|
 At
the same time that "The New Adventures of Wonder Woman" was
showing in Buenos Aires, we got to know the secrets behind the
second season of the series. As we all know that the episodes of
the first season of "Wonder Woman" became the biggest hit of the
Argentine television during the 1977 season when it comes to
ratings. The same happened in Europe and Latin America.
Considering this, a new succesful season was predictable but when
it comes to scripts there were some confrontations. |
|
The only thing that producers, writers, and the star of the
series, Lynda Carter, agreed was that it was necessary to change
the set from the 40s since it limited the action of the character
to Second World War and nazi fighting. But they agreed to change
the set to modern day many doubts arose. First, what would happend
to Lyle Waggoner and his character of Major Steve Trevor? The
producers said they should kill him since the character would over
60 by 1977. But it was Lynda who defended him, considering that
the audience liked the couple and she said there would be a way to
justify his presence as a young man. Lyle would be the son of the
Major she was in love with in the 1940s, and he would look exactly
the same. After some discussions, Lynda's idea prevailed. It's
interesting to say that Ron Samuels, Lynda's hsuband and manager
wanted to intervene in teh artsitic aspects of the dicussions, but
she told him to take care of the economic side of it but leave her
to take care her of the artistic side of it. |
|
Surprisingly the biggest issue was the new costume.
The producers thought that the 1940s costume would be antiquated
in 1977, though the star stated that it woiuld be dangerous to
change it when it was recognizable as a trade mark around the
world. nevertheless there were such pressures that Lynda had to
try with different wardrobes. First it was the underwater
costume... The photos went around the world but the response was
negative. It hid Lynda's beautiful mane, and made her figure plain
flattening her attractiveness. Then we saw her with a blonde wig,
a new headband, and some sort of tennis outfit. She looked
beautiful but it was not the traditional "Wonder Woman". They
thought she would keep her dark long hair and use that when she
was on paradise Island, the legendary island of the inmortal
Amazons. At this point Lynda suggested a poll among the American
audience to see if they wanted or not a change of costume. The
answer was an overwhelming 95% who wanted no change of uniform.
The producers had no other choice but accepting it and one of them
confessed: "Lynda is a tigress when it comes to defend her
interests". Nevertheless in some episodes there will be some
experimentation with the new uniforms. This way Lynda emerged
triumphant though her husband felt displaced and this could bring
serious consequences in the future. |
Date and Issue: Volume XV / Number 770 /May 3, 1978.
