Buzz
With its quirky concept, synth-heavy soundtrack, and David Hasselhoff’s iconic hairstyle, Knight Rider rightfully earns a spot among the greatest TV shows of the ‘80s. Premiering in 1982, the series ran for four seasons and 90 episodes, followed by several TV movies and short-lived revivals. Even today, the franchise remains alive, as rumors of more Knight Rider content continue to surface regularly. Here are 10 interesting facts about Knight Rider.
1. THE SHOW COMBINED ELEMENTS OF THE LONE RANGER WITH CLASSIC SCI-FI.
Glen A. Larson had already made a name for himself in the ‘70s and ‘80s, creating hits like Battlestar Galactica and Magnum P.I.. In 1982, he brought to life one of his more unconventional ideas with Knight Rider. Although a talking car helping to fight crime might seem strange (and it is), the show’s roots trace back to a more traditional TV classic.
"I wanted to create The Lone Ranger with a car," Larson explained about the concept behind the show. He went on to say, "Imagine him riding across the Plains, moving from one town to the next to uphold law and order, and K.I.T.T. becomes the modern-day Tonto.”
The 'good vs. evil' dynamic from The Lone Ranger was paired with Larson’s passion for science fiction. In his autobiography, Hasselhoff reveals that the character of K.I.T.T. was inspired by HAL 9000 from Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Additionally, the red scanner lights on the car’s hood were a tribute to the Cylon’s iconic red lights from Larson’s Battlestar Galactica.
2. WILLIAM DANIELS FOUGHT TO GIVE K.I.T.T. A STRONGER PERSONALITY.
When William Daniels first joined the Knight Rider project, K.I.T.T. was initially designed to sound more robotic and mechanical than Daniels preferred. He felt it had potential to be more engaging, saying, "I saw an opportunity to make him witty and expressive." Over time, K.I.T.T.’s voice evolved, incorporating Daniels’ natural warmth and charm as the series continued.
3. LARSON RECEIVED A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE MERCHANDISE PROFITS.
Larson’s business acumen and belief in his vision paid off in ways that exceeded all expectations. During negotiations with Universal, he secured a substantial portion of the merchandising rights. As Knight Rider continued to enjoy lasting popularity even after its original run, Larson reaped significant financial rewards.
"I believe I struck the best deal in television history," Larson remarked. "As the writer and creator, I received a 50-50 split with the studio on all toys, models, T-shirts, and other merchandise."
Such deals are nearly impossible to come by these days, as Larson noted, "It was just before studios fully understood the potential profitability of merchandising."
4. WILLIAM DANIELS AND DAVID HASSELHOFF DIDN’T MEET UNTIL THE SHOW’S CHRISTMAS PARTY.
Despite their on-screen partnership, William Daniels and David Hasselhoff never shared a room during the production of Knight Rider. The two actors finally met for the first time at the show’s Christmas party, by which point Knight Rider had already become a hit.
"A man came over to my table and said, ‘Hi, I’m William Daniels, I voice K.I.T.T.,’" Hasselhoff shared in a CBS interview. "I replied, ‘I’m David Hasselhoff, I play Michael.’ Then he said, ‘Looks like we’ve got a hit on our hands, don’t we?’ And that was our first conversation."
5. DANIELS WASN’T CREDITED AS K.I.T.T. IN THE SHOW.
William Daniels’s name was never listed in either the opening or closing credits of Knight Rider during its entire run. The reasoning behind this decision was that Daniels wanted viewers to believe the car had a mind of its own, preserving an air of mystery. However, this backfired as Daniels soon found himself being recognized as the voice of K.I.T.T. on the streets of his neighborhood.
6. DANIELS SPENT LESS THAN AN HOUR RECORDING EACH EPISODE.
Although Daniels’s voice work as K.I.T.T. was crucial to the success of Knight Rider, he was largely detached from the rest of the production. His role involved recording his lines in minimal time for each episode.
"I could record an episode in about 45 minutes. I never watched the show while doing the voiceover," Daniels explained. "I’d receive the pages that contained K.I.T.T.’s lines—not the entire episode. Those pages would include David’s dialogue followed by K.I.T.T.’s responses."
Daniels’s approach involved reading Hasselhoff’s lines aloud in the recording booth, then responding as K.I.T.T. himself.
7. K.I.T.T. ALMOST HAD A DIFFERENT NAME.
K.I.T.T. stands for Knight Industries Two Thousand, inspired by the car’s fictional creator, Wilton Knight. Early in the series’ production, the car was originally referred to as T.A.T.T., which stood for Trans Am Two Thousand.
When it came time to name K.I.T.T.’s evil counterpart, a completely new name was chosen: K.A.R.R. This stands for Knight Automated Roving Robot, voiced by Peter Cullen, who is also the voice behind another famous talking vehicle: Optimus Prime from The Transformers cartoons and films.
8. K.I.T.T. UNDERWENT SEVERAL MODIFICATIONS AS THE SERIES PROGRESSED.
In the first two seasons of Knight Rider, K.I.T.T. was based on a Pontiac Trans Am, a model with only slight modifications, and was given a makeover by Universal’s prop department. The primary addition was the red strobe lights to make the car seem more alive during its interactions with Michael. Aside from that, K.I.T.T. didn’t look too different from a regular Trans Am (and Pontiac didn’t even want it referred to as one). The production typically had four K.I.T.T. cars in rotation, each costing around $18,000 to modify.
However, in season three, K.I.T.T. received a major upgrade. New cosmetic features like spoilers, wings, and hood scoops were added, thanks to the legendary George Barris—who also designed Adam West’s Batmobile and The Munster Koach. Each car took eight weeks to modify, and the upgraded version gave Knight Rider its signature set of wheels, setting it apart from everything else on the road.
9. A MODIFIED CAR WAS BUILT TO SIMULATE A SELF-DRIVING FEATURE.
To make K.I.T.T. appear as if it were driving itself, Barris designed a special right-side driving position inside the car used on set. The seat was lowered beneath the dashboard, allowing a stunt driver to sit on the passenger side, positioned low enough to stay out of sight but still able to navigate the car. Barris was responsible for more than just the car's look—he also created multiple versions of K.I.T.T. to accommodate specific stunts, ensuring more unique and thrilling action sequences for the show.
10. THE THEME MUSIC OF THE SHOW DREW INSPIRATION FROM AN 18TH CENTURY BALLET.
The memorable opening theme of Knight Rider, composed by Stu Phillips, is widely regarded as one of the best of the '80s. However, its origins extend beyond the era’s synthesizer-driven sound to a piece from Léo Delibes’s ballet Sylvia. More specifically, it is based on “Cortège de Bacchus,” a selection from the ballet’s third act.
Throughout the years, this iconic theme has been sampled by numerous artists, including Busta Rhymes and Lil' Kim. Its lasting impact, however, can be largely attributed to its widespread use as a ringtone. In 2005, Phillips was honored with a BMI award for having the most downloaded ringtone, sharing the accolade with Lalo Schifrin’s Mission: Impossible theme.
