Though NBC kept touting that the revival of Knight Rider was a success, the ratings have told a different story. Just about everyone in the industry was shocked when the network gave the Justin Bruening series an order for the back nine episodes. Now, to little surprise, NBC is pulling the plug.
Knight Rider debuted on September 24th, as a follow-up to the TV movie that aired last February. The new TV show takes place 25 years after the original exploits of Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) and his high-tech, four-wheeled partner KITT (voiced by William Daniels). Mike Traceur (Bruening) is the son of Knight and the driver of the newest KITT (voiced by Val Kilmer). The car was built by Charles Graiman (Bruce Davison), the father of Mike’s former girlfriend, Sarah (Deanna Russo). As in the original series, Mike and KITT work together to thwart evil and save the innocent. The rest of the cast includes Paul Campbell, Yancey Arias, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, and Smith Cho.
A few revivals of Rider have been attempted over the years but none have been a success. The newest version is, unfortunately, no exception. The premiere episode debuted to just 7.35 million viewers and a 2.5/7 rating/share in the 18-49 demographic. The audience for Rider’s second episode grew to 7.77 million while the demo remained essentially flat at 2.4/7. The following three episodes averaged about 7.2 million but the demo began slowly dropping with each new installment.
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Likely due to the state of the rest of NBC’s sagging schedule, the network decided to stick with Rider and gave the series a greenlight for nine more episodes. This would bring the order to a full 22 installments for the season. Soonafter, the ratings took a serious hit in the November sweeps period.
After a week off, Rider’s audience sank to just 5.12 million and a terrible 1.6/4 in the demographic. The ratings weren’t much better for the rest of the month.
A few days after the first November ratings dip, showrunner Gary Scott Thompson announced that the show was going through a retooling. He told The Hollywood Reporter, “We’re moving away from the terrorist-of-the-week formula and closer to the original, making it a show about a man and his car going out and helping more regular people, everymen.”
As a part of this effort, three castmembers were let go — Poitier, Arias and Davison. Thompson maintained that this move had nothing to do with their performances. The decision likely had more to do with an effort to cut costs and make the bottom line more attractive to the network.
It seems the network hasn’t been sufficiently impressed by what they’ve seen and execs have cut the episode order back to 17 installments. The cast and crew are currently working on their 17th episode, written and directed by Thompson. They’re expected to wrap some time next week.
That episode, now the Rider season finale, is scheduled to air on February 25, 2009. The five remaining scripts will be utilized on the off chance that the series is renewed for a second season. Unless the ratings seriously improve, there’s no way that that will happen. Not even Mike and KITT will be able to save the day. Stay tuned! 
Image courtesy NBC.
i’m am mad that u are pulling the plug on a great show. that was a great show so if show isnt good enough for u nothings good enough.
We loved it!! the whole family loved it.. But everytime we wanted to watch it, the president interrupted. It needs a 2nd chance.. With out presidential interruptions.
It was a pretty sweet show. What a drag to pull the plug. Totally sucks. Bring it back!!
BRING MICHAEL AND KITT BACK! This is my favorite show in the world and I have heard NO ONE say anything bad about it. I love Justin Bruening and all the cast members. I’m 15 and my little brother is 10 and both of us, along with my dad, loved watching this show. I am highly annoyed that it has been cancelled. I am very disappointed with NBC for this decision.
THIS SHOW ROCKED!! IF NBC DECIDED TO CANCEL THAT WAS BAD MOVE ON THERE PART!! IN MOST CASES THE FIRST SEASON OF ANY NEW SHOW IS THE HOOK TO GET YOU INTERESTED TO WATCH MORE!! THIS TV SERIES BEING BASED ON THE ORIGINAL WAS GREAT IDEA!! NOW NBC JUST PULLING PLUG ON IT AND PUTTING MORE REALITY SHOWS ON WAS DUMB!! KNIGHT RIDER NEW AND OLD WERE BOTH WELL DONE AND ALWAYS WILL BE AWSOME!!!!!
I am very disappointed in NBC for cancelling Knight Rider. My kids LOVED the show and the effects. They were always excited to watch the new show each week and it was something we all enjoyed. Bad move NBC! I also can’t believe you cancelled Lipstick Jungle! I loved that show and you just didn’t give it a chance. The person making your programming decisions needs to find a new job. They are not good at this one!!!!!!
that showis the bomb you guys should keep it going. what are you thinking about NBC. the people are responding be like NIKE and just do it
Keep the show going. Don’t make a worse than “Star Trek Original series” mistake. As a family of two late 30-year-olds and two children 8 and 11, this was a great family show with just the right level of youth-safe yet still kinda sizzles for the adults sexiness between two sets of characters and very cool special effects. This is a big example of a show that helped tie together a generation gap between us. The acting is surprisingly very good for a show of this kind, we especially appreciated the quirky wit and fantastic late-nineties looks and personality of… Read more »
that show was badass i watched it online at there website because i dont watch enough tv anymore so i stopped paying that bill but the show was great they need another season i mean how are u gunna base the whole thing off of 17 episodes make some more episodes so that people can get used to the change trans amn to the shelby both nice cars give it another chance and i second the reality tv crap why do we care what rich people are doing at what ever time unless there paying me to watch them do… Read more »
I think that NBC is wrong on this account. I grew up watching the original KR with The Hoff! That was one HELL of a show. So, imagine my surprise that NBC was reviving the KR Series with a newer KITT (A modified 2009 Ford Shelby Mustang Cobra GT 500! I know my cars. 😉 ). So, when I saw the KR movie, I was AMAZED that it actually looked better than the original series!!! (Espically since Val Kilmer was the new KITT) So, I was anxious for Septenber 24, 2008 to come around to see the series preimer of… Read more »
that was the worst decision nbc ever made I HATE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$@#$#@#$*** #$%!!!!!$@$$##$%***$$%##@#$@##@@#$@@!!!@@ @$@#$#$@#$##$***&^#%#$#$%#^#&#^^#%^%^#
Right now I hate NBC for taking off Knight Rider, My own worst enemy and lipstick, I loved those shows. I’m sick of all these reality shows, bring back my shows or I’ll stop watching NBC
I am tired of all the good show being cancelled. There is only two shows that i watch
on NBC Knight Rider and Medium and now both have been taken off.
i love kr its amazing cancelin it wuld suck
i cant belive they cancelled KR. it is a great show…. the whole family could watch it and i hope to see the second season of knight rider!!! just give knight rider a chance!!!!! i think that you did not advertise the show and that is why you did not enough veiwers!!!! you should make a second season but put the commersales on different channels and then maybe more people will watch and you can keep knight rider up and going…. by the way i love knight to king’s pawn!!! but all of them are great!!!