Wonder Woman - Episode with a "Paul Is Dead Hoax" type plot?

[8tracks]

In the early 80s I remember seeing a late 70s episode of Wonder Woman that involved a pop star that faked his own death with a few references to the Beatles. I've combed through a couple of episode guides but haven't found anything that describes this. (BTW, it is not "My Teenage Idol is Missing" with Leif Garrett.)

My vague memory is:
Right after recording a new album a big pop star dies. The bad guys in the episode steal the newly record unreleased tapes and hold them for ransom. Through a bunch of clues on the guy's last album, like some backwards messages and a mocked-up Sgt. Pepper's album cover with the star pointing the Santa Claus (indicating he's hiding out in someplace like Santa Cruz), it's discovered this star really faked his death. Then the bad guys decide to kill the pop star so the tapes will still be worth their ransom. There's even a line like "Turn Me On Deadman is nothing compared to this."

Does anyone else remember this? If so, what's the name of the episode?

Thanks.

[8tracks]

Found it. It was the episode "Amazon Hot Wax", where Lynda Carter got to sing a few songs off her then-current album.

I just watched it via Netflix and it was pretty funny. Here's some highlights followed by some lo-tech screen shots:
Rick Springfield is in a three piece band that combines the makeup of Kiss and the wackiness of The Hudson Brothers. (Surprisingly Rick never sings.) This band also handles mixing duties of arther artists for the label. Attached is a pic of Rick cracking the code that Billy Dero is holed up in his cabin in Santa Monica.

A clueless Judge Reinhold and Sarah Purcell are an AC married couple that always dress alike and are pretty jealous of other bands on the label's roster.

Beatle related quotes:
"No way man. I bought it with the Beatles Revolution Number 9, but I an't buyin' this. Turn Me on Dead Man. Turn Me on Dead Man. Turn Me on Dead Man."

"Where do you think Billy is?"
"Probably hiding out with Paul McCartney"


I thought this episode was pretty cool as a kid because aside from Valleri Bertinelli's obsession w/ Elton, I didn't see too many references to actual pop stars on scripted shows... aside from the infrequence appearance from someone like Davy Jones on The Brady Bunch.

[Oatsdad]

I love the incredibly minor alterations they made to the "Sgt. Pepper's..." cover! :laugh:

My best friend has all the "WW" DVDs - he's gay and loves anything campy :rolleyes: - so I may have to borrow that one and give it a look. I'm not gay and don't like camp, but odd Beatles references DO intrigue me! :D

[Frodis]

LOL! I love the shirt that Rick is wearing too. A clear nod to the 8-button Monkee shirts from the first season.

[musicalbeds]

Judge Reinhold? Wow, I don't remember ever seeing him before BHC.

[Oatsdad]

Judge Reinhold? Wow, I don't remember ever seeing him before BHC.

You didn't see "Fast Times..."?

[Oatsdad]

And Judge was in "Gremlins" prior to "Beverly Hills Cop", too. Actually, I'm sure he was in plenty of things, but "Fast Times" and "Gremlins" are the two hits that come to mind...

[Jeff H.]

And Judge was in "Gremlins" prior to "Beverly Hills Cop", too. Actually, I'm sure he was in plenty of things, but "Fast Times" and "Gremlins" are the two hits that come to mind...

Remember also that he was in "Stripes" too.:)

[jdrueke]

He was in Gremlins? I don't remember him at all. I'll have to go back and watch it again. I think my daughter might be old enough for it.

[Oatsdad]

He was in Gremlins? I don't remember him at all. I'll have to go back and watch it again. I think my daughter might be old enough for it.

He was Phoebe Cates' lecherous yuppie co-worker. Hmm... I sense a theme in his work... :D