7.3/10322 votes#1 - Population: Zero
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 1/18/1974
When Steve and Oscar investigate the death of the entire population of a small town, they are contacted by a scientist, once employed by the government, who is set on revenge for past grievances. Demanding $10 million or he will strike again, Steve must find and stop him.
Director: Jeannot Szwarc
Writer: Elroy Schwartz
6.9/10231 votes#2 - Survival of the Fittest
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 1/25/1974
Due to secret negotiations with the Russians, Oscar Goldman is targeted for assassination by interests that will be hurt by the prospective pact. Oscar and Steve Austin board a flight in Hawaii bound for Dulles. The plane is forced to make an emergency landing on a deserted Pacific Island when part of a wing is lost during a storm. While awaiting rescue, two military officers that had been on the flight severely wound Oscar in an attempt to kill him. Unaware of the breadth of the conspiracy, Steve Austin must carefully decide whom he can trust in his efforts to save his friend.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.5/10217 votes#3 - Operation Firefly
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 2/1/1974
Dr. Samuel Abbott has been kidnapped while developing a wireless laser that utilizes scientific principles observed in light generation by the common firefly. Steve Austin goes to Spain to find Abbott’s daughter Susan whose known powers of ESP will hopefully assist in locating the scientist. She leads them to the Everglades only to discover that Dr. Abbott mistakenly believes his kidnappers are government agents that are protecting him. He continues to complete the laser unaware that it is being used to extort money from the U.S. Government.
Director: Reza Badiyi
Writer: Sy Salkowitz
7.7/10282 votes#4 - Day of the Robot
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 2/8/1974
In an attempt to steal a top secret anti-missile device, Steve's associate and friend Major Sloan is kidnapped and replaced with a robot. Steve must discover the impostor, and keep the device from being stolen and sold to the highest bidder.
Director: Leslie H. Martinson
Writer: N/A
6.9/10193 votes#5 - Little Orphan Airplane
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 2/22/1974
Steve is assigned to find and rescue downed-pilot Josh Perkins, as well as recover the evidence of U.N. treaty violations that Perkins had on him when he disappeared.
Director: Reza Badiyi
Writer: Elroy Schwartz
6.8/10191 votes#6 - Doomsday, and Counting
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 3/1/1974
When an earthquake threatens the stability of an underground Russian nuclear installation, Steve must rescue the fiance of his friend Col. Vasily Zhukov, who is buried beneath debris. Complicating matters further, Steve must also stop the reactor before it explodes.
Director: Jerry Jameson
Writer: Larry Brody
6.9/10186 votes#7 - Eyewitness to Murder
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 3/8/1974
By sheer chance, Steve Austin witnesses the attempted assassination of Lawrence Sandusky, a prosecutor who is about to file criminal charges against a known racketeer. He is unable to capture the assassin, but does catch a glimpse of his face. OSI is assigned to security detail for the prosecutor pending a 9:00 a.m. court hearing. Steve Austin identifies and apprehends a man named John Hopper, believing him to be the hired hitman. However, Hopper has a seemingly ironclad alibi. Convinced that he is correct, Steve Austin trails the released suspect as the court hearing fast approaches.
Director: Alf Kjellin
Writer: William Driskill
6.8/10205 votes#8 - The Rescue of Athena One
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 3/15/1974
When America's first female astronaut (guest star Farrah Fawcett) runs into trouble, Steve tries to help, but discovers that his powers are limited by space travel.
Director: Lawrence Doheny
Writer: D.C. Fontana
7.0/10189 votes#9 - Dr. Wells Is Missing
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 3/29/1974
When a group of international criminals kidnap Dr. Rudy Wells in order to force him to build them a bionic man, Steve is sent to find and rescue him.
Director: Virgil W. Vogel
Writer: Elroy Schwartz, Krishna Shah, William J. Keenan, Lionel E. Siegel
7.1/10195 votes#10 - The Last of the Fourth of Julys
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 4/5/1974
When a terrorist uses a laser to try to kill a group of prime ministers attending an international meeting in Paris, Steve is assigned to infiltrate his compound and stop him.
Director: Reza Badiyi
Writer: Richard H. Landau
6.7/10233 votes#11 - Burning Bright
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 4/12/1974
Steve's astronaut friend Josh Lang (William Shatner) is impaired after being exposed to an electrical field while in space. However, Lang finds himself with strange abilities from the exposure, including the ability to communicate with dolphins, but when his condition deteriorates, Steve must find him and take him to a facility before he harms himself.
Director: Jerry London
Writer: Del Reisman
7.2/10194 votes#12 - The Coward
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 4/19/1974
When an earthquake in the Himalayas uncovers a DC-3 plane containing secret papers that went down during World War II, Steve is sent to recover the papers. Steve also tries to clear the name of the pilot, his father, who was accused of bailing out and leaving the rest of the crew to die.
Director: Reza Badiyi
Writer: Elroy Schwartz
6.3/10183 votes#13 - Run, Steve, Run
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 4/26/1974
When a crime syndicate and a robot creator conspire to build a team of bionic robot criminals, they kidnap Steve in order to learn how his bionic limbs work.
Director: Jerry Jameson
Writer: Lionel E. Siegel
The Best Episodes of The Six Million Dollar Man Season 1
Every episode of The Six Million Dollar Man Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Six Million Dollar Man Season 1!
Follow the adventures of Steve Austin, cybernetically enhanced astronaut turned secret agent, employed by the OSI, under the command of Oscar Goldman and supervised by...
Genres:Sci-Fi & FantasyAction & AdventureDrama
Network:ABC
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Population: Zero" is the best rated episode of "The Six Million Dollar Man" season 1. It scored 7.3/10 based on 322 votes. Directed by Jeannot Szwarc and written by Elroy Schwartz, it aired on 1/18/1974. This episode is rated 0.4 points higher than the second-best, "Survival of the Fittest".