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The Knights of Prosperity
Network Logo for The Knights of Prosperity
Created by Rob Burnett
Jon Beckerman
Starring Donal Logue
Sofía Vergara
Lenny Venito
Maz Jobrani
Kevin Michael Richardson
Josh Grisetti
Opening themeKnights of Prosperity performed by Kevin Michael Richardson
ComposerChris Hajian
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13 (2 unaired)
Production
Executive producers Rob Burnett
Jon Beckerman
David Letterman
Mick Jagger
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time30 minutes
(including commercials)
Production companiesB&B Productions
Worldwide Pants Incorporated
Touchstone Television
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseJanuary 3 (2007-01-03) –
August 8, 2007 (2007-08-08)

The Knights of Prosperity is an American sitcom 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 (Jagger was also credited as one of the executive producers, along with the creators and David Letterman). The series was made by Letterman's Worldwide Pants Incorporated and Touchstone Television.

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 canceled by ABC. [1] On August 8, after 5 months off the air, ABC broadcast two episodes and then pulled the sitcom once again. [2] On August 17, 2007, the network made all 13 episodes available for viewing on ABC.com, but were later taken off. [3]

Name changes and scheduling

The series went through several name changes: the original title, though never publicly affirmed, 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 of Prosperity was reported in July 2006. [4] During the TCA Tour, executive producer Rob Burnett indicated that the title might change again before the show debuts, [5] 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 [6] and rescheduled for a January 2007 airdate due to the network now making another sitcom, Big Day, a priority for the Tuesday night schedule. [7] 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. [8]

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. [9]

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. [10]

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

Cast and characters

Main cast

Guest stars

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Pilot" Rob Burnett Jon Beckerman & Rob BurnettJanuary 3, 2007 (2007-01-03)
2"Operation: Seduce Simone" Don ScardinoJon Beckerman & Rob BurnettJanuary 10, 2007 (2007-01-10)
3"Operation: Fighting Shape"Don ScardinoJon Beckerman & Rob BurnettJanuary 17, 2007 (2007-01-17)
4"Operation: Deliver the Case" Michael FrescoJon Beckerman & Rob BurnettJanuary 24, 2007 (2007-01-24)
5"Operation: Ralph"Michael FrescoJon Beckerman & Rob BurnettJanuary 31, 2007 (2007-01-31)
6"Operation: Caught on Tape" Robert Duncan McNeillSteve TompkinsFebruary 7, 2007 (2007-02-07)
7"Operation: Save Esperanza"Robert Duncan McNeillEric HorstedFebruary 14, 2007 (2007-02-14)
8"Operation: Panic Room"Don ScardinoJon Beckerman & Rob BurnettFebruary 21, 2007 (2007-02-21)
9"Operation: Oswald Montecristo"Don ScardinoJon Beckerman & Rob BurnettFebruary 28, 2007 (2007-02-28)
10"Operation: Rent Money" Rodman FlenderJosh Siegal & Dylan MorganAugust 8, 2007 (2007-08-08)
11"Operation: Steal the Safe"Rodman FlenderKarey DornettoAugust 8, 2007 (2007-08-08)
12"Operation: Open the Safe" Henry WinklerJon Beckerman & Rob BurnettUNAIRED
13"Operation: RomanoCorp" Michael FrescoJon Beckerman & Rob BurnettUNAIRED

International distribution

Country TV Network(s) Series Premiere Weekly schedule (local time)
  Australia Seven Network August 2007 The series was aired in full weekdays at 3pm.

Seven repeated the series on high-definition channel Seven HD. After an initial 9.25pm Sunday time-slot, the series finished at 1am Wednesday mornings.

  Croatia HRT 2008 Sundays at 9:00 PM
  France Canal+ July 2008 Mondays to Fridays at 6:20 PM
  Italy Rai Due 2008 Saturdays at 4:10 PM
  New Zealand TV2 February 2008 Wednesday at 10:20 PM
  Poland Comedy Central Fall 2007 Mondays at 8:00 PM
  Portugal RTP2 August 27, 2008 Monday to Friday at 8:45 PM
  Netherlands Comedy Central 2008 Mondays at 10:30 PM
  Romania AXN 2008 Monday-Friday at 17:00
  India Star World 2008–2009 Wednesday at 15:00

Seasonal ratings

Seasonal ratings based on average total viewers per episode of Knights of Prosperity on ABC:

Season Timeslot (EDT) Series Premiere Series Finale TV Season Rank Viewers
(in millions)
1 Wednesday 9:00 P.M. (January 3–24, 2007)
Wednesday 8:30 P.M. (January 31 - February 28, 2007)
Wednesday 8:00 P.M. (August 8, 2007)
January 3, 2007 August 23, 2007 2006-2007 107 5.0 (#117) [11]

References

  1. ^ 2007 Cancelled Shows: ABC Cuts Some Beloved Series Archived 2007-05-17 at archive.today, TVSeriesFinale.com, May 15, 2007
  2. ^ Knights of Prosperity, The Nine: ABC Drops Them Once Again, TVSeriesFinale.com, August 13, 2007
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ Sullivan, Brian Ford. "ABC Adds 'Medical Mysteries,' 'Let's Rob' Becomes 'Knights'", FutonCritic.com, 4 July 2006
  5. ^ Ausiello, Michael. Ausiello Report "Press Tour Diary: ABC Day 2", 20 July 2006
  6. ^ Ryan, Joal. "Mick Jagger Heist on Hold", E! Online, 4 October 2006
  7. ^ "'Big Day' To Premiere Tuesday, November 28 On The ABC Television Network", FutonCritic.com, 5 October 2006
  8. ^ "Upfront Buzz: 'Underbelly' May Be Back; ABC also looking at reviving 'Knights'", Zap2It.com, May 11, 2007
  9. ^ Quick Exits for 'Knights,' 'Nine'; ABC pulls burnoffs after brief August runs, Zap2It.com, August 14, 2007
  10. ^ Johannes, Amy "ABC Drops Wallets, Cash for Knights.", Promomagazine.com, December 22, 2006
  11. ^ "Hollywood Reporter: 2006-07 primetime wrap". Hollywood Reporter. May 25, 2007. Archived from the original on October 25, 2007.

External links