MovieChat Forums > Forever Knight (1992) Discussion > Nick Knight and FK

Nick Knight and FK

posted 10 years ago by night_wolf873
8 replies | jump to latest

I recently learned of this series and have so far made it into the second season within a week, says a lot about how well its done.

However, I wanted to know of more about why Nick Knight wasn't continued as a series and why the change to FK?

I originally started with the pilot for the show and then learned of the Nick Knight movie. To be honest, I found the latter to be more immersive. Despite the show being wonderful to watch, original movie had a better overall feel to it. The look and presentation had a very stylistic approach, very reminiscent of Miami Vice, just with Vampires. Even the soundtrack is much, much better. In the show, the music is almost negligible for action scenes and or even emotional scenes, at the point of being dull to the say the least. I can't say I was engrossed by it at any point except for few instances in few episodes up to this point.

Another thing that movie presented better was that he had actual makeup, which made it more appealing vampire look wise. Although I do like GWD slightly better in the role, though I am not too fond of Nigel as LaCroix, well his looks especially in the flashbacks. I don't know, he comes off as one of those strange fashion designers more than anything. Michael "looked better" but I liked the calm and collected demeanor of Nigel. He could have benefited from appearance overhaul.

The thing is the cast is overall better in the show, but the presentation was better executed in the movie, it had the perfect feel: Miami Vice meets vampires. So why wasn't that carried over to the show?

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] night_wolf873 10 years ago

So I suppose the fact that I like series means the show itself is tasteless and vile, okay I guess it makes sense :P

But seriously, though was it the timing? It's the strangest thing I've seen that a show got picked up after years of its initial pilot run.

P.S. Don't go calling on me to be tasteless as it seemed rude, it's pretty much relative when it comes to what's entertaining and what is not. My palette for movies and TV shows ranges as it does for everyone else. Liking this single movie is no indication of whether I have taste or not. I hope you were jesting.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] night_wolf873 10 years ago

Well you said "have no taste" so I took it to mean I had none :P

To be fair, I am only comparing the movie to the pilot episode, I can't compare the whole series. To reiterate, I like the show very much. I saw the movie after I was half way into the second season, so pretty much being neutral.

You seem awfully passionate, I suppose it's good in defense of the series :)

I should have been clear on Nigel as LaCroix, I like his version overall better. I just think his physical appearance could have used some touch up. I especially dislike his hair, I don't know why they bother me so much. It was just an impression I got when I watched his first scene, that something was not right with his looks, wanted him to sport slightly longer hairdo or go completely bald.

As for the main actors. It's hard for me, between Rick and Geraint. GWD pulled off the cop better, even the comical scenes. However, Rick had a more smooth way about him, more romantic I suppose. Just compare the scene in the museum where he flies to meet Alyce. The movie version was not only shot better but had a certain feel to it that was immersing. The other scene where he expresses his suffering for having lived so long, again Rick seemed to do a better job whereas GWD seemed more tame.

John also had a different feel about him between the pilot movie and the pilot episodes. Although nothing major.

I personally loved the fact that they changed the coroner to female. Provided an interesting dynamic for the team. I also like Janette (Deborah is it?) in the tv show better.

Don't me wrong about the music for the show, I love the brooding music but I like having variety. It's been my complaint with present shows as well, no distinguishing music. At least when action is on the roll, have some high octane music, not something that fades away into the background. That's why I like the 80s style music.

I honestly don't understand why you'd say its complete garbage, when the two are practically the same with slight differences. I'm sure if the show had been picked up in USA it would have still morphed into the same series (with slight stylistic differences maybe) as the creators are the same no? Thus, I suppose you can say the pilot was successful enough to get FK going.

Lastly, I like both. The movie can only be compared to the pilot episode and not the entire show, given that: I'd say they are both equally entertaining for me. ^_^

By the way, I'm in Canada, one of the reasons I started watching the show being proud of our entertainment industry :D. Other being GWD, I saw him in Murdoch Mysteries and Airwolf season 4 (he was the best part about it), loved him in both so gave this a try.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] lm362 10 years ago

I do not know why Nick Knight was not continued as a series and changed to Forever Knight, but perhaps it is due to how you and possibly others felt about the TV movie. You said it was, "Miami Vice, just with Vampires". Maybe the creators of the movie saw this too, and so changed it. I myself thought that Rick Springfield did a wonderful job as Nick Knight and I never thought of it as you did. To me, it was about a vampire who wanted to be cured, but also it highlighted the theme of the handsome cop doing his job. And that is the difference between the movie and the t.v. series. In the movie, the theme of the vampire seeking a cure runs equally with the theme of the stylish, handsome officer catching the bad guy. The television series more strongly gives the theme of the hope for a cure and somewhat downplays the handsome police officer theme. This may have been what the creators wanted.

[–] Tjanssen411 10 years ago

the changing nature of TV

Nick Knight was made in 1989 as a Pilot for CBS...

Forever Knight was a 3 season Syndicated/Cable Original starting in 92

circa 1989 the only 'syndicated' shows were reruns, Game shows, talk shows and comedies (Charles in Charge, Mama's Family)

This changed in 1990 when Baywatch, after getting canceled by NBC (and much like the aforementioned comedies) restarted as a syndicated series

Baywatch becoming "BAYWATCH!" proved that the syndication model worked for Dramatic Original content

from there FK was picked up by CBS as part of post-primetime programming Block where its first season Aired after the local News.

when CBS scrapped the package for Letterman, FK went fully to traditional syndication for Season 2... and Season 3 saw the show picked up by USA Cable Network for Season 3

[–] emp1966 10 years ago

The story as I heard is that CBS thought it was too gorey for primetime in 1989 and so they did not buy it. 3 years later in 1992 when they had created "Crimetime after primetime" they learned that the pilot was reshot in Canada and a series had been made, so they bought the rights to it being it would be put on where those who were scared it would frighten prime time viewers would be asleep. Sadly it still didn't get the appreciation CBS wanted and they soon as was discontinued Crimetime after Primetime. Season 2 was sold into first run syndication 2 years later (CBS did rerun Season 1 in the next season) and the USA Network bought the rights to coshow it with the syndicator for Season 3.