SFX Magazine is really Knight Rider-centric this month; they have a one-page article (Drive Time) on the new series, with some very interesting comments from Gary Scott Thompson. A taster:
“I guess the biggest thing is that I was watching the ‘two-hour’ and I thought, ‘In the early ’80s, cars didn’t talk. Now everybody‘s car talks.’ So big deal! What was missing for me was, ‘Can your car do this?’ I said to NBC, ‘That’s what you guys are missing and that’s what you’ve got to do. This car has to not just change colours — this car has to transform into other vehicles. This car has to actually do things. Nano-technology is limitless. Why would you limit what you can do when the whole world is open to you? And with visual effects the way they are now, there’s nothing you can’t do.’ I told them that it has to be balls-to-the-wall fast-paced action and it just has to go, go, go. My biggest objection about the ‘two-hour’ is that it played just like an episode from the ’80s and we’re not in the ’80s any more.
“The characters besides K.I.T.T. have to be fully-three-dimensional, outstanding and people you want to be around. The car is one thing, but the people need to be something else. Nothing against the ‘two-hour’, but all I know is that going forward this has to be much more elevated.”
The issue also has a four-page spread dedicated to the Original Series, with rundowns on the greatest episodes, best baddies, and some of K.I.T.T.’s coolest features.
It’s Issue #172, August 2008. Check it out!