Morning Musically-Minded, Medically-Minded, Masticators!
(Today’s post is sponsored by the letter “M”)
Over the past 600+ episodes, The Simpsons has taken us on an amazing journey involving music, science, and food to name a few concepts.
And what better way to start your week, than by discussing some of these concepts Monday morning?
So let’s get started this week by talking about a classic 1980’s TV show.
In the one hundredth and sixteenth episode of The Simpsons, And Maggie Makes Three (Season 06, Episode 13), Homer, Bart and Lisa are busy watching Knight Boat.
Announcer: “We now return to “Knight Boat: the Crime-Solving Boat”.”
Michael: “Faster, Knight Boat! We gotta catch those starfish poachers.”
Knight Boat: “You don’t have to yell, Michael, I’m all around you.”
Michael: “Oh, no! They’re headed for land. We’ll never catch them now.”
Knight Boat: “Incorrect: look! A canal.”
Homer: “Go, Knight Boat, go!
Bart: “Oh, every week there’s a canal.”
Lisa: “Or an inlet.”
Bart: “Or a fjord.”
Homer: “Quiet! I will not hear another word against the boat.”
But then Marge comes in and tells them to turn off Knight Boat as it is time for family time.
Marge: “OK, TV off. It’s family time.”
Homer: “Oh, but Marge! Knight Boat, the crime-solving boat.”
Marge: “Homer, you promised. One night of family time a week. Besides, that backtalking boat sets a bad example.”
Bart: “Says you, woman.”
So they turn to the family photo albums, which includes photos of them watching Knight Boat.
When Bart and Lisa ask why there are no photos of Maggie, Homer and Marge recount the story of Maggie’s birth and where her photos are.
But have you ever wondered what show Knight Boat is parodying?
Knight Rider
Knight Rider is an American crime drama created by Glen A. Larson for NBC. It broadcast from September 26, 1982 to April 4, 1986; running for 4 seasons and 90 episodes.
The crime drama follows self-made billionaire Wilton Knight rescues police Detective Lieutenant Michael Arthur Long after a near fatal shot to the face, giving him a new identity by plastic surgery and a new name: Michael Knight. Wilton selects Michael to be the primary field agent in the pilot program of his public justice organization, the Foundation for Law and Government (FLAG). The other half of this pilot program is the Knight Industries Two Thousand (KITT), a heavily modified, technologically advanced Pontiac Firebird Trans Am with numerous features, including an extremely durable shell and frame, controlled by a computer with artificial intelligence. Michael and KITT are brought in during situations where “direct action might provide the only feasible solution”.
The cast included David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight, William Daniels (aka Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World) as the voice of KITT, Edward Mulhare as Devon Miles, Patricia McPherson as Dr. Bonnie Barstow, Rebecca Holden as April Curtis, Peter Parros as Reginald Cornelius III (aka RC3), and Richard Basehart as Wilton Knight.
A sequel was launched on NBC that aired from September 24, 2008 to March 4, 2009. It starred Justin Bruening as Michael “Mike” Knight, the son of the original Michael Knight, and Val Kilmer as the voice of KITT.
Now that we’ve learned more about the show Knight Rider, be sure to come back next week when we continue our Monday morning musings with the next episode of The Simpsons.
Did you remember this episode? Have you ever had a TV show the whole family watches together? Did you remember Knight Rider? Have you ever watched Knight Rider? What’s your favourite The Simpsons TV reference? Sound off in the comments below. You know we love hearing from you.
Knight Rider was a great show. And the movie Knight Rider 2000 was good too. I made sure to watch it in 2000 on the date the movie shows on the screen in the beginning, which I think was February 19, 2000. Total mind blown when I realized the voice of KITT was Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World. Can’t believe I never put the two together when I was watching the show. I guess there was a big enough gap between watching both shows that my ear didn’t pick it up. I wasn’t old enough to watch Knight Rider when it first came out but watched it in reruns a few years later after it ended. Only the original show will do. No remakes.
William Daniels is so much more than just the voice of Kitt and Mr. Feeny! You can check out his IMDb listing for the full list, but my favorite performer of his was as John Adams in the movie musical “1776.” If you’ve never seen it, check it out!
Also memorable as Dustin Hoffman’s dad in The Graduate.
True! Another classic movie, for sure.
Lisa: Anyway Dad, to get back to our first question, where are the pictures of Maggie?
Homer: Where they are most needed.
Cut to SNPP. Homer’s unoccupied workstation is decorated with pictures of Maggie, and several have covered Burns’ “demotivational plaque”, making it a new plaque for Homer.
Plaque: DO IT FOR HER
One of the best endings ever on the show. Very relatable.
I certainly remember Knight Rider..but not the relaunch. The 80s were a golden era for family tv with The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Silver Spoons, Cheers, The A-Team, Airwolf, Blue Thunder, MacGyver(?)..and the list goes on and on. It was just three of us, but have great memories of just sitting and watching tv..ah the good ole days.