Not saved by Saved by the Bell

ABC is sending mixed messages. First they heed my advice and move the hilarious Knights of Prosperity out of harm's way (out of American Idol's time slot), switching with Jim Belushi's According to Jim at 8:30 PM. This seems to signal that they see some hope for the show, and are giving it a chance. But wait ... ABC also has told the writers to stop at the initial 13 episodes ordered, and they won't be picking up 'the back nine' episodes to finish the season. So a lot was riding on last night's episode. Would the Knights be able to carry enough ratings to avoid the 'c-word'?

You probably couldn't have picked a more inappropriate episode to follow George Lopez unfortunately. With the main story involving wooing Mick Jagger's gay security guard and a guest appearance by Dirty Sanchez himself, Saved by the Bell's Dustin "Screech" Diamond, it's no wonder Knights lost nearly half its lead-in for only a 3.3 share.

The show continues to provide ample laughs and clever usage of old musical favorites. For instance last night, when the Knights got their Veronica Mars on to blackmail Mick Jagger's head of security, "Private Eyes" from Hall & Oates provided the backdrop. Even the bland Sixpence None The Richer song "Kiss Me" makes an appearance, utilizing its overexposure as a soundtrack for romantic teen dramas in a mocking fashion.

Oh how we'll miss you when you're gone, fair Knights of Prosperity.

Playlist: Knights Of Prosperity - Episode 105
1. "Puttin' On The Ritz" - Taco - Rockefeller sings this to keep from blowing his cover
2. "Kiss Me" - Sixpence None the Richer - Eugene woos Ralph the security guard
3. "Private Eyes" - Hall & Oates - the Knights stake out Mick Jagger's head of security

Previously: Exit the warrior, today's Tom Sawyer (Episode 1.03)

Exit the warrior, today's Tom Sawyer

So if you're ABC, and you have a smart new comedy that walks the line between Arrested Development's cleverness and My Name is Earl's populist approach, what do you do with it to make sure it grows an audience? If you said put it up against American Idol and let it sink or swim, I'm sure the network has bathroom key with your name on it.

While everyone else was watching wannabes butcher song after song in American Idol auditions, a select few of us watched the cast from The Knights of Prosperity butcher Rush's "Tom Sawyer" in hilarious fashion. The Knights were debating what should be their theme music when Eugene (Donal Logue) broke into that Rush classic. In reality, they have a theme song, composed by long time Letterman sidekick Paul Shaffer (Letterman's a producer.) It features actor Kevin Michael Richardson (pictured) on vocals and is a fine Isaac Hayes spoof:


As expected, though, the show was summarily trounced in the ratings by that 500 lb gorilla AI. So I guess that means we're on a Knights death watch from here on out, unless ABC decides to save it by giving it a chance in another time slot. In the meantime, you owe it yourselves to watch the first three episodes, streaming for free (ABC.)

Knights of Prosperity - Episode 1.03
1. "Tom Sawyer" - Rush
2. "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" - Poison

Previously: Breakbeat backdrop (Episode 1.01)

tags: music, television, soundtrack, rush, american idol, abc, letterman, paul shaffer, donal logue, knights of prosperity, rhapsody

Breakbeat backdrop

For the handful of folks who checked out the series premiere of ABC's The Knights of Prosperity, you were not only treated to Mick Jagger yukking it up to the camera, but also repeated use of greatest hip-hop breakbeat of all-time:

"Apache" from Incredible Bongo Band.

Back in the early days of hip-hop, if you were a DJ, you couldn't be caught at block party without a copy of Incredible Bongo Band's Bongo Rock in your collection, and the song was eventually sampled in a multitude of rap songs like Run-DMC's "What's It All About" and LL Cool J's "You Can't Dance." A couple months ago, the album finally got a reissue, complete with great liner notes, along with bonus tracks.

As far as the series goes, time will only tell... the pilot showed promise, especially in the form of Donal Logue (as Eugene.) All the 70's references like Boston's "More Then a Feeling" and the Loni Anderson poster point to all sorts of future possibilities, and hopefully we'll see more of Columbian bombshell Sofia Viagra, er... Vergara, as Esperanza.

The Knights of Prosperity - 1.01 (Pilot)
1. "More Then a Feeling" - Boston - Eugene wakes up to this on his clock radio
2. "Apache" - Incredible Bongo Band - Used throughout as the Knights crime theme song

Here's Mick's first scene, which segues into the first use of "Apache":


Fun fact: The Knights of Prosperity was originally known as Let's Rob Jeff Goldblum, before Goldblum committed to the upcoming NBC series Raines.

tags: music, television, soundtrack, incredible bongo band, hip-hop, breakbeat, sofia vergara, mick jagger, donal logue, knights of prosperity, rhapsody