
#7 by Matthew Fudge on February 15, 2008 - 8:09 am
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Now if you had invented the worlds first completely sentient A.I. would you a) use it to become completely and utterly stinking rich, b) change the way the entire planet worked, or c) stick it in a car with the Hoff and tool around Southern california leaping over bushes.
#8 by PCachu on February 15, 2008 - 9:12 am
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After a fashion, Twiki has long since died. That was, after all, one of the many speaking-only roles of the late Mel Blanc.
#9 by The Rev. D.D. on February 15, 2008 - 11:06 am
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“In my sicker moments I can picture a buddy comedy starring Twiki and Bubo the Owl.”
Damn you, madam. Damn you to the deepest part of the hell.
They can have that robotic dog-bear-monkey from Battlestar Galactica as their faithful pet.
Sort of a “Turner and Hooch” meets “Bad Boys” thing.
And the love interest?
Dot Matrix.
Now I have to damn myself.
At least Ms. Kingsley will have company now.
#10 by KeithA on February 15, 2008 - 2:30 pm
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I always assumed Hell was lorded over by Johnny 5.
#11 by KeithA on February 15, 2008 - 2:31 pm
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And seriously — no one here liked Bubo when they were ten years old? No one?
#12 by Ken Begg on February 15, 2008 - 2:33 pm
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Ten years old?! Shut up, you young whippersnapper, you! And stay out of my melon patch, consarn you!
#13 by lyzard on February 15, 2008 - 2:51 pm
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Even when I was ten it was Calibos who did it for me. I have a long and awkward history of finding adorable things that people are supposed to flee from in horror. And vice versa.
#14 by JessicaR on February 15, 2008 - 2:58 pm
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10 years old? Ha Ha! I wasn’t even born when Buck was originally on the air. So they let you have computers at The Home then? And I hear you Lyz, I always think that Disney’s Beast is actually better looking than the stringy haired, unfortunate resemblance to Scott Stapp, handsome prince he turns into.
#15 by lyzard on February 15, 2008 - 3:12 pm
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And I can’t be the only one who feels let down by the ending of La Belle Et Le Bete, can I? How anyone could prefer a poncy prince to that gorgeous beast – !? (And yes, I know, I know. Let’s not get into Cocteau’s personal business.)
#16 by Ken Begg on February 15, 2008 - 3:34 pm
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“And I can’t be the only one who feels let down by the ending of La Belle Et Le Bete, can I?”
I was going to mention that. In fact, I believe that’s pretty much the universal reaction, certainly among anyone I’ve ever seen the film with.
#17 by Elizabeth the Ferret on February 15, 2008 - 7:17 pm
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I also thought the Beast looked better than his human form.
And in regards to the actual review: I used to watch Knight Rider all the time when I was a kid and loved it (of course, I also watched the Smurfs on a regular basis around then, and adored the movies Howard the Duck and Masters of the Universe). I’d often have odd fantasies about a threesome involving KITT, Arcee, and Optimus Prime.
#18 by Amelia on February 15, 2008 - 9:48 pm
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Marlene Dietrich felt exactly the same way, Lyz; attending the premiere screening with Cocteau, she famously called out at the end, “Where is my beautiful Beast?”
#19 by Matthew Fudge on February 16, 2008 - 4:46 am
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Sorry, which one’s the beast? Hoff?
#20 by The Rev. D.D. on February 18, 2008 - 9:17 am
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“I’d often have odd fantasies about a threesome involving KITT, Arcee, and Optimus Prime.”
Michael opens the back of the semi trailer…
“OH MY GOD!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY CAR?!?”
“Michael, I told you you had to knock when I left a fanbelt on the handle!”
“I…I don’t even KNOW you, KITT!”
“DON’T YOU JUDGE ME!! NOTHING GIVES YOU THAT RIGHT!!”
#21 by Elizabeth the Ferret on February 18, 2008 - 5:18 pm
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(cracks up) Now that would be an awesome episode.