On this day April 2 1984 the final episode of the sci fi adventure series Automan aired on ABC. The show starred Desi Arnaz Jr as Walter Nebicher a computer programmer who creates a holographic crime fighting partner named Automan brought to life by advanced artificial intelligence.
Automan ran for 1 season with a total of 13 episodes. Known for its neon glow effects futuristic car chases and digital sidekick Cursor the series aimed to ride the wave of early 80s tech fascination following the success of Tron. Even though it developed a cult following thanks to its ambitious visuals and unique concept it struggled in the ratings and was canceled after just one season.
80s insight: The glowing suits and vehicle effects were created using techniques inspired by Tron with actual film negatives being processed to give characters their signature glow.