Buck Rogers in the 25th Century - Revision history

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	==Cast==		==Cast==

	*[[Wikipedia:Gil Gerard\|Gil Gerard]] - Captain [[Buck Rogers\|William "Buck" Rogers]]		*[[Wikipedia:Gil Gerard\|Gil Gerard]] - Captain [[Buck Rogers\|William "Buck" Rogers]]
	*[[Wikipedia:Erin Gray\|Erin Gray]] - Colonel Wilma Deering		*[[Wikipedia:Erin Gray\|Erin Gray]] - Colonel Wilma Deering
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	==External links==		==External links==

	*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078579/ ''Buck Rogers in the 25th Century''] at IMDb		*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078579/ ''Buck Rogers in the 25th Century''] at IMDb
	*[https://www.tv.com/shows/buck-rogers/ ''Buck Rogers in the 25th Century''] at TV.com		*[https://www.tv.com/shows/buck-rogers/ ''Buck Rogers in the 25th Century''] at TV.com

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	==Concept and Broadcast History==		==Concept and Broadcast History==
	Inspired by the success of [[starwars:Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope\|''Star Wars'']], Universal began developing ''Buck Rogers'' for television, spearheaded by Glen A. Larson, who had a production deal with the studio. Production began in 1978. Initially, Larson and Universal had planned on making a series of ''Buck Rogers'' TV movies for [[Wikipedia:NBC\|NBC]]. The pilot for Larson's other science-fiction series, [[~~galactica~~:Battlestar Galactica (1978 series)\|''Battlestar Galactica'']] (1978), had been released theatrically in some countries and in key locations in North America, and had done well at the box office. Universal then opted to release the first ''Buck Rogers'' TV movie theatrically on March 30, 1979. Good box-office returns led NBC to commission a weekly series, which began on September 20, 1979, with a slightly modified version of the theatrical release.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Houston\|first=David\|title=Buck Rogers Becomes The Movie\|work=[[Wikipedia:Starlog\|Starlog]]\|url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-021/page/n49\|date=April 1979\|accessdate=June 28, 2019}}</ref>		Inspired by the success of [[starwars:Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope\|''Star Wars'']], Universal began developing ''Buck Rogers'' for television, spearheaded by Glen A. Larson, who had a production deal with the studio. Production began in 1978. Initially, Larson and Universal had planned on making a series of ''Buck Rogers'' TV movies for [[Wikipedia:NBC\|NBC]]. The pilot for Larson's other science-fiction series, [[bsgwiki:Battlestar Galactica (1978 series)\|''Battlestar Galactica'']] (1978), had been released theatrically in some countries and in key locations in North America, and had done well at the box office. Universal then opted to release the first ''Buck Rogers'' TV movie theatrically on March 30, 1979. Good box-office returns led NBC to commission a weekly series, which began on September 20, 1979, with a slightly modified version of the theatrical release.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Houston\|first=David\|title=Buck Rogers Becomes The Movie\|work=[[Wikipedia:Starlog\|Starlog]]\|url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-021/page/n49\|date=April 1979\|accessdate=June 28, 2019}}</ref>

	The production recycled many of the props, effects shots, and costumes from ''Battlestar Galactica'', which was still in production at the time the pilot for ''Buck Rogers'' was being filmed. For example, the "landram" vehicle was made for the ''Galactica'' series, and the control sticks used in the Terran starfighters in the pilot movie were the same as those used in Galactica's Viper craft. The Terran starfighters were also concept designer [[Wikipedia:Ralph McQuarrie\|Ralph McQuarrie]]'s original vision of the [[Wikipedia:Colonial Viper\|Colonial Vipers]].		The production recycled many of the props, effects shots, and costumes from ''Battlestar Galactica'', which was still in production at the time the pilot for ''Buck Rogers'' was being filmed. For example, the "landram" vehicle was made for the ''Galactica'' series, and the control sticks used in the Terran starfighters in the pilot movie were the same as those used in Galactica's Viper craft. The Terran starfighters were also concept designer [[Wikipedia:Ralph McQuarrie\|Ralph McQuarrie]]'s original vision of the [[Wikipedia:Colonial Viper\|Colonial Vipers]].

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	The character of Wilma Deering was softened in the second season as the producers attempted to tone down the militaristic "Colonel Deering" image (who often gave Buck orders) and to make her more feminine.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Willson\|first=Karen\|title=With Changes Coming Fast and Heavy...(interview with Erin Gray)\|url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-039/page/n16\|work=Starlog\|date=October 1980\|accessdate=June 28, 2019}}</ref> Another change in the second season was the sound of Twiki's voice. Mel Blanc left the series after the end of the first season and another actor, Bob Elyea, supplied Twiki's voice. Blanc returned for the final six episodes of the second season, though no explanation was given for the change in Twiki's voice.		The character of Wilma Deering was softened in the second season as the producers attempted to tone down the militaristic "Colonel Deering" image (who often gave Buck orders) and to make her more feminine.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Willson\|first=Karen\|title=With Changes Coming Fast and Heavy...(interview with Erin Gray)\|url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-039/page/n16\|work=Starlog\|date=October 1980\|accessdate=June 28, 2019}}</ref> Another change in the second season was the sound of Twiki's voice. Mel Blanc left the series after the end of the first season and another actor, Bob Elyea, supplied Twiki's voice. Blanc returned for the final six episodes of the second season, though no explanation was given for the change in Twiki's voice.

	== Opening narrative ==		=== Opening narrative ===

	The opening narrative was also modified for the second season, both in terms of the narrator's voice and content. In the first season, [[Wikipedia:William Conrad\|William Conrad]] delivered the following opening narrative:		The opening narrative was also modified for the second season, both in terms of the narrator's voice and content. In the first season, [[Wikipedia:William Conrad\|William Conrad]] delivered the following opening narrative:

LIMAFOX76: /* Second season */ adding a section "narrative"

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Second season: adding a section "narrative"

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	The character of Wilma Deering was softened in the second season as the producers attempted to tone down the militaristic "Colonel Deering" image (who often gave Buck orders) and to make her more feminine.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Willson\|first=Karen\|title=With Changes Coming Fast and Heavy...(interview with Erin Gray)\|url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-039/page/n16\|work=Starlog\|date=October 1980\|accessdate=June 28, 2019}}</ref> Another change in the second season was the sound of Twiki's voice. Mel Blanc left the series after the end of the first season and another actor, Bob Elyea, supplied Twiki's voice. Blanc returned for the final six episodes of the second season, though no explanation was given for the change in Twiki's voice.		The character of Wilma Deering was softened in the second season as the producers attempted to tone down the militaristic "Colonel Deering" image (who often gave Buck orders) and to make her more feminine.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Willson\|first=Karen\|title=With Changes Coming Fast and Heavy...(interview with Erin Gray)\|url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-039/page/n16\|work=Starlog\|date=October 1980\|accessdate=June 28, 2019}}</ref> Another change in the second season was the sound of Twiki's voice. Mel Blanc left the series after the end of the first season and another actor, Bob Elyea, supplied Twiki's voice. Blanc returned for the final six episodes of the second season, though no explanation was given for the change in Twiki's voice.

			== Opening narrative ==

	The opening narrative was also modified for the second season, both in terms of the narrator's voice and content. In the first season, [[Wikipedia:William Conrad\|William Conrad]] delivered the following opening narrative:		The opening narrative was also modified for the second season, both in terms of the narrator's voice and content. In the first season, [[Wikipedia:William Conrad\|William Conrad]] delivered the following opening narrative:

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	[[Category:Infobox templates]]		[[Category:Infobox templates]]
	[[Category:TV series]]		[[Category:TV series]]

			[[fr:Buck Rogers (série télévisée)]]

Joe Beaudoin Jr.: quote updates

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quote updates

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Joe Beaudoin Jr.: 1 revision imported: and so it begins...

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1 revision imported: and so it begins...

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Revision as of 22:27, 25 January 2021

Joe Beaudoin Jr. at 20:31, 4 June 2020

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Show changes

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	{{Infobox		{{Infobox
	\| Box title = ''Buck Rogers<br>in the 25th Century''		\| Box title = ''Buck Rogers<br>in the 25th Century''
	\| image = File:Buck~~-rogers-~~in-the-25th-~~century-title-card-opening-credits-review-episode-guide-list~~.~~jpg~~		\| image = File:Buck Rogers in the 25th Century - Logo.png
	\| imagewidth = ~~300px~~		\| imagewidth =
	\| Row 1 title = IMDb ref		\| Row 1 title = IMDb ref
	\| Row 1 info = [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078579 tt0078579]		\| Row 1 info = [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078579 tt0078579]
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	The opening narrative was also modified for the second season, both in terms of the narrator's voice and content. In the first season, [[Wikipedia:William Conrad\|William Conrad]] delivered the following opening narrative:		The opening narrative was also modified for the second season, both in terms of the narrator's voice and content. In the first season, [[Wikipedia:William Conrad\|William Conrad]] delivered the following opening narrative:

	{{Quote\|The year is 1987, and NASA launches the last of America's deep space probes. In a freak mishap, ''Ranger 3'' and its pilot, Captain William "Buck" Rogers, are blown out of their trajectory into an orbit which freezes his life-support systems, and returns Buck Rogers to Earth, 500 years later.\|William Conrad}}		{{Quote\|William Conrad\|The year is 1987, and NASA launches the last of America's deep space probes. In a freak mishap, ''Ranger 3'' and its pilot, Captain William "Buck" Rogers, are blown out of their trajectory into an orbit which freezes his life-support systems, and returns Buck Rogers to Earth, 500 years later.\| attribution =William Conrad}}

	In the second season, [[Wikipedia:Hank Simms\|Hank Simms]] (best known for his announcing work on many of the programs produced by Quinn Martin Productions) delivered the following alternate narrative:		In the second season, [[Wikipedia:Hank Simms\|Hank Simms]] (best known for his announcing work on many of the programs produced by Quinn Martin Productions) delivered the following alternate narrative:

	{{Quote\|In the year 1987, NASA launched the last of America's deep space probes. Aboard this compact starship, a lone astronaut, Captain William "Buck" Rogers, was to experience cosmic forces beyond all comprehension. In a freak mishap, his life-support systems were frozen by temperatures beyond imagination. ''Ranger 3'' was blown out of its planned trajectory into an orbit one thousand times more vast, an orbit which was to return Buck Rogers to Earth, 500 years later.\|Hank Simms}}		{{Quote\|Hank Simms\|In the year 1987, NASA launched the last of America's deep space probes. Aboard this compact starship, a lone astronaut, Captain William "Buck" Rogers, was to experience cosmic forces beyond all comprehension. In a freak mishap, his life-support systems were frozen by temperatures beyond imagination. ''Ranger 3'' was blown out of its planned trajectory into an orbit one thousand times more vast, an orbit which was to return Buck Rogers to Earth, 500 years later.\| attribution =Hank Simms}}

	These were abbreviated and altered versions of the narrative heard in the original pilot movie, delivered by Conrad:		These were abbreviated and altered versions of the narrative heard in the original pilot movie, delivered by Conrad:

	{{Quote\|In the year 1987, at the John F. Kennedy Space Center, NASA launched the last of America's deep space probes. The payload, perched on the nosecone of the NASA rocket, was a one-man exploration vessel: ''Ranger 3''. Aboard this compact starship, a lone astronaut, Captain William "Buck" Rogers, was to experience cosmic forces beyond all comprehension: an awesome brush with death. In the blink of an eye, his life-support systems were frozen by temperatures beyond imagination. ''Ranger 3'' was blown out of its planned trajectory into an orbit a thousand times more vast, an orbit which was to return the ship full circle to its point of origin, its mother Earth, not in five months...but in ''500 years''."<br><br>"For 500 years, Buck Rogers drifted through a world in which reality and fantasy merged into a timeless dream.\|Hank Simms}}		{{Quote\|Hank Simms\|In the year 1987, at the John F. Kennedy Space Center, NASA launched the last of America's deep space probes. The payload, perched on the nosecone of the NASA rocket, was a one-man exploration vessel: ''Ranger 3''. Aboard this compact starship, a lone astronaut, Captain William "Buck" Rogers, was to experience cosmic forces beyond all comprehension: an awesome brush with death. In the blink of an eye, his life-support systems were frozen by temperatures beyond imagination. ''Ranger 3'' was blown out of its planned trajectory into an orbit a thousand times more vast, an orbit which was to return the ship full circle to its point of origin, its mother Earth, not in five months...but in ''500 years''."<br><br>"For 500 years, Buck Rogers drifted through a world in which reality and fantasy merged into a timeless dream.\|attribution=Hank Simms}}

	The introduction narrative from the pilot episode ("[[Awakening]]") was also different:		The introduction narrative from the pilot episode ("[[Awakening]]") was also different:

	{{Quote\|For 500 years, Captain William "Buck" Rogers has been miraculously preserved, frozen by temperatures beyond imagination. Now, in Earth year 2491, he is rudely awakened by the sinister forces of the Draconian realm.\|William Conrad}}		{{Quote\|William Conrad\|For 500 years, Captain William "Buck" Rogers has been miraculously preserved, frozen by temperatures beyond imagination. Now, in Earth year 2491, he is rudely awakened by the sinister forces of the Draconian realm.\|attribution=William Conrad}}

	The substance of the storylines also changed in the second season. Less emphasis was placed on militaristic ideals and, with a few exceptions, Gerard scaled back the humor in the second season in favor of more serious episodes (with the final episode of the series ending on a somber note as a result). Buck's and Wilma's relationship became slightly more romantic during the second year, though most romantic activity was implied and took place off-screen.		The substance of the storylines also changed in the second season. Less emphasis was placed on militaristic ideals and, with a few exceptions, Gerard scaled back the humor in the second season in favor of more serious episodes (with the final episode of the series ending on a somber note as a result). Buck's and Wilma's relationship became slightly more romantic during the second year, though most romantic activity was implied and took place off-screen.

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	==Concept and Broadcast History==		==Concept and Broadcast History==
	Inspired by the success of [[~~w:c:~~starwars:Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope\|''Star Wars'']], Universal began developing ''Buck Rogers'' for television, spearheaded by Glen A. Larson, who had a production deal with the studio. Production began in 1978. Initially, Larson and Universal had planned on making a series of ''Buck Rogers'' TV movies for [[Wikipedia:NBC\|NBC]]. The pilot for Larson's other science-fiction series, [[~~w:c:~~galactica:Battlestar Galactica (1978 series)\|''Battlestar Galactica'']] (1978), had been released theatrically in some countries and in key locations in North America, and had done well at the box office. Universal then opted to release the first ''Buck Rogers'' TV movie theatrically on March 30, 1979. Good box-office returns led NBC to commission a weekly series, which began on September 20, 1979, with a slightly modified version of the theatrical release.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Houston\|first=David\|title=Buck Rogers Becomes The Movie\|work=[[Wikipedia:Starlog\|Starlog]]\|url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-021/page/n49\|date=April 1979\|accessdate=June 28, 2019}}</ref>		Inspired by the success of [[starwars:Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope\|''Star Wars'']], Universal began developing ''Buck Rogers'' for television, spearheaded by Glen A. Larson, who had a production deal with the studio. Production began in 1978. Initially, Larson and Universal had planned on making a series of ''Buck Rogers'' TV movies for [[Wikipedia:NBC\|NBC]]. The pilot for Larson's other science-fiction series, [[galactica:Battlestar Galactica (1978 series)\|''Battlestar Galactica'']] (1978), had been released theatrically in some countries and in key locations in North America, and had done well at the box office. Universal then opted to release the first ''Buck Rogers'' TV movie theatrically on March 30, 1979. Good box-office returns led NBC to commission a weekly series, which began on September 20, 1979, with a slightly modified version of the theatrical release.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Houston\|first=David\|title=Buck Rogers Becomes The Movie\|work=[[Wikipedia:Starlog\|Starlog]]\|url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-021/page/n49\|date=April 1979\|accessdate=June 28, 2019}}</ref>

	The production recycled many of the props, effects shots, and costumes from ''Battlestar Galactica'', which was still in production at the time the pilot for ''Buck Rogers'' was being filmed. For example, the "landram" vehicle was made for the ''Galactica'' series, and the control sticks used in the Terran starfighters in the pilot movie were the same as those used in Galactica's Viper craft. The Terran starfighters were also concept designer [[Wikipedia:Ralph McQuarrie\|Ralph McQuarrie]]'s original vision of the [[Wikipedia:Colonial Viper\|Colonial Vipers]].		The production recycled many of the props, effects shots, and costumes from ''Battlestar Galactica'', which was still in production at the time the pilot for ''Buck Rogers'' was being filmed. For example, the "landram" vehicle was made for the ''Galactica'' series, and the control sticks used in the Terran starfighters in the pilot movie were the same as those used in Galactica's Viper craft. The Terran starfighters were also concept designer [[Wikipedia:Ralph McQuarrie\|Ralph McQuarrie]]'s original vision of the [[Wikipedia:Colonial Viper\|Colonial Vipers]].
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	The series followed him as he tried (not always successfully) to fit into 25th-century culture. As no traceable personal records of him remained, he was uniquely placed, due to his pilot and combat skills and personal ingenuity, to help Earth Defense foil assorted evil plots to conquer the planet. In many respects, this version of Buck Rogers was more similar to [[Wikipedia:James Bond\|James Bond]] or [[Wikipedia:The Six Million Dollar Man\|Steve Austin]] than Nowlan's original character, and Buck would often go [[Wikipedia:Undercover\|under cover]] on various covert missions. Buck is aided in his adventures by his friend and sometimes romantic interest, Colonel Wilma Deering (played by [[Wikipedia:Erin Gray\|Erin Gray]]), a high-ranking officer and starfighter pilot. He is also assisted by [[Twiki]], a small robot or "ambuquad", as they were known. Twiki was played mainly by [[Wikipedia:Felix Silla\|Felix Silla]] and voiced mainly by [[Wikipedia:Mel Blanc\|Mel Blanc]] (who had previously voiced [[Wikipedia:Daffy Duck\|Daffy Duck]] as [[Wikipedia:Duck Dodgers\|Duck Dodgers]] in spoofs of the early Buck Rogers and other science-fiction serials) using a gruff voice very similar to the one he used for [[Wikipedia:Barnyard Dawg\|Barnyard Dawg]]. Twiki became Buck's comic sidekick and communicated with an electronic noise that sounded like "biddi-biddi-biddi", but also spoke English (usually after saying "biddi-biddi-biddi-biddi" for several seconds). Also aiding Buck was Dr. Theopolis or "Theo" (voiced by [[Wikipedia:Eric Server\|Eric Server]]), a sentient computer in the shape of a disk about 9 inches wide with an illuminated face. He was capable of understanding Twiki's electronic language, and was often carried around by him. Theo was a member of Earth's "computer council" and one of the planet's scientific leaders. During the first season, Buck and Wilma took their orders from Dr. Elias Huer, played by [[Wikipedia:Tim O'Connor (actor)\|Tim O'Connor]], the head of the Defense Directorate. Some episodes suggested Huer was the leader of the entire planet, though this was never made completely clear.		The series followed him as he tried (not always successfully) to fit into 25th-century culture. As no traceable personal records of him remained, he was uniquely placed, due to his pilot and combat skills and personal ingenuity, to help Earth Defense foil assorted evil plots to conquer the planet. In many respects, this version of Buck Rogers was more similar to [[Wikipedia:James Bond\|James Bond]] or [[Wikipedia:The Six Million Dollar Man\|Steve Austin]] than Nowlan's original character, and Buck would often go [[Wikipedia:Undercover\|under cover]] on various covert missions. Buck is aided in his adventures by his friend and sometimes romantic interest, Colonel Wilma Deering (played by [[Wikipedia:Erin Gray\|Erin Gray]]), a high-ranking officer and starfighter pilot. He is also assisted by [[Twiki]], a small robot or "ambuquad", as they were known. Twiki was played mainly by [[Wikipedia:Felix Silla\|Felix Silla]] and voiced mainly by [[Wikipedia:Mel Blanc\|Mel Blanc]] (who had previously voiced [[Wikipedia:Daffy Duck\|Daffy Duck]] as [[Wikipedia:Duck Dodgers\|Duck Dodgers]] in spoofs of the early Buck Rogers and other science-fiction serials) using a gruff voice very similar to the one he used for [[Wikipedia:Barnyard Dawg\|Barnyard Dawg]]. Twiki became Buck's comic sidekick and communicated with an electronic noise that sounded like "biddi-biddi-biddi", but also spoke English (usually after saying "biddi-biddi-biddi-biddi" for several seconds). Also aiding Buck was Dr. Theopolis or "Theo" (voiced by [[Wikipedia:Eric Server\|Eric Server]]), a sentient computer in the shape of a disk about 9 inches wide with an illuminated face. He was capable of understanding Twiki's electronic language, and was often carried around by him. Theo was a member of Earth's "computer council" and one of the planet's scientific leaders. During the first season, Buck and Wilma took their orders from Dr. Elias Huer, played by [[Wikipedia:Tim O'Connor (actor)\|Tim O'Connor]], the head of the Defense Directorate. Some episodes suggested Huer was the leader of the entire planet, though this was never made completely clear.

	The series' chief villain (at least in the first season) was Princess Ardala (played by [[Wikipedia:Pamela Hensley\|Pamela Hensley]]), whose goal was to conquer the Earth while making Buck her consort. She was aided by her henchman Kane (played in the pilot film by [[Wikipedia:Henry Silva\|Henry Silva]] and in the series by [[~~w:c:~~memoryalpha:Michael Ansara\|Michael Ansara]]). All of these characters were featured in the original comic strip, except for Dr. Theopolis and Twiki (whose closest counterpart in earlier versions would likely be Buck's human sidekick, Buddy Wade). Kane (or [[Wikipedia:Killer Kane\|Killer Kane]] as he was then known) was also featured in the [[Wikipedia:Buck Rogers (serial)\|1939 film serial]] and was actually the chief villain himself, rather than Ardala's henchman (Ardala did not appear in the film serial).		The series' chief villain (at least in the first season) was Princess Ardala (played by [[Wikipedia:Pamela Hensley\|Pamela Hensley]]), whose goal was to conquer the Earth while making Buck her consort. She was aided by her henchman Kane (played in the pilot film by [[Wikipedia:Henry Silva\|Henry Silva]] and in the series by [[memoryalpha:Michael Ansara\|Michael Ansara]]). All of these characters were featured in the original comic strip, except for Dr. Theopolis and Twiki (whose closest counterpart in earlier versions would likely be Buck's human sidekick, Buddy Wade). Kane (or [[Wikipedia:Killer Kane\|Killer Kane]] as he was then known) was also featured in the [[Wikipedia:Buck Rogers (serial)\|1939 film serial]] and was actually the chief villain himself, rather than Ardala's henchman (Ardala did not appear in the film serial).

	The pilot film depicted human civilization as fairly insular, with an invisible defense shield that surrounded the entire planet, protecting it from invaders. Civilization was restricted to a few cities; the main city seen in the pilot and weekly series was New Chicago, which was also known as the Inner City. Travel beyond the Inner City was hazardous, as much of the planet was said to be a radioactive wasteland inhabited by violent mutants (as Buck discovered when he visited the derelict remains of old Chicago).		The pilot film depicted human civilization as fairly insular, with an invisible defense shield that surrounded the entire planet, protecting it from invaders. Civilization was restricted to a few cities; the main city seen in the pilot and weekly series was New Chicago, which was also known as the Inner City. Travel beyond the Inner City was hazardous, as much of the planet was said to be a radioactive wasteland inhabited by violent mutants (as Buck discovered when he visited the derelict remains of old Chicago).
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	Moreover, the second season deals with more serious concepts such as [[Wikipedia:Evolution\|evolution]], [[Wikipedia:Ecology\|ecology]], [[Wikipedia:Racism\|racism]], [[Wikipedia:Pollution\|pollution]], [[Wikipedia:War\|war]], [[Wikipedia:Nuclear power\|nuclear power]], [[Wikipedia:Identity (social science)\|identity]], the [[Wikipedia:Self (philosophy)\|self]], and [[Wikipedia:Religion\|religion]]. It also draws on [[Wikipedia:Mythology\|mythology]] as exemplified by Hawk's people, who are variants on the [[Wikipedia:List of avian humanoids\|bird people]] found in mythologies around the world and makes special reference to the [[Wikipedia:Moai\|moai]] of [[Wikipedia:Easter Island\|Easter Island]]. An episode also included a story about mythical [[Wikipedia:Satyr\|satyr]] creatures.		Moreover, the second season deals with more serious concepts such as [[Wikipedia:Evolution\|evolution]], [[Wikipedia:Ecology\|ecology]], [[Wikipedia:Racism\|racism]], [[Wikipedia:Pollution\|pollution]], [[Wikipedia:War\|war]], [[Wikipedia:Nuclear power\|nuclear power]], [[Wikipedia:Identity (social science)\|identity]], the [[Wikipedia:Self (philosophy)\|self]], and [[Wikipedia:Religion\|religion]]. It also draws on [[Wikipedia:Mythology\|mythology]] as exemplified by Hawk's people, who are variants on the [[Wikipedia:List of avian humanoids\|bird people]] found in mythologies around the world and makes special reference to the [[Wikipedia:Moai\|moai]] of [[Wikipedia:Easter Island\|Easter Island]]. An episode also included a story about mythical [[Wikipedia:Satyr\|satyr]] creatures.

	As well as its parallels to Larson's previous television series ''Battlestar Galactica'', the second season is similar in theme to [[~~w:c:~~memoryalpha:Star Trek: The Original Series\|''Star Trek'']], with the ''Searcher'' roaming through space much like the [[~~w:c:~~memoryalpha:USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)\|USS ''Enterprise'']] had, Buck being the maverick explorer true to the style of Captain [[~~w:c:~~memoryalpha:James T. Kirk\|James T. Kirk]], and the serious, rather stoic Hawk being a revamped version of [[~~w:c:~~memoryalpha:Spock\|Mr. Spock]]. Even Wilma had, to some extent, been remodeled after [[~~w:c:~~memoryalpha:Uhura\|Lt. Uhura]] from ''Star Trek'', often dressed in a [[Wikipedia:Miniskirt\|miniskirt]] uniform and regularly sitting at a communications console on the bridge of the ''Searcher.''		As well as its parallels to Larson's previous television series ''Battlestar Galactica'', the second season is similar in theme to [[memoryalpha:Star Trek: The Original Series\|''Star Trek'']], with the ''Searcher'' roaming through space much like the [[memoryalpha:USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)\|USS ''Enterprise'']] had, Buck being the maverick explorer true to the style of Captain [[memoryalpha:James T. Kirk\|James T. Kirk]], and the serious, rather stoic Hawk being a revamped version of [[memoryalpha:Spock\|Mr. Spock]]. Even Wilma had, to some extent, been remodeled after [[memoryalpha:Uhura\|Lt. Uhura]] from ''Star Trek'', often dressed in a [[Wikipedia:Miniskirt\|miniskirt]] uniform and regularly sitting at a communications console on the bridge of the ''Searcher.''

	Ratings dropped significantly after the season premiere. NBC canceled the series at the end of an 11-episode strike-abbreviated season. No finale storyline was produced, with the final episode broadcast being a normal standalone episode.		Ratings dropped significantly after the season premiere. NBC canceled the series at the end of an 11-episode strike-abbreviated season. No finale storyline was produced, with the final episode broadcast being a normal standalone episode.
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	*[[Wikipedia:Tim O'Connor (actor)\|Tim O'Connor]] - Dr. Elias Huer (first season)		*[[Wikipedia:Tim O'Connor (actor)\|Tim O'Connor]] - Dr. Elias Huer (first season)
	*[[Wikipedia:Pamela Hensley\|Pamela Hensley]] as Princess Ardala (first season)		*[[Wikipedia:Pamela Hensley\|Pamela Hensley]] as Princess Ardala (first season)
	*[[~~w:c:~~memoryalpha:Michael Ansara\|Michael Ansara]] as Kane (first season) (played by [[Wikipedia:Henry Silva\|Henry Silva]] in the theatrical film)<ref name="NY"/>		*[[memoryalpha:Michael Ansara\|Michael Ansara]] as Kane (first season) (played by [[Wikipedia:Henry Silva\|Henry Silva]] in the theatrical film)<ref name="NY"/>
	*[[Wikipedia:Wilfrid Hyde-White\|Wilfrid Hyde-White]] - Dr. Goodfellow (second season)		*[[Wikipedia:Wilfrid Hyde-White\|Wilfrid Hyde-White]] - Dr. Goodfellow (second season)
	*[[Wikipedia:Thom Christopher\|Thom Christopher]] - Hawk (second season)		*[[Wikipedia:Thom Christopher\|Thom Christopher]] - Hawk (second season)
	*[[Wikipedia:Jay Garner (actor)\|Jay Garner]] - Admiral Efram Asimov (second season)		*[[Wikipedia:Jay Garner (actor)\|Jay Garner]] - Admiral Efram Asimov (second season)
	*[[~~w:c:~~memoryalpha:Paul Carr\|Paul Carr]] - Lt. Devlin (second season)		*[[memoryalpha:Paul Carr\|Paul Carr]] - Lt. Devlin (second season)
	*[[Wikipedia:Felix Silla\|Felix Silla]] - Twiki (physical performance)		*[[Wikipedia:Felix Silla\|Felix Silla]] - Twiki (physical performance)
	*[[Wikipedia:Patty Maloney\|Patty Maloney]] - Twiki (physical performance, 3 episodes)		*[[Wikipedia:Patty Maloney\|Patty Maloney]] - Twiki (physical performance, 3 episodes)
Line 115:		Line 115:
	*[[Wikipedia:Hank Simms\|Hank Simms]] - Narrator (second season)		*[[Wikipedia:Hank Simms\|Hank Simms]] - Narrator (second season)

	Guest stars on the series included [[Wikipedia:Peter Graves\|Peter Graves]], [[Wikipedia:Lance LeGault\|Lance LeGault]], [[~~w:c:~~halloweenmovie:Jamie Lee Curtis\|Jamie Lee Curtis]], [[Wikipedia:Markie Post\|Markie Post]], [[Wikipedia:Dorothy Stratten\|Dorothy Stratten]], [[Wikipedia:Leigh McCloskey\|Leigh McCloskey]], [[Wikipedia:Trisha Noble\|Trisha Noble]], [[Wikipedia:Richard Moll\|Richard Moll]], [[Wikipedia:Jerry Orbach\|Jerry Orbach]], [[Wikipedia:Gary Coleman\|Gary Coleman]], [[Wikipedia:Jack Palance\|Jack Palance]], [[Wikipedia:Sam Jaffe\|Sam Jaffe]], [[Wikipedia:Sid Haig\|Sid Haig]], [[Wikipedia:Vera Miles\|Vera Miles]] and [[Wikipedia:Buster Crabbe\|Buster Crabbe]] (who had played Buck Rogers in the 1930s [[Wikipedia:Buck Rogers (serial)\|film serial]]). [[~~w:c:~~jamesbond:Joseph Wiseman\|Joseph Wiseman]] also appeared in one episode of the series, and was also briefly seen in the theatrical version of the pilot as Emperor Draco (Princess Ardala's father), but his appearance was edited out of the television version. Several actors who had played villains in the 1960s [[Wikipedia:Batman (TV series)\|''Batman'']] television series also guest-starred, including [[Wikipedia:Cesar Romero\|Cesar Romero]], [[~~w:c:~~memoryalpha:Frank Gorshin\|Frank Gorshin]], [[~~w:c:~~planetoftheapes:Roddy McDowall\|Roddy McDowall]], and [[Wikipedia:Julie Newmar\|Julie Newmar]].		Guest stars on the series included [[Wikipedia:Peter Graves\|Peter Graves]], [[Wikipedia:Lance LeGault\|Lance LeGault]], [[halloweenmovie:Jamie Lee Curtis\|Jamie Lee Curtis]], [[Wikipedia:Markie Post\|Markie Post]], [[Wikipedia:Dorothy Stratten\|Dorothy Stratten]], [[Wikipedia:Leigh McCloskey\|Leigh McCloskey]], [[Wikipedia:Trisha Noble\|Trisha Noble]], [[Wikipedia:Richard Moll\|Richard Moll]], [[Wikipedia:Jerry Orbach\|Jerry Orbach]], [[Wikipedia:Gary Coleman\|Gary Coleman]], [[Wikipedia:Jack Palance\|Jack Palance]], [[Wikipedia:Sam Jaffe\|Sam Jaffe]], [[Wikipedia:Sid Haig\|Sid Haig]], [[Wikipedia:Vera Miles\|Vera Miles]] and [[Wikipedia:Buster Crabbe\|Buster Crabbe]] (who had played Buck Rogers in the 1930s [[Wikipedia:Buck Rogers (serial)\|film serial]]). [[jamesbond:Joseph Wiseman\|Joseph Wiseman]] also appeared in one episode of the series, and was also briefly seen in the theatrical version of the pilot as Emperor Draco (Princess Ardala's father), but his appearance was edited out of the television version. Several actors who had played villains in the 1960s [[Wikipedia:Batman (TV series)\|''Batman'']] television series also guest-starred, including [[Wikipedia:Cesar Romero\|Cesar Romero]], [[memoryalpha:Frank Gorshin\|Frank Gorshin]], [[planetoftheapes:Roddy McDowall\|Roddy McDowall]], and [[Wikipedia:Julie Newmar\|Julie Newmar]].

	==Episodes==		==Episodes==
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	==Reception==		==Reception==
	Contemporary assessments of ''Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'' were generally mixed. In his book ''Sci-Fi TV from Twilight Zone to Deep Space Nine'', writer James van Hise claimed the show's scripts "just never took advantage of what they had at hand" and criticized Larson's version of ''Buck Rogers'' as a cynical attempt to exploit one of the most loved characters in American popular culture.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.amazon.com/Twilight-Zone-Deep-Space-Nine/dp/155698362X/ref=sr_1_1\|title=Sci-Fi TV from Twilight Zone to Deep Space Nine\|last=Hise\|first=James\|work=Amazon.com\|accessdate=June 28, 2019}}</ref> John Javna's book ''The Best of Science Fiction TV'' included ''Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'' on its list of the "Worst Science Fiction Shows of All Time" (along with [[Wikipedia:The Starlost\|''The Starlost'']], [[Wikipedia:Space: 1999\|''Space: 1999'']] and [[Wikipedia:Manimal\|''Manimal'']]).<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Science-Fiction-TV-Robotech/dp/0517566508\|title=The Best of Science Fiction TV: The Critics' Choice\|last=Javna\|first=John\|work=Amazon.co.uk\|accessdate=June 28, 2019}}</ref> Journalist Bill Lengeman also strongly criticized the program, stating "the acting is so wooden that [[Wikipedia:Ed Wood\|Ed Wood]] himself (no pun intended) would surely have gone weak in the knees and wept openly upon witnessing it." Lengemen also called the ''Buck Rogers'' episode "Space Rockers" the worst episode of TV science fiction he had ever seen.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.irosf.com/q/zine/article/10347\|title=Twiki Love and Space Rock: Ruminations on The Worst SF TV Episode Ever\|last=Lengemen\|first=Bill\|work=The Internet Review of Science Fiction\|date=January 2007\|accessdate=June 28, 2019\|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070202233515/http://www.irosf.com/q/zine/article/10347\|archivedate=February 2, 2007}}</ref> On a more positive note, writing in the UK's [[Wikipedia:The Observer\|''Observer'']] newspaper in October 1980 (shortly after the series began showing there), journalist [[Wikipedia:Clive James\|Clive James]] stated "the best comic-strip science fiction on at the moment is ''Buck Rogers in the 25th Century''. The hardware looks good and Wilma Deering looks simply sensational, like [[~~w:c:~~wonderwoman:Wonder Woman\|Wonder Woman]] with brains."		Contemporary assessments of ''Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'' were generally mixed. In his book ''Sci-Fi TV from Twilight Zone to Deep Space Nine'', writer James van Hise claimed the show's scripts "just never took advantage of what they had at hand" and criticized Larson's version of ''Buck Rogers'' as a cynical attempt to exploit one of the most loved characters in American popular culture.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.amazon.com/Twilight-Zone-Deep-Space-Nine/dp/155698362X/ref=sr_1_1\|title=Sci-Fi TV from Twilight Zone to Deep Space Nine\|last=Hise\|first=James\|work=Amazon.com\|accessdate=June 28, 2019}}</ref> John Javna's book ''The Best of Science Fiction TV'' included ''Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'' on its list of the "Worst Science Fiction Shows of All Time" (along with [[Wikipedia:The Starlost\|''The Starlost'']], [[Wikipedia:Space: 1999\|''Space: 1999'']] and [[Wikipedia:Manimal\|''Manimal'']]).<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Science-Fiction-TV-Robotech/dp/0517566508\|title=The Best of Science Fiction TV: The Critics' Choice\|last=Javna\|first=John\|work=Amazon.co.uk\|accessdate=June 28, 2019}}</ref> Journalist Bill Lengeman also strongly criticized the program, stating "the acting is so wooden that [[Wikipedia:Ed Wood\|Ed Wood]] himself (no pun intended) would surely have gone weak in the knees and wept openly upon witnessing it." Lengemen also called the ''Buck Rogers'' episode "Space Rockers" the worst episode of TV science fiction he had ever seen.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.irosf.com/q/zine/article/10347\|title=Twiki Love and Space Rock: Ruminations on The Worst SF TV Episode Ever\|last=Lengemen\|first=Bill\|work=The Internet Review of Science Fiction\|date=January 2007\|accessdate=June 28, 2019\|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070202233515/http://www.irosf.com/q/zine/article/10347\|archivedate=February 2, 2007}}</ref> On a more positive note, writing in the UK's [[Wikipedia:The Observer\|''Observer'']] newspaper in October 1980 (shortly after the series began showing there), journalist [[Wikipedia:Clive James\|Clive James]] stated "the best comic-strip science fiction on at the moment is ''Buck Rogers in the 25th Century''. The hardware looks good and Wilma Deering looks simply sensational, like [[wonderwoman:Wonder Woman\|Wonder Woman]] with brains."