Knight Rider

:For the American media company, see Knight Ridder.

Cultural impact

Debuting in 1982, the show was an instant hit, and inspired several other 'crimefighter plus high-tech vehicle' series, such as Airwolf, Viper, and Street Hawk. Various toy versions of KITT were released and produced solid profits. Among the more notable of the Knight Rider memorabilia includes the remote controlled KITT, the Knight Rider lunch box, and the deluxe version of KITT. This final model spoke electronically, featured a detailed interior and a Michael Knight doll as well.

Related Topics:
Airwolf - Viper - Street Hawk

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The show´s ratings began to decline in 1985, and the 1986 season was the last. Several attempts at reviving the series have been made. In 1991, a TV-movie entitled Knight Rider 2000 reunited the original cast for the last time and its plot included Devon Miles being murdered (Edward Mulhare, who played Devon, has since died, himself). Another movie, Knight Rider 2010 (1994) was only loosely based upon the series, this time with the spirit of a young woman becoming the basis for the car's intelligence. Team Knight Rider, an adventure series taking place years after the events of the original series, lasted for one season in 1997-98 and managed to misinterpret every aspect of the original series. (Including the fact that not once during Knight Rider was the actual phrase "Knight Rider" ever spoken.) In 2004, David Hasselhoff announced plans for a big-screen version of Knight Rider in which he will appear - but not necessarily as Michael Knight.

Related Topics:
Edward Mulhare - Team Knight Rider

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Knight Rider was David Hasselhoff's first major television role and, although many people watched the show purely for KITT, it established him as a popular star. He achieved even greater fame in the worldwide syndicated hit Baywatch.

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The fondly-remembered theme music, written by series producer Glen A. Larson and Stu Phillips (who also scored several episodes), was sampled for two 1997 hit singles: Busta Rhymes' "Fire It Up" and Timbaland & Magoo's "Clock Strikes ". Several other artists, including the alternative metal band System of a Down's "I-E-A-I-A-I-O" from Steal this Album, have sampled the tune as well.

Related Topics:
Glen A. Larson - Stu Phillips - Sampled - 1997 - Busta Rhymes - Timbaland & Magoo - System of a Down - Steal this Album

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When Stu Phillips left the series by an unknown reason, Don Peake became the music composer during the rest of the series. The change of the style between the composers can be felt in the middle of the first season. The style of the music composed by Phillips was more symphonic, Peake's was more electronic.

Related Topics:
Stu Phillips - Don Peake

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Panjabi MC sampled the theme tune for his 2002/2003 UK and European crossover Bhangra influenced dance hit, "Mundian to Bach Ke (Beware of the Boys)."

Related Topics:
Panjabi MC - Bhangra

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Knight Rider was turned into a computer game in 1986 for several popular 8-bit formats, although it only received a partial release. In the modern era, Knight Rider the Game was produced by Davilex International under license. Players drive KITT through 15 missions. With the popularity of Knight Rider the Game, Davilex also released a sequel in late 2004.

Related Topics:
Computer game - 8-bit

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The show's first season was released on DVD in North America during the summer of 2004. The second season was released on April 12, 2005. The third is slated for release sometime at the end of 2005.

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