What Might've Been: Automan (1983)

Inspired by Disney's "Tron", the late producer Glen A. Larson developed a sci-fi adventure series that was, admittedly, a bit ahead of its time.

Automan didn't get very far, airing on ABC during the 1983-4 season. In fact, the network held one episode off the air, and it would see the light of day a decade later on the Sci-Fi Channel (now SyFy). Simply put, it was another show airing on the wrong night of the week.

Desi Arnaz, Jr. starred as Walter Nebicher, who wanted to be out on the beat, but his superiors felt he was better suited working behind a desk, where he could utilize his computer skills. Well, he ended up giving his bosses a valuable secret weapon in Automan (Chuck Wagner). Scope out the sample video:



When your bosses are played by two veterans in Robert Lansing and Gerald S. O'Loughlin (ex-The Rookies), it should be a positive. However, Walter was set up as a put-upon underachiever who caught the biggest break of his life. Arnaz was never given another chance to step out from under the shadows of his parents.

Rating: B-.