>NBC taps Thompson to ride 'Knight'
>April 2, 2008, 3:00 PM EST
>'Furious' scribe inks two-year deal with UMS
>By Josef Adalian
>Variety
>NBC is adding some fuel to its new "Knight Rider" series, signing "Fast
and the Furious" scribe Gary Scott Thompson to serve as exec producer and
showrunner.
>
>Producer Universal Media Studios has also made a two-year overall deal
with the scribe, who most recently shepherded the Peacock's "Las Vegas."
Thompson will work alongside exec producers Doug Liman and Dave Bartis, as
well as scribe-producer Dave Andron, who wrote the pilot and is remaining
with the series.
>
>Another "Las Vegas" vet, Matt Pyken, is also joining "Knight" as an exec
producer.
>
>NBC confirmed a series order for "Knight" earlier this week (Daily
Variety, March 31).
>
>UMS prexy Katherine Pope said that as soon as it became clear "Knight"
was headed to series, landing Thompson became a priority.
>
>"The network and studio all came to this idea separately. There was a
list of one," Pope told Daily Variety.
>
>Exec also said Thompson would help up the quality of special effects on
"Knight." "Action and effects are going to be a real priority for us on
this show," Pope said.
>
>Deal for "Knight" comes as Thompson is still mourning the sudden death of
"Las Vegas," a staple of the Peacock sked that got an unexpected ax after
the strike. Skein had been a dependable performer on Friday nights;
there's been buzz that "Knight" could end up on Fridays as well.
>
>Click here for more tv news on Variety.com.
>
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