In 2008 NBC thought it would be a great idea to revamp the Knight Rider franchise for a 3rd time! This series followed the adventures of Michael Traceur, who was allegedly the son of the original and best Knight Rider, Michael Knight. The new Michael drove a vehicle titled the Knight Industries Three Thousand or KITT. This version of KITT was voiced by Batman himself...Val Kilmer.
Crazy thing is that Will Arnett was signed on to voice KITT, but a conflict of interest between him being a GMC spokes person and Ford being the makers of KITT, kept his already recorded voice over from making it into the new Knight Rider show. The series lasted only 1 season and was cancelled by NBC due to low ratings. This show came and went without really leaving a lasting impression on Knight Rider fans.
The only thing I have that even keeps this show in memory are the recently unburied stacks of these KITT bumper stickers that NBC sent me over 10 years ago! All things considered they are pretty great. Let's take a look!
No this series was not the Knight Rider renaissance NBC thought it would be. No, I never watched a single episode of the show, but maybe someday KITT will get the treatment he deserves. So as The Hoff himself says "Keep Smilin".
The Guys Next Door was a sketch comedy show that ran on NBC Saturday mornings from 1990-1991. The cast included Patrick J. Dancy, Bobby Leslie, Damon Sharpe, Chris Wolf and Eddie Garcia. The Guys were an actual band that was signed to SBK/EMI Records. Their song "I've Been Waiting For You" made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 list and they released 1 self titled studio album. The NBC program lasted only 13 episodes, but was nominated for a Young Artist Award for "Best Youth Variety or Game Show". They ultimately ended up losing to The All New Mickey Mouse Club, which is one more reason to dislike Justin Timberlake. I always felt it was NBCs attempt to cash in on the New Kids on the Block craze that was sweeping the United States around this time. Take a look at this episode and decide for yourself.
Even though the series was short lived, it did have a pretty big fan following (including my 2 sisters) and they did have some catchy tunes! But, these manufactured boy band pop groups usually have a pretty quick shelf life and The Guys Next Door were no exception.
But what happened to The Guys Next Door after NBC evicted them from their Saturday morning lineup and the record label kicked them to the curb? I did some digging and this is what I could find!
Eddie Garcia
Eddie had been acting for a few years before becoming a Guy Next Door and appeared in the films Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984) and Lambada (1990). After The Guys Next Door series ended in 1991 Garcia continued to act in various television and movie roles. Most notably in Boogie Nights (1997), Bringing Down The House (2003) and Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)! He also took his dance talents on the road and danced for Michael & Janet Jackson and choreographed routines for the Dirty Dancing TV series and Jennifer Lopez: Live In Concert!
Patrick J. Dancy
Like Garcia, Dancy continued to act in television for a few decades after leaving The Guys Next Door in 1991. He appeared in a recurring role on the hit sitcom Family Matters as Ted and appeared as a guest star on the shows Living Single, In The House, The Pretender and NYPD Blue. His last acting gig was in 2004 on the TV series She Spies. In 1993 he was nominated for a Young Artist Award for "Best Young Actor Recurring In A Television Series". He lost to Aeryk Egan & Bumper Robinson. They tied for the award.
Chris Wolf
Wolf had been an actor for several years before becoming a part of The Guys Next Door and some might argue that it was his best work. He acted in the films Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989) and Tango & Cash (1989). After The Guys Next Door his most high profile role may have been his turn as the Swamp Creature on the television show Big Bad Beetleborgs!
Bobby Leslie
After the cancellation of their TV show, Bobby Leslie has never acted again and I really can't find much info on what he has been up to since! The Guys have reunited a few times recently, but Bobby has been nowhere to be found.
Damon Sharpe
Probably the most famous of all The Guys Next Door alumni, Sharpe has created an amazing producing and songwriting career for himself. Over the years he has worked with such A-list talent as Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull and Nelly just to name a few. He did act on few television shows after Guys. You may have seen him as a Male Student in the Buffy The Vampire Slayer episode "I Robot...You Jane". But his biggest on screen contribution was probably his role as a vocal coach on the hit television series The X Factor.
So there it is, a brief update on where the Guys went after they left next door. It was a short period of time where their star shone bright, but damn it was a hell of a ride. They even had their own board game for cryin' out loud! If that doesn't count as AWESOME, I don't know what does?
Just like every other boy band of the early 90s they left us too soon, but at least they left us with some freakin hot jams!!! Thank you Guys Next Door and may God bless you wherever you are!
For more investigative reporting on some of your favorite icons from the 80s & 90s, check out the posts below!
During my quarterly tidying up of my office at work I discovered this "NBC Must See TV Primetime Preview 98/99" kit. It included a handful of photos from past NBC shows and also a magazine titled "Impressions" which highlights the best print advertising from local NBC affiliate stations. Below are some of the best pics I found within. ENJOY!
Star Trek (1966-1969) & I Spy (1965-1968)
History of "Saturday Night Live" (1975 - Present)
Michael Landon's TV Life
Bonanza (1959 - 1973), Little House on the Prairie (1974 - 1983) and Highway to Heaven (1984 - 1989)
Ads for local programming featuring "Freddy's Nightmares", "The Cosby Show", "The Facts of Life" & "DuckTales"
Ad for special report on "Teenage Satanism" from WXIA-TV/Atlanta, GA
I hope you enjoyed this bit of NBC history. There may be more to come!
