Whatever Happened to BUCK ROGERS in the 25th CENTURY?

[@dwaynelangerhr6985]

I went to Universal for a casting call one time. I went thru a back gate and had to walk thru the back lot where I saw the life size starfighter sitting next to the Viper from Battlestar Galactica.

[@MoviesMusicMonsters]

Wow that's amazing. Did you get any pictures?

[@kudukilla]

The women of the show did things to preteen me.

[@claytonbouldin9381]

Erin Grey is an absolute sweetheart. I first met her at Chicago Comic con and she sat down and just started talking to me like I was a long-lost friend. Adding to my story I was riding the shuttle that went from the hotels in Rosemont to Chicago Airport I was reading a comic book waiting for the bus to leave. Someone asked if the seat next to me was taken, I looked up and it was Erin Grey...again. We talked about random stuff, my Sister just gave birth to my niece, she scrolled through the pictures on my camera and told me my Mom has the same couch as she does. It was great! Eventually, the airport shuttle made it to the airport and she said, "bye" and left to catch her plane.

[@lamarravery4094]

That story is unbelievable.

[@favoritemustard3542]

That story is awesome!

[@MoviesMusicMonsters]

That is super freaking cool - so glad you had a chance to meet Erin. Thank you so much for sharing. Cheers, Dan

[@SEKreiver]

Erin was SMOKIN'.

[@Limited_Light]

@@SEKreiver What, was she smokin'?

[@Limited_Light]

@@SEKreiver What was she smokin'?

[@SamanthaMunitz]

I loved the Buck Rogers movie/pilot and season 1. Unfortunately, season 2 was abysmal. The naysayers can disagree all they want. Total crap!

[@kennethwilliams9301]

I agree it wasn't as good as the first season but there were a handful of season two episodes that were tolerable

[@musicman201047]

No, season 2 was horrible and boring.

[@Rob-z7k]

Wasnt Gary Coleman (Arnold) in it?

[@keithknechg3217]

Agreed, was never a fan.

[@AdamSnyder1234]

I did Iike Hawk, though.

[@RobertJohnson-bj5lk]

I was 9 years old in 1977 when I saw Star Wars in the theater. I couldn’t get enough of it. I watched the original broadcast of every episode of Battlestar Galactica, every episode of Buck Rogers, The Black Hole, that campy awesome movie Flash (the Queen soundtrack is still incredible), and the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special. I loved every bit of all of it.

[@droe2570]

I was 8, 1 month shy of my 9th b-day when SW came out. I loved all those movies and shows back then, never missed an episode if I could help it.

[@JoseyWales44s]

The absolute coolest scene in Buck Rogers was Col. Gordon, played by Buster Crabb, assuring a dubious Buck that he had been dogfighting spacecraft since before Buck was born.

[@noneya3635]

And the fact that he’s was Bick and Flash makes it even better.

[@charlesbard2331]

I just want to say don't forget a little Syfy outer space show called quark....

[@Captain_Sarcastic]

@@JoseyWales44s While this was great, as a kid, I had no idea that he was anyone other than an old pilot in the episode.

[@JoseyWales44s]

@@Captain_Sarcastic Although I was 12 at the time I was a sci-fi buff, like my father, and was well acquantited with Buster Crabb and his roles as Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers and Tarzan.

[@xaenon]

@@charlesbard2331 I keep TRYING to forget QUARK. The fact that they made a STAR TREK character with that name has confounded me for three decades now.

[@thomascefalo938]

Princess Ardala: wow-beautiful and funny character

[@robertdouble559]

Erin.....whoa. I was only 7 years old when I saw the movie in 1979. Thanks to Erin, I walked out of that cinema a man.

[@monologic4806]

NGL as a teenager it was the women and a few characters that got my attention. Never realized how amazing Markie Post was until Buck Rogers.

[@1wwtom]

I don't understand how network TV execs get much less keep their jobs. I cant name how many TV shows have a great 1st season but then get turned into garbage in the 2nd season then disappear. It's just ridiculous!

[@kpowers]

For the 70's I agree with you, it was Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and Buck Rogers. I would also add Space:1999 too

[@rodh1404]

I'd add original Star Trek to that list. Yes, it was first aired in the sixties, but it gained it's real popularity via re-runs in the seventies.

[@kpowers]

@@rodh1404 And that is why I did not say Star Trek because it was from the 60's

[@jc4388]

Erin said those outfits were so tight they made her cry.

[@historybuff66]

Being a then age 19, certainly made me cry…

[@chriscutress1460]

The best episode was the one in which Buster Crabbe appeared as "Gordon". Great to see the original Tarzan, Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers appearing in the new version.

[@GaryLASQ]

Buck Rogers suffered the same fate as Space 1999 ... clueless meddling by studio executives, that screwed up the second season, which led to a drop in ratings and the show's cancellations.

[@ddoucette]

I’m 55 and remember loving this show as a kid but this is the first time I ever heard about the movie that came out first. Now I must seek this out to watch!

[@gpetheri]

Now do "Duck Dodgers, in the 24th and a 1/2 Thentury".

[@veranet99]

I can't believe that Princes Ardala was only in four episodes. She left a lasting impression. But Wilma was still my favorite. Erin is just gorgeous.

[@JPSE57]

"Biddy-biddy-biddy. Hubba-hubba!"

[@ZXLNT]

@@JPSE57 Boody Boody Boody.

[@CollideFan1]

As a young teen boy when this came out, my eyes were on Erin Grey. 😍 Buck who?

[@stevenbaer5999]

I love watching Buck Rogers in the 25th Century as a 12 year old kid in 1979. My friends and I would be talking about it and sometimes we would have go to each other's house to watch it.

[@MrAndyBearJr]

Don't forget about "DUCK DODGERS, IN THE 24TH AND A HALF CEN...TURY!!!"😄😄😄

[@jameskwaka]

One of the very best Warner cartoons. DUE UP!!!!!!

[@oxcart4172]

Erin Gray was stunning

[@steveadams7550]

Princess Ardala was great. I'm so sorry she was in so few episodes.

[@1Rhettsgirl13]

That first season was great! Actually my favorite thing about the show was the detail in the different costumes. They were so creative. I also loved Wilma before they made her a flight attendant in the second season.She was a woman with authority in the 70s. A warrior.

[@evancortez2]

Not to mention Markie Post pre "Night Court" and Ana Alicia pre "Falcon Crest"

[@xaenon]

Also... DOROTHY STRATTEN.

[@loganfive-x2u]

Jamie Lee Curtis pre everything.

[@evancortez2]

@@loganfive-x2u post “Halloween”

[@droe2570]

Not enough Princess Ardala.

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

Erin Gray now runs a business booking stars for convention appearances...

[@davidsanders5652]

Pamela Hensley only in 4 episodes? Wow...she made a hell of an impression on me. Interesting.. And thank you.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

She was a smoke show. 🔥🔥🔥 The woman on ABCs Matt Houston looked a lot like her.

[@victortorres3776]

Had an opportunity to meet miss Erin Grey at a convention around 10 years ago. She still looked as good as she did back during the series. She was very wonderful to meet. I hope to meet her again one day

[@deanhaden7279]

I think it was the pilot ep. where twiki goes "bdbdbd, what a body" when Pamela Hensley walked past......I was in stitches and remember it to this day.

[@Waterratt4344]

I worked on the restoration of the Draconia. It was a mess when it was brought into the shop, but we restored it back to film condition, including some of the fiber optics. It was a lot of work, but it was nice to see it go. I am one of the builders in the photo.

[@MoviesMusicMonsters]

Wow, that is super freaking cool, thank you so much for sharing. Cheers, Dan

[@douggraham5082]

Thanks, Dan! My brother and father and I saw the movie in the theaters and loved it. We also really liked the first season, but even as a little kid we could see the huge drop off after the first season. Beyond that we kind of gave up on the show. I actually once randomly bumped into Felix, who played Twiki, at a hotel and I went over and said hello. He was very kind.

[@suproliver]

Mark Lenard was also a famous guest. I recall him from season 2 of Buck Rogers. He had the ability to physically remove his head. I know. Weird. As we know, Mark Lenard famously played Spock's Vulcan father, Ambassador Sarek. He also played a Romulan commander in the first season of Star Trek. -OG

[@MrNeil-qs5fo]

I met Gil Gerard a few years ago here in the UK . He was such a nice genuine bloke. Sitting on his table he actually came to the front and spoke to me, my wife and my 2 boys and asking all sorts of questions .Never asked for an autograph because I was so happy to just speak to him.

[@JoseyWales44s]

Erin Gray and Lynda Carter. The 70's were amazing for young males.

[@docsavage8640]

Don't forget Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, Farrah Fawcett, and Cheryl Ladd.

[@PerspectiveEngineer]

Never was a jugs man myself. Brains and a pretty face still turns me on. That and a good foundation. Legs go a long way into Getting to the point. Thanks girls! You rock.

[@LaserRanger15]

Erin Grey may have been the prettiest woman to ever be on TV. It was a very fun show. Wish it had been able to keep up the quality.

[@bashirD]

yeah!

[@fernandoorozco3751]

When I was an 18 year old nerd I worked at a grocery store here in Southern California. Pamela Hensley used to come in to our store pretty often. I used to take her groceries out to the car for her. You can imagine what a fanboy I was even back then. She was a very kind, sweet, and beautiful woman.

[@rachelmartin8130]

I remember as a little kid we were on a tour of universal studios. At one point the tour tram stopped and we went into these three different sound stages They asked for volunteers in about 20 hands went up and I was one of four that was picked. In the the first soundstage was something to do with model effects and the second one was one lucky kid was chosen to ride a bike with ET in the front and they showed how they did the flying through the air affect. Then we went into the third sound stage. It was now my turn as well as a older girl to participate. They took us behind the stage and handed us flight helmets and uniforms. They told her she was Vicky and I was Buck Rogers. Now mind you I was a big fan of the show as a kid. Used to run around with a wire whisk as a Buck Rogers gun. So I was blown away. We got into our costumes and was led on to the stage where a cutout of a shuttle cockpit was on display. The host told us to go ahead and step in and sit down and press any buttons we want except for the Big Red One or we would go into hyperspace. The girl sat there pushing buttons left and right. But me , I was frozen. I thought for sure I would push the wrong button and kill us all. I must have been six or seven at the time. Anyway by the time I started to reach over and press a button the demonstration was over and we were done.

[@MoviesMusicMonsters]

Wow, Rachel, that is super freaking cool :) What an amazing experience. Thanks so much for sharing. Cheers, Dan

[@robertpease9834]

I loved the original mini-series of V. It was just so awesome. It really kept us guessing.

[@DC-xr5lb]

Star Wars, Buck Rogers and Battlestar Galactica. Damn skippy, they were fantastic.

[@Randy_Batswinger]

The episode with the space disco is hilarious! Come to think about it, the whole show was a space disco! 😂

[@Golo1949]

Col.l Wilma Deering was my heart throb, she was gorgeous.

[@sometimesfriendly9839]

I had remembered Season 2 as better than Season 1, then when I rewatched the series I realized my memories were very wrong. My favorite episode is probably Space Vampire. The vampire looks ridiculous now, but back then it gave me nightmares.

[@StevenToddScholl]

oh Erin Gray, take me away!

[@JPSE57]

That's why I watched Silver Spoons, too!

[@CessnaDriver2]

Pamela Hensley made a Sci Fi Con appearance back then in LA, I was there and she was VERY much IN character for her appearance. Now she sells cookbooks!

[@CowboyRobot2000]

The South Park 2-parter where Cartman froze himself so he wouldn't be tormented by having to wait for the Nintendo Wii to come out and was eventually defrosted in the 25th century was the ultimate Buck Rogers tribute.😁🖖

[@stevephlyer]

A tremendously fun show to watch in 1979. Season Two was indeed disappointing so much that a Third Season was not missed. You forgot to mention one more must-watch wonderful film in those years… Flash Gordon.

[@markbanash921]

I especially liked the Draconian ship because it just wasn't a basic shape with a lot of model kit parts glued to it. I liked the layers or laminar structure as it seemed to give a lot of detail to the way the decks of the ship were actually laid out.

[@QuorkEx]

Unchained woman is a particular favourite episode of mine from season 1. Jamie Lee, Curtis and, in particular, that outfit she was wearing still linger in my memory even now 🙂

[@easternyellowjacket276]

Wow! It's the first prototype for the Tesla CyberTruck: 3:17

[@jeffjohnson3191]

Robots head looked like another kind of head you know we all were thinkin that

[@Hector-Javier-Shalamar-1997]

Indeed ! It looks very "interesting" , to say the least. 🤣

[@artmakersworlds]

VERY cool indeed. This was one of my favorite shows in the day. Especially Hawk, LOVED that character.

[@michaelwhalen2442]

Dan, there is another guest star you could have mentioned. Her name was Dorothy Stratten. She was the Playboy model who was murdered in August 1980 by her husband, Paul Snider. She was in an episode called "Cruise Ship to the Stars."

[@xaenon]

Not 'could have' mentioned - SHOULD HAVE mentioned. Stratten was the most beautiful woman to ever appear on the show.

[@michaelwhalen2442]

@@xaenon Point well taken...

[@loganfive-x2u]

She also appeared in a Science Fiction film called Galaxina.

[@warmachine9846]

My 6 and 7 year old self wasn't looking at Wilma quite that way. She was just another girl in the show at the time but watching the show today my appreciation for those space suits has definitely improved

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Spandex! She did look hot. Even as a 8yr old, 9 I did not get how Wilma was 28, 30 & a full Col! That takes 15-25yr in most service careers.

[@halemcdan1]

I think Erin Grey accelerated my puberty.

[@hc3932]

Changing Twinkies voice was the final straw.

[@DocMicrowave]

That and turning Wilma into a stewardess. Excuse me, Airline Attendant.

[@zerogrey3798]

This was probably one of my most favorite shows as a kid.

[@robtorres]

I love your enthusiasm! Great vid! .

[@billpark8988]

I remember the episode with Buster Crabbe. The line ...you look like you've done this before. The answer from Crabbe...before you were born.

[@mikehearse7354]

Surprisingly Harvey Levin from TMZ now owns Twiki. He was a huge fan of the show. Great episode Dan 🎉

[@paulsarnik8506]

Gil was great and I loved Erin's skin tight costume. 🥰🤓😎✌🏼🛸🤖

[@simonfernandes6809]

What do I remember of this series? Princess Ardala. Formative stuff.

[@c1ph3rpunk]

Wilma for me, boy was that one formative, even at 10.

[@kellydavis3108]

Please do a video on the old Project UFO series. I really liked it as a kid.

[@ggilesy]

I found my old Buck Rodgers figurine sitting in a drawer at my dads place last year......I was sooo stoked. There was also a mini Star Fighter with it.

[@MoviesMusicMonsters]

Wow, that is super freaking cool, thank you so much for sharing :) Cheers, Dan

[@KeithStegall-j7m]

Your show is like comfort food,I look forward to each new episode.Well done thanks Dan!

[@Endoplasmic-Reticulum]

Believe it or not… How about doing Greatest American Hero?!

[@MasatoKay]

Don't forget Twiki was voiced by the legend Mel Blanc

[@anthonyx916]

What I remember most was the parade of guest actresses the likes of Jamie Lee Curtis, Markie Post, Morgan Brittany and Judy Landers.

[@lamarravery4094]

Where was Morgan Fairchild or Heather Thomas? We needed them in season two episodes.

[@davidponseigo8811]

Princess Ardolla may have only been in 4 episodes but her gorgeous body was in 8 episodes. At least that's how my mind remembers her.

[@WillieBowen-o2n]

Princess Ardala

[@kyelsavage6296]

They jumped the shark when they dressed Erin in the candy striper uniform.

[@SaturnCanuck]

A good show (1st Season) and campy but fun. I liked how when Buster Crabbe appeared he was Brigadier Gordon - a reference to Flash Gordon, who he also played. Now, for us who were teens then, we have to make mention of the opening titles of the movie, where both Erin Gray and Pamela Hensley are featured. Ahem.

[@fazole]

I think Twiki's Egyptian look was heavily inspired by the Japanese sci-fi kid's show Johnny Socko and his Giant Robot"

[@stephenchappell7512]

Nah Checkout Dr Who and the 'Robots of Death' from 1977

[@jerrymail]

Wilma and Princess Ardala were certainly good arguments for a young teenager to watch the series. 😁 I watched again the whole series quite recently and I enjoyed the first season particularly (don't forget John Quade !)

[@davida.2947]

I had the Terran Starfighter model as a kid. I strung it up in my room on fishing line at an angle so I could pull it to the higher side and let it slide down to the lower side like it was flying.

[@MoviesMusicMonsters]

Nice :-) do you still have it?

[@antonnym214]

Oh. I had such a crush on Princess Ardala. Still do! Pamela, you were the best.

[@kevinrichards8119]

Loved it,Saturday evening in the early 80’s...used to watch it with my gran...bless...

[@MonsterGrove]

Cool video . Yea princess Ardarla was awesome i didnt realize she was only in 4 eps

[@haweater1555]

@@MonsterGrove "Launch the Megacannon!"

[@maxsmodels]

Monogram models made a kit of the Buck Rogers Terran Starfighter and had trouble selling them. Now they are over $150 on Ebay. Oh well, missed my chance.

[@DiverBand]

Loved this show. Erin Gray was absolutely gorgeous!

[@maxsmodels]

All hail Princess Ardala... she can conquer...you know what, maybe I should just keep that to myself...

[@haweater1555]

My brother & I were a bit too young to "get into" Star Wars or BG, but we loved the daily reruns of BR after school in the early 80s. (In the late 70s we watch Battle of the Planets. And before that was Jason of Star Command ).

[@Geolog66]

That is quite a flashback from my childhood. I remember watching that series when I was about 11-12 years old. Some of those futuristic buildings were shot at the site of Expo 67 in Montreal, where I live. Another show I enjoyed a lot in those years was "Space: 1999", I wonder where all those amazing props and models ended up.

[@PixelatedH2O]

I had the opportunity several years ago to meet Erin Grey. I asked her what she thought specifically of season two, and it was clear she didn't like talking about it. To be fair, I like to pretend it never happened too.

[@The-Real-Kevin]

Buck’s starship is still my favourite design. Wilma… hubba hubba!

[@scottkellogg3502]

Glad to hear that the "Draconia" still exists. I went looking for pics of it online several years ago and couldn't find anything. Also Glad to hear Gil Gerard fought to save the show from bad writing. In some ways the show was almost "Starbuck but without Apollo" where the producers realized that Smart Alec Starbuck was the break out star of Galactica, and tried to duplicate that, but without the chemistry.

[@Jason_Waguespack]

Gerard as Starbuck...yeah I defintely can't see that working. Gerard could be funny and irreverent, but he also projected seriousness and thoughtfulness. He was just too grounded to pull off full Starbuck. Plus you need that more serious character for Starbuck to bounce off of, like Apollo and Boomer.

[@jamied1579]

11 year-old me absolutely loved this show - I loved the Sci-Fi aspect but yes, I admit I loved Wilma in her outfits and the other female costumes. Oddly enough, my dad, who wasn't into Sci-Fi, started watching the show, I soon figured out why...lol Always thought the Terran Starfighters were among the coolest looking ships ever made. Personally I liked Twiki, I think it helped he was voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc, I doubt he would have worked without Mel. I never understood the changes to season 2...totally different show. Gil Gerard supposedly had to fight for Erin Grey to still be in the show, but the Ice Cream Parlour outfit was...disappointing to say the least. Rumour has it a lot of the changes were at the demands of Gil Gerard, largely because of his issues with the show you mentioned, as well as a new showrunner. Admiral Asimov was supposed to be a distant relative of Isaac Asimov, Crichton was Uber annoying, but the only good thing about Season 2 was undoubtedly Hawk. I have the blu-rays - they look absolutely awesome!

[@therongperson]

Excellent video as always! Mark Leanerd was also a guest star on Buck Rogers. He played an alien that could remove his own head. Seems logical.

[@hcanderson3787]

Dan, you and me had the same childhood, I was obsessed with Battlestar, Star Wars, and Buck Rogers too, in addition to The Micronauts, Space 1999, Jason of Star Command, Space Academy, etc. The 70s was a goldmine of awesome sci-fi. Love the vids, keep 'em coming!

[@MoviesMusicMonsters]

Thank you so much for the kind words. I truly appreciate it :) Cheers, Dan

[@raymondmartin6737]

Colonel Deering, Erin Gray, did adverts for Bloomingdale's Dept Store, "Like no other store in the world. "😊

[@crzyces1693]

I remember when I was around 7-9-years-old. This show used to come on a channel I did not get at my house. Cable was absurdly rare where I lived, not actually making it to my area until I was 14 or so and we only got 6 (CBS), 10 (ABC) and 12 (NBC). 25, 38 and 56 often showed syndicated Sci-Fi shows and 1960-1970's rerun cartoons along with a little anime but we were not getting any of those without the antennae on the roof of the house getting lucky because of a storm or some other odd meteorological situation. *_Sigh_* I did catch this at a friends house a few times though, and wow did I love it. Weird, but I kinda miss sappy science fiction shows that both kids and adults could watch. Kids got the adventure and the adults got to laugh at the silliness of the whole thing. Win win.

[@stephenbrower1755]

Dan. Figured I’d tell you a short story. 1983 in my tiny little high school in Roxbury NY. I had access to a new fangled machine, the Apple II e. I taught myself how to use and write basic computer programs. Now the reason for my story. I made a word program fully based on Buck Rodgers. I contacted Universal Studios and told them what I had done. To the horror of a 17 year old kid, I was contacted by Universal Studios lawyers. They threatened legal action. I did not have permission to do this and demanded I destroy all copies of said word game. Wow. I still to this day 41 years later have this letter. Figured you might get a smile out of this. Love you Chanel BTW. Thank you for reading this.

[@MoviesMusicMonsters]

Wow, that is super freaking crazy, thank you so much for sharing Stephen. Cheers, Dan

[@sterling557]

I would tell them now "It's PARODY, Lawyer dude. Buy the Rights from me." Hah!

[@howardhoman8233]

Erin was my adolescent dream, but space series also were hope based fun. Have you looked at Space 1999 (Moonbase A)

[@KibuFox]

I remember watching this on TV in the 80's. Though the way Twiggy always went "biddy biddy biddy" drove me nuts.

[@jimdigriz2923]

Twiki

[@theuberbob]

Loved this show as a kid. I bought the Blu-Ray set and lot of it holds up better than I expected, especially Gil Gerard's performance. I've met both Gil Gerard and Eric Gray and am pleased to be able to say that they are both incredibly nice people.

[@jonathanrayne]

I loved Cricthon...and that episode where Buck has that fever and can see that green glow around those visitors who turned out to be lizard people. I also LOVED that vampire episode!

[@Boyer316]

Battlestar and Buck weirdly used the same launch tube effects, as a kid I remember thinking that was weird.

[@Poizenne]

They also swapped props .

[@1asdfasdfasdf]

I was working for a PBS station at the time of production. Some of the staff was involved in the series. I remember how impressed they were with all the matte paintings that were created. I think that at the time a record was set for creation and use if those paintings in a TV series. 🎨🖌️

[@FIREBRAND38]

Great job, Dan. I learned a lot of new stuff on this one. On the one hand you have the Leonard Nimoy example where new directors coming in telling him to have Spock do this or that and the actor explaining that he's not going to do that because he character wouldn't. However, looking into Gil Gerard's career he apparently engaged in a combination of cocaine and then after the show he started binge eating junk food eventually ballooning to 350 pounds. It also seems that Gil Gerard resented the First Season theme that Colonel Deering was in command of him. He nixed an episode ending for _Escape From Wedded Bliss_ where she would have rescued Buck at the end. That's why in the Second Season she was just plain Wilma Deering now dressed in what I would have called a car hop waitress uniform, as well as staying on the ship while Buck and Hawk played Kirk and Spock on that week's planet.

[@thelisanalgaib9702]

watched Buck Rogers on Tubi about a half year ago. brought back the feels for this Gen X'er (1977), the soundtrack and first season are great. loved seeing the ladies in the wonderful 70's and 80's outfits. I struggled through maybe 5 episodes of season two and just couldn't anymore.

[@tomholroyd7519]

We called it T&A in the 25th century. That's why you watched it. T&A