1978 Battlestar Galactica TV Series

The 1978 Battlestar Galactica was an American science fiction television series created by Glen A. Larson that aired on the ABC network from September 17, 1978, to April 29, 1979. The series, which developed a significant cult following despite its short run, followed a group of human survivors fleeing the destruction of their homeworlds in search of a legendary planet called Earth. After a thousand-yahren war against a robotic race known as the Cylons, humanity's twelve colonies prepare to sign a peace treaty. The Cylons, aided by the human traitor Count Baltar (John Colicos), launch a surprise sneak attack that annihilates the colonies and most of their military strength. The lone surviving military capital ship, the titular Battlestar Galactica, gathers a "rag-tag fugitive fleet" of 220 civilian and support ships carrying the last remnants of humanity. Led by the stern but fatherly Commander Adama (Lorne Greene), the fleet embarks on an epic journey to find the long-lost thirteenth human tribe, which had settled on the fabled planet Earth. The series featured an ensemble cast: Lorne Greene as Commander Adama. Richard Hatch as Captain Apollo, Adama's son and a skilled fighter pilot. Dirk Benedict as Lieutenant Starbuck, Apollo's best friend, a charismatic and skilled fighter pilot known for gambling. John Colicos as Count Baltar, the main human villain who becomes a Cylon collaborator. Maren Jensen as Lieutenant Athena, Adama's daughter and a communications officer. Herbert Jefferson Jr. as Lieutenant Boomer, another fighter pilot. Laurette Spang as Cassiopeia, a medtech and Starbuck's love interest. Production and Legacy The pilot episode, originally a three-hour television movie titled "Saga of a Star World", had an astonishing production cost of $7 million, making it the most expensive TV pilot at the time. The episode was edited into a feature film and released in theaters in various countries, including Canada and later the United States, to help recoup costs. The show initially had strong ratings but was ultimately canceled after only 24 episodes due to declining viewership and high production costs. The cancellation generated significant viewer outrage and protests. Despite its short run, the 1978 series' legacy endures, and it has spawned a media franchise including comics, games, and a highly acclaimed re-imagined series in the early 2000s that ran from 2004 to 2009.