Automan
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Automan is a U.S., science fiction, superhero, television series produced by Glen A. Larson. It aired for only 12 episodes (although 13 were made) on ABC between 1983 and 1984. The series is loosely, and unofficially, based on the ground-breaking 1982 film Tron.
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[edit] Synopsis
Automan (the "Automatic Man"), follows the adventures of a police officer and computer programmer named Walter Nebicher (Desi Arnaz, Jr.), who creates an artificially intelligent crime fighting program that generates a hologram (Chuck Wagner), that is able to leave the computer world and enter reality to help solve crimes.
To all the regular characters in the series (except Walter’s close associate Roxanne), Automan’s identity is "Otto J. Mann", a government agent who helps Walter in his investigations.
Nebicher can merge with Automan to become one being, sharing both consciousness and skills, while being invulnerable to the same things as Automan; like gunshots and explosions. During the "merges" only Automan’s form can be seen, which is a human head atop a glowing body made of circuit patterns and flickering light.
Automan has a sidekick named "Cursor", a glowing, hexagon-shaped, mote of energy which can three-dimensionally "draw" and generate physical objects as they are needed. The most common are conjuring up a car, a plane, or a helicopter, all of which can defy the laws of physics and glow with strange patterns like Automan himself. After these creations serve their purpose, they vanish. Automan and Cursor are generally only able to become corporeal at night, due to needing a large amount of power to run.
So far, Automan is the only TV program to feature the use of a Lamborghini Countach as transport. Cursor would usually become one, and the vehicle also featured an appearance mimicking that of Automan's body. When driving, Automan turns his car at a 90 degree angle (a result of Nebicher’s programming). Automan is unaffected, but his passengers can be knocked from one side of the car to the other.
The show also stars Heather McNair and Robert Lansing.
[edit] Trivia
Automan was inspired from the success of Tron which came out one year earlier in 1982. The same technique used to create Tron's glowing body suit was used to bring Automan's costume to life. Automan's car also turned corners in a similar fashion to the lightcycles of the movie.
[edit] List of Automan episodes
- Automan (15 December 1983)
- Staying Alive While Running a High Flashdance Fever (22 December 1983)
- The Great Pretender (29 December 1983)
- Ships in the Night (5 January 1984)
- Unreasonable Facsimile (12 January 1984)
- Flashes and Ashes (19 January 1984)
- The Biggest Game in Town (26 January 1984)
- Renegade Run (5 March 1984)
- Murder MTV (12 March 1984)
- Murder, Take One (19 March 1984)
- Zippers (26 March 1984)
- Death By Design (2 April 1984)
- Club Ten (unaired)*
Note: Club Ten has aired on The Sci-Fi Channel.
[edit] External links
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