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crack_van2004-05-01 08:01 pm
moonbeamsfanfic.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2004-05-01 08:01 pm
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Knight Rider Fandom: An Overview
Knight Rider is a TV show from the '80s, true enough. But don't let that scare you away -- it's a classic!
Over the years, Knight Rider went through a few variations. New cast members, new plots, new special effects. Yet through it all the star of the show remained essentially the same: K.I.T.T. -- The Knight Industries Two Thousand, a sentient artificial intelligence. The most advanced computer program ever created, housed in the body of a black 1982 Pontiac Trans Am. Yep, that's right... a talking car.
KITT was created by Knight Industries to be used as the prototype crime-fighting car of the future by the Foundation for Law and Government (FLAG). Only KITT wasn't the original prototype. That honour would go to KARR, the Knight Automated Roving Robot. KARR was also housed in the body of a Trans Am, but differed from KITT in that his scanner light was yellow, while KITT's is red.
Being a multimillion dollar piece of technology, the Foundation thought themselves very clever making KARR's primary focus be self-preservation. At least until in reaction to the percieved "attacks" of their various tests, he obeyed that programming and turned on his own creators. KARR was scrapped (but not destroyed!) and KITT was born. This time they ensured that preservation of human life was the AI's top priority. And the most important of all human lives was that of his driver, Michael Knight.
Played by David Hasselhoff (pre-Baywatch), Michael Knight was formerly a Las Vegas cop by the name of Michael Long. Unfortunately, Officer Long got into a spot of trouble while undercover and took a bullet in the face. Thanks to a steel plate on his skull courtesy of Vietnam, he survived long enough for Wilton Knight to scrape him up off that Nevada highway and give him a new life -- complete with a new face and a new name.
Now, with the assistance of Devon Miles (the Foundation director) and Dr. Bonnie Barstow (a computer specialist and KITT's primary mechanic), Michael Knight and Kitt are cleaning up the streets of all those bad guys too powerful for normal law enforcement to touch. And they've got the toys to do it! KITT is far more than just a smart computer in a flashy car. Not only has he got a virtually indestructible outer shell; he's got an array of sensory scanners, weapons, smoke screens, surveillance capabilites, auto-drive, and even the much admired Turbo-boost! Gotta love a car that can jump 40 feet in the air with just the push of a button, all while doing 200 mph. :P
There were, of course, several variations to the Knight Rider theme, including Team Knight Rider (TKR) and Knight Rider 2000 (KR2K). TKR was set about 15 years into the future, with a whole new cast of automotive AIs -- none as good as KITT! -- and their human partners. KR2K operated closer to home, but with a much bleaker outlook on society. There were also some variations within the original series, as well. Bonnie was out for one season, while April Curtis was in. Then there was the late addition of street avenger RCIII to the FLAG team. Kitt, too, took on a few variations of the physical form (not always to the positive), but always remained the same adorable, snarky AI we know and love.
Major Fandom Archive Links
Knight Rider Archive
- The ultimate KR resource. Full scripts from every episode, pictures, information, links, and more.
Knight Rider Online
--Another great resource. The A-to-Z's of KR, episode guides, games, message board, and links.
Knight Foundation Fan Fiction Centre
- Home of the Edwards Awards, as well as the Masterlinks to most available KR fanfiction stories and websites. Also has a radio station and message board.
www.knight-rider.de
- Germany's central hub of KR. General info, pics, episode guides, fanfic, downloads, message board, links, and more. Warning: It's all in German! No translations!
Fanfiction.Net: Knight Rider
- The KR section at FF.Net, where most of today's current stories get posted.
Moonbeam's Endnote: Because I'm bi-fictional and so is the fandom, this month's recs will run the gamut of gen to het to slash. I know there are basically only five major authors (when I say this a small fandom, I mean small!), but they're top-notch talents! Give 'em a chance... they'll give you a ride worthy of your time!
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I'm just not sure if the real Mary Sue in them was the woman or the white version of the car...
Gah. Thank goodness the internet didn't exist back then, or I'd have written them down and posted them on ff.net or something. *shudder*
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I'll be giving you lot a taste of pretty much everything, don't worry. :D
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(LOL!! ;) )
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