Automan. Activate the Emergency Crime-fighting Hologram.

[@Ideo7Z]

Automan, Manimal, Street Hawk, Airwolf, Misfits of Science, Powers of Matthew Starr. Absolutely loved the early 80s as a kid.

[@AndrewLuke]

Someday they'll reunite as a super-team. The producers better not shaft them!

[@killakoala10]

There are neurons in my brain that haven't been used since I saw this show all those years ago. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I remember Laura Branigan fondly. :)

[@brianegendorf2023]

Automan and Manimal were two shows, that even as a kid, I knew were cheesy..and yet, I was on board for and enjoyed every cheesy second of it. Seeing clips of it now, I am actually impressed with how much fun Chuck Wagner looks like he's having playing the role. I get the feeling that even if they had told him to do it for free as long as they paid him for some other roles, he totally would have. Seeing the The disco/John Travolta bit again really made me laugh.

[@russellharrell2747]

An Automan and Manimal crossover would have been epic. Or at least cool.

[@steveroberts2793]

This show holds a special place in my heart. It was my late uncle's favorite bad good show to watch, and we bonded over it when I went to live with his family as a kid. Great video, Stam!

[@midnightmosesuk]

I quite enjoyed the series, as short-lived as it was. I mainly remember it because we nicknamed my mate Jay "Automan", mainly because he used to wear terrible blue and white shell suits and he had a break neck, bordering on suicidal, driving style. Getting a lift from him guaranteed a heart stopping experience with sudden stops, sharp cornering and hair raising manoeuvres.

[@michaelenosmusic]

I remember being a fan of this series as a kid... even then during it's1st run..it wasn't aging very well.

[@carlh-thehermitwithwi-fi679]

man, i remember this as a kid! I loved the car and the little "chip" CURSOR......waht fun!

[@palmspalmer2519]

I met automan in the UK when they promoted it there

[@sirjaunty1]

The Automan Ottoman ad deserves a sub on its own. : )

[@ScottIngram]

Your editing and humor are getting sharper and sharper. I loved this. Geeky me loved this show for the short time it was on. Thanks for restoring it from the archives.

[@StamFine]

Thanks a ton!

[@philjones9356]

I do remember this show, I do remember them stating "he can dance better than John Travolta", I tend to disagree . Thanks for the review.

[@christheghostwriter]

I have KZbin Premium, because I absolutely HATE sitting through ads. I have KZbin playing 24/7. I have music playing all day while I work, I watch fun/informative vids like this in the evening, and I fall asleep to lectures and audiobooks. I have seen more pop-culture-analysis videos than I could possibly count. Your work is in the very top tier in terms of quality. In fact, it's about as good as it gets.

[@DrTarrandProfessorFether]

I must have passed out in 1983 (while at UC Davis) to not spot this one! Totally blank. For a Science Fiction geek, I am ashamed I never heard of this…. Wait, my wife said I lived it! But watching this causes a small brain aneurysm… so it was wip😂d from my brain.

[@mathewguglielmi8451]

I remember watching the show when i was in primary school. Booster Gold, a DC Comics character that was also created in the 1980's, resembles the actor that played Automan.

[@brianegendorf2023]

I totally see it.. Although, the guy on Smallville who played Booster did a pretty good job, too!

[@cologne2792]

Your channel is about the only thing left that actually makes me laugh out loud. Brilliant stuff, thank you.

[@Kimbohism]

Haha, the theme tune was definitely the best part of the show. I remember loving this show when I was a kid. I tried to rewatch it a few years ago but even nostalgia wasn’t enough to get me through more than a couple of episodes

[@bkjbearcat78]

I can see a Manimal review coming up soon.

[@stephenpalmer9375]

my thoughts exactly!!

[@andersdenkend]

I remember this slightly from back then. Always enjoyed the special effects as a kid. Great video, man. Keep it up, love your humour!

[@oscardiggs246]

I was thinking of this while watching one of your other vids. And now it comes full circle.

[@jeremycathey326]

I loved this show! I bought the DVDs! Watching this video reminded me of Once a Hero. Both aired on ABC in the US.

[@stephjovi]

I Ioved automan as a child. I remember a Watching it with my older brother. That bonding over the show is probably why I liked it so much. I didn't even know it was short lived. It aired on German TV in the 80s so it must have made some money

[@ChuckWagneronline]

Wow. Thanks a lovely trip down memory lane!!! Thanks

[@palmspalmer2519]

Automan Saturday afternoon early evening here in UK. It was a good show but got pulled

[@SJKPJR007]

I loved this show. So sincere thanks for investing the time to dedicate your usual blue chip quality review to it. I think 'Automan' benefited from being conspicuously more 'self aware' than similar shows of the era. Of course, that strategy can also be a double-edged sword giving audience reaction a more 'marmite' aspect. Personally, it was everything I looked for in 50 minutes (BBC, no ads) of escapist TV. I was gutted when it came to an end.

[@pferreira1983]

Great review. Automan is just such a show with so much charm its failings aren't noticeable. It's awesome!

[@Saru5000]

I loved this show as a kid. I barely remember it, but that theme song still haunts my dreams.

[@declanfinnerty1322]

Well, I am the lucky one, a new Stam Fine video to start the weekend.

[@daverage4729]

I remember this (and that theme) years later. Says something about it being memorable after only 12 episodes. Happy days! :)

[@jkmac625]

I remember watching Automan when it was shown on BBC1 on Saturday evenings in 1984. I still have an audio cassette with one of the episodes recorded off the TV at the time.

[@Retro-Fez]

I loved this show as a kid and i still watch it today

[@AquamentusLives]

I have memories of watching this as a kid…then it disappeared.

[@jb888888888]

Me too. ISTR it got preempted for some special report or something one day, and then never came back...

[@carlrood4457]

I remember watching the show. It was cool for the time, ridiculous in hindsight. Gotta hand it to Desi Arnez Jr. It can't be easy to be the son of two legends, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. There's also most people thinking your name is Little Ricky.

[@THEOUTCASTSCREATIVE]

Stam - you can't leave out RICHARD LYNCH when listing the guest stars dude!!!

[@RighteousBrother]

Hey its Robert Lansing, Gary 7 from Star Trek playing Lt. Jack Curtis!

[@kyleolson8977]

The Glen A. Larson show you need to look at is The Highwayman. Once you get past the pilot the show is nuts. Robots, Ghosts, Aliens, Time Travel...it's all there.

[@fatdog1963rb]

That theme tune has been one of my ringtones for years

[@Chillmax]

I loved AM, I think it was on the BBC at Saturday teatimes, I was totally in love with Chuck Wagner, he was so handsome & charismatic, however as a 10 year old boy in the 1980's, I thought I'd better keep that to myself 😉.

[@MAXXWORX]

Always great to see it. I wondered what has happened to the origin episode, thought i was missing it for a long time. Strange way to show the story... but okay :) As a kid the special effects to me were the coolest, and tried to build the vehicles with my limited Lego collection... did not look good. Didn't have enough black back then, but later i could build and Airwolf 😅 Will show the show to my son soon, after we finished this... horrible fourth season of Knigh Rider :)

[@ShamrockParticle]

"Blood-soaked episodes of Webster". 🤣 The only thing better than Automan is your review of it. "So are the people in soap operas and they fall in love every 20 minutes! " 🤣 that show deserves a total viewing for that one line alone. ❤ (Edited: fixed type made on tiny keyboard)

[@Laceykat66]

6:35 - Ya, I was not allowed to watch Webster due to its graphic violence. (Great review)

[@sfkeepay]

I recall this show (i was just a little kid), but I had no idea it was this funny and clever.

[@MervBennett]

I remember this the first time around as a 9 or 10 year old, along with Manimal, thought they were rubbish at the time. Still great to see it again 👏

[@deadandburied7626]

Robert Lansing is one of my favourite actors, please review "The Equalizer" (Edward Woodward).

[@drewdederer8965]

Between this show and my driver-ed teacher being a stickler for not rounding off turns. I spent my formative driving years gunning for a left turn that would paste my passenger to the window.

[@tbirdparis]

Damn. Before seeing this video (even just the thumbnail), if anyone asked me what Automan was I would have honestly answered I haven't the slightest clue. I had literally no memory of this show existing and having loved it as a little kid... but, turns out it was just all hidden and dormant in my brain. I wanted that future space neon car and plane so badly!

[@Ayaron]

Loved this show when it was on.

[@Althea-M]

Looking forward to the "Manimal" exposè

[@Beer_Dad1975]

Wow, loved this show when I was 8 years old - after not seeing a thing about it for 40 years - I never realised how deliberately cheezy and full of innuendo it was.

[@zetetick395]

Shame Chuck's acting career never quite took off, he's one charming guy

[@davidb1412]

I miss Automan. 1983 come back.

[@suk6323]

I thought this was Aquaman... until the bit about water showed up..

[@Grumpy-Fallboy]

17:12 "you should have taken that last left turn" ; Automan "we still can make it".

[@chrisguest3452]

loved this show

[@MrBrownAlliance]

Automan was great when aired, shame it was cancelled early and yes, a great theme...

[@threeparots1]

I do recall this…was sorta neat for the day…been a while since seeing this.

[@stevejones6247]

I remember that show

[@fromchomleystreet]

I remember taking some degree of umbrage, as an Australian child, at that comment about Australia at 9:53. It seemed especially unfair considering that, at the time (the early 80s), American tv was distinguishable from home-grown and British television, in part, by the fact that it still had lots of characters wearing flared trousers, open necked shirts and wide lapels, as if the 70s had never ended.

[@trombone7]

When you list Larson's other shows, I saw "Half Nelson". I'm like, "How do you make a series based on "Half Nelson" ? Hour long pilot ? Starring Joe Pesci ? I'm in.

[@carlrood4457]

I know he worked for Glen A Larson a lot before doing his own shows, so I wonder if Don Bellisario had a hand in this show as well. Seeing Automan in all the costumes and playing different characters gives me a Quantum Leap vibe. Maybe it's just how both shows had fun with pop culture.

[@lawrencemanning]

I had the slot racing track when I was a kid. Could prolly pay off the mortgage if I still had it. :( Loved this show when it was new, but tried to watch the pilot a few years ago but couldn't get through it, too cringy. Might try again now! That pervert Cursor is cool, I certainly didn't appreciate that when I was a nipper!

[@jb888888888]

Back in the other universe I came over from, when watching _Automan_ first run I distinctly remember an origin episode. But in this universe I've become stuck in there wasn't one. Huh.

[@johnashley327]

I was a freshman in high shool and never heard of this.

[@agent7796]

I remember watching it, but I couldn't tell what happened in any of the episodes.

[@baroncalamityplus]

I watched every aired episode. The perfect show for a computer / video game addicted 13 year old.

[@erna2747]

Film kegemaran ku dulu,,, msh SMP

[@larsg.2492]

I remember this show, or, more fitting, that it existed. Being "behind the times" because US series first have to be dubbed mean I saw this in the late 80s. I guess the rights were cheap to aquire, but it definately was a strange unfinished show to air during the mornings.

[@emilydiveley9661]

My favorite part is automan saw that picture of him in real life and that’s made me laugh

[@hydrolito]

Knight Rider's special effects was a talking computerized car that could jump into the air, was bullet proof and had special sensors.

[@JilliDoodles]

I love 70s and 80s shows, but there are one or two that were too ridiculous even for me. Automan was one of them. BTW anyone remember The Gemini Man with Ben Murphy, or The Invisible Man with David McCallum. I would love to see those again.

[@iainb1577]

The floaty sparkly thing was Tinkerbell moonlighting.

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

My favourite part was Cursor. I also thought Desi Jr. was great and was so bummed the show went away.

[@ivane5110]

I know Desi Jr. played this character in a cameo on Mannimal, and the Manimal character did a cameo on another show, Nightman, making the three part of the same universe, (and in comics Nightman did a Wolverine & Nightman one-shot), but wonder how many more shows are cameo-connected to this universe too? Shame some show didn't try one last hurrah by having some big team-up final. And It just came to me, but I'm surprised they never did a Tron/Terminator crossover comic.

[@jb888888888]

Automan is on _The Simpsons_ using his undercover alias.

[@PaulGreeve]

This reminded me a bit of America’s Greatest Hero. Any chance of you doing a review?

[@monotonehell]

That's another good one. I was thinking about Voyagers! (1982).

[@ScottIngram]

Both Voyagers and GAH would be fine additions to the channel 👍 Voyagers especially was a family favorite and I remember my sister being sad when John Eric Hexum was replaced due to his untimely death.

[@andersonlucianodearaujocun7013]

Nostalgia pura

[@carniepalmer9496]

Mantis was one of my favorite shows. Automan was another one. I bet y'all don't remmember Cop Rock.

[@ammosophobia]

I went as Automan for Halloween, and some kids beat the shit out of me. This was in 2018

[@chapterblaq]

Tron inspired Automans look obv but th2 way the vehicles (4:18) look...i wonder if the director of Tron Legacy was into Automan as a kid

[@williecrooks3636]

I was a big fan of Autonan and planned on purchasing the DVD's Jr. was the first one in his family who took part in a Scifi program even though his famous mother & father help finance one of the biggest series Star Trek it was fun to watch

[@williecrooks3636]

sorry I meant Automan

[@seanlavoie2]

I wasn’t even 5 when I watched Automan, I didn’t remember the show’s name until I asked someone. Same thing happened with Tales of the Golden Monkey.

[@theymusthatetesla3186]

This was a great series. So good, they only made one Season. Yet Star Trek Discovery's in its FOURTH season :(

[@Darr733]

Them's were the days

[@thebasementfilmgroup]

Let's have a remake with Andy Samberg as Walter and Will Ferrell as Automan!!

[@probablynotmyname8521]

The only thing i can remember from this show was the guy getting squashed against the window when the car did a 90 degree turn.

[@starsiegeplayer]

I like to think this show was the favorite of the Doctor in Star Trek Voyager.

[@TheDrugOfTheNation]

05:58 Money falling from helicopters was to TV in the mid-eighties what quicksand was to TV the mid-seventies. Discuss.

[@Blindgenxgamer]

I remember Cursor that's about it LOL

[@KingFahtah]

Even if it was fail it seems to have influenced Electric Dreams, Starman and Weird Science and a bunch of other films I can't remember. Automan also did as stint as Nik Kershaw I think.

[@hydrolito]

I don't recall anyone on Webster being blood soaked.

[@rodneyabrett]

A show about a guy with an inferiority complex to a hologram he created.

[@DiegoRooks]

Automan was the shit . If you were like 8 years old . It was great

[@sammygirlie345]

Need to do exoman

[@hydrolito]

Gary Seven from Star Trek so maybe that explains where Automan came from.

[@chelmrtz]

When Ready Player One didn’t do the homework and asked Automan if it could copy their homework

[@mattsmith8160]

Where do you go to watch an old series to do a review of? What service do you have access to that can serve up any obscure show ever made? I want that service.

[@StamFine]

they're usually available on DVD somewhere.

[@ryanwolf7174]

I love the TV show it was said that he got canceled

[@dinogoldie9716]

Have you reviewed Manimal?

[@StamFine]

not yet

[@supereurobeat]

I’m pretty sure Chuck Wagner was my first crush.

[@richardhart9204]

Airwolf was inspired by the movie, Blue Thunder, not Knight Rider.

[@StamFine]

I had originally written a longer section about how more than few mid- 80s shows that revolved around a piece of high tech were greenlit, particularly after Knight Rider was a hit. Airwolf, Blue Thunder TV show, Street Hawk, Knightboat (there's always a canal!). I put that aside for another video, but the Airwolf clip stayed in, since, why not?

[@richardhart9204]

@@StamFine Knightboat - LOL! That is one Hell of an obscure reference.

[@LatitudeSky]

Airwolf sprang from a Magnum PI episode. It was intended to be a direct Magnum spinoff but ended up as a standalone series. It really had nothing to do with Blue Thunder.

[@LatitudeSky]

@@StamFine The kids in my neighborhood had what we called Glen Larson Wars where were happy bashed around our Galactica and Buck Rogers toys and generally got into all sorts of mayhem on our bikes. It was a good time to be a kid.

[@richardhart9204]

@@LatitudeSky Nope.

[@kellyweingart3692]

a guy with high-tech hair 😂

[@raulzavala9061]

Goofy concept but I can see where the ideas for plots would quickly run dry when Kinght Rider was already taking up the Hi-Tech plots from writers, but yeah the theme song is right up there with Knight Rider; Manimal; Street Hawk; Airwolf.