Battlestar Galactica (1978) - A Timewarp TV Retrospective

[@evertonporter7887]

Battlestar Galactica is the first sci-fi show where I saw black actors in prominent genre roles. As a young black man, I felt proud. Very proud.

[@flybeep1661]

You were late to the party then, Star Trek preceded that by about 10 years, and it was a black woman.

[@WmTRiker]

@@raindogs The black actor in _Mission: Impossible_ was Greg Morris. Bill Cosby starred in _I Spy_ alongside Robert Culp. And all three shows ( _Star Trek,_ _Mission: Impossible_ and _I Spy_ ) were produced by Desilu Studios.

[@WmTRiker]

@daniellekingdjk3 Uhura did more than "get the thumbs up" from MLK, he's the one who kept Nichelle Nichols from quitting the show.

[@rogerlynch5279]

@@WmTRiker Yes the authobiography of Nichelle Nichols: BEYOND UHURA is also very interesting to read in this respect.

[@kacornish1]

PAY ATTENTION... He said this was the first show where HE "saw black actors in prominent genre roles". I Spy and Star Trek were mid to late 60s. Mission Impossible was over by the early 70s. Maybe he was too young for those and/or he did not see the reruns for whatever reason. He came along just in time for BSG in 1978. Good for him. No need to try to diminish how he feels about the show...

[@robbleeker4777]

This is the Galactica I grew up with and watched, every week

[@davemarx7856]

Huge part of my earliest childhood. This and Buck Rogers

[@Nomadistar]

My people! Ermmm, person! Same.

[@sail2byzantium]

And made by the same people--another Glen Larson thing. The Buck Rogers starfighter was the original Galactica viper design . . .

[@SagaofaCrew]

If you're here than you are obviously a bit more than a just a "Major Big Box Office Franchise Only Fan of Science Fiction" in other words YOU know that the Genre was NOT invented in 1977, you have not pigeon holed your taste, and you may just be what I like to call a 'Comprehensive Science Fiction Fan' rather than a 'mainstream only' Fan! I'm glad you are! I therefore submit for your discovery an introduction to my 1984 production - correct 1984 (of this date fewer than 7000 persons have viewed it's 'Official Trailer') which like BSG, dared to have the audacity to even exist on the same planet as Big Box Office (as far as mainstream fans were concerned) Here's a recent Documentary about it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWioi3Vme7Vgn8k

[@karlsmith2570]

@@sail2byzantium yup, there was a lot of props from the original Battlestar Galactica series that was used in Buck Rogers, for example: The power lock that Buck used against the title character in the episode "Space Vampire" was the pendant that Adama used as a key while they're searching the tombs on Kobol for the 13th tribe's journey to Earth The Star pins that all of the Viper pilots have on their uniforms were used as rank pins for the Zikarian officers in the episode, "Journey To Babel", the 2nd Buck Rogers episode after Hawk was added to the series The Dorian ship in the series finale of Buck Rogers, "The Dorian Secret" was used in Battlestar Galactica as a Cylon Tanker

[@plymouth491]

After BSG was canceled, Buck Rogers picked up the mantle. Also, Glen Larson, being a Mormon, put a few LDS themes into the story.

[@jimsquire9048]

A viper model sits proudly three feet from where I type this.Battlestar Galactica was awesome.

[@billc5378]

I had the Viper Launch Station with flying rubber vipers! My dad was too good to me!

[@wayne3302264]

I had a viper and cylon raider model back then but sold them to a friend many years ago.

[@classicgalactica5879]

I have a Viper model and a model of the Galactica herself.

[@1badsteed]

Full size?

[@charlesballard5251]

@@wayne3302264 The Monogram models of the Viper and Raider hit the shelves a week or two (at least) before the show premiered. I bought them together and built them in the same night.

[@ChivalryPro]

That scene with the Pegasus is my all time favorite. "No, the Other Battlestar."

[@annoyed707]

You can imagine the "Frak!"

[@tonynewman9835]

That's impossible. No it's a Battlestar

[@swinglowsweetchariot2068]

Me too. Take that Baltar!

[@billc5378]

Well him in the Raider wearing a Cylon helmet before then, lol. A close second is when Baltar misreads/falls for the Pegasus strategy several times and finally figures out Cain is in the Battlestar heading directly for him and he just flips out. "What does he care about the Galactica or the fleet, he wants ME!" Classic!

[@les4767]

Yep, great cliffhanger... "What?!...Turn, you fool, TURN!!!!!" To be continued....

[@AALavdas]

Great video! Only objection: Why is the fact that "the production, design and overall look of the thing is very much of the 1970s" a flaw? All TV series and movies are products of their time. For me, this adds to their charm.

[@HepCatJack]

Like the mini-skirts in Star Trek being a product of the 1960's. Perhaps they should have kept this aspect in Star Trek strange new world.

[@camdflage]

I named my son Apollo - that's how much this show affected me :)

[@charlesballard5251]

I'll name my dogs Chani and Stilgar. The Spice must flow....

[@camdflage]

@Wyeil Arbukle that’s your opinion.

[@bradthurkle7217]

Wow that’s awesome. Him and Starbuck were by favorite characters.

[@michaelhorning6014]

I was 11 when this came out in 1978. I loved it unreservedly. My Halloween costume that year was a Viper pilot.

[@samuraikitty18]

My favorite scene..."I think you should look at the OTHER Battlestar...." I was eight when this show came out and I adored it, especially Starbuck. DB had charisma to spare. My brothers and I also had a few Vipers and Cylon ships. It was awesome that the Vipers were close enough scale to Star Wars figures to use to make alternate characters.

[@rbrtck]

There weren't many, but I love those moments, like this one, when the centurions would hilariously point out the obvious or have a human-like reaction. A couple of other instances off the top of my head are when "Red-eye" says "Uh oh" upon seeing Apollo's laser pistol (instead of a weak pneumatic "numo" gun as used by the locals), and when one centurion pointed out to Baltar or Lucifer that the element of surprise wasn't was effective as expected. They may seem simple, but they had some common sense when their superiors had their heads in the clouds. ;)

[@mattphillips538]

Ann Lockheart is the daughter of June Lockheart of Lost in Space. Here's to you Mrs Robinson.

[@nicholasr6381]

Matt Phillips wow I never knew that

[@lynninpain]

Ann looks so much like her mother!

[@user-oh9nh6zl2c]

Woe, Woe Woe , here's to you Mrs. Robinson ............ Etc. Etc for those in the know ...

[@mattphillips538]

@@user-oh9nh6zl2c Heaven holds a place for those who pray...

[@pjgathergood6987]

@Matt Phillips - This is true. In fact, there's a first season episode of 'Magnum, p.i.' ('Lest We Forget') where she and her mother play the same character set 40 years apart. I've also mentioned it in my own comments I've just posted on the video, but she also came close to co-starring as Bonnie in 'Knight Rider', just loosing out to Patricia McPherson (though she played several different guest characters within that series).

[@KevinSmith-qn8fn]

when i was a little kid i used to tape the shows audio on an old tape recorder and listen to them late at night when i was supposed to be asleep lol

[@davidarmitage4132]

Kevin Smith me too lol

[@DCGuy1997]

Ditto!

[@mose717]

I still want one of those flight jackets.

[@johnmagill9496]

They haven't made those since The Great Velour Shortage of '79.

[@MU-rx1tc]

I have one !

[@MrGlock509]

You can have a complete warrior uniform made that is show correct

[@bbb462cid]

@@johnmagill9496 you mean suede

[@patrickbrennan1317]

This original version was clearly influenced by world war 2 and the Cold War but overall it more enjoyable than the new version which although better with the effects, was depressing and hopeless.

[@vitoaugello1677]

Everyone forgets poor Athena....absolutely gorgeous.

[@VectrexForever]

When I finally saw BSG again after many years, I found out kid me had good taste :D

[@raymondjamesrivera]

@@VectrexForever Her and Erin Gray set the standard for my taste in women! Kid us had great taste lol

[@docsavage-8616]

Sheba was played by Ann Lockhart, The Daughter of June Lockhart from Lost In Space.

[@alvarolozano711]

I AGREE. SHE WAS AWESOME.

[@Loreman72]

I will never forget the 'By your command!' And 'Of coursssse!'

[@epb0205]

Just a quick note, John Colicos (Baltar) played the Klingon Kor in Star Trek: The Original Series, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

[@serpentsepia6638]

Yeah, I thought he looked familiar on Deep Space Nine.

[@annoyed707]

Lorne Green and John Colicos: two Canadian actors in the show. There are probably others but I can't recall who.

[@Wolffen51]

@@annoyed707 they were the only two and they were also close friends off screen as well...

[@michaelmcfarland1716]

Also had a part in an episode of War of The Worlds tv series

[@joelb2297]

I met John Colicos at a Trek Convention here in Toronto, many years ago. He was nice and loved his fans. I remember he sat in the audience WITH the fans at various other stage events even though he was 'a guest,' he liked to mingle with the fans...

[@wilfredodiaz8743]

It was a great show back in the days. I was very young when they first aired but I remember seeing some of the episodes. I used to love the voices of the Cylons it was freaking awesome

[@patrickmckown5996]

Interesting side note: Lucifer was voiced by Jonathan Harris (Dr. Smith-original Lost in Space series). And Sheba (Anne Lockhart) mother June Lockhart was in the original Lost in Space series.

[@muznick]

I knew his voice was familiar but never could place it.

[@UltraKryptonian]

I really wanted Lucifer to say, "Silence, ninny!"

[@billc5378]

Oh the pain, the pain!

[@lunacouer]

I was 6 when this was on TV, and I loved Muffit. I didn't have any strong feelings either way about Boxey, but I wanted Muffit to come live with us. 😂 I have such warm feelings towards this series. The futuristic sci-fi space adventure was cool, but it was the religious/mystical aspects that were so compelling to my little mind. It added to the mystery of their quest to find home, a combination of fantasy and sci-fi I've not experienced since. I'm sure I've just never heard of something similar, and a lot of this is from the experience of a child's mind. Still, it's a special series, and I wish we'd had more episodes.

[@MTB214]

The creator was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is why there were some religious themes. I am watching the series from 2004 on. I will watch the original after.

[@blazel462]

I was 10 when it was on, and that’s how I felt about Athena, Serina and Cassiopeia.

[@jacksonheathen2092]

I love young Jane Seymour. Too bad her character only lasted a few episodes.

[@GeneralG1810]

Dude who didn't what a babe

[@jamiebraswell5520]

I never understood why she didn't want to stick around. It was always the plan to kill off Serena. Even the pilot movie had a deleted plot line about her being sick and dying because the Cylons had poisoned the food during their assault on the colonies.

[@michaelmcfarland1716]

She didn't want to get "stuck" in one role like a lot of actors do/did

[@cliffkyle945]

Instead of killing serrena off.just have ann lockheart play hér.

[@robwalsh9843]

Jane was......like....offensively good looking. It almost hurts to look at her.

[@rbrtck]

I have to say that the original _Battlestar Galactica_ enthralled me from the first moment. I didn't like the kid stuff (as a kid--you're right about that) or the cheesy bits, but there was enough substance in its premise, some real moments of human drama, and many characters that I actually cared about and rooted for that made me look forward to every episode. Over the years I think I've only grown to love it more, given my sense of nostalgia of course, and even the kid stuff and cheesy bits seem more amusing now than annoying. I've changed surprisingly little as a person since that time, but if anything I've mellowed out slightly on things like that. This is definitely one of my all-time favorite TV shows, whatever its faults. By the way, although this is more obvious to me now as an adult who is familiar with various theories about the extraterrestrial origin of humans, I remember back in the day as a kid knowing none of this how it was so cool when I made the connection between the Colonial helmet design, architecture (complete with pyramids), and ancient Egypt. This was confirmed when the ragtag fleet made their way to the planet of humanity's origin, Kobol. I was so excited that I had to point it out and explain it to my mom, who was watching while doing something else and not paying close attention. She was just like "Huh, their imagination!" but I thought it was the coolest thing about the most awesome show on television. :)

[@erics8757]

Rbrtck: you're so right!! Me and my best friend would talk on the phone right after each episode to discuss the show. I remember how excited we were after the Kobol episode, and talked about it for over an hour. Considering the limitations of science fiction television at the time, special effects and all that, the show was incredibly good, and holds it's own even today.

[@docholiday8308]

The episode was"The Lords Of Kobal"

[@scottphillips5901]

I grew up on these shows in the 70's. At the time this stuff was fantastic. Thanks to Star Wars there were a number of good sifi shows to watch. The only down side ... having to wait for the shows each week. And just having VHS to record them (Edit: I think my parents got one around the mid 80's). Sometimes the local station would miss an episode too. That was rare, but super annoying. PS: Athena was super hot. Always had a crush on her.

[@mikewoodman2872]

VHS?? If you asked my 7-year old self at the time what that was, you'd get a blank stare. You grew up in luxury! My generation had to make ourselves present & accounted for when our fave shows graced the TV screen. Hard times, I tell ya! ...all joking aside, having to watch TV shows "live" without any opportunity to record them actually added to the anticipation. Fun times!

[@scottphillips5901]

@@mikewoodman2872 Lol Well I think it was the mid to late 80's before we had a VHS. I think it was a Betamax actually. :)

[@mikewoodman2872]

@@scottphillips5901 Betamax! I remember those format wars. Did you ever see the Simpsons where Snake is seen running from a B&E with a VCR and he looks and to his dismay, he says "ohn noe, beta"?

[@scottphillips5901]

@@mikewoodman2872 yep lol

[@craiga.glesner424]

Kinda still have thing for Athena. :)

[@lamarravery4094]

You preferred Space 1999 over Battlestar? Battlestar Galactica was brilliant, I remember loving it when I was a kid. I wish it kept going for another 5 yrs. And Buck Rogers was another one of my favorites, that ended too soon as well.

[@TheDutchGhost]

Regarding Buck Rogers, while Hawk would make a good additional character to the cast I found the premise or theme of Season 1 better than that of Season 2. I also did not like how Wilma Deering's role was reduced from kickass female to communications officer. As was suggested in another video's comment section, it would have been cool if the characters of Buck Rogers met the characters of Battlestar Galactica in crossover after both respective series' season 1.

[@studinthemaking]

Lamarr Avery Same here.

[@sunsetvlogs5500]

I’m 16 and after rewatching Star Wars for the first time in about 10 years I had a sudden urge for more and arrived at battlestar galactiga and my view on bsg is that it’s definitely limited by its era and budget but it has moments which are genuinely thrilling so it’s not just nostalgia it’s good

[@TheDutchGhost]

@@sunsetvlogs5500 There is something about the atmosphere of the original Star Wars movies that could also be found in Battlestar Galactica (and Buck Rogers), the later Star Wars movies never exactly managed to recreate. I am probably speaking from nostalgia but there is a form of innocence, optimism, or wide eyed curiosity in these 70s/80s sci fi that has become rather lost.

[@sunsetvlogs5500]

TheDutchGhost I think the problem is that sci fi is seen as this academic topic and you need to know everything about it however in the 70s and 80s this didn’t really exist and people just wanted to make good interesting films but in space

[@norbypohl413]

I still clearly remember at 11 years old, after watching the first 30 minutes of the 3 hour first episode in my room, running downstairs all fired up telling my parents how good it was. Yes, the show was such a big deal for the network, they took the entire primetime block for it's debut and no commercial break for the 1st 30 min. That was a unprecedented for that era. BTW, Athena was the hottest chick in the history of TV....Ok, Sheba and Serina were up there too. What a show!

[@Dude_Slick]

Yeah, I was 16 at the time, and I was all in. That being said Cassiopeia was pretty smoking hot too. All four of them got my teenage motor running .

[@KaitainCPS]

Maren Jensen was almost supernaturally attractive. One thing I'd say watching the show now is that Herb Jefferson Jr is often the glue that holds certain scenes together when it's the trio of Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer. His comic timing is excellent. He's usually the straight man sighing slightly at the latest crackpot scheme being proposed.

[@DOCTOR_SONG]

Dude! I loved this so much that I cried a bit because I remember when I was little watching it feeling so hopeful and strong about the future . and today my friend with this video you reminded me who I am and what I stand for . thank you for your video!

[@bernardoconnor1502]

Sheba was definitely a favorite during my developing teenage years watching BSG. I thought the Galactica Flight Control Officer was cute too. I loved hearing her say "Launch when ready".

[@09rja]

Actually Baltar did say why he betrayed the colonies. He wanted his colony spared and it to be under his rule. (Obviously some sort of inter-colonial rivalry/conflict.) Good review btw.

[@armastat]

yep and hey expanded on that in the remake series as well as the Caprica series

[@RCAvhstape]

@@armastat In the remake series Baltar was tricked into giving away the defense secrets by Cylon Model Six, because she was hot and slept with him and he thinks with his little head.

[@countzero1136]

@Peter A. The remake was OK as its own thing, but VERY hard to swallow for us that grew up with the original. Don't mention Galactica 1980 though - that was just embarassing.

[@countzero1136]

@Peter A. Wow. I knew it was released on bluray as part of the boxed set but didn't realise that it had a dvd release too. I still have the original show on VHS but never bothered getting G1980

[@sjng68]

@Peter A. Me too, although I didn't end up watching all the episodes. Whoever thought flying motorbikes were a good idea needed a good talking to. There was one episode about the Galactica kids that was pure nonsense.

[@HexNottingham]

My biggest (and only) crush on that show was Flight Corporal Rigel!! Damn, I wish they would have done an episode dedicated to her. "Launch when ready."

[@rbrtck]

Yes, she was an underrated cutie! I would have loved to see her making a kill in a Viper.

[@jackmormon7555]

Loved Sheba. Smart, tough as well as beautiful and vulnerable. The most interesting of the female characters

[@MORE1500]

During its original run in1978-79, the show was preempted with unprecedented regularity. That's one of the reasons it lost some popularity and was eventually canceled. Also, wishing to cash in on the popularity of Star Wars, the show was rushed into production resulting in some weak scripts. The story arcs became stronger and more compelling as the season went on but by then, with mediocre ratings and production costs of around $1 million per episode it was too late. I won't even mention Galactica 1980.

[@IggyStardust1967]

While we all know Galactica 1980 exists... no one acknowledges that it actually exists, or counts. Except for the final episode... Return of Starbuck was somebody's dream. ;)

[@vallerithomas4671]

Thank you for not mentioning G-80. ;-)

[@2themoon863]

The other big problem it had was too many two part episodes! It seemed just as you’re getting to some kind of big story moment... ...”CONTINUED NEXT WEEK” or “END OF PART ONE”.

[@davidwoodward9528]

James Colicos was, much like Shatner (but probably so much more fun to work with) - was a Stratford-trained Canadian actor. I really love the quality of his work and would measure it favourably against Greene's gravitas for giving the show a good moral compass.

[@jaybee9269]

david woodward >> I think it was John Colicos.

[@SicilianStealth]

I love how Caprica at one point plays the original Battlestar Galactica theme song. I was with the 7th Colonials on Battlestar Galactica Online. Thank you also for mentioning Space 1999 as for me it was UFO also produced by Gerry Anderson. Anne Lockhart of Lost In Space June Lockhart was in a Star Trek Continues episode. Thank you for a wonderful presentation.

[@MarkSW]

I agree, Serina was a lovely character. And Jane Seymour is a great actress.

[@ronaldboers8061]

Pitty she did not want to stay on.

[@infindebula]

And drop-dead gorgeous.

[@billc5378]

Well considering she got her own series, I'm not surprised

[@robertthomas5736]

Laurette Spang as Cassiopeia

[@juicebirdmedia1406]

I love Classic Battlestar Galactica so much!!

[@charlesballard5251]

Personally my crush was on Maren Jensen as Athena. She was just TOO FRACKING HOT!!!!!

[@cathyskywalker77]

Mine was Apollo😍 I was 16 when Battlestar Galactica first aired...omg what a crush I had on him, it lasted for decades....RIP Richard Hatch 💖💔❤

[@777Outrigger]

She had such a beautiful exotic look. Part Norwegian and part Hawaiian.

[@ericn1450]

Disco era female hairstyles were awesome and they really helped to make the actresses look fantastic on the show.

[@michaelmcfarland1716]

She only got the boot cause it was her first acting job and the powers that be didn't think she was up to it.

[@charlesballard5251]

@@michaelmcfarland1716 Uh... I don't know what you are talking about. Maren Jensen was in all 21 episodes of the original Battlestar.

[@Chanticlair47]

I was totally mesmerized by the Ship of Lights, the advanced beings and of course John who was played by Edward Mulhare..... that episode or the idea of that episode laid the groundwork for Quantum Leap.

[@michaelhorning6014]

Ancient astronauts was a big thing in the 70's. Erik Von Daniken's Chariots of The Gods? was very well known.

[@annoyed707]

It was and still is nonsense, but fun for speculation.

[@TommygunNG]

Glen Larson is LDS, and Mormon theology fits into all that.

[@alessandroaprile181]

@@TommygunNG the fact mormon theology fit in is another evidence of nonsense.

[@ukmediawarrior]

Love this series from the first time I saw it as a kid. I would even rate it above the newer version, but thats probably just sentiment talking, lol. One thing though, I thought Iblis was always fully in command of his powers and memories, only making out he had amnesia to fool Adama and co

[@GlassTopRX7]

See I can't even sit through a full episode of the reboot.

[@ukmediawarrior]

@@GlassTopRX7 It is very dark and 'gritty' which I think was the theme they were going for. Toward the end it also seemed to lose it's way somewhat becoming overly religious to a degree and with high brow topics such as who or what is a God and so forth. I prefer laser blasters and dog fights. I guess I'm easily pleased which was why the classic Battlestar always wins out for me.

[@armastat]

The newer version was more to the what the original was Supposed to be like, the man who created the 1st was advising/consulting on the 2nd to make sure.

[@pjskywalker2457]

This was a favorite of mine after I saw the 1977 Star Wars and I grew to love Battlestar more than StarTrek, which I never thought would be possible. I thank you for making this video as this series seems to be forgotten unfortunately. I hope you will continue to bring back the gang from the “rag tag fleet” trying to make their way to Earth.😍

[@model101t800]

Finding out later it blew my mind that Chameleon, the father of Starbuck, was Fred Astaire

[@bryanmccauley7913]

I remember being stuck in traffic in Houston thinking we were going to miss the premiere. I was eight. I also had a Space 1999 lunchbox.

[@ChristopherSloane]

Humm I watch Space 1999 when I was a little kid yet cannot remember anything about it as for BSG I remember almost everything.

[@hydrolito]

Space 1999 had colonies set up on the moon and the moon was blown out of orbit they it somehow went through a warm hole to be near other planets they flew spaces ships between them they also met a space alien woman that could turn into different forms.

[@dbohnenberger]

I have watched both series in the past year. Space 1999 had good sets and production design, but was inferior to BSG in this and in every other way.

[@edh9999]

This is the very first tv show I can remember watching on tv. Wouldn't miss an episode for anything or anyone. I still love it so much that I couldn't bring myself to like the remake, even though I tried really hard for about half the pilot episode. I can still recite the entire intro narration from memory, and it's been about 25 years since I've seen any full episode. Aaah, the memories...

[@lamarravery4094]

Yeah the original Battlestar Galactica was far superior to the reboot. For one thing, they had lasers. And the soundtrack and narration was great. I could never watch all of the new reboot, while I have seen the original complete episodes many o many times.

[@SkyFireDrone2022]

I absolutely loved the original as a kid and had many battles in my room with my toy viper and Cylon fighters. Fast forward a couple decades to the intense drama of the re-boot with a female Starbuck and it was obvious we had a much grittier story. I absolutely loved it. And I had to smile when Adama picked up the same style radio handset I used in my early days in the Army. They even busted out Adama’s old Viper in an episode that was definitely a blast from the past and a nod to the old series. The “new” series was definitely overly sexualized but the social issues and stories were far superior than the majority of crap that passes as reality television to this day. If you have never watched more than a couple of episodes (I was hooked after three) then you’ve missed the whole point. The original was the foundation, and one that was mimicked in video games like Homeworld (that even had a BSG mod), Eve Online, and just about anything else set in space. I will always love these old shows but I also appreciate what they evolved into. 🤓

[@robertthomas5736]

The Greatest Space Spectacular Ever Filmed

[@conroypaw]

Seriously, who didn't develop a crush on Sheba?

[@PungiFungi]

I remember how when Sheba was introduced, she kind of steamrolled the other characters out of the way and she became a trio of sorts with Starbucks and Apollo.

[@thomasmccullough7233]

Conroy Paw I know I did!

[@fasteddie406]

Me. her eyes sort of weird me out. Plus I had a crush on Wilma Deering.. but at age 11 only had place enuff for 1 mature lass.

[@ixon4330]

Conroy Paw who?

[@jackdull5699]

My crush as Cassiopeia, but Sheba was pretty too.

[@SGlitz]

1980!! Oh god no! The horror!!!! (Except the last episode)

[@JK-Visions]

i liked their fight against pollution. Is still relevant;)

[@merlinathrawes6191]

Some things are never mentioned........................

[@simplysteve68]

Ah Galactica 1980, the sorta sequel series, where the children of the Galactica, try to adjust to life on earth. I kinda liked the flying motorbike scenes, bad background screen and all. Lol

[@Auror37]

Jane Seymour....and Ann Lockhart....first Sci fi crushes..

[@str.77]

When I was a kid, this was more of a presence than Star Wars. Star Wars was something that had run in the cinema before I entered primary school and was now only present by merchandise and collectables. But Galactica was shown on TV. Actually, the very first piece of music I recorded unto my first music cassette was the Galactica theme. However, The Galactica I knew back then wasn't the entirety of the series but three longer movies: the pilot, the one involving the Pegasus and a "best of" of Galactica 1980 (mosty "The Night the Cylons" landed) - back then, we didn't know that this was a separate show. Of course, these movies created continuity issues as Baltar was executed in the first movie and then commanded a basestar in the 2nd movie.

[@TheDoltonboy]

This show is worth watching just to see Maren Jensen. The most beautiful woman that there ever was!

[@johngrow]

Actually, Space 1999 preceded Galactica by three years or so. I remember seeing ads for it in 1975.

[@michaelbergman1708]

You are right, but he was watching the two shows as reruns.

[@davidcopplestone6266]

Space 1999 was an ITV show; not BBC; and replaced UFO. The Moonbase set was originally going to be a new set for UFO until it got cancelled.

[@junior602002]

@@davidcopplestone6266 The BBC did show Space 1999 as reruns in the late nineties. This is what Chris was referring to.

[@countzero1136]

Yeah 1975 is when it first aired though production started in 1973 and was originally intended to be a sequel show to 1968's UFO but then evolved into its own thing during the development cycle

[@ACGreviews]

Very well done

[@davidsapir3764]

Nope, I never had to grow up first to appreciate Battlestar Galactica. I was 9 when it debuted and freaked out over it, thought it was the greatest show ever and never missed it.

[@davedave6650]

Glen A. Larson: Science Fiction Genius.

[@karlsmith2570]

He also created "Buck Rogers In The 24th Century", which reused a lot of the props and sets from BSG (in Fact: the Earth Defense Directorate fighter ships were recycled models for the colonial Vipers)

[@angelnazario5370]

I remember when it came to theaters, Galactica Sensoround, super loud & awesome.

[@docsavage-8616]

The Movie Version of Battlestar Galactica has a Scene where Baltar gets killed.

[@MrWackyfunster]

I just remember it being on right after Project UFO. I loved Galactica!

[@timbaker6428]

Battlestar Galactica wasn't originally made to be a weekly series. It was suppose to be either a monthly or bi-monthly movie event. Also, the Cylons were a race of reptile like creatures, who when facing extinction and losing the war with humans, built the centurians to continue the battle. Lastly, Sheba came from the Battlestar Pegasus..

[@matsamuel5655]

The pilot film was released in U.K. cinemas before the series was shown on TV. Also the 2 parter 'The Living Legend' was released in U.K. cinemas under the title 'Mission Galactica, The Cylon Attack'. Both films had a limited release in the 'Sensurround' sound format.

[@robertleeluben]

They had it in Sensurround in Miami too the following summer, it was part of a kids summer movie club thing where you saw a couple of flicks for like 2 dollars when the theaters had no business, I had a blast seeing it on the big screen.

[@thereallantesh]

I have 'Mission Galactica, The Cylon Attack' on laserdisc. I actually only picked this up recently. I remember it being titled 'The Living Legend' when I was a kid, and finding the laserdisc with the alternate title was really interesting.

[@thereallantesh]

I have 'Mission Galactica, The Cylon Attack' on laserdisc. I actually only picked this up recently. I remember it being titled 'The Living Legend' when I was a kid, and finding the laserdisc with the alternate title was really interesting.

[@andrewdrabble8939]

Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack was an amalgamation of the episodes The Living Legend and Fire in Space

[@v.w.singer9638]

One of my all time favourite SF shows. I loved the hints of Egyptian style and the villains who were not human or created by humans. The theme still gives me chills.

[@GlassTopRX7]

Mormons in space.

[@sjng68]

Best theme ever!!

[@simplysteve68]

I have the original theme with Patrick McNee's voiceover, in my phone's playlist. 😆

[@Real46]

Sure! And it was so far better than the sorry attempt to remake it in the 2000ts.

[@aaronerickson2734]

Am I wrong for liking this version over the reboot SyFy version?

[@ThePathStrider]

I like both shows for different reasons.

[@erics8757]

@Peter A. I'm sure he meant dickhead, and I was just teasing him for misspelling it :)

[@alexhenderson1312]

I only recognize this version - the Classic Original. I never got into GINO, and never will. Ron Moore made a big mistake in reimagining Galactica. In some ways a forerunner to what Kathleen Kennedy and her lot did to Star Wars! ☹️👎

[@docsavage-8616]

The Human Beings in the Battlestar Galactica Remake were More Treacherous and Evil than the Actual Cylons.

[@MrIrrepressible]

no mention of Boomer???

[@jimfrazzitta4218]

Herb Jefferson Jr.'s Boomer was another seriously great and iconic character.

[@jackmormon7555]

Yeah. Boomer was awesome. The best scenes were with him, Starbuck snd Apollo. The three musketeers...

[@mamatmag]

Hot wired hovermobiles(?) as a kid and handled the "burillian noman" when everyone else was clueless. The guy was the stalwart in the background.

[@CJ-rf9jm]

I liked him too and the only 1 of the main pilots who was still around for season 2 though mysteriously no longer a pilot.

[@dalethelander3781]

@@mamatmag * Borellian

[@DeltaElites]

A little trivia...Ray Bolger (Scarecrow from Wizard of Oz) played one of those dancing Androids (Vector) shown in "Greetings From Earth". Loved the whole series when it aired.

[@LisaMAltemose]

I was wondering if anyone would mention that! I'm surprised no one recognized him, if by voice alone.

[@TommygunNG]

And Bobby Van was Hector, the other robot. Add in Fred Astaire in "The Man With Nine Lives," with the last on-screen dancing scene of his life, and you have three great hoofers of a bygone era.

[@DrQuizzler]

Now THAT'S how to make a brilliant tribute video!! Beautifully done!!

[@MrNealSalo]

Nicely done retrospective. I liked the reboot series but have a sentimental love of the original; it was part of my boyhood. In the original, it was cool to see Fred Astaire guest-starring as Starbuck's father. I had a bit of a crush on Sarah Rush as Flight Corporal Rigel, also liked her voice. One of the other comments said you'd be good as a narrator; I agree.

[@lamarravery4094]

The reboot wasn't as good as the original. Gotta have lasers. And Starbuck's gotta be a dude.

[@Loccutus28]

Never really cared for "Space 1999" but I have always enjoyed "Battlestar Galactica." I think your overall assessment is actually pretty good. I agree with your opinion on "Sheba" (Anne Lockheart), she was the best female character and the strongest. Oh! by the way, I hated the remake of BG on Sci-Fi. I found it insulting!

[@michaelmccartin2054]

I always thought that it was cool that Anne Lockhart and her mom June Lockhart both stared in space sci fi tv shows.

[@allenjones3130]

I didn't care for the BSG remake or GALACTICA 1980. I never cared for Boxey and Muffit either. I also commend Loren Greene for not playing Adama as a cheap imitation of John Koenig or Jim Kirk.

[@karenhall4645]

@@allenjones3130 THANK YOU! ☺ I thought I was all alone in not liking the BSG remake. It doesn't have the same feel to it as the original.

[@jamiesloan5902]

I was born in '72, so of course I absolutely loved this show, and Buck Rogers. I even remember getting the action figures, and spaceships for Christmas!! I just stumbled on an episode of Buck Rogers tonight, while watching TV. That's what brought me here! Brings back some great, early childhood memories. I took these shows very serious! lol

[@thereallantesh]

I loved this show when I was a kid. I was 7 years old when it came out, and was absolutely glued to the TV every week. I also had a huge crush on Jane Seymour. I thought she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, and still do.

[@DH-3on_sAm]

Rick Springfield was Zac in the pilot ep

[@tiandao8503]

"What was that?" "That was my son."

[@joelb2297]

Rick Springfield was also the main character Nick Knight in the made-for-tv movie of the same name. The movie became the series "Forever Knight" with a different sets of actors. Gerraint Wyn-Daves as Nick Knight, and Nigel Bennett, as Lucien LaCroix -both vampires. I met both of these actors, -met Nigel several times in my volunteering at conventions. Nigel was amazing and truly a fan of sci-fi. He even attended the conventions when not 'a guest' and we recognized him just moving around with the fans in the crowds...

[@dixondark2231]

Battlestar Galactica was my favorite show when I was 5 and it was new. Looking at it now, it is obviously 1970s quality TV but nice in a nostalgic way. The remake in the early 2000s was incredible. It is my favorite show now… I wonder if that means I have kind of come around full circle somehow or if I have not advanced much since then?

[@ZaidDesignsTV]

Great review... this was one of our favorite saturday night shows to watch.

[@kingscorpion7346]

Space: 1999 was one of my favorite TV shows before Star Wars, and BSG after. (Star Trek was the first, and then UFO before Space: 1999.) Boxy was the first child in a show like this that I saw, and I always thought: what a lucky kid to be him.

[@rozzbozzgames]

Ah, a time when Starbuck meant a whole lot more than over priced coffee....... 👍😊 excellent video, really enjoyed thankx!

[@scottrobbins1714]

And Starbuck will ALWAYS be Dirk, dammit!

[@westernspud504]

yeah i didnt like it when the new show made star buck a woman ,,

[@Nomadistar]

Starbuck is the Dirk...The spice is the worm!

[@TheSpritz0]

I LOVED watching Space 1999 with my Grandmother, she was ahead of her time she loved Sci-Fi and got me watching it!!

[@dunkydog1676]

i seen it when i was a kid in 78-79 was a great show

[@alexrodriguez9441]

little known fact: the show's writers based the characters of Apollo and Starbuck on Hermann Hesse's 1930 novel "Narcissus un Goldmund"

[@kdryan21]

And then there was Galactica 1980. Let us draw a curtain of charity over the rest of the scene...

[@paullehman3340]

Wolfman Jack and flying motorbikes with lasers on earth, but why not....

[@ladymopar2024]

I don't know why I was recommended this channel but I like it thank you. I was very hesitant to watch the new Battlestar Galactica because I couldn't figure out who was ever going to replace Lauren Green, they did a spot-on with Edward James Olmos. I love the character of Baltar in the original series, I'm James Callis pulled the acting off wonderfully he did say in an interview that he didn't want to destroy the original image of Baltar and it was very hard to find a new Avenue because he played such a great character in the original series. I have now on severe is it using you have a new sub I love the old character of Colonel tigh I was upset in the original series until I watch the back story If you want the new BSG you will find elements of the Original Series in every single episode which I think is really cool

[@camerongervais4774]

Athena mmmm at 5 years old I knew I was in love with her

[@TheBelrick]

Every soyboy moans about the lack of strong women in cinema roles. No soyboy laments the utter and total lack of strong brave heroic self sacrificing women in the real world. 911 343 dead male firefighters, 0 dead female firefighters et al

[@ZenGeekDad]

Wait! 11:00 we learn the "actor" in the robot dog suit was an actual real live CHIMP?! I agree that really changes the feel of the whole thing. I feel bad for the chimp, but then, maybe he was having a good time? Could be. Anyway, really wild.

[@SaturnCanuck]

I agree with pretty much everything you said. Living in Canada, I saw the two-hour premier when it was released theatrically and was actually very excited (I was 14 at the time). Oh, and when released was the forth movie (and last) released in Sensurround!

[@BDM4972]

As soon as you mentioned watching on BBC2 in the early 90s, you gained a subscriber. I used to love that 6-7pm slot. Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, Star Trek. My escape from the real world of school, homework etc. 👍

[@A-Milkdromeda-Laniakea-Hominid]

I cut my teeth on these shows in their original run. Two things stuck with me: I knew I wanted a Viper when I saw the stick controller... I would watch the screen intently but alas, I only ever witnessed them hitting the "IM" button 1 time. I think it was used in Galactica '80 idk. And the other thing was the white costumes when the spiritual side came into play. What a brilliant idea that was, and the uniforms were already very cool but in white suede it really made a statement.

[@tigtrager6923]

The best episode is in BSG 1980, titled "The Return of Starbuck"

[@mlk27743]

What pissed me off was that Starbuck was still stranded when he sent his ship into space with the baby & the mother callously told Starbuck 'He ain't coming along in the ship with them - then she stays behind. WT....

[@tigtrager6923]

mlk27743, yeah that didn't make any sense to me either. It's like she's saying you get to stay here doomed and to die lonely. Unless Starbuck can somehow repair Cy.

[@TommygunNG]

There was an operational Cylon fighter there, remember. Fanfic has Starbuck flying it back to the Fleet. I know. The scene of him in despair at the end doesn't quite fit with that. The writers had forgotten about the ship they'd left on the planet. But the fanfic idea works, so let's go with it.

[@les4767]

Ironically, also the last episode of the series.

[@rbrtck]

@@mlk27743 Well, as a "higher" being, it wasn't her right or place to save Starbuck, but to judge him, and in doing so, indirectly judge the potential of his people to determine whether they are worthy of being saved. This had already been done by the Beings of Light when they had an opportunity to ask Starbuck and Sheeba whether they would sacrifice their own lives for Apollo, who had been struck down by Count Iblis. While I'm sure they were sincere in saying yes, they would, they didn't actually have to sacrifice themselves because Iblis (who was essentially if not literally Satan) had no right to kill Apollo in the first place, so Apollo was brought back to life for free. The situation in "Return of Starbuck" was different, however, because no crime had been committed by a higher being. This was simply Starbuck's willing act of self-sacrifice being translated into a form that would help the Galactica fleet find salvation. Essentially his karma created Dr. Zee, who of course was this weird super-genius being who has all the right answers to every problem, except that he couldn't even figure out that his dream about Starbuck was his own origin story. Even Adama had figured that out, and I was already thinking about it even before Starbuck launched his makeshift hybrid spacecraft from that planet! Ha! I'm smarter than Dr. Zee! ;) Ahem, back to the subject, this was all *earned* by Starbuck's sacrifice, and wouldn't have happened without his sacrifice, so that's why Starbuck could not be saved. It was his choice to put others ahead of himself. Ignoring the functional Cylon fighter that would have been left for him to take (just an error in writing), perhaps at least his soul has found salvation because of his sacrifice--the ultimate act of true love that made him such a *good* man despite his human flaws and foibles.

[@bellesogne]

The casino segment in the pilot is not hard to understand. The BSG pilot was a re-telling of Universal Studio's "The Ten Commandments" and, fundamentally, the Book of Exodus. The scene where the fleet traverses the starless expanse is the parting of the Red Sea. The encounter with the Ovions is the part where the Hebrews forget about Moses and take up a false god. The scene with Adama and Tigh in the vipers represents the ascent of Moses up the mountain. Even the scene with Cassiopeia tied up by the Ovions is reminiscent of Lilia (Debra Paget) being tied to the foot of the golden calf. Besides being basically a TV adaptation of Morman theology, BSG also re-hashed a lot of screenplays from old Hollywood's film library: The Towering Inferno, Shane, High Noon, The Dirty Dozen, Here Comes Mr. Pendleton (aka Heaven Can Wait), The Guns of Navarone (as you've mentioned).

[@amightysailingman]

Glen Larson always stole plots from others to use in all of his shows. There's a reason Harlan Ellison labeled him Glen Larceny.

[@lamarravery4094]

Astute observation. Kind of like what Lucas did with Star Wars, readapting the myths of King Arthur and other myths to his own storytelling. These stories are familiar to us, we have heard them before and have proven from time to time that they work.

[@stevejordan7275]

@ bellesogne Sorry, that's Here Comes Mister Jordan (1941, the protagonist's name was Joe Pendleton in that and in the "Heaven Can Wait" remake). @ Lamarr Avery Lucas was clearly influenced by Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress and period anime.

[@infindebula]

The problem with the Casino segment is that Starbuck et al somehow forgot the gravity of their situation: their entire species had been virtually annihilated, their currency rendered meaningless, yet they are distracted from the cylon thread enough to smoke cigars, gamble over meaningless currency and make silly jokes. This is the main part of the problem with the 1978 series when compared to the 2003 re-imagining - that somehow everybody just forgets, and has no trauma over their pre-holocaust lives.

[@docsavage-8616]

​@@stevejordan7275Darth Vader is a blatant Copy of Marvel's Doctor Doom.

[@MrCoors68]

John Williams has made the best orchestral renditions of every great screen play come to life for all of mankind ..... one of the greatest men on planet earth.

[@MrCoors68]

dare i say he is better than any classical music composer.......in comparison.... i dare.

[@Trek001]

Actually, it's possible at least three Battlestars survived Galactica - retreated from the Battle of Cimtar and fell back to Caprica to rescue survivors Pegasus - survived in deep space after the Battle of Molecay Columbia - the cylon Vulpa mentions it was destroyed at the Battle of Cimtar, but its not mentioned on the radio traffic heard during the attack

[@GGGritzer]

There was a plan to introduce a third Battlestar and for Cain to return, alas the planned second season did not happen. Hatch explained on the Amazon Germany box set that it was because an episode was not able to be produced in 7 days. It took at least 10 and there was nothing they could do about it. Cancelled. Such a pity. One of my all time favourites. I would take it over 1999 or Buck Rogers, any day.

[@Nebula37]

I still miss this show. Good memories from childhood.

[@collinburgemeestre3676]

Loved this show as a kid. I still remember the day the Pope got shot in the early 80's as they interrupted the conclusion of War of the Gods for that. As for having a crush on Sheba, mea culpa. And she was so nice to give me a hug when I met her at a convention when I told her that.

[@WouterCloetens]

My wife and I, both huge Sci-Fi fans, grew up on BSG. We named our dog Muffit.

[@jerobriggs6861]

The only episodes that I think are forgettable are Murder on the Rising Star and Take the Celestra... and certain parts from the second half of Greetings from Earth. Overall, the original Battlestar Galactica was, and still is, one of my favorite sci-fi TV shows of all time. The strongest episodes in my opinion are Saga of a Star World (pilot), Lost Planet of the Gods, The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, The Living Legend, Fire in Space, War of the Gods, Baltar's Escape, Experiment in Terra, and The Hand of God (series' finale). Most of them, as you said, are the two part stories.

[@billc5378]

Gun on ice planet zero seemed identical to the Star Blazers reflex gun episode, complete with the ice and the band sent into destroy the gun. Even the characters getting sucked in from the air intakes. Also, the 2 series parallel each other with a distant quest, fighting their main enemy most of the way. I wonder how much star Blazers influenced BSG, or was it a massive coincidence?

[@BIGTONEonline]

I enjoyed watching this retrospective. Thanks, Chris!

[@OffroadTreks]

Can we just pretend 1980 never happened.... ?

[@jgoodman75]

Loved this show so much. Cool characters and design. Also there were babes! So many beauties on this show.

[@KARMA2369]

Sheba came from The Battle Star "Pegasus".

[@ronaldboers8061]

She was the one that intercepted Apollo and Starbuck.

[@KARMA2369]

@@ronaldboers8061 Yup.

[@cliffbird5016]

most of the pegassus pilots ended up on the galactica. Pegasus did a sucide mission to hold off the cylons to let the galagitca and the fleet get away and told its piloys to join galactica. Its not clear in the story if the pegasus got away or was destroyed. It was left like that on purpouse so viewers might think the pegasus might reaper again later. It did show up again in season 3. But not till the last episode. It got cancled before they finished the season so dont know who was still on peagaus as it arrived just as the episide ended. That was the last episide they put on TV but they might have more episides they made but not aired locked away in vaults somewhere. Seems the orignal lasted longer than the remake and longer than most think it did. not sure when season 3 came out but it was called galatica 80. Not sure if that means it came out in 1980 or if it was 1980 on earth when they arrived.

[@Nabekukka]

@@cliffbird5016 No. Battlestar Galactica 1980 was not a 3rd season of the original Battlestar Galactica series. In fact, Battlestar Galactica 1980 never happened. It. Didn't. Happen.

[@jamessullivan4391]

We know, you fracker!

[@marlonvanwijland1428]

Maybe the best sci-fi space jock uniforms from any sci-fi series...

[@danielwilliamson6180]

Battlestar Galactica is a classic series.

[@richarddavies9032]

Very nice critical review of the show, and a great balance between objective and personal comments. Will be watching more of your stuff. Well done!

[@daviddiaz529]

They were all Mormons and after BSG 1980 a Cylon hid on earth. They called him K.I.T.T.

[@PumaPete]

I remember this like it was yesterday. Star Wars had just come out the year before and a young 8 year old me loved this show. Memories!

[@kiltworm]

You had me at "Frack!"

[@stevekillgore9272]

Loved it, great concept. The opening sequence, music, narration and visuals remain outstanding.