Toob Talk

According to an article in Variety, there is serious talk of bringing back Knight Rider.

Now, Knight Rider was one of my favorite shows in the 80s. Since I got my driver’s license, it’s held even more appeal because, hey, who wouldn’t like to have a car that could drive itself–let alone one that is nigh invulnerable? Sure it didn’t stick the last two times they’ve tried to bring it back (first with the lame TV movie Knight Rider 2000 and then with the wildly unsuccessful syndicated Team Knight Rider–and I just found out about the travesty that was Knight Rider 2010, never even heard of that before). But with the right twist and team behind it, it could work now, right?

I think it could.

Except if you read the article what they’re actually talking about is kind of ridiculous. They want to do a “‘Transformers’-inspired re-working of the 1980s hit action-drama series.” That’s right, they want KITT to transform into a giant robot and fight other evil giant robots.

I’m not doubting that a series like that could work, but why bother calling it “Knight Rider” when it’s actually “Transformers” (or, maybe, “Go Bots”)? Aside from the supposedly cheaper licensing fees.

Look, if you’re going to do a new version of Knight Rider, do it right. It requires three things:

1. A slick car. Preferably one that has a lot in common with a sporty one you can buy, but with a few extra things–like an AI with a bit of a condescending attitude and combat-ready options.
2. A person with a shady past who’s turning over a new leaf. I’m open to it being a woman. Amnesia is optional, but always a good plot device.
3. A sponsoring organization that is well-funded and well-connected. Make it a bit ambiguous as to who’s interests it actually serves and you’ve got plot for at least a season.

That gives a production or creative team a whole lot of leeway. And it doesn’t even exclude giant robots. Just don’t start out with them. Build your own damn brand and don’t ride on the coat tails of the current hot film. By the time you actually get the show made, those coat tails will be dusty and the coat will be so over-worn no one will care any more.

Friday is one of those nights that very often gets away from people. They go out and do things, their weekend starts and they’re just not going to sit in front of the toob for anything too heavy.

A lot of shows over the years have either started in a Friday slot and miraculously survived or been moved there to die.

The one exception to that rule seems to be very quirky shows. Ghost Whisperer has been doing OK, or at least good enough to kick off it’s third season at 8 p.m. on CBS. That’s followed at 9 p.m. by the premiere of Moonlight, the new vampire in LA fighting crime series (which will hopefully quickly and decisively differentiate itself from comparisons to Angel, the last show with that brief plot description.) The CBS prime time block gets capped off by the fourth season premiere of Numb3rs, guest starring Val Kilmer.

Other networks are pretty thin on scripted shows for Friday. NBC gets around to a two-hour fifth season premiere for Las Vegas at 8 p.m. Everything else is news, game shows and filler. I remember when Friday was the bastion of family TV sitcoms. That time, apparently, is long gone.

The only other jam-packed slot on the dial this Friday is up on the Sci Fi Channel. Their block of Doctor Who, Flash Gordon and, now, the return of Stargate: Atlantis usually does pretty well. I know it’s what I usually watch or record. (Though Ghost Whisperer has gotten a lot better as it’s taken a slightly darker turn–I really didn’t care for it as much more than eye candy when it first premiered.)