Battlestar Galactica

by Michael RichComment — Updated August 3, 2023

Battlestar Galactica

September 17, 1978 – April 29, 1979
(24) one hour episodes (1 season)
in color on ABC
Created by: Glen A. Larson
Produced by: Glen A. Larson Productions and MCA/Universal

CAST

  • Richard Hatch
  • Dirk Benedict
  • Lorne Greene
  • John Colicos
  • Maren Jensen
  • Noah Hathaway
  • Anne Lockhart
  • Laurette Spang
  • Terry Carter
  • Capt. Apollo
  • Lt. Starbuck
  • Commander Adama
  • Baltar
  • Athena
  • Boxey
  • Sheba
  • Cassiopeia
  • Colonel Tigh

Opening Narration

Spoken by: Patrick Macnee

There are those who believe…that life here began out there,
far across the Universe…with tribes of humans…
who may have been the forefathers of the Egyptians…
or the Toltecs…or the Mayans. Some believe that there may yet be brothers of man…
who even now fight to survive—somewhere beyond the heaven

Opening Theme – Instrumental

Composed by: Stu Phillips and Glen A. Larson

STORYLINE

The most expensive TV series of its time, this sci-fi drama followed what was left of humanity through the galaxies in search of Earth. Some explanation is required:

Humans have been at war with a race of robots called Cylons for a very long time. Suddenly the cylons call for a truce and peace negotiations ensue. During those talks the Cylons surprise attack and destroy all twelve (one for each zodiac sign) human planets and their military fleet. One lone Battlestar (sort of like an aircraft carrier) remains. It guides a ragtag fleet carrying the last survivors of humanity on a quest to find the mysterious planet known as the thirteenth planet (a thirteenth zodiac sign) called Earth. They hope that on Earth they will find the missing thirteenth tribe of humans who hopefully are powerful enough to defeat the Cylons..

This fleet of civilians and military is led by Commander Adama (Lorne Greene).  Capt. Apollo (Richard Hatch) and Lt. Starbuck (Dirk Benedict) are star pilots and along with a squad of Vipers (star fighters) they protect the fleet from the now pursuing Cylons.

This show originally received great ratings and had a loyal fan base so to counter its popularity CBS moved its Sunday block of All in the Family and Alice an hour earlier, to directly compete with Galactica. Well that was enough to kill it. Since it was a huge expense to produce and its ratings fell so drastically against Archie Bunker, ABC canceled it. However that fan base remained and a lame attempt at a redo called Galactica 1980 was aired the following year to dismal ratings.

That same fan base still wanted Galactica so the entire series was reimagined with everything brand new and re-aired in 2003 for a successful four season run with Glen A. Larson back onboard.

Video Clip of Battlestar Galactica

Passings

Lorne Greene passed away in 1987 of complications from pneumonia, following surgery, he was 72
John Colicos died in 2000 of a heart attack, he was 71
Richard Hatch passed of pancreatic cancer in 2017, he was also only 71


Buy Battlestar Galactica on DVD


1970s tv

1970s scifi tv shows

1970s science fiction

70s oldies tv

1970s retro tv

1970s outer space tv      70s sci-fi cylons

1970s oldies tv shows      old sci-fi on tv

TRIVIA:

Being based in a world far far away some new lingo was developed for the show as follows:

  • micron = one second
  • centon = one minute
  • centar = one hour
  • cycle = one day
  • secton = one week
  • sectar = one month
  • yahren = one year
  • centuron = one century
  • daggit = dog (or dog like animal)
  • frak = an expletive that can’t be printed here
  • felgercarb = poop
  • daggit dribble = a lie

70s old time sci-fi tv show

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