MovieChat Forums > Knight Rider (1982) Discussion > It can never work without Hasselhoff

It can never work without Hasselhoff

posted 6 years ago by Starman (412)
6 replies | jump to latest

Even if any new Knight Rider movie or tv series came back with the Kitt of 1982 part of us would feel like still there's something missing, yes Hasselhoff was as much important as Kitt itself, the car itself is just one half of the whole picture. I can't imagine many actors able to replace this man, there is something about his looks that seemed post modern or futuristic, almost like he came back from the future, his height, his hair, the eyes... he did not look like most people, and that helped to create such an otherworldy James Bond or Batman-like world of the show, that is very much comic book-like in style.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

TRUTH

[–] RobBase086 (44) 5 years ago

I tried to watch the reboot that NBC tried to do with a new Knight Rider and even with David Hasselhoff making a couple of cameo appearances the show tanked. I could not believe that they switched from Potiac Trans Am to Ford products to be used. I just think with a older David Hasselhoff they should have had him step in the role of Devin Miles character running the Knight Foundation.

I was not a big fan of the TV movie Knight Rider 2000 film and going with a red sports car to replace KITT. I was not very happy when that happened when I was in high school. When the show came out in 1982 or 1983 I was between 10 or 11 years old. I know that David Hasselhoff has stated in the first couple of seasons in the DVD box set that he would love to see a movie made of Knight Rider. Why did the actress who played Bonnie did not appear in the movie or even Robin? They were the two ladies who took care of KITT in the time the show ran. Bonnie was utilized more than Robin was. Both ladies were hot!

[–] avortac4 (3458) 3 years ago

As a kid, I didn't care about 'Michael Long', 'Michael Knight' or 'David Hasselhoff'.

We all know this show would never have been greenlit without K.I.T.T., and even if it had been, no kid would've been excited to watch the show.

I mean, look at most of the episodes - they are about politics, senators, old hags, injected romance, more politics, some silly races and circuses and so, OH, so much drama and soap that you could shower for a year without buying any.

Any show could work with or without any actor, if done right. People just don't have imagination.

I have so much to say about this show, although I do have a bit of a soft spot for it. But these 'ultimate' claims that try to explain what made the show popular or great, always miss the core target.

If a show is well made, by people with vision, passion, excitement and creativity, it would work with or without any particular actor.

But a show like this couldn't work without K.I.T.T..

Let's face it, the 'supercar' is the star of the show! It's the first and last thing featured in the intro, and has more screentime in the intro than 'anyone' else.

The strengths of this show are: 1) K.I.T.T. 2) Atmosphere (so easy in the 1980s) 3) The magnificent intro and outro 4) The idea that 'one man can make a difference' (didn't mean a -specific- man necessarily) 5) The 'futuristic' stuff, including the synths used, the computers and electronics (as childish as some of that stuff might seem nowadays), and some really good episodes.

But a lot of this show is basically 'childish cartoon', 'boring drama', 'groan-inducing soap and relationships' and 'lecturing about politics and environmental stuff'.

If you removed or replaced Hasselhoff - let's say, you replace him with Dean Anderson (MacGyver's actor), the show would work just fine, because K.I.T.T., the 1980s atmosphere, the soundtrack and stories would still be the same.

If you remove K.I.T.T. .. well, you can probably see how this show would never work.

[–] Starman (412) 3 years ago

I tend to see this more holistically ,the show wouldve never been made without Hasselhoff, it would've not even been greenlit, call it a divine synchronicity where all the right pieces fit at the right time, there's no denying that Hasselhoff was part of that atmosphere, part of that car, it's insane to look back how huge he was due to this show, most fans of the show at the time used to have posters of him since this show, he was what made the show as much as the car, and I'm sure many fans knew it considering his popularity, something would be missing without him, the right balance and contrast of this human element. The car alone does not create any magic, it's that special interaction between the car and David, his height, his clothes, his charisma, it's all part of the whole package that created the magic.

[–] Mulletor (520) 3 years ago

Half ass searching on the internet came up with only two other actors that were in contention for the role: Don Johnson and Steven Bauer.

[–] pioneergrrrl (2389) 3 years ago

As a kid I thought the opposite. They honesly did not need hasselhofff. They needed the car--the team to repair construct it. But I could figure out (even in kindergarten) that he was interchangeable with a muppet.