| The Bionic Woman | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Science fiction Action-adventure Drama Superhero |
| Created by | Kenneth Johnson |
| Based on | Cyborg by Martin Caidin |
| Starring | Lindsay Wagner Richard Anderson Martin E. Brooks |
| Theme music composer | Jerry Fielding |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 58 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 48 minutes |
| Production company | Universal Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | January 14, 1976 – May 4, 1977 |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | September 10, 1977 – May 12, 1978 |
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The Bionic Woman is an American science fiction action-adventure television series created by Kenneth Johnson based on the 1972 novel Cyborg by Martin Caidin and starring Lindsay Wagner, that aired from January 14, 1976, to May 13, 1978. A spin-off from the 1970s Six Million Dollar Man television science fiction action series, The Bionic Woman is centered around the fictional Jaime Sommers, who takes on special high-risk government missions using her superhuman bionic powers.
Wagner starred as professional tennis player Jaime Sommers, who becomes critically injured during a skydiving accident. Jaime's life is saved by Oscar Goldman (Richard Anderson) and Dr. Rudy Wells (Martin E. Brooks) with bionic surgical implants similar to those of The Six Million Dollar Man Steve Austin (Lee Majors). Through the use of cybernetic implants, known as bionics, Jaime is fitted with an amplified bionic right ear which allows her to hear at low volumes and at various frequencies and over uncommonly long distances. She also has extraordinary strength in her bionic right arm and in both legs that enables her to jump great distances and run at speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour.[1] She is then assigned to secret missions as an occasional agent of the Office of Scientific Intelligence, while teaching middle and high school students in her regular life.[2]
The series proved highly popular worldwide, gaining solid ratings in the US and particularly so in the UK (where it became the only science fiction program to achieve the No.1 position in the ratings during the 20th century). The series ran for three seasons, from 1976 to 1978, first on the ABC network and then the NBC network for its final season. Years after its cancellation, three spin-off TV movies were produced between 1987 and 1994. Reruns of the show aired on Sci-Fi Channel from 1993 to 2001. A failed remake of the series was produced in 2007.
- ^ Although 60 mph is the most commonly cited running speed for Sommers and Austin, the Bionic Woman episodes "Winning is Everything" and "Doomsday Is Tomorrow Part II" show her exceeding this. The Six Million Dollar Man also established that Austin was capable of exceeding 60 mph as well.
- ^ OSI has been shown to stand for Office of Scientific Intelligence and Information — the most frequently used is Intelligence