Actually, it is not the night before Bionicon as Bionicon started yesterday, but since I am only attending Sunday, it is the night before Bionicon FOR ME.

Bionicon is the wonderful labor of love by those who enjoy classic science fiction television - a once critically maligned genre that has finally received a huge comeback thanks to the cable TV explosion and renewed calls for original science-fiction programming.

Bionicon is also a weekend dedicated to the great, classic TV program of the 1970's THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN and THE BIONIC WOMAN. Thes programs were hugely popular among kids back in the day and I, myself, really, really wished I was Col. Steve Austin when I was a little kid. (Actually, I still wish I was Col Steve Austin today) While the program thrived in syndication for a few years after its 1978 cancellation, it was then droppd down a black hole for close to 18 years before the Sci-Fi Channel revived the re-runs. (Despite the success of the reunion movies, syndicated reruns did not pop up on any major cable outlets)

My, I loved my Six Million Dollar Man toys and games. I loved my Six Million Dollar Man Poncho. I loved Bigfoot. And, I really loved that show.

You see boys and girls, there was a time when TV programming was silly fun and the good guys were clarly noble and good and the bad guys were clearly bad. There was also an underlying theme that peopl, in general, were good hearted and that those 'bad guys' were an aberration and in the minority. Besides, they only got away with things for the short term and then they received their come-uppance.

Yes, I know that this is a somewhat simple overview of the world as there was great tumult in the years prior to the debut of the SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN. In the years following Vietnam and Watergate, people wanted to escape and forget. Fun programming like the SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN would allow such an escape. The other fringe benefit of it was that it shaped the minds of children to respect certain ideals of behavior, honesty, and duty. Sure, people may scoff at the notions I make, but what can I say other than you really had to be there.

More on the subject after I get back from Bionicon.