Wonder Woman

The New Original Wonder Woman

Season 1, Episode 0, Aired 11/7/75

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Episode Summary

American war hero Steve Trevor is downed over the Bermuda Triangle and lands on "Paradise Island," home of the Amazons. The Amazons hold a contest and choose a champion among them - Wonder Woman - who will return with Steve Trevor to America and remain there to fight the Nazi threat. In the pilot episode, there is a Nazi plan to destroy a new bomb site to ruin America's war effort. The Nazis have a mole in Steve's office who is sabotaging him, and only Wonder Woman can stop this catastrophe.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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Lyle Waggoner

Major Steve Trevor/Colonel Steve Trevor, Jr.
Lynda Carter

Princess Diana/(Yeoman) Diana Prince/Wonder Woman
John Randolph

Blankenship

Fan Episode Reviews (2)

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Not bad but it get's better

5.0

"Mediocre"

By joxerlives, Dec 06, 2010 Report Abuse

The New Original Wonder Woman Now we're talking! Weird that after setting the Crosby film in the present day they then decide to go back to her origins in WW2. Here we have Henry Gibson as the allied agent undercover as a Nazi who will later recur as a villain in later seasons. The plot of the German's attempting to bomb Washington seems ludicrous but was actually something they planned, pretty late in the war. The Norden bomb sight was also a real WW2 artifact. It seems a bit off that Steve Trevor bails out almost directly into the arms of one of the world's most beautiful women whilst the Nazi pilot is presumably eaten by sharks? (This is of course the era of JAWS-mania so sharks were pretty much obligatory) The airplane battle is pretty ludicrous and lame, especially when it keeps flitting from black and white to colour. Amazingly in this ep whilst WW saves the pilot of the German bomber she appears to kill the entire crew of the U-boat. The commentary with Lynda is great, especially her appreciation of the effortlessly handsome Lyle Waggoner (Steve Trevor knocked out for the first time! Also under truth serum twice), even though they apparently didn't get on. Also love the scene where Cloris Leachmen Amazon Queen get's quite flustered at the idea of a man on Paradise Island, biting her hand in the time honoured fashion at the thought (maybe the Amazon's aren't quite so misandrist as we presumed?) We have the proper costume for the first time although it has the gold cones over the breasts which doesn't really work for me. That said Lynda looks the business, she's stunning and looks as though she's just walked out of the pages of the comic. No offence to the late Christopher Reeve but no one ever embodied a superhero so effortlessly perfectly as Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman. Nice scene where we think she's going to wear the mini-skirt (as in the 40s comics) only to peel it off and reveal the hot pants. As the commentary from the producer states, a star was born in that moment, her look was so amazing that it entered the public consciousness, much like Dollhouse got a second season purely on the grounds of the Eliza Dushku-as-a-whipcracking-black leather clad-dominatrix scene The Amazon Olympics are cool (I was totally fooled by Lynda's blonde wig) although it strikes you as reminiscent of something Hugh Hefner would stage at the Playboy Mansion. 'Bullet's and braclets' strikes me as rather a weird game and surely not one dating back to ancient Greece. Equally Paradise Isaland seems to lack the industry to produce her invisible plane. We see WW perfectly imitate a voice Terminator style, which she will do several times over the series (why doesn't she just make the captured spy do it with her lasso?). We have WW actually working to raise some money but again the last time she ever has to do so. The bullets-and-bracelets show is daft although the sight of the Nazi-agent little old lady with the Tommy gun is worth it. Also as Lynda points out, when Red Buttons is shooting at her in the later scenes his expression is quite hilarious, he knows this is a futile gesture. One question, where does she land her invisible plane? I'd love to see an ep where someone walks into it and bumps their head! 5/10, not that fond of the WW2 epsmoreless

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Nazis plan to bomb America, but Wonder Woman won't let that happen

8.0

"Great"

By GameraTrekkie, Mar 01, 2009 Report Abuse

The theme song may be dated and laughable, but the TV series itself still holds up well and this pilot is one of the best pilots for a TV series I have ever seen. It is full of action and comedy. It is just a really fun thing to watch (which is good since it is a movie length episode). I know that feminism was the big thing at the time, but some of the things said are almost sexist against men! The biggest blunder is saying that men are the reason for such a violent world, when in fact woman have been just as violent through history when they are put in charge. This TV series has never heard of absolute power corrupts absolutely, no matter the gender.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Cloris Leachman played Hippolyta, Wonder Woman's mother, in the pilot episode only and was paid $25,000 for one day's shooting. Carolyn Jones took over the role for three episodes in the first season and Beatrice Straight appeared as The Queen in two episodes of the second season. Edit
- In the comics, William Moulton Marston included the golden lasso as a reference to his other invention, the lie detector. Edit
- Goof: During the fight scene between Marcia and Wonder Woman, at one point they are at one end of the corridor near the light which Marcia pulled down to hit Wonder Woman with. The camera angle changes and they are suddenly at the opposite end of the corridor as you can see the light at the other end. Edit
Notes
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- The first time this pilot episode aired, the title was listed as The New Original Wonder Woman in the opening credits. When the series was released on DVD, the title was changed to Wonder Woman. Edit
- The spinning transformation with clothes being pulled away as Diana Prince fades away and Wonder Woman fades in with the nurse's uniform over one arm was expensive due to the technique necessary. It would only be used for the next two specials, as the edit process took a long time. Edit
- The original spinning transformation was developed by Carter. From 1942 to 1960's in the comics, Wonder Woman carried her accessories in her purse, and transformed as Superman does, with her costume under her clothes. Based on old panels where Diana Prince was moving as a whirlwind to make a high speed change back from Wonder Woman, Carter, a dancer, suggested a graceful pirouette. Edit
Quotes
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- Queen Hippolyta: (Holding up a golden belt) This is the golden belt. It is the symbol for Amazon supremacy. So long as you wear it, you will retain your cunning and strength away from Paradise Island. (handing the golden belt to one of the Amazons who puts it around the masked blond haired Amazon)..and this is your golden lasso. Besides being made of an indestructible material, it also carries with it the power to compel people to tell the truth. Use it well and with compassion. Edit
- Queen Hippolyta: Noble Amazons masked in the tradition of our tournaments with only your individual skills and prowess to rely upon. One of you will win for the glory of all to preserve our Paradise. Let the tournament begin! Edit
- Queen Hippolyta: Young Amazon minds are best occupied with athletic discipline and higher learning. Edit
Allusions
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- The Norden Bombsight: This was an actual bombsight in use both prior to and during World War II. It was so highly guarded that bombardiers were required to take an oath to protect it with the sacrifice of their own life. It was also known as the S-1 Bombsight. It was reputed to be accurate to within 100 feet, an incredible acievement for the time! Edit