The first episode of this iconic series, ‘Welcome Home Jaime Part 1’, aired on January 14th, 1976 and over the next three years Lindsay Wagner became an inspiration to audiences around the world. Her portrayal of Jaime Sommers, earned her an Emmy in 1977 as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
In total there are 58 episodes ofThe Bionic Woman, 5 crossover episodes withThe Six Million Dollar Man and 3 reunion movies. Lindsay's impact on the global television landscape went much further and she garnered a rare kind of following that has stayed with her for over fifty years.
Lindsay broke the glass ceiling for women on television as she collaborated with the writers to show that sensitivity and strength can co-exist in the same person.
Jaime was introduced to audiences in 1975, appearing onThe Six Million Dollar Manas Steve Austin’s girlfriend as a birthday gift from Lindsay for her younger sister Randi Ball.
In the two-part episode, entitledThe Bionic Woman, Lindsay portrayed a former tennis pro who was also Steve Austin’s childhood sweetheart. After becoming bionic, Jaime’s body eventually rejected the bionics and, at the end of part two, she died. The overwhelming public reaction to Lindsay and her character was so strong that the studio quickly realised their mistake. Jaime was brought back to life and Lindsay was offered her own spin-off show “The Bionic Woman”.
The show ran for three seasons and was brought to a close on May 13, 1978 with the 58thand final episode "On the Run".What makes this episode so special is that it was written in collaboration with Lindsay, and her personal feelings of exhaustion at being the sole star of an action show at that time are inter-twined with Jaime’s feelings throughout the episode.
In later years there were three reunion movies in 1987, 1989 and 1994. Thanks to Lindsay’s insistence, after all these years of waiting, the fans finally got their wish. Steve Austin and Jaime Sommers are married!
The 50th anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate The Bionic Woman and reminisce with Lindsay and fans on what made this show such an unforgettable experience.
To mark this landmark occasion we are making some special items available for a limited time only, including printed copies of the script of the final episode, newly released signed photos and an opportunity to have a personal video chat with Lindsay to share your memories of the show with her.
