One of our readers, JoL, left a comment informing us of a Bionic Woman petition which is calling for the show to continue. I’ve signed it and if you want to show your support, you can find the petition here. I know that these things are often hopeless causes but it wasn’t so long ago that the “NUTS” campaign got Jericho a second season. Perhaps we should inundate NBC with bionic limbs?

Hmm..there’s life over at NBC Headquarters..they’ve reportedly just given both ‘Chuck’ and ‘Life’ full seasons..all this amid the current writers strike! Now why would they do that unless they know something that we don’t?

“Good news”, I hear you cry..well, as I recently posted, it does appear that the strike could soon be over, but I’m not rejoicing just yet because it seems that in the excitement of giving Chuck and Life full seasons, NBC have, um, forgotten about Bionic Woman..

It’s been a roller coaster ride with BW ever since it started, I just wonder whether NBC have one more ride left in them? Watch this space!

Kristen over at E! Online has more.

The writers strike is now in it’s 4th week, and as those of you who have been following Bionic-Blog and other TV show sites will know that it has all but crippled the production of Bionic Woman and most of your other favourite TV shows. HOWEVER..there appears to be good news on the horizon as various sources are reporting that a deal between the Writers Guild and the studio’s is on the cards. I must stress that it is still ‘speculation’ at this stage but any news is good news at this stage. DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com have this to say:

“It’s already done, basically,” the insider describes. That’s because of the weeks worth of groundwork by the Hollywood agents working the writers guild leadership on one side, and the studio and network moguls on the other. I was told not to expect an agreement this week. But my source thought it was possible that the strike could be settled before Christmas.

Look, I don’t want to raise false hope here. But this source has been very accurate in the past. The negotiations starting today will have a news blackout, so don’t expect any significant leaks. But consider the real possibility there’s been a breakthrough. Still, I must caution that this is Hollywood

Again, I don’t want to advocate false hope but if this turns out to be true and a deal is struck before Christmas, then it’s very good news indeed for everyone concerned..and maybe, just maybe, we won’t have seen the last of Bionic Woman after this Wednesdays “Do Not Disturb” episode.

If you know or hear any substantiated news regarding this potential ‘deal’ do let me know: )

Update: One of our readers, ryansxpress, makes a seperate but interesting point that perhaps the fact that the UK’s ITV channel is running trailers for Bionic Woman, is a sign that they have inside info on the future of the show. Could this be the case? Is good news around the corner?

One of our readers - Tippy, has informed me that last night ITV2 (the channel which has bought exclusive rights for Bionic Woman in the UK) aired a 15 second trailer for the Michelle Ryan led drama. It featured a close up of Jaime Sommers’ eye and clips from the Pilot episode, before ending with “Bionic Woman: 2008″.

So, it looks as if the writers strike and the lagging ratings haven’t deterred ITV from showing BW..or from terminating their contract with NBC and getting their money back – although I’m not sure if that would have been possible at this stage anyway?

What is also interesting is that ITV are aware that the show might not even complete it’s projected 13 episode season and yet they are still prepared to air the 8 guaranteed episodes regardless. Indeed, the UK’s Guaradian Newspaper expressess the same point:

ITV, which bought big from America for the second year running – snapping up Bionic Woman, the quirky Pushing Daisies and the campy family saga Cane – now faces the prospect of half-completed seasons of what they hoped would be next year’s biggest dramas.

I guess ITV are unable to get out of their contract and so they’re going to try to get their money’s worth? Of course the show might actually return after the writers strike and it could even be “relaunched”, but as things stand it’s a fairly bold move by ITV and even if their motives are money oriented (can’t blame them really), it’s good to see some faith being invested in the show. Although if ‘Brit chick’ Michelle Ryan wasn’t starring, I don’t think they’d be as ‘supportive’.

If anyone else has any info or opinions on the above, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Also, thanks again to Tippyfor the headsup!

Like many of you, I am disappointed with ‘Bionic Woman’. Regular readers will know that I do think the show has a lot of potential and a fabulous cast, but it’s just not working..it’s just not right.

So I think I’ve come up with a possible solution..well it was actually suggested by Page 48 who commented that perhaps it’s best if BW has a rethink and comes back with a brand new plan. Let’s face it, with ratings down 60%, controversy surrounding the two leading ladies and so many backroom shuffles, the show is struggling. These things appear to be an off-set of a show which has potential but has the wrong outlook on what the people want the show to be. In short, the formula is wrong.

I want to see better action, tighter scripts, connected episodes, cool gadgets, characters who have an actual purpose..etc etc. I know that this is only the tip of the iceberg, but perhaps NBC should use the strike and the proposed ‘January re-launch’ to completely rethink (or re-imagine) the show. I know these initial 8 episodes have cost them a lot of money, but seriously, just start all over again..take as much time as you need and come back in a year or so with a show that ‘works’. I realise that this would probably mean losing most if not all of the current cast, but with ‘reports’ of cast members falling out, it might not be the end of the world.

It’s just a suggestion and it’s unlikely to happen, but I’d rather see the show start over than die a sad sad death.

NBC has apparently initiated their legal entitlement to only pay the actors “half of their paychecks for the next 5 weeks” as a result of the WGA strike halting production of Bionic Woman.

The impact of the strike begins to take effect – I hope none of them have massive mortgages to pay! Incidentally, if the strike lasts longer than 5 weeks, the actors have the legal right to leave their BW contracts and seek alternative forms of income – which means they can choose to leave the show permanently. This is bad news, because although the show cannot continue without any scripts, it also cannot continue if they lose the likes of Michelle Ryan, who is integral to the series. Unless of course they recast the part, but that’s too complicated and too messy for me to even consider right now.

On November 7 2007, I reported that Bionic Woman was on the verge of shut-down due to the writers strike – that shut-down officially took place on Friday 9 November. The show has simply run out of available scripts and it’s unclear whether they have even filmed episode 1.08 which was supposed to be airing next Wednesday.

So in a season when many ’experts’ claimed that the show wouldn’t last 2 episodes, it actually gets halted in it’s 8th episode by a writers strike. Assuming there’s no new episode next week, the question now is, when will we see BW again? How will the strike affect the January ‘Re-launch’? Will it even survive the writers strike? Will NBC use this as an excuse to cancel the show and cut their loses?

Or, will the show rise from the ashes like a pheonix through the flames in 2009? Dare we take that bionic leap of faith..?

I don’t want to jump the gun here, but it looks as if Bionic Woman isn’t going anywhere anytime soon! In a recent interview with the LA.com, Michelle Ryan reveals that NBC “will be giving the series a big second launch in January”.

Now, I’m not sure exactly what that means -  does it infer a second season? a re-launch? – but it sounds promising!

Ryan has also revealed that new love interest ‘Tom’, played by Jordan Bridges, will be around for “at least three episodes”. She goes on to add that Jaime and Tom have  ”a nice chemistry. I think it will be a good addition to the show.”

If Ryan’s words are anything to go by then this is just what the show needed – the network to place faith in it’s potential. BW has been a mixed bag so far, but I think most people will agree that if they can just get it right it will be one awesome show! I await more news as to what this “big second launch” entails!

You can read more here.

SPOILER ALERT:

NBC have released the title and description for episode 8 of Bionic Woman:

1.08 “Do Not Disturb”

Jaime’s much-needed vacation with her sister at a spa resort is quickly disrupted when she is pulled into a deadly cat and mouse game with another hotel guest.

Thanks to Manny for the headsup. Check out the Spoiler Section for other spoilers.

Spoiler Alert: 

This was posted over at Bionic Central via hninsider.com, it shows video footage and stills from Bionic Woman filming which was taking place in Vancouver this past Saturday - October 27.

Here are a few stills:

hninsider also have two pieces of video footage, the first of which they describe as:

..tonight’s scene involving passing of the mysterious black suitcase between two people and Jaime running.

View the two clips here and here. View more stills here.

It is difficult to make out exactly what is going on in the above footage – if you have any idea at all please let do me know! However it is a good to see that filming is still ongoing (we knew that, but it’s good to have something tangible). Also, I wonder what episode this could be? We know that NBC recently ordered some new scripts, so could this be episode 10 or 11 of the 13 NBC scheduled? It’s strange to think that we are potentially half way through the first season (assuming the show doesn’t get picked up for a ‘full’ season of course).