40 years ago today, “The Bionic Woman” premiered on ABC.
A spin-off of “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “Bionic Woman” gave Jaime Sommers her own series. For three seasons (starting on ABC, then moving to NBC), viewers watched Jaime on spy missions where, thanks to her bionics, she can run faster than 60 miles per hour, use advanced hearing and extraordinary strength in her right arm.
“Bionic Woman” got an NBC remake in 2007 but only aired eight episodes before the WGA Strike halted production.
Other notable January 14 happenings in pop culture history:
• 1990: Giacomo Puccini opera “Tosca” premiered in Rome.
• 1952: “The Today Show” debuted on NBC.
• 1963: Sylvia Plath”s “The Bell Jar” was published in England under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas.
• 1966: David Bowie”s single “Can”t Help Thinking About Me” was released in the U.K. It later became the first record of his to be released in the U.S., and it was also the first time he used the name David Bowie (instead of Davie Jones).
• 1970: Diana Ross and the Supremes performed their final concert, at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• 1972: The sitcom “Sanford and Son” premiered on NBC. It went on to air for six seasons.
• 1990: The second episode of the first season of “The Simpsons” aired. It was the first to use the show”s famed opening sequence.
• 1993: Network officials announced that David Letterman would move from NBC to CBS.
• 1997: The Beach Boys guest star on an episode of “Home Improvement.” Turns out The Beach Boys are Wilson”s cousins.
• 2005: Samuel L. Jackson movie “Coach Carter” opened in theaters.