It’s hard to believe it’s been over 45 years since Lee Majors first graced our screens as Colonel Steve Austin, the astronaut rebuilt with bionic parts after a horrific crash in the TV series, The Six Million Dollar Man. Airing on ABC from 1973 to 1978, this isn’t just a relic of the 70s, it’s a fascinating piece of television history that still has something to say about our relationship with technology and what it means to be human, even if that humanity is augmented with mechanical parts. The premise was simple: after a test flight accident leaves him with near-fatal injuries, Austin is rebuilt by the Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI) using cutting-edge bionics, making him faster, stronger, and generally more capable than your average dude. He uses these new abilities to tackle missions around the globe for the government.
What made the show work wasn’t just the action sequences or the somewhat goofy special effects (which, let’s be honest, were pretty impressive for the time), but Lee Majors‘ performance. He brought a certain level of grounded realism to the character that sold the audience on the idea of this superpowered being, making the character relatable, rather than just a walking, talking, running robot. This wasn’t some invincible superhero; Austin still had emotions, vulnerabilities, and often struggled with the idea of being more machine than man.
The supporting cast also played a vital role in the show’s success. Richard Anderson, as Oscar Goldman, Austin’s boss at the OSI, brought a certain gravitas and paternal quality to the role. He wasn’t just some bureaucrat pushing Austin around, but seemed to care about Steve and his well-being. Martin E. Brooks as Dr. Rudy Wells, the chief scientist in charge of the bionics, was the rational, scientific counterpoint, often offering insight into the capabilities and limitations of Austin’s new body, Alan Oppenheimer featured in a number of episodes and was often the antagonist, and in the later years Farrah Fawcett had a reoccurring role as Major’s girlfriend.
The stories themselves ranged from Cold War espionage to battling rogue scientists and even the occasional encounter with Bigfoot. While some of the plots are dated by today’s standards, the core themes of responsibility, the impact of technology, and the struggle with identity still resonate. The show also wasn’t afraid to experiment, with episodes touching on science fiction, horror, and even some more character-driven pieces.
The show’s success spawned merchandise, spin-offs (most notably The Bionic Woman starring Lindsay Wagner) and a bunch of made-for-TV movies. There’s a reason people still know the iconic sound of the bionic running and the catchphrase “We can rebuild him; we have the technology.”
Name of Show aired on ABC.
Years ran: 1973-1978
Number of Episodes: 108
Creators: Kenneth Johnson
Cast: Lee Majors, Richard Anderson, Martin E. Brooks, Alan Oppenheimer, Farrah Fawcett.
