[...] and the glowing practical suits against the monochrome background. (I’m the one who loved Automan, remember.) The occasional creative shot idea — as when Jeff Bridges’ humanoid program, [...]

[...] the other hand, I’ve found bootlegs of other old favorites, like Probe and Automan, and I loved them, possibly because I kept my expectations low and was pleasantly surprised. [...]

[...] of mine) and bootleg DVD dealers (which allowed me to educate people who’d never heard about Automan). Seriously, the question did arise, if the program rules say “we don’t condone the [...]

[...] Johanna over at Comics Worth Reading reviews the early 80’s t.v. show Automan: Automan can do anything he’s seen on the videotapes he watches (sometimes on his own chest [...]

[...] Two things have cheered me up. The first: I bought DVD sets of both Automan and Probe so I can watch them over and over. (Yes, I’m obsessed. I’m toying with the idea of an essay on why Automan is the best superhero ever.) [...]

I found the oddest thing about that episode (and here I’m going to spoil an almost 25-year-old show) that he kept stripping after the case was over! I know he was programmed as eager to please (speaking of dangerous mental avenues), but I guess it makes sense that a computer program wouldn’t necessarily have any hangups about sexual display.

I’ve watched all the episodes now, and that one and the Dallas parody are the two that stuck with me. Sad, that there’s no more to watch ever.

I remember that one, mostly because nowadays I keep thinking how strange it was that Automan was able to go undercover as a popular stripper since he had that glow suit under his clothes… unless he had some kind of illusion that made him look like the other strippers that viewers didn’t see.

Geez, I can’t believe I’m contemplating writing fanfic. I haven’t done that since I was 15, and then I didn’t even know what it was called.

You can never write too much about Automan. He is the 3D-Man of Television.

Wagner’s clearly got a sense of humor about things, though, that shines through the character at times. I keep remembering how Automan interacts with a female bartender, flirting with him:
“What can I get you to drink?”
“I don’t drink.”
“Have some peanuts, then.”
“I don’t eat, either.” He says it like it’s the most natural thing in the world while doing something very neat with his eyebrows.

As for the costume, I dunno… it’s less revealing than those today, because all the glow tape cut into patterns means it allows for some give and take in terms of cut and fit. Or did you mean the glowing?

I am noticing how often the writers get him out of the costume, probably to save on cost and provide some variety. (Not like that, just putting him in a suit or designer jeans or a tux.) One of the episodes even cheats the cursor costume-change effect by having Auto ask Walter to close his eyes so he can surprise him with his choice of outfit. (See what I mean about the two seeming to flirt?)

I’m writing way too much about this, aren’t I?

Wagner’s performance was IIRC the best thing about the show- the stiffness worked for the character, who was trying to understand the world he was thrust into, and Walter wasn’t exactly the best guide. I bet Wagner didn’t have much fun wearing that costume, though.