Lynda Carter: Actor, singer, and celebrity

Lynda Carter, at right, with co-star Loni Anderson in the 1984 crime drama "Partners in Crime".

Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086776/

(May be subject to copyright)

There was a time I could not wait to watch it every week – when I could find it that is. “Wonder Woman” was a super hero who had all these incredible gadgets – an invisible plane; a truth lasso; bullet proof bracelet – and she was battling the Nazis.

It was a cool show that made Lynda Carter a star, and a household name. It also may have typecast her, and limited her future potential.

Yet, she continued on working through the 1980s and beyond.

In fact, being a singer as well, I heard she is releasing a new single.

It made me think of the actor who brought us “Wonder Woman” and so much more.

Super hero
One of the challenges of peasant vision was it looked like shows seemed to bounce around, being pre-empted by various sports.

“Wonder Woman” was one such show, that we seemed to find at random times. Maybe it was on at the same time and I was just really young.

Anyway, what I will always remember was how it was set during the Second World War. Wonder Woman was an Amazon princess with some amazing skills and equipment at her disposal – a truth lasso; bullet-proof bracelets; an invisible plane and more. Her alter-ego was Diana Prince, who worked for the U.S. armed forces. When she transformed into Wonder Woman, I recall this music playing while she would spin rapidly. We could see her transform from mild-mannered Diana Prince into Wonder Woman.

She also had a friend and associate named Steve Trevor, played by Lyle Waggoner.

There was one plot line I remember well. The Nazis find her home of Paradise Island. They enslave the women, forcing them to mine the mineral that is used to make the bullet-proof bracelets.

The next thing I knew, the show was set in the modern day. Now, when Diana Prince turned into Wonder Woman, the spin immediately turned into a flash of light and she was instantly the super hero. Steve Trevor was now like the son or grandson of the original Steve Trevor, and still played by Lyle Waggoner.

I do recall a plot from that time. Wonder Woman’s sister ventured off Paradise Island, and became a super hero sidekick for her older sister.

I later learned the change came after the first season. Again, it was hard to follow because I was young and it seemed the show did bounce all over the place.

Through it all, Lynda Carter was excellent as Wonder Woman. She was striking, athletic and had great screen presence.

The “Wonder Woman” movie aired in 1975, while the series aired three seasons, from 1976 to 1979, for 59 episodes. In its first season, it was on ABC in the United States, called “Wonder Woman” and set in the 1940s. For seasons two and three it was set in modern times, airing on CBS as “The New Adventures of Wonder Woman”. Every episode I watched on the peasant vision dial was on Channel 13.

Partners in Crime
Lynda Carter made a lot of television appearances as herself. She was also in some TV movies, including the title role in 1983 in “Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess”.

Then, in 1984, she was back on series television. Carter played opposite Loni Anderson in the crime drama “Partners in Crime”, where they play the former wives of a murdered private detective. They team up to solve his murder then keep the partnership in his detective agency.

This show came out when I was in Grade 10, and I do recall watching it. What I remember best is the supporting cast, especially Lieutenant Ed Vronsky, played by Leo Rossi, and Walter Olkewicz as Harmon Shain, their ex-husband’s assistant. “Partners in Crime” was best known for pairing two TV goddesses from the ‘80s.

“Partners in Crime”, which aired on Channel 13 on peasant vision, lasted just 13 episodes.

Lynda Carter would round out the ‘80s with two television movies, including a role in “Mike Hammer: Murder Takes All” in 1989.

The years after
Lynda Carter continues acting, singing, and performing to this day. She appeared as a regular for 22 episodes in “Hawkeye” in the 1994-1995 season; several television movies; guest spots on “Hope and Faith”; “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”; “Law and Order”; “Smallville”; “Two and a Half Men”, as herself; and much more.

The last time I saw her was as the president of the United States in the series “Supergirl”.

Parting thoughts
Long before there were Marvel or DC movies, there was “Wonder Woman” on TV. Lynda Carter may be best known for her portrayal of “Wonder Woman”, but she has done and achieved a lot more.

A couple years ago, Lynda Carter appeared at Calgary Expo, or Comic Con. It was a combination deal with a photo op with her, an autograph and a chance to see her sing in concert at a local establishment.

That encapsulated everything Lynda Carter has been – actor, celebrity, and singer.