David Hasselhoff should have won an Emmy for Knight Rider. Okay, okay. If not an Emmy, then at least some recognition and credit for his performance and his importance to the success of the series.
First of all, the man was acting against nothing. We hear the dulcet tones of William Daniels, but Hasselhoff was likely hearing some stage hand reading the lines to him between bites of a cheeseburger. But he still manages to hold a believable conversation--well, as believable as you can when the subject involves giant, indestructible semi trucks and the like. But what Hasselhoff brings to the show that really makes it work is his likability. He and his character Michael Knight exemplify an almost uniquely 80's quality that I call "Cheerful heroics".
Michael Knight goes about his job with a good natured zest. He takes on his missions with glee. There's no gray area. No naval gazing. He's the good guy, and the good guys do good things because they're the good guys and that's what the good guys do.
"Knight Rider" is a product of its time. Make of that what you will, but for me, that is its greatest strength.
First of all, the man was acting against nothing. We hear the dulcet tones of William Daniels, but Hasselhoff was likely hearing some stage hand reading the lines to him between bites of a cheeseburger. But he still manages to hold a believable conversation--well, as believable as you can when the subject involves giant, indestructible semi trucks and the like. But what Hasselhoff brings to the show that really makes it work is his likability. He and his character Michael Knight exemplify an almost uniquely 80's quality that I call "Cheerful heroics".
Michael Knight goes about his job with a good natured zest. He takes on his missions with glee. There's no gray area. No naval gazing. He's the good guy, and the good guys do good things because they're the good guys and that's what the good guys do.
"Knight Rider" is a product of its time. Make of that what you will, but for me, that is its greatest strength.