If you’ve been keeping track of the promos for WandaVision, you’ve probably noticed a distinct vibe from our first looks at the series.

The first live-action Marvel series debuts January 15 on Disney+. But it’s not just a tribute to the MCU (and a springboard for future Marvel films) – it’s a tribute to television in general. The series will span several decades, from the 1950s to the early 2000s. The episodes of WandaVision will in turn act as a sort of tribute to sitcoms from each of those eras.

Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in Marvel Studios' WANDAVISION
Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in Marvel Studios’ WANDAVISION exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2020. All Rights Reserved.

It’s clear to see the influence of the black-and-white family sitcoms of the 50s and 60s in the WandaVision promo pics. But who specifically inspired Elizabeth Olsen’s performance as Wanda in the early episodes?

“I think it was like an amalgamation of Mary Tyler Moore and Elizabeth Montgomery, and I think I accidentally threw in some Lucy in the 70s just because there was so much physical comedy,” said Olsen.

So, there you have it. Mary Tyler Moore (The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show), Elizabeth Montgomery (Bewitched), and Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show).

Olsen said these episodes filmed in front of a live studio audience – which made her nervous.

“It was the first thing we shot. It was so nerve wracking, and there was a lot of adrenaline. There were a lot of quick changes and it totally confused my brain,” Olsen recalled. “It really messed with my brain, the idea of not playing to an audience but feeding off an audience. I was really grateful when we added the fourth wall for our second episode.”

Though the series draws on classic sitcoms, Marvel president Kevin Feige wants audiences to know WandaVision isn’t meant to directly parody them.

“This is not direct satire. We love these things and they meant a lot to us. Dated and silly as they may seem now, there is a comfort factor there,” said Feige.

So now that we know Olsen’s early TV influences…any guesses on who we’ll see tributes to as the series moves through the decades? Drop your predictions in the comments!

WandaVision airs January 15 on Disney+.

Source: WandaVision Press Junket