"Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" (1979) TV series 1979-1981

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

20 September 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A 20th century astronaut is revived out of 500 years of suspended animation to become the greatest hero of a future Earth.

Plot Keywords:

Astronaut | Buck Rogers | Spacecraft | Cult TV | Based On Comic Strip

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 5 nominations

Cast

Gil Gerard	...	Capt. William "Buck" Rogers / ... (37 episodes, 1979-1981)
Erin Gray	...	Col. Wilma Deering (37 episodes, 1979-1981)
Felix Silla	...	Twiki / ... (35 episodes, 1979-1981)
Mel Blanc	...	Twiki / ... (30 episodes, 1979-1981)
Tim O'Connor	...	Dr. Elias Huer (24 episodes, 1979-1980)
Eric Server	...	Dr. Theopolis (21 episodes, 1979-1980)
William Conrad	...	Narrator (17 episodes, 1979-1980)

(more)

Series Directed by
Larry Stewart		(5 episodes, 1980)
Daniel Haller		(4 episodes, 1979-1981)
Sigmund Neufeld Jr.		(4 episodes, 1979-1980)
Vincent McEveety		(4 episodes, 1981)
Dick Lowry		(3 episodes, 1979)
David G. Phinney		(3 episodes, 1980-1981)
Philip Leacock		(2 episodes, 1979)
Jack Arnold		(2 episodes, 1981)

Series Writing credits
Glen A. Larson		(29 episodes, 1979-1981)
Leslie Stevens		(29 episodes, 1979-1981)
Alan Brennert		(7 episodes, 1979-1980)
Cory Applebaum		(3 episodes, 1979)
Philip Francis Nowlan		(3 episodes, 1979)
Rob Gilmer		(3 episodes, 1980)
Stephen McPherson		(3 episodes, 1981)
Bob Mitchell		(3 episodes, 1981)
Esther Mitchell		(3 episodes, 1981)
Anne Collins		(2 episodes, 1979)
Chris Bunch		(2 episodes, 1980)
David Chomsky		(2 episodes, 1980)
Allan Cole		(2 episodes, 1980)
William Mageean		(2 episodes, 1980)
Norman Hudis		(2 episodes, 1981)
Francis Moss		(2 episodes, 1981)
Margaret Schneider		(2 episodes, 1981)
Paul Schneider		(2 episodes, 1981)

Series Produced by
David J. O'Connell	....	producer (24 episodes, 1979-1981)
David G. Phinney	....	associate producer (22 episodes, 1979-1981)
Glen A. Larson	....	executive producer (21 episodes, 1979-1980)
Jock Gaynor	....	producer (20 episodes, 1979-1980)
Bruce Lansbury	....	supervising producer (20 episodes, 1979-1980)
Medora Heilbron	....	associate producer (18 episodes, 1979-1980)
Calvin Clements Jr.	....	supervising producer (13 episodes, 1981)
John Mantley	....	executive producer (13 episodes, 1981)
John G. Stephens	....	producer (13 episodes, 1981)
Karen Welch	....	associate producer (5 episodes, 1981)
Tim King	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1980)

Series Original Music by
Bruce Broughton		(7 episodes, 1981)
J.J. Johnson		(6 episodes, 1979-1980)
Stu Phillips		(5 episodes, 1979-1981)
Johnny Harris		(4 episodes, 1979-1980)
John Cacavas		(3 episodes, 1980-1981)

Series Cinematography by
Ben Colman		(31 episodes, 1979-1981)
Frank Thackery		(2 episodes, 1980)

Series Film Editing by
George Potter		(13 episodes, 1979-1981)
Howard B. Anderson		(6 episodes, 1979-1980)
Michael Berman		(5 episodes, 1979-1980)
Leon Ortiz-Gil		(5 episodes, 1979-1980)
Neil MacDonald		(4 episodes, 1981)
Edward W. Williams		(3 episodes, 1981)
John J. Dumas		(2 episodes, 1979)
Ron Honthaner		(2 episodes, 1981)
David Howe		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Joe Reich		(13 episodes, 1981)
Phil Benjamin		(11 episodes, 1979-1980)
Simon Ayer		(8 episodes, 1980)

Series Art Direction by
Fred Luff III		(17 episodes, 1979-1980)
William L. Camden		(10 episodes, 1979-1980)
William H. Tuntke		(9 episodes, 1981)
Paul Peters		(5 episodes, 1979)
Hub Braden		(4 episodes, 1979-1980)
Bill Taliaferro		(4 episodes, 1980)
Peter Clemens		(4 episodes, 1981)
David L. Snyder		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Frank Lombardo		(23 episodes, 1979-1981)
Joanne MacDougall		(9 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Costume Design by
Al Lehman		(29 episodes, 1979-1981)
Sal Anthony		(3 episodes, 1979)

Series Makeup Department
Jack Stone	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1979-1981)
Brenda Todd	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1979-1981)
Jerry Gugliemotto	....	hair stylist (4 episodes, 1981)
Werner Keppler	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1981)

Series Production Management
Harker Wade	....	unit production manager (27 episodes, 1979-1981)
Charles E. Walker	....	unit production manager (5 episodes, 1980)
Paul Wurtzel	....	unit production manager (4 episodes, 1981)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gerald T. Olson	....	second assistant director (17 episodes, 1979-1980)
Stephen Lillis	....	second assistant director (13 episodes, 1981)
Bob Bender	....	first assistant director (12 episodes, 1979-1981)
Frank Crawford	....	first assistant director (11 episodes, 1979-1981)
Robert Villar	....	first assistant director / second assistant director (8 episodes, 1979-1981)
David Kahler	....	second assistant director (3 episodes, 1980)
Dick Erickson	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Joseph Kuri	....	property master (1 episode, 1979)
Jay Miller	....	property master (1 episode, 1979)
Frank Richwood	....	assistant art director (1 episode, 1979)
William Apperson	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Dick Wahrman	....	sound effects editor (33 episodes, 1979-1981)
Earl Crain Jr.	....	sound (31 episodes, 1979-1981)
Barney Cabral	....	adr editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
David M. Garber	....	miniature effects (21 episodes, 1979-1980)
Wayne Smith	....	miniature effects (21 episodes, 1979-1980)
William Guest	....	special props and miniatures (18 episodes, 1979-1980)
Peter Anderson	....	special effects supervisor (13 episodes, 1981)
David Jones	....	special effects supervisor (13 episodes, 1981)
Robert Cole	....	special effects (unknown episodes)
Courtney Dane	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
John C. Moulds	....	motion control (13 episodes, 1979)
Dennis Dorney	....	optical lineup (3 episodes, 1979)
C. Cory M. McCrum-Abdo	....	special visual effects coordinator (unknown episodes)
Dennis Michelson	....	visual effects editor (unknown episodes)
David Stipes	....	visual effects (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Erik Cord	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Peter Horak	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Michael M. Vendrell	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunt performer (1 episode, 1981)
Mickey Caruso	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Roydon Clark	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Nick Dimitri	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Dick Durock	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Tony Epper	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Dean Raphael Ferrandini	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Whitey Hughes	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Gene LeBell	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Bob Minor	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Michael Runyard	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Rick Sawaya	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Ron Stein	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Kym Washington	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Richard Washington	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
James Winburn	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Bob Yerkes	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Eddie Reo	....	camera operator (1 episode, 1979)
Tony Rivetti	....	assistant camera (1 episode, 1979)
Leonard J. South	....	assistant camera (1 episode, 1979)
Reggie Newkirk	....	key first assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barry Downing	....	costume supervisor: Gil Gerard (23 episodes, 1980-1981)
Gregory B. Peña	....	daily set costumer (13 episodes, 1981)

Series Editorial Department
Bill Luciano	....	assistant film editor (1 episode, 1979)
Maureen O'Connell	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Glen A. Larson	....	composer: title theme (34 episodes, 1979-1981)
Herbert D. Woods	....	music editor (24 episodes, 1979-1981)
Donald Woods	....	music editor (6 episodes, 1981)
John W. Morgan	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)
Don Nemitz	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)
Will Schaefer	....	conductor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (3 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Other crew
Stephen McPherson	....	executive story consultant (13 episodes, 1981)
Alan Brennert	....	story editor (11 episodes, 1979-1980)
Anne Collins	....	story consultant / story editor (9 episodes, 1979-1980)
Rob Gilmer	....	story editor (8 episodes, 1980)

Production Companies

• John Mantley Productions (1980)
• Glen A. Larson Productions
• Universal TV

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1979-1981) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MCA (video)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (laserdisc)
• Studios USA Television
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Veronica Omroep Organisatie (1985-1986) (Netherlands) (TV)

Special Effects

• Universal Hartland (visual effects)

Runtime:

60 min (37 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-11 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

John Mantley Productions

Trivia:

Michael Ansara was the first choice to play Kane, but was unavailable for filming the two-hour pilot episode "Awakening," so Henry Silva was chosen, in part because, with "Awakening" scheduled for theatrical release prior to the series' TV debut, Silva was considered to have more box-office clout. Ansara was brought in to play Kane once the television series was on-air. The change both in casting and from theatrical release to series television had a subtle effect on Kane's relationship with Princess Ardala. In "Awakening" there is a flirtatious quality to some of Ardala's banter with Kane, such as when she asks if Kane desires "Me, or my throne?" and when she pointedly tells Kane that Buck Rogers "wouldn't have been necessary if you were more of a man." This flirtatious banter, however, disappears with Ansara's assumption of the role, as the relationship between the two becomes harder-edged and more businesslike, notably in the episode "Ardala Returns" where Ardala repeatedly expresses doubt about Kane's Zygot robot duplicates of Buck Rogers and at one point she angrily tells Kane to sit down.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the narration intro Buck's spacecraft is called "Ranger 3". But the Ranger series spacecraft were unmanned lunar landers, and NASA never repeats project names to avoid confusion.

Quotes:

Twiki: [repeatedly throughout series] Beedeebeedeebeedee...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Showbiz Today: (1997-07-28)" (1997)

Enjoyable Hokum, Until Things Got Serious...

What do you do when you served as Executive Producer to one of the decade's most expensive failures, and you have all these leftover props, costumes, sets, and special effects film footage lying around? If you're Glen Larson, and the failed series was "Battlestar Galactica", you consider producing another Science Fiction-themed series, less pretentious and more 'audience-friendly', that can utilize all the surplus...

...and in a very real sense, that's how "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" came to television, in 1979! Based, originally, on a 1928 short story, 'Buck Rogers' achieved his greatest fame in comic strips, radio, and a movie serial in the 1930s, but by 1979, the character had been 'retired' for 28 years, and Larson knew he could 'update' the story without arousing much controversy. The 'new' Buck was an astronaut piloting the last of Earth's 'Deep Space' probes, Ranger 3, in 1987(!), which was thrown off-course by a cosmic disturbance, and damaged, entering a centuries-long looping orbit back to Earth, and releasing a mix of gases that placed Rogers into suspended animation for 500 years. Revived by the evil Draconian Empire, Rogers soon is returned to an Earth in ruins after a nuclear holocaust, where he gradually earns the government's trust, and becomes a civilian 'troubleshooter', using his 20th century wiles to save Mankind, again and again.

Casting was essential for the series to succeed, and Larson made an inspired choice in Gil Gerard, 36, as the lead. Ruggedly handsome, Gerard combined maturity with a boyish charm, and an ability to make even the most risqué remark seem unoffensive (and the series pilot, released theatrically, had a LOT of risqué remarks!) As Wilma Deering, a Colonel in Earth's Defense Force, Erin Gray, 29, was a bit wooden, but gloriously beautiful, and wholesomely sexy; Tim O'Connor, 52, as wise Dr. Huer, provided kind stability and statesman-like wisdom to the mix, and a goofy little robot, "Twiki", voiced by Mel Blanc, gave the kids something to enjoy (although he would utter an occasional risqué or ethnic aside, as well).

The first season of "Buck Rogers", while certainly not 'Classic TV', offered an entertaining mix of adventure and comedy, with stories that intentionally avoided the 'heaviness' that plagued "Galactica". Rogers would face a variety of galactic terrorists, dictators, and madmen, fend off advances by a variety of scantily-clad women, and maintain a "Will they or Won't they?" relationship with Deering. High points were the guest appearances by Pamela Hensley as the evil but vampy Drackonian Princess Ardala, in huge head wear (and little else), and, in a wonderful cameo, the legendary Buster Crabbe, who'd played both "Buck Rogers" and "Flash Gordon" in the 1930s, as 'Brigadier Gordon'.

While ratings were mediocre, at best, the series was renewed for a second season...and all the mistakes of "Galactica" were repeated, when the Earth-centered series was dropped, in favor of a starship-based, 'serious' adventure, as Buck and Wilma joined in a "Galactica"-like search for 'lost' tribes of humans who'd fled Earth at the time of the Holocaust. Why was the entire concept changed so abruptly, and disastrously? The reason I've been told, was that Gerard, a devout Christian, did not like the sexual undercurrent of the first season, and wanted stories that would be more uplifting and family-friendly, and that he forced the changes on a less-than-enthusiastic Glen Larson. Whether or not this was true, the season lacked all the swashbuckling joy of Season One, and despite an attempt to introduce a bird-like, stoic alien ('Hawk', portrayed by Thom Christopher), to attract the "Spock" crowd, the episodes were frequently dull and uninspired, and the ratings plummeted. When NBC canceled the series, just 13 episodes into Season Two, no one was truly surprised.

While Gerard's post-"Buck Rogers" career was a roller-coaster ride of highs and lows, Erin Gray enjoyed a long, successful run on "Silver Spoons", and both actors, today, are popular Convention guests, as both "Buck Rogers" and Larson's "Battlestar Galactica" have achieved 'cult' status.

"Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" will never be held in the kind of esteem "Star Trek" or "Babylon 5" enjoy, but, as a rare chance to see how television viewed Science Fiction in the "Disco Decade", the series has earned it's own piece of immortality!