Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
Encyclopedia
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl is a Sid and Marty Krofft
live action children's television series
from 1976. The series lasted 16 weeks (or one season) as part of the umbrella series The Krofft Supershow
. During the second season, it was dropped along with Dr. Shrinker
. When later syndicated in the package "Krofft Super Stars" and released on home video, the 16 segments, which were each about 12 minutes long, were combined into eight episodes.
The program playfully, but deliberately, lampooned the superhero
combo of Batman
and Robin
, taking many of its cues from the earlier Batman
television series. The show followed the crime-fighting exploits of female caped crusader Electra Woman (played by Deidre Hall
) and her teen sidekick Dyna Girl (Judy Strangis
), who worked in their off-time as reporters for a magazine. In each episode, the duo would don skintight spandex
in a bright flash of light called an "Electra-Change", hop in the Electracar, and use an array of technically advanced gadgets to thwart an eclectic collection of supervillain
s. They are assisted by Frank Heflin, a scientist who stays at their "ElectraBase" while keeping in continual contact with the pair through their "ElectraComs".
used. Much like Batman's utility belt, they serve a variety of other specialized functions allowing the duo to escape various traps devised by their enemies. With the addition of special cartridge attachments, the ElectraComs were additionally seen to perform the following functions on the show:
as Electra Woman and Anne Stedman as Dyna Girl. The new series was written in the form of a cynical parody of the original show (and the superhero genre in general). It was set 25 years after the original series, with a retired Electra Woman brought back into action by a fan who ends up becoming the new Dyna Girl.
The pilot portrayed Electra Woman as a disillusioned, bitter, sexually promiscuous alcoholic, much in contrast to the character's original portrayal. In the pilot, Electra Woman had been married and divorced since the end of the original series, her husband having left her for the original Dyna Girl. Although the pilot was shot, the series was not picked up.
Sid and Marty Krofft
Sid Krofft and Marty Krofft , are a sibling team of television producers who were influential in children's television and variety show programs in the USA, particularly throughout the 1970s and early 1980s....
live action children's television series
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
from 1976. The series lasted 16 weeks (or one season) as part of the umbrella series The Krofft Supershow
The Krofft Supershow
The Krofft Supershow is a Saturday morning children's variety show, produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. It aired for two seasons from September 11, 1976 to September 2, 1978 on ABC.-Background:...
. During the second season, it was dropped along with Dr. Shrinker
Dr. Shrinker
Dr. Shrinker was a segment during the first season of the ABC network's The Krofft Supershow in 1976.-Plot:Dr. Shrinker is a mad scientist who creates a shrink ray that can miniaturize anything. Three young adults named Brad Fulton , B.J. Masterson and her brother Gordie Masterson , crash land...
. When later syndicated in the package "Krofft Super Stars" and released on home video, the 16 segments, which were each about 12 minutes long, were combined into eight episodes.
The program playfully, but deliberately, lampooned the superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
combo of Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
and Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
, taking many of its cues from the earlier Batman
Batman (TV series)
Batman is an American television series, based on the DC comic book character of the same name. It stars Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin — two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City. It aired on the American Broadcasting Company network for three seasons from January 12, 1966 to...
television series. The show followed the crime-fighting exploits of female caped crusader Electra Woman (played by Deidre Hall
Deidre Hall
Deidre Ann Hall is a dramatic American actress best known for her portrayal of Dr. Marlena Evans on NBC's daytime drama Days of our Lives, which she played for over 29 years, and is to return to the role this summer. The character is considered an icon to the soap, and has been experienced some of...
) and her teen sidekick Dyna Girl (Judy Strangis
Judy Strangis
Judy Strangis is a Los Angeles based actress who is best known for her TV roles in Room 222 and Electra Woman and Dyna Girl.-Acting:...
), who worked in their off-time as reporters for a magazine. In each episode, the duo would don skintight spandex
Spandex
Spandex or elastane is a synthetic fibre known for its exceptional elasticity. It is strong, but less durable than natural Latex, its major non-synthetic competitor. It is a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer that was co-invented in 1959 by chemists C. L. Sandquist and Joseph Shivers at DuPont's...
in a bright flash of light called an "Electra-Change", hop in the Electracar, and use an array of technically advanced gadgets to thwart an eclectic collection of supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
s. They are assisted by Frank Heflin, a scientist who stays at their "ElectraBase" while keeping in continual contact with the pair through their "ElectraComs".
Electracoms
Electracoms were the bulky, wrist devices worn by the title characters. They can function as two-way radios with video capabilities akin to those Dick TracyDick Tracy
Dick Tracy is a comic strip featuring Dick Tracy, a hard-hitting, fast-shooting and intelligent police detective. Created by Chester Gould, the strip made its debut on October 4, 1931, in the Detroit Mirror. It was distributed by the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate...
used. Much like Batman's utility belt, they serve a variety of other specialized functions allowing the duo to escape various traps devised by their enemies. With the addition of special cartridge attachments, the ElectraComs were additionally seen to perform the following functions on the show:
- Direct-A-Scan – navigates the title characters through buildings to the exact location of the villain.
- Electra-Change – allows the title characters to change from their civilian clothing to the costumes of their super-powered alter-egos instantaneously.
- Electra-Beam – emits a focused kinetic beam of energy that can "push" or "pull" objects much like a tractor beamTractor beamA tractor beam is a device with the ability to attract one object to another from a distance. Since the 1990s, technology and research has labored to make it a reality, mostly at microscopic level. Less commonly, a similar beam that repels is called a pressor beam or repulsor beam...
that works both ways.
- Electra-Degravitate – allows the title characters to defy gravity for very short distances so that they can circumvent obstacles in their path or levitate themselves to higher ground.
- Electra-Force – apparently breaks steel bars. (Was not available the one time it was attempted.)
- Electra-Force Shield – is essentially a force field used to detain villains once they've been caught. The shield was also used defensively as a protective barrier that can shield against physical and energy attacks.
- Electra-Freeze – lowers the temperature of the target to below freezing.
- Electra-G – increases the weight of the target.
- Electra-Split – replicates target to create a copy. Both objects are left in an unstable state and does not work on human beings.
- Electra-Strobe – speeds the wearer's motions, thoughts, and actions 10,000 times faster than normal.
- Electra-Vibe – creates a localized sonic field that can shatter glass or disorient an opponent who is not equipped with earplugs.
- Electra-Vision – emits a blindingly bright light, turning night into day.
- Electra-X – is a portable X-ray that reveals target's skeleton or identity beneath disguise.
Other resources
- Electra-Car – is a shield-shaped, three-wheeled vehicle that can also convert into the ElectraPlane (ElectraCar with the wheels folded under/inside it, capable of flying into low Earth orbit). It also has a Tracking Beam for pursuing villains.
- Electra-Base – is located beneath their civilian home and accessible by a hidden elevator, Electra-Base which houses not only Frank's lab and the ElectraCar but is also home to CrimeScope, one of the most powerful computers ever built (much like the BatComputer which it parodies). CrimeScope is always kept up-to-date with what is going on in the world, can analyze any data transmitted through the ElectraComs, and can also operate the ElectraCar via remote control.
Enemies
- The Sorcerer
- Empress of Evil
- Ali Baba
- Glitter Rock
- The Spider-Lady
- The Pharaoh
Henchmen
- Miss Dazzle (assistant to the Sorcerer)
- Lucrecia (assistant to Empress of Evil)
- The Genie (assistant to Ali Baba)
- Side Man (assistant to Glitter Rock)
- Leggs (assistant to The Spider-Lady)
- Spinner (assistant to The Spider-Lady)
- Cleopatra (assistant to The Pharaoh)
Cast
- Lori / Electra Woman was played by Deidre HallDeidre HallDeidre Ann Hall is a dramatic American actress best known for her portrayal of Dr. Marlena Evans on NBC's daytime drama Days of our Lives, which she played for over 29 years, and is to return to the role this summer. The character is considered an icon to the soap, and has been experienced some of...
, better known for her years playing Dr. Marlena Evans on the daytime drama Days of our LivesDays of our LivesDays of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
. - Judy / Dyna Girl was played by Judy StrangisJudy StrangisJudy Strangis is a Los Angeles based actress who is best known for her TV roles in Room 222 and Electra Woman and Dyna Girl.-Acting:...
, a regular on Room 222Room 222Room 222 is an American comedy-drama television series produced by 20th Century Fox Television. The series aired on ABC from September 17, 1969, to January 11, 1974, for 112 episodes...
as student Helen Loomis. Although Dyna Girl is portrayed as Electra Woman's young sidekick (ala Robin to Batman), Strangis is only two years younger than Hall. - Professor Frank Heflin was portrayed by Norman AldenNorman AldenNorman Alden is an American character actor who has performed in television programs and motion pictures since first appearing on The 20th Century Fox Hour in 1957. He provided the voice of Kay in The Sword in the Stone film in 1963 and received Oscar buzz for his role in I Never Promised You a...
, who also provided the voice of Aquaman on the Superfriends cartoon series.
Unaired television pilot
The Warner Brothers Television Network commissioned a pilot for a new version of the show in 2001 starring Markie PostMarkie Post
Marjorie Armstrong "Markie" Post is an American actress, best known for her roles as bail bondswoman Terri Michaels in The Fall Guy on ABC from 1982 to 1985, as public defender Christine Sullivan on the NBC sitcom Night Court from 1985 to 1992, and as Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman on the CBS sitcom...
as Electra Woman and Anne Stedman as Dyna Girl. The new series was written in the form of a cynical parody of the original show (and the superhero genre in general). It was set 25 years after the original series, with a retired Electra Woman brought back into action by a fan who ends up becoming the new Dyna Girl.
The pilot portrayed Electra Woman as a disillusioned, bitter, sexually promiscuous alcoholic, much in contrast to the character's original portrayal. In the pilot, Electra Woman had been married and divorced since the end of the original series, her husband having left her for the original Dyna Girl. Although the pilot was shot, the series was not picked up.