Season 6, Episode 08—The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman PT 1

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Two Old Farts Talk Sci Fi continues its exploration of SFFH TV shows from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. This episode is the first of a 2-part look at The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman.

Many who loved The Six Million Dollar Man enjoyed its iconic look, and also the slow motion. and especially the opening segment.

Martin Caiden wrote Cyborg. TSMDM & BW were based on the novel. Caiden

TSMDM had a few television movies that were very successful. The series went on from 1974 – 1978.

Harve Bennet came in, and became the producer for the show. He made a number of changes to the show. ABC went to the top of the ratings. One of the earlier TV movies had a very James Bond flavour, and this was not what Martin Caiden wanted. Harve Bennet came in and restored the show to what it should have been.

EPISODES WE LOOK AT IN DETAIL IN PT. 1:

Title: The Six Million Dollar Man “The Moon and the Desert”
TV MOVIE from 1973 of The Six Million Dollar Man
original air date: Mar 07, 1973
IMDB Rating = 6.5

Title: Day of the Robot
season 1 episode 4 of The Six Million Dollar Man
original air date: Feb 8, 1974
IMDB Rating = 7.7

Title: Rescue of Athena One
season 1 episode 8 of The Six Million Dollar Man
original air date: Mar 15, 1974
IMDB Rating = 6.8

Episode synopsis for The Moon and the Desert
(from Wikipedia)

Steve Austin is an astronaut who has made three Moon landings. In a test flight accident caused by a malfunctioning center stick, his right arm is severed, his left eye is blinded, and both legs must be surgically amputated. Steve Austin’s personal physician, Dr. Rudy Wells, has theorized about the creation of a cyborg through the installation of bionic parts. He is persuaded by an OSI agent to reconstruct his patient/friend with the understanding that Steve Austin will subsequently work for the OSI. Dr. Wells apprises Steve of the plan, but is met with much resistance as Steve Austin mentally struggles to cope with his injuries, the installation of artificial components, and the future obligations that will be involuntarily thrust upon him. Following surgery and lengthy rehabilitation, Steve Austin reluctantly accepts an assignment to rescue a hostage in Saudi Arabia.

Episode synopsis for The Day of the Robot
(from Wikipedia)

In an attempt to steal a top secret anti-missile device, Steve’s associate and friend Major Sloan is kidnapped and replaced with a robot. Steve must discover the impostor, and keep the device from being stolen and sold to the highest bidder.

Noteworthy Moments: First occurrence of the “fft-tt-tt” sound effect, later used for Steve Austin’s bionic legs and arm, used here for some (but not all) of the Fred Sloan robot’s powered arm swings.

Episode synopsis for The Rescue of Athena One
(from Wikipedia)

Steve is launched into space to rescue two astronauts stranded in a crippled space capsule. However, when his bionics begin to malfunction due to space radiation, the return trip to Earth becomes endangered.

Note: The first of four appearances that Lee Majors’ then-wife, Farrah Fawcett Majors, made on the show. She appeared in each season except the final one, playing a different character each time.

= = =

The cast (by order of appearances) of The Six Million Dollar Man:

Lee Majors as Col. Steve Austin… [99 episodes]
Richard Anderson as Oscar Goldman [99 episodes]
Martin E. Brooks as Dr. Rudy Wells [45 episodes]
Lindsay Wagner as Jaime Sommers… [9 episodes]
Alan Oppenheimer as Dr. Rudy Wells… [9 episodes]
Quinn K. Redeker as Frank… [6 episodes]
Than Wyenn as Ambassador Mahmound… [5 episodes]
John de Lancie as Diver… [5 episodes]

The cast (by order of appearances) of The Bionic Woman:

Lindsay Wagner as Jaime Sommers… [58 episodes]
Richard Anderson as Oscar Goldman [58 episodes]
Martin E. Brooks as Dr. Rudy Wells [46 episodes]
Ford Rainey as Jim Elgin [9 episodes]
Sam Chew Jr. as Mark Russell [8 episodes]
Jennifer Darling as Peggy Callahan [7 episodes]
Martha Scott as Helen Elgin [6 episodes]
Lee Majors as Col. Steve Austin [6 episodes]