The Bionic Weirdo
The Six Million Dollar Man was a television series that ran from 1973 to 1978, chronicling the adventures of Steve Austin, American astronaut turned bionic superhero. It aired concurrently with a spin-off about Austin's girlfriend Jaime Sommers, a former tennis player who becomes The Bionic Woman.
References[]
- A Sesame Street News Flash segment featured a spoof called "The Six Dollar Man."
- "Bionic Pig" is one of the TV shows Link Hogthrob says he's going to star in during a 1977 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
- Otto the Automatic Entertainer is described by Albert Flan in episode 320 of The Muppet Show as Otto the six million dollar funny man. Otto malfunctions and sheds a limb in response. Flan says, "Well, you don't get a lot for six million dollars these days."
- The cover of Look-in Junior TV Times No. 15 for the week ending 09 April 1977, featured the Muppets sharing a cover with an illustrated Lee Majors, who played Steve Austin.
- Baby Gonzo becomes the Bionic Weirdo in the Muppet Babies episode "Masquerading Muppets". He explains how he's been "scientifically altered to do all kinds of great stuff", with a computerized diagram of his inner workings that references the opening title sequence of The Six Million Dollar Man. His name is a spoof of The Bionic Woman.
- Episode 21 of the web series From the Balcony features two characters delivering a pitch for sequels to a Hollywood executive. One of their titles is "Six Million Dollar Baby," mashing up the TV series with the Oscar-winning film Million Dollar Baby by Clint Eastwood: "She's back and she's bionic!"
- The 2018 Muppet Babies episode "Animal Kong" uses the bionic sound effect when Baby Animal grows and shrinks.
- The bionic sound effect is used again during a game of tri-soccer flying baseball in the Muppet Babies episode "The Best, Best Friend" when Baby Rowlf kicks the soccer ball through the tire swing goal.
- The Muppet Babies episode "The Froginizer" features Baby Kermit displaying his listening superpower with a soundwave effect emphasized by his own vocalization, mimicking Jaime Sommers' bionic ear from The Bionic Woman. video
Connections[]
- Reza Badiyi directed 4 episodes (1974)
- Sandra Bullock played Kate Mason in the TV movie Bionic Showdown (1989)
- Sandy Duncan played Gillian in "The Return of Bigfoot" (1976)
- Erik Estrada played Prince Sakari in "The Deadly Test" (1975)
- Greg Evigan played Joe Hamilton in "The Bionic Boy" (1976)
- George Gaynes played General Wiley in "Nuclear Alert" (1974)
- Tippi Hedren played Susan Victor in The Bionic Woman episode "Claws" (1976)
- Pat Hingle played Senator Ed Hill in "Pilot Error" (1974)
- Helen Hunt played Princess Aura in The Bionic Woman episode "Sanctuary Earth" (1978)
- Christopher Knight played Bobby in The Bionic Woman episode "Max" (1977)
- Martin Landau played Lyle Stenning in Return of the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman (1987)
- John Landis played Michael in "The Pal-Mir Escort" (1974)
- Kristy McNichol played Amanda Cory in The Bionic Woman episode "The Ghosthunter" (1976)
- Anne Revere played Madame Salka Pal-Mir in The Pal-Mir Escort (1974)
- Robbie Rist played Andrew in three episodes of The Bionic Woman (1976)
- William Schallert played Lorin Sandusky in "Eyewitness to Murder" and Bill Elgin in The Bionic Woman episode "Claws" (1974, 1976)
- William Shatner played Josh Lang in "Burning Bright" (1974)
- Elke Sommer played Dr. Ilse Martin in "H＋2＋O = Death" (1976)
- Marilyn Stonehouse was a production manager on the TV movie Bionic Showdown (1989)
- George Takei played Chin-Ling in "The Coward" (1974)
- Vincent Van Patten played Andy Sheffield in "The Bionic Boy" (1976)
- John Vernon played Julian Peck in "The Solid Gold Kidnapping" (1973)
- Flip Wilson played Billy Parker in "Double Trouble" and African Prime Minister in "Double Trouble" (1976)