The Sad Failure of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

[@georgeniebling6566]

There is nothing wrong with that show that more of Erin Gray couldn't fix

[@stevenhenry5267]

Exactly

[@ocularpatdown]

Hear! Hear!

[@Skabanis]

She is Smoke show

[@daveofyorkshire301]

It really didn't matter that it took several episodes before she figured out passable acting...

[@reidycruise]

Queen Armadala

[@brianknapp6215]

The first season was really fun to watch- especially all the guest stars: Roddy McDowall, Jack Palance, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cesar Romero, Frank Gorshin, Markie Post, Peter Graves, Gary Coleman, Ray Walston, Dorothy Stratten (a tragic tale), Richard Moll, Anne Lockhart, Jerry Orbach, Judy Landers, Sid Haig, Vera Miles, Julie Newmar- and Buster Crabbe! Edit: looking over this list- I realized that _three_ of the villains from the 60's Batman series were guest stars!!

[@johnnyjohn2527]

Doubly unfortunate as Dorothy Stratten's voice was dubbed in the.episode. Rip, Dorothy. 💖💔✌

[@MerensWorld]

Buster Crabbe was classic LOL

[@jamied501]

Gil Gerard worked for my grandfather at the AIDC in Arkansas before he left to be an actor. Everyone liked him. Also season 2 Wilma went from being a squadron commander to a flight attendant.

[@Theywaswrong]

Ran into Gerard several times around Heber Springs....usually the Walmart, Hahahaha. Think he had a place on the lake around Tannenbaum. But I have never watched an episode, just knew who he was.

[@MerensWorld]

Then to a Secretary when she was on Silver Spoons.

[@hepchaos]

As a fan of the genre, I have to point out that Edgar Rice Burroughs published the first John Carter novel in 1912, a full 12 years before the publication of Buck Rogers.

[@kennethphillips6006]

Glad someone pointed that out!

[@freakyzed8467]

Colonel Deering was my first TV crush.

[@dinomonzon7493]

Can’t blame you! 😇

[@joes9954]

She was for pretty much any teenage boy growing up back then. It was nice to see her in a few episodes of Star Trek Continues as Capt. Gray which was rather nice.

[@hoosieryank6731]

I tuned in for Princess Ardala initially, later went for the good Colonel.

[@Naurif]

Man--Erin Gray was especially beautiful in that series.

[@rtstrong]

Erin Gray and her shiny spandex jumpsuits… yeah, boi..!

[@mattwho81]

Gotta love a future where pilots are so dependent on computer targeting that the Drakonis can beat them simply by jamming the target sensors. Then a 500year old dude turns up and say, “Why not shoot manually?” And everyone amazed.

[@ntal5859]

I watched the episode were Buck went to the space casino[5 at the time] turned to my Dad and said how can they not added two numbers and are amazed at Buck's ability to add. Little did i realise within 40yrs this is reality most people can't do basic maths anymore.

[@MaMastoast]

@ImOnIt4272 We honestly had a moment at work where the act of taking a piece of paper and drawing what we meant took an embarrasing amount of time to come up with... we were trying all sorts of computer related solutions.

[@dyslectische]

​@@ntal5859 Jip by technology make people more stupid

[@kennethfharkin]

This and Battlestar Galactic both had outstanding first seasons and disastrous, near unrecognizable, second season which ended the shows. I remember both and even as a 10 year old kid could not understand why both shows were destroyed.

[@triphazard6802]

I always wanted the Battlestar Galactica fleet to finally get to earth and find the Buck Rogers crowd there. A crossover that would have thrilled kids everywhere.

[@GaryCameron]

I wanted BSG to reach Earth in the 23rd or 24th century and encounter the Federation which then obliterates the Cylons.

[@apreviousseagle836]

@@GaryCameron So geeky and Deux Ex Machina, but I would have approved of the Enterprise D just HAMMERING a few of those Cylon Basestars.

[@danielserene4532]

@@GaryCameron I always thought about them getting to Earth and finding the SDF-1. I'd love to see some Cylons dealing with Veritechs.

[@putinscat1208]

They did get to Earth and met Mike Brady.

[@Wilphart]

@S D I resemble that remark!

[@dwiggins1]

One of my all time favorites shows as a kid! I even met Gil Gerald and Erin Gray at Wizard Con a few years ago.

[@swanofnutella4734]

For a "failure" they sure did rerun this show a lot. This was a cornerstone of my tv upbringing.

[@JCG52577]

Still running! One of the retro channels plays it every late Saturday night.

[@DocMicrowave]

Same here. Though I was always disappointed when season 2 rolled around in the reruns.

[@DocMicrowave]

@@JCG52577 Yep, MeTV I think.

[@AjI2009]

This guy has no clue. They are evn doing a remake with George Clooney

[@Pdalow]

Troll 2 has been seen by quite a few people as well, do you consider that a success? This show went downhill in its second season and that's why they cancelled it. There's nothing wrong with admitting that something you like isn't good, try growing up.

[@retro_reflections]

Erin Gray - hotter than fire. Twiki - criminally underused. The second season - almost as bad as Galactica 1980.

[@zufalllx]

Oooohh... And Galactica 1980 was BAD...

[@mjwbulich]

Erin Gray is how I discovered I was heterosexual. That spandex outfit had me feeling things that seven year old me did not understand.

[@Q80Warlock]

@@zufalllx Except for the last episode that had Starbuck...

[@babykosh5415]

Except for Bird Man....Bird Man was Cooooool

[@lancemartin6782]

Erin is mine....i saw her first. I am her bestest fan. I told her that every day when I mailed a fan letter for 12 years..... ..

[@jacobhope6164]

I met both Gil Gerrard and Erin Grey at the 1st Annual Twisted Terror Convention several years ago. My wife and I went to see some of the actors from The Walking Dead, you know, back when that show was actually pretty good. For me though, ole Buck Rogers easily stole the show. We talked for about an hour, and he's a really cool older guy. Apparently, he and Erin Grey still don't get along. He had a funny, but still respectful way of talking about it. They had separate booth on opposite sides, and opposite ends of the main convention hall. I spoke briefly with Erin Grey. She was as beautiful as ever, and gracious. I could see though that hearing "You were my first crush" all day long was taking it's toll on her. So I told her "My first crush was my kindergarten teacher Mrs. Sneed, but I used to wish my mom was more like you on Silver Spoons." That got a genuine laugh from her.

[@TheBlackPaulMuadDib]

I'm not hiding the fact that I watched this show for Erin Gray. Hell ha. Hot, Hot and more Hot.

[@redbyrd64]

One of my favorite Wilma lines was “I drained him, and it felt good “. Let’s just say that line and Erin’s delivery fueled some pubescent dreams

[@bitplaya7432]

I watched it for the evil princess. She was hot

[@yannbeelen1630]

First one who fell in love wilth when i was 10

[@bobbythomas9603]

Yup, the space vampire episode is etched into my brain.

[@JuanGonzalez-hv6vs]

Me too, I had a crush on her.

[@davelightman]

Great summary! Much as with Galactica, I tend to view Buck Rogers as a 1 season deal. Such a shame that 80s sci-fi tended to start huge, and run out of steam incredibly quickly. Another great example was V - I prefer to think that the subsequent series never happened.

[@ruscular]

I didn't even know there was more V series, and watching it now. I consider Buck Roger as a one season show as well. I think I may have agreed to Gil Gerard point of view. He knew what made the show great, and they steered away from it because they made the show silly and safe for the kids.

[@Dorelaxen]

I LOVED this show as a kid. Still do. I've managed to meet the majority of the cast. Gil Gerard is the nicest guy you could ever imagine.

[@stevekitt52]

Agreed. A very friendly bloke. Erin was also very nice to meet.

[@lukestrawwalker]

His career was pretty slim after "Buck Rogers" IIRC... only thing I can remember seeing him on was "Star Trek Continues" which was a fan-fic production LOL:) Later! OL J R :)

[@Dorelaxen]

@@lukestrawwalker Yeah, he had some serious weight issues after the show was over. Ballooned to over 300lbs. He talked about it pretty candidly. Worked his ass off for over 2 years to get back into shape. He's looking pretty damn good these days.

[@lukestrawwalker]

@@Dorelaxen wow that's crazy didn't know that. I know from his part in "Star Trek Continues" he didn't age anywhere near as well as Erin Gray...

[@machupikachu1085]

@@lukestrawwalker Didn't Gerard also do some show with a kid who was a ninja?

[@MarcTheLoneGamer]

The Buck Rogers opening music is one of the best and nostalgic TV themes ever IMO. :)

[@Grinlathak]

Muah Ringtone!

[@wolf335599]

Its pure and magnificent disco

[@rojui5912]

Was a fan of Erin Grey as a kid after watching some Buck Rogers reruns.

[@Berengier817]

Just googled her, I can see why

[@canibaloxide]

She was my first celebrity crush

[@saiberunato]

Yep, looked pretty fine in her tight jumpsuit.

[@gregn8206]

Not to mention that Erin Gray has aged exceptionally well, in appearance and professionally….starting a company helping ex-celebrities on the convention circuit.

[@KennethDPedersen]

She was my first crush also!

[@wtk6069]

As a kid, I didn't get the semi-satirical seventies vibe that ran throughout the first season, but, rewatching it as an adult, I appreciated the added texture it gave the show. It made it smarter and self-aware, and it was sorely missed in the second season when that kind of thing mostly vanished.

[@kj6446]

Erin Gray was my huge crush back then ❤

[@solomonkane102]

She was in playboy

[@stickiedmin6508]

"Was?" I left forty behind a disturbingly long time ago, but I still pine for Colonel Deering. Growing up seeing ladies like her on the screen implanted the inclination within me to seek out female company that not only beguiled and bewitched my eyes but which could also neatly and confidently kick my ass and leave me wishing for more. To this day, a flight suit and helmet, with a pair of big, heavy boots is *_FAR_* more enticing than flimsy fashions, high heels and a ton of makeup...

[@phayroent9742]

I only remember her from Silver Spoons with Ricky Schroder and the boy that grew up to be Carlton on Fresh Prince!

[@Journeyman.71]

I always *LOVED* the vinyl costumes that just had a picture of the character(s) or a poster image on the torso, rather than an attempt to mimic the look of a character!

[@ottototo8]

The space vampire episode with Wilma Deering in the satin, magenta, jumpsuit...

[@solomonkane102]

Markie post

[@timberwolf0122]

biddi-biddi-biddi nice bum Wilma!

[@krasskswg]

Not gonna lie - that episode creeped me the hell out when I was a kid.

[@johnw8578]

@P Stace Me too

[@kengaroo67]

And the Vorvon was wearing Commander Adama's medallion.

[@EastsideShowSCP]

As a fan of stuff like Buck Rodgers and Flash Gordon, I did enjoy the TV show and played Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday on the Sega Genesis. That game is one of my favorites on the Sega Genesis. You can watch Buck Rogers on MeTV every saturday night on Sci-Fi Saturday nights with a bunch of other shows. Its a nice nostalgia trip.

[@Lordjunon]

That genesis game still holds up for the most part to this day.

[@inthefade]

@@Lordjunon I rented that game many times with a close friend. I remember it being really good, and I thought basically no one else had played it! Great tactical RPG, and the space combat was really fun too.

[@seymourbutts9085]

I was always a fan of Buck Rogers and Flesh Gordon but that's just me.

[@anderclayton9856]

Pretty cool game.

[@EastsideShowSCP]

@Wiley Combs space quest was a hilarious series, same with most if Sierra games during that time period.

[@Wis_Dom]

As a child, I honestly learned about Buck Rogers through "Duck Dodgers", lol.

[@stevedenis8292]

Best them song by Tom Jones.

[@austintrousdale2397]

…in the 24 and 1/2 Century!!! 🦆

[@piercesable344]

I on the other hand heard of him through a quick mention by Danny Mcbride from "This is the End"...

[@Omegaslashbuster1]

Not only was Duck Dodgers a thing it was a SNES video game.

[@brianknapp6215]

Marvin the Martian is- and always will be- my favorite Looney Tunes character!!

[@malcolmar]

Well done! I loved this show as a kid. For some reason, it really captured my imagination back then. Because of changing viewing times back in the day, I was never able to see the whole series. Thanks for the tip of being able to watch this on the NBC website. I am actually more excited about watching restored old shows in HD than watching many of the "new" shows out right now. Keep up the great work!

[@philipportelli7700]

They actually wanted to drop Erin Gray for Season Two but Gil Gerald fought for her! And I liked the character of Hawk! He had a cool ship!

[@zt1053]

They could have added hawk but kept the format the same

[@brianknapp6215]

I _did_ like the episode "Journey to Oasis" from Season 2. You had Mark Lenard playing an alien who could _take off his own head-_ fer crying out loud! Plus Alex Silva pulled double duty as both Twiki *and* that weird blue alien Odee-x!

[@DocMicrowave]

I think they actually did 'drop' Erin Grey in season 2. She was almost like a different character.

[@jackdunn5147]

@@DocMicrowave The softened her up alot for season 2

[@jackdunn5147]

I thought the Hawk birdman concept was silly. I know they were trying do demonstrate tolerance but come on.

[@kafan439]

Still one of the best opening theme and credits ever. Gil Gerard and Erin Gray were everything at the time. The original Angela and Tony. The 2 parter where Buck went undercover as a criminal and helped prevent the super-baddies from their plan of destruction still stands as a fave of mine. And Hawk was a pretty cool addition. The roller dancing performance couldn't change how cool this show was at the time.

[@MudSluggerBP]

Wilma Deering was my first childhood crush ❤️

[@manofsan]

Pamela Helmsley as Princess Ardala wasn't bad either

[@gshaffer84]

Uber Hot, Epic.

[@randomhandle]

Same.

[@manofsan]

Met actress Erin Gray at a Comicon 10 years ago. She's a grandma now, but she's still a slim & fit-looking grandma. She arranges and chaperones celebrity appearances at comicons.

[@curtismathews1582]

I had a thing for Buck and Hawk and I think they helped me become the Gay man that I am today!

[@Whalewraith]

The weird thing is that at the time Buck was pushed over Galactica, yet Battlestar has had far stronger legs over the years.

[@jhnpwlk]

Gil Gerard is from my hometown. One of the biggest things to come out of small town Arkansas.

[@NateSean]

You'll get another one. Eventually.

[@peanut1001x]

he had a massive weight problem

[@Stygian360]

This show had two major things going for it when I was a kid. One it was a science fiction lover's dream. So much cool technology and spaceships and aliens and so forth. And second it had the lovely Miss Erin Gray.

[@wstine79]

There is a MeTV Sci-Fi watch party on Saturdays via Twitter. We watch Svengoolie, Star Trek, Buck Rogers, Kojak the Night Stalker and Lost in Space. The show still holds up, even the 2nd season.

[@babytoshiro7014]

👌 awesome

[@TheRunningLeopard]

I’m so glad I’m not the only one who enjoys the scifi Saturday MeTV puts on.

[@eligebrown8998]

Sweet

[@ajclements4627]

I wish they’d run the PotA series and animated one again.

[@wstine79]

@@brainlock72 I would fix it, but I don't wanna loose my like.

[@navbuoy]

I could have sworn that the Starfighter design was actually a throwaway from Star Wars itself and was eventually repurposed as the Snowspeeders in Empire Strikes Back. Ralph had a lot of unused designs from Star Wars that sorta popped back up in BattleStar Galactica too.

[@overninek5139]

I loved this series as a kid. I don't think we'll ever see another version of this Buck, tho...

[@brodriguez11000]

80's was about campy.

[@mayloo2137]

@@brodriguez11000 and it didn't just apply to sci-fi series. You also got night-time series like Dallas, Knots Landing, etc. All those night-time dramas were high camp.

[@speedracer1945]

I was 19 and grew up on comics and after Battlestar Galactica left Buck Rogers was great sci fi with great action and of course Erin Grey who was hot .

[@daveroche6522]

"What could she be doing in her cabin with 3 Buck Rogers......pause..... FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF?" Best line ever!

[@LordPachotron82]

A little correction: John Carter debuted far earlier than Buck Rogers.

[@thesamster5859]

I was about to say rhe same thing.

[@chadfalardeau5396]

John Carter was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the same guy that wrote the original Tarzan novels too.

[@onjohns1]

I came here to say this.

[@nigellemaitre8363]

@@onjohns1 Me too, John Carter debuted in 1912. Buck in 1928.

[@Vesperitis]

@@RyanMercer I'm still sad I'm one of the few people who actually liked the Disney version.

[@johnwakefield4473]

That purple lycra suit she wore is the reason why I have always liked the colour since.

[@lamartherevenger]

Was watching this show recently and had to laugh. So many stars were on it. Gary Coleman, Frank Gorshin, Markie Post, Dennis Haybert, Jack Palance, and of all people, Jamie Lee Curtis.

[@spacedinosaur8733]

Yep, I got it on 💿 and watched again for the first time after many years.

[@coreylevine8095]

And all of Batman arch enemy were on the show

[@jacquelinecallejas1390]

I remember the Jamie Lee Curtis episode. It brought up co-ed jails.

[@timmooney7528]

Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratton was also on an episode (Miss Cosmos)

[@kathymartin7724]

@@timmooney7528 yes I remember that episode. Bless her heart.

[@half-assedcraftswithbigmik4301]

The starfighters in this series are some of the sharpest designed.

[@Sergiovsousa]

And with the ugliest laser beam colour...what was that? Greenich yellow vomit?

[@johnthwaites5976]

Only watched it for Erin Grey, she made me feel all funny as a young man 🤣🤣

[@Vato-Psyko-Loko]

I watched for princess Ardala.♥️♥️♥️

[@redbyrd64]

I watched for both

[@Vato-Psyko-Loko]

@@redbyrd64 you stud!!!

[@timmooney7528]

IIRC Erin was originally supposed to cut from the cast in season 2. I think everyone knew that was a bad move. Kind of sad that she went from being Buck's equal in the first season to being a sidekick in a stewardess outfit in the second season.

[@sadev101]

@@Vato-Psyko-Loko ardala was kinda the kinky one.

[@theriddler8695]

Buck Rogers was great....another classic from my childhood. 2nd season stunk!! And yes it did feature some hotties: Pamela Sue Shoop - who also starred in Halloween II Jamie Lee Curtis - another Halloween alum Markie Post - who sadly just passed away Pamela Hensley - who also played C.J. Parsons on Matt Houston Erin Grey - of course who could forget Willma who later starred in Silver Spoons

[@BenPanced]

WE DON'T TALK ABOUT SEASON TWO. Especially since Wilma looks like she's about to come down the aisle and ask you if you have any trash or remind you to put your tray table back up in its full, upright, and locked position.

[@TheLAGopher]

To be honest, season 2 did have some diamonds in the rough such as The Testimony of a Traitor, Satyr, and The Guardians.

[@brianknapp6215]

@@TheLAGopher "Journey to Oasis" wasn't bad, either!

[@brianknapp6215]

Hey- there's nothing wrong with crushing on a stewardess... especially if she looks like Erin Gray!😍

[@mathieu4204]

It's a fun show, but season two feels like a totally different thing. Season's two's only cool factor: Hawk's ship. That thing looks awesome and would have made an incredible toy for 3 3/4" figures.

[@alucard624]

Hawk in general is the best thing about Season 2.

[@ApothecaryGrant]

Thats why he was created . To sell toys . I thought he was awful .So was Chrichton .

[@kylebrooks3683]

I always loved the design of tge Starfighters. Such a sleek, brutal shape. It looked fast sitting still.

[@legendmir1]

Completely agree! It’s a fantastic design.. almost out of place in this mediocre TV series

[@samfrito]

Yep. That ship and the Marauder ship were really sleek and could be the thing to salvage from a toy collector. Surprised Mego made accurate toys of them.

[@jlarrybrewer1149]

ABSOLUTELY!!! The Starfighters from Buck Rogers and the Cylon fighters from Battlestar Galatica were the BEST spaceship designs from the 70’s

[@jlarrybrewer1149]

ABSOLUTELY!!! The Starfighters from Buck Rogers and the Cylon fighters from Battlestar Galatica were the BEST designs from the 70’s

[@stickiedmin6508]

@Benjamin Willard It's telling that so many of the absolutely iconic silhouettes and craft designs of my (I could even be as presumptuous as to say, "Our" - it seems a fair assumption that most of us here grew up with the same fascination for cool looking spaceships) childhood can be traced straight back to Ralph McQuarrie. The sleek, pointy fighters from Buck Rogers, The Colonial Vipers, X-Wings, TIE Fighters and pretty much everything else in between; It's nowhere near enough to say that the guy _influenced_ the way whole generations view, imagine and see sci-fi - He directly *_shaped_* all our ideas of how futuristic science fiction / fantasy should look. The world would be a *_VERY_* different place without Ralph McQuarrie . . .

[@xposhboyx]

As a child I was totally mystified and devastated that the series just ended in a puff of smoke.

[@emuhill]

It was a puff of smoke that got redirected to your rear. That was what the second season was to the fans. The producers should have known better than to try and blow smoke up the fan's butts as nobody likes that.

[@UnclePhil73]

I just got Twiki saying “Bidi Bidi Bidi” all the time out of my head. Lol

[@favoritemustard3542]

Welcome back, Twiki!

[@eligebrown8998]

For sure

[@rickc2102]

I used to smoke strawberry bidis, so a fair number of times that damn robot peeked out from deepest memory to make me crack up.

[@originaluddite]

And then his golden gal-pal from that cruise liner episode was forever saying 'booty booty booty'...

[@eligebrown8998]

@@originaluddite i forgot all about that

[@Bunkeralpha]

I remember this show in reruns as a kid. I thought it was great. Another gem lost to time and thankfully I have the series on DVD to remind me now and again.

[@JohnKelly2]

Princess Ardala was my first crush, sorry Leia. And I had that lunch box. I even carried it for 2 years!

[@Elwaves2925]

I never cared for Ardala or Leia in a crush type of way. Wilma Deering to a certain degree but crush wise, I was already spoken with Cassie and Athena from BSG. :-)

[@majorpwner241]

That lunchbox is awesome. I barely even know the show but wanted that when I saw it.

[@JasonHauser125]

I loved Buck Rogers as a kid. But even then I recognized the wide disparity from Season 1 to Season 2. It was jarring how much the tone shifted. And the video game Countdown to Doomsday is a flat out classic rpg, very fun. It is amazing how much cool stuff they packed into that little game.

[@masterpainter72]

The original serial Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon Buster Crabbe made a guest appearance on an episode during the first season as General Gordon(!!)

[@austintrousdale2397]

Remember seeing him on that episode in syndication. Writers gave BC some dialogue that was a nice wink at the audience.

[@gloworm6387]

@@austintrousdale2397 " Son, I was flying before you were born."

[@mikegrossberg8624]

@@gloworm6387 Gordon: "I was doing this before you were born!" Buck: "You think so, huh?" Gordon: "Son, I KNOW so!"

[@MerensWorld]

Yes and Buster is not his Real name. He has a Comic Book Name. Its Clarence Crabbe. They should have had him in the Flash Gordon movie with Sam Jones aka the Highwayman. Flash Gordon QB N.Y. Jets. Busters scene in that episode of Buck Rogers was Iconic.

[@gringotom242]

I grew up watching repeats of this in the 80s and still love it today!

[@WritersOnTheWall]

idk about sad failure but I'm literally watching buck Roger's space rocker episode in a parking lot with my kids waiting for my oldest to finish karate class

[@charliepotatoes001]

Coolest Dad Ever!

[@WritersOnTheWall]

@@charliepotatoes001 tell that to my duaghters lol

[@spacedinosaur8733]

Space Rocker episode was the best... along with the Olympics episode.

[@maxcooper6554]

Love Space Rockers! Favorite episode! Besides, who can resist Jerry Orbach as a villain?

[@spacedinosaur8733]

@@maxcooper6554 Buck Rogers had the best villains

[@woltzwurld6760]

The phrase “oh my god, WILMA!” was uttered often in the early 80’s.

[@rmglover3191]

Oh, Erin Gray. The 51 year old me gets the same stirring as the 9 year old me when I see those pictures. You, Catherine Bach, Farah Fawcett, and Lynda Carter. What a childhood. Absolutely loved the opening theme of the movie.

[@stevenhenry5267]

No Jaclyn Smith?

[@Sir_Gerald_Nosehairs.]

Always thought the problem with Buck Rogers was that it didn't have that one good recurring villain that a hero needs. Princess Ardala was pretty hard to root against, she was far too entertaining and far too good-looking, Kane and Tiger Man had their moments of likeability, too. Maybe they should have made more of Emperor Draco.

[@machupikachu1085]

This. To have a story arc, a show is only as good as it's villain.

[@therealpaulortiz]

Dan- I just want to say...you've taken the beard game to the next level! Wilma Deering was probably the best thing about Buck Rogers!!! Thanks for the great video good sir!!

[@bobbusby5058]

Erin Gray and that signature jump suit gave the show extra seasons. I was a big fan, was it the best Sci Fi ever? Nope, but Erin Gray had me glued to the tv every episode!

[@editingsecrets]

And the outfit was glued to her every episode!

[@elizabethmolino8262]

Buck Rogers really need a reboot just like how Lost in Space got a reboot on Netflix.

[@iancarpenter441]

No more reboots, re-imaginings or rehashes! They're always bad!!!!

[@paulleach3612]

@@iancarpenter441 Lost in Space was surprisingly good. Slight twists to help seem fresh, but intertextual enough for familiarity. (As for always being bad. Let's not forget Cape Fear. De Niro is chilling in a remake that is better than the original.)

[@LeeStoneman]

@@iancarpenter441 No they're not. BSG was better, Lost in Space is excellent. Most of the time they're worse, but not always.

[@altha-rf1et]

Unless they do it good like Star Trek Battle Star Galatica reboot was awful

[@iancarpenter441]

@@paulleach3612 The original was better for sure. Much more in the way of acting and atmosphere.

[@altonbunnjr]

Yeah Buck got turned into an intergalactic wise ass in the series. The only good part about season two was when the crew of midgets tried to undress Wilma with telekinesis. And I had a big crush on Erin Gray too.

[@zepmarq]

I always liked the opening theme. While not as kick-ass as "Airwolf" or "Knight Rider", it was still cool... 😎 In an 80s synthpop kinda way.

[@asyourgm]

And the real-life Saturn V footage helped.

[@zufalllx]

That's the only kinda way ;)

[@shaggycan]

Probably the best opening of any TV show ever, and the 80s had a lot of great openings.

[@phillipthorne8363]

@@asyourgm I was a space-nut as a kid, so I recognized the Saturn V footage for what it was, and couldn't reconcile it with the shape of the "Ranger 3" spaceplane.

[@dwainpannell4931]

There are lyrics to the song look it up on KZbin

[@KendrickHarrisKenfinity]

We're never "stuck in the future" when we reconnect with our awesome but changed and then short lived sci-fi series. Stay safe everyone!

[@MikeKaess]

Flint Dille had me put together a short video show casing Buck Rogers back in the beginning of 2020 because he was trying to get some things off the ground. Then the pandemic happened and I have no idea what even happened to all that.

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

Whoa! Was Frank Miller involved? They were gonna collaborate on a "Buck Rogers" film a long time ago in a galaxy... well, in our galaxy.

[@MikeKaess]

@@warpartyattheoutpost4987 not to my knowledge. And if he was, he wasn’t involved in anything I was. But I was only involved a short time before all the cons the videos was going to be shown at were cancelled.

[@Cre8Lounge]

Flint from Claster?

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

@@MikeKaess, thanks! I'm gonna watch your Black Series Greedo comparison video. I have the Greedo from the cantina shootout with Han Solo box set.

[@dinomonzon7493]

Flint Dillie wrote for G. I. Joe and Transformers.

[@markelijio6012]

For "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," both extraordinary artists were Bruce Broughton who won his first Primetime Emmy Award in 1981 and the special effects wizards of EEG's Boss Film Studios in Los Angeles, California in the second and final season. It's not a bad TV miniseries, it's fun to watch and grow.

[@davidhanson4909]

Am I alone in hating cute robot sidekicks? Even as a kid I wanted to flush Daggett and Twiki out of airlocks.

[@alphawlff]

I seem to remember Space 1999 suffered a similar fate. First season was good and then they did a 180 for the second season.

[@bigneon_glitter]

Wasn't a failure any more than the _Flash Gordon_ movie was. Loved _Buck Rogers_ when it aired. I remember it being fairly popular, it was more accessible (and entertaining) than _BSG,_ Gil Gerard ranked high with TV heroes like Lee Majors, & the reruns ran for several _years_ after the original run - bookending the weekday afternoon block of premiere cartoons at 5pm (in my city).

[@BlackArroToons]

@HPMcQueen Agreed, well said, thanks. Buck Rogers was a fun, entertaining series with a number of well-written, varied episodes to keep things interesting along with some great characters and conflicts.

[@ColdRFusion]

Indeed. Yes Gil Gerard was very popular, he was on Battle of the Network Stars two years running '79 & in '80 with Princess Ardala, Pamela Hensley

[@originaluddite]

Two seasons and a bunch of toys is hardly failure by my standards. Then again, I actively seek out one-season wonders, so my standards are pretty low.

[@gladspooky9455]

It's the cheapest-looking show ever made and features the sappiest '70s lead you could possibly cast. They also literally go into a space disco at one point.

[@originaluddite]

I watched Dr Who and Blakes-7 back then so, as a kid, I thought Buck Rogers had slick production. As for the sap, well, everything, especially from the US, was kinda like that then, and everything was disco if it wasn't new wave or punk.

[@farleysmoke5130]

Absolutely loved this show as a kid. Need to hunt down the DVDS. Thanks Dan great video 😎👍🏼

[@bunkerzero]

I caught a couple of Buck Rogers episodes on SciFi channel... When The SciFi channel used to be.... cool 😎

[@kmaru80]

God l loved the Sci Fi channel for the first several years

[@elizabethmolino8262]

@@kmaru80 ,It's a shame it went to crap as the years went on.

[@bunkerzero]

I hear that! Loved SciFi channel as a kid, showing old school classics like Lost in Space, Land of the Giants and of course Buck Rogers as well as MST3K (also shows like sightings )

[@l0g1cb0mb]

It was great when it was "This is Sci Fi!", and "This is Sci Fi 2.0" Something went sideways when they changed it to SyFy - that's a bug, not a feature! When they get someone to fix that I think they'll be back on the right track, but until then, they're in they're own Bizarro world not doing what it says on the tin. But I ain't one to gossip... .

[@altha-rf1et]

No I do not even know how to find it

[@welshhibby]

I love the fact he comes back to earth thousands of years lateR and its the late 70's with disco MUSIC !

[@padawanmage71]

I remember watching the pilot movie when it originally came out and I’ve been trying to find it on dvd, Blu-ray, etc. I specifically remember a scene where Buck calls Colonel Deering ‘sir’ out of respect since he knew he’d pushed it too far with his antics.

[@ajclements4627]

On August 17, 2016, Madman Entertainment released the series on Blu-ray to Australia and New Zealand in 1080p. The eight-disc set includes each episode in HD. Extras include theatrical version of the Pilot episode and feature-length version of "Flight of the War Witch" (both in standard definition), the syndicated two-part version of "Journey to Oasis" (in HD), textless opening and closing credits sequences, opening credits without voice-over narration, and isolated music and effects audio tracks on each episode. The Blu-ray sets have been released in various other countries since. As of 2019, all the episodes are available for streaming for free on the NBC app, it’s on Tubi as well. Kino Lorber announced a Region 1 Blu-ray set to be released on November 24, 2020. It includes the movie (in HD for the first time on home media) and seasons 1 & 2.

[@festushaggen2563]

I was too young at the time to get into Buck Rogers but thanks to my favorite station MeTV and Super Sci-Fi Saturday Night, I’ve finally been able to see what I missed all those decades ago. It’s not Star Wars or Star Trek but it’s and easy watch with a great 70’s vibe underneath the campy sets and costumes. Liked it so much I bought the dvd series for my collection because it’s fun and new TV shows suck.

[@ob1quixote]

When kids ask how the '70s really were, the answer is they put Pamela Hensley in those outfits on Prime Time national TV. That's how it was.

[@ob1quixote]

Oh, and I'm pretty sure that in our house at least Tigerman and Twiki joined the Star Wars figures, the Adventure People, the G.I. Joes, and the Woodseys in defending the Supertrain from Darth Vader.

[@MegaTempo22]

I know. And Buck Rogers aired during the family hour of 7-8 p.m.

[@briancross7835]

"The original space man! The ultimate trip! Buck Rogers swings back to Earth and lays it on the 25th Century!" Classic...

[@djzyx]

I've got blue prints for UFO's and all sorts of inventions.

[@nikolatesla8143]

@Back from the Deadpool yeah sure buds

[@djzyx]

@@darthkai8242 I just was hungry for fish sir

[@samfrito]

Great video. Brings back memories of seeing the movie in the theater with my dad (RIP serial watching padre) and feeling kind of ripped that the movie became the two-part pilot on NBC. I was a kid. I definitely don't feel as shafted as the MASK / Jace Wheeled Warriors fans. And don't even get me started on Speed Buggy.

[@NGMonocrom]

Ironically, Gil Gerard was 10,000% *wrong* in wanting to make the show more serious. With the exception of Hawk, and a couple of the stand-alone episodes, season 2 was garbage! More serious was the wrong direction to go. The biggest irony is that Gerard as Rogers was completely believable whenever he delivered those comedic lines during season 1. Had he stuck to acting, the show likely would have gone on for at least 5 seasons (assuming nearly all of the changes in season 2 hadn't have taken place.)

[@only257]

Agreed📼

[@ericmcphail4544]

This. All I remember from 2 is the guy that can remove his head for no good reason whatsoever and the oddly sweaty "ALCOHOL IS BAD" episode where they drink wine and turn into Satyrs.

[@jayexonauts5587]

Agreed. And they ruined Wilma too!

[@rdbull5890]

@@jayexonauts5587 They turned Wilma from an ace fighter pilot to a flight attendant. The only thing she was missing in season 2 was a drink cart!

[@bashsibda6289]

Hawk was the coolest ever.

[@jeffburnham6611]

One of the more noticeable cross-overs between BSG and Buck Rogers is the control stick of the fighters. It's the same one we see in the Colonial Vipers.

[@keithconnell8460]

The fighters in BR were the original Colonial Vipers before they were scrapped and used in BR instead. At least that’s the trivia line from another channel I watched. Can’t confirm that personally

[@ericheckenkamp6091]

This is sad, because despite the disco funk, and the bad 2nd season decisions there was a really cool show here. I have been a Flash Gordon/Buck Rogers fan forever and this one was great. Princess Ardala....fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[@mx472000]

Amazing how they tried to make Gil Gerard look like Lee Majors.

[@JackBeddows]

How? His hair was different? Isn't that just the way he looked?

[@mx472000]

@@JackBeddows facial structure and the hair style they gave him.

[@peanut1001x]

Star Wars rip off

[@dbeane43]

Rediscovered this show by accident on Me TV. Its cheesy but a far as 70s/80s sci fi it ain't bad.

[@julymiller2308]

Currently on tubitv

[@christopherlabye3039]

Thank you for the "McCloud" MST3K drop. That alone made me supremely happy. Also thank you for this amazing back story.

[@stewartglencrose9023]

I feel like someone could sue Red Dwarf, a man in suspended animation, wakes up in the future and a robot called Kryten

[@tigerbread78]

In that case, they could sue Futurama, a man in suspended animation, wakes up in the future, and a robot called Bender (Crichton is spelled differently from Kryten)

[@mistermaestersirthomas9164]

Shhhh, don't even think that!

[@JLvatron]

"Wot the Smeg?"

[@CarolusMagnus2501]

Parody is legally protected as a "derivative work."

[@RobCamp-rmc_0]

I think Patrick Stewart wanted to sue Grant Naylor for ripping off TNG but 1. realized that Red Dwarf was first and 2. sat down and watched it and ended up enjoying it

[@mrjones29]

Erin Gray and Pamela Hensley were two of the sexiest women on tv at that time, and honestly there was a bevy of legendary beauties during the 1970s on American tv rival shows.

[@glennszydlowski5987]

I think that both Erin and Pamela were even sexier because they both played strong, powerful, independent women. Pamela was perfect at playing the strong, spoiled princess that exuded raw sexuality in every scene she played. Erin perfectly played a strong, independent woman on the outside but showed that she was also a sensual, passionate woman on the inside. It is a shame that they wrote Princess Ardala totally out of the second season and reduced Erin's role to a glorified flight attendant with minimal impact to the story.

[@mrjones29]

@@glennszydlowski5987 Yep you're right. But I loved Erin's look in the 2nd season, a space flight attendant in a hot mini skirt 🥵😄

[@jgray7440]

The story of Buck Rogers and how it relates to Dungeons and Dragons is fascinating.

[@gameoverinsertcointocontin8102]

I remember playing a Buck Rogers game, which was basically the AD&D rules adapted in a sci fi setting. It was one of the classic 'gold box' SSI AD&D games.

[@fleafrier1]

@@gameoverinsertcointocontin8102 As I recall there was a game just like D&D that was called Gamma World. It was post apocalyptic and had futuristic weapons, armor, etc.

[@maxheadroom4659]

I love this series. The intro is one of the best ever. Very creative and cinematic.

[@rustedbeetle]

Erin Grey was my first crush! I didn't know at the time (during the show's first run) that she was older than my mother by a year.

[@datswissguy5387]

Best sponsor segment ever.

[@joshuamstark]

Yesssssss thank you!!! Gil Gerard… resident of the state of Arkansas!

[@christopherlabye3039]

Also, Colonel Deering was the first time "I felt funny" as a boy. :D

[@baroncalamityplus]

Love the super serious messed up Earth from the movie. Earth being a brutal Fallout post apocalypse like setting with humans gathered in a few futuristic cities shielded from the outside. I liked the less serious tone of Buck and his adventures in the first season but I wish the Earth from the movie was still used.

[@curtismathews1582]

I never did see the movie, just the TV series.

[@PhillyBagel]

I always assumed those mutant ghettos still existed. They just weren’t as big and bad as Deering made it sound because she was trying to scare Buck from wandering into one.

[@jjm152]

Erin Gray was my 11 year old self's first "she makes me feel funny". I'm sure I'm not alone.

[@ComicBookNostalgia]

Clooney is too old BUT....he would be a great "Old Buck" telling the tales of his adventures and narrating the film/series

[@CarlosGomez-vt9pk]

@@brainlock72 Egg-zactly. Maybe Chris Pine could pull off Buck.

[@Sergiovsousa]

@@CarlosGomez-vt9pk That would look strange, he´s allready Kirk...

[@muznick]

Clooney can only play Clooney. He is kind of like Buck, but way more smug about it.

[@sylvarogre5469]

Another great dive into the backstage maneuvering that brought an untimely end to one of my childhood favorites. 👍🏼

[@jackielinde7568]

It's funny that the voice actor for Daffy Duck was cast as Twiki... because there were a few goofs Warner Brothers did on the Buck Rogers stuff... "Duck Dodgers" specific goofs...

[@stevedlu4252]

im very surprised it was not mentioned

[@napoleonwilson6499]

In the 24th and ½ century!

[@HawthornHawk]

@@napoleonwilson6499 a bee a a bee a Big Deal

[@anthustenebris9202]

@@napoleonwilson6499 The extra half is important!

[@Prich319]

Where can I get an Illudium Q-36 Space Modulator? The Earth blocks my view of Venus.

[@jcope3886]

"Pull out your cards and your backgammon boards. Lucky Buck is back!"

[@jroberts2nd]

While I was the perfect age to have loads of these toys, since I was That Kid Who Watched Any Sci-fi He Could Find and was the target audience-the only thing I had was the set with over 35 pieces. Alas, I don't remember precisely how many pieces there were above 35. This will haunt me forever.

[@TheRetroMess]

All I remember from that show was "Biddy biddy biddy". And I kept getting that confused with the robot dog on Battlestar Galactica and the robots in The Black Hole, Lost in Space, and Silent Running. LOL

[@Rojixus]

Literally waiting to hear if this was on Peacock, I used to watch Buck Rogers all the time on Sci-Fi!

[@zt1053]

Its on the free app tubi

[@ArcanePath360]

I had that Buck Rogers ship as a kid. The yellow wings flipped out with a button press. It was good quality and made of metal.

[@sofubisamurai]

Fun fact: John F Dille is the grandfather of Flint Dille, who is responsible in some way for 85% of the pop culture kids in the 80s grew up with.

[@dougjohnson1199]

The show was not written to be an epic saga, it was just tv entertainment. A fun show to watch. The second season looked to be budgeted out of the change in a piggy bank. I still watched it.