NBC's 'Bionic Woman': Is Starbuck Going Bionic?

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)

Comments

[DS9Sisko]

Doesn't "recurring guest star" mean a performer who appears on a series ocassionally as schedules and their availability allow?

How long have you been covering entertainment and television?

[ProgGrrl]

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.

REALLY?

How is that even possible?

[KateAurthur]

DS9Sisko, thanks for asking!

I've been covering television for awhile. But I'm pretty sure the casting of Katee Sackhoff in "Bionic Woman" is significant for "Battlestar" fans. But you can get in touch with me if I'm wrong.

[Brian]

Katee is Starbuck and will be there on "Galactica" until the end, unless they dramatically kill her off. She's certainly one big reason I watch. And since many actors seem to appear in different shows within the same season, there's no reason she can't do a guest character on "Bionic" a few times a season. She's tough and she's hot. I say "make it so"!

[Panman39]

More Katee Sackhoff on television is nothing but a good thing.

[Chroma]

Kate --

Do you mean that the news is significant for fans of Starbuck, or for fans of the show as a whole? I've been expecting BSG to end after next season (an excellent concluding point for the narrative, rather than dragging it on for several more seasons.) But a BSG without Kara Thrace? No, thank you.

I got the impression that Sackhoff's BW character will be an occasional recurring character, similar to other such Big Bads on genre TV. I also noticed that her name does not appear in NBC's promotional materials, which would mean she's not part of the main-credited cast. Hmm.

[Jeff]

The word on the street is that BG is done after season four. Sackhoff is gonna play the "evil" first bionic woman...a prototype who escapes from the lab and occasionally battles the new, "good" version of the bionic woman.

Sackhoff is a hot property..nothing but good things ahead for her.