NBC’s ‘Bionic Woman’: Is Starbuck Going Bionic?

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Members of the audience at NBC’s upfront presentation Monday couldn’t help noticing that Katee Sackhoff, who plays Starbuck on ‘Battlestar Galactica,’ was prominently featured in the clips from ‘Bionic Woman.’

It wasn’t a secret that Sackhoff had been cast in the NBC show’s pilot by David Eick, who is an executive producer of both series. And the two shows are siblings within the NBC Universal family, since Sci Fi Channel, the ‘Battlestar Galactica’ broadcaster, is NBC-owned.

But in the presentation of clips to advertisers and the press, her role seemed awfully important -- as in, she announces she’s the first bionic woman, and then proceeds to try to beat the new ‘Bionic Woman’ (Michelle Ryan) to a pulp. Is Sackhoff playing the show’s villain, or something more complicated?

More important, what does this development mean for Sackhoff, who already has a full-time job? And then what does this new role mean about the critically-praised ‘Battlestar Galactica,’ which is currently in production for its fourth, possibly last, season?

According to sources at NBC Universal, Sackhoff will be a ‘recurring guest star’ on ‘Bionic Woman.’ We’ll try to find out what that means.

And a decision on the future of ‘Battlestar Galactica’ -- whether the fourth season will wrap up the series -- will be announced in the next few weeks.

-- Kate Aurthur

(Photo courtesy NBC Universal)