# Six Million Dollar Man,,,specifically early episodes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [February 2, 2021, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031 "2021-02-02T05:05:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/81 "2021-02-04T18:23:48Z")
Another thing that the 6 Million Dollar Man had that we really don’t see any longer on TV is a benevolent government agency staffed by competent and upstanding employees. There are exceptions, like an episode with a double agent or someone getting blackmailed who is in the agency, but everyone is generally dedicated to their jobs and to helping the US and its citizens. I think this is an artifact of the Cold War but now when there’s a government agency, there’s always infighting, sinister machinations, evil leadership “at the top,” or some other conspiracy occurring. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/82 "2021-02-04T18:49:21Z")
It also had quicksand. A lot of quicksand. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/83 "2021-02-04T19:33:30Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > Turtlenecks with sport jackets. Ascots. Denim suits. Wide collars. It wasn’t the best time for fashion, the 70s. That’s the reason _MASH_ is one of the few shows you can watch from that era without being constantly distracted by the outrageous wardrobe. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/84 "2021-02-04T19:38:40Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > That’s the reason _MASH_ is one of the few shows you can watch from that era without being constantly distracted by the outrageous wardrobe. The haircuts, on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/85 "2021-02-04T19:40:19Z")
I loved that show! I still have my Six-Million Dollar Man lunchbox from the 1970s. My Six-Million Dollar Man action figure with Bionic Grip is, however, long gone. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/86 "2021-02-04T19:52:37Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Another thing that the 6 Million Dollar Man had that we really don’t see any longer on TV is a benevolent government agency staffed by competent and upstanding employees. Indeed. The OSI (the fictional agency for which Steve, Oscar, and company worked) was undeniably and unambigiously the “white hats.” ---
**Author:** ![mtnmatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@mtnmatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtnmatt)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/87 "2021-02-04T20:05:38Z")
I too considered it a favorite along with Emergency, and have lost a few quarantine hours on the channel that carries both. I can still remember being pissed that my folks had us away from the house on the night that Bigfoot (Andre!) grappled with Steve Austin. Recently I watched a movie called “The Insufferable Groo” about a would-be cinematic auteur who basically does everything himself, somewhere in Utah (mostly). Shortly afterwards I saw an episode of $6M Man that was hardly different in quality of story, acting and effects than what Groo was producing. Except it was network television. The comment about adults wondering why we kids were all in slo-mo (we also played football that way sometimes, like the This Week in Football highlights). This thread has been really entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/88 "2021-02-04T20:44:51Z")
OSI…which really is just Oscar, Steve and Rudy innit it??..Yes, But three out off the first four eps have the good guys being undermined by betrayals and moles left and right in agencies under them. Maybe the govt. should look into upping the payscale for everyone all around. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/89 "2021-02-04T22:09:21Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > OSI…which really is just Oscar, Steve and Rudy innit it?? Although, in-universe, I’d expect that OSI had a fairly big staff, other than Steve, Oscar, Rudy, and Jaime, no one else from OSI appeared in more than a couple of episodes, so we can be excused in thinking that it was a tiny group. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/90 "2021-02-04T23:13:13Z")
The team of the current MacGyver series work for a quasi-governmental agency who are unalloyed good guys. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/91 "2021-02-05T18:39:52Z")
> [@Jay\_Z](#): > > “CHiPs” was another one with bad pacing, with the slow motion accidents. And slow motion jumping over ramps which could not have been more than a couple feet high, if even that. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/92 "2021-02-05T20:40:02Z")
The specific ramp I had in mind: [![](https://pics.imcdb.org/0is148/chips218125it2.5104.jpg) ](https://pics.imcdb.org/0is148/chips218125it2.5104.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/93 "2021-02-05T23:30:44Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > > [@Jay\_Z](#): > > > > “CHiPs” was another one with bad pacing, with the slow motion accidents. > > And slow motion jumping over ramps which could not have been more than a couple feet high, if even that. Even back then in my early teens I couldn’t suspend by disbelief. Freeway scene: Car A, going about 18 miles an hour, glances off Car B, which is going about 12 miles an hour. Car A rolls on it’s side and on to its roof. That’s some PFM kinetic energy there. They staged that sight gag well; I’ll give 'em that. Never did spot that ramp or hydraulic jacking ramp. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2021, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/94 "2021-02-06T13:36:59Z")
Former member of the Bionic Action Club here! Loved it when I was a kid, had all the toys. Come to think about it I believe Masketron’s head is still in a box somewhere in the basement. Oscar Goldman’s exploding briefcase was a hoot! ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/95 "2021-02-12T22:27:40Z")
Blame it on Watergate. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/96 "2021-03-18T19:53:51Z")
[CHARGE!](https://watchcharge.com/) has been running first season episodes of “CHiPs” recently; one on yesterday was where Jon tries to be a writer. Og, that was painful! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/97 "2021-03-18T20:08:13Z")
Ah, CHiPs. Since the first airing, I’ve always remembered the episode where Ponch got an apartment in “swinging” Marina del Rey. It made an impression on me. When I lived in LA, I had an apartment in MdR. I wasn’t as swingering as Ponch, though. 🙂 Just last year I got to rewatch that episode. His apartment looked very familiar - it was in my building. We coulda been neighbors. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/98 "2021-03-18T20:29:12Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Just last year I got to rewatch that episode. His apartment looked very familiar - it was in my building. We coulda been neighbors. You probably had more furniture than just a mattress in the living room, though. 🙂 We see Ponch in his apartment for the first time in S2E09 and that’s pretty much all he had. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/99 "2021-03-18T20:38:29Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > You probably had more furniture than just a mattress in the living room, though. 🙂 You would be wrong! 🙂 I was fresh out of college. My bed was a mattress on the floor. I had the important things. I had a slot car track set up. But, I was splitting a two BR. The other resident had furniture, but I spent most of my time in my own room. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031/100 "2021-03-18T21:03:21Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I had the important things. I had a slot car track set up. OMG, you’re a Hanson Brother! [![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55b0daf7e4b0aec58a3b3b82/1464827974471-S8L4ZVM8AL1SDJQIYONR/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kDVYnQx84rzrm2qQOUd7Sy17gQa3H78H3Y0txjaiv_0fUGoJdozGrftqgFEuLO1ijKiE0rIMtwpjd99bzpx8zcKRkc8WWEWt0LGCNbwWndZjOqpeNLcJ80NK65_fV7S1UaJoniznVfLW7MHq8R1b-HslRcnXjU9sf0HPfB-p_WomTUP2TsFFG4O98bLEm7UHTQ/SlapShot_125Pyxurz.jpg?format=1000w) ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55b0daf7e4b0aec58a3b3b82/1464827974471-S8L4ZVM8AL1SDJQIYONR/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kDVYnQx84rzrm2qQOUd7Sy17gQa3H78H3Y0txjaiv_0fUGoJdozGrftqgFEuLO1ijKiE0rIMtwpjd99bzpx8zcKRkc8WWEWt0LGCNbwWndZjOqpeNLcJ80NK65_fV7S1UaJoniznVfLW7MHq8R1b-HslRcnXjU9sf0HPfB-p_WomTUP2TsFFG4O98bLEm7UHTQ/SlapShot_125Pyxurz.jpg?format=1000w) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-million-dollar-man-specifically-early-episodes/932031.md?page=6)