Complete Episode Guide

While Superman and Batman had made a respectable number of appearances on radio, film and television since their inception, the adventures of their female colleague, Wonder Woman, went undramatized until 1967.

The popularity of ABC’s campy BATMAN series inadvertently set a trend for the next few years: both on stage and screen, comic book characters became laughable imitations that had very little to do with their comic book origins. Superman, for example, appeared as a singing oaf in the Broadway musical It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s Superman and similar approaches were taken with other major comic character from Dick Tracey to Doc Savage; Barbarella and Modesty Blaise even reached the big screen, but in less than memorable farces.

In spite of this unpopular turn in the industry, Wonder Woman comic book editor, Robert Kanigher, was urged by the powers-that-be at DC Comics to meet with a producer to discuss the possibility of giving the Amazing Amazon her own weekly show. He agreed but stressed that if a series was produced, it should not follow in the same campy footsteps.

Kanigher’s advice was ignored and BATMAN series executive producer, William Dozier commissioned a Stan Hart/Larry Siegel-penned script for a pilot episode titled “Who’s Afraid Of Diana Prince?” Dozier -- along with his collaborator on the BATMAN series, writer/actor Stanley Ralph Ross -- produced a four minute and 45 second excerpt of the script as a presentation for review by ABC and DC Comics.

William Dozier would go on to achieve further success in the television industry. Stanley Ralph Ross, with his impressive baritone, would go on to voice many characters for the SUPER FRIENDS cartoon (as well as write the script for the pilot episode of the 2^nd Wonder Woman TV movie and receive development credit for the series.) Stan Hart and Larry Siegel would go on to win several Emmy™ awards for their work on the CAROL BURNETT SHOW. But this failed endeavor by these four men proved to be one of the most unsuccessful attempts at bringing the Amazing Amazon to television.

The plot took an offbeat approach, presenting Diana Prince as a nerdy, flat chested, twit. When she turned into Wonder Woman, the ill fitting, unflattering costume proved only to exaggerate her spindly frame. ABC had mixed reactions to this outrageous, ugly duckling twist on the character and (wisely) chose not to pursue the project. Thankfully, the dreadful pilot never saw the light of day.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It would be another five years before Wonder Woman would make an impact on American pop culture, with the 1972 “Special Woman’s Lib” issue of the comic. This got the attention of one of the character’s most loving fans (and severest critics): Gloria Steinem. One of the pioneering leaders of the feminist movement and founder of Ms. Magazine, Steinem was also a close, personal friend of then-DC Comics owner, Steve Ross.

For its July 1972 debut issue, Ms. magazine’s cover featured a drawing of a gigantic Wonder Woman defying gunfire and using her golden lasso to humanely transport emergency vehicles and personnel across a war zone. A banner below the masthead read: WONDER WOMAN FOR PRESIDENT. It seemed that the character (with DC Comics’ permission) was being reinvented as an unofficial symbol of Steinem’s cause.

That same year saw the Ms. Book publication of Wonder Woman, a hardcover reprinted collection of the heroine’s classic comic adventures. Steinem wrote the book’s introduction, in which she revealed her childhood love of the character and the “sweet, toe-wriggling pleasure” of reading about Wonder Woman’s courageous fight for social justice.

This undeniably proved to bring Wonder Woman a new measure of fame and respectability that the character had never experienced. The media coverage also brought about enough visibility to once again catch the elusive eye of television network executives.

In 1973, she would appear along side her Justice League of America chums in the Hanna-Barbara produced cartoon, SUPER FRIENDS. The series would continue (under various titles and versions) on ABC’s Saturday morning line-up for the next twelve years.

ABC was interested in making a live-action version of the character accessible to a much larger audience. The first attempt to bring Wonder Woman out of the confines of Saturday morning cartoon land and into network prime time, was in the form of the 1974 TV movie that was simply titled, WONDER WOMAN.

Starring the petite, blonde, Anglo-Saxon featured Cathy Lee Crosby, the telefilm resembled its’ comic book and cartoon counterparts in name only. Screenwriter/Producer John D.F.Black seemed to have the AVENGERS TV series in mind more than the Wonder Woman comic book when he wrote the script.

No reflection on Ms. Crosby’s acting abilities, this dull plot took a low-concept approach, presenting Diana Prince -- not as an Amazon princess on a mission of peace – but a drab bodysuit-clothed special government agent with no super powers to call of. There was also very little attempt at a backstory to explain the origin of this version of the character.

Not surprisingly, this telefilm was a ratings disappointment that was harshly panned by critics. This sloppy move on the part of ABC could have killed the changes of a weekly series but Warner Bros. (which by this point owned DC Comics) persevered.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Within a few short months, Stanley Ralph Ross was brought in to pen a new script. He revised his earlier approach from 1967 and proved to be instrumental in the creation of the “new” Wonder Woman. Having a very impressive resume that included work behind and in front of the camera, Ross had written all the scripts featuring Catwoman from the BATMAN series from almost a decade earlier. With his knack for handling female characters and his ties to both Wonder Woman and DC Comics, he seemed the perfect candidate to bring a truer version of the Amazing Amazon to television.

He started by eliminating the camp factor as much as possible. The intention was to give the audience a reasonably accurate and instantly memorable version of the heroine. This origin story, though somewhat predictable, lent the production a nostalgic air that was complemented by the overall mood, props, wardrobe and cultural references of the time.

Series Executive Producer Douglas S. Cramer chose newcomer Lynda Carter to star, over hundreds of other hopefuls. A former Miss. World USA in 1972, she was the perfect choice for the role, and more so than for her obvious physical attributes. Her All-American beauty helped to push the concept forward, yet her youthful enthusiasm and compassionate delivery made it work.

ABC expressed doubts in her ability to carry a series but Cramer felt so strong about his decision that he gave the network an ultimatum, threatening to sell the show to another network.

With Lynda Carter and the rest of the cast in place, production began on a 90-minute telefilm with the hopes that it would possibly spawn a weekly series. Almost feeling obligated to set this new project apart from the Cathy Lee Crosby film from just a year prior, ABC insisted on a title that would accomplish this without actually acknowledging the previous film.

The New, Original Wonder Woman premiered on November 7, 1975 to favorable audience reaction and respectable ratings. The opening credits were comprised of an infectious theme song, combined with animation resembling a newspaper comic strip that faded into live-action footage of Lynda Carter and Lyle Waggoner in character. The program itself featured lettered captions as a means to establish new times and locations as the story progressed.

Despite this well-received launching point, the network was still unsure of how to proceed. ABC gave the go-ahead for the production of twelve one-hour episodes, which it planned to air as “specials” throughout the remainder of the season to fill in gaps in its prime-time schedule.

A popular rumor – although unsubstantiated – persists that a lesser-known reason for ABC’s willingness to take another chance on the series was that it might serve as a quick mid-season replacement for THE BIONIC WOMAN. Its star Lindsay Wagner insisted on doing her own stunt work, yet she was accident-prone. She had also suffered injuries from a recent auto accident, which led to further production delays on that show.

But in any event, the first two of these Wonder Woman “specials” aired to respectable ratings in 1976. Finally, ABC started broadcasting the remaining episodes rather sporadically during the next season.

Building on the origin story presented in the 90-minute pilot, our heroine takes up residence in Washington, DC as Yeoman Diana Prince. She’s assigned to the War Department as secretary to Col. Steve Trevor. As both Diana Prince and Wonder Woman, her foes were the Nazis and their supporters. Diana's adventures centered around the American military and her secret adoration of Trevor.

Brightly filmed and wonderfully cast, the episodes come remarkably close to the feel of the comic book. The plots were kept relatively simple and good-natured. The supporting cast included Richard Eastham as Gen. Phillip Blankenship. Authoritative, affable and non-threatening, Eastham's role suited the show's nostalgic, "familial" sensibility.

Beatrice Colen portrayed the role of Private Etta Candy, Gen. Blankenship's secretary. A much more crucial addition, Colen provided a large portion of the show’s comic relief as Diana’s dishy, unluckly-at-love best friend.

But given the fact that the series did not air on a particular night and time, audiences had a hard time keeping up with the new adventures of Wonder Woman and subsequent “specials” failed to pull in the same ratings that the pilot had.

While the freshman season by all accounts had established a viable and memorable show to millions of viewers, it still failed to impress ABC enough to be given a regular slot for the next season. The network pulled the plug on the show at the end of the 1976-77 season.

While engaged in a fierce air battle over the Bermuda Triangle, American war hero Steve Trevor is shot down and presumed dead. However, he washes up onshore of Paradise Island -- home of the Amazons. Realizing that the world is in the grips of a major conflict, the Amazons hold a contest and choose a champion from among their numbers who will return with Trevor to America as Wonder Woman. There, she will aid the United States in helping defeat the Axis Powers and avoid catastrophe.

TRIVIA: This episode originally aired as a 90-min. movie when first broadcast on ABC. However, once the series went into syndicaton, it was edited down to 60 min. (and shown as two episodes). The full 90-min. version was previously unavailable until Columbia House Home Video released the series on VHS in the late 1990’s. This version will also be available on the upcoming “Wonder Woman – The Complete First Season” DVD box set to be released by Warner Home Video.

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

Steve Trevor battles for his life and his career when he's accused of espionage and treason in relation to a series of military missions that have gone awry due to acts of sabotage. Determined to clear the man she loves, Wonder Woman sets out to investigate.

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

Wonder Woman faces her deadliest challenge when Fausta, a Nazi operative, sets about to kidnap the Amazing Amazon and brainwash her into using her powers to assist Hitler in his quest for world dominance.

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

When Wonder Woman's alter-ego, Diana Prince, enters a suspicious beauty contest to uncover the truth behind acts of sabotage at army bases, she and Steve discover that there is something much more insidious underway that threatens the security of the United States.

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

While trying to track down the whereabouts of a prototype military jet that the Nazi’s have stolen, Wonder Woman must also deal with the kidnapping of her younger sister, who’s visiting from Paradise Island.

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

When a clever spy gets information from Drusilla concerning her homeland, the Nazis launch a full assault on Paradise Island, capturing it and planning to use its secrets to conquer the world. Diana and Drucilla must come up with a plan to stops the Third Reich in its tracks.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -&nbssp; - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -

“WONDER WOMAN VS. GARGAUNTUA”

While attempting to find a defecting Nazi operative who has knowledge that would threaten Hitler’s agena, the Amazing Amazon must go up against a Nazi-trained primate.

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

Wonder Woman has her hands full when an Irish mercenary steals an American-developed device that can control or eliminate earthquakes. To make matters worse, the mercenary is also a carrier of the Bubonic Plague.

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

“LAST OF THE TWO DOLLAR BILLS”

The Nazis set up an elaborate counterfeiting scheme that will result in the collapse of the American economy, unless Wonder Woman can stop them.

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

“JUDGEMENT FROM OUTER SPACE”

A benign alien visitor from outer space, who possesses insight into the world’s future, calls upon Wonder Woman to assist him in preventing a global catastrophe.

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

Wonder Woman realizes that the fate of the world rests on her ability to prove the worth of mankind by saving an alien from outer space.

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

“FORMULA 407”

Wonder Woman goes south of the border to recover a top-secret formula stolen by the Nazis.

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

Wonder Woman goes to Texas where she is confronted by a dangerous ring of pistol-packing rustlers.

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

“WONDER WOMAN IN HOLLYWOOD”

Wonder Woman arrives in Hollywood and discovers some behind the scenes action that's not in the script.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In what would become nothing short of network television marvel, ABC’s loss would prove to become CBS’s gain. It’s not often that a series switches networks; even rarer that it thrives there. But the “eye” network obviously had enough faith in the series to pick it up.

Not wanting to feel that it was cheating the public and simply rehashing the same show that ABC discarded, CBS retooled the series.

Now titled THE NEW ADVENTURES OF WONDER WOMAN, the series looked less “dated” and resembled most other action/adventure and detective shows of the era.

The WW II setting was dropped in favor of a current setting. With the exception of Lyle Waggoner – who played Col. Steve Trevor in the ABC series and who now would be playing Steve Trevor, Jr., -- the supporting cast was dropped.

Even Diana’s classic red, white and blue costume underwent some minor modifications: cuts to the hips (with fewer stars), the belt and bodice were altered and the old wrap-around plastic bracelets were traded in for shiny metal clamp-ons.

An ironic addition to the costume was a "ruby" in Diana's tiara, which could be used to contact Paradise Island. Ironic, because after one brief consultation home early in the season ("The Bermuda Triangle Crisis"), Diana's mother and the Amazons ceased to appear and merited little more than a casual reference for the rest of the series' run.

Use of curly "action" wigs became common at this time, as did the frequency of re-usable stock footage of WW jumping and running.

The season premiere found Diana back on Paradise Island – 35 years after the period covered in the ABC episodes. The tranquility of the now technologically advanced Paradise Island was disturbed by yet another outside aircraft.

In this parallel of Wonder Woman's war-time origin, a group of important dignitaries, including Steve Trevor, Jr. – an agent for the Inter-Agency Defense Command (I.A.D.C.) – crash lands on the shores of Paradise Island. The relatively "new" threat of international terrorism was the key to Diana's decision to resume the identity and responsibilities of Wonder Woman. Trevor was convinced to accept Diana as his new associate through the use of Amazonian post-hypnotic suggestion.

The show's opening credits were also overhauled, featuring an updated version of the theme song as well as new animation and live-action footage of Lynda Carter and Lyle Waggoner.

In the course of the season, Diana became a valued -- and highly effective – agent for the I.A.D.C., which also had the (un-intended?) effect of making Trevor's contributions to the program seem marginal. Their mutual boss, Joe Atkins (Norman Burton), replaced General Blankenship as official dispenser of fatherly concern. Though he provided added depth and balance to the show, he was dropped as a recurring player by mid-season.

Etta's role as inter-office confidant to Diana was given to I.R.A.C. (Information Retrieval Associative Computer), a talking computer (voice of Tom Kratochvil) with a taste for bad jokes and double entendre. IRAC (later shortened to "Ira") and the three-wheeled module, "Rover," added appropriate futurist appeal to a show that was increasingly dependent on gimmickry to entice viewers back every week.

The update of the show's timeline saw few revisions in the way our heroine stopped crime. Her only new "power" was an unexplained telekinetic/telepathic flash that scared horses and sharks (and other animals, presumably). Villains stopped trying to steal her belt (and powers), so the "Girdle Grabs" of the 40's episodes weren't repeated. The writers decided it was simpler to just interrupt Diana's spins or have her captured before she could spin into Wonder Woman. These ploys had the desired effect, helping to boost the suspense factor.

Though there was a marked change in Diana's character after the series went contemporary, the portrayal of her as government hotshot had already been done in comics. Examining individual differences is not quite as notable as the observance of what was missing from the television version – most notably, the absence of any of the members of Wonder Woman’s rogues gallery from the comics. The only foes to make the transition to the television series were Baroness Von Gunther and Fausta Grables; both of whom were Nazi operatives during the ABC episodes.

WW's association with other heroes of the DC "universe" was also omitted from the TV show; as far as this series was concerned, there weren't any other superheroes.

Another important omission was that of Diana's ties to Paradise Island. A sizeable portion of WW's comic adventures took place on or near the island. Little on-screen mention of the Amazons or Diana's family was made after the television version completed the transition from WWII to contemporary times.

After an aircraft crashes on Paradise Island, Princess Diana convinces her mother, the Queen of the Amazons, that she must once again go into the outside world to help protect it from evil, as well as the secret of Paradise Island and its ancient culture.

TRIVIA: This episode originally aired as a 60 minute special to launch season two but was edited into two separate episodes for syndication. The full 60 minute version was unavailable until Columbia House Home Video released the series on VHS in the late 1990’s.

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

Wonder Woman is called upon to battle a new and more terrifying Nazi menace when she and Steve Trevor are assigned to investigate a reunion of expatriate Nazis on a Small tropical island.

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

Wonder Woman is pitted against the awesome telekenetic powers of a Japanese man who was interned during World War II and has been planning revenge for thirty-five years.

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

Wonder Woman investigates the disappearance of an intelligence plane over the Bermuda Triangle and races to secure the safety of Paradise Island.

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

Wonder Woman tries to prevent a powerful terrorist group from kidnapping Steve and other Government officials.

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

Wonder Woman uses her wits to save Joe Alkinson's daughter from the evils of a corrupt rock star who fashions himself a modern-day Pied Piper.

TRIVIA: Guest star Eve Plumb was best known for her long-running role as Jan on THE BRADY BUNCH (1969-74), THE BRADY GIRLS (1980-81) and THE BRADY’S (1990).

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

Wonder Woman saves a tiny country of Malakan by catching the thief who stole the royal jewels from its Queen.

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

Diana masquerades as a new bride honeymooning at a health spa to prevent a group of traitors from obtaining government secrets and selling them to the highest bidder.

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

Wonder Woman must stop a mad man who is intent on destroying the world by creating volcanoes.

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

Wonder Woman joins forces with Andros, a friendly alien she first met during WW II, to prevent another world-wide disaster.

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

Wonder Woman and Andros realize that the fate of the world rests on their ability to save the great minds of the world from evil alien forces, set on using them for their diabolic plan.

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

It's the Christmas season and Wonder Woman must contend with a mad toy maker who proves that some toys can be deadly.

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

Wonder Woman goes undercover posing as a bank robber to capture the world's most notorious thief.

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

Wonder Woman sets out to thwart a plot to kidnap all the top Olympic athletes of the world.

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

Wonder Woman works against the clock to avert a world-wide oil crisis, when she exposes a means of changing lead into gold.

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

Diana is assigned to protect a wealthy industrialist with government ties from an assassination attempt.

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

To protect government secrets – and her own secret identity -- Wonder Woman fights digital thieves who are stealing memory banks from the world’s largest and most powerful computers.

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

Diana poses as a professional photographer to protect an Air Force plane from sabotage.

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

Wonder Woman attempts to save a young psychic from terrorists who use his abilities in their plans to disrupt a peace conference.

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

When a man discovers the key ingredient for an experimental explosives formula, he his pursued by a mysterious group that wants to use his discovery for their terrorists plots.

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

A young girl from another dimension has escaped and needs Wonder Woman’s help in fleeing from a man who forces her to use her powers for evil purposes.

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

Wonder Woman must stop the high-jacking of an experimental thought-controlled missile, while being side tracked by a small town sheriff.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In spite of strong debuts on both ABC and CBS, plus a vocal and loyal fan base, WONDER WOMAN still wasn’t much of a Nielsen ratings contender. By the time the series reached its second season on CBS, critics were already dismissing the show as fluff. Though the program represented much more to weekly viewers, the critics had a point.

The show's demographics indicated that adult males in the 18-to-49 year old age range represented a significant portion of total viewing households. While for advertising purposes, this was a "desirable" group to retain, they were also the viewers who were least likely to tune in every week.

Young viewers were most faithful, but CBS played into the "adult" appeal of the character by keeping the show in the middle of prime-time. Unable to rely solely on young viewers, the show's creative directors wisely set to work to win over its older audience.

The plots relied less on vague international threats and focused on problems that kept people apart. Wonder Woman encountered a large number of social misfits and outcasts, and helped many to achieve a sense of personal acceptance and optimism. The gimmicks were downscaled just a bit, in favor of popular locations and timely storylines.

In addition to providing varied themes, a decision was clearly made to eliminate excess baggage. The character of Joe Atkins was eliminated altogether and Steve was promoted, becoming Diana’s boss. That meant he spent a lot of time watching the phones and hanging out in the computer room with IRA. With fewer subplots involving Trevor and the other regulars, the focus was more and more shifted to Lynda Carter, who seemed to prefer playing Diana Prince over Wonder Woman.

Additionally, the animated opening credits concept was dropped altogether, replaced by episodic footage. The theme song became instrumental.

In spite of the creative boost given the series, a fickle viewing audience was indeed the show's downfall. The wave of science-fiction based shows of this time – like THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN, LOGAN’S RUN, BATTLESTAR GALLACTICA, BUCK ROGERS, and fellow comics legend THE INCREDIBLE HULK -- began to stress a scientific "realiism" that WW and her magical powers couldn't compete with. Even Lindsay Wagner's long-skirted, neurotic BIONIC WOMAN shot past into the upper regions of the Nielsen ratings.

A few episodes went so far as to give her a thoroughly American "liberalism" that amounted to little more than (pre-) politically correct lip service. This unfortunate trend continued to dog WW's second year on CBS.

Diana and Steve came to forget the warmth of their mutual company early in this season, and became simple friends and colleagues. The inclusion of strong female supporting characters dwindled. The closing (often pro-woman) affirmations that Diana delivered in the first series were abandoned in favor of curt homilies. Diana's warming smiles started to appear forced and if the supporting cast's blandness was any indication, the novelty of the show's premise had worn off.

In the last episode of the season, Lyle Waggoner’s name and likeness had been dropped from the opening credits. All indications were that Steve Trevor, Jr. was gone for good, as Diana was transferred to Los Angeles, where she’d be working for a new boss, Dale Hawthorn (as seen in the episode “The Man Who Could Not Die.”)

A new cast of supporting characters was introduced to replace Trevor and IRA. An allusion to this move appears in the two- part episode, "The Boy Who Knew Her Secret," which for whatever reason, aired prior to the L.A. episode but takes place afterwards. The sudden relocation came too late to spur new interest in the series. Even a letter-writing campaign failed to convince CBS to renew the series for another season.

Like many unique television shows, WONDER WOMAN has had renewed success in syndication. Though some of these episodes are overripe with seventies' trends -- disco, science fiction, ecology -- they've dated as well as anything else in syndication. In some ways, this disco-visiting Wonder Woman was rather hip.

In some large cable markets, the series was second only to talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey.

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

Diana assists in finding a stolen Rolls Royce with top secret information hidden inside.

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

When a scientist develops a way to control matter, he begins using this knowledge to manipulate the outcome of sporting events.

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

When valuable museum artwork begins to mysteriously disappear, Wonder Woman makes a startling discovery about its life-like statues.

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

Wonder Woman works to shut down a disco that lures government officials into unknowingly revealing national secrets.

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

An ecologically-minded scientist uses her amazing powers to control insects in preventing the manufacturing of a deadly pesticide.

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

Wonder Woman races against time to stop a fiendish time traveler from blowing up Phoenix with as-yet unknown radioactive substance more potent than plutonium.

TRIVIA: Guest stars Joan Van Ark and Ted Shackelford would go on to work together again on two other popular CBS shows. They starred as Valene and Gary Ewing first on DALLAS and then on its spin-off KNOTS LANDING.

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

A ruthless mobster wants to turn a sleepy CA town into a tourist attraction by using a teenage skateboard champion as blackmail leverage.

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

A trained dolphin is kidnapped, strapped with explosives and sent on a deadly radio-controlled mission to sink an oil tanker off the California coast.

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

Wonder Woman uncovers a plot to steal millions of dollars in jewels from wealthy partygoers by impersonating her and her IDAC colleagues.

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

A petty crook steals gold in order to purchase printing plates for his counterfeiting ring.

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

A scientist plans to preserve a corporate magnate’s brain in the body of an athlete.

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

A warhead recovered from a downed Russian jet goes up for sale to the highest bidder on the black market unless Wonder Woman can stop the auction in time.

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

Hordes of brain-washed sci-fi fans complicate Diana’s efforts to track down the thief of an ultra-secret laser crystal.

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

Wonder Woman must prevent a gullible U.S. Air Force from launching a nuclear bomb.

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

Diana Prince goes undercover as a popular singer to crack a record extortion ring.

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

Wonder Woman must stop the black market sale of a super-secret missile guidance system scrambling device in order to avoid international disaster.

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

Wonder Woman rushes to save a vial of potentially catastrophic virus which was stolen from a government laboratory in order to save thousands of lives.

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

A young woman with a gift for disaster, becomes an unwitting "jinx" as an accomplice in the theft of priceless historical documents until Wonder Woman comes to her aid.

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

Now assigned out of Los Angeles, Wonder Woman meets up with an invulnerable man and joins forces with him to stop a crime.

TRIVIA: Even though this episode originally aired AFTER “The Boy Who Knew Her Secret” parts 1 & 2, the events in this storyline take place PRIOR to that two-part episode. This episode explains that Diana Prince has been re-assigned to work out of the Los Angeles branch of the I.A.D.C. It is unknown why CBS aired this episode out of sequence.

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

Diana Prince, investigating a strange alien force in a small suburban community, is seen whirling into Wonder Woman by a young boy.

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

With a boy knowing that she is really Wonder Woman, Diana continues her battle against a mysterious alien invasion.

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

Diana Prince poses as a double agent and encounters an enemy of the United States who sells governments secrets.

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

Wonder Woman's must use all her strength and ability to save hundreds of people from a disastrous accident at an amusement park.

TRIVIA: Had CBS renewed the show for another season, Diana Price would have continued living in Los Angeles and working with a new set of supporting characters.