A couple SMDM questions

[Sideshow Spock]

I was a HUGE fan of the show (and toys) as a kid, but I haven't seen a single episode in more than 30 years. So I was surprised today when I came across the show on the Esquire network..it was a 2-parter from 1973.

So that had to be the first season? And it was a different Rudy than the one I was used to.. I guess this was the original actor, and at some point he was replaced by the one I was more familiar with. Also, there was no sound effects when Steve used his bionics. So when did that start? Second season?

I know I could just google all this, but it's more fun to ask you guys..

[Boris71]

not sure about the sound effects but I think they had two or Rudy wells over the run of the show

[Mikey]

1st Pilot movie = Martin Balsam as Rudy

2 & 3 movies = Alan Oppenheimer as Rudy

1 & 2 seasons = Alan Oppenheimer as Rudy

Seasons 3, 4, 5 = Martin Brooks as Rudy

Later reunion movies = Martin Brooks as Rudy

[MIB41]

They used a heartbeat and a combination of slow and fast effects to depict his bionics in the initial films. During season one they first actually gave the iconic special effect to one of his villains...Mr. X in Day of the Robot. Now if you listen closely, there were times prior to this when some of the bionic effects were used for other things. They were used as computer effects at a missile silo during the movie "Wine, Women, and War". In the second season, when Steve had to face the Seven Million Dollar man, the effects were used when they battled. In the episodes following this, the effects were made a permanent fixture for Steve's bionics in the series.

[enyawd72]

I always wished they could have perfected high speed running shots like the one in the opening where he runs along the fence.
I'm still not sure how they did that. In the episode he comes up alongside the fence from an open field and it looks absolutely amazing, even today.

[Sideshow Spock]

2 & 3 movies = Alan Oppenheimer as Rudy
1 & 2 seasons = Alan Oppenheimer as Rudy
Seasons 3, 4, 5 = Martin Brooks as Rudy
Later reunion movies = Martin Brooks as Rudy

Did some checking, and the episode I saw was the third and final of the original movies, "Solid Gold Kidnapping".

http://scifimusings.blogspot.com/2011/12/six-million-dollar-man-solid-gold.html

Martin Brooks was always "my" Rudy. I guess I mostly watched those later seasons as a kid.

Esquire network will apparently be showing marathons of both SMDM and Hulk on certain days of the week. I'll try and tune in when I can.. I've streamed Hulk on Netflix, but like I said, haven't seen any SMDM in a very long time.

http://tvclassicsrus.blogspot.com/2015/01/incredible-hulk-six-million-dollar-man.html

[Sideshow Spock]

I always wished they could have perfected high speed running shots like the one in the opening where he runs along the fence.
I'm still not sure how they did that. In the episode he comes up alongside the fence from an open field and it looks absolutely amazing, even today.

[HardyGirl]

You might wanna see if you get Cozi-TV as well. SMDM is on every Wednesday at 8pm.

[Protestari]

If you can buy it on sale the Time Life SMDM Collection is great. I bought mine on sale for $99. Had not seen many episodes in over 35 years and many episodes were new to me.
Here is a link to my Facebook album featuring my SMDM Custom Boxes. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php...8054693&type=3

[Nostalgiabuff]

you can buy the individual seasons pretty cheap now, the reunion movies, as far as I know are only available in the box set, but honestly they are pretty awful

[fallensaviour]

Picked mine up at Walmart for $10 per season and bionic woman boxed set $20.

[comicmike]

Thanks for the heads up.I'm only missing SMDM s5; I can watch it online,but I'd prefer owning the final season to round out my collection.

[Mikey]

You're not really missing much without having Season 5

S5 was packed with a lot of 2 parters that should have been only 1 part --- Double long episodes like Sharks, Deadly Countdown, Dark Side of the Moon, The Lost Island and Date with Danger border on tedium.

The only saving grace double episode in S5 imo was Return of the Death probe --- and even that was basically a remake of the first story.

Also, most of the single episodes in S5 were pretty bad - save Bigfoot V

[Hector]

Wished they had tone down the slow-mo...and featured this way more...

[fallensaviour]

Just started season 3 and plan on alternating between bionic woman and SMDM.
I know when I watched as a kid I missed several and don't think I've ever seen the crossovers in actual sequence.
As they originally aired.
Right now in my living room it's September 14,1975....lol