Galactica 1980
The Galactica finds Earth, but must protect it from Cylons.
Galactica 1980 is an American science fiction television series that continued the original Battlestar Galactica (1978–79). It aired on ABC from January 27 to May 4, 1980, lasting 10 episodes. Set 30 years after the original, it follows the Galactica crew on contemporary Earth as they protect the planet from the Cylons.
Quick Facts
- Runtime
- c. 45 mins
- Genre
- Science fiction
- Space opera
- Action adventure
- Creator
- Glen A. Larson
- Starring
- Lorne Greene
- Kent McCord
- Barry Van Dyke
- Country
- United States
- Network
- ABC
- Opening theme
- "Theme from Battlestar Galactica"; by Stu Phillips
- Composer
- Stu Phillips; John Andrew Tartaglia
Facts from the source article.
Series overview
Set during the year 1980, a generation after the original series, the Galactica and its fleet of 220 civilian ships have discovered Earth. They find its people not scientifically advanced and the planet unable to defend itself against the Cylons or help the Galactica as hoped. Colonial warriors are covertly sent to work incognito with scientists to advance Earth's technology. Commander Adama, on the advice of teenage prodigy Dr. Zee, sends Captain Troy (formerly Boxey, adopted son of Apollo) and Lieutenant Dillon to North America, where they become involved with TV journalist Jamie Hamilton. After an initial time travel adventure to Nazi Germany in the 1940s to stop rebel Galactican Commander Xavier from changing history, the three friends devise ways to help Earth's scientists and outwit the Cylons. Adama sends a group of children from the fleet (the Super Scouts) to Earth to begin integration, but due to gravity and physiology differences, the children have nearly super-human powers. The tenth episode, "The Return of Starbuck," uses the 1980 setting as a framing device for a story about Starbuck on a deserted planet. Fates of original series characters are explained: Apollo is apparently dead or retired; Starbuck was marooned; Captain Troy is Boxey; Lt. Boomer has risen to Colonel and is Adama's second in command. Fates of Lieutenant Athena, Colonel Tigh, Lieutenant Sheba, Cassiopeia, and Muffit the daggit are not revealed, though other daggits appear in the first episode.
Development and production
A massive write-in campaign followed the cancellation of the original Battlestar Galactica. Because such campaigns were uncommon in 1979, ABC reconsidered and contacted Glen A. Larson about reviving the series in a modified, less expensive format. Larson and the network felt a major change of focus was needed, and Larson and Donald P. Bellisario decided to set the new series five years after "The Hand of God," the final original episode. This allowed them to drop many supporting characters, including Colonel Tigh and Cassiopeia, to reduce costs. Returning characters were Commander Adama, Colonel Boomer, Apollo, Starbuck, and Lord Baltar, with Baltar now President of the Council of Twelve after atoning for betraying the Colonies. In the pitch, Adama discovers Earth unable to defend itself and plans to lead the Cylons away, but Baltar suggests using time travel to accelerate Earth's technology. The Council votes it down; Baltar steals a time-travel ship and goes into Earth's past. Apollo and Starbuck are sent after him. Episodes would feature a new "Time Mission" each week. ABC approved the pitch and a pilot was developed.
Cancellation
The program was poorly received during its run due to plot elements and its time slot. Commander Adama was shown as a weak leader, often turning to Dr. Zee, a young teen boy who sometimes gives Adama direct orders and appears to be in charge. The casting of Dillon and Troy was a detriment, as the characters were clearly intended as look-alikes to Starbuck and Apollo, with scripts written for the original characters. This mirrored the casting of Coy and Vance Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard, which caused problems for that show. The series suffered low ratings because it aired at 7:00 PM/6:00 PM Central on Sunday, a time slot reserved for child-friendly, informational, educational, or news programming. It was cancelled after ten episodes, many multi-part. The final episode was "The Return of Starbuck," featuring Dirk Benedict. Larson began developing a sequel, but the series was cancelled during production of episode 11, "The Day They Kidnapped Cleopatra," which remained unfinished.
Syndication and beyond
When the ten episodes of Galactica 1980 were packaged for syndication, they were rebranded under the same title as the original Battlestar Galactica. After the show ended, a movie called Conquest of the Earth was assembled by combining footage from the three-part "Galactica Discovers Earth" and the two-part "The Night the Cylons Landed." A scene featuring John Colicos as Baltar, taken from an original series episode (since Baltar never appears in Galactica 1980), was inserted and partially redubbed to fit the new storyline. Early scenes with Adama and Dr. Zee were also partially redubbed to clarify the plot and explain why two different actors portray Dr. Zee. This feature played in theaters across Europe, New Zealand, and Australia, and was released on home video elsewhere.
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