BROADCAST DATE: Friday, July 29, 2005, ABC.
DESCRIPTION: "20/20" is an American television news magazine broadcast on ABC since June 6, 1978. Award-winning journalists cover social issues and current events. From its premiere date in 1978, "20/20" continues to be a trusted news magazine for millions of viewers every week--which then expanded to include three additional nights. Lynda is featured on in depth interview with JuJu Chang.

	Series Run: June 6, 1978 - Present. Broadcast Network: ABC. Anchors: JOHN STOSSEL / ELIZABETH VARGAS. Regulars: JuJu Chang, Jim Avila, Martin Bashir, Bob Brown, Don Dahler, Bill Ritter, Deborah Roberts, Lynn Sherr. Directors: Roger Goodman, George Paul. Creator/Writer: Roone Arledge. Executive Producers: Roone Arledge, Al Ittleson, Victor Neufeld, Bob Shanks. Producers: Steve Brand, Kayce Freed, Daniel Goldfarb, Bob Lange, Craig Rivera, Ira Rosen, Shelley Roth, David Sloan, RobRoy Wallace. Senior Producer: David Tabacoff, Meredith White. Field Producer: Paul Stajanovich. Music: Billy Goldenberg, Robert Israel, Lillian Scheinert, Trascenders, Donn Wilkerson.
EPISODE SYNOPSIS: JuJu Chang talks with Lynda Carter about her iconic 1970s portrayal of Wonder Woman, her roles in two new summer movies and her battle with alcoholism.    She was an Amazon princess: voluptuous, but tough as nails. In the '70s, when action stars were all men, Wonder Woman was both beauty and brawn. Starring in the hit series, Lynda Carter gave television audiences something they had never seen before: an icon of a strong, empowered — and sexy — female action hero. Carter told "20/20's" JuJu Chang she enjoyed portraying a role model for children. "They were gonna be in a world where it was OK to be smart, OK to be beautiful, OK to be feminine, OK to be strong, OK to be athletic," she said. After her husband's trial, her alcoholism spun out of control. It was something that ran in her family and something she had struggled with since her first failed marriage. "I was afraid of the public finding out, and … not living up to what people thought I was," she told "20/20." Like many who struggle with addiction in the public eye, Carter thought she could be strong enough to keep her problem hidden. "I kept thinking I could control it and handle it. It's like standing on a precipice — we've all been to the Grand Canyon, but now there's no beautiful rocks, it's just this abyss," she explained. Ultimately feeling trapped and powerless, she even contemplated her own death. "If I had gotten in an accident I thought it would be over with. I would never kill myself but it would be over with, and it would be hard for a little while. People would get on with their lives, because I can't control this," she said. She finally entered rehab, but her secret was out when the tabloids learned of her drinking problem. There was ample fodder for the supermarket press — the picture-perfect woman who'd led a storybook life wasn't so perfect after all. But Carter made it through the difficult rehab process. She's been sober now for eight years, and at 54, she no longer tries to be perfect.  "I think I'm happier with the way I look now than I was when I was in my 20s," she said. "I'm enjoying it this time around. It's kind of great to still be around, you know, still be kicking and still be relevant. And I know that this is cyclical as well, and this too will pass. And so I'm just rocking and rolling."

© 2005 by ABC News and American Broadcasting Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved

			RUNNING TIME:	00:50:00 [60 minutes including commercials].
			VHS:	Not available on commercial video.
			DVD:	Not available on commercial video.
			INFO:	LYNDA CARTER is featured on "20/20" in a live interview with JuJu Chang.
			VIDEO:	[1]  "20/20". Video clip 1.
				[2]  "20/20". Video clip 2.
				[3]  "20/20". Video clip 3.
			TRIVIA:	[•] 20/20 can refer to eyesight of standard visual acuity.
				[•] The original hosts were veteran journalists Harold Hayes and Robert Hughes. That first program was written off as a colossal failure by critics, and Hayes and Hughes were replaced the following week by former game show and Today host Hugh Downs. Downs was later joined in 1984 by Barbara Walters (they had previously been co-hosts of Today together). Downs retired in 1999 and Walters became the solo news anchor until 2002 when John Miller was hired to be permanent co-host of the series. Miller left a year later in January 2003 and was replaced by John Stossel in May, 2003. Walters left the co-anchor position in 2004 to be replaced by Elizabeth Vargas.
				[•] The distinctive theme music to 20/20 was written by Robert Arnold Israel and based upon ABC's World News Tonight theme written by Lillian Scheinert.

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