This week saw CBS bring the Showtime hit series “Dexter” to primetime network television and over at NBC an old favorite was back with a new look, new cast and new K.I.T.T. Overall it has been a big one for genre TV programming from the Nielsens.
“Dexter,” gave CBS a third-place showing among the broadcast networks. Preliminary Nielsen results show a 2.3/6 in the all important 18-49 male demographic which fet outs to about 8.1 million viewers. That’s really not bad when one considers that this is the best numbers CBS has seen in that 10PM EST timeslot since early December 2007. It’s almost a sure thing that CBS will consider keeping the eccentric serial killer around a while longer.
“Knight Rider” returned after a nearly 20 year absence sporting a new K.I.T.T. voiced by veteran superstar Val Kilmer and getting a transformer type makeover from the Ford Motor Company.
Early Nielsen ratings show it averaged a 5.0 rating/12 share in adults (male & female) 18-49 and 12.7 million viewers overall in the 9-11PM EST timeslot. That is a strong showing for a trip down nostalgia lane, which included a short cameo visit from the first man to be transported around with K.I.T.T. — David Hasselhoff — returning as Michael Knight, the estranged father of the show’s new protragonist played by Justin Bruening. “Knight Rider” had the best showing for a made-for-TV movie since ABC’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God” back in March 2005, according to Variety.
“Knight Rider,” starring Justin Bruening, Deanna Russo, Sydney Tamiia Poitier (daughter of the renowned Sidney Poitier) and “X-Men” alum Bruce Davison, had broad audience appeal acccording to the Nielsens. It dominated its 9-11PM timeslot in the 18-49, 25-54 and 12-34 demographic, showing its best rating among men 18-49 (5.6/14) and 25-54 (6.4/14).
With ratings like these “Knight Rider” is almost a sure bet for a return to NBC’s Fall schedule, but before execs jump the gun, I’m sure the sour taste from another trip down memory lane is still weighing heavy in their mouths. “Bionic Woman,” which also showed tremendous numbers with its pilot episode, began to plummet in its ratings almost from the second episode. That may be taken into consideration before giving “Knight” a complete green light for a 2008-2009 series go.
One major difference between Knight Rider and Bionic Woman (except having a dire actress from a Brit soap) is that Knight Rider was “fairly good” whereas Bionic Woman was “tolerable” at best.
I went into watching Knight Rider with some reservations considering how well, BSG, and how badly, Flash Gordon, have been re-done for the 21st century, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. It’s no BSG and certainly not Flush Gordon, but I don’t think very much if any of it “sucked”. It was nice to see bad guys being really bad, with “oh dear the guy we’re trying to extort info out of just died in my hands, let’s try another tactic” rather than giving them a chance to screw them over. The actors actually acted as if they had been playing the part for some time and didn’t need “a few episodes to find their feet”.
All in all I would give it 8/10 and an enjoyable 90 minutes of TV – it would have been a 9, but they need to get rid of that idiot partner of Michael who’s basically only going to be there for the comic relief.
Knight Rider…What can I say..I watched it twice,because I didn’t want to go by first impressions and this is my two cents. When it started I got really happy… the theme song came on and that Knight Rider blast from the past song came on, almost an immediate smile began but then that was it,no more song not once threw out the movie, even in the car chase and why not?The car is pretty,but the voice I know it’s supposed to be computer but it was terrible,boring ,played almost like they told him,make it as dry as possible and he succeeded making a super car super boring. No turbo boost..come on we need a jump here and there. My G35 can go 141 mph with out needing the special effects…dazzle me..show me its more than just one huge Ford commercial.
In the end that what is was, a huge ford commercial and we the consumers bought into it, right down to the stupid ford focus commercial with KITT jealous. So maybe I am being mean but the old show called KITT a T Top at all times not a Trans Am….and Right now I respect that alot, its better than be a blatant product placement acting like its entertainment. My Two cents..
pooch
I really think that the dude from Arrested Development would have had a more dynamic voice. I know that its a computer and its not supposed to be dynamic, but it really seemed like Val’s voiceover was rushed and wedged into the show.
That’s the crappy thing when you have a big company calling the shots, “What, He is the voice of GM sometimes?? No way is he acting in our show!!”
KITT is not supposed to be a mustang. This show needs to go down in flames.
The new Knight Rider suffered from the same thing the FOX Dr Who movie did–since it’s a backdoor pilot, they have to put everything and the kitchen sink in there.
The story brought up things only to drop them five seconds later…as if to say–see, if we go to series, you’ll see more of this.
The Hass’s cameo was unintentionally hilarious in my book.