Electra Woman and Dyna Girl

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. In each episode, the duo (who worked in their off-time as reporters for a magazine) 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 supervillains. They are assisted by Frank Heflin, a scientist who stays at their "ElectraBase" while keeping in continual contact with the pair through their "ElectraComps".

Electracomps

Electracomps were the bulky, wrist-based devices worn by the title characters. One of their functions is as two-way radios with video capabilities akin to those Dick Tracy used. Much like Batman's utility belt, they serve a variety of other specialized functions allowing the duo to escape a variety traps devised by their enemies. With the addition of special cartridge attachments, the ElectraComs can also were 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 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 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).

• 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.

Electra Woman and Dyna Girl and Feminism

Electra Woman and Dyna Girl are often quoted in pop culture. Frequently it is in reference to their part in feminism and the rise of the female role model in the 1970s. This started with the Wonder Woman television show in 1974, continuing with Isis on CBS Saturday morning from 1975-77, and Charlie's Angels, which began in the Spring of 1976. Each of these shows do have influences on the program, with a clear inspiration from Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl. They also anticipate the ground breaking Princess Leia of Star Wars, which would premiere the following year in 1977.

Their part in pop culture feminism comes in an Anti-Amazonian role, referring to women who fight for justice. Electra Woman leads crimescope, as Frank Hefflin and Dyna Girl serve as her assistant and side-kick. While they are shapely in their skintight uniforms, Electra Woman is very formal in a Batman/Adam West manner, contrasting with Dyna Girl who is spirited yet innocent, very much like Robin/Burt Ward. In the end, the heroines defeat the criminals through the use of their brains and electracomps. Only once is there any mention of a man in an idealistic sense, when Judy/Dyna Girl boasts about her favorite rock star.

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 Hall, better known for her years playing Dr. Marlena Evans on the daytime drama Days of our Lives.
• Judy / Dyna Girl was played by Judy Strangis, a regular on Room 222 as student Helen Loomis
• Professor Frank Helfin was portrayed by Norman Alden, 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 Post 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.

References

External links

• The Electra Woman & Dyna Girl Webopedia
• Electra Woman and Dyna Girl at the Internet Movie Database
• Electra Woman and Dyna Girl at the Internet Movie Database
• Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (2001 pilot) at the Internet Movie Database
• The ElectraWoman and DynaGirl Tribute Pages