AUTOMAN - Reading

Automan (the “Automatic Man”) is a short lived American science fiction superhero television series originally aired on ABC between 1983 and 1984. Even though 13 episodes were made only 12 of them aired. The concept of this show was heavily inspired by Steven Lisberger's movie Tron which had come out a year earlier. Music by Billy Hinsche and Stu Philips.

It focused on the adventures of Walter Nebicher who had created an artificially intelligent crime fighting program that generated a hologram able to leave the computer world and enter reality to use his intellect as well as extraordinary stunt-like abilities and illusions to help fight against crime.

STARRING:

Desi Arnaz Junior as Walter Nebicher

Chuck Wagner as Otto J. Mann (Automan)

Robert Lansing as Lieutenant Jack Curtis

Gerald S. O'Loughlin as Captain E. G. Boyd

Heather McNair as Roxanne Caldwell

In order not to give the impression of plagiarizing Tron, Automan's producer Glen A. Larson involved Donald Kushner and his partner Peter Locke, who had been operating producers of Tron, as operating producers of Automan which lent the necessary credibility the show needed. This was the only TV show to ever use a Lamborghini Countach as transport.

Both were similar in appearance but the Automan look was created with completely different special effects contrasting to Tron's hand painted ones. According to Charles “Chuck” Barbee, Automan's cinematographer, reflective material and portable projectors were used though the end result gives away the impression of a blue/green screen chromakey overlay. The costume worn by Chuck Wagner had reflective plates stuck on it which gave the holographic appearance, with a specific lighting system in place.

This TV show has never had an official release on DVD. The only ones currently available are un-official copies that have been recorded from television networks, like the British Bravo, and can be found on various sites all over the internet.

Hollywood sources claim that there is an Automan movie in the making. Rumored to play the holographic AI is, believe it or not, John Travolta. As for his creator, the computer hacker more than a programmer in the movie, Shai LeBeouf seems to have what it takes. The voice-work of Otto J. Mann's floating cyber sidekick Cursor is to be done by nobody less than Gary Oldman himself.