"Galactica 1980" (1980) TV series

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Creator:

Glen A. Larson

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

27 January 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Plot:

When the Battlestar Galactica finally arrives at the planet Earth, they find they must subtly raise its tech level & protect it from the Cylons.

Plot Keywords:

Year In Title | Space | Space Carrier | Cult Favorite | Digit In Title

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Kent McCord	...	Capt. Troy (10 episodes, 1980)
Lorne Greene	...	Commander Adama (10 episodes, 1980)
Barry Van Dyke	...	Lt. Dillon (10 episodes, 1980)
Robyn Douglass	...	Jamie Hamilton (10 episodes, 1980)
James Patrick Stuart	...	Dr. Zee (7 episodes, 1980)
Mike Brick	...	Super Scout / ... (5 episodes, 1980)
Mark Everett	...	Super Scout / ... (5 episodes, 1980)
Georgi Irene	...	Super Scout / ... (5 episodes, 1980)
Herb Jefferson Jr.	...	Colonel Boomer (5 episodes, 1980)
Tracy Justrich	...	Starla / ... (5 episodes, 1980)
Lindsay Kennedy	...	Super Scout / ... (5 episodes, 1980)
D.G. Larson	...	Super Scout / ... (5 episodes, 1980)
Eric Larson	...	Moonstone / ... (5 episodes, 1980)
Michelle Larson	...	Super Scout / ... (5 episodes, 1980)

Also Known As:

Battlestar Galactica (USA) (syndication title)

Runtime:

60 min (10 episodes) | UK:60 min (7 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Glen A. Larson Productions

Trivia:

Lorne Greene, and Herb Jefferson Jr. are the only regular cast members from the original Battlestar Galactica to appear in the revival series. As a last ditch effort to raise ratings, the producers brought back Dirk Benedict as Starbuck for one episode.

Quotes:

Lt. Dillon: [to a Hell's Angel] You must have us confused with somebody else. My name's not turkey, and neither is his.

Movie Connections:

Follows "Battlestar Galactica" (1978)

Fun show!

I have no problem at all admitting I like "Galactica 1980". I deliberately avoided buying any bootlegs of the show because I figured the new (and bad) Galactica show would eventually see this released.

Sure it's flawed, but it was a fun show. It actually started off with a really good three-parter, when Troy and Dillon first come to Earth to check things out for the Galactica. I liked that Apollo did appear in a photograph and that one of the main adult characters was a grown-up Boxey. And seeing Boomer again was also great.

I remember as a kid being disappointed that the Cylon attack on Los Angeles was "fake" (a "computer simulation" to see what would happen if the Cylons found Earth) because it was done so clever and well, using the "Earthquake" movie footage. The subplot with Robert Reed as the doctor who makes friends with Troy and Dillon starts off good but Reed's character is simply forgotten about after a few episodes unfortunately. Instead, an Earth woman befriends the Galactica guys and the focal point eventually becomes a bunch of bratty kids, which is where the show starts to get a bit annoying.

The plots are cool, but frankly there just were not enough Cylons in the series. Finally towards the end of the series they start to appear, but in a goofy Halloween setting.

The last episode is generally regarded as the best because it shows the return of Starbuck, who actually makes friends with a Cylon after being stranded from the fleet in flashback. It was very cool seeing Boomer behind the controls of a Viper again. Even this episode has a few problems, such as the Cylon's voice, and where DID he find that girl? The ending is downright sad. Also, there was no Troy and Dillon for this final episode (the actors must have loved that).

So yeah, it has tons of stock footage, goofy kids and thin plots. But it is a fun show, and definitely a fun watch. I for one and very glad it is on DVD, although no extras is a disappointment.