Thursday, May 3, 2012

May's Space Babe: Lindsay Wagner

May 2012's Space Babe is our favorite bionic beauty, Lindsay Wagner as Jaime Sommers. Kinda mad at myself that I haven't posted a Space Babe since January - but, hey, it's been a rough couple of months here at Space: 1970 headquarters. In any case, I can't think of a better choice to kick off Spring than the lovely Lindsay.

The sexy cyborg's adventures may have been exclusively Earthbound, but as an agent of the Office of Scientific Intelligence, her missions led to several different extraterrestrial encounters. Each week, The Bionic Woman protected America's interests and saved the world with style, charm and humor. Introduced in a two-part episode of The Six Million Dollar Man in March, 1975, as the childhood sweetheart of astronaut Steve Austin (Lee Majors), Jaime Sommers was equipped with bionic replacement parts (an ear, an arm, and both legs) after a tragic skydiving accident. Unfortunately, her body rejected the bionic implants and, well, she died.

Apparently I wasn't the only kid who was crushed by her demise, because the network commanded the producers to bring her back to life, which they did the following season. The character was then spun off into her own weekly series, which lasted for three years (on two networks). Wagner was almost too good an actress for the show, but she treated the role - and the audience - with respect, and brought tremendous heart and warmth to her portrayal. No matter how absurd or far-fetched the plot, she always played it with conviction and a sly sense of humor.

Dancer, actress, activist, model and author, Lindsay Wagner was born in 1949 in Los Angeles. She appeared on many television shows and a few motion pictures throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, and became a regular fixture in made-for-television cable dramas. In the late 80s-early 90s, she reprised her role as Jaime Sommers in three "Bionic" TV reunion films. She still acts, and has a recurring role on SyFy's Warehouse 13.

7 comments:

  1. And in the 90s did the third reunion TV movie. Can't forget the bionic wedding.

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  2. I was never a big fan of any of the Bionic shows. I prefer my Sci-Fi in space, but I did enjoy Lindsay Wagner if I happened to sit through a "Bionic Woman". She was a good actress and her sense of humor was fun.

    If you ever get a chance to see it, be sure and watch the "Ye Olde Bionic Woman Christmas Reel". Like the "Star Trek" bloopers before it, it was series of outtakes and gags cut together for viewing by the cast and crew at their holiday parties. It's hilarious, and I tell you, sweet Lindsay has the mouth of a sailor! I doubt it will ever show up on video legally, as the language alone would get it an "R" rating.

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    1. It's funny. Considering the huge crush I had on her when I was a kid, if I had seen Lindsay cursing like that I would've been pretty upset. Seeing it now, it's totally hot.

      I guess perspective is everything.

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  3. I didn't know she played on Warehouse 13, I might have to give those a try.

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  4. You know, I never got the deal with Lindsay Wagner. My mate had his wall covered with posters of her in the 70's but she never did it for me. Now, Linda Carter or Pamela Sue Martin on the other hand...

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  5. Lindsay Wagner is long overdue as a Space Babe in my opinion. I'm a huge fan of The Bionic Woman and have all 3 seasons on DVD. Lindsay had the perfect combination of the sophisticated beauty who could be a super agent as well as a very down to earth quality that was very appealing. And I also did not know she appeared in Warehouse 13, I'll have to check it out.

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  6. Chris, has the lovely Mariette Hartley been a 'Space Babe' yet? Both Spock and Banner fell for her in two of the best 'Trek' and 'Hulk' episodes. She actually became the second Mrs Banner of course, though that role was always a bit of a poisoned chalice.

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