As part of its announcements for the 2008-09 season, NBC has confirmed that a series version of the revamped Knight Rider, which aired as a TV movie/back-door pilot in February, will be part of the Fall line-up. It's currently scheduled for Wednesdays at 8pm.

NBC is taking a more cautious approach to Knight Rider after the high-profile failure of Bionic Woman, which has become a new byword for "mishandled property" in Hollywood.

"We saw it with Terminator [The Sarah Connor Chronicles], and we saw it with Bionic Woman," said Ben Silverman, co-chairman of NBC, during the network's upfront presentation in New York. "Big openings, big branded titles, draw open the tent, and the show didn't deliver on that $10 million pilot. What we're doing with Knight Rider is we consciously delivered it on air so that we had nine months to make sure that series is great."

Here's the network's official description: "On the heels of NBC's hit movie, the iconic 1980s television classic comes roaring back to life as an updated drama series showcasing the new customized KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) Ford Mustang. As the sequel resumes, KITT is absolutely the coolest car ever created: its supercomputer capable of hacking almost any system; its weapons systems efficient; and its body – thanks to its creator's work and nanotechnology – is capable of actually shifting shape and color. It is the ultimate car – and someone will be willing to do anything to obtain it.

"Knight Rider stars Justin Bruening (Cold Case), Deanna Russo (NCIS), Sydney Tamiia Poitier (Veronica Mars) and Bruce Davison (Breach). David Bartis (Heist, The O.C.), Doug Liman (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Bourne Identity) and Gary Scott Thompson (Las Vegas, The Fast and The Furious) are executive producers and David Andron serves as supervising producer and writer. Based on characters created by Glen Larson, Knight Rider is from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions."

Noticeably absent from the announcement: Who will perform the voice of KITT. There was a last-minute recasting for the TV film when Will Arnett was forced out due to a conflict of interest; Val Kilmer redubbed the car's lines only a couple of weeks before air date. Kilmer has been cast in a mini-series slated for fall 2008, XIII, so his availability – even for a role you can literally phone in – is unclear.

My favorite take on the news is this posting, which suggests alternative for the casting of the lead: Nathan Fillion of Firefly. Now that would be an interesting show.