From the television program Battlestar Galactica, debuted on ABC during the 1978 season

Brought to the airwaves in the wake of the cultural sea change ignited by the 1977 theatrical release of a film called ‘Star Wars‘, Battlestar Galactica was forced into production to the tune of seven million dollars or $28 million in adjusted dollars. After a strong debut, diminishing returns quickly befell the lonely Galactica and her crew after less than a year on the air and the show was cancelled during April 1979.

Ripping off key design elements and poaching special effects talent does not add up to great programming. It took many years before a wealth of great science fiction and fantasy stories were realized on screens great and small alike. Although great things come from that initial burst into a new market, it seems more often, sloppy work from a desperate attempt to capitalize as an early adopter is most of what gets generated.

Now, if you’re going to be that guy, if you are going to try to pass off exploitation as legitimate work, you need to hire the right guy. Bear in mind that in those days, television was home to a lot of Hollywood runoff. Success in theaters meant television programmers would work to not so much compete as to scratch a public itch, basic market economics of supply and demand. An exception would be Gene Roddenberry and his success with Star Trek.

You wouldn’t want Gene on a show like Battlestar, because Gene was ambitious to generate credibility and legitimacy as a creator. No, you need a company man. You need a man who will toe the party line. There are many such examples of men like this in television of the time. Aaron Spelling, Stephen Cannell and the individual relevant to this entry, Mr. Glen A. Larson.

Mr. Larson is the undisputed king of television science fiction and fantasy schlock. By clicking the link above, you will perhaps have taken your first step into a larger world…