Automan
A holographic crimefighter generated by a police officer's computer program.
Automan, a superhero series from Glen A. Larson, ran on ABC for 12 episodes (with a 13th produced) from 1983 to 1984. Its look was a deliberate nod to the Disney film Tron, blending that style with a TV superhero format. The Sci-Fi Channel later aired reruns.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Superhero
- Science fiction
- Comedy
- Creator
- Glen A. Larson
- Starring
- Desi Arnaz Jr.
- Chuck Wagner
- Heather McNair
- Robert Lansing
- Gerald S. O'Loughlin
- Theme music
- Billy Hinsche
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 1
- Episodes
- 13 (1 unaired)
Facts from the source article.
Synopsis
In the 1980s television series Automan, police officer and computer programmer Walter Nebicher, played by Desi Arnaz Jr., developed an artificially intelligent crimefighting program. This program generates a holographic being, portrayed by Chuck Wagner, who can exit the digital realm at night to battle criminals. In the real world, Automan pretends to be Walter’s friend, a government agent named Otto J. Mann, a fact only Walter’s close colleague Roxanne Caldwell (Heather McNair) knows. Inside the computer world, Automan has encountered characters like Donkey Kong. Walter can fuse with Automan into a single entity, sharing awareness and abilities while gaining Automan’s invulnerability. Automan’s companion is Cursor, a floating, shape-shifting polyhedron that can sketch and create physical items, most often a car (the Autocar), an airplane, or a helicopter (the Autochopper), all able to break the laws of physics. The cast also includes Robert Lansing as Lieutenant Jack Curtis and Gerald S. O’Loughlin as Captain E. G. Boyd, Walter’s bosses who think Automan is an FBI contact. Captain Boyd, a technophobe who dislikes computers, frequently praises Lieutenant Curtis as the ideal cop—a standard he believes Walter can never meet.
Features
The Automan costume appeared to glow on screen due to retroreflective sheeting designed by 3M, made of tiny reflective balls that could reflect nearly 100 percent of light shone at it, a technique used earlier for Kryptonian costumes in Superman. Highly polished plates attached to the costume provided a holographic appearance, enhanced in post-production through chromakey effects. The Autocar and Autochopper were the most common vehicles created by Cursor, appearing or disappearing as sequences of wireframes. The special effects team engineered these vehicles using black props with strips of reflective tape; the Autocar was modeled on a real Lamborghini Countach LP400, while the Autochopper was based on a Bell Jetranger. In the fictional world, the Autocar could make 90-degree turns without losing control and overtake by strafing sideways, though unsecured passengers were thrown around. The Autochopper could land anywhere. The show also featured a futuristic airplane, motorcycle, handgun, and guitar. Automan could wrap himself around Walter for protection, causing Walter to speak in two voices. Automan's weakness was excessive electricity use, leading to power shortages during daytime, so he was rarely active in sunlight.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Automan first air?
Automan first aired on 15 December 1983.
When did Automan end?
Automan last aired on 2 April 1984.
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