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Desi Arnaz Jr. at left with Automan, played by Chuck Wagner, in the television series "Automan" in 1983. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automan (May be subject to copyright) |
That computer programmer was played by Desi Arnaz Junior, and today was his birthday.
It reminded me of how I had heard about him long before I ever saw him, much less watched him on television.
Television history
Even in the 1980s, “I Love Lucy” was considered one of the greatest shows in the history of television. One of the most famous story lines is when Lucille Ball, who played Lucy, becomes pregnant in real life and that was written into the show.
Even in the 1980s, “I Love Lucy” was considered one of the greatest shows in the history of television. One of the most famous story lines is when Lucille Ball, who played Lucy, becomes pregnant in real life and that was written into the show.
The show played her pregnancy for a lot of laughs and, ultimately, Lucy has a baby. She names him Ricky, after her on-screen husband Rick Ricardo, played by her real-life husband of the time, Desi Arnaz.
That was the first I heard of Desi Arnaz Jr.
Pre-history
Desi Arnaz Jr. would go on, at age 12, to be in the band Dino, Desi & Billy with Dean Paul Martin, Dean Martin’s son, and Billy Hinsche.
Desi Arnaz Jr. would go on, at age 12, to be in the band Dino, Desi & Billy with Dean Paul Martin, Dean Martin’s son, and Billy Hinsche.
Arnaz would follow his parents into acting, starring in “Here’s Lucy”; and guest starring in shows such as “The Brady Bunch”; “Love, American Style”; “The Mod Squad”; “Night Gallery”; “Medical Story”; “Medical Centre”; “The Streets of San Francisco”; “Police Story”; “Fantasy Island”; and “The Love Boat”.
He would also appear in a number of television movies in the 1970s and into the 1980s, such as “Marco”; “She Lives!”; “Billy Two Hats”; “Having Babies”; “Joyride”; “How to Pick Up Girls!”; “The Courage and the Passion”; “Crisis in Mid-Air”; and “The Great American Traffic Jam”.
His only real recurring, starring role came in 1983.
Automan
It was a show that looked different than anything else on TV. I was in Grade 9 when “Automan” debuted in December of 1983. Video games on consoles such as Intellivision and Atari were popular, and so were home computers such as the Commodore-64 and TRS-80. Disney had released the movie “Tron” in 1982, which literally took place inside a video game.
It was a show that looked different than anything else on TV. I was in Grade 9 when “Automan” debuted in December of 1983. Video games on consoles such as Intellivision and Atari were popular, and so were home computers such as the Commodore-64 and TRS-80. Disney had released the movie “Tron” in 1982, which literally took place inside a video game.
“Automan” tried to capitalize on the popularity of technology by creating a show with a video-game character as the lead. Looking back, it even looked like “Tron”.
Arnaz plays Walter Nebicher, a police officer and computer programmer, who creates an artificially intelligent crime-fighting holographic program. At night Automan, played by Chuck Wagner, can leave the computer and fight crime.
One of the jokes I remember is that when Automan drives, he turns at exact 90-degree angles, just like computer graphics do, often jarring Walter in the process.
Automan posed as a government agent, but only Walter and his associate Roxanne, played by Heather McNair, knew the truth. There was an attraction between Walter and Roxanne, and they did get together.
Automan and Walter could also merge to fight crime as one entity.
They were assisted by Cursor which was, like a cursor on a computer screen only in the real world. It could draw objects Walter and Automan would then use to fight crime, such as the aforementioned car that turned on 90-degree angles.
“Automan” ran from December of 1983 to April of 1984 on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial, for a total of 13 episodes.
The years after
Desi Arnaz Jr. continued acting right on into the ‘90s, including a guest spot on “Matlock” in 1987. He also played his dad in the biographical picture “The Mambo Kings” in 1992.
Desi Arnaz Jr. continued acting right on into the ‘90s, including a guest spot on “Matlock” in 1987. He also played his dad in the biographical picture “The Mambo Kings” in 1992.
Parting thoughts
In 1983, I really started getting into computers then got a Commodore-64 and started trying to design video games. I really got into the graphics and trying to write code. I had already been heavy into video games, primarily on the Intellivision.
In 1983, I really started getting into computers then got a Commodore-64 and started trying to design video games. I really got into the graphics and trying to write code. I had already been heavy into video games, primarily on the Intellivision.
So, at first, “Automan” really appealed to me. I initially heard about it through some friends at school who had cable and saw it first. Back then, shows often appeared on U.S. network television weeks and months before they came to peasant vision.
Consequently, I watched the pilot of “Automan” with much anticipation, and it was all right. However, I would lose interest over time, probably because other things, like my computer, captured my attention.
One thing I do recall clearly was something one of my classmates said. He pointed out all the good-looking actresses on TV were named Heather – Heather Thomas on “The Fall Guy”; Heather Locklear on “T.J. Hooker”; and now Heather McNair on “Automan”.
Yet, what I will always remember best about "Automan" was Desi Arnaz Jr. in his role as Walter Nebicher. He was a geek who tried to solve crime the best way he knew how – with computers.
In many respects, “Automan” foreshadows everything from “The Big Bang Theory” to the rise in use and application of artificial intelligence.
And it all started with Desi Arnaz Jr.
Happy birthday, Walter.
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