I promised more on the new Bionic Woman, or more specifically on the crap going on behind the scenes. Here we go. It's not just a matter of a show that worked before but the new innovators choosing to ignore what made the original successful. Not that that helps. No matter how you slice it, the original series was very successful, some say better than "The Six Million Dollar Man" from which it spun off from. Not only did it outlast it but in my opinion had more memorable episodes. Remember the fembots? How about the Alex 7000? The show even won an Emmy, where her male counterpart never did. And of course it never had the controversy this new version has had.
Let's start easy. There have been at least three pilots. One is good. Two is not bad, if the network has decided that changes in cast or plot should be made. But three? That's a bit odd, especially considering rumor stated that this series which was developed for the SciFi Channel was so good it should be kicked upstairs to NBC. If it was sooo good, why change it?
Now let's get deeper. The character of the Bionic Woman is iconic, especially in the gay community. It would seem, that along with fans of the original series this makes for a large starting fanbase, something needed if the series is indeed as different as it is. Why then, would you try to alienate that community?
Enter Isiah Washington:
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=621886
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/07/AR2007090700719.html
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2007/09/will_the_gays_love_bionic_woma.html
And that's just the tip of that iceberg. Suffice it to say that all of these elements plus what I consider to be a crappy pilot that I saw add up to a big zero for this one. I might be proved wrong, but I won't be watching.
Stupidity and the Sci-Fi channel seem to go hand in hand. How else can one explain the end of FARSCAPE and STARGATE and the fact that they will show wrestling?
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I never once saw the Bionic Woman as being gay. Makes as much sense as saying Rockford was. Nonsense.
I haven't seen any of the pilots. And just becuase somebody on the show said something stupid which was blown way out of bounds by media hype, doesn't drive me away from the show. So, I'm going to give it a shot as it looks better than a lot of what seems to be coming down the pipe to viewers this season.
At least something will be on besides American Idol garbage, celebs dancing crud and other reality nonsense.
I have seen the pre-air pilot and now the official air pilot and I am disappointed and underwhelmed. I loved the original BW and Wagner as Jaime Sommers is iconic and well done. I just don't see Ryan leaving such a legacy.
ReplyDeleteI like the darker direction this version is supposed to take, but it would ultimately, it would be better served having remained on Sci-Fi.
Regarding the casting of Washington. Stupid and insensitive are the two words that describe NBC's decision to employ this serial bigot. There is a reason he was fired from Grey's. What a f.u. to the gay community that are a natural demographic for this show.
I talk about all of these issues over at www.watchingbionicwoman.com.