Buck Rogers - Classic TV Review 1979 RetroBlasting 1/2

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RetroBlasting and igrewupstarwars.com take a look back at the 1979 classic TV series, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century starring Gil Gerard and Erin Gray!
#RetroBlasting #igrewupstarwars #BuckRogers

[@DefCon1966]

Between Erin Grey and Lynda Carter they tagteamed my puberty.

[@perfectsplit5515]

I always thought Wilma Dearing and Elyse Keaton were so beautiful.

[@CRAZYHORSE19682003]

You got it right with Lynda Carter but I always liked the Draconian Princess Dalla better than Erin Grey. Even as a kid I knew she was DTF.

[@kimbaptempura4073]

@@CRAZYHORSE19682003 Dude, the curvy cruel Princess Dalla with her outfits threw me headlong into puberty, and Erin Grey kept me there. Erin Grey is classic hotness...but Princess Dalla get's forgotten, she launched a generation of pubescent boners...what a time to live in, all that AND SciFi too!?

[@russell9277]

awsome

[@forteanthreat]

I ruined my carpet during puberty thinking about Erin Grey in that tight blue jumpsuit with the plunging zipper being pulled down by princess ardalla, and in the vampire episodes when Erin Said "...I drained them, and it felt soooo goood!" I almost ruined my tighty whiteys

[@Pooua]

"There's no denying Erin Grey looked great in the costume..." That's because she looked great out of the uniform...

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

Well... I'll just say, when Ernest Cline had his main character in Ready Play One delete his Virtual Personal Assistant which he'd programmed it to look/act like Col. Dearing...Because she was way too distracting...I totally understood.

[@perfectsplit5515]

A scene that particularly stood out to me is when Buck is forced to have the gladiatorial death duel with Tigerman, Princess Ardalla's loyal bodyguard. A muscle-bound badass, not unlike a typical James Bond villain. Buck gains the upper hand in the duel, and has Tigerman at his mercy. Buck is in place to deliver the final death blow. Instead, he shows mercy and refuses to execute him. Ardalla's administrator dictates that the rules say that the duel cannot end until one of the competitors is dead. Buck will not kill him. When Ardalla gives Tigerman an order to retaliate against Buck after Buck shows him mercy, he will not obey her. Because Buck spared his life (when he would not have done the same if the positions were reversed), he is honor bound and his life belongs to Buck.

[@kev3d]

That was a good one.

[@GizmoMaltese]

I remember that too! I was a kid but I still had some deep attraction for Princess Ardalla. I always hated that Buck was always running away from her advances.

[@victoriagill3337]

GizmoMaltese my mother always used to tut and say that bad women wore hardly any clothes 😂

[@Phrancis5]

Gen X'r who really loved BSG and Buck Rogers (especially the Erin Grey and the starfighter design), but never noticed Tweekie's head shape. Yeah, I can't un-see it now. Thanks for that.

[@tutored2today438]

It was also a popular girls hairstyle at the time look at Sabrina's character in Charlie's angels totally hot.

[@andrewtaylor940]

Great episode. I so loved Buck Rogers growing up. Even remember seeing that first theatrical release with my Dad in the theater. One thing worth mentioning is the Buck Roger's Starfighter, now largely known as the "Thunderfighter" was originally intended to be the Battlestar Galactica Viper. They didn't cut it because they liked the final Viper's design better. They cut it because the way that the Thunderfighter looked and moved on camera, with the broad flat profile and twin rear engines, was too hard to differentiate on the small screen from the Cylon Raider. Which was the big money design from Battlestar Galactica. So the Thunderfighter got shelved, then immediately dusted off and reused for Buck Rogers. And they designed the Draconian Fighters to have a distinct enough profile from it to make it work on screen. The BSG effects people actually would have preferred to use the Thunderfighter. One of the drawbacks to the final Viper design was because of it's narrow design it only had 3 hidden hardpoints to connect it to the shooting rig. A circle on the bottom, the front open mouth of the fighter (that's why the fighter had an "air intake") and directly reward (the panel between the three engines popped off to accommodate the metal rod). Because of this the Viper could only be shot in direct profile or forward or rear facing. Whereas the Cylon Raider and Thunderfighter each had 5 axis of hardpoints. Front, Rear Bottom and left and right. (for those curious the panel with the round emblems on the side hid the side ports. A square panel on the rear between the engines hid that one, and when using the forward port the front canopy was removed and the anchor point was in the rear of the cockpit. )

[@TVOR]

How did the BR Starfighter become known as the thunderfighter? I've always known it as the Starfighter until recently.

[@andrewtaylor940]

@@TVOR I've never been sure exactly where that name comes from. Modelers have referred to it that way for years. I always assumed it was some internal document used for the shooting miniatures or to make it more merchandisable than simply the generic "Starfighter"

[@andrewtaylor940]

@2manynegativewaves Yeah, there is a fun game that classic SF Modelers play called "Spot the hatches that cover the hard points". For example those hex shaped panels in the center of the Tie Fighters Solar Panels? They cover the mount point. That weird little fan shaped piece in the center rear of a Cylon Raider? The same. Part of What Dykstra and the progenitors of ILM pioneered was building models with multiple such points and removable hatches so you could change the filming angles. Whereas many old school models either only had a single fixed mount point, such as the original Starship Enterprise (you only ever saw one side of the model on screen. The opposite side was mounting and wiring access.) or they hung them from wires ala Gerry Anderson and the Japanese studios.

[@starsiegeplayer]

@@TVOR The original designers called it the thunderfighter before it was adopted for Buck Rogers.

[@dalethelander3781]

Thunderfighter came from the novelizations of Buck episodes. The Colonial Viper had a hard point on the port side intake that was covered by a panel. A photo of it recently turned up in a Facebook group dedicated to Universal Hartland-MCA 57-Apogee. I think David Stipes unearthed it. One of the problems the Universal Hartland FX crew had to deal with while shooting Galactica was that they were simultaneously filming the Buck Rogers theatrical pilot at Doug Trumbull's Future General facility in Venice. (Universal Hartland was in North Hollywood in the San Fernando Valley.)

[@p.mc.4449]

I met Erin Grey at a Wizardcon in San Antonio about 4 years ago. Even got a photo taken with her. She's a wonderful lady. She talked to me because no one else was in the line. She was very friendly.

[@EdsterIII]

Erin Gray was one of my first crushes as a young boy. She was so beautiful! Those eyes were mesmerizing and such a soft and beautiful look. Once I got older I really appreciated her amazing work, and yes her incredible beauty. She is a legend!

[@mikeknight1926]

Wow, so awesome. That would be so cool

[@texasbeast239]

Gil Gerard zoomed through Houston for a Space City Comic Con around that same time. It is so bizarre to see the people behind these images in person decades after the fact.

[@deanrussell2224]

I met her as well in Birmingham in the UK and the memorabilia Con - just as lovely in the flesh as she was in the show - very gracious and happy to chat - she signed the poster of her I had as a kid too

[@brycevo]

Flash Gordon and Buck Rodgers. Now that's Classic

[@TheBashar327]

It says a lot about kids different perceptions of time. I always thought Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers we're on for TV for several years at least, and surprised when I learned later the good seasons we're actually only 1 season.

[@kev3d]

Same. I was born in 78.

[@artemusprine]

They did more episodes a season, one season then could easily be two now. Give bonus points to the modern BSG for surviving the strike. In the old days that show would have been over.

[@putinscat1208]

I feel the same way about Queen. There best stuff fits on one album.

[@manuelnogueira2261]

Same here - I saw Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers when I was a kid (between 8 and 12 years old, I guess) and always thought both shows had at least 3 seasons each. I was very surprised to find out there was only one of BSG and only one and a half of BR. We do have a different perspective of things when we are kids, I guess. I remember the BR episode Space Vampire scared the living daylights out of me when I first saw it (it must have been in 1982, I was 9 at the time) but when I saw it again a few years ago on dvd, the vampire looked so bloody ridiculous I wondered how it could have scared me at all, even as a kid.

[@reverendbluejeans1748]

Looking back, I do not want to live in the future but live in a 1970s version of it.

[@petes9845]

While I loved Buck Rogers as a kid, I always felt Battlestar was far more the superior show, but as a child whose life revolved around Star Wars, any sci-fi network show was a dream come true at that point in my life. As for Twiki, how did I not ever see that??? Oh to be that pure and innocent again.

[@jerobriggs6861]

Same.

[@kurtb8474]

You didn't see it until somebody described it as a penis head. It shows that your mind wasn't in the gutter.

[@perfectsplit5515]

@@kurtb8474 Penis head? Now I get it!

[@lwaves]

+Pete S Yeah, I also preferred Battlestar but Buck Rogers was great, it was always the crappy dancing bits that put me off it. Although there's probably not as many as I think I remember. Never mind the penis head, I don't recall noticing the Twiki voice change either, or maybe I didn't care at the time.

[@Geerladenlad]

I love both of these shows Buck Rogers and Battlestar Galactica!! I didn't know Battlestar got cancelled because of Mork & Mindy that really pisses me off!!!

[@matthewhudson7883]

This is the first I'm hearing of it too. It's a real shame too. I think a true second season could have been *way* better than that abortion that lived - 'Galactica 1980'.

[@jojst1]

Nanu Nanu! lol

[@Geerladenlad]

@@jojst1 shazbot!

[@brianr101010]

Mork cancelled my beloved Battlestar? Now I don't feel so bad about Robin Williams suicide.

[@jerobriggs6861]

I'm a big fan of both shows, but I would say I liked Battlestar Galactica just a bit more. Still sad that both were cancelled though, as I said, I'm a big fan of both.

[@claudiusVIII]

I would like to see RetroBlasting do a series on UFO and space 1999.

[@SailorGhost]

Hello. Both series are here on KZbin, and all full seasons, in original audio. Just look for them, and you'll find them. Greetings from Chile.

[@richardfletcher3786]

Y5

[@dbsommers1]

I was at a convention around 2000 where Erin was a guest. My friend and I passed by the table and walked a little ways away. A few moments later we started talking about her, and he says something along the lines 'Yeah, she's still hot. I'd do her in a heartbeat." and a few other comments. Unbeknownest to him she had left the table to talk to someone directly behind him. I got to see the whole thing. When we walked away I had him turn around to see she'd been behind him the whole time. He was embarrased, but stood by his commentary. Besides, I'm sure she's overheard the same thing at plenty of conventions before since she does still have it. :)

[@Terrathrax]

LOL thats hilarious.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

She was probably both flattered and disgusted at the same time :3 Or maybe she's totally over it.

[@bobbofly]

@@Terrathrax I can SOOO picture something like happening to me! XD

[@scottphillips5901]

She aged very well.

[@daveryder9617]

Not the worst thing to overhear about yourself, I guess. XD

[@chrisw6164]

Twiki’s head looked like the haircut that all young boy characters had. Think Adam on Eight is Enough or the various Joey’s in the 80s. The long-haired bowl cut. I always assumed that was what they were going for.

[@johnellizz]

No, they were going for the cockhead look.

[@largol33t1]

Chris W, that's absolutely true. Heck, even I cut my hair like that when I was five or six and this was just as the 1980s were starting. I even remember watching this show and Eight is enough. I also remember Warner Brothers parodying it with Daffy Duck. I think it was Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 century!

[@folgore1]

My little brother had that haircut! The "helmet head" or "Dutch boy" haircut we used to call it. But now that the more pervish among us have mentioned what else it looks like, I can't get that out of my mind!

[@Ozymondias99]

I thought tweaky was a female robot

[@roboknight]

Thanks for trying to help me "unsee that". But it didn't work. Especially since I liked Twiki so much. "Beeda Beeda Beeda, that's all, Buck!"

[@lisasavignano2675]

My favorite part of a season 1 episode is the one with Peter Graves, where Buck and Wilma are kidnapped the the scarred guy with the metal face plate, and they have this cache of 20th century weapons, and Buck picks up a machine gun to threaten the baddies with, and the female lover says, "That's just an ancient signalling device!" So Buck fires a stream of bullets into the ceiling and quips, "Get the message?"

[@Sammasambuddha]

excellent. Schwarzenegger stole his one-liners from shows like these.

[@Biorythym]

Absolutely loved that original Buck Rogers intro

[@GoldenRAGEofTV]

Buster Crabbe!! I had forgotten he made an appearance! Great stuff guys. Love the presentation. You have a new subscriber!

[@carlrood4457]

To be honest, I always found Erin Grey in the shiny spandex jumpsuits to be sexier than the mini-skirt of season 2.

[@terranova1203]

Ditto

[@G0Chiefs]

Her being blonde was my favorite part. The dyed brunette was too much.

[@carlrood4457]

@@G0Chiefs Pretty sure the blond was the dye job. She's pretty much always brunette in later acting jobs.

[@theredbaronlives9889]

Carl Rood she was hot either way but the miniskirts I give the edge.

[@LordTalax]

Jumpsuits were way hotter

[@bronzantilium7699]

I have a lot of fondness for this series. I always loved the “disco aesthetic” of the first season. The bright colors, the cleanliness and sleekness of the ships, clothing and sets spoke of an exciting positive future to me as a kid. The show was downright fun and heroic. Two episodes from the second season (?) I liked were the Hawk 2 parter and the one where Buck got turned into a Satyr type alien by another one (goatcanthropy? Lol). I must say as a boy hitting puberty the ladies on the show helped set my taste in women. Erin Grey and Pamela Hensley still get my heart beating faster to this very day!

[@reverendbluejeans1748]

I think I really wanted to live in the 1970s version of the future. I will be waiting a long time before woman wear those aba style dresses and cars are no longer on the roads.

[@331Grabber]

Battlestar was a victim of network meddling too. They started off with a pretty adult theme and the network wanted to make it more kid friendly. The Cylons were supposed to be beings in armor, the network made them change it to robots. After that within about 10 episodes the show forgets the tragedy and just becomes a bunch of people living on ships. Hell the luxury ship is still running a casino in a later episode. And you never saw the sad side again.

[@fredweller1086]

BSG became The Love Boat circled by a few ill tempered sea bass.

[@ericisprobablyfullofshit7797]

It's too bad that they couldn't design uniforms as good as the ones on Battlestar. Those jackets still look awesome.

[@blastfromthepast8344]

Enjoyed this series as a 14-15 year old back in the late '70s. The 1970s' vision of the future (see also UFO, Space: 1999) still rocks! Erin Grey was hotter than Princess Leia and the space battles weren't that far behind Star Wars. A true classic of the genre and just a terrible shame that they ruined it for series two. Remembered with great affection - especially Wilma's disco gear!

[@karlsmith2570]

As far as Hawk joining the Crew of the Searcher, he'd told Buck that his village of Bird people was only a small fraction of the remaining members of his species and that by joining the Searcher Crew,his mission would become the same as theirs, finding the remaining members of their own people

[@Resistance_is_Futile01]

My God Erin gray what a beautiful woman!!! Her eyes are gorgeous

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

I used to get in fist fights with other kids because I thought Erin Grey was hotter than Princess Leia.

[@rogerwilco2]

She is. Carie Fisher is good, but Erin Grey might be the hottest lady I have ever seen on TV.

[@goldwinger5434]

Well yeah. I wouldn't have been embarrassed to be seen with Carrie Fisher but Erin Grey is the stuff of fantasies.

[@WhoWouldWantThisName]

I guess I get it, to a point. I mean nobody will ever compare to our Princess Leia. But Erin Gray is perhaps still the hottest woman in TV history, no, make that on the big screen too.

[@joaodecarvalho7012]

I had fantasies with her. I don't remember having with Leia, and I think this is a good thing for that character.

[@perfectsplit5515]

When she appeared on Silver Spoons, the in-joke was, "Hey! Colonel Dearing's back in the 20th century!"

[@TVOR]

Loved this series as a kid. Lots of discussion the next day at the school playground. Totally missed that older Buck reference when i was kid. When the show ended there was no way to watch it anymore. Memories of the series slowly faded until i couldn't remember details of the series. I only recalled the opening two parter (helped by the comic adaption i owned) and the s2 opening with hawk. Even in my twenties i wanted to revisit this series but it wasn't available anywhere. It was until reruns on space channel; that i finally got to watch again in early 2000s. I was shocked at how bad most episodes were but still stand by the season one premiere. Interesting to hear about the season 2 behind the scenes. I always was annoyed by the changes. Kinda of liked Hawk though.It's insane to try to get rid of Erin Gray. I missed losing the other characters as well. None were replaced with any that were as good or better. I remember seeing Erin Gray on Silver Spoons soon after and finally knowing then that the show wasn't coming back. As a kid of the 80s i loved this show as did my friends. It could've been great. It deserved better.

[@rdbull5890]

Like you said, this show (and later Knight Rider) were the school equivalent of water cooler chat the next day.

[@Jordan-Ramses]

The second episode of the 2-parter was really cool. The destroyed cities with the weird zombie creatures were cool, its too bad they never revisited that.

[@perfectsplit5515]

@@Jordan-Ramses Yeah, those weird "zombie" creatures represented the slummy dingy parts of the city, which contrasted with the modern newer cleaner areas of New Chicago.

[@CorbCorbin]

Rd Bull Death of K.I.T.T. was huge! K.A.R.R.

[@perfectsplit5515]

@@CorbCorbin KARR was somewhat "copied" later on in Star Trek: The Next Generation as Lore, Data's evil twin brother. (Then he was copied again in the Knight Rider remake spinoff as a Transformer Mustang!)

[@JuandelaCruz001]

43 y/o man here. Glad to see I wasn't the only one who was, uhhh, "bothered" by Erin Gray at the time.

[@Not-TheOne]

"The robot with the questionably shaped head"

[@sasquatchandme3673]

I LOVED this show as a kid! I didn't know about the behind-the-scenes stuff during s2, but I can't help but see parallels between it and the disconnect with the Star Wars fanbase after the change of management at Lucasfilm.

[@MrDrokkul]

I LOVED this show when I was a kid. Saw it in reruns after school. Oh and...Mmmmmmm...Erin Gray...

[@muddfoot69]

When I was a kid this was my “must see tv”.....wow never noticed Twinkies head either

[@matthewhudson7883]

I never noticed it either. Now I'm wishing they hadn't pointed it out. - Once it is seen it cannot be unseen.

[@rjonboy7608]

Just remember, if all you think of is sex everything looks like a sex organ... (drools on self 🤫)

[@peterward2275]

To me Twiki's head just resembled Darth Vaders helmet.

[@rds4629]

I didn't notice when I saw the show as a kid. Loved his voice s1; good god, s2's voice was just awful.

[@Chalky.]

I just got a mental image of someone polishing Twiki.

[@perfectsplit5515]

And did anyone notice Dr. Huer made the appearance on Star Trek: TNG in "The Perfect Mate" as the handler of Kamala, the female metamorph (played by Famke Jansen)? Dr. Huer was a really old man by that time.

[@jupreindeer]

THAT'S the reason for the radical reformatting of season 2??!?? Would have never guessed. I always thought it was some desperate attempt to save the show. And...to think...had that jarring change not happened, there might have even been a third and fourth season. Maybe even revival attempts.

[@AlbertoMartinez765]

There have been rumors of a Movie reboot for years.

[@pwnmeisterage]

@@AlbertoMartinez765 Reboot movies/series are always very hit-or-miss, lol. Basically just "expensive fan films" ... which typically don't involve actual "fans" of the show.

[@Stormprobe]

Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century!

[@michelguevara151]

It is in need of the aloodium pyoo explosive space modulator

[@aboutthemetal8783]

I remember being 5 yrs old and watching buck rogers on tv, and some amazing toys came from grand parents, for me it was like getting a weekly Star Wars fix , I loved it, and I loved the mego figures , I played with them and my Star Wars figures, man I would give anything to be a kid again and re live the 70s and 80s , I wish the world had stayed in the 80s time frame.

[@mitchg7809]

"New" New York was mentioned in the episode with Dorothy Stratton. It's refered to a New Manhattan

[@largol33t1]

Wow, I'm surprised she was on the show. She was the Playboy model who was murdered. Later on, a biography was made about her called Star 80. Eric Roberts was very good playing her abusive boyfriend.

[@white-dragon4424]

She's shown in this vid. She's the blonde in the silver bikini.

[@docsavage-8616]

She also Starred in a Science Fiction Comedy called Galaxina, Where she played a Female Android.

[@ironwarmonger]

Thank you so much, I never noticed the shape of Twiki's head until you pointed it out, now I can't unsee it. Any while I do agree that I like the look of the Starfighter from Buck Rogers, the Viper got immortalized by being the inspiration for the Air Forces unofficial nick name for the F-16, because of BGC.

[@NoPatricioNo]

Another excellent episode of Retroblasting! This time on something I knew little to nothing about. Your videos are a great resource on late 20th century pop culture on top of being entertaining, very well made from a technical standpoint, and have ever-increasing production value. Also, Broken Vader is a national treasure. An international treasure, really, since he spent so much time in the UK.

[@pcojedi]

Hell, I did not pick up on Twiki's head until March 25, 2021. Thanks Retroblasting!!! And I am 55

[@shallendor]

Buck Rogers and Battlestar Galactica were 2 of my favorite old series! I love the idea of the Vorlon! I agree that seeing Erin's legs was always great!

[@vernonwilmervideo]

I love this channel. Sitting outside after work with a drink and my dog, and this video pops up in my feed and offers me the perfect decompression entertainment. I can't wait for part 2! Felix Silla is a friend of mine and I intend to watch this with him. Keep up the excellent work as always folks! You've got a big fan here.

[@RansomeStoddard]

I just remember that I had a Twiggy action figure from Buck Rogers and a Daggit figure from Battlestar Galactica (I think) and that gave me two more droids for the Jawas. I even tossed in a few Micronauts to round it out. Then there were the monsters from Battlestar Galactica and Clash of the Titans to help populate the Creature Cantina. So I was pleased with shows like Buck Rogers and Battlestar Galactica.

[@RansomeStoddard]

@@paulwalsh2344 Wait, what? Twiggy was fun to play with, but to say he was better than R2 or C-3PO is like saying that you prefer carbon monoxide over oxygen. Sure, carbon monoxide has its charms, but I'll stick with oxygen, thanks. Usually I just had the Jawas beating up Twiggy while R2 and C-3PO escaped.

[@RansomeStoddard]

@@paulwalsh2344 There is something charming about the old Kenner Star Wars 5-point figures. My shelves are filled with them. It would have been cool to see what Mego might have done, but with an 8 inch line you'd have to skip all the larger vehicles and playsets. Plus, Mego was competent, so we wouldn't have had all the goofy mistakes like tiny-head Han or Blue Snaggletooth. And that just adds to the charm of the series.

[@BloodyBay]

@@RansomeStoddard "Usually I just had the Jawas beating up Twiggy while R2 and C-3PO escaped." Say _what?_ Your Jawas were damaging their own merchandise! They could have just done their Jawa techno-wizardry to subdue Twiki without a fight, then sold him off to Ponda Baba for 2,500 Credits. Or at least that's what _my_ Jawas would have done. :-D

[@RansomeStoddard]

@@BloodyBay My Jawas were assholes. Well, there was one asshole and the others were sheep who listened to him. He took pleasure in destroying the droids before rebuilding them just enough to be sold. Sad, really. But then eventually Red Snaggletooth (who was obviously the son of Blue Snaggletooth) eventually came along and led an uprising against that jerk Jawa. He was imprisioned in that little cave thing on the Land of the Jawas playset with Sand People security guards watching him.

[@howardmoon2687]

"Starcrash" made for an amazing MST3K episode.

[@DarrinSnider]

Dammit, I've loved this series since seeing the movie in '79, and NOW you make me notice Twiki's head?! Bastards!

[@mr.funiverse]

You’re little skits in the beginning of the videos are hilarious! I love them so much! Keep it up with more great content

[@dromano1977]

Buck Rogers! Great episode, and a fun show. I'm looking forward to the second part. Buck was the very first action figure I ever owned.

[@backchat8086]

When I was a boy Wilma used to give me 'stirrings' before I even understood what they were 😁❤️

[@ryanweston6182]

I wish you could keep making vids like this. I have learned over time that we share a lot of the same views on toys from our childhood. But there are only so many of them.

[@thundersh0ck]

If nobody told me about Twiki's helmet shape I would still see him with my innocent child eyes.

[@ekruegerster1]

I adore this show from my childhood. So much so that I bought the Blu Rays a few years ago and re-watch the first season at least once a year! I've watched season 2 twice through and it was a painful experience. Great job on the recap of the show. Can't wait for part 2! :-)

[@lialborges]

I love Wilma Deering and Buck Rogers! Just good memories!

[@racafritz]

The disco aspect made me think of the Meco Star Wars. Anyone remember that track?

[@thanto575]

The first 2 hour episode was actually in the movies. Gotta love having a cool nerd dad back in the days of sci fi disco.

[@desertpunk7588]

Anyone remember the episode where Buck was gambling on the Blackjack machine? No one uses it, because they future people did not comprehend how the game works. Buck was winning a lot, so they eventually confronted him about cheating. He said something to the effect of, "I am not cheating, I can count!". When I first saw it, in the very early 80's, I said aloud, "As if there will ever be a time when people are unable to count simple numbers." SADLY, I NOW STAND CORRECTED...

[@radioactive9861]

I remember that episode...if memory serves, the game wasn't referred to as 'blackjack', it was called 'ten/eleven'.

[@fernarias]

Lol, calculators on the SAT. Not when I took it.

[@slappy8941]

I'd be happy if stupid kids wouldn't eat laundry detergent.

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

I'd be happy if stupid kids would eat laundry detergent.

[@Devillin]

Even sadder is talking to a high school teacher who talked about how his students could program all day long, but don't know how scissors work.

[@randomshotinthedark]

I really enjoyed season one (I have it on blu ray) Season two was a departure from an established and popular format. It was watchable. It wasn't Battlestar Galactica 1980 bad, but it was disappointing.

[@johnellizz]

Nothing is "Galactica 1980" bad. That's a one-of-a-kind phenomenon.

[@daveryder9617]

The first time I watched the Rick and Morty episode that introduced 'Bird Person', I immediately thought 'hey, it's Hawk from Buck Rogers!' They did eventually mention the city that replaced New York, it was simply called 'New Manhatten'...their version of New Orleans was called 'City-By-The-Sea'...bleh... The Buster Crabbe cameo was awesome!

[@RCAvhstape]

I thought New Orleans was called Delta City (as in "Mississippi delta") in the show?

[@daveryder9617]

@@RCAvhstape From IMDB, "A Dream of Jennifer" (Season 1, Episode 18) - "Buck sees a young woman who looks identical to his girlfriend, whom he left behind when he was sent on a space mission in the 20th century. The stranger, named Lela Markeson, catches a flight in the resort town of City-on-the-Sea (what was once New Orleans), and Buck follows her there." So, I was slightly wrong...it's actually 'City-ON-the-Sea'. :)

[@philipportelli7700]

Loved BUCK ROGERS despite the campy tone at times! And yes, Hawk was the best thing about season two! I have the DVD box set with the movie and both seasons!

[@perfectsplit5515]

Hawk was a unique tragic character. In his ship battle with Buck, Buck had Hawk's wife in his custody on board his starfighter. Hawk's ship's "claws" impale his wife on board Buck's starfighter. I remember feeling so distraught, because they were the last of their species, and she was seriously wounded. When she died, Hawk was the last of his kind, with no chance to procreate his species.

[@philipportelli7700]

@@perfectsplit5515 Season Two was very uneven. When it was good like the Hawk debut, it was great but when it was bad, it was really bad!

[@johnasbury7511]

All I can say is wow that is one of the best reviews of a show that I have ever seen yes I subscribed on my first viewing thank you good job

[@jimbyrdiii1503]

I must say, the first 90sec was my favorite part of this video. It literally grabbed my attention and would NOT let go!! U guys really know how to put together a well-orchestrated intro. BRAVO!!!!

[@EdsterIII]

I grew up in the 70's. Born in 1967 these Sci-Fi shows, and movies 🎬 were my escape and my love. I was a Mego Superheroes action figures fan as a young boy. Then Star Wars became the most popular and amazing toy available. Battlestar Galactica was another lesser known toy but another great show as well. We were blessed with the most amazing Sci-Fi experiences during this time. It was a epic time to be a kid!

[@frozenbricks1246]

Love to see you guys do collaborations with other people!

[@sfighter0085]

Great episode, I remember catching reruns of this show on the "Sci-Fi Channel" (now currently the "SyFy Channel"). I don't think I've really sat through a whole episode, but I do recall it looking like a cool sci-fi show. Interesting to learn how the show started with campy pulp sic-fi tone with the first season and went down with its second season, going with essentially ripping off "Star Trek" in some ways. Gotta give props to your friend Tom Berges for being both honest and funny in this video. Will be looking forward to "Part 2".

[@ibtaba]

I remember watching it as a 6 yr old kid and thinking that when Buck went in to space in 1987 that was sooooo far in the future.

[@ryansta]

Never ever occurred to me, all during my childhood and right up to hearing that observation made re Twikies head shape resemblance. You were right about not being able to unsee it again. Thanks for that ! hahaha

[@justinbradshaw5112]

Buck Rogers and Battlestar were my favourite shows as a kid. Solo, Rogers and Starbuck were great role models to have as a kid 😉 Made me the scoundrel I am today. I've tried to blank Buck Rogers season 2 and Battlestar Galactica 1980 from my memory. What they should have done was merge the two shows, and called it Battlestar Galactica in the 25th Century. I reckon it could of worked.

[@TheDutchGhost]

I actually considered such a crossover once in a fan fic story idea; the Galactica finally making it to Earth and running into Buck Rogers and the Earth Directorate. With the Cylons hot on their trail the two sides together with the Draconians (revealed to be a human offshoot despite claiming not so) have to work together to prevent being completely exterminated by the full might of the Cylon armada.

[@Woody-nc1ru]

Thats a brilliant idea, being a kid back then and the way things were, that wouldve worked. Probably would've been bigger than who shot JR? I like the role model comment too. Only role models kids have nowadays is that Sheldon guy.... For gawd sakes the even sensored Wille E Coyotee from hitting the ground.

[@jdavid2003]

When are you going to do a retroblasting of Space:1999?

[@majorhavik395]

I got the chance to meet both Gil Gerard & Erin Gray at the San Diego Comic Con in 2009. They were working a table together selling selfies for charity. My buddy paid it & I got to take the picture of the three of them. They couldn’t have been nicer. Ms. Gray was just stunningly beautiful at 59.

[@MUMSUniverse]

1 minute & 30 seconds in and I'm like, "Yeah... 'You got me." Just Liked, Subbed & hit that bell. Now to watch the rest of this video & beyond!

[@MUMSUniverse]

@@timothyward8695 Thank you! Good to be a part of this retro greatness.🎲🕹😊

[@thedave7760]

I don't care how hot she says those lights were there is no way they are as hot as Erin herself. I would think the lights were getting burnt by her hottness.

[@CaptGage]

My mom caught on to Twiki's head being "phallic" right in the middle of a first-season episode LOL.

[@SailorGhost]

Twikki was a "dick head" (literally). It's head also reminds me, the former president of Bolivia ( Evo Morales haircut). LOL!!

[@Lord_darkside74]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@willfomes406]

Buck Rogers is one of my favourite Sci Fi shows. I’ve only seen one episode. That episode being titled “Space Rockers” it was the coolest thing ever.

[@MontaukFilms7]

That's one of the better episodes... really well done. ANDRRRRROMEDA!!!!!!

[@wwetnabamafan194]

I happened to meet Gil Gerard at sci-fi convention here in Alabama & ask him many questions about Buck Rogers.

[@atomicbarbarian7372]

Very informative video. This show used to come on repeats on Sunday mornings and I'd catch it along with Super Friends and The Hardy Boys Mysteries.

[@ajivins1]

A while back on youtube I saw 'The Hardy Boys meet Dracula' with Lorne Green!

[@NewAgeGigolo]

Just found you. and subscribed. 👍. CLIFF HANGER?! Where is Part 2 😱?! I feel like we were friends back in 1980 in how you experienced BR. Same opinions of the show experienced with my family only we had no Internet or other friends to talk about it. I met Gil Gerard once. Nice guy. On a personal note, my parents divorced in 1980 and my brother and I went through much severe emotional issues then along with moving around the country and changing schools every year. Buck Rogers at that time seemed to be the one true escape for us (brother and Mom) to watch TOGETHER each week as the characters seemed like a warm family that we had lost. It seems sappy....but this show will always retain an intense special place in my formative childhood. Thanks for the care in making this retrospective. P.S. The older I became, the more I learned to ‘appreciate’ Princess Ardalla 😉👍

[@perfectsplit5515]

Hahaha - Princess Ardalla was a very unique villain - in that she was attracted to the hero Buck. She was their Catwoman and Buck was Batman. I still remember when she tried to force Buck to marry her under terrorist threat (or something like that). 2 other officers offered to marry her instead, but she would accept no substitutes.

[@NewAgeGigolo]

perfectsplit I personally love their strategic yet seductive dance they shared in the pilot. Also loved the accompanying catchy late 70’s analog ‘futuristic’ synth tune. “Remember the Trojan Horse” 😎 - said to Twiggy and Theo

[@cshelden3]

Another point to the importance and popularity of Buck Rogers is the fact that Gottlieb released a Buck Rogers Pinball long before Star Wars saw its theme in pinball.

[@wesdog8975]

The Thunder Fighter and the T-47 Snowspeeder are very similar in design

[@jameskennedy4377]

For me, the best thing about shows like Buck Rogers and Battlestar Galactica is that the action figures were the same size and had a similar look to the Star Wars figures and could be used to fill in the holes in the Kenner line, especially because there were no early SW figures for much-needed characters like Rebel troopers, the Rebel leaders, Tarkin, Wedge, Biggs, etc.

[@ShinAdamSmasher]

I always had Han and Chewie in the Falcon, Luke in the X-wing and Lando in the Starfighter from Buck Rogers. What a cool design that Starfighter was.

[@jameskennedy4377]

@@ShinAdamSmasher That was an awesome idea. I had the Starfighter too but I used it as just another Rebel ship. I remember that my Huer figure stood in for Tarkin and Killer Kane was Valance (a character from the Marvel comics). Buck and Wilma were still Buck and Wilma but they were other members of the Rebellion. I used nearly all the 3.75 figure lines of the era to fill in the gaps in the Kenner Star Wars collection, whether it was with movie characters or characters from the Marvel series. For instance, Adama from Battlestar Galactica was my General Dodonna and Starbuck was Wedge. The Black Hole figures also came in especially handy.

[@ShinAdamSmasher]

Buck and Wilma were part of my Rebel Alliance as well. Until the rubber bands that held the torso connected to the legs broke on them.

[@jameskennedy4377]

@@ShinAdamSmasher Yeah, all those Mego 3.75 figures were damn fragile - the bands, torsos, thumbs, arms, etc.

[@BloodyBay]

@@jameskennedy4377 My G.I. Joe figures had the same problem. I tried several times to fix my Major Bludd by replacing his broken rubber band, but I could never get the tweezers to hook the new rubber band up inside his torso just right. :-/ (My brother and I never had any Buck Rogers toys when we were kids, but we _did_ have Star Wars and G.I. Joe (the 3.75" action figures, of course). Naturally, the Joes joined the Rebel Alliance and Cobra joined the Galactic Empire. Cobra Commander was Darth Vader's backstabbing second-in-command (like Starscream to Vader's Megatron), Chewbacca got to drive the MOBAT tank more than once, and Han Solo picked Scarlet up as a girlfriend at some point. Luke got hitched with Leia because the movies hadn't told us that they were siblings yet. My brother and I never bothered to come up with a reason _why_ G.I. Joe and Star Wars ended up in the same universe in the first place.)

[@lo1bo2]

I vaguely remember this series, possibly from reruns in the early 80's. The Buck Rogers actor kind of reminds me of Lee Majors.

[@lawneymalbrough4309]

Yep. That's how lame writers and producers think. They lack creativity so they copy the work of others.

[@michaelcortez1531]

remember seeing the movie version at the local drive-in theater with my family, good times. I still love the opening credits and song. Thanks for the great video, sir.

[@ryiin]

Erin Gray. God dam. I loved this growing up.

[@lurkerrekrul]

The only thing I liked about season 2 were Erin Gray's costumes. I hated everything else. I didn't even like Hawk. I thought he was a silly character. I remember when the second season came on and I started watching the first episode. My reaction was basically "What the hell have they done to the show I used to love?" As for why the new producers felt the need to change it, the reason is that whenever you put someone in charge of an existing show, they can't resist putting their mark on it. You know, like a dog marking its territory. In other words, they piss all over it.

[@perfectsplit5515]

The premise of Hawk was somewhat ridiculous. A bird species with a humanoid body???

[@wyprman]

"They piss all over it." lol That is a great and accurate way of putting it.

[@2157AF]

@@wyprman One good thing about Hawk was that he inspired Bird Person character from Rick and Morty.

[@lukestrawwalker]

@@perfectsplit5515 Yes, and supposedly the back story was they were some mythical species of intelligent bird people from Easter Island on Earth, who'd taken to the stars after humans ran them off Earth. If their technology was THAT advanced they wouldn't have had ANY trouble driving off a bunch of cave dwelling humans?? Even Hawk alludes to the fact that his people "gave up their power of flight" and "became like humans" trying to fit in... The whole thing didn't make any sense at all, and was rather silly. I liked the way Thom Christopher portrayed the character, but I wasn't a huge fan of Hawk as a character... it was one of the few brighter spots in a dark and dreary second season, though. Later! OL J R :)

[@dugclrk]

I think many many people thought the same thing, "This is not the show I was watching." Hard for me to believe everyone went along with all the radical changes. Course, I don't know a thing about Hollywood.

[@FlorianD30]

The shape of Twiki's head. I didn't pick up on that until I saw this video.

[@weeliano]

Loved this! Really brings back memories for a kid from the 80s. You were absolutely right about us hungry for space science fiction shows after Star Wars. I would watch any space themed show on TV. Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers tops the list.

[@mistergeneration]

great breakdown... loved this show... I cant believe how scantily clad those girls were on a sunday afternoon looking back now...

[@michaelmetler6315]

StarTrek's 7of9 and T'Pol replicated Erin Grey's costumes,so in season 2 colonel Dering replicated TOS Uhura's uniform with a splash of sailor moon for fun👍🚀

[@ThatBrownBat777]

NEVER have I thought of Twiki in that way... You ruined my childhood...Just kidding. I just want WILMA WILMA WILMA WILMA WILMA WILMA WILMA WILMA WILMA WILMA WILMA WILMA...

[@andyfield3614]

Meet the Flintstones 😉

[@rtype1974]

My childhood is also ruined, I cant unseen it!

[@mikem5454]

OMG! After all these years! Now, I can't unsee that!!! Ruined for ever!

[@wesdog8975]

The Thunder Fighter in Buck Rogers resembles the T-47 Snowspeeder in the Empire Strikes Back as well because of Ralph McQuarrie

[@MegaDcmp]

"I never forget a knuckle?!?" Somehow I think that line had very little to do with Buck kissing her hand.

[@renzocasablancalivros2147]

You folks wone me over when the following comment was uttered "I´m a big Disco fan"! Keep up the good work, pals!

[@countzero1136]

The thing about disco is that it never really went away. Any party you go to, after the DJ playing an hour or so of current chart music, you'll always get into some late 70s disco before the night is out :)

[@mrcat3493]

Great childhood memories with watching Buck Rogers and Battlestar.

[@joebishop1712]

So first off: Wow this is an excellent presentation!!! Second: I never really looked into Buck Rogers as I easily become obsessed with shows/fandoms and Buck touches on literally everything I like so one more thing to collect scares me. That said, you have me wanting to watch it soooo bad now. Third: thank you for a fun, smile enducing start to my day.

[@dex7721]

The 1st Season of Buck Rogers was far better- Season 2 seemed like a riff on Star Trek.

[@mikeysuzefour]

I miss Buck Rogers and especially Erin Gray. *sigh*

[@anner091]

Actually, NBC had Buck Rogers in the early stages of development BEFORE Star Wars was released, but it wasn't until the studio asked Glen A. Larson to step in and start over from scratch that it finally got made. And while Buck Rogers is commonly thought of as Larson's show, he was only involved with the feature film. When the series itself went into production, it was under the supervision of Bruce Lansbury during its first season.

[@vincentfranklin17]

All I have to say is... Erin Grey and Princess Dalla got me through puberty!

[@novax-ig9yt]

I clearly remember watching this show with my mom in first run. Everything in this video is accurate: season 1 is cool. Season 2 is not. Space Vampire is my personal favorite. Hawk as a character was cool, but the only decent season 2 episode was the satyr one!

[@novax-ig9yt]

Also, isn't is sad that both Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers had pretty strong first seasons, yet network executives somehow found a way to destroy them both with their second seasons (or in BSG's case, Galactica 1980, it's successor series)?

[@bodhimind108]

Space Vampire really creeped me out as a kid.

[@perfectsplit5515]

@@bodhimind108 What stood out to me about Space Vampire is when Wilma Dearing is "possessed" by the Space Vampire and "throws" herself at Buck. He knows that she is possessed, and that it is not really her. He resists all her advances, and tries to "cure" her. I remember thinking that if I were in Buck's position, I would NOT have resisted at all! I would have GIVEN IN! Why can't a possessed Wilma Dearing throw herself AT ME???!!! Oh yeah!

[@bodhimind108]

@@perfectsplit5515 what got me was the red pov vampire shots; like when he corners Wilma. She really sells it.

[@lukestrawwalker]

I think the high point of Season 2 was "Testimony of a Traitor" where Buck is put on trial when a tape is unearthed inside a lead-lined box in the bombed-out remains of NORAD on Earth, and his best friend from the 20th century had recorded evidence he'd discovered that Buck had been part of a conspiracy to launch a first strike. Dr. Goodfellow hooks up a "flashback machine" to Buck's mind and it seems that everything he recalls from those days confirms his friend's suspicions, until he has a sudden "flashback" of Mount Rushmore. Busting out of custody with Wilma and Hawk's help, he goes to Mount Rushmore and with the help of a local park ranger, finds the president's "secret bunker" and there his memory returns, how he was recruited by the president to infiltrate a conspiracy planning to start the nuclear war, under "deep hypnosis" so he would actually BELIEVE he was part of the conspiracy, hence his flashbacks. This also suppressed all his memories of the events. Watching Buck's pain at knowing "the best friend he ever had, died thinking he was a traitor" and his insecurity at not knowing if "maybe he was guilty of what they accused him of" were probably some of Gil Gerard's best moments of the entire series IMHO... Plus IMHO it was a compelling story. Later! OL J R :)

[@jomeke101]

You could say that John Mantley was the Rian Johnson of 1980...lol

[@toweypat]

John Duwe haha! So true.

[@ianwestc]

Except Rian Johnson had a pretty good track record until Star Wars..

[@cosmo5179]

ianwestc Pff One movie? Come on son. Looper sucked bigtime. And now he will Johnson the career of Craig Daniel. F the roundhead

[@SuperWolsey]

Nah. Johnson wishes he had a Gunsmoke of his own

[@seansampson1927]

Faaaark, the first time I saw Twiggies head, was when you mentioned it in this video..Can't unsee now 😳

[@Phoenix5365]

One of my favorites was the one with Buck going undercover to infiltrate the gang. You showed a clip; Frank Gorshin always makes a great criminal, as did the portly telekinetic. The Batman alums, Mel Blanc, Michael Ansara...BUSTER CRABBE! This show always had fun for my screen. Then, season 2 happened, leaving us as wrecked as old Chicago. I'll fully admit I've watched too much TV over the years, but it usually leaves me wondering how network execs can make so many missteps that seem so obvious to us on the receiving end of the viewer.

[@hubbsllc]

I became a big fan of Michael Ansara after seeing him on BABYLON 5. I knew I had seen him in other shows before but something about his screen presence really popped and I went back looking for other stuff he'd been in that I hadn't seen, including the Outer Limits episode, "Soldier."

[@Phoenix5365]

@@hubbsllc His performances as the Blue Djinn and Mr Freeze are my favorites.

[@W4kT3k]

It was actually half way ( or maybe last 4 - 6 eps) through the first season where things went wrong (for me). Wilma was always at headquarters, never in the action, and it was the Buck and Twiki road show (with the exception of the two part season finale), no more characters like Major Landers, Major Danton & Commander Royko. Season 2 had some good elements, ( I like the ep when Buck turned into the Satyr, and the ep Buck was sick and saw lizard people) but yeah, over all a bad copy of Battlestar. Hawk was awesome, but really designated to "Side Kick" status, always following Bucks lead, in fact, despite Admiral Asimov (why was an Admiral commanding one ship, and not a combat ship either.)and Colonel Deering's superior ranks, it was Captain Rogers in charge. Twiki's voice change will always be criminal, adding the narcissistic android Crichton to be C3PO to Twiki's R2D2, and the stupid outfits, which Erin Gray looked amazing in, just bad idea's one after the other. The Studio Execs really know how to ruin good shows.

[@debrasedgwick4697]

As a teen girl, I was the odd one who loved sci fi, it was considered a "guy" thing. I loved Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers. Then, they turned stupid. I thought that I was being harsh, now to find out, I wasn't the only one who thought so. :)