Lindsay Wagner: I Am Bionic Woman--Hear Me ROAR!!

[tangentman]

I've seen the first handful of Bionic Woman episodes this season, and what I think be summed up in "Meh". Michelle Ryan's Jaime Sommers seems far too whiny and self-pitying. I remember Lindsay's Jaime as showing warmth, depth, confidence, earthiness, a charming sense of humor. At times, Jaime showed insecurity and vulnerability, but she always perservered. No matter what happened in her personal life, Jaime put innocents first and got the job done.

The Classic Bionic Woman was accomplished--educated, a professional athlete, teacher, competent field agent. The new one is a college dropout who works a "day job" as a bartender. Talk about a downgrade!

I remember the occasionally kooky, usually fun episodes of Lindsay's series. Will the new series even come close to touching "Kill Oscar" or "Deadly Ringer"? Share thoughts, memories, disagreements on all things Bionic Woman, but definitely about Lindsay's version!

EDIT: I added a poll because, hey, how could we not? Vote for your Jaime of choice. If you don't like either version, I have the Steve Austin option for you.

[Cam63]

Yeah, the Lindsay version rules over the current show.

[tangentman]

Doesn't it? I don't doubt Michelle's acting ability so much as the creators' choices. I cringed at all New Jaime's weeping and angsting over her bionics. Lindsay's Jaime felt grateful for a second chance at life. I think it says a great deal about the current crop of writers that they don't trust audiences to accept drama without an excess of hand-wringing, adolescent angst.

[WhiteRose]

I'm overwhelmingly 'meh' about the new Bionic Woman, though it has Katee Sackhoff in it.

And we all know Katee Sackhoff owns a part of my soul.

[LtMarvel]

And you are comparing the whole original series to the show that's been on for a couple of months. The latest Jamie has barely started at her new job.

That said, the writers really annoy me with the treatment of Jamie's sister. She got caught with illegal drugs at school; Jamie talked the principal out of punishing her. The sister got a dui/minor in possession charge and Jamie's boss covered it up without telling Jamie. What's next, the sister is going to run over a 7 year old crossing the street?

[tangentman]

And you are comparing the whole original series to the show that's been on for a couple of months. The latest Jamie has barely started at her new job.

Not entirely. I actually compared "Welcome Home, Jaime" to the first five or so episodes of the new series. As I pointed out, Lindsay's Jaime accepted her circumstances. In fact, she felt grateful to be alive at all. We didn't see a weepy mess who acted out by drinking and promiscuousness.

That said, the writers really annoy me with the treatment of Jamie's sister. She got caught with illegal drugs at school; Jamie talked the principal out of punishing her. The sister got a dui/minor in possession charge and Jamie's boss covered it up without telling Jamie. What's next, the sister is going to run over a 7 year old crossing the street?

Yeah, maybe she should hook up with Matt McNamara. :rolleyes: I despise the kid sister. Why didn't they just stick with the deaf kid sister?

[Wingnut]

OK, maybe I'm way off base, but here it goes.

I think I've only seen 3 of the (new) Bionic Woman episodes. I was never a watcher of Alias, but I've caught a handful of episodes. The new Bionic Woman seems to me as being a poorly written, reworking of Alias where the kick-butt chick has high-tech machinery to back her up.

I think they've bastardized the story of The Bionic Woman.

[LtMarvel]

Didn't the original Bionic Woman storyline have her die, hating what the government did to her (in the series Six Million Dollar Man)? Then they added a new ending to the episode where she secretly gets better to spin off the series...

[tangentman]

Yeah, Wingnut, the current writers rely too heavily on the conventions of 24 and Alias, instead of established Bionic Woman lore. Again, a lack of trust in the mythos and the audience.

Lt. Marvel, you're talking about Jaime's debut on The Six Million Dollar Man. IIRC, it wasn't so much that Jaime hated what happened as it was she suffered from her body rejecting the bionics. Jaime suffered excrutiating mental and physical pain from the ordeal. Originally, yes, she died at the end of the episode. However, fan response was so overwhelmingly positive that ABC took a risk and spinned Jaime off into a series which, in many ways, surpassed the original.

WhiteRose: I prefer Katee, too! BTW, Katee Sackhoff IS Power Girl! :D

[Gordon Smith]

I was quite a fan of The Bionic Woman back in the day, but my memory is failing me on a few details. Did Jaime have any relatives other than her mother (I'm reasonably sure I recall seeing her mother in an episode or two)?

[tangentman]

I was quite a fan of The Bionic Woman back in the day, but my memory is failing me on a few details. Did Jaime have any relatives other than her mother (I'm reasonably sure I recall seeing her mother in an episode or two)?

Steve Austin's parents were Jaime's foster parents. She regarded them as indistinguishable from biological family, given how much they nurtured her.

[tangentman]

EDIT: Yay, gotta love multiple post hijinks. Or not.

[tangentman]

*sigh* I miss the "Delete" function here.

[Gordon Smith]

It's coming back to me now. Thanks.

[Cam63]

I'm overwhelmingly 'meh' about the new Bionic Woman, though it has Katee Sackhoff in it.

And we all know Katee Sackhoff owns a part of my soul.

Good thing you have another foot.

[Corrina]

Yeah, the Lindsay version rules over the current show.

It's amazing how much better it is.

I expected the new show to be serious and interesting rather than the cheesy fun of the old episodes.

But they've downgraded the actress and they're so damn serious about the new show that it's become of parody of serious and interesting and therefore more stupid than the original.

[Corrina]

Lt. Marvel, you're talking about Jaime's debut on The Six Million Dollar Man. IIRC, it wasn't so much that Jaime hated what happened as it was she suffered from her body rejecting the bionics. Jaime suffered excrutiating mental and physical pain from the ordeal. Originally, yes, she died at the end of the episode. However, fan response was so overwhelmingly positive that ABC took a risk and spinned Jaime off into a series which, in many ways, surpassed the original.



Yeah. The pilot of the original Bionic Woman is terrific. I think it settles her as a teacher of the rowdiest class from a local military base. There's been nothing that made me go "Cool!" in the new show as much as Jaime taking over that class and calmy ripping a six-inch thick phone book while she lectured them.

That Jaime was a very well-rounded character--her main issue was the memory gaps suffered by the original rejection of her bionics. So she didn't remember her past at all. Some episodes were better than others but the one Lindsey won an Emmy for, where she switched places with an evil double, are really good.

Nothing I've seen from this new show is anywhere near that interesting, save for Sackhoff.

[Tobias March]

Sackhoff as Powergirl.....genius! Someone get George Miller on the phone.

[KevinTBrown]

The moment I stopped comparing this show with the original is when I started to enjoy it. Plus the last 2 shows finally "injected" something that it's been sorely missing: A male countpart, non-bionic, that's not being an asshole to her. Every single person, orher than Jamie, have complete and total assholes. Even Miguel Ferrer, who I love as an actor, has been way too much of an asshole. This past episode he softened up a bit.

I liked the original Bionic Woman, but I like this one as well. As long as they start giving the supporting characters more emotional range other than being an asshole, it can be really good.

[Charles RB]

I've seen the first handful of Bionic Woman episodes this season, and what I think be summed up in "Meh".

We watched the pilot episode at the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Society at Uni.

And the Society President walked out halfway through.

Says it all.

[MartinRedmond]

That episode that had faces falling off, for some reason, traumatised me back then.

[Charles RB]

Wait, no, doesn't say it all yet:

I despise the kid sister.

I agree and hope the Evil Bionic Woman shoots the kid sister in the gorram head so there's no chance of her coming back.

Now I've said it all.

[Hodge]

Haven't seen the new series but sounds like what Jake 2.0 was to the $6m Man. HATED Jake 2.0.

Never should have cancelled Now & Again. The tone of that show is how it should be done

[Corrina]

I liked the original Bionic Woman, but I like this one as well. As long as they start giving the supporting characters more emotional range other than being an asshole, it can be really good.

I just don't have the time to wait for it to get really good, Kevin. I mean, there are plotholes so huge you can fly one of those new airbuses through. Add that to a host of characters that I don't care about...and I'm done.

I did want to like it. I really liked what they did to Battlestar Galactica.

[DungeonmasterJim]

I just don't have the time to wait for it to get really good, Kevin. I mean, there are plotholes so huge you can fly one of those new airbuses through. Add that to a host of characters that I don't care about...and I'm done.

I did want to like it. I really liked what they did to Battlestar Galactica.

I felt the same way about the new Battlestar Galactica. I semi-liked exactly two characters in it, Adama and Stands With Fist. I never gave it a shot after the pilot and I don't feel I've missed anything.

DM Jim

[Tobias March]

I felt the same way about the new Battlestar Galactica. I semi-liked exactly two characters in it, Adama and Stands With Fist. I never gave it a shot after the pilot and I don't feel I've missed anything.

DM Jim

You really have. It's a fantastic show.

[Charles RB]

Does it become a fantastic show after the episode 32 and the one where the water supply gets bombed?

Because those bored me.

[tangentman]

Yeah. The pilot of the original Bionic Woman is terrific. I think it settles her as a teacher of the rowdiest class from a local military base. There's been nothing that made me go "Cool!" in the new show as much as Jaime taking over that class and calmy ripping a six-inch thick phone book while she lectured them.

That Jaime was a very well-rounded character--her main issue was the memory gaps suffered by the original rejection of her bionics. So she didn't remember her past at all. Some episodes were better than others but the one Lindsey won an Emmy for, where she switched places with an evil double, are really good.

Nothing I've seen from this new show is anywhere near that interesting, save for Sackhoff.

Excellent examples, Corrina! Lindsay's Jaime came across as so down-to-earth and natural. She hated violence for its own sake, wanted to help good people more than she wanted to hurt "the bad guys", and showed an amazing degree of empathy. I couldn't see the current Bionic Woman reaching out to Lisa Calloway or giving a pep talk to a beauty contestant who'd been bitchy to her.

For everyone's viewing pleasure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFPA3UTD2Ds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC5Fmai4rrY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXFR3-580Wc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onwn4sqPwmE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CplYWwjXWfA

Clips from "Deadly Ringer", the "doppelganger" episode Corrina mentioned.

The moment I stopped comparing this show with the original is when I started to enjoy it. Plus the last 2 shows finally "injected" something that it's been sorely missing: A male countpart, non-bionic, that's not being an asshole to her. Every single person, orher than Jamie, have complete and total assholes. Even Miguel Ferrer, who I love as an actor, has been way too much of an asshole. This past episode he softened up a bit.

I liked the original Bionic Woman, but I like this one as well. As long as they start giving the supporting characters more emotional range other than being an asshole, it can be really good.

Yeah, but the problem they need to solve first is building Jaime as a character. She's falling far short of Lindsay Wagner's character, though I won't cite a lack of talent. I believe that the new actress could have easily built a warm, well-rounded Jaime Sommers--instead of the whiny sorority sister dropout we're stuck with at the moment. Frankly, I think it's an insult to Michelle Ryan not to let her have fun with the character.

We watched the pilot episode at the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Society at Uni.

And the Society President walked out halfway through.

Says it all.

Ouch! Bad sign when the local "King of the Sci-Fi Geeks" hates it.

That episode that had faces falling off, for some reason, traumatised me back then.

You mean "Kill Oscar", which crossed over with The Six Millian Dollar Man! Pure, classic Bionic Goodness! :D Yes, the Fembots creeped me out as a kid. I think the impact they had at the time were that a fight with Fembots was typically a high-risk affair. They could be stronger than the Bionic Couple and come back for more punishment.

We can't have clips without this BW gem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cefHBbOIR0w


Hodge: I never saw that show, but the choice must surely be superior to the dour tones of the current show.

Charles: Please, yes! A killing shot to the obnoxious little sister's head would cure many problems, methinks.

[tangentman]

In addition to YouTube clips for those unexposed to classic Bionic Woman, or just want a lil' retro TV, I also posted a poll. Check 'em out! :)

[Pink Bat Max]

My favorite Bionic Woman was Lynda Carter. Also, not Bionic Woman but Wonder Woman.

[tangentman]

Aw, c'mon Max! There's room in our hearts for Lynda and Lindsay! :)
Now that you mention Lynda, though--were you aware that her Wonder Woman series happened because ABC needed a temporary replacement for Bionic Woman? Apparently, Wagner did many of her own stunts and frequently needed time off for injuries. Lynda's show was picked up to fill in during the hit Bionic's brief hiatus.

[MartinRedmond]

LOL Yeah the fembots. I guess it must've been the music that scared me.

[Indigo Al]

Oh Tangentman - I could pontificate redundantly about this topic for ages!

I can't even speak about Lindsey Wagner, the woman I swore I'd marry in second grade. I'll make everyone reading this vomit. How gorgeous and lovely was she?

Interesting fact: From the commentary on a lot of those youtube clips you posted, I discovered that Lindsey didn't want Jamie to be a violent fighter. Most of her fight scenes do not consist of her striking violent blows against her opponents - more 'push and run' tactics.

In this era of hardass martial arts warrior chicks on TV and screen, this probably wouldn't fly, and a lot of people would no doubt roll their eyes and say 'so lame, she can't even fight'. Me? Now that I realize it, I appreciate it ever more fondly.

As for Jamie 2.0 - I'm enjoying it as its own thing (although it's beginning to lose me a little bit). To me, it's better that they approach it completely differently. I don't think they can/should rehash 70s BW, and in fact, I wish they hadn't used the name Jamie Summers.

More later......

[Pink Bat Max]

Aw, c'mon Max! There's room in our hearts for Lynda and Lindsay! :)
Now that you mention Lynda, though--were you aware that her Wonder Woman series happened because ABC needed a temporary replacement for Bionic Woman? Apparently, Wagner did many of her own stunts and frequently needed time off for injuries. Lynda's show was picked up to fill in during the hit Bionic's brief hiatus.

HEE! And Lynda did her own stunts too. Nice.

[tangentman]

Oh Tangentman - I could pontificate redundantly about this topic for ages!

I can't even speak about Lindsey Wagner, the woman I swore I'd marry in second grade. I'll make everyone reading this vomit. How gorgeous and lovely was she?

Despite my gayness, as a child, there were five celebrity women who owned my heart: Lynda Carter, Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, Farrah Fawcett-Majors (it was the hyphenated name back then!) and, of course, Lindsay Wagner. Back in elementary school, the P.E. teacher worked a "Jaime Summers" look--athletic, tanned, long blonde hair in that casual "Southern California" kinda style. Even my dad commented on the similarities. When I was in kindergarten, a classmate broke my collarbone horsing around. I remember the coach checking in and how special I felt.

Yeah, on some level, I'm pretty much psychologically Bi! ;)

Interesting fact: From the commentary on a lot of those youtube clips you posted, I discovered that Lindsey didn't want Jamie to be a violent fighter. Most of her fight scenes do not consist of her striking violent blows against her opponents - more 'push and run' tactics.

In this era of hardass martial arts warrior chicks on TV and screen, this probably wouldn't fly, and a lot of people would no doubt roll their eyes and say 'so lame, she can't even fight'. Me? Now that I realize it, I appreciate it ever more fondly.

I appreciated that about Jaime (the first BW's name was spelled this way)--she was peace-loving at heart, but not a PC ninny about it. She knew her bionic strength could seriously hurt people and used it responsibly. Still, she fought when circumstances called for it! Of the modern TV heroines, Buffy Summers and Gabrielle (of Xena) stand out as a minority who consistently demonstrated that level of responsibility with their power/skills.


As for Jamie 2.0 - I'm enjoying it as its own thing (although it's beginning to lose me a little bit). To me, it's better that they approach it completely differently. I don't think they can/should rehash 70s BW, and in fact, I wish they hadn't used the name Jamie Summers.

More later......

I don't see why they couldn't have approached the new series as a "passing of the torch". They could draw intriguing stories by comparing the fictional leap in bionic technology between the series. Smallville brought back so many Superman alumni--surely BW can give a nod to Lindsay Wagner or Lee Majors?

HEE! And Lynda did her own stunts too. Nice.

Lynda wanted to perform her stunts, but the PTB blocked her. Jeannie Epper (nm?) doubled for Lynda for the duration of the series. In fact, there was a nifty documentary called Double Dare about Jeannie and Zoe Bell. Y'all know Zoe, (young) veteran stuntwoman and the character we all loved from Death Proof? :)

[Toreador]

The new show is just so-so. I'm not bothered if I miss a show and just wait until it re-runs again or pick it up Saturday if I remember on USA. The new Jamie is too whiny and her new boss just seem to let her walk all over him. In the pilot when Jamie tells him that she's going to live her own life and for him to take a hike he just let her walk away. He should have cracked the whip and told her that they now own her and if she didn't like they can take those nanobots back and she can live the rest of her life glued to a bed pan or be buried 6 feet under.

And later in another episode Jamie finds out those 'bots will only last 5 years Miguel Ferrer gets weepy-eyed telling her he'll do all he can to find the answer and save her life. He doesn't know her that well or that long to develop a close relationship and she's been bitchy that whole episode.

[Indigo Al]

You mean "Kill Oscar", which crossed over with The Six Millian Dollar Man! Pure, classic Bionic Goodness! :D Yes, the Fembots creeped me out as a kid. I think the impact they had at the time were that a fight with Fembots was typically a high-risk affair. They could be stronger than the Bionic Couple and come back for more punishment.


Don't forget the sequel, Fembots in Las Vegas, which has the classic shot of Jaimie leaping towards a helicopter in mid-flight!

All I've ever wanted is an army of Farrah-haired killer disco fembots. Maybe in the next life...

BTW, who do we have to bombard with letters and email to get the series (and $6 mill. Man) on DVD already?

[tangentman]

Is it Universal? Apparently, BW is overdue for DVD release. I'd understood the series would be released earlier this year. I saw comments at YouTube indicating further struggles over the rights. *sigh* At least there's YouTube for the moment. :)

BTW, I think "Fembots in Vegas" stood out as the "Cream of The Crop" during the NBC season. The fight in the office leading up to the high-jump to the helicopter--pure gold! :D

[Corrina]

I thought the original fembots were pretty scary. I remember vividly the scene where Jamie has to jump out of a window to escape and the fall wrecked her bionic legs. Brrrr...

The ending got a little silly, with the crazy old scientist and his weather machine. It did, however, feature a young Lee Majors running around in nothing but boxers, so there were compensations.

Jamie's last name: Sommers.

Buffy's last name: Sommers.

Coincidence? I think not. :)

ETA: Universal seems really slow in releasing some of their shows. After a looong wait, it looks like they're finally coming out with Season One of the Equalizer in February, which is long past due.

[Indigo Al]

The other great BW classic two-parter: Doomsday is Tomorrow!

A tense, Cold War race against time as Jaime teams up with a Soviet agent to stop the Hal-like Alex 7000 from unleashing total nuclear devastation! Ends with a sweet peacenik tone.

[Major Comma]

what about the 2 parter where jaimes double escapes from prison?
i think lindsay won the emmy for that one .

[Major Comma]

that is to say , that 2 parter was the episode submitted to the academy that year .

[tangentman]

that is to say , that 2 parter was the episode submitted to the academy that year .

Check out my earlier comments--I posted YouTube links to that 2-parter. :)

That episode was called "Deadly Ringer", and, yes, Lindsay was nominated for playing double roles. The premise involved the return of a villain named Lisa Galloway who'd undergone plastic surgery & extensive training to impersonate Jaime the previous season. Her employer arranged a prison escape, swapping a drugged Jaime for Lisa. The warden was aware of Lisa's past and surgery, so Jaime's protests went unbelieved. In fact, the prison doctor and several guards were in on the scam.

Meanwhile, Lisa was given "Adrenalazine", an experimental substance that allowed her to simulate Jaime's super-strength. She moved freely among the OSI and Jaime's hometown, rapidly falling in love with Jaime's life to the degree that she truly wanted to become the other woman. Unfortunately, the Adrenalazine was slowly poisoning Lisa, wracking her body with pain & straining her sanity.

While all that happened, Jaime broke out of prison and went on the lam. It took lots of evasion and fast-talking to convince Oscar she wasn't Lisa. Learning about the experimental hormone, Jaime tracked down Lisa's shady boss when the impostor anonymously sold him out to the authorities. He inadvertantly gave away Lisa's whereabouts, and Jaime confronted her face-to-face. After a tense conversation, wherein half of Jaime's furniture gets trashed, the Bionic Woman finally persuaded Lisa to give herself up. Despite the harrowing events, they actually parted on friendly terms, thanks to Jaime's demonstration of empathy.

[Pink Bat Max]

To be honest, The Bionic Woman never did it for me. And I can tell you why:

Her feat of strength in the opening credits? Squeezing a tennis ball until it burst.

Yeah, it takes a lot of hand strength and all that, but c'mon. It was SUCH a scaled back Six Million Dollar Man concept that I went 'Feh!' on the whole franchise. She seemed a weaker version of Steve Austen. Whatever~

Aw, c'mon Max! There's room in our hearts for Lynda and Lindsay! :)
Now that you mention Lynda, though--were you aware that her Wonder Woman series happened because ABC needed a temporary replacement for Bionic Woman? Apparently, Wagner did many of her own stunts and frequently needed time off for injuries. Lynda's show was picked up to fill in during the hit Bionic's brief hiatus.

[tangentman]

To be honest, The Bionic Woman never did it for me. And I can tell you why:

Her feat of strength in the opening credits? Squeezing a tennis ball until it burst.

Yeah, it takes a lot of hand strength and all that, but c'mon. It was SUCH a scaled back Six Million Dollar Man concept that I went 'Feh!' on the whole franchise. She seemed a weaker version of Steve Austen. Whatever~


See, I actually like that scene! I think it shows off Jaime's wonderment at her new strength--"wow, if I can do that". It's also relevant because Old School Jaime was a pro tennis player before her accident, therefore it symbolizes the demolishment of her old life and subsequent replacement with something better. ;)

In the episodes themselves, Jaime's strength feats certainly encompassed more than the "Bursting Tennis Ball Grip". She lifted cars, broke into safes, karate chopped tree stumps and boulders in half...Jaime was only surpassed by Wonder Woman for sheer muscle power!

[Hodge]

HEE! And Lynda did her own stunts too. Nice.

While both did a decent share, lets not forget that the two shows had two great stunt doubles: BW had Rita Egleston and WW had the immortal Jeannie Epper!

[Indigo Al]

See, I actually like that scene! I think it shows off Jaime's wonderment at her new strength--"wow, if I can do that". It's also relevant because Old School Jaime was a pro tennis player before her accident, therefore it symbolizes the demolishment of her old life and subsequent replacement with something better. ;)

In the episodes themselves, Jaime's strength feats certainly encompassed more than the "Bursting Tennis Ball Grip". She lifted cars, broke into safes, karate chopped tree stumps and boulders in half...Jaime was only surpassed by Wonder Woman for sheer muscle power!

Not to mention that, unless I'm gravely mistaken, BW began surpassing SMDM in ratings and popularity - something that is practically unheard of in comics.

I don't really see her as a watered-down, weaker spin-off at all.

[Corrina]

And strangled snakes! Don't forget that part! :)

[Pink Bat Max]

While both did a decent share, lets not forget that the two shows had two great stunt doubles: BW had Rita Egleston and WW had the immortal Jeannie Epper!

I feel like I should bow to you for some reason now.

[tangentman]

Not to mention that, unless I'm gravely mistaken, BW began surpassing SMDM in ratings and popularity - something that is practically unheard of in comics.

I don't really see her as a watered-down, weaker spin-off at all.

Yeah, I remember that neat turnabout! Hey, Lee was a STUD in his prime, no doubt about it! However, Lindsay just brought a warmth and humanity to her role that I think reached an audience who might otherwise tune out SMDM. Her stories definitely had a human interest angle to them, and she looked damn good doing 'em!

[Magneto_X]

Yeah, it takes a lot of hand strength and all that, but c'mon. It was SUCH a scaled back Six Million Dollar Man concept that I went 'Feh!' on the whole franchise. She seemed a weaker version of Steve Austen. Whatever~

Most spin-off superheroines are just that.

Weaker, sexier versions of their male counterparts in skimpy clothing. :(

[Magneto_X]

And strangled snakes! Don't forget that part! :)

Don't underestimate snakes, Corrina.

The Hulk got K.O.ed via suffocation by a python (while fighting the Circus of Crime) a few years ago. lol

[Corrina]

The Bionic Woman was the first science fiction show that I could get my mother to watch. She really loved the character. That Jamie was ahead of her time, in that she was strong powerful and warm and understanding--a feminist with a warm heart, so to speak.

The Eppers are legends in Hollywood, into their fouth generation of stuntmen. Entertainment Weekly had an article on them not too long ago. Amazing.

I remember the snake moment vividly in an otherwise very forgettable "Lost" type plan crash episode. Jamie freaked at the snake that slithered from the trees and snagged it. Her "I hate snakes!" was years before Indy. :)

I wouldn't have minded a different Jamie or a different show. But the new show's Jamie just doesn't have much of a personality at all. It's Sackoff's character who is interesting and possibly a little closer to the original plotline of the Bionic Women--Jamie literally went crazy and paranoid and started attacking people because her body started rejecting the bionics. I almost wish they'd made Sackoff's character the center of this show. She's the one who's all messed up with the interesting backstory, including the romance with the man who eventually 'killed' her because she was a danger. She also has the weird memory glitches that the original Jamie suffered.

[Indigo Al]

Hey, Lee was a STUD in his prime, no doubt about it!

Majors is one of only three guys who can truly rock the 'stache and the "hairy chested love god" look - Tom Selleck and Burt Reynolds being the others. And the "womanizing" he did on the show never felt sleazy (though it was cheesy).

However, Lindsay just brought a warmth and humanity to her role that I think reached an audience who might otherwise tune out SMDM. Her stories definitely had a human interest angle to them, and she looked damn good doing 'em!

It just struck me now - she was an intended WiR that was undone by fan reaction!

[tangentman]

I wouldn't have minded a different Jamie or a different show. But the new show's Jamie just doesn't have much of a personality at all. It's Sackoff's character who is interesting and possibly a little closer to the original plotline of the Bionic Women--Jamie literally went crazy and paranoid and started attacking people because her body started rejecting the bionics. I almost wish they'd made Sackoff's character the center of this show. She's the one who's all messed up with the interesting backstory, including the romance with the man who eventually 'killed' her because she was a danger. She also has the weird memory glitches that the original Jamie suffered.

Hear, hear! I'd tune in faithfully for Sackoff's Bionic Woman every week, and probably still DVR it then! I think you drew fascinating and accurrate comparisons between Sara and Lindsay's Jaime. Your story about your mom also illustrates why Bionic Woman left Six Million Dollar Man eating her dust. My mom liked the show, too, for similar reasons.


Majors is one of only three guys who can truly rock the 'stache and the "hairy chested love god" look - Tom Selleck and Burt Reynolds being the others. And the "womanizing" he did on the show never felt sleazy (though it was cheesy).

Yeah, Majors was "eat him up" good back in the late 60's to late 70's! Say, how many times did Farrah appear on the show?



It just struck me now - she was an intended WiR that was undone by fan reaction!

Series creators actually listening to their fans. Who'da thunk it.