The problem is how blatant it is. It is so obvious that a lot of sequences were designed specifically to show the badges, or as many different Ford products as possible, at the expense of making the sequence look good. It'* very obvious that Ford was actively involved in writing and directing the show. I mean, I've seen actual commercials that were less obvious about flaunting the product.

I don't know if you remember the Viper series, but it wasn't just sponsored by Chrysler, it was actually a Chrysler project. Chrysler hired a production company to make a show, and Viper was the result.
The new Knight Rider looks like the Ford people shortcut the production company and just had their own PR people produce it. In fact, it'* actually a blatant rip-off of Viper in a lot of ways. KITT was never a shape shifter. VIPER was, and the KR writers stole that.
The whole things is closer to a re-written VIPER, the it is to the original KR.

Adding on to what Gonneville said, let'* look at something else real quick...

Cool Factor:
Knight Rider:
Ford Mustang GT500 KR: Pretty damn cool, but it looses a lot of its cool points for trying to be a trans am: 6/10
Ford Edge: 1/10 (Do I have to say why???)
Ford Focus in the commercials: (oh the horror...): 3/10 (just because of sync..)

Transformers:
2009 Camaro: 9/10 (I'm sorry, but if you think it'* anything less than that, get your eyes checked )
Solstice GXP: 8/10 (See Above)
GMC Topkick: 7/10 (it'* a big mother-f***er)
Hummer H2: 4/10 (let'* be honest here...)

See? Wanna argue with that, fine by me, but that'* what I think...
Can't wait for the Transformers sequel next year

I like Transformers as much as the next guy but I still felt like it was a big GM commercial. Movie would have been better without their involvement(except the new Camaro, it needed that). Is it wrong that my favorite car in Transformers was the Mustang cop car? That thing was BAD. I didn't watch the new Knight Rider but I've seen the car before and don't care for it. Way over done IMO.
Grant

The original voice of Kitt was from Brooklyn, his name is William Daniels also known as Mr Feeny :P

It was originally supposed to be Will Arnett, a Torontonian, that is on the show Arrested Development

I don't have a problem with the new voice over, it would be even more weird if Kilmer was the voice and KITT was a T/A :?

I refused to watch the show

GM fanboyism is leaking through this entire thread.. It'* a huge PR thing for ford, so they'll get their noses in the launch. If it was a GM product everyone here would be calling it a huge success

Hard to make a new show with a new T/A when they don't make the T/A anymore, don'tcha think?

No, if GM put out a show that bad, I still wouldn't watch it. I wouldn't have been pissed at the choice of car, but I just don't watch bad TV.

Thank you...that'* pretty much what I was going for.

I Am Legend has quite a bit of Ford placement as well. I liked listening to the supercharged Shelby GT500 zippin around town in the theater Not that I'm a Ford fan... or a GM or Chrysler at that :P. I drives what haves, and only if I like the specific model of the car.

Oh yeah, the explorer looked pretty sweet for an explorer IMO. Still was on it'* roof half way through the movie though.

Yes, the show had horrible acting
Yes, the product placement was bad
But you know what? I loved it! It was so bad that it was funny.

And yes, logically they had to use a Mustang because it'* the only current production muscle car...in any brand!

And why wouldn't a new K.I.T.T. be programmed? The old one was an entity upon itself. As far as I know, it never got destroyed. So if they brought back the program, why not an updated K.I.T.T.? Makes sense to me.

Now I don't remember much from the original show, but I think K.I.T.T. had all sorts of gadgets, right. Kinda like all those Bond cars, huh? So why can't the Mustang be like the Viper? That was a great show that never really caught on. Besides, the main part of Knight Rider is that K.I.T.T. is an intelligent car with all sorts of electronic know how.

And sorry, but I entered for the car too (8 times! (4 in my gf'* name))

Just my 2 cents.

Fanboyism probably....its our home, we're entitled, but, the original car was a GM product....so....

*shrugs*