episode #67 - A Bionic Christmas Carol
Base of Galactic Science Fiction :: SCIENCE FICTION in TELEVISION :: Bronze Age of TV Science Fiction
Page 1 of 1
episode #67 - A Bionic Christmas Carol
episode #10 of 4th season / Air Date: 12/12/76 written by Wilton Schiller directed by Gerald Mayer
As indicated by the title, this was the show's version of the famous Charles Dickens X-Mas story, with Steve Austin in the role of the ghosts of Christmas. The Scrooge in this version is a skinflint named Budge (Ray Walston) - i.e. he won't budge from spending less, ho-ho-ho. Budge runs a company that contracts with NASA for the latest tech systems; Oscar sends in Steve on X-Mas Eve (much to Steve's annoyance) to check into breakdowns which may be sabotage. However, the reasons for the problems are more mundane: Budge spends just enough to be above spec requirements but only just; with all materials just at that limit, invariably things break down. Steve gets involved with Budge's nephew (Dick Sargent) and his family (Antoinette Bower as the wife and 3 little kids); the nephew works for Budge as his chauffeur, as punishment for embezzling funds to pay for life-saving treatment for his wife years ago. Budge gets sick in the evening due to overimbibing a medicine and also hallucinates a bit; the moment is ripe for Steve to teach Budge some lessons, which he does dressed in a Santa suit.
This was originally broadcast in mid-December and of course functions as the bionic show's Christmas episode. It's corny and maudlin, and - unfortunately - not very interesting or creative. It copies the Dickens tale but doesn't really add anything to the mix, proving to be a pedestrian version of the famous story. Steve's role as Santa in the final act amounts to very little and it's also a bit silly how, for example, they arrive at the nephew's house at just the right moment when the husband & wife are discussing Budge, and then the kids, too. What works in a Dickens fantasy just doesn't feel right on this TV show. The writer just wasn't able to come up with any creative ways for Steve to use his bionics to compel Budge, though Steve does create a huge headstone in one neat bit. BoG's Score: 5 out of 10
Bionic Trivia: one of the kids is played by Adam Rich, who soon would be a regular on Eight is Enough.
Star Trek TOS actor alert: Bower appeared in the Halloween-themed episode, Catspaw
As indicated by the title, this was the show's version of the famous Charles Dickens X-Mas story, with Steve Austin in the role of the ghosts of Christmas. The Scrooge in this version is a skinflint named Budge (Ray Walston) - i.e. he won't budge from spending less, ho-ho-ho. Budge runs a company that contracts with NASA for the latest tech systems; Oscar sends in Steve on X-Mas Eve (much to Steve's annoyance) to check into breakdowns which may be sabotage. However, the reasons for the problems are more mundane: Budge spends just enough to be above spec requirements but only just; with all materials just at that limit, invariably things break down. Steve gets involved with Budge's nephew (Dick Sargent) and his family (Antoinette Bower as the wife and 3 little kids); the nephew works for Budge as his chauffeur, as punishment for embezzling funds to pay for life-saving treatment for his wife years ago. Budge gets sick in the evening due to overimbibing a medicine and also hallucinates a bit; the moment is ripe for Steve to teach Budge some lessons, which he does dressed in a Santa suit.
This was originally broadcast in mid-December and of course functions as the bionic show's Christmas episode. It's corny and maudlin, and - unfortunately - not very interesting or creative. It copies the Dickens tale but doesn't really add anything to the mix, proving to be a pedestrian version of the famous story. Steve's role as Santa in the final act amounts to very little and it's also a bit silly how, for example, they arrive at the nephew's house at just the right moment when the husband & wife are discussing Budge, and then the kids, too. What works in a Dickens fantasy just doesn't feel right on this TV show. The writer just wasn't able to come up with any creative ways for Steve to use his bionics to compel Budge, though Steve does create a huge headstone in one neat bit. BoG's Score: 5 out of 10
Bionic Trivia: one of the kids is played by Adam Rich, who soon would be a regular on Eight is Enough.
Star Trek TOS actor alert: Bower appeared in the Halloween-themed episode, Catspaw
Similar topics
» episode #64 - The Bionic Boy
» episode #32 - The Bionic Woman
» episode #44 - The Bionic Criminal
» episode #56 - The Bionic Badge
» episode #06 - Bionic Beauty
» episode #32 - The Bionic Woman
» episode #44 - The Bionic Criminal
» episode #56 - The Bionic Badge
» episode #06 - Bionic Beauty
Base of Galactic Science Fiction :: SCIENCE FICTION in TELEVISION :: Bronze Age of TV Science Fiction
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum