Electra Woman and Dyna Girl

''Electra Woman and Dyna Girl'' is a live action superhero children's television series from 1976 created by Sid and Marty Krofft. The series aired 16 episodes in a single 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.

Premise

The program followed the crime-fighting exploits of caped superhero Electra Woman (played by Deidre Hall) and her teen sidekick Dyna Girl (Judy Strangis), who worked in their normal lives as reporters for ''Newsmaker Magazine'' (the two's surnames were never revealed -- just their first names: Lori and Judy, respectively). In each episode, the duo dons brightly-colored spandex costumes, in a bright flash of light called an "Electra-Change;" get into the "ElectraCar;" and use an array of technically-advanced gadgets to thwart an eclectic collection of supervillains. They were assisted by Frank Heflin (Norman Alden), a scientist who stayed at their "ElectraBase," operating its highly sophisticated "CrimeScope" computer while keeping in continual contact with the pair through their "ElectraComs."

Cast and characters

Main

*Lori / Electra Woman was played by Deidre Hall
*Judy / Dyna Girl was played by Judy Strangis Dyna Girl is Electra Woman's young sidekick
*Professor Frank Heflin was portrayed by Norman Alden
*Marvin Miller as Narrator

The "ElectraEnemies" with their henchpersons

* The Sorcerer and Miss Dazzle
* The Empress of Evil and Lucretia
* Ali Baba and the Genie
* Glitter Rock and Side Man
* The Spider-Lady with Leggs and Spinner
* The Pharaoh and Cleopatra

The ElectraComs

The ElectraComs were bulky wrist devices worn by the title characters. They could function as two-way radios with video capabilities; they also served a variety of other specialized functions, which allowed 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 or pressor beam.
* 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 have 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 it 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 the target's skeleton or identity beneath any disguise.

Other resources

*The ElectraCar is a shield-shaped, three-wheeled vehicle that can also convert into the "ElectraPlane" with its wheels folded under/inside it. As the ElectraPlane, the ElectraCar is capable of flying into low Earth orbit. It also has a Tracking Beam for pursuing villains.
*The ElectraBase, located beneath the duo's civilian home and accessible by a hidden elevator, not only houses Frank Heflin's lab and the ElectraCar, but also serves as the 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.

Episodes

Other adaptations

Unaired WB television pilot

The WB 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, chain smoking 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, taking her bank account and car and leaving her as trailer trash. Although the pilot was shot, the series was not picked up.

The pilot omits the character of Frank Heflin, but includes an in-joke reference to Norman Alden, who had portrayed him in the original. The university's alumni function is attended by Aquaman, whose character voice Alden had provided on the ''Super Friends'' animated series.

Film

On February 26, 2015, it was announced via various media outlets that YouTube personalities Grace Helbig and Hannah Hart would star in a reboot of the series. The series, produced by Tim Carter and Tomas Harlan through their Contradiction shingle, was directed by Chris Marrs Piliero and shot in Vancouver during February and March 2015.

On April 26, 2016, ''Electra Woman and Dyna Girl'' was digitally released by Fullscreen through its streaming platform as a series of eight 11-minute webisodes. It was released on all major platforms on June 7, 2016, by Legendary Digital Studios and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. A DVD version was released in late July 2016 through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Parody

In 1992, comic-book writer Bryan J. L. Glass and artist Michael Avon Oeming created Lycra Woman and Spandex Girl, an "Aerobic Duo" of super-heroines parodying Electra Woman and Dyna Girl. After the DuPont chemical company successfully sued the creators for unauthorized use of its Lycra trademark, copies of all issues using the name were destroyed and the lead character's name was changed to Flex Woman. The pair appeared in several limited series and one-shot specials, most recently in 1997.

References

External links

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The Electra Woman & Dyna Girl Webopedia

{{Children's programming on the American Broadcasting Company in the 1970s

1970s American children's television series
1976 American television series debuts
1977 American television series endings
American children's action television series
American children's adventure television series
American children's fantasy television series
American children's science fiction television series
American superheroes
American superhero television series
English-language television shows
Superhero duos
Television duos
Television series by Sid and Marty Krofft Television Productions
Television series created by Joe Ruby
Television series created by Ken Spears
The Krofft Supershow