I love craptastic pseudo-sci-fi/fantasy/teen flicks that no one else watches. Remember Jack of All Trades?, Queen of Swords? Dark Justice?, Parker Lewis Can’t Lose? Crimetime After Primetime? Well, in 1992, NBC — with Dick Wolf a creator and executive producer — introduced their own craptastic sci fi show: Mann and Machine, about a crime-busting robot and her street-smart partner with Yancy Butler (Witchblade) as Eve Edison; David Andrews (JAG) as Bobby Mann; and S. Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order) as their boss, Capt. Claghorn. It was terrible and yet I loved it. The show’s basic premise is what if Vicki from Small Wonder grew up, became hot, and met her older brother as a cop?
Why didn’t I like the show as a kid?
- It’s punny. Come on now: Man(n), as the first man and Eve as the first robotic woman? Really, 1992 NBC? Really? Don’t forget the alliteration in the female leads’ names (Eve Edison and Captain Claghorn). Did a 9th grader who just discovered literary devices write that? Clearly not, since even I saw through it.
- The acting. Although Butler did a good job of playing the wide-eyed ingénue, she had yet to fully mature as an actor. Also, Andrews’ character started as a hard-boiled street detective, but eventually found his character reduced to reacting to Eve’s unapologetically perfect body. On a side note, I barely remembered the typically awesome S. Epatha Merkerson’s presence without the IMDb reminder.
- You, sir, are no Data. Post-pilot, the show did not fully investigate the difficulties of android-human assimilation, and eventually focused on Yancy Butler’s looks. In lieu of an ongoing plot, the writers iteratively threw the leads into various romantic scenarios with a barely-there case of the week. In each ep Mann typically encountered Eve in various states of undress, taught her how to dance or wear make up, or protected her from male seduction. It seemed more interested in inculcating Eve in the culture of womanhood than anything else; but considering ST:TNG was in its 5th season then and even RoboCop (1987) touched on the difficulties of the human mind in the android body, I wish the show had taken a page from their scripts.
- Fear of breaking stereotypes. The first two-three episodes overtly emphasized Eve’s flexibility. Yet, at the end of each episode, Eve always fought the bad guy’s untrained 100lb girlfriend/female assassin while Mann faced his bodyguard. In the pilot, Mann took down 4-5 baddies while the man bad held Eve hostage. I never understood why the show made such exhibitions of Eve’s strength (her ability to handle twice Mann’s exercise load at the gym, execute hallway cartwheels, or partake in living room acrobatics) if it never instated during the case of the week. Perhaps it just showed human ingenuity overcoming machine capability, but it seemed odd to fall to stock stereotypes considering one of the characters, technically, lacked a gender.
Should anyone with half an IQ point watch it?
Eff, yea! Despite my nay-saying as a say-nayer, I continuously watched the show from its late Spring/early summer launch to its episode nine cancellation. Every Tuesday night at 8, I found myself turning on the TV and ignoring the Full House and Home Improvement repeats. I watched Mann and Machine for the same reasons I continued to scan Highlander and Relic Hunter past their seemingly cheesy and poorly budgeted pilots: the show’s heart.
In fact, upon second watch, the pilot seemed less Velveeta and more film noir and each episode improved in terms of character chemistry, if not in writing (I won’t lie — eps 2-5 were uber-camp). I even liked the subtle allusion to Edison through Eve’s last name (if intentional). Also, Mekerson’s character as Wolf’s unending police chief muse went against type through her interest in extreme sports. Although I hated watching Bobby blush like a nine-year-old at Eve’s naked body, I still wanted to see their relationship blossom. So, I felt sorry, although not surprised, when I turned on my TV one Tuesday night in July to find it missing. I almost wished NBC had given it more time to find its humanity.
Interested in flashing back with me?
Check out the pilot and other eps on Youtube:
Photo Credit: NBC
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I love craptastic pseudo-sci-fi/fantasy/teen flicks that no one else watches. Remember Jack of All Trades?, Queen of Swords? Dark Justice?, Parker Lewis Can’t Lose? Crimetime After Primetime? Well, in 1992, NBC — with Dick Wolf a creator and executive producer — introduced their own craptastic sci fi show: Mann and Machine, about a crime-busting robot and her street-smart partner with Yancy Butler (Witchblade) as Eve Edison; David Andrews (JAG) as Bobby Mann; and S. Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order) as their boss, Capt. Claghorn. It was terrible and yet I loved it. The show’s basic premise is what if Vicki from Small Wonder grew up, became hot, and met her older brother as a cop?
Fun memories you brought up for me — thanks!
*POST AUTHOR*
I thought it might be a long shot as it was on for a brief time over a decade ago, but I just wanted to see if anyone remembered it (clearly, I’m the only one), but thx for letting me write it!