It’s actually pretty cool that it’s at least really drawn by John. My first reaction to it was “There’s NO WAY that’s authentic.” But, no. It’s a lot more authentic than I gave it credit for…
Joe you need to bring KITT down to pigeon forge TN this june to the Pontiacs of pigeon forge show. I went this year and it was a blast. There were 2 KITT replicas there and looked very good but I think you and an original screen used KITT would be a major attraction. Keep the videos coming sir. Happy Holidays.!
Iirc Glen Larson said his idea for Knight Rider originally came from an episode of BJ and the Bear. There was an episode of that series with a futuristic computerized police car based on a 1977-78 Dodge Monaco.. He took the features of that car and developed it into KITT.
Thanks for a very interesting video ,and I hope your throat gets better real soon.I remember buying the 2 issues of High Performance Pontiac magazine when they came out,and I had to order them by mail as no local vendors carried them. I was really excited upon reading but your book had mentioned the pilot presentation 30 minutes or so and I wondered at the time how the napkin sketch looked like the Michael Scheffe front when the John Ward front was the original custom front that was made,thank you for definitively explaining the actual history!
I like knowing the ins and outs of the series that I loved so much as a kid. This show came out the same year I got my first computer. I was fascinated!
Great video Joe and AJ!! Joe, the car that features on the cover of the 'High Performance Pontiac' Magazine, is that the backup to the hero car? Or which car from the TV Series was that?
Interesting how that's all connected. In 2014, when HPP was putting that two-part article together, I was working out of the same office with that team for GMHTP Magazine. I deliver that was Chris Phillip who compiled those two articles. We're still in touch with each other. I believe I still have a copy of each issue.
Nice haircut Joe!! So it was John Shinella, not John Ward or Michael Chefee... Interesting. I remember an illustration of KITT. Which was on my KITT kit 😎
Cool video. I never even heard about this cocktail napkin story to begin with. Unrelated to the video: Why did the production crew switch to the sound stage dashboard for all of Season 4? Was it just more practical? Even as a kid I kind of noticed there was never any day time glare on it.
I was rather confused to hear the name John Schinella instead of Roger Huget. I guess Mr. Huget had the initial idea in for the design in 1976 (which strangely coincides with the presentation of a certain front engine rear wheel drive Porsche with a large rear glass hatch that did not look as refined), but not do too much on product that rolled out?
It seems kind of contradictory that there was a request to make K.I.T.T. still clearly identifiable as a Trans Am, yet Pontiac later infamously requested he stopped being referred to as a Trans Am anymore. Enter: The Black T-Top.
Maybe it's common or I'm missing something but who puts his signature on a napkin when just making a quick sketch at for instance a diner table? Also it's very convenient to have that he had a red pen to color the scanner. It's also much more likely that it was drawn in blue because that's a much more common pen color. Black is used more on official documents and work related so it's not out of the question. An other thing big thing is that the way it's angled is a common way on how KITT is portrayed on many different media, more importantly a few posters from the 80s. This are all not facts just some observations and again maybe I'm missing something.
It’s actually pretty cool that it’s at least really drawn by John. My first reaction to it was “There’s NO WAY that’s authentic.” But, no. It’s a lot more authentic than I gave it credit for…
LOL first saw the nose of Kit there and thought it was the Headboard of a bed lol.
I thought the same thing! Hearing the way Joe was talking I thought he was doing the video while sick in bed. That’s dedication!
Joe you need to bring KITT down to pigeon forge TN this june to the Pontiacs of pigeon forge show. I went this year and it was a blast. There were 2 KITT replicas there and looked very good but I think you and an original screen used KITT would be a major attraction. Keep the videos coming sir. Happy Holidays.!
Iirc Glen Larson said his idea for Knight Rider originally came from an episode of BJ and the Bear. There was an episode of that series with a futuristic computerized police car based on a 1977-78 Dodge Monaco.. He took the features of that car and developed it into KITT.
That bumper mount looks like something Garth would have on his wall.
The ultimate memento of his triumph.
Thanks for a very interesting video ,and I hope your throat gets better real soon.I remember buying the 2 issues of High Performance Pontiac magazine when they came out,and I had to order them by mail as no local vendors carried them.
I was really excited upon reading but your book had mentioned the pilot presentation 30 minutes or so and I wondered at the time how the napkin sketch looked like the Michael Scheffe front when the John Ward front was the original custom front that was made,thank you for definitively explaining the actual history!
Great video Joe. Glad you put a video out there about the napkin to clear up any misunderstandings.
I got this sketch tattooed on my forearm a few months ago. I'm surprised how many people recognize KITT! My tattoo artist was so excited too lol
Great little nuggets of info. Dissected just like any other historian.
Thank you.
I like knowing the ins and outs of the series that I loved so much as a kid. This show came out the same year I got my first computer. I was fascinated!
I wish they would make more shows of Knight rider. I would love to watch that show again if they made new ones.
BUT NOT WITH THAT AWFUL MUSTANG! K.I.T.T. WILL ALWAYS BE A TRANS AM TO ME!
Thank you for sharing your experiences and adventures watching from South Africa
Great video Joe and AJ!! Joe, the car that features on the cover of the 'High Performance Pontiac' Magazine, is that the backup to the hero car? Or which car from the TV Series was that?
The car on the cover of HPP is our stunt car
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!!@@KnightRiderHistoriansOfficial
Interesting how that's all connected. In 2014, when HPP was putting that two-part article together, I was working out of the same office with that team for GMHTP Magazine. I deliver that was Chris Phillip who compiled those two articles. We're still in touch with each other. I believe I still have a copy of each issue.
Nice, very nice and thank you, Joe!
Love that Comtron shirt with ‘80s accurate digital font! 😄 Does it come with bubble memory chips?
Sure does!
I love the final nose design but this clay miniature on 13:10 looks very interesting and kinda ahead of its time.
Nice haircut Joe!! So it was John Shinella, not John Ward or Michael Chefee... Interesting. I remember an illustration of KITT. Which was on my KITT kit 😎
Let’s gooooo!!!
Can't wait for the next Top 10 video and I have to get one of those Comtron t-shirts.
Battlestar Galactica and BJ and The Bear. Thanks Glen A. Larsson.
William Daniels sounds pretty good considering he's 96 years old. Sadly he doesn't quite sound like KITT anymore. Almost but not quite.
Cool information. Certainly would be extremely interesting to see the Real original KITT design :)
about when will the sleeper arrive for the truck/cab?
Cool video. I never even heard about this cocktail napkin story to begin with. Unrelated to the video: Why did the production crew switch to the sound stage dashboard for all of Season 4? Was it just more practical? Even as a kid I kind of noticed there was never any day time glare on it.
I need that backdrop!
been quite a while sionce a film locations episode, feed us please.
I know in the Season 3 episode "Custom Made Killer", K.I.T.T. was parked in front of a Denny's.
I was rather confused to hear the name John Schinella instead of Roger Huget. I guess Mr. Huget had the initial idea in for the design in 1976 (which strangely coincides with the presentation of a certain front engine rear wheel drive Porsche with a large rear glass hatch that did not look as refined), but not do too much on product that rolled out?
@Tele_gram-Me-Mr_knightRider Me too. Especially the palm of my hand with your nose.
It seems kind of contradictory that there was a request to make K.I.T.T. still clearly identifiable as a Trans Am, yet Pontiac later infamously requested he stopped being referred to as a Trans Am anymore. Enter: The Black T-Top.
If Joe was a crime investigator, he would be better than Columbo ever
Maybe it's common or I'm missing something but who puts his signature on a napkin when just making a quick sketch at for instance a diner table?
Also it's very convenient to have that he had a red pen to color the scanner. It's also much more likely that it was drawn in blue because that's a much more common pen color. Black is used more on official documents and work related so it's not out of the question.
An other thing big thing is that the way it's angled is a common way on how KITT is portrayed on many different media, more importantly a few posters from the 80s.
This are all not facts just some observations and again maybe I'm missing something.
Was. Kitt. From. Kinght. Rider