• Air date: 18 Jan '74 13 episodes
      After The Solid Gold Kidnapping TV Movie, production immediately began on the first season of the regular weekly series. A mid-season replacement, Season One ran for 13 episodes in the spring of 1974, introducing much of what would become the show’s trademark mix of action, intrigue, science fiction, and a dash of tragedy for our leading man, set apart by his uniqueness. Returning from the telefilms would be Lee Majors, Richard Anderson and Alan Oppenheimer, whose Rudy Wells would be reduced to a single guest appearance for Season One. Replacing Glen A. Larson as Exec. Producer would be showrunner Harve Bennett, while producer Michael Gleason would be replaced by the producing team of Sam Strangis and Donald R. Boyle. Jazz composer Oliver Nelson would establish the musical character of the weekly series, and his theme for the show would become an instantly recognizable classic. Recurring characters introduced include Dr. Dolenz, Irina Leonova, the Hopper twins, and Helen Elgin, Steve’s mom. Another recurring character introduced was astronaut Major Kelly Woods, played by Majors' wife and soon-to-be-superstar Farrah Fawcett-Majors, who would not only return in the fourth season to reprise the role of Kelly, but in the interim guest star in seasons 2 and 3 playing different characters. Season One would establish the now-legendary show intro, standardize on the slow-motion presentation of bionics, the effects used for Steve’s eye, and introduce many of the sounds later used for
  • List of Episodes (13)
    • 1. Population: Zero

      18 Jan '74
      When Steve and Oscar investigate the death of the entire population of a small town, they are contacted by a scientist, once employed by the government, who is set on revenge for past grievances. Demanding $10 million or he will strike again, Steve must find and stop him.
    • 2. Survival of the Fittest

      25 Jan '74
      Due to secret negotiations with the Russians, Oscar Goldman is targeted for assassination by interests that will be hurt by the prospective pact. Oscar and Steve Austin board a flight in Hawaii bound for Dulles. The plane is forced to make an emergency landing on a deserted Pacific Island when part of a wing is lost during a storm. While awaiting rescue, two military officers that had been on the flight severely wound Oscar in an attempt to kill him. Unaware of the breadth of the conspiracy, Ste
    • 3. Operation Firefly

      01 Feb '74
      Dr. Samuel Abbott has been kidnapped while developing a wireless laser that utilizes scientific principles observed in light generation by the common firefly. Steve Austin goes to Spain to find Abbott’s daughter Susan whose known powers of ESP will hopefully assist in locating the scientist. She leads them to the Everglades only to discover that Dr. Abbott mistakenly believes his kidnappers are government agents that are protecting him. He continues to complete the laser unaware that it is being
    • 4. Day of the Robot

      08 Feb '74
      In an attempt to steal a top secret anti-missile device, Steve's associate and friend Major Sloan is kidnapped and replaced with a robot. Steve must discover the impostor, and keep the device from being stolen and sold to the highest bidder.
    • 5. Little Orphan Airplane

      22 Feb '74
      Steve is assigned to find and rescue downed-pilot Josh Perkins, as well as recover the evidence of U.N. treaty violations that Perkins had on him when he disappeared.
    • 6. Doomsday, and Counting

      01 Mar '74
      When an earthquake threatens the stability of an underground Russian nuclear installation, Steve must rescue the fiance of his friend Col. Vasily Zhukov, who is buried beneath debris. Complicating matters further, Steve must also stop the reactor before it explodes.
    • 7. Eyewitness to Murder

      08 Mar '74
      By sheer chance, Steve Austin witnesses the attempted assassination of Lawrence Sandusky, a prosecutor who is about to file criminal charges against a known racketeer. He is unable to capture the assassin, but does catch a glimpse of his face. OSI is assigned to security detail for the prosecutor pending a 9:00 a.m. court hearing. Steve Austin identifies and apprehends a man named John Hopper, believing him to be the hired hitman. However, Hopper has a seemingly ironclad alibi. Convinced that he
    • 8. The Rescue of Athena One

      15 Mar '74
      Steve is launched into space to rescue two astronauts stranded in a crippled space capsule.
    • 9. Dr. Wells Is Missing

      29 Mar '74
      When a group of international criminals kidnap Dr. Rudy Wells in order to force him to build them a bionic man, Steve is sent to find and rescue him.
    • 10. The Last of the Fourth of Julys

      05 Apr '74
      When a terrorist uses a laser to try to kill a group of prime ministers attending an international meeting in Paris, Steve is assigned to infiltrate his compound and stop him.
    • 11. Burning Bright

      12 Apr '74
      Steve's astronaut friend Josh Lang (William Shatner) is impaired after being exposed to an electrical field while in space. However, Lang finds himself with strange abilities from the exposure, including the ability to communicate with dolphins, but when his condition deteriorates, Steve must find him and take him to a facility before he harms himself.
    • 12. The Coward

      19 Apr '74
      When an earthquake in the Himalayas uncovers a DC-3 plane containing secret papers that went down during World War II, Steve is sent to recover the papers. Steve also tries to clear the name of the pilot, his father, who was accused of bailing out and leaving the rest of the crew to die.
    • 13. Run, Steve, Run

      26 Apr '74
      When a crime syndicate and a robot creator conspire to build a team of bionic robot criminals, they kidnap Steve in order to learn how his bionic limbs work.