Ok, say what you will. Yes, I’m here to talk a little about “Knight Rider”… the campy kitsch 80’s series about a man and his talking car. Making matters worse, the man was played by David Hasselhoff. I know, I know… David Hasselhoff. The actor who singlehandedly took Germany by storm with a string of Pop hits (very few ever heard in the states), ran down a beach in slow motion with a bevy of beauties for many, many years, made sure that the Broadway Musical “Jekyll & Hyde” closed for good by taking on the lead role, and now sits in our homes every week as a judge on “America’s Got Talent.” Yes, that David Hasselhoff.

Despite all of the ‘good will’ I aim at ‘The Hoff’, I cannot help but admit that I was a fan of “Knight Rider”, moreover for the car (K.I.T.T.) and the actor who voiced him, William Daniels. Even more so I loved the opportunity to see Edawrd Mulhare, from “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” fame working again on American Television. Having to watch ‘The Hoff’ was a necessary sacrifice. I would tune in every week to see just what kind of trouble Michael Knight would get into and how K.I.T.T. would get him out of it.

Of course, if you were an aficionado of the series (re: geek), you knew the whole story of how undercover officer Michael Long was shot and left for dead, only to be saved and given a new identity by the Knight Foundation. From that day forward, Michael Knight (as he was now known) would drive around in his indestructible customized 1982 Pontiac Trans-Am writing wrongs and defeating evildoers. The best part about K.I.T.T. aside from all the cool gadgets was the fact that it was sentient. How many of us wish we had a car that we could really talk to and would instinctively know what we needed, even if we didn’t? He was even wonderfully sarcastic… a trait I admire in anyone lucky enough to have it.

“Knight Rider” was a hit for 4 seasons and 85 episodes back in the 80’s, so much so that there was not only a follow-up movie a few years later, but also a brand new “Knight Rider” for 2008. However, pass up the new “Knight Rider” at all costs. Having Val Kilmer as the voice of wannabe K.I.T.T. and utilizing a gazillion CGI effects does not a cool car show make. It pales in comparison to the wonderful camp fun (and CGI-less) that the original delivered. That being said, I have to applaud Universal Home Entertainment for releasing the ultimate GEEK DVD set for the complete series of “Knight Rider.” I could go on and on about all the special features, but these are all available on the original individual seasons releases. That’s not what makes it such a great geek set… no. It is the awesome black box with little red lights along the bottom. Push a button and they light up K.I.T.T. style (going back and forth) and the box emits the sound effect and music for the show. The day it showed up I spent the better part of an hour playing with this little feature. Then I had to show it to everybody who came by… for weeks after I got it.

If you don’t already have “Knight Rider” in your collection, you MUST go out and get this complete set! It would make the perfect Christmas Gift for the 80’s geek in your home. If I didn’t already have one, I’d be begging my wife to put it under our tree!

Episodes -
Season 1:
Knight of the Phoenix (1)
Knight of the Phoenix (2)
Deadly Maneuvers
Good Day at White Rock
Slammin' Sammy's Stunt Show Spectacular
Just My Bill
Not A Drop to Drink
No Big Thing
Trust Doesn't Rust
Inside Out
The Final Verdict
A Plush Ride
Forget Me Not
Hearts of Stone
Give Me Liberty...or Give Me Death
The Topaz Connection
A Nice, Indecent Little Town
Chariot of Gold
White Bird
Knight Moves
Nobody Does It Better
Short Notice

Season 2:
Goliath (1)
Goliath (2)
Brother's Keeper
Merchants of Death
Blind Spot
Return to Cadiz
K.I.T.T. the Cat
Custom K.I.T.T.
Soul Survivor
Ring of Fire
Knightmares
Silent Knight
A Knight in Shining Armor
Diamonds Aren't a Girl's Best Friend
White-Line Warriors
Race For Life
Speed Demons
Goliath Returns (1)
Goliath Returns (2)
A Good Knight's Work
Mouth of the Snake (1)
Mouth of the Snake (2)
Let It Be Me
Big Iron

Season 3:
Knight of the Drones (1)
Knight of the Drones (2)
The Ice Bandits
Knights of the Fast Lane
Halloween Knight
K.I.T.T. vs. K.A.R.R.
The Rotten Apples
Knight in Disgrace
Dead of Knight
Lost Knight
Knight of the Chameleon
Custom Made Killer
Knight by a Nose
Junk Yard Dog
Buy Out
Knightlines
The Nineteenth Hole
Knight & Knerd
Ten Wheel Trouble
Knight in Retreat
Knight Strike
Circus Knight

Season 4:
Knight of the Juggernaut (1)
Knight of the Juggernaut (2)
KITTnap
Sky Knight
Burial Ground
The Wrong Crowd
Knight Sting
Many Happy Returns
Knight Racer
Knight Behind Bars
Knight Song
The Scent of Roses
Killer K.I.T.T.
Out of the Woods
Deadly Knightshade
Redemption of a Champion
Knight of a Thousand Devils
Hills of Fire
Knight Flight to Freedom
Fright Knight
Knight of the Rising Sun
Voo Doo Knight

Extras: Knight Rider 2000 movie feature, owner’s manual for K.I.T.T., blueprints for his design, “Knight Moves,” “Knight Sounds,” “Knight Rider: Under the Hood,” and a stills gallery, commentary for the episode “Knight of the Phoenix” with David Hasselhoff and writer/creator Glen Larson
Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: Universal
Release Date: 10/21/2008
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Knight Rider: The Complete Series a B+.