Wonder Woman (ABC-CBS 1976-1979, Lynda Carter, Lyle Waggoner)

Wonder Woman (based on the 1940’s comic strip created by Charles Moulton) actually took quite awhile to become a series. In March 1974 Cathy Lee Crosby appeared (looking nothing like Wonder Woman as we know here) in a TV Movie, then the following year Lynda Carter starred in another TV Movie, this led to a short run series on ABC called The New Original Wonder Woman, this series retained the 1940’s setting with Wonder Woman (aka Diana Prince) doing her best to defeat all manner of evils (mainly the Nazi’s in the ABC series).

Wonder Woman came from an island of Amazonian women who (thanks to a substance called Feminum) had super human strength. When pilot Steve Trevor crashed on the island Wonder Woman fell in love with him and returned with him to the USA. Diana transformed herself into Wonder Woman by simply spinning around (in somewhat of a blur it must be said).

In 1977 the show then moved to the CBS network and some major changes. The action had now moved to the present day although continuity had been maintained (Wonder Woman aged at a much slower rate than mere mortals) and she was working with Steve Trevor’s son Steve Trevor Jnr.

The duo worked for the Inter Agency Defense Command (IADC for short). The agency also had a super computer called IRA. In the 1940’s Diana Prince wore a pair of glasses (ala Clark Kent) to disguise her true identity whilst in modern times she didn’t bother.

These days Wonder Woman is very much back in vogue and one of the main players in the DC Universe’s attempt to out-marvel Marvel. Played by Gal Gadot in a much more action led athletic style than Lynda Carter Wonder Woman made an appearance in Superman Vs Batman: Dawn of Justice before gaining her own movie and an appearance in The Justice League movie, both scheduled to arrive in 2017.

production details
USA / ABC – CBS – Warner / 1×120 minute episodes /1×80 minute episode 13×60 minute episodes 45×45 minute episodes / Broadcast Saturday 18 December 1976 – Tuesday 11 September 1979

cast
LYNDA CARTER as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince
LYLE WAGGONER as Major Steve Trevor (Jr)
RICHARD EASTHAM as General Blankenship (1976-77)
BEATRICE COLEN as Corporal Etta Candy (1976-77)
NORMAN BURTON as Joe Atkinson (1977)
SAUNDRA SHARP as Eve (1977-79)
TOM KRATOCHZIL as Voice of IRA (the computer) (1977-79)