Autoblog

NBC replaces Speed as sole broadcaster of F1 races in the US

George Kennedy — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, TV/Movies

It is now official, coverage of Formula 1 in the US will now be seen on either NBC or NBC Sports Network, as Speed will conclude its 17-year run with Formula One at the end of this season. In a report from Autosport, we read that NBC Sports Group has signed on to bring American viewers F1 for the next four years. The financial details of the deal were not specified.

The plan is to broadcast four races on NBC and the other sixteen on NBC Sports Network. It is reported that practice and qualifying sessions will be covered on the Sports Network as well. The four NBC-shown races will be the Canadian GP, as well as the final three races of the season.

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone remains confident in the new arrangement, "I feel that [NBC] will promote Formula 1 to a level not seen before in the United States," he continued, "I very much look forward to working with NBC. Together, we will endeavor to broaden the scope of Formula 1 coverage available to US viewers incorporating digital content." NBC has touted its online coverage of sporting events such as the Olympics, and could bring a whole new dynamic to the way Formula 1 is covered in the United States.

With the debut of the United States Grand Prix around the corner, NBC could have picked an ideal time to start covering the sport. But before NBC can capitalize on the Austin, TX-held event, Speed will get a shot at the race, which is on November 18. It is Speed's second-to-last race. The final F1 race to be broadcast on Speed is the Brazilian Grand Prix, on November 25.

NBC replaces Speed as sole broadcaster of F1 races in the US originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Applebees, Taco Bell invade the world of food trucks

Chris Tutor — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising

As if to prove the inevitable evolution of all things cool to pedestrian commercialism, the hipster trend of high-end food trucks is being invaded by cookie cutter chain names.

As the headline says, Applebees and Taco Bell are two big names cashing in on the roving restaurant trend. But there are also now trucks from Sizzler, Jack in the Box and Red Robin. If those big fish weren't enough to have you wondering if food trucks had jumped the shark, consider that NBC (yes, that NBC) recently had a food truck at SXSW and several U.S. cities have reported seeing a food truck selling Gap-branded tacos.

Some of the big chains see their trucks as supplementary to their brick and mortar stores, while others use their vittle-vans as mobile test kitchens. Sizzler, for example, uses an electronic menu on its truck because its offerings changed so frequently. Some items proved so popular that the steak chain incorporated them into their regular menu.

So is this the beginning of road-going restaurants? Or the beginning of the end for what was for a bit a fun little trend? Adweek's story points out that some people theorize that food trucks will become as ubiquitous as mobile phones. When first introduced, mobiles were novelties, but soon evolved to replace land lines.

Applebees, Taco Bell invade the world of food trucks originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford teams up with NBC for Escape-based reality TV show

Zach Bowman — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, Ford, Celebrities, Humor

Ford is turning to prime-time TV to introduce the 2013 Escape. The vehicle will be front and center in "Escape Routes," a new NBC reality show that pits six teams of two against one another in a road-trip competition with layovers in Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Miami and San Francisco. Viewers, meanwhile, can interact with the show's contestants and participate via EscapeRoutes.com. Ford says the online community will even have a chance to impact the final outcome of the game, though it's unclear exactly how.

Currently, NBC and Ford have chosen five teams for the competition, and four more duos are currently duking it out for the last spot. According to the automaker, the team that takes home the gold in the final competition will win $100,000 and two Ford Escape models. "Escape Routes" is set to air for six episodes on Saturday nights at 8 pm EST, starting on March 31. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Ford teams up with NBC for Escape-based reality TV show

Ford teams up with NBC for Escape-based reality TV show originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford asks Chevrolet, then NBC, to pull Silverado Super Bowl ad

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:55:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, Ford

Chevrolet is having some pointed fun with its apocalyptic Super Bowl ad featuring the Silverado called "2012," only the fun is pointed directly at Ford, which finds it a little too sharp to be all that much fun. So on the eve of the big game, Ford sent Chevy a cease-and-desist letter to pull the ad and "pressured" NBC not to run the commercial, according to a report on Yahoo!'s Motoramic blog. Chevy has released a statement in response, which you can read after the jump, indicating that the ad will run despite Ford's protest.

Ford found no reason to chuckle at some of the commercial's claims, "particularly around durability." One in particular comes from a character that says of their now-deceased, F-150-driving pal, "Dave didn't drive the longest-lasting most dependable truck on the road. Dave drove a Ford."

Ford spokesman Mike Levine says his company has more trucks with 250,000-plus miles on the road than any other brand, which would appear to contradict the small print that appears in the "2012" ad that reads, "Dependability based on longevity: 1981-2011 full-size pickup registrations." Ford says its lawyers will decide what to do (if anything) after the ad airs during tonight's game, but Chevy's legal minions must have vetted the spot closely well before time.

Or Ford could take Chevy marketing honcho Joel Ewanick up on his offer and bide its time. Said Ewanick, "We can wait until the world ends, and if we need to, we will apologize."

Continue reading Ford asks Chevrolet, then NBC, to pull Silverado Super Bowl ad

Ford asks Chevrolet, then NBC, to pull Silverado Super Bowl ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler attacked for Playboy Club ads, doesn't back down

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Chrysler

Back when it took a little more effort to organize One Million Insert-Group-Here, companies took news of boycotts a little more seriously. Now that kittens and baby polar bears can have more than a million Facebook friends and anyone can make the news, it might take more than cage rattling to get a firm to back down. This time it's the Parents Television Council (PTC) shaking fists at Chrysler because of The Pentastar's advertising during NBC's "The Playboy Club".

The PTC accuses both Chrysler and Unilever, the other major sponsor of the series premiere episode, of "mainstreaming pornography" and "helping to make adults-only material available in virtually every living room in the country." It goes on to accuse Playboy of "reducing a woman to a set of measurements to the exclusion of everything else," seeking "to lure young girls through pink, sparkly, bunny logo merchandise," and then blasts the show for "putting a sickening, glamorous sheen on an adult entertainment industry that destroys countless marriages and families." So there. In addition to the boycott and letter-writing, the PTC is urging concerned members of society to stop into dealerships and be heard.

Chrysler's response: "We recognize that not all advertising placement is liked by all individuals. We do not take this approach to offend, but we feel that it is important to deliver information about our products to a diverse and broad audience."

Chrysler attacked for Playboy Club ads, doesn't back down originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Driver of shocking road debris accident interviewed by NBC's Today Show

Aaron Richardson — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Kia

Wendy Cobb NBC Today Show interview - Click above to watch video after the jump

The driver who very nearly filmed her own death has been interviewed by NBC's Today Show after video of her shocking road debris accident went viral. Wendy Cobb of Shelby, North Carolina was driving on April 1 when the accident happened.

Cobb says she was using her cameraphone to film two trucks who were holding up traffic so she could report the incident. As Cobb turned her phone toward the road in front of her, the truck and trailer in front of her kicked up a 2x4 lying in the road that shattered the windshield of her Kia Sedona minivan and very nearly impaled her. Luckily, Ms. Cobb's children weren't with her when the accident happened, or the results may have been far more tragic. According Cobb, the only injury she received was a tiny glass cut. Damage to her car was limited to the hood and windshield.

Cobb says she hasn't watched the video since the day of the accident, but has received plenty of emails from people who still think it was an April Fool's prank - check out the video after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Adam!

[Source: NBC]

Continue reading Video: Driver of shocking road debris accident interviewed by NBC's Today Show

Video: Driver of shocking road debris accident interviewed by NBC's Today Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBC working up NASCAR drama called The Crew?

Zach Bowman — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 21:27:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Celebrities

Here's a match made in heaven. According to The Deadline, NBC is currently hard at work on a reality TV series focused on the inner workings of a NASCAR family. While we likely won't be pointing our remotes toward the Peacock because of the news, the show does pack some pretty serious talent behind it. Joe Pokaski, of Heroes writer-producer fame, and Scott Stuber are behind the project. The show will supposedly revolve around a pair of racing brothers with very different styles that race for the same team. The show will also spend plenty of time on behind-the-scenes family drama, too.

Sounds riveting.

NBC is currently doing its best to secure rights for everything from tracks to sponsor logos and even the NASCAR name itself. The show wants to use in-race footage as well. Given the recent decline in attendance at stock car races these days as well as NBC's lackluster fall lineup, the show could be a boon for both. There's even some word that Stuber, a Universal producer, is trying to get the OK for a full-length feature directed by Gary Ross. So far there's no word on when the show could hit the air.

[Source: The Deadline, Inside Line]

NBC working up NASCAR drama called The Crew? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 21:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING:Top Gear America reborn!

Zach Bowman — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:24:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Humor

Put your skepticism aside, Top Gear fans. This is no drill. The History Channel will air the first ten episodes of an American version of everyone's favorite car show this Fall. As you may recall, NBC took the first crack at producing a colonized version of TG, complete with hosts Tanner Foust, Adam Carolla and Eric Stromer. For whatever reason, the project went to the dumpster, and we haven't heard word one until now.

It looks like Tanner Foust is still on board for The History Channel's take on Top Gear America, but the two other hosts have been swapped for different talent. Foust will share the stage with Adam Ferrara - probably one of the funniest comedians working these days (seriously, hit the YouTubes) - and Rutledge Wood. Wood's name will likely ring a bell with the NASCAR set. The guy's been reporting on turning left since before they realized they were going in circles.

Can The History Channel give the guys the space they need to do the Top Gear name justice? We hope so. For once, the talent appears to be there, and getting out from under piercing glare of NBC's lawyers is bound to be a good thing too. Suddenly, we can't wait for Fall to roll around.

[Source: Top Gear]

BREAKING:Top Gear America reborn! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legendary customizer George Barris kustomizes krazy Chevrolet Camaro

Zach Bowman — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Budget, Performance, Chevrolet, Celebrities, Design/Style

George Barris and the 2010 Chevrolet "Spirit" Camaro - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you happen to be in the greater Burbank area this weekend, you might want to swing by Community Chevrolet on Saturday. Legendary car customizer George Barris is scheduled to unveil his latest project - a kustomized 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS RS - by driving the car straight to the dealer himself. Called the "Spirit" Camaro, the car is designed to be affordable for the working class Joe, meaning there aren't any wild power adders under the hood.

Instead, Barris focused on creating a unique exterior for the General Motors muscle car. The hood and front fenders all get a striking paint job in the buyer's choice of either red or yellow, complete with pearl accents. The grille has been swapped for a new three-bar unit designed to give the car a classic feel. The look won't be for everyone, but it could be your only chance to own an original Barris creation. You can order your very own through your local Chevrolet dealer, who will contact Community Chevrolet in turn.

Barris made a name for himself by creating some of Hollywood's most iconic cars and trucks. His work took center stage on shows like The Beverly Hillbillies, The Munsters and the original Batman. He even turned out the very first KITT for Knight Rider back before NBC had its way with the concept. So far, there's no word on how many Spirit Camaros will be produced, or how much Barris will want for each one. Stay tuned.

Gallery: George Barris 2010 Chevrolet "Spirit" Camaro

[Source: Barris Kustom Industries]

Continue reading Legendary customizer George Barris kustomizes krazy Chevrolet Camaro

Legendary customizer George Barris kustomizes krazy Chevrolet Camaro originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Conan O'Brien gets Satisfaction from latest character: $1.5 million Bugatti Veyron Mouse

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Bugatti, Humor

Conan's Bugatti Veyron mouse - Click above to watch video

You might have heard about a little, but very expensive, storm in a teacup involving NBC, Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno. A quick summary for those of you doing other things with your lives, Jay left The Tonight Show to do a 10PM show, and Conan took over The Tonight Show. Seven months later, Jay's show isn't working out for NBC, so Jay gets to go back to late night TV, and NBC tells Conan he can push the The Tonight Show back a half hour, or he can walk.

So Conan's walking. But before he does he's going to spend all the NBC money he can, saying, "We're going to introduce comedy bits that aren't so much funny as they are crazy expensive." Hence the Bugatti Veryon mouse. And its really expensive theme music. Follow the jump to watch the video. Thanks to all who sent this in!

[Source: Earsucker]

Continue reading Conan O'Brien gets Satisfaction from latest character: $1.5 million Bugatti Veyron Mouse

Conan O'Brien gets Satisfaction from latest character: $1.5 million Bugatti Veyron Mouse originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Crooked valet attendants caught in Los Angeles

Chris Shunk — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Videos

Click above to watch the video after the jump

It's tough to find a parking spot in Los Angeles, but luckily there are plenty of valets to park your ride for you. The cost ranges from just a few bucks to $20 or more, but when there are places to go, people to see and deadlines to meet, the cost of parking is often better than spending the better part of your afternoon looking for a spot yourself. The problem is, more and more locations have been designated as loading zones and the public parking spaces have been shrinking. The interesting part about this is that the city of Los Angeles itself hasn't been adding the zones - but a bunch of unscrupulous valets have been.

NBC Los Angeles spent a year digging up dirt, and the investigative reporting of the network's Ana Garcia found valets who got into accidents with cars, shuttled co-workers to other spots in customer cars and put up cones and signs illegally. The local NBC affiliate also had cameras rolling as valets parked in front of expired meters, received tickets and didn't tell the car owners. In all, NBC LA and the city's Department of Transportation found over 80 fraudulent loading zone signs, and even after some of the signs were removed, they were back up the next night.

Hit the jump to watch the seven minute video. The investigative journalism is excellent, and the expressions on the faces of the valet workers as they are caught up in lie after lie are priceless. The only bummer is that NBC LA didn't put some cameras in the cars to see if the valets swiped things from people's cars.

[Source: NBC Los Angeles via Consumerist]

Continue reading VIDEO: Crooked valet attendants caught in Los Angeles

VIDEO: Crooked valet attendants caught in Los Angeles originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBC passes on Top Gear USA, show going to cable

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

According to the Colonial arm of Top Gear's website, the U.S. version of everyone's favorite motoring show has been passed up by NBC. The report doesn't go into any detail about why the Peacock people said, "Thanks. But no thanks" to the show, but the BBC is supposedly actively pursuing a cable network to air the series. We're tapping our sources inside Top Gear, NBC and the assorted media to get the full story, so stay tuned.

UPDATE: According to an entertainment industry source, NBC didn't "pass" on the program so much as it decided to sit on Top Gear as it hashed out the network's future. The BBC was able to get the program "back" so it could bring it to another channel. We'll see...

[Source: Top Gear]

NBC passes on Top Gear USA, show going to cable originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Knight Rider: The Liveblog -- Season 1, Episode 6

Alex Nunez — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Oh, you thought it was over, didn't you? Well, you (and I) should be so lucky. Last week, Knight Rider was pre-empted by the Obamercial, so your humble blog host got a much-appreciated bye. Tonight, however, the 8:00 hour on Wednesday is once again hijacked by the KITT crew.

The official NBC.com episode synopsis:
"Knight of the Living Dead" Halloween turns deadly when a tech is murdered inside Knight Industries headquarters.

And the expanded version, according to my Tivo:
"Knight of the Living Dead" A tech is murdered at Knight Industries headquarters; while they are stuck on a flight during a storm, Sarah and Mike must try to stop KITT before it self-destructs.

Oh, goody -- a week-too-late Halloween episode featuring problematic air travel. On the upside, maybe Billy is the tech who gets murdered. Keep hope alive.

Continue reading Knight Rider: The Liveblog -- Season 1, Episode 6

Knight Rider: The Liveblog -- Season 1, Episode 6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Knight Rider gets picked up for full season

Alex Nunez — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Oh dear. E! is reporting that the Peacock has ordered up nine more episodes of Knight Rider, meaning that NBC has locked in the show for a full season, and thanks to our inexplicably popular Knight Rider Liveblog, my Wednesday nights are effectively booked between 8 and 9 PM Eastern for the foreseeable future. The show's viewership grew last week by 900,000 and it's doing well with crap-tolerant males in the 18-34 and 18-49 demos, so this isn't all that surprising. Imagine what the numbers would be like if the show were actually any good...

Anyway, see you during Wednesday night's liveblog (and, it seems, a bunch more after that).

[Sources: E! Online via TV By the Numbers]

Knight Rider gets picked up for full season originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear pilot: That's a wrap!

Merritt Johnson — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:48:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Lifestyle, Opinion/Editorial

Filming for the NBC pilot for Top Gear has wrapped. Speculation about the show's format and hosting choices has left Top Gear fans hoping for at least a decent representation of the popular British show. Some of those prayers may be answered , as NBC brought in a number of BBC folks, along with the original Top Gear producer, the assist in the pilot's taping. The show follows the BBC version's format, right down to the set details. Also, as noted earlier, the "star in a reasonably priced car" segment gets carried over. However, the driver might come as a bit of a surprise (a really awesome surprise, at that). The signature top-notch video production viewers expect is there, though it must be said that the geography of the United States offers a richer variety of visual possibilities than you might be accustomed to seeing on Jeremy & Co.'s show.

One key to the BBC Top Gear's is the camraderie between the presenters. As such, it's probably a little unfair to compare the Top Gear of today, 11 seasons in, to a crew just coming together for the first time. Still, Carolla, Foust and Stromer are off to a good start. Their interactions during taped segments were wildly entertaining, enough to distract the show's own crew members from their tasks. Each host fits into his own role, but not the exact molds laid out by Jezza, Hamster and Captain Slow. Carolla's razor-sharp wit is on full display. Causing at least one member of the audience to say, "That is the most funny Adam Carolla has ever been." Foust is also not made out to be anything more than a total car geek -- his true personality. His enthusiasm may be too technical for general consumption on its own, but it's perfectly complimented by Carolla's blunt comedy. Stromer doesn't fare nearly as well. Before the live audience, he comes across as if he were presenting a sales pitch to a room full of prospective timeshare buyers. Hopefully, he'll adapt his field mannerisms, which are far more easygoing, into his studio presence in the future. That is, if the show has a future on American television.

Top Gear pilot: That's a wrap! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Knight Rider promotion shifts into high gear

John Neff — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Lifestyle

click above for more new high-res images of KITT

As we all know, Knight Rider will be returning to television this Sunday at 9PM EST on NBC. The new Michael Knight played by Justin Bruening and his car companion KITT, voiced by Val Kilmer, made an appearance on the Today Show this morning (disclaimer: the Today Show is also an NBC program) to promote the mini-movie that will eventually become a full series next fall. Bruening reveals a bit more about the story we'll be watching this Sunday, some of which we already knew and a few new bits. His character is playing the estranged son of the original Michael Knight, a role that will be reprised by David Hasselhoff himself in the movie, though the new Mike Knight is unaware the guy standing next to him with the same name is his dad. Bruening also reveals the loophole that supposedly fills in the 25-year gap between the original series and the new one, which is that the original writers never identified KITT's inventor. OK, well we'll have to see how that one plays out. Ford, meanwhile, which paid a pretty penny to have the GT500KR Mustang play the part of nuevo KITT, has released three more photos of the Knight Industries car, which make lovely desktop wallpaper backgrounds if you're a true fan. We'll decide our degree of fanboyosity after we watch the movie this weekend.

Gallery: The new KITT - OFFICIAL PHOTOS

[Source: Jalopnik, Ford]

Knight Rider promotion shifts into high gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Leno or Seinfeld could host NBC Top Gear

Noah Joseph — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:33:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Celebrities

If you found the news that NBC had struck a deal for an American version of Top Gear promising, the latest speculation on candidates for hosting the show should have you salivating. The original British program on the BBC uses a mix of automotive journalists and television personalities to make the dynamic and beloved team of hosts. Since Clarkson, May and Hammond nixed the idea of hosting the American show as well, BBC producers then began interviewing American automotive journalists - um, I'm still waiting for my call - in an effort to imbue the new show with some "journalistic credibility", but Inside Line reports that the BBC called several of the candidates this week and told them they were taking a "celebrity direction".

The development has inevitably led to speculation over who NBC could sign to host the show, and like a racing team looking for a new driver, it all comes down to availability. Jay Leno's contract to host the Tonight Show, it has been pointed out, is set to expire next year, and his credentials as a certified car nut are unimpeachable. Another candidate is Jerry Seinfed, an avid Porsche enthusiast who's got a lot of time on his hands since his sitcom went off the air. Both are huge celebrities and genuine gear-heads with long-standing relationships with NBC. We also hear Scott Speed is available if they're looking for The Stig's American cousin... or a new Captain Slow.

[Source: Inside Line, Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty]

Rumormill: Leno or Seinfeld could host NBC Top Gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBC officially announces Knight Rider, new KITT unveiled!

John Neff — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc.

UPDATE: TV Squad has live coverage of the unveiling.

click either image for high-res gallery of the new KITT on Knight Rider

NBC held a press conference today officially announcing the return of Knight Rider to network TV. The new show will debut as a two-hour movie on February 17th with a cast that includes Justin Bruening, Deanna Russo, Sydney Tamiia Poitier and Bruce Davison. Also confirmed is the return of David Hasselhoff in the role of an elder Michael Knight. Finally, the character we care about most, KITT, has been officially confirmed as a Ford GT500KR. The voice of KITT will also be none other than Will Arnett, husband of Saturday Night Live's Amy Poehler and ex-alum of the TV show Arrested Development.

There will actually be three versions of KITT in the show: a 540-hp standard version of the character named KITT Hero, a super high-speed version that's heavily modified for combat called KITT Attack (click here to view his body changes), and a driverless version called KITT Remote. According to NBC, KITT in the modern era is a supercomputer capable of hacking anything that plugs into a wall, and thanks to progress made in the area of nanotechnology, its body can shift both its shape and color.

Follow the jump for the official press release from NBC, including a brief rundown of the premier's storyline.

[Source: NBC]

Gallery: The new KITT - OFFICIAL PHOTOS

Continue reading NBC officially announces Knight Rider, new KITT unveiled!

NBC officially announces Knight Rider, new KITT unveiled! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What's old is new: Knight Rider returning to TV

Chris Shunk — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Pontiac

The original Knight Rider only lasted four seasons, but after seeing the monumental success of Transformers, executives at NBC think a new KITT would make a big splash on the small screen. Veteran producer/director (and David Hasselhoff sorta-lookalike) Doug Liman, has already been tapped to produce the series, and execs from the Peacock are working with automakers to line up a product-placement deal.

If all goes well, we could see Knight Rider part deux next fall, but at this time there's no director attached (though Liman, who has directed hits like Swingers and The Bourne Identity, is reportedly open to the idea of helming the 2-hour pilot himself). Casting the Michael Knight character will surely generate much interest and speculation, and we're curious to see who Liman ultimately taps for the role. As for the Hoff himself, there's no indication he'll be a part of the series, but we think it wouldn't be the same without him. Wait... it might actually be better. We imagine that with this TV revival moving forward, the rumored big-screen adaptation is dead.

Thanks for the tip, Alex!

[Source: Variety]

What's old is new: Knight Rider returning to TV originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 'Bugatti' badly bungled by blatantly bird-brained broadcaster

Chris Paukert — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:03:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Supercars, Bugatti, Lamborghini

Alright, so "Bugatti Veyron" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue for those not automotively inclined, but c'mon... "Beuagatty Vuyrohn?" In addition to being laughably old news, journalist Gina Redmond goes one better by butchering the supercar's model and manufacturer name in the course of her NBC-13 Birmingham broadcast. In the words of tipster Speed42, "...sounds like they're now producing the cars in a small Louisiana town by a bunch of highly-skilled Cajun mechanics."

We shudder to think what Redmond would've uttered when faced with the likes of a Lamborghini Murcielago.

[Source: WVTM NBC 13 via YouTube]

Video: 'Bugatti' badly bungled by blatantly bird-brained broadcaster originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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