Classic TV

About the Shows

Originally conceived in the 1960s as a project called "Adam's Ark" by series Creator and Executive Producer Glen A. Larson, the shortened pilot for "Battlestar Galactica" was first released as a feature film in July of 1978 in Canada, Western Europe and Japan. Later that September, the entire 148-minute pilot premiered to stellar ratings, despite being interrupted by breaking news of the signing of the Camp David Accords. Thus "Battlestar" became the biggest budgeted pilot ever at the time, clocking in at a cost of $7 million, with the price tag of subsequent episodes hovering around the $1 million mark.

"Battlestar" followed the progress of a futuristic ragtag fleet of humans on the run from the robotic Cylon empire, while seeking the mythical lost planet Earth. Lorne Greene of "Bonanza" fame starred as Commander Adama, with Richard Hatch playing his son Apollo, and Maren Jenson in the role of daughter Athena. Dirk Benedict rounded out the cast as swashbuckling Lieutenant Starbuck, voted one of TV Guide's "25 Greatest Sci-Fi Legends."

Despite winning the People's Choice Award for Best New TV Drama Series, only 17 episodes of "Battlestar Galactica" were aired before it was cancelled, most likely due to its enormous price tag. Leaving a cult following bereft, the story continued in Larson's short-lived spin-off series, "Galactica 1980," and in several books, many of which were co-authored by Richard Hatch. In 2003, "Battlestar Galactica" was "re-imagined" as a mini-series by Ronald D. Moore, which led to the production of a new TV series, now in its fourth season.