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John and Liz Goddard are back on Wednesday night, after a power failure postponed things, to open the file on "The Road to Nashville," which first aired October 20, 1976. When an OSI agent disappears in Nashville, Jaime puts on rhinestones and a cowgirl hat to go undercover as an up-and-coming country singer, looking for the leak that's sending secrets overseas. John admits up front that he's never been a big fan of this fan favorite, but he's ready to have his mind changed. Joining them from the UK is JP, webmaster of the long-running Lee Majors fan site Cyborg: Lee Majors Online and the man behind @bionic_tweets. JP's Instant Six: For a young viewer in Britain, it was the glamour, the exotic American locations, and the science fiction that hooked him. Nothing on English TV looked anything like it. JP shares some favorites, including the "Kill Oscar" trilogy and "Doomsday Is Tomorrow." He admits to a soft spot for Max, the bionic dog (the two-parter, not the solo episode). The conversation turns to the 2007 Bionic Woman reboot: its heavy use of CGI, its mid-season change of direction, and the relaunch two-parter that was planned before it was cancelled. OSI Historical Data Bank: The world on October 20, 1976: New York hopes for a World Series comeback, the dental-drill thriller holds the top spot at the box office, and the disco duck still rules the charts. On TV, Michael Evans falls in love on Good Times, and NBC counters with Game 3 of the World Series. The TV Guide Report: The credits feature two big names: writer James D. Parriott and director Alan J. Levi. The guest cast includes Hoyt Axton as Buck Buckley, Johnny Carson's bandleader Doc Severinsen as Muffin, Fionnula Flanagan (later Data's "mother" on Star Trek: The Next Generation) as Tammy, and Bert Kramer as the very classic villain Penn Mathers. Everyone agrees Doc's country accent and comic timing hold up. Listener Laura shares drafts of the script that show a much darker Tammy, who originally held a gun on Buck. That leads to a discussion of whether the final Tammy was really a dupe. Script Secrets and Scene Studies: Topics include: The mysterious red-and-black boots in the cold open Why the agent calls Oscar from a phone booth A deleted opening scene of Jaime milking a cow in Ojai, which in the end calls back to "Beyond the Call" The awkward classroom extras, older now that Jaime's teaching grades seven through nine The rumor that Lindsay's sister is in the scene The submarine-red lighting in the recording studio, which JP finds odd Memorable Moment: "It's Good to Be Alive": All three hosts pick Jaime's audition performance. Lindsay sings live on camera, at Alan J. Levi's insistence, and is far more at ease than she was with "Feelings" in "Bionic Beauty." The hosts discuss the song's possible personal connection to Michael Brandon, and how Jaime manages to listen in bionically on a conversation in another room without missing a beat of the chorus. No Wasted Scenes: All three hosts agree the episode is unusually tightly paced. Even Jaime's long, switch-flipping struggle with the mixing board builds tension. Other highlights include Muffin in his pajamas, a lasso turnabout, six-shooters, cow horns on the car hood, Buck's "it happens all the time" justification for selling secrets (which echoes Carlton Harris), and a stock-footage audience that looks very familiar. The Ending: Liz has no sympathy for Tammy and Buck, saying they knew exactly what they were doing. JP finds the final stretch, with Jaime standing in the wings, the episode's one slow spot. Laura's script shows an earlier ending in which Jaime goes on stage to sing with Buck. Liz praises Jaime's warm way with her shy student in the classroom bookends, and the hosts discuss why the school scenes faded out. Glen Campbell Almost Sang: John's newspaper digging turned up a 1976 report that Glen Campbell turned down a role on The Bionic Woman. If that role was Buck, it would explain why the episode is built around country music. JP thinks Hoyt Axton works better than a stunt-cast superstar would have. That segues into Evel Knievel's season three episode, which John defends. Would You Show This One First? JP loves it but admits he's too close to it, and with so little Oscar and no Rudy, he'd hold it back. Liz would move it into the back half of season one as a strong, well-rounded entry. John remains the holdout, though he promises to rewatch it soon. The Ratings Report: Liz guesses #14 and JP guesses #8. In fact, "The Road to Nashville" placed #6 for the week, a strong rebound after "Assault on the Princess" became the first episode of the season to fall out of the Top 10. John hints that "Kill Oscar" will do even better. Where to Find Our Guest: JP's unofficial Lee Majors fan site is at www.leemajors.co.uk, with more than 20 years of clips, interviews, and material, some of it now shared by Faith Majors. On Twitter, he's @bionic_tweets. Coming Up Next: The Six Million Dollar Man, "H+2+O = Death": Steve goes undercover as a doctor, Elke Sommer guest-stars, and a dangerous piece of underwater gear threatens to shut down his bionics. Jeff Andrews joins John and Jerry. The Bionic Woman, "Kill Oscar" (Part I): The fembots arrive in the first chapter of the series' first crossover trilogy. Hashtags: #TheBionicWoman #BionicWoman #LindsayWagner #JaimeSommers #RoadToNashville #HoytAxton #DocSeverinsen #FionnulaFlanagan #RichardAnderson #OscarGoldman #CountryMusic #Nashville #GrandOleOpry #OSIFiles #SixMillionDollarMan #LeeMajors #ClassicTV #70sTV #Bionics #50thAnniversary #1976 #KillOscar #Fembots

John and Jerry Lange are back on Sunday night with "The Most Dangerous Enemy," which first aired October 17, 1976, and is one of John's all-time favorites. Steve and Rudy fly to a remote island research station after a primate researcher stops checking in. When Rudy is bitten by one of her test subjects, he gains incredible strength, and he isn't willing to give it up, even if it means turning on the man he made bionic. Joining them for his first on-camera appearance is longtime bionic fan and regular chat participant Keith Lewis. Welcome Back: Jerry returns after a two-week break and shares a tribute to Aki, his feline companion of almost 20 years and a familiar presence on the show. He also previews a new co-star. Keith's Instant Six: Keith remembers the bionic toys more clearly than the first-run broadcasts: a Christmas morning Six Million Dollar Manfigure from Dad as Santa, followed by Oscar's office, the rocket capsule, and Bigfoot. Like John, he really got to know the series in syndication on New York's Channel 5. The group remembers the after-school bionic double feature and their surprise at seeing all the restored footage on the DVDs. OSI Historical Data Bank: The world on October 17, 1976: Carter and Ford trade sharply worded telegrams about taxes and the budget, a Dustin Hoffman thriller with an unforgettable dental scene starts a three-week run at #1 at the box office, and a Memphis DJ's disco novelty record tops the charts. On TV, Sonny & Cher welcomes Charo and Wayne Rogers, and NBC's Disney anthology offers a boy-and-his-bird-dog story. The TV Guide Report: John's World Series issue lists two new bionic episodes that week. The credits for this one: writer Judy Burns, a Star Trekalum who also wrote "The Last Kamikaze" and "Wolf Boy" and one of the best Wonder Woman episodes, and director Dick Moder, a Jerry favorite. The hosts aren't impressed by the listing, which credits Ina Balin by her character's name and promises a Rudy with "the urge to destroy." John renews his open invitation for Judy Burns to come on the show. Billy the chimp gets a special shout-out. Rudy in the Field: This is Martin E. Brooks's first real field assignment as Rudy, and he shows up for a jungle island wearing a powder blue suit and yellow shirt. The hosts discuss why Oscar's office only bookends the episode, the thrill of Oscar calling "Get me Rudy Wells and Steve Austin," and whether the opening primate lab was a Universal backlot set or a zoo exhibit. They also note how differently 1970s TV treated animal research than television would today. Controlled Power: Rudy carefully adjusts his new strength, from tearing off a door handle to gently turning one, which supports John's long-held position that bionic power can be dialed up and down. Keith praises the show's tradition of giving every super-strong character a signature sound effect, and the group recalls how strange the early seasons sounded without them. A detour into the Wonder Woman spin follows, with credit to Lynda Carter, who never relied on stock footage. Memorable Moment: "I Made You": Keith picks the scene in which Rudy uses magnetic polarization to freeze Steve's legs and leaves him hanging upside down. Rudy's line, "I made you, and only I know how to stop you," turns the confrontation into something personal. John gives equal credit to the action, including the boulder dodge and Lee Majors doing his own upside-down stunt work in both the magnet scene and the quicksand scene. That leads into a discussion of Lee's athletic background and his Colt Seavers side. Rudy's Dark Side: Jerry sees jealousy at the heart of the episode: Rudy has built and repaired Steve for years while Steve gets all the glory. The hosts connect this to Oscar's character in the pilot, and Jerry chooses Rudy's angry "I'm always thinking!" as his own memorable moment. The group notices the moment when Rudy crosses a line, with "You're bargaining for your life," and the thrown propane tank that would have been deadly without Steve's infrared vision. Questions from the Island: Did Steve really need to leap that ravine? Why does Steve claim Rudy is too strong and fast for him, when nothing in the episode shows that? Why is there no showdown between the two of them? The hosts also catch a stunt double without his mustache, hear that the show's slow motion makes Steve's human hand move as slowly as his bionic one, consider the episode's unusually rich color palette, and give a sharp look at how often Dr. Osborne is called a "girl." The 1970s quicksand trope gets the attention it deserves, including a Mel Brooks-style parody idea. The Farrah Cameo: Keith points out the most blatant cameo in bionic history: a magazine full of Farrah Fawcett-Majors, only weeks into Charlie's Angels. The group pitches better ways it could have been explained. What Could Have Been: Jerry suggests linking this episode's research to the adrenaline formula from The Bionic Woman, and the hosts imagine Steve facing off against Lisa Galloway. Would You Show This One First? No, though both guests rank it highly. Jerry calls it the second-best episode of season four after "Death Probe," and Keith would make it a centerpiece of a Rudy Wells marathon. That leads to the idea of a "Happy Rudy-giving" watch party, Oppenheimer versus Brooks. The Ratings Report: Keith guesses #7 and Jerry guesses #8. Jerry nails it: "The Most Dangerous Enemy" placed #8 for the week ending October 17, 1976. Apart from "Double Trouble," the fourth season had been placing in the Top 10 every week up to this point. Collectibles Corner: Keith shows his Rittenhouse trading card sets. The first set covers the first two seasons of Six Mil, with two cards per episode and special OSI "top secret" file cards. A later set covers every episode of both series in air-date order. The group wonders why the cards have so few guest stars, and they agree that a full bionic soundtrack release is still what fans want most. Where to Find Our Guest and Co-Host: Keith is on Facebook and is a regular on the OSI Files page. Jerry's illustration work, prints, sketch covers, and commissions are on his website, Instagram, and Facebook. Jerry also previews an upcoming crowdfunded graphic novel project. Coming Up Next: The Bionic Woman, "The Road to Nashville": Jaime goes undercover as a country singer to find out how OSI secrets are getting to foreign interests, with JP from the UK joining Liz and John. The Six Million Dollar Man, "H+2+O = Death": Steve goes undercover as a doctor and faces an underwater threat to his bionics, with Elke Sommer guest-starring. Jeff Andrews joins John and Jerry. Hashtags: #SixMillionDollarMan #SteveAustin #LeeMajors #MartinEBrooks #RudyWells #TheMostDangerousEnemy #InaBalin #JudyBurns #RichardAnderson #OscarGoldman #FarrahFawcett #OSIFiles #BionicWoman #Rittenhouse #TradingCards #Kenner #ClassicTV #70sTV #Bionics #50thAnniversary #1976 #RoadToNashville

John Drew and Liz Goddard set sail with "Assault on the Princess," which first aired October 6, 1976. Jaime goes undercover as a blackjack dealer aboard the Princess Louise, a floating casino run by a charming rogue named Lucky. Her mission is to find a double agent known only as "the Iceman" and recover a stolen energy cell that could turn the ship into a floating bomb. Their guest is John Champion, co-host of Mission Log: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast, ocean liner enthusiast, and the man behind Lido Deck: A Love Boat Podcast (and its now-legendary April Fool's 200th episode). He's the right person to sort out which ship is which in this one. OSI Historical Data Bank: The world on October 6, 1976: worries about fallout from a foreign nuclear test reaching the East Coast, a haunted house horror film taking the top spot at the box office for one week, and a certain funky song finishing its run at #1. The Bionic Woman aired half an hour early that night so ABC could carry a presidential debate, which put it up against local programming instead of the usual competition. The TV Guide Report: John's issue of TV Guide is back, and the previous owner was consistent: an X next to The Bionic Woman and another next to that week's Six Mil. The hosts agree the second one, "Double Trouble," at least deserved it. Writer Wilton Denmark, a regular on Six Mil, wrote what appears to be his only Bionic Woman script, and Alan Crosland Jr. directs again. The listing credits a long cast, and the hosts point out that not one other woman is in it. The Guest Cast: Ed Nelson plays Lucky, and Liz is not a fan: the name, the necklace, and the earring make three strikes. Vito Scotti returns as Romero from "Fly Jaime," and this time he's playing the same character, not a new one. Steve Kanaly appears years before he became Ray Krebs on Dallas. The hosts also get to Creighton's eye-catching plaid blazer, Romero's fellow gambler, and a card-dealing instructor who may have been a real-life sleight-of-hand man. One Ship, Three Ships: John Champion explains why this fictional ship never quite looks like the same ship twice. The production cut between three vessels: A retired liner working as a restaurant ship near Los Angeles Exterior shots of a real Princess cruise ship much like The Love Boat's Pacific Princess Interiors filmed aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach He points out the Queen Mary's original woodwork and Bakelite handrails, identifies the suite used for Lucky's cabin, and explains why the intimate casino room couldn't have been filmed on the much larger liner. He also praises how quickly Universal's TV production crews could shoot a show on location. Lucky: Rogue or Creep? Lucky gets a lively debate. Liz finds nothing redeemable about him and wants no romance anywhere near Jaime. John Champion sees him as a classic rogue who is better than the crew around him and gets a redemptive moment because the story needs one. A comparison to Han Solo doesn't go over well with Liz. They also discuss the moonlit deck scene and the convenient searchlight that interrupts it. Memorable Moment: Romero Under the Moon: John picks this one himself: Romero's moonlit serenade on deck, which gives Jaime the chance to slip away. The hosts note that the scene is cut from the syndicated version, and they discuss why recurring guest characters like Romero make the bionic world feel more connected. The talk extends to John de Lancie's upcoming return in Six Mil and to Farrah Fawcett's two different roles. Questions from the Bridge: How does Jaime know the ship is exactly 15 degrees off course? Remember the celestial navigation from "Deadly Missiles." Why won't Lucky let the police search his ship when he has to come back to that port? Why doesn't he lock up his crew once Jaime tells him about them? John Champion also explains why a ship at sea is such good territory for drama: it's a self-contained world where everything has to be accounted for, which makes it a lot like a starship. The Ending: All three hosts are surprised by Jaime's emotional final scene with Lucky. Listener Laura shares the original script draft, and its version of the farewell is even more of a stretch. The hosts are relieved when the final dockside goodbye brings back the Jaime they know. Would You Show This One First? Liz and John Champion both say no, though both praise Lindsay Wagner's natural comic touch and the scenes with Vito Scotti. John admits he enjoyed this one more than they did, and he would have loved a Romero trilogy. The Ratings Report: Liz guesses #17 and John Champion goes with "lucky" #13. In fact, "Assault on the Princess" placed #16 for the week. That same week, The Six Million Dollar Man's "Double Trouble" missed the Top 20 entirely. Collectibles Corner: John Champion talks about his collection of Queen Mary deck plans and paper ephemera. He shares two favorite details about the ship's corridors: the curve of the deck, which you can see down the length of the hallway, and the handrails that were added after the maiden voyage. Where to Find Our Guest: Mission Log, Mission Log Live, and the daily Sci-Fi 5 are at podcast.roddenberry.com. John is also on Twitter at @DVDGeeks, where he talks about spies, Bond, U.N.C.L.E., food, ocean liners, and vintage '70s TV. Hashtags: #TheBionicWoman #BionicWoman #LindsayWagner #JaimeSommers #OSIFiles #AssaultOnThePrincess #EdNelson #VitoScotti #SteveKanaly #RichardAnderson #OscarGoldman #QueenMary #OceanLiners #LongBeach #LoveBoat #MissionLog #Roddenberry #ClassicTV #70sTV #Bionics #50thAnniversary #1976

John and co-host Jerry Lang are back on Sunday night to open the file on "Double Trouble," which first aired October 3, 1976. Comedy star Flip Wilson guest-stars as Billy Parker, a small-time nightclub comic who happens to look like a visiting African prime minister. A brain implant turns him into a remote-controlled pawn in an assassination plot. Guest Rob Silva rescheduled twice to be here, which meant watching this one three times. That's either true fandom or masochism. He'll let you decide. Ranking the Guest Stars: The hosts start by placing this episode in the series' history of celebrity guest stars. Rob says Sonny Bono did better in "Song and Dance Spy" than Flip does here. Jerry suggests a best-and-worst guest star countdown and nominates George Foreman for the top spot. The chat has some nominations of its own, including a comparison to a certain infamous Star Trek brain episode. OSI Historical Data Bank: The world on October 3, 1976: a presidential campaign roiled by the Secretary of Agriculture's offensive remarks, a familiar R-rated film still at the top of the box office, and the same funky song holding #1. On TV, Sonny & Cher welcomed Barbara Eden and the Smothers Brothers, and NBC wrapped up the two-night broadcast premiere of Earthquake. Flip on Carson: John plays a clip of Flip Wilson on The Tonight Show that same year. Flip talks about filming his Six Million Dollar Manappearance, and he tells Johnny the "prejudiced parrot" joke that he keeps teasing but never finishes in the episode. The hosts discuss how edgy that material is for what was by then basically a kids' show, and how Flip himself already called the joke dated in 1976. The TV Guide Report: In John's issue, the previous owner checked off Sonny & Cher over Six Mil that night. Rob says they chose well. The cover leads to a detour into lookalikes: Waylon Jennings, B.J. and the Bear, and Jerry's own story of meeting Greg Evigan. That same week also saw the premieres of Serpico and Quincy. Behind the Script: Writer Jerry Devine also wrote "Song and Dance Spy." This was his final script for the series, and the final script of his career. Phil Bondelli directs. The supporting cast includes Simon Scott as a doctor who seems to need medicine explained to him by his own assistant, and the TV Guide somehow found room to credit the doorman. Memorable Moments: Billy Parker, Live at the Club: Both of Billy's stand-up sets get played back and examined. Did he ever actually finish a joke? Was the nightclub audience real, a staged set, or stock footage? What's going on with the canned laughter? The hosts agree that a comedian's guest spot should show off his talent, the way Sonny Bono's episode let him sing, and that this script gives Flip almost nothing to work with. Rob draws some uncomfortable parallels to Joker and The King of Comedy. Plot Holes and Missed Opportunities: The hosts discuss the extra lab sequence that feels like padding, and how a chip with two wires could take over a man's whole nervous system. Billy's gambling debts get mentioned and then dropped, though they could have led to a three-way showdown with the mob. Rob suggests a mid-broadcast signal glitch in the style of Marlon Brando's earpiece. Other questions: where did Billy get a nun's habit in the middle of the night, and could it be a nod to Flip's character Geraldine? Why plant the device in a lookalike instead of in the prime minister himself? And why does an international plot feel like low-level street crime, with the Soviets barely mentioned? Bionic Business: The bionic highlights include Steve's cue ball crush, done twice and straight out of Adventures of Superman, plus Steve's sharp three-piece suits, his dive into the construction pit, and the "Kenny Johnson sparks" in the final fight. The hosts also come back to an unanswered question from the bionic shows: where exactly is Rudy's lab? Speed It Up? The episode's sped-up training scenes lead to a look at an IMDb trivia claim that slow motion cost the series its European audience. The hosts aren't convinced, pointing to Italy's custom opening credits and the long-running UK Look-In comic strip. Jerry suggests the slow motion came from NFL Films, which may have made it a uniquely American visual language. Would You Show This One First? It's a unanimous no. Rob says he'd show it only if he wanted to scare people away from the series. John ranks it below both "Lost Love" and "Song and Dance Spy." Jerry and Rob suggest alternative casting that might have worked: John Ritter, John Denver, or Richard Pryor. The Ratings Report: "Double Trouble" missed the Top 20 for the week, the first miss in quite a while for The Six Million Dollar Man. The hosts' best guess is that viewers chose Sonny & Cher and NBC's Earthquake instead. Collectibles Corner: Jerry and Rob share The Art of Atari, which includes some Atari box art with a surprisingly bionic look to it. The discussion covers the photo-referenced illustration style of the '70s, and what might have happened if Steve had made it to the video game era. Where to Find Our Guest and Co-Host: Rob is a moderator of the Office of Scientific Intelligence Facebook group, posts music as Clever Engine on SoundCloud, and is @MightyRobSilva on Twitter. Jerry's illustration work, prints, and commissions are at geraldlang.com and on Facebook and Instagram as Gerald E. Lang. Coming Up Next: The Six Million Dollar Man: "Task Force": John and Jerry are back for an episode with a lot more promise and plenty of mustaches. The Bionic Woman: "Assault on the Princess": Jaime sets sail with an iceman to watch out for. Hashtags: #SixMillionDollarMan #SteveAustin #LeeMajors #FlipWilson #DoubleTrouble #OSIFiles #BionicMan #TheBionicWoman #RichardAnderson #OscarGoldman #MartinEBrooks #JohnnyCarson #TheTonightShow #CelebrityGuestStar #ClassicTV #70sTV #TVGuide #ArtOfAtari #Bionics #50thAnniversary #1976

The OSI Files relaunch continues as John and co-host Liz Goddard open the file on the second episode of The Bionic Woman's second season, originally airing September 29, 1976. Just one week after tangling with Bigfoot, Jaime trades the forest for the canvas when Oscar sends her undercover into the world of women's professional wrestling at a rough Washington, D.C. arena. Joining them is writer, editor, pro wrestling announcer, and DragonCon American Sci-Fi Classics Track co-director Joe Crowe. He's the man behind the classic track's Lindsay Wagner and Lee Majors appearances, and he brings some ringside expertise to the table. Joe's Instant Six: As a first-time guest, Joe shares how he discovered bionics as a kid during the original run, from schoolyard buzz and the TV Guide listing to the action figure and slow-motion playground runs. He also recalls leading a DragonCon crowd in the Six Million Dollar Man theme. OSI Historical Data Bank: A look at the world on September 29, 1976: a heavyweight title bout at Yankee Stadium, a very adult take on a children's classic topping the box office, the song holding down the #1 spot on the charts, a landmark night for Good Times, and Lee Majors facing off against himself with a serious TV-movie role on rival NBC. The Credits: John pulls out his New York Metro TV Guide to walk through the episode's credits. Series creator Kenneth Johnson co-wrote the script with Robert McCullough. John points listeners to the Cyborgs podcast interview where McCullough tells the story of how he broke into the bionic shows. Alan Crosland directs for the fourth episode in a row. The guest cast is headed by Norman Fell, who will forever be Mr. Roper no matter how serious the role, along with Marcia Lewis and Marj Dusay. Liz's Memorable Moment — Jaime Says No: Liz singles out the opening briefing as a turning point. For the first time, Jaime genuinely pushes back on an assignment. The hosts note that she is now coming to Washington rather than Oscar coming to Ojai, and that she is growing into the role of a working agent who has opinions about her missions. There is also a fun look at Oscar's newly upgraded command-center desk. How Real Is Real? — Wrestling 101 with Joe: Joe explains how much of pro wrestling is scripted and how much is improvised, and how accurately the episode portrays a newcomer walking in off the street and getting "tested" in the ring. He also covers where women's wrestling actually stood in the mid-'70s compared with what the episode depicts, and how gimmicks and characters have changed since then. Along the way, John explains his GLOW-inspired cold open, and the group talks about Fighting with My Family. Viewing It in 2020: All three hosts address the elements of Jaime's in-ring persona that have not aged well. They talk about how to appreciate the story while acknowledging what would never make it to air today. They also revisit a running bionic tradition: how does nobody recognize Jaime Sommers on local television? The Villain, Rudy, and the Mystery of the Lab: Liz gives high marks to one of the season's more clever and funny antagonists. The group feels Rudy is underused and arrives late in the story. The discussion spins off into a long-running fan question: where exactly is Rudy's Washington lab relative to Oscar's office? Joe's Memorable Moment — The Main Event: The climactic ring sequence gets the spotlight. The hosts discuss how Jaime handles the physical action while staying true to her anti-violence character. Joe gives his announcer's critique of the fight choreography, and he explains why a formal-wear ring announcer is completely accurate. Listeners should also keep an ear out for a name-check of a certain rarely seen OSI agent. The Real Spider Lady: Joe tells the true story of a masked wrestler who appeared in the WWF nine years after this episode aired, an infamous real-life incident with an eerie resemblance to the episode. A listener in the chat helps fill in the names. Jaime's Big Heart: Liz highlights a pattern that sets Jaime apart from her TV contemporaries: she keeps using her influence with Oscar to help the people she meets. The hosts also discuss the respectful Oscar–Jaime–Rudy dynamic, and why the closing scene's Washington massage joke still gets a laugh. Would You Show This One First? Joe and Liz both say no, and explain why the episode works better as a solid mid-season outing than as an introduction to the series. John respectfully dissents; this one is a personal favorite of his. The Ratings Report: Joe guesses #11 and Liz guesses #8 (with chat regular Jack Daly also going with #8). In fact, "In This Corner, Jaime Sommers" landed at #5 for the week, following "The Return of Bigfoot, Part II" at #4 the week before. By contrast, the Six Million Dollar Man episode that closed out the same ratings week, "Double Trouble," failed to crack the Top 20, its first miss in quite some time. Bionic Merch Corner: Joe points listeners to a fan-made line of face masks featuring vintage bionic toy packaging art. Coming Up Next: The Six Million Dollar Man — "Double Trouble": John and Jerry Lang are joined by Rob Silva to take on Flip Wilson's guest turn, and to try to figure out how the episode fell out of the Top 20. The Bionic Woman — "Assault on the Princess": Liz and John set sail with Mission Log: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast co-host John Champion, who brings background on the Queen Mary, one of the episode's filming locations. Hashtags: #TheBionicWoman #BionicWoman #LindsayWagner #JaimeSommers #OSIFiles #InThisCornerJaimeSommers #SixMillionDollarMan #KennethJohnson #NormanFell #RichardAnderson #OscarGoldman #MartinEBrooks #ProWrestling #WomensWrestling #GLOW #SpiderLady #DragonCon #AmericanSciFiClassics #ClassicTV #70sTV #Bionics #50thAnniversary #1976

"Nightmare in the Sky" Airdate: September 26, 1976 Written by Tim Carlson and Terrence McDonnell Directed by Alan Crosland Synopsis: Kelly Wood/Woods returns as she is accused of stealing an experimental aircraft.   John and Jerry are joined by writer/podcaster R.J. Sullivan.  Together, they discuss Farrah Fawcett's final appearance on the show, John's freaking out over the disappeance scene, and the Farrah figure. Bionic Operative R.J. Sullivan

"The Return of Bigfoot, Part 2" Airdate: September 22, 1976 Written by Kenneth Johnson Directed by Barry Crane Synopsis: Jaime searches for the alien complex in order to obtain a cure for Steve's radiation sickness. John and Liz are joined by Satin Tights host, Paul K. Bisson.  Together, they discuss the music of Joe Harnell, Jaime's first real fight, and the thrill of seeing three bionic beings on one show. Bionic Operative Paul K. Bisson

"The Return of Bigfoot, Part 1" Airdate: September 19, 1976 Written by Kenneth Johnson Directed by Barry Crane Synopsis: Steve is accused of a series of roberies based on the damage that looks to be caused by a bionic operative.   John and Liz are joined by Satin Tights host, Paul K. Bisson.  Together, they discuss the thrill of having a crossover story, the music of the episode, and the performance of Sandy Duncan. Bionic Operative Paul K. Bisson

"Mirror Image" Airdate: May 19, 1976 Written by James D. Parriott Directed by Alan J. Levi Synopsis: Jaime is kidnapped and replaced with a duplicate operative who is trying to kill Oscar. John and Liz are joined by Mission Log Podcast host John Champion.  Together, they discuss Lindsay Wagner's performance in the dual role, the return of Don Porter to the bionic universe, and the return of Russ. Bionic Operative John Champion

"The Jailing of Jaime" Airdate: May 12, 1976 Story by Bruce Shelly Directed by Alan Crosland Jr. Synopsis: Jaime is framed for the theft of a decoding device. John and Liz are joined by actor/filmmaker E. Adam Thomas.  Together, they discuss the actual crime that took place, how much Oscar has changed in that he stood by Jaime through it all, and the application of bionic strength to open a safe door. Bionic Operative E. Adam Thomas

"Fly, Jaime" Airdate: April 14, 1976 Story by Mann Rubin, Teleplay by Mann Rubin and Authur Rowe Directed by Barry Crane Synopsis: Jaime poses as a flight attendant to protect Rudy Wells' life as he transports an energy formula. John and Liz discuss the similarities this episode has with the first season Six Million Dollar Man episode, Survival of the Fittest. Bionic Operative None

Canyon of Death" Airdate: April 14, 1976 Written by Stephen Kandel Directed by Jerry London Synopsis: Jaime protects the life of a Native American boy when he wanders inti a top secret testing site. John and Liz are joined by fan Rob Silva as they discuss the depiction of Native Americans in 70s television, Gary Collins return to the world of bionics and the concept of a flying suit.. Bionic Operative ob Silva

"Winning is Everything" Airdate: April 7, 1976 Written by James D. Parriott Directed by Phil Bondelli Synopsis: Jaime acts as navigator in a cross-coutry race in order to retrieve a list of OSI agents that were stolen. John and Liz are joined by author Bobby Nash as they discuss Oscar's last name, the stunt work in the cantena, and Jaime's attraction to our protagonist. Bionic Operative Bobby Nash

"Jaime's Mother" Airdate: March 24, 1976 Written by Arthur Rowe (teleplay) and Worley Thorne (story) Directed by Leo Penn Synopsis: Jaime learns her mother was a secret agent for the governent when a woman who looks exactly like her shows up at her doorstep. John and Liz are joined by fan Sarah Wiedemann as they discuss Jaime's history, Jaime's PTSD from her accident, and Jaime's relationship with Helen. Bionic Operative Sarah Wiedemann

"Bionic Beauty" Airdate: March 17, 1976 Written by James D. Parriott Directed by Alan Crossland Jr. Synopsis: Jaime must find a vital Falcon Circuit by posing as a beauty contestant. John and Liz are joined by Second Union's Jeff Andrew as they discuss Lindsay's singing, Helen as a den mother, and Jeff's bionic collectables. Bionic Operative Jeff Andrew