My father-in-law Ronald Gilbert Satlof (now deceased), was the director of the “Return of Starbuck” episode. Ron was reportedly good friends with Galactica creator Glen Larson (Ron used to say that Larson wrote an early version of the Battlestar pilot script while a guest on Ron’s sailboat moored in Marina Del Rey). I recall Ron was especially pleased that the Starbucks episode was such a ratings hit when it first aired. It was always my favorite, too. Thanks for putting this behind-the-scenes video together. Haven’t seen “1980” since, well, 1980.
I was one of the little kids they were marketing to and I haaaated Dr Zee. Then and now. 😂 I did love Boxy and Muffit in the original show though. I even had a Muffit action figure who was my Barbie's pet.
@@grannyweatherwax8005 Yeah, I didn't care much for the show myself, except for the Starbuck episode. I was a bit older than the target audience in 1980. I had a chance to see the "real" Muffet at the Universal Studio tour. I don't know if was the same chimp though. :-) Cylons all over the tour, and pieces of sets lying around the back lot.
In 1977, we moved to Sardinia right after my family got to see "Star Wars" in the theater. For the next two years we had no TV and the only sci-fi space movie I got to see in the theater was "Battle Beyond the Stars" with John Boy Walton and George Peppard. So today I have a soft spot for that movie. We moved to Chicago in 1979 and I was thrilled to watch any sci-fi shows. "Galactica" and the first season of "Son of Svengoolie" were life savers! Still a big Sven fan today.
I met Richard Hatch at a couple of San Diego Comic-cons back 20+ years ago. First time I met him I shook his hand and with a big smile said, "Galactica 1980" SUCKED!!! He smiled and clapped me on the shoulder and said emphatically, "IT NEVER HAPPENED!!!!".
I love that you used FRACK in the title. I remember two episodes. the one where Starbuck was back (the last episode), and for whatever reaseon the one where a Cylon was nearly taken out by a mirocowave...
I love Galactica 1980. It's important to watch it at a time separately from a regular BSG rewatch. It compares well or better than many of the other Earth-bound adventure shows of the era. I bought both Galacrtia 1980 and BSG on Prime Video.
A very sad one too: did we really want to see Starbuck stranded and all alone in that planet? It makes you want to turn the clock back to the original series and relive the good old days of being with the GALACTICA family…
Just popping into say how much I appreciate you taking a positive view on some of these things you don't like. It would be very easy to slate and trash some of the lesser loved shows that you cover. Class move.
There is a guy who sat behind me in 7th grade who would, daily, update me on how he was building a colonial viper in his backyard. Of course I didn't believe it. But after weeks and weeks of updates, each more detailed regarding the sourcing of materials and progress, I was halfway hooked/convinced. Once I mentioned dropping by for a visit he finally confessed there wasn't much if anything to see. I thanked him and held no ill will for the ruse as we enjoyed all those conversations so much how such a thing would be accomplished. I hope he's doing well and can picture him working in some sort of creative/engineering field.
LOL, I had a similar friend who would say/do the same thing, except it was R2D2 from Star Wars. Said he even got it to move under its own power using a lawnmower engine. He never ended up building anything, despite claiming otherwise.
The Return of Starbuck, is the only episode that I watch from Galactica 1980 run as well, it felt as you say as if it belonged to the original BSG season and it was truly fantasticon so many levels; the show runners definately missed a trick by short changing the show and stripping its budget away; they should have invested instead of pulling the chicken switch.
Starbuck Returns was great. And I enjoyed the Halloween "invasion." Mostly because they got Wolfman Jack on as a guest. Also, it strangely oseudo-introduced the human Cylons that were such a key part of the reboot.
While 1980 was airing, I was at a party in SF and ran into Glen Larson who asked me what I thought about 1980. I don't recall exactly what I said, but I think it was carefully guarded way of saying I didn't like it. And my memory says that Larson agreed that it wasn't very good - but his defense was that he was following orders and didn't have very much time to put the show together.
Dan: Don’t remember Galactica 1980? Loved original series. Sad story: I was so hyped that Sunday night for network debut of Battlestar Galactica as a kid made my own dinner (Campbell’s Bean with Bacon soup and peanut butter/honey sandwich, large milk) why am I being so specific? My go to meal. Also, unfortunately in my rush to get downstairs to watch I missed a step and my meal ended up painting the walls and then getting into the carpet. Mom was not pleased. Missed it or missed most or basically felt so bad couldn’t enjoy it anyway. Luckily, streaming allows me to watch it now with no regrets!! Hope your experience was better. Bill
The return of Starbuck has to be the best episode of that series. That being said it's still a decent series except for the fact that they had all the space kids in Scout uniforms period when they leave those out you have a promising series with Dylan and Troy exploring the planet those few episodes on the flying bikes period in the re-edited with Wolfman Jack and the Centurion on Halloween that was a good episode
ufo was originally going to be space 1999 2, but they changed it. also it was made in shepperton in england yes but it was gerry and sylvia anderson who made it.....
As a kid, I liked this show. It still holds a special place in my heart. The biggest problem other than the budget, was that the network treated all sci-fi as a kids show. In some ways I think this was really 3 shows. First was the time travel show from the pilot. Second was the space scouts / kids show. Third was the Return of Starbuck.
I still can't figure out why Starbuck was marooned on that planet, given that he had a perfectly good Cylon ship at his disposal at the end of the episode.
I was looking through the streaming app Tubi a while ago and saw that Galactica 1980 was on it and decided to give it a shot. I didn't get to see many of the G-1980 episodes when they aired because Sunday evening was church time. The only full episode I got to see was the one with Starbuck in it. Anyways, I am watching the first episode of G-1980 and could only make it through 20 minutes or so of the episode before I stopped and never continued watching it.
I agree. "The return of Starbuck" was the only saving grace from that sad, second chapter of BSG. As a kid growing up in the late 60 & 70's I was always so excited about ANY new scifi show that came along. Genesis II, The Questor Tapes, Quark, Salvage One, The Time Machine remake in 78' or 79', Space 1999, Logans Run the (TV series), the Saturday morning stuff, etc, etc. Then if it sucked, sure I'd be disappointed, but it was better than nothing, right? Thats how I felt about Galactica 1980. Every episode I watched, I'd have renewed hope it was going to pull out of it's hard nose dive into the ground. With the Starbuck episode, I felt redeemed, but then it was done. I was so pissed. After enduring all that and to finally get a good episode and that was it?!??? Only to be replaced by Buck Rogers?? I enjoyed that shows first season, then in season 2 it just got super ridiculous... Here's a question for the network.. How was it they couldn't afford BSG, with sets already built, but they had the funds to build the Buck Rogers series?? And that piece of crap lasted 2 seasons! And to add insult to injury, they used the BSG sound effects, etc?!?? Here's a question for the fans. How many of you recorded all of the original Star Trek series, on cassette tape and listened to them day in and day out? lol
I loved the original movie which I saw at the cinema and was so amazed to actually meet and have a drink with Richard Hatch years later at a local convention in Bristol uk he even signed my original movie paperback of the movie. I for one am truly looking forward to the new series.
Galactica was a great memory of my youth. I would have liked to have a Cylon Raider or a Centurion, but at that time, I don't remember having any products from the series in my country. Finally, I bought all the DVD sets of three series, even if BSG 1980 is really not great.
Great show, Dan. Two things, I still remember the diner scene where they order coffee and ask what's in it and when told the response was like, "You people drink beans?" The second thing is in your timeline, don't forget that although _Battlestar Galactica_ ended 29 April 1979 over in Universal Studios Hollywood on 9 June 1979 they premiered the *Battle of Galactica* attraction as part of the Studio Backlot Tour and it was kept open until sometime in 1992. So, the franchise hadn't completely disappeared. BTW, Dan, something right up your alley, one of the original Cylon animatronics from the ride was found in 2014. It was in the basement under _The Simpson's Ride_ that stood where the *Battle of Galactica,* had been. How cool is that? It was later sold at auction in 2020.
That episode with Starbuck left an impression. Maybe I related his being stranded reflects how I feel sometimes. It was like a well written Twilight Zone episode.
I enjoyed "Battlestar Galactica" and "Galactica 1980." I was saddened when the first series ended; it could have gone on for years. The budget was, perhaps far too expensive. The replacement series was nothing short of silly, But if you've ever enjoyed "Lost in Space," you'll realize just how good it really was, given the limited budget. My favourite episodes were "The Return of Starbuck" and the episode with Hector and Vector (reminds me of Data from STNG). I didn't like that role played by the young person who was supposedly Starbuck's child. Adama should have been kept the way he was: a strong, but compassionate leader. The brief history of how this came to this fruition should have been more fully explained. But, i liked both shows and have the aforementioned DVD's. As usual, thanks for the great videos. Yes, Please do some Space: 1999 videos (mention the coddled together movies).
Better writers would've helped. This & CRUSADE : The Babylon Project were just NOT THAT GREAT, although the time travel elements went into Quantum Leap.
Great video even though the show was lackluster. I agree the Starbucks episode was tremendous in the story plot. The only one I remember. British show UFO did a similarity with astronaut and alien buddy kind of survival along the same line. That’s another great show topic for the future. Thanks for the walks down memory lane!
I have the entirety of Battlestar Galactica on DVD. The movie, the TV series, and Galactica 1980. I absolutely love it. 80 has its flaws, but I still love it. Those motorcycles were just awesome. Interesting tidbit, it’s been a while, so I can’t remember exactly where in the mix it was, but somewhere, in a shot, where we see the ragtag fleet of ships, the ship from Silent Running is one of the ships you see onscreen as part of the fleet.
I was born in 1972 and remember the original TV series pretty well. I mean, I don't remember ANY details but I remember the ships and the Cylons and Starbuck and Apollo and the Galactica ship and of course that robot dog, yada yada. Anyways. I also DO very well remember watching the pilot episode of Galactica 1980 and I remember the motorcycles and the fact that they were back on Earth and I also remember my family DIDN'T like it. LOL. Anyways, I'm glad I watched this video because I don't believe we watched the whole series cuz I'm sure I don't remember Starbuck and the Cylon which honestly sounds FRACKING AWESOME. So, anyways, cheers brother I'm re-downloading the original series and the movie and will be looking forward to suffereing through Galactica 1980 just to get to the last eopisode. I'm gonna do it the hard way. Wish me luck!
I was born in 72 also. I absolutely love the original Galactica. I didn't like 80 or the reboot. It's a shame Richard Hatch didn't get to do anything with his vision for it.
HEY DAN MONROE...DO YOU REMEMBER A SHORT-LIVED television show in the late 70's about a space garbage man named "Quark"? It starred Richard Benjamin as the title character and a host of aliens in the same vein as Star Wars cantina scene. A few "droids" were thrown in to complete the ensemble. The funniest part of the show was his spaceship. It totally looked like a garbage truck with the huge hopper on the back. Im not sure the show even made it past an entire first season. I enjoy the channel and never miss an episode. Thanks.😢
one of the main issues with the show? it was broadcast sunday nights at 7 PM ET / 6PM CT. It was made for "kiddies". Therefore they kinda dumbed it down.
There were a few times, that the Starbuck flashback episode was shown as a separate TV movie. For a while, it was called "Starbuck's Great Adventure". A casual viewer might have even missed the fact that it was Galactica related. I didn't mind G-80. As a kid, it was a crumb, the tiniest morsel, that I was still willing to cling on to. It was kinda cool seeing the guy from the K-Tel commercials. (Wolfman Jack ) However, looking back, it was just too Glen A Larson, and it borders on painful. However, the flying motorcycles, no matter how ridiculous and possibly even the cloaking Vipers, will never not be cool. The Viper snow landings were very cool.
Galactica 1980 was simply terrible. What possessed them to make it all about a group of young kids I will never know. It was bad enough that they had to film it in 'present day' America, but it was as if they were going out of their way to make it as bad as possible. Which perhaps in some ways they were if they were pissed at the fans for forcing them to make this abomination.
Actually, I agree with you Big Guy, the Starbuck episode was the best of that run. Can still see the showdown between the Cylons in my mind... haven't seen it for years. the joys of being a sci-fi kid..
The 7pm timeslot was the reason for the kids on the show. Episodes about pollution and sportsmanship were made thus getting away from the original concept.
A couple if interesting points I liked they did well; they introduced a NEW generation of Cylon raider, somewhat larger and updated. And Galactica team created a new ship to combat the Cylons. Sort of saucer-like. Some good story potential had the show continued. Would be worth mentioning Richard's attempt to bring the show back with his home-made pilot he put together. Very slick.
Galactica 1980 really did Starbuck dirty... What they did to "party boy" Starbuck was a sentence to Purgatory, and REALLY made me ANGRY (as angry as seeing "Sam Beckett never returned home" on my TV screen [too well-known to be a spoiler])... The flying cycles became "CHIPS in Space"... ;-P "Troy" was supposedly Boxey's true name, and "Boxey" was a nickname that he tries to live down (no explanation given for the name in OG Galactica)... "Galactica:1980" was really just a bunch of felgercarb that they just fracked up... ;-P
I’ve often wondered if that last episode of Galactica 1980 was the inspiration for the 1984 Dennis Quaid film ‘Enemy Mine’ where a human and alien are stranded together on a remote planet.
Another great video, Dan! Thanks for your positive attitude - it really catches the hopeful and upbeat spirit of space opera from the era. Commander Adama would be proud!
I fondly remember that Starbuck episode as well, but didn't recall it was from Galactica 1980. It had a similar plot to the 1985 film Enemy Mine, but apparently the book it was based on came out first.
I always wanted one of the leather jackets. You could order them from the back of magazines. They were aroumd 100$, a ton of money in the early 1980s. Parents wouldnt spring for it.
I remember the last Galactica video you made I did a comment talking mentioning that it was based on mormonism. now I don't know a lot about mormonism but the replies I got taught me more than I expected.
😢 Loved the Battlestar galactica series as a kid. This series took first place, from my other favorite series Space 1999. Excellent review. Just a thought. Cheers
I watched Galactic 1980 a few years ago. The only good episode is the last one with Starbucks. Watch the last one. There is no build up for it. It was a stand alone episode.
Doctor Zee was the prototype to Wesley Crusher in the category of "Obnoxious Child Genius Who Makes All the Adults Look Like Putzes". The 20 minute concept trailer from Richard Hatch about what would have really happened after the original series was a hundred times better than the entire run of Galactica 1980 combined.
Great video. Looking forward to the early 2000s version review. I remember the original and had several toys from it but when the new one came out it wasn't bad at all. Different but not bad, can't say that for several other remakes.
I still liked it as I was starved for anything space related then. Another episode I really liked was the 2 part "Cylons on Earth" episodes which features Wolfman Jack and Lara Parker from "Dark Shadows" fame. Speaking of, Dan, you should really do an episode on Dark Shadows, the original TV series as it has movies, music & monsters spawn from it.
The fandom didn’t need this after a huge letter writing campaign to bring the epic adventure back again ! Galactica 1980: Adama’s really bad dream, thank the lords for “The Return of Starbuck “
Thanks for another great video Dan. I wondered back in the day why there was a message at the end of the episode reading about the U.S. government investigation of ufo's project blue book and later read/heard that was required as a part of the 7pm time period for the program to be considered having educational content.looking forward to future content!
Great video, Dan! I have not seen the series, but plan to now. I thought I recognized Lt. Dillon......my wife and I watched quite a bit of Diagnosis Murder recently; and I'll be, it's Barry Van Dyke!
I was a big fan of the original Galactica in the day. I was 15, right off the heals of Star Wars and I just loved it. But by the time Galactica 1980 came around I was 17 and I was already working. Since I worked at a retail store (Gemco) I always worked weekends so when it aired I missed it. My dad didn't have a VCR as they were still astronomical in price back then so there was no way of seeing it. But when I got home I remember asking dad how it was and he said it really wasn't that good at all. So I never did try to watch it even to this day. Kind of funny Barry Van Dyke took over in Galactica 1980 and he took over Airwolf for it's last season when they moved the production to Canada and they didn't even have the Helicopter. That also bumbed hard and didn't last long. Oh that reminds me, How about an episode on Airwolf?
My favorite show as a teenager. Lucifer was so cool and loved he was conniving. Dr Smith with his voice....how cool was that! Oops thought this as the original series. Oh well.
The Starbuck episode was good except for one major problem. There is a perfectly flyable Cylon fighter sitting not far from Starbucks camp that the centurions came in at the episodes climax. Starbuck flew one in "The Hand of God". Am I missing something here?
As a 10 year old boy, I hated this show, and I loved the original Battlestar Galactica. The only episode that was likeable was the one that featured Starbuck.
I love the original movie of Battlestar Galactica from 1978 - 1979. I like Battlestar Galactica 1980 in 1980. But yet there's actually no Colonel Tigh, Captain Apollo, Lieutenant Starbuck, Lieutenant Sheba, and many others in the original one.
I always wondered what was up with " Galactica 1980", since I specifically seen it with my own eyes, but nothing in the original series? I love " Battle Star Galactica", and I remember when I was sick, my mom bought me " Battle Star Galactica" coloring book, and even bought me silver crayons, for the Cylons!
My father-in-law Ronald Gilbert Satlof (now deceased), was the director of the “Return of Starbuck” episode. Ron was reportedly good friends with Galactica creator Glen Larson (Ron used to say that Larson wrote an early version of the Battlestar pilot script while a guest on Ron’s sailboat moored in Marina Del Rey). I recall Ron was especially pleased that the Starbucks episode was such a ratings hit when it first aired. It was always my favorite, too. Thanks for putting this behind-the-scenes video together. Haven’t seen “1980” since, well, 1980.
Even though he wasn’t a part of this series, RIP Terry Carter (Colonel Tigh) December 16, 1928 - April 23, 2024 😢
He was on NBC's MacCloud 🤠 too. NYPD det, Joe.
Immortalised on both large.. ans small screen.
I hadn't heard he passed, he was great on that show
He was my favorite character on the show.
I believe he had moved to Holland?
The reason for the emphasis on Dr. Zee, the scouts, the time travel stuff and the 7pm time slot was that the show was aimed at kids.
I was one of the little kids they were marketing to and I haaaated Dr Zee. Then and now. 😂 I did love Boxy and Muffit in the original show though. I even had a Muffit action figure who was my Barbie's pet.
@@grannyweatherwax8005 Yeah, I didn't care much for the show myself, except for the Starbuck episode. I was a bit older than the target audience in 1980. I had a chance to see the "real" Muffet at the Universal Studio tour. I don't know if was the same chimp though. :-) Cylons all over the tour, and pieces of sets lying around the back lot.
In 1977, we moved to Sardinia right after my family got to see "Star Wars" in the theater. For the next two years we had no TV and the only sci-fi space movie I got to see in the theater was "Battle Beyond the Stars" with John Boy Walton and George Peppard. So today I have a soft spot for that movie.
We moved to Chicago in 1979 and I was thrilled to watch any sci-fi shows. "Galactica" and the first season of "Son of Svengoolie" were life savers! Still a big Sven fan today.
I met Richard Hatch at a couple of San Diego Comic-cons back 20+ years ago. First time I met him I shook his hand and with a big smile said, "Galactica 1980" SUCKED!!! He smiled and clapped me on the shoulder and said emphatically, "IT NEVER HAPPENED!!!!".
Loved the original show!!! Jane Seymour!!👉🏼😍
After she left the show went downhill.
I love that you used FRACK in the title. I remember two episodes. the one where Starbuck was back (the last episode), and for whatever reaseon the one where a Cylon was nearly taken out by a mirocowave...
That scene from the episode The Return of Starbuck ( Not one Human. Not one Cylon. Friends ) it still brings a tear to the eye after so many years
That episode with Starbuck is the best and only really memorable episode of this series.
I totally agree.
Robinson Caruso in space. 😊
That Starbuck episode reminded me of the sci-fi movie, "Enemy Mine"
I didnt realize the starbuck episode was from 1980 i always thought it was from the original series you enlightened me
Yeah, it's so awesome. Check it out :-)
I love Galactica 1980. It's important to watch it at a time separately from a regular BSG rewatch. It compares well or better than many of the other Earth-bound adventure shows of the era. I bought both Galacrtia 1980 and BSG on Prime Video.
Proof that majorly cheaping out on a sequel series just doesn't work. A huge letdown to fans of the original series. 😮
I've never been able to get through this series. I get about 2-3 episodes in and nope out. The exception being the last episode.
The return of Starbuck episode made it all worth while! It was a great way to close out the original series!
A very sad one too: did we really want to see Starbuck stranded and all alone in that planet? It makes you want to turn the clock back to the original series and relive the good old days of being with the GALACTICA family…
The Return of Starbuck was great!
The Starbuck episode was great!
Just popping into say how much I appreciate you taking a positive view on some of these things you don't like. It would be very easy to slate and trash some of the lesser loved shows that you cover. Class move.
Hate to say it but even with the little they had to work with it still was some of the best days ever that we will never see again!
Dirk Benedict is a really nice guy. He signed my Galactica Storybook. Good old *$.
That Starbuck episode was a mix to me of Robinson crisoe and enemy mine.
There is a guy who sat behind me in 7th grade who would, daily, update me on how he was building a colonial viper in his backyard. Of course I didn't believe it. But after weeks and weeks of updates, each more detailed regarding the sourcing of materials and progress, I was halfway hooked/convinced. Once I mentioned dropping by for a visit he finally confessed there wasn't much if anything to see. I thanked him and held no ill will for the ruse as we enjoyed all those conversations so much how such a thing would be accomplished. I hope he's doing well and can picture him working in some sort of creative/engineering field.
LOL, I had a similar friend who would say/do the same thing, except it was R2D2 from Star Wars. Said he even got it to move under its own power using a lawnmower engine. He never ended up building anything, despite claiming otherwise.
why entertain time wasters, everyone in 7th grade should be forgotten about by now,purge all memory banks
You rock, Dan ! These are great !
Thank you buddy, enjoy :-)
The Return of Starbuck, is the only episode that I watch from Galactica 1980 run as well, it felt as you say as if it belonged to the original BSG season and it was truly fantasticon so many levels; the show runners definately missed a trick by short changing the show and stripping its budget away; they should have invested instead of pulling the chicken switch.
Starbuck Returns was great. And I enjoyed the Halloween "invasion." Mostly because they got Wolfman Jack on as a guest. Also, it strangely oseudo-introduced the human Cylons that were such a key part of the reboot.
I totally forgot about the Wolfman jack. Damn I should have mentioned that :-)
Terry Carter just died. He played Colonel Tigh. R.I.P.
Sad to hear that.
My condolences to his family.
Dirk Benedict makes fun of BSG in the A-team intro when a cylon at a theme park walks past him 😂
I was always hoping to see the A-Team episode where they had that scene, and they never did! It turned out they just filmed it for the credits. Darn!
He was like, "Don't I know you from somewhere?" LOL.
To this day, the Return of Starbuck episode is one of the saddest episodes of any TV show I've ever seen. I think it scarred me as a child.
Ditto. Glen Larson was a brilliant writer when he was left alone by network executives. He doesn't get the respect he deserves today
While he wasn't in Galactica 1980, Terry Carter (Colonel Tigh in original BSG) passed away yesterday at the age of 95.
That's really sad to hear. He was brilliant in OG BSG.
@@bryndal36 And in McCloud too.
R.I.P. I didn't know that Stephen.
@@cheapphish McCloud, wow that takes me back!
I was part of the write in campaign to bring back Battlestar Galactica.
While 1980 was airing, I was at a party in SF and ran into Glen Larson who asked me what I thought about 1980. I don't recall exactly what I said, but I think it was carefully guarded way of saying I didn't like it. And my memory says that Larson agreed that it wasn't very good - but his defense was that he was following orders and didn't have very much time to put the show together.
Dan: Don’t remember Galactica 1980? Loved original series. Sad story: I was so hyped that Sunday night for network debut of Battlestar Galactica as a kid made my own dinner (Campbell’s Bean with Bacon soup and peanut butter/honey sandwich, large milk) why am I being so specific? My go to meal. Also, unfortunately in my rush to get downstairs to watch I missed a step and my meal ended up painting the walls and then getting into the carpet. Mom was not pleased. Missed it or missed most or basically felt so bad couldn’t enjoy it anyway. Luckily, streaming allows me to watch it now with no regrets!! Hope your experience was better. Bill
The return of Starbuck has to be the best episode of that series. That being said it's still a decent series except for the fact that they had all the space kids in Scout uniforms period when they leave those out you have a promising series with Dylan and Troy exploring the planet those few episodes on the flying bikes period in the re-edited with Wolfman Jack and the Centurion on Halloween that was a good episode
I hope Dan someday covers Space:1999 and a show called UFO which was British sci-fi but aired in America for a short while.
ufo was originally going to be space 1999 2, but they changed it. also it was made in shepperton in england yes but it was gerry and sylvia anderson who made it.....
@@chloedevereaux1801 the other way around. Space 1999 was supposed to be UFO 2 as it came out 5 years after UFO.
I agree...the episode with Starbuck is the only episode of this series I watch.
Another excellent presentation! Reliving all these great shows really takes me back. I feel almost like a kid again! Thank you for this!!!
On a related note, Terry Carter, who played Colonel Tigh, recently passed away at age 95. RIP Terry Carter
I hope he knew how much he touched many of our childhoods. Col. Tigh, Starbuck, and Apollo, were a triumvirate of positive male role models, to me.
Dan, the best thing about Galactica 1980 is your review.
Okay, you got me with the Starbuck episode. I had forgotten that. And I did like Lorne with the beard. Only that.
I remember they inevitably parodied the show in Mad magazine, it was called “Cattle Star over Attica”
As a kid, I liked this show. It still holds a special place in my heart. The biggest problem other than the budget, was that the network treated all sci-fi as a kids show. In some ways I think this was really 3 shows. First was the time travel show from the pilot. Second was the space scouts / kids show. Third was the Return of Starbuck.
I still can't figure out why Starbuck was marooned on that planet, given that he had a perfectly good Cylon ship at his disposal at the end of the episode.
I was looking through the streaming app Tubi a while ago and saw that Galactica 1980 was on it and decided to give it a shot. I didn't get to see many of the G-1980 episodes when they aired because Sunday evening was church time. The only full episode I got to see was the one with Starbuck in it. Anyways, I am watching the first episode of G-1980 and could only make it through 20 minutes or so of the episode before I stopped and never continued watching it.
I agree. "The return of Starbuck" was the only saving grace from that sad, second chapter of BSG. As a kid growing up in the late 60 & 70's I was always so excited about ANY new scifi show that came along. Genesis II, The Questor Tapes, Quark, Salvage One, The Time Machine remake in 78' or 79', Space 1999, Logans Run the (TV series), the Saturday morning stuff, etc, etc. Then if it sucked, sure I'd be disappointed, but it was better than nothing, right? Thats how I felt about Galactica 1980. Every episode I watched, I'd have renewed hope it was going to pull out of it's hard nose dive into the ground. With the Starbuck episode, I felt redeemed, but then it was done. I was so pissed. After enduring all that and to finally get a good episode and that was it?!??? Only to be replaced by Buck Rogers?? I enjoyed that shows first season, then in season 2 it just got super ridiculous...
Here's a question for the network.. How was it they couldn't afford BSG, with sets already built, but they had the funds to build the Buck Rogers series?? And that piece of crap lasted 2 seasons! And to add insult to injury, they used the BSG sound effects, etc?!??
Here's a question for the fans. How many of you recorded all of the original Star Trek series, on cassette tape and listened to them day in and day out? lol
I would echo your sentiments almost 100%.
I loved the original movie which I saw at the cinema and was so amazed to actually meet and have a drink with Richard Hatch years later at a local convention in Bristol uk he even signed my original movie paperback of the movie.
I for one am truly looking forward to the new series.
Galactica was a great memory of my youth. I would have liked to have a Cylon Raider or a Centurion, but at that time, I don't remember having any products from the series in my country. Finally, I bought all the DVD sets of three series, even if BSG 1980 is really not great.
Great show, Dan. Two things, I still remember the diner scene where they order coffee and ask what's in it and when told the response was like, "You people drink beans?"
The second thing is in your timeline, don't forget that although _Battlestar Galactica_ ended 29 April 1979 over in Universal Studios Hollywood on 9 June 1979 they premiered the *Battle of Galactica* attraction as part of the Studio Backlot Tour and it was kept open until sometime in 1992. So, the franchise hadn't completely disappeared. BTW, Dan, something right up your alley, one of the original Cylon animatronics from the ride was found in 2014. It was in the basement under _The Simpson's Ride_ that stood where the *Battle of Galactica,* had been. How cool is that? It was later sold at auction in 2020.
Troy and Dillon were like the guys who replaced Bo and Luke Duke
As a kid, I loved it, especially, the turbocycles!
That episode with Starbuck left an impression. Maybe I related his being stranded reflects how I feel sometimes.
It was like a well written Twilight Zone episode.
I enjoyed "Battlestar Galactica" and "Galactica 1980." I was saddened when the first series ended; it could have gone on for years. The budget was, perhaps far too expensive. The replacement series was nothing short of silly, But if you've ever enjoyed "Lost in Space," you'll realize just how good it really was, given the limited budget. My favourite episodes were "The Return of Starbuck" and the episode with Hector and Vector (reminds me of Data from STNG). I didn't like that role played by the young person who was supposedly Starbuck's child. Adama should have been kept the way he was: a strong, but compassionate leader. The brief history of how this came to this fruition should have been more fully explained. But, i liked both shows and have the aforementioned DVD's.
As usual, thanks for the great videos. Yes, Please do some Space: 1999 videos (mention the coddled together movies).
I give them an A+ for trying. Imagine what it could of been had they had the proper budget.
Thanks Dan your the bestest...
Better writers would've helped. This & CRUSADE : The Babylon Project were just NOT THAT GREAT, although the time travel elements went into Quantum Leap.
Great video even though the show was lackluster. I agree the Starbucks episode was tremendous in the story plot. The only one I remember. British show UFO did a similarity with astronaut and alien buddy kind of survival along the same line. That’s another great show topic for the future. Thanks for the walks down memory lane!
Also, talk about what happened to The Greatest American Hero.
I have a cape, shirt, and instruction manual along with the metal boxes series set. Very cool!
Well alllright.
I have the entirety of Battlestar Galactica on DVD. The movie, the TV series, and Galactica 1980. I absolutely love it. 80 has its flaws, but I still love it. Those motorcycles were just awesome.
Interesting tidbit, it’s been a while, so I can’t remember exactly where in the mix it was, but somewhere, in a shot, where we see the ragtag fleet of ships, the ship from Silent Running is one of the ships you see onscreen as part of the fleet.
It was like replacing Bo and Luke Duke from The Dukes of Hazzard!
People had more common sense than those producers thinking it would ever take off! Everyone knew after they announced it it was over!
@@quantumfx2677Not everyone. You can't speak for all of BSG fandom.
I was born in 1972 and remember the original TV series pretty well. I mean, I don't remember ANY details but I remember the ships and the Cylons and Starbuck and Apollo and the Galactica ship and of course that robot dog, yada yada. Anyways. I also DO very well remember watching the pilot episode of Galactica 1980 and I remember the motorcycles and the fact that they were back on Earth and I also remember my family DIDN'T like it. LOL. Anyways, I'm glad I watched this video because I don't believe we watched the whole series cuz I'm sure I don't remember Starbuck and the Cylon which honestly sounds FRACKING AWESOME. So, anyways, cheers brother I'm re-downloading the original series and the movie and will be looking forward to suffereing through Galactica 1980 just to get to the last eopisode. I'm gonna do it the hard way. Wish me luck!
I was born in 72 also. I absolutely love the original Galactica. I didn't like 80 or the reboot. It's a shame Richard Hatch didn't get to do anything with his vision for it.
HEY DAN MONROE...DO YOU REMEMBER A SHORT-LIVED television show in the late 70's about a space garbage man named "Quark"? It starred Richard Benjamin as the title character and a host of aliens in the same vein as Star Wars cantina scene. A few "droids" were thrown in to complete the ensemble. The funniest part of the show was his spaceship. It totally looked like a garbage truck with the huge hopper on the back. Im not sure the show even made it past an entire first season. I enjoy the channel and never miss an episode. Thanks.😢
I watched Quark.
I watched that when I was a kid too. I think they even did a Mirror Mirror type episode too.
"There are no good plants, there are no bad plants, there are only...plants."
~Ficus
I was excited when Galactica 1980 aired but not so excited after I watched it.
one of the main issues with the show? it was broadcast sunday nights at 7 PM ET / 6PM CT. It was made for "kiddies". Therefore they kinda dumbed it down.
The Starbuck episode was the "Rogue One" of the Battlestar Galactica franchise.
There were a few times, that the Starbuck flashback episode was shown as a separate TV movie. For a while, it was called "Starbuck's Great Adventure". A casual viewer might have even missed the fact that it was Galactica related. I didn't mind G-80. As a kid, it was a crumb, the tiniest morsel, that I was still willing to cling on to. It was kinda cool seeing the guy from the K-Tel commercials. (Wolfman Jack ) However, looking back, it was just too Glen A Larson, and it borders on painful. However, the flying motorcycles, no matter how ridiculous and possibly even the cloaking Vipers, will never not be cool. The Viper snow landings were very cool.
I met Herbert Jefferson Jr @ Travis AFB in 2007. When I mentioned to him about Galactica 1980, he didn’t want to talk about it.
I met him at Travis as well. We just talked about acting in general. He is a class guy.
Galactica 1980 was simply terrible. What possessed them to make it all about a group of young kids I will never know. It was bad enough that they had to film it in 'present day' America, but it was as if they were going out of their way to make it as bad as possible. Which perhaps in some ways they were if they were pissed at the fans for forcing them to make this abomination.
Actually, I agree with you Big Guy, the Starbuck episode was the best of that run. Can still see the showdown between the Cylons in my mind... haven't seen it for years. the joys of being a sci-fi kid..
The Halloween/Wolfman Jack episode is pretty great also, but for different reasons 😂
The 7pm timeslot was the reason for the kids on the show. Episodes about pollution and sportsmanship were made thus getting away from the original concept.
A couple if interesting points I liked they did well; they introduced a NEW generation of Cylon raider, somewhat larger and updated. And Galactica team created a new ship to combat the Cylons. Sort of saucer-like. Some good story potential had the show continued. Would be worth mentioning Richard's attempt to bring the show back with his home-made pilot he put together. Very slick.
Galactica 1980 really did Starbuck dirty... What they did to "party boy" Starbuck was a sentence to Purgatory, and REALLY made me ANGRY (as angry as seeing "Sam Beckett never returned home" on my TV screen [too well-known to be a spoiler])...
The flying cycles became "CHIPS in Space"... ;-P
"Troy" was supposedly Boxey's true name, and "Boxey" was a nickname that he tries to live down (no explanation given for the name in OG Galactica)...
"Galactica:1980" was really just a bunch of felgercarb that they just fracked up... ;-P
And here I've been operating under the belief that the episode with Starbuck was an unfinished regular episode that they shoehorned into the new show.
I’ve often wondered if that last episode of Galactica 1980 was the inspiration for the 1984 Dennis Quaid film ‘Enemy Mine’ where a human and alien are stranded together on a remote planet.
@@ken_tiki5241 Enemy Mine was based on a novella written in 1979 by Barry B. Longyear.
"How cool is that?!" You're the man, friend. Thanks!!
Another great video, Dan! Thanks for your positive attitude - it really catches the hopeful and upbeat spirit of space opera from the era. Commander Adama would be proud!
Hey, thanks so much. I get so tired of the negative TH-cam videos I wanted to do something different :-) thanks for the support
I love these! Keep it up. I wanted to say how much I really love them but that, my friend, is praise for another video.
I fondly remember that Starbuck episode as well, but didn't recall it was from Galactica 1980. It had a similar plot to the 1985 film Enemy Mine, but apparently the book it was based on came out first.
I always wanted one of the leather jackets. You could order them from the back of magazines. They were aroumd 100$, a ton of money in the early 1980s. Parents wouldnt spring for it.
Leather jackets usually are pretty expensive in general.
I, like Dan, only watched the Starbuck befriending a Cylon episode. That was great…the rest of the series….don’t recall watching at all.
However, as a 14 year old i really loved it. Especially the “wolfman jack” scene is stuck inside my memory.😊
Return of Starbuck was the only reason for Galactica 1980 to exist.
I remember the last Galactica video you made I did a comment talking mentioning that it was based on mormonism. now I don't know a lot about mormonism but the replies I got taught me more than I expected.
First video I have seen by this guy. GREAT host. Love the voice. Quality of the show, and length of episode, was perfect.
😢 Loved the Battlestar galactica series as a kid. This series took first place, from my other favorite series Space 1999. Excellent review. Just a thought. Cheers
I watched Galactic 1980 a few years ago. The only good episode is the last one with Starbucks. Watch the last one. There is no build up for it. It was a stand alone episode.
Doctor Zee was the prototype to Wesley Crusher in the category of "Obnoxious Child Genius Who Makes All the Adults Look Like Putzes".
The 20 minute concept trailer from Richard Hatch about what would have really happened after the original series was a hundred times better than the entire run of Galactica 1980 combined.
Almost at 100K !
Advance congrats and thanks for such a great channel
Literally in just 6 months. It's unbelievable and I'm extremely humbled and grateful to all of you guys :-) thanks so much.
Thanks that explains a lot of confusing memories about the show. Forgot that Boxey grew up😂
This opened up some old wounds.
Great video. Looking forward to the early 2000s version review. I remember the original and had several toys from it but when the new one came out it wasn't bad at all. Different but not bad, can't say that for several other remakes.
I remember the Starbuck episode! It was the best episode of the show I feel.
I still liked it as I was starved for anything space related then. Another episode I really liked was the 2 part "Cylons on Earth" episodes which features Wolfman Jack and Lara Parker from "Dark Shadows" fame. Speaking of, Dan, you should really do an episode on Dark Shadows, the original TV series as it has movies, music & monsters spawn from it.
The Starbuck episode was great though
It was a high point for this spacewreck.
The fandom didn’t need this after a huge letter writing campaign to bring the epic adventure back again ! Galactica 1980: Adama’s really bad dream, thank the lords for “The Return of Starbuck “
Thanks for another great video Dan. I wondered back in the day why there was a message at the end of the episode reading about the U.S. government investigation of ufo's project blue book and later read/heard that was required as a part of the 7pm time period for the program to be considered having educational content.looking forward to future content!
Great video, Dan! I have not seen the series, but plan to now. I thought I recognized Lt. Dillon......my wife and I watched quite a bit of Diagnosis Murder recently; and I'll be, it's Barry Van Dyke!
Too bad they didn't think to have Barry VanDyke dancing with Penquins!
I was a big fan of the original Galactica in the day. I was 15, right off the heals of Star Wars and I just loved it. But by the time Galactica 1980 came around I was 17 and I was already working. Since I worked at a retail store (Gemco) I always worked weekends so when it aired I missed it. My dad didn't have a VCR as they were still astronomical in price back then so there was no way of seeing it. But when I got home I remember asking dad how it was and he said it really wasn't that good at all. So I never did try to watch it even to this day. Kind of funny Barry Van Dyke took over in Galactica 1980 and he took over Airwolf for it's last season when they moved the production to Canada and they didn't even have the Helicopter. That also bumbed hard and didn't last long. Oh that reminds me, How about an episode on Airwolf?
My favorite show as a teenager. Lucifer was so cool and loved he was conniving. Dr Smith with his voice....how cool was that! Oops thought this as the original series. Oh well.
Haha yes that was awesome :-)
The Starbuck episode was good except for one major problem. There is a perfectly flyable Cylon fighter sitting not far from Starbucks camp that the centurions came in at the episodes climax. Starbuck flew one in "The Hand of God". Am I missing something here?
As a 10 year old boy, I hated this show, and I loved the original Battlestar Galactica. The only episode that was likeable was the one that featured Starbuck.
I love the original movie of Battlestar Galactica from 1978 - 1979. I like Battlestar Galactica 1980 in 1980. But yet there's actually no Colonel Tigh, Captain Apollo, Lieutenant Starbuck, Lieutenant Sheba, and many others in the original one.
I always wondered what was up with " Galactica 1980", since I specifically seen it with my own eyes, but nothing in the original series? I love " Battle Star Galactica", and I remember when I was sick, my mom bought me " Battle Star Galactica" coloring book, and even bought me silver crayons, for the Cylons!
Starbuck was my favorite episode. They should have explained the fates of the rest of the OG cast.
It was explained with a throwaway line about sons and daughters who didn't survive.