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Home » Blogs » Dorothy Snarker's blog » Ding, dong, the “Bionic Woman” is dead

Ding, dong, the “Bionic Woman” is dead

by
Dorothy Snarker

Stick a fork in her: The Bionic Woman is done. What? She’s bionic; she’ll heal fast. Rumors of the show’s demise persisted for months, but its status remained in seemingly eternal limbo, thanks to the writers' strike. While NBC has yet to officially pronounce the show DOA, last week Bionic co-executive producer David Eick confirmed the cancellation to Sci Fi Wire, dashing the hopes of its dozens and dozens of remaining fans.

Now, I realize this news is probably, well, duh to anyone who watched even a couple of episodes. The incredible hype surrounding the freshman series fizzled to a barely audible meh as the season progressed. Eick attributes the failure to the show never coming together as hoped:

    “I just felt that the process was so frustrating, and the conditions under which we were making that show never really came to fruition in such a way that I felt like we could make the show well. The actress (Michelle Ryan) we found was wonderful. Some of the writing was good.”

Wonderful? Well, her abs were wonderful. And some of the writing was good? That must mean some was bad. Which, of course, it was. Bionic Woman had that killer combo of uninspired dialogue, unintelligible storylines and an underwhelming lead. Also, God, how boring was her boyfriend? Snore. If he’s a secret agent, than he must be 00Zzzz.

You could count me among some of the most excited pre-fans as I eagerly awaited its arrival last fall. Heck, I think I even drooled a little. But once the dream became a reality, oh, how the wheels came off. Granted, I stuck with it so much longer than I should have. The potential of Sarah Corvus was that strong. Still, even I didn’t bother to watch the show’s final pre-strike (and now, ever) episode. I have only so many hours in my life; why waste one more?

So the Bionic Woman has been banished to the dust-bin of failed Next Big Things, where it joins Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and countless others anointed before their time. In the end, I’d like to think that Bionic’s bombing is proof that the despite the deployment of the full force of a major broadcast network’s promotions, marketing and public-relations machines, people still would rather watch good things on TV. OK, fine, even I don’t understand the success of Two and a Half Men. But the exception proves the rule, right? So, goodbye Bionic Woman. We’ll always have those one-armed pull-ups.

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    • Submitted by
    Dorothy Snarker
    on March 24, 2008 - 6:00pm.
    TAGS :: 
    Harpy's picture

    Bionic Woman

    Submitted by
    Harpy (9559 posts)
    on March 24, 2008 - 4:52pm.

    Two and a Half Men -- Yeah, I don't get it at all.

    Or that Everyone Loves Raymond show.  Come on.

    I admit, a number of Bionic Woman episodes lingered on my DVR for a very long time and were only watched when nothing was left.  The boyfriend storyline killed it for me.  Yes, [snores].  I also wasn't a huge fan of the 'keeping my bionic-ness a secret from little sister' storyline as well, but of course, something like that had to be a part of the show.

    More Sarah Corvus was what the show needed.  The first couple episodes were awesome. 

    _________

    Watch out for the pokey-ball! OMG!
    Nichole4FSU's picture

    Guilty...

    Submitted by
    Nichole4FSU (479 posts)
    on March 24, 2008 - 9:35pm.

    I'm guilty of watching this show specifically for Michelle Ryan's abs, Michelle Ryan's eyes, and Michelle Ryan kicking someone's butt.

    I think Jaime Summers should join Sarah Conner and help her out...yeow.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    "I'm not sorry for what I did. I'm sorry for what I didn't do."

     

    Through_the_Rye's picture

    Oh Lord, "Two and Half Men"

    Submitted by
    Through_the_Rye (116 posts)
    on March 24, 2008 - 5:02pm.
    Oh Lord, "Two and Half Men" and "Raymond" are/were so incredibly sexist and homophobic. I can't believe those shows were critically acclaimed (well, the critics over at tvguide, but still, critics). And Raymond was such a Mama's boy.
    pecola's picture

    Ha

    Submitted by
    pecola (1489 posts)
    on March 24, 2008 - 5:27pm.

    dorothy snarker wrote:
    last week Bionic co-executive producer David Eick confirmed the cancellation to Sci Fi Wire, dashing the hopes of its dozens and dozens of remaining fans.

    Dozens and dozens...oh how far it fell.

    Ha.

    -----

    Geoffrey: You fool! As if it matters how a man falls down.
    Richard: When the fall is all that is left, it matters a great deal.

    - The Lion in Winter

    space's picture

    LOL

    Submitted by
    space (141 posts)
    on March 24, 2008 - 5:43pm.
    hahaha..'dozens of fans'! ouch!!!
    philips's picture

    Katee Sackoff

    Submitted by
    philips (264 posts)
    on March 24, 2008 - 7:53pm.

    Casting her was the biggest mistake the producers made.  Katee stole the show even people who never heard of her like my sister wondered why she wasn't chosen as the lead instead of Michelle. 

    wickedgrrl's picture

    I agree.

    Submitted by
    wickedgrrl (398 posts)
    on March 25, 2008 - 12:42am.

    Casting KS just doomed Ms. Ryan to pale in comparison in the interesting character category.  I mean KS has already proven to be a tragic hero series/scene stealer.

    I think the second biggest mistake was Isaiah Washington.  I was never a fan of "Burke" and then Mr. Washington certainly didn't win any points himself.  I watched the first epi's until he arrived then I was done.

    I'm throwing my vote in with the opinion that they both need to move over to Sarah Connor's camp.  Maybe save that show from following in Bionic's footsteps to obscurity.

    imthey's picture

    Televison

    Submitted by
    imthey (554 posts)
    on March 24, 2008 - 8:19pm.

    I never understand how half of the stuff that is on the air remains on for so long, while some very deserving shows are written off far too soon.

    Can anyone really explain to me the long-standing run of According To Jim or Yes, Dear while shows like Arrested Development or Wonderfalls are barely given a chance? Thankfully Arrested Development was given a bit more of a chance to flourish, yet the majority of the TV viewing public apparently never caught on to its brilliance.

    As for the demise of The Bionic Woman, sadly the writing was on the wall for that to happen and it really was only Katee Sackhoff that drew me back every week... her and Molly Price as Ruth Treadwell (whom I loved on Third Watch as Det. Faith Yokas).  

    Would now be the time to demand that someone at the networks take another look at bringing back to life Nikki & Nora the show with Christina Cox and Liz Vassey (the pilot alone was more interesting than the entire run of The Bionic Woman)?

    "Think Sideways"

        I M THEY

    boywithmoonandstars's picture

    Wonderfalls

    Submitted by
    boywithmoonandstars (190 posts)
    on March 25, 2008 - 9:37am.
    I bought the DVD set of Wonderfalls as soon as it came out. I'm still in the bitter barn about it's cancellation. I miss Third Watch as well. Molly Price kicked ass, and showed some serious acting chops over the course of the show. I can't remember her name but the actress who played Sgt. Cruz was another favorite. I was another big pre-fan and was sooo bummed about how bad Bionic Woman got.
    ice cream's picture

    This show

    Submitted by
    ice cream (not verified)
    on March 24, 2008 - 8:48pm.

    was pretty bad. I tried to like but it was just horrible.

    My sister still thinks it's/was a good show.

    Col's picture

    odd one out

    Submitted by
    Col (89 posts)
    on March 24, 2008 - 8:59pm.
    i guess i am the odd one out...but i really did love this show. i am sad to see it go..
    cogent53's picture

    What WAS good about Bionic Woman??

    Submitted by
    cogent53 (69 posts)
    on March 24, 2008 - 9:08pm.

    Sadly the show failed on pretty much all levels IMO. She might have looked nice, but Michelle Ryan had no charisma at all, and Katee Sackoff is great, but her slighty OTT performance thew the balance off even more. The support cast was uniformly dull. The annoying sister, the secret agent crew, the dull boyfriend, and who thouth Isaiah Washington would help? However, the biggest failing - those scripts. Just DULL, DULL, DULL!!

    To be honest, I really don't know what WAS a success about the show. Maybe the initial car crash and the very first moment Jamie gets Bionic. The Pilot itself was ok-ish, but it was all downhill from there.

     

    Another show which IMO showed the way (eventually) is The Sarah Connor Chronicles - again starring a Brit, but Lena Headey is a much better actress. However, after a stunning first 2 eps, they had a few duller ones, but then really cranked it up, with intriguing storylines and that finale had one of the most imaginative shoot outs ever, to a Johnny Cash song. The characters and performances were so much stronger than the insipid BW. Let's just hope it gets another chance, even if Jamie and co haven't.

    Torchwood_Operative's picture

    Now that Katee Sackhoff is

    Submitted by
    Torchwood_Operative (32 posts)
    on March 25, 2008 - 5:00am.

    Now that Katee Sackhoff is no longer doing Bionic Woman... could someone mail Russell T. Davies and ask him if he can convince her to guest star in Torchwood? I'd love to see Katee as a kick-ass bisexual time agent from the 51st Century.

     

    Cherry / Torchwood_Operative

    elizabeth's picture

    I just realized who Niki on

    Submitted by
    elizabeth (27 posts)
    on March 26, 2008 - 1:04pm.

    I just realized who Niki on The L Word reminds me of! The girl who played the bionic woman's little sis.

    Anyway, RIP Bionic Woman. You'll (sadly) not be missed.


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