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| "Luke, I am your Father, but only from a 'certain point of view.'" "No!!! Wait, are you speaking of us in existential terms? No, wait, I get it now. You're saying that the Millennium Falcon skipped a few parsecs during our transit through hyperspace, and we've emerged in an alternative universe similar to that featured in the 'Mirror Mirror' episode of the original 'Star Trek' TV series. Right?" "Hm. Why must children always ask their parents such difficult questions?" |
As mentioned previously, I’ve been trading emails with
Kenneth Johnson. I may not be
able to correspond with Martin Caidin, who wrote the Steve Austin novels, or
interact with Harve Bennett, who produced “The Six Million Dollar Man.” But to correspond with Kenneth Johnson, who
created Jaime Summers, and later produced her TV series, has been a treat. From “Bionic Woman,” to “The Incredible
Hulk,” “V,” and the “Alien Nation” TV show, he produced shows that consistently
entertained me, and fed my interest in Science Fiction and Fantasy. I consider it a rare privilege to revisit
“Bionic Woman” on DVD, and to be able to write to him with my questions and observations.
This process has also provided an unexpected discovery. In one email, I mentioned to him how much I
enjoyed a second season episode of "Bionic Woman" in which the great Vincent Price played two
roles. Kenneth Johnson wrote back that he and Vincent
were already old friends at this point, as they had met when Johnson was
Executive Producer on a daytime talk show called “The Mike Douglas Show." After that discussion, I not only studied his
website more carefully, but researched “The Mike Douglas Show” to learn more
about it. During this research I stumbled
upon a vintage “Star Wars” interview.
This interview, conducted by Mike Douglas and cohost Richard
Thomas (best known for his role of John Boy on “The Waltons,” although he later
starred in the Roger Corman Sci-Fi film “Battle Beyond The Stars”), features
Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford.
It aired in July 1977, when “Star Wars” was just beginning to surprise
everyone with its box office success. While most of it is “old news,” I learned a
few interesting facts about Mark Hamill’s previous TV work, and about George
Lucas’ casting process, that I hadn’t known.
If you’re a diehard “Star Wars” fan, and
regularly watch video on the Internet, you’ve probably seen these interviews. But if not, and you love the “Star Wars”
movies, check out the first two segments. Alternatively if you’re a baseball fan, you
may be more interested in the third and fourth, in which Tom Seaver and Pete
Rose discuss how the recent change of “free agency” has impacted their
sport. Either way, don't miss the final
minutes of segment four, in which Mike, Richard, Tom, and Pete try to shave
Mickey Mouse balloons with hand razors.
Their antics might just put a smile on your face.
“Star Wars” made a huge impact on my life. Knowing how their careers have turned out,
it’s interesting to look back now, to see how casual and carefree the three
young stars were. Back then, I thought
all three would have big futures in the movie business. (I imagine they did too). Of the three, only Harrison Ford rose to
become a "star" in the movie business. While
we may never understand Fate’s whims, I have to think some of his success came
about because he was the oldest, had already experienced several setbacks, and
was therefore the hungriest.
Perhaps there’s a lesson there for all of us.
Gazing back in time,
Dragon Dave
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