Knight Rider

When a new generation of crime fighters gets access to a car that's smarter than most people around it, things change fast. The 2008 Knight Rider centers on Michael Knight, a driven operative who teams up with an advanced AI named KITT, housed in a highly modified vehicle. KITT can infiltrate networks, mimic other vehicles, deploy advanced defensive and offensive systems, and use holographic tech to hide in plain sight. The show mixes high-speed chases and heist-style missions with quieter scenes about loyalty and trust, keeping plot twists out until each episode plays out and leaving long-term mysteries for viewers to follow.

The reboot was launched in 2008 on NBC, building on the franchise created by Glen A. Larson, with Monica Macer involved in development. It reimagined the original 1980s concept for modern audiences and featured Justin Bruening, Deanna Russo, and Bruce Davison.

The Knight Rider name remained culturally visible because the concept of a talking, nearly indestructible car is hard to forget. The 2008 series brought the KITT idea back into conversations about AI in pop culture, and the show's visuals and gadgetry appealed to fans who grew up with the original while trying to attract younger viewers interested in military-grade tech in civilian hands.

Critics and audiences gave mixed to positive reactions, reflected in a solid user score around 7.5 out of 10. Reviewers noted the show leaned into action and procedural crime beats, while themes focused on technology versus human judgment, the ethics of autonomous systems, and fractured family dynamics, especially involving the Graiman characters. Performances by Justin Bruening and Deanna Russo helped ground the high-tech set pieces.

The 2008 reboot did not rack up major industry awards, and it gained most of its recognition from fans and genre coverage rather than through Emmy or Golden Globe wins. It remains best known for updating a familiar premise rather than for award-season success.