Update: Bionic Woman Has Not Been Unplugged

Michelle Ryan by Carole Segal/NBC

Will Bionic Woman, which before the WGA struck was hoping to reverse its fortunes with a two-part January "relaunch," ever get the chance to fine-tune its engine? Although there were earlier reports that not only had the NBC series exhausted its supply of scripted episodes but had been altogether scrapped, a spokesperson for NBC Universal Media Studios tells TVGuide.com, "Bionic Woman has not been canceled. Production was shut down due to the WGA strike. In addition, we have not completed the initial 13-episode order, which will be the first order of business when the strike ends."

What's your take? Is Bionic Woman beyond repair? Me, I think they could kill off Jaime, somehow merge her memory circuits with Sarah's, and then set Corvus out to avenge her successor.

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Dec 17, 2007 10:51 AM

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sounds like the right decision!
Posted by Susan Marvin Dec 17, 2007 10:55 AM Report Abuse

Michelle Ryan should be upset -- a better actor might have been able to do something with the weak character development and plotting, but she is just so painfully awful that her acting just made every scene she was in a thousand times worse. Maybe now she'll have the time to take some acting lessons.
Posted by nicolars Dec 17, 2007 11:03 AM Report Abuse

"But the writers had hardly any time to work with the characters. They were just getting used to them." Jesus, how much time did they want? If a show hasn't hit its stride by the 4th episode or so, it's got big problems.
Posted by mooshki Dec 17, 2007 11:15 AM Report Abuse

well bionic is far from perfect but i think it has improved since the beginning. the later shows were plotted better and there weren't as many pointless scenes. i almost gave up on it, but stuck it out and enjoyed some of the later episodes. plus i'd be interested in seeing where it is headed with the new show runners and some of the FNL writers.
Posted by zermatt Dec 17, 2007 11:54 AM Report Abuse

I agree with zermatt, the show has improved & if it returns, they'll have the opportunity to regain viewers it lost.

If the writers focus on an overarching story & bring back Sarah Corvus, the show will be fine. All you need is a few good episodes to get people watching again (like this season of Heroes). Most people think it's a bad show & that reputation is hurting it more. Hopefully, the show's & Michelle Ryan's reputation won't be it's downfall!!!

Posted by ernie69b

Dec 17, 2007 12:12 PM

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I don't agree with you, Matt. I did not care for Sarah Corvus at all. I have never seen her in any other series, but I am sure a lot of people are fondly recollecting her from another role.
The show improved very slightly, then I thought it slumped again. There was an overwhelming apathy displayed in all the actors performances, and a very dreary set, who wants to watch black and white again? The underground "dungeon" for a lab was ridiculous! No it was time to bury this one!

Posted by Irish59

Dec 17, 2007 12:28 PM

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I love this show, but it has meant sticking through horrible dialogue. It hasn't been just Michelle Ryan who came across as stilted - I thought Katee Sackoff was also bad in her scenes, and I think she's awesome. There's only so much you can do with what you are given. I know it would never happen in a billion years, but what I wouldn't give for the BBC/BBC America to get hold of this.
Posted by ctheslayer Dec 17, 2007 12:31 PM Report Abuse

Just getting used to the character of Jaime Sommers? Jeez... there was a whole series about her back in the 70's. Maybe they should have watched it.
Posted by achyfakey Dec 17, 2007 12:37 PM Report Abuse

Yep-stick a fork in it. It's done. What a horribly boring show.
Posted by allsummersingle Dec 17, 2007 12:40 PM Report Abuse

I loved Bionic Woman. The show can not survive with Jaime and Sarah. It is either one or the other. I guess you could make them a team Bionic Women but as long as there is this other Bionic Woman who is so much more interesting than Jaime you have a dead show. People got so hooked on Sarah that Jaime was bland bland bland in comparison. If you kill anyone kill the really unredeemable Sarah.
Posted by whennow Dec 17, 2007 12:45 PM Report Abuse

The show was awful. The only way I would watch again is if Michelle Ryan was gone, replaced fulltime by Katee Sackhoff, and the writing improved immensely. Otherwise, never mind. Send Miguel Ferrer over to Heroes or somewhere more deserving of his awesomeness.
Posted by texasannie Dec 17, 2007 12:51 PM Report Abuse

Matt I was thinking the exact same thing. They need to find a way for Katee to take over the role. Have Jamie get irreparably damaged and then have Sarah finally redeam herself by letting them somehow download Jamie's mind into her body.

That way Sackoff can take over the role. They could even have an ongoing storyline about her inner struggle with the "bad" side of her wanting to come out.

Of course, nothing will help the show if they don't fix the writing first.

Posted by Watchingit

Dec 17, 2007 1:06 PM

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Can't TV writers come up with ideas for fresh tv shows? Classic shows should never be messed with. Battlestar Galactica was one of them (the idea of cylons in human form is just stupid), and redoing Bionic Woman is another. The original with Lindsay Wagner was terrific and creative and should never have been touched.
Posted by Jewishleah Dec 17, 2007 1:08 PM Report Abuse

The problems with bionic woman were minor and could easily be fixed. nbc never gives a show enough time to find and keep an audience. nbc should wait til after the strike and give bionic woman some time.
Posted by MRTTV Dec 17, 2007 1:25 PM Report Abuse

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