Saying {that a} piece of media is extremely “of its time” can really feel passe, however some exhibits simply scream the interval they got here out in. That’s Automan — nearly to the letter. This program was an try at doing one thing near superhero comedy with strong motion in a police story, one thing that felt new, smooth, and horny, capitalizing on the pc pattern.
Automan was the right creation. However does that translate into good tv?
The story follows Walter Nebicher (Desi Arnaz Jr.), a younger police officer who makes a speciality of laptop sciences and does some sport programming on the facet. His creation begins as a online game, however after plugging in info on the entire nice heroes of tv and movie, Walter creates a hard-light hologram with synthetic intelligence named Automan (Chuck Wagner) and a small digital polyhedron helper named Cursor (as himself). This new assemble is able to studying nearly something, and Cursor can create every part from garments and devices to money and autos to assist out with instances.
Viewers additionally meet Roxanne Caldwell (Heather McNair), a fellow officer and Walter’s love curiosity. She’s the one different one that is aware of what Automan really is and infrequently should run interference for him. There’s Lt. Jack Curtis (Robert Lansing), top-of-the-line cops in L.A., and the man often taking level on most of those adventures, however he tends to seek out hassle and wishes Walter and Agent Mann’s (Automan’s alternate id inside regulation enforcement) help. To spherical out the forged, we now have Captain E.G. Boyd (Gerald S. O’Loughlin), boss of the station who doesn’t like computer systems, has hassle giving credit score the place it’s due, and refuses to get Nebicher’s title proper. That mentioned, he looks as if a secret softie and will get in on the jokes generally.
A part of the present’s appeal is the actors and the chemistry they share. Every of those characters interacts nicely with the others, having some strong moments, and in keeping with Wagner, the three major actors are nonetheless shut. The present additionally had a handful of notable visitor stars for the time, some acquainted faces for individuals who love ‘70s and ‘80s tv. The soundtrack for the present was stuffed with widespread music, and a few episodes featured notable performers. One of the best instance was Laura Branigan, who sang “Gloria.”
Songs like “Maniac,” “Candy Desires,” and “Beat It” pop up whereas keen-eyed observers could even spot somebody from the “Thriller” music video in a single episode. The Bee Gees get fairly the point out, and John Travolta is very regarded for his dancing, a lot that Automan steals it from the flicks. The rating is fulfilling, leaping round in tone from pulp journey to whimsical fancy and laptop video games. Since Automan began as a online game within the story, there are different quirky references, just like the characters strolling previous a Joust cupboard, him showing as an overlay to a sport of Burger Time, and claiming to know Pac-Man and Donkey Kong fairly nicely.
Automan is the principle star right here, and Wagner did a wonderful job with him. The specialised hologram physique made for a formidable look (even when it mirrored on his face oddly at instances) and the already tall actor wore extra four-inch heels to safe his imposing dimension. His singing, dancing, and different skills have been principally pure, as Wagner was skilled in musical comedy and was fairly aware of theater work, although generally he was compelled to make use of a double. The expressions and delicate appearing he does together with his eyes and facial options are nicely executed, making him really feel like somebody who continues to be contemporary and new to the world, however despite the fact that this character is meant to be a bit inhuman, I can’t assist however assume he’s a bit creepy at instances as nicely. A variety of Automan’s sub-plots contain romance, continually being hit on by stunning girls, and it doesn’t assist that Cursor is a little bit of a pervert as nicely, analyzing girls close to their breasts.
The right man additionally wants the very best wheels. Cursor ensures Automan has no matter he requires in any scenario, whether or not that be a bike, helicopter, tank, or that slick-looking jet. However the actual attraction was the Autocar. It was an actual automobile outfitted with reflective tape, a Lamborghini Countach owned by Government Producer Glen A. Larson, so the actors needed to be very cautious, barely attending to drive it. A faux inside was made for photographs contained in the automobile. The Countach has that traditional wedge form that may develop into stylish, hugging the pavement a lot it appeared to glide alongside the street, chopping via the air with its sharp traces and low-profile chassis. What made it exceptionally cool have been these mounted hidden headlights and scissor doorways, sealing it as a standing image of cash and magnificence.
It isn’t all flash, although, as there may be some substance to those episodes. Most are traditional police tales coping with high-level criminals. They aren’t laborious to determine, however a number of episodes have some additional twists and turns, placing the characters in attention-grabbing conditions. Individuals die, major characters get roughed up, however the tone by no means will get too darkish and there may be often a corny second or two to giggle at. It’s dated in a number of methods, and gained’t appeal to many new followers, however I discovered revisiting it to be fairly entertaining.
Why did such an formidable present with an incredible spectacle fizzle out after solely 13 episodes (the final considered one of which wasn’t aired)? It was costly, after all. Automan apparently prices round 1,000,000 {dollars} per episode, which needed to be a tough promote for a present popping out in 1983. They have been additionally put in an extremely aggressive Monday time slot up in opposition to different widespread exhibits like Magnum P.I., Scarecrow and Mrs. King, and several other sports activities occasions, at a time when networks have been in search of cheaper exhibits to supply like TV’s Bloopers & Sensible Jokes. The L.A.-based manufacturing didn’t have horrible rankings, particularly by in the present day’s requirements, however its price range and lack of dominance doomed the right man to an early retirement.
Larson admits to desirous to carry TRON’s visible stylings to the tv and one of many movie’s producers (Donald Kushner) was even concerned with the present. The similarities have been so thick on the time that some referred to the present as a type of religious successor, however Automan was completely different sufficient to be its personal factor. “Ours was a CGI idea earlier than CGI results, and numerous the magic was executed with old-school movie methods,” in keeping with Wagner. The forged does a wonderful job of explaining how the magic labored, nevertheless it appears like on the time it took an outlandish variety of hours for capturing and post-production to make it occur. That is one more reason why the present was such a stand-out pre-green display.
Automan made an impression. There was some merchandising; even when the entire toys weren’t launched, we acquired some odd equipment. A 1985 sport for the Commodore 64 by Bug-Byte Software program was additionally made, which appears acceptable contemplating the character’s background, bringing every part full circle. Wagner says that Brent Spiner of Star Trek: The Subsequent Era fame primarily based a few of Knowledge off of Automan, which is kind of the distinction.
There are nonetheless followers who keep in mind these adventures and I actually wouldn’t thoughts seeing what a contemporary model of one thing resembling this may appear like (or did we already get that with Virtually Human?). Automan was a sophisticated supercop defending the streets in fashion, however generally the brightest packages crash prematurely — and that’s a disgrace.
