Survival of the Fittest (25 Jan. 1974)

Oscar Goldman becomes a target for several conspirators who want to stop him from negotiating with the Russians. As he and Steve Austin fly back to Washington aboard a military aircraft, ... See full summary »

Director:

Leslie H. Martinson

Writer:

Mann Rubin

Stars:

Lee Majors, Richard Anderson, James McEachin

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Lee Majors	...	Col. Steve Austin
Richard Anderson	...	Oscar Goldman
James McEachin	...	Maj. Cromwell
Christine Belford	...	Lt. Colby
William Smith	...	Cmdr. Maxwell
Jo Anne Worley	...	Mona (as Joanne Worley)
Laurette Spang	...	Yeoman Helen Maychick
Randall Carver	...	PFC Robert E. Barris
Reid Smith	...	Navy Lt.
W.T. Zacha	...	Air Force. Sgt. Roberts
Dick Valentine	...	1st Pilot
Jim Raymond	...	1st Co-Pilot

Storyline

Oscar Goldman becomes a target for several conspirators who want to stop him from negotiating with the Russians. As he and Steve Austin fly back to Washington aboard a military aircraft, the plane is caught in a storm and has to crash land on an island in the Pacific. Amongst the survivors are the very men who are planning to kill Oscar.

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Plot Keywords:

flat tire | man against nature | turbulence | plane on fire | poisonous snake | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 January 1974 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 30, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Silverton Productions, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

48 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The opening sequence of this episode marks the first time Oscar Goldman addresses Steve Austin as "pal."

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Goofs

When the pilots call to change altitude to 41,000 feet, they ask for "Flight Level 41". Flight Levels are every 100 feet. The pilots should have asked for "Flight Level 4, 1, 0".

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Quotes

Mona: You know my husband says that all these pacific islands have snakes on them. You think there are snakes here?
A.F. Sgt. Roberts: Yes ma'am. Oh, but small ones.
Mona: [momentarily relieved] Oh. How small?
A.F. Sgt. Roberts: Three, four feet.

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Connections

Edited into The Bionic Woman: Fly Jaime (1976)

User Reviews

TV Never Had It So Good

This is among my favorite episodes from the entire series of SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN EPISODES -- An assassination skittish Oscar Goldman joins Colonel Steve Austin on a military transport flight over the uncharted wilds of Southern California. Unbeknownst to them, a trio of hired killers (all of them military officers, oddly) are also on board with some scheme to bag Oscar & a fortune in payoff money. Just how they had planned to carry out the execution is never made clear as the plane is hit by lightning and crash lands in the sea near a previously unknown Pacific Island off the coast of Baja. Or whatever. Steve then more or less takes control of the situation, using his NASA survival school training to help the survivors escaped the wrecked plane, make their way to the island, and gather local fruit (including unpeeled coconuts just like you find at the store) & firewood until Air Force rescue can drop them survival equipment and arrange pickup by submarine.

Meanwhile, the assassins try a couple of ruses to kill Oscar including death by poisonous snake before opting to simply shoot him. Steve must then literally use his bionics to save Oscar, kill the bad guys, and teach the confidence lacking young Army medic a thing or two about having a pair if he wants to get anywhere in the world, including into the bed of the pretty blonde Air Force cadet on board.

This is one of the finest examples of what THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN really should have been like -- A mean, gritty, somewhat cold hearted action/adventure show for adults. Steve uses his bionic powers to kill people in this episode, something that would be phased out by the middle of the show's phenomenally popular 2nd season. During this early period in the show things were more experimental, and one of the things that works best about this particular episode is the atmosphere it creates. Shot on Universal back-lots and nameless park lands, the show eschews the technological angles usually pursued by science fiction shows and quite literally becomes a survival parable. Steve's character is also solidified into an unflappable government agent specializing in, well, everything, and if it has one short coming it is that he comes off as a bit of a know-it-all at times, though the supporting cast does regard him with a certain amount of reverence that would stroke anyone's ego.

A pity that by the time Bigfoot was introduced the show had become more family oriented, softening the edge of brutality that makes this installment much more an adventure for adults. Kids like me at the time keyed into the show's coolness factor and quite probably ruined the show by adopting it as our own. But here there is still a sense of adventure with a human cost, with lives actually in the balance and Steve the only thing keeping them from certain doom. Add to it a cast of very talented veteran character actors/actresses -- and even 70s icon Joanne Worley on board as a Mai Tai buzzed comic relief housewife -- and this episode represents some of the best television ever devised for the entertainment of mankind.

9/10; Bravo!!