The Knights of Prosperity

Infobox Television
show_name = The Knights of Prosperity


caption = Network Logo for "The Knights of Prosperity"
format = Sitcom
picture_format = 480i (SDTV),
720p (HDTV)
runtime = 30 minutes
(including commercials)
camera = Single-camera setup
creator = Rob Burnett
Jon Beckerman
starring = Donal Logue
Sofía Vergara
Lenny Venito
Maz Jobrani
Kevin Michael Richardson
Josh Grisetti
country = USA
first_aired = January 3, 2007
last_aired = August 23, 2007
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 13
network = ABC
imdb_id = 0494287
tv_com_id = 58495
website = |

"The Knights of Prosperity" was a short-lived comedy series that premiered on ABC in the United States on Wednesday, January 3, 2007. It was created by Rob Burnett and Jon Beckerman, who also created the NBC comedy-drama "Ed". The show follows a group of misfits—the titular Knights—who attempt to rob various celebrities, the first being Mick Jagger. Later in the series, the attempt to rob his luxury apartment failed, and the team moved onto new targets Kelly Ripa and later Ray Romano.

The series initially aired on Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. before being moved to 8:30. The series was pulled after airing nine episodes and then officially cancelled by ABC. [ [http://www.tvseriesfinale.com/2007/05/2007_cancelled_shows_abc_cuts_some_beloved_series.php 2007 Cancelled Shows: ABC Cuts Some Beloved Series] , "TVSeriesFinale.com", May 15, 2007] On August 8, after 5 months off the air, ABC broadcast two episodes and then pulled the sitcom once again. [ [http://www.tvseriesfinale.com/2007/08/knights_of_prosperity_the_nine_abc_drops_them_once.php Knights of Prosperity, The Nine: ABC Drops Them Once Again] , "TVSeriesFinale.com", August 13, 2007] On August 17, 2007, the network made all 13 episodes available for viewing on [http://abc.go.com ABC.com] , but were later taken off. [http://www.tvseriesfinale.com/2007/08/knights_of_prosperity_the_nine_abc_releases_final.php Knights of Prosperity, The Nine: ABC Releases Final Episodes, "TV Series Finale", August 17, 2007]

Name changes and scheduling

The series went through several name changes: the original title was "Let's Rob Jeff Goldblum", later changed to "Let's Rob Mick Jagger" once Goldblum committed to the NBC drama "Raines". ABC announced the series for its fall schedule as "Let's Rob..." in May, and the final name change to "Knights" was reported in July 2006. [Sullivan, Brian Ford. [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7180 "ABC Adds 'Medical Mysteries,' 'Let's Rob' Becomes 'Knights'"] , FutonCritic.com, 4 July 2006] During the TCA Tour, executive producer Rob Burnett indicated that the title might change again before the show debuts, [Ausiello, Michael. "Ausiello Report" [http://community.tvguide.com/thread.jspa?threadID=700004117 "Press Tour Diary: ABC Day 2"] , 20 July 2006] but the show debuted under the "Knights" name.

Originally scheduled to debut on October 17, 2006 at 9:00 p.m., it was pulled from the schedule on October 3 in favor of at least two additional 90-minute episodes of its intended lead-in, "Dancing with the Stars". ABC later announced that the program would be shelved [Ryan, Joal. [http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=b3e05f02-4aee-4b82-b857-23aeb15c3e8f "Mick Jagger Heist on Hold"] , "E! Online", 4 October 2006] and rescheduled for a January 2007 airdate due to the network now making another sitcom, "Big Day", a priority for the Tuesday night schedule. [ [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?date=10/05/06&id=20061005abc01 "'Big Day' To Premiere Tuesday, November 28 On The ABC Television Network"] , FutonCritic.com, 5 October 2006] On November 9, 2006, ABC began running promos for the show in advance of its January airdate. On December 5, 2006, ABC announced that the program would premiere on January 3, 2007 at 9:00 p.m. Although the show was scheduled to air the following week at 9:00, a primetime address by the President of the United States caused the second episode of the show to air at 9:30 p.m. The show returned to its normal 9:00 time slot the following week. The show was rescheduled to 8:30 beginning on January 31, 2007, and remained there until it was pulled from the schedule on March 5. Before the upfronts, the network announced that it was considering a second season featuring Ray Romano. [ [http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-abcupfrontbuzz-underbellyknights,0,143191.story "Upfront Buzz: 'Underbelly' May Be Back; ABC also looking at reviving 'Knights'"] , "Zap2It.com", May 11, 2007]

However, the show was ultimately canceled, and was briefly brought back in the summer to burn off the remaining episodes along with fellow low-rated newcomer "The Nine". Both shows were pulled again on August 14 and on August 17, ABC put up the remaining episodes on its website. [ [http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-abcpullsthenineandknightsofprosperity,0,59383.story?track=rss Quick Exits for 'Knights,' 'Nine'; ABC pulls burnoffs after brief August runs] , "Zap2It.com", August 14, 2007]

Marketing

On December 26 2006, to generate buzz for the show, ABC distributed wallets bearing the monogram "KOP" in a number of markets. The wallets contained a receipt from "Enterprise Luxury Goods Ltd." for millions of dollars in purchases, a claim check for a platinum wristwatch, and an invitation to join a promotional group via text message. [Johannes, Amy [http://promomagazine.com/entertainmentmarketing/news/abc_drops_walletse_knights_premier_122206 "ABC Drops Wallets, Cash for Knights."] , Promomagazine.com, December 22, 2006]

On December 31 2006 during New Year's Eve in Time Square, ABC also distributed orange acrylic hats bearing a white embroidered "KOP".

Cast and characters

* Donal Logue as Eugene Gurkin
* Sofia Vergara as Plentyo Fass
* Lenny Venito as Francis "Squatch" Squacieri
* Maz Jobrani as Gourishankar "Gary" Subramaniam
* Kevin Michael Richardson as Rockefeller Butts
* Josh Grisetti as Louis Plunk

Guest stars

* Reiko Aylesworth as Simone Cashwell
* Ben Bailey as Ralph Carnucci
* Dustin Diamond as himself
* Mick Jagger as himself
* Sally Jessy Raphaël as herself
* Kelly Ripa as herself
* Ray Romano as himself
* Rocco DiSpirito as himself

Episodes

References

External links

*
*
* [http://www.maximumfun.org/blog/2007/01/podcast-knights-of-prosperity.html Extensive interview with the creators] on public radio program The Sound of Young America
* [http://heardontv.com/tvshow/The+Knights+of+Prosperity Music from The Knights of Prosperity]