"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		(6 episodes, 1979-1980)
Cory Applebaum		(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)
Philip Francis Nowlan		(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		(5 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)

Series Casting by
Joe Reich		(12 episodes, 1981)
Phil Benjamin		(5 episodes, 1979-1980)
Simon Ayer		(4 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)
Victor Hugo		(2 episodes, 1979)

Series Costume Design by
Al Lehman		(29 episodes, 1979-1981)
Sal Anthony		(4 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 / first 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)
Peter Anderson	....	special effects supervisor / photographic effects supervisor (13 episodes, 1981)
David Jones	....	special effects supervisor / photographic effects supervisor (13 episodes, 1981)
William Guest	....	special props and miniatures (9 episodes, 1979-1980)
Robert Cole	....	special effects (unknown episodes)
Courtney Dane	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
John C. Moulds	....	motion control (8 episodes, 1979)
Dennis Dorney	....	optical lineup (2 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
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Norman Blankenship	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Tony Brubaker	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1979)
Michael Cassidy	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Phil Chong	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Bobby Clark	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Erik Cord	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Kenny Endoso	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Don Fox Greene	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Gene Hartline	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Peter Horak	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Kim Kahana	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
John Larson	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Tom Lupo	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Alan Oliney	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
R.L. Tolbert	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Michael M. Vendrell	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Marvin Walters	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
Fred M. Waugh	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1979)
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunts (1 episode, 1979)
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 Casting Department
Phil Benjamin	....	casting (7 episodes, 1979-1980)
Simon Ayer	....	casting (4 episodes, 1980)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barry Downing	....	costume supervisor: Gil Gerard (22 episodes, 1980-1981)
Gregory B. Peña	....	daily set costumer (11 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 (2 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 (10 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:

US broadcast of the second season was delayed until midway through the 1980-81 TV season due to an actor's strike. During the strike, the series was retooled to make it a variation on "Battlestar Galactica" (1978).

Goofs:

Factual errors: Buck Rogers is supposed to be a Captain in the Air Force, but he is wearing Navy wings. In fact he is not even wearing Naval Aviator (pilot) wings, he is wearing Naval Flight Officer (navigator) wings.

Quotes:

Buck Rogers: Nice costume, Tigerman. You going trick or treating?
Princess Ardala: Defiant. I always like that in a man. What did you think of my ingenious invitation?
Buck Rogers: I was swept away by emotion.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)

I paid money to see this...

...but I don't regret it. Not too much, anyway. Yes, it's true. When the pilot episode was given a theatrical release I went and paid good money to watch it.

Ah well.

I wasn't too thrilled at the production values, but I still enjoyed it as a stand alone film. I'd seen the B&W Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon serials rerun on a couple of UHF stations, and figured I'd see an upgraded reprise of Buster Crabbe's role.

What the audience got was essentially a made for TV movie that would lead to a pretty fun series. I think the other commentators have got it right; the first season of this show was just good fun. A guy tuned in to see Gerard and Gray save Earth from sundry space-vixens and other off world baddies. The most notorious being Princess Ardala, played by the very talented and alluring Pamela Hensley. With the help of Dr. Heur, Theopolis and Twiki, Buck and Wilma thwarted the villains of the 25th century.

If the viewer tuned in to see some high brow brain-candy moral wrapped in science jargon, then he had the wrong show. Late 1970's Buck Rogers was about adventure, the perils and dazzling technology of the 25th century, lusty and dangerous space-babes, all pitted against a 20th century man's mettle and his equally gallant comrades.

But that was the first season. The second season took a page out of Roddenberry's play book, and transformed into this cheap "Star Trek" knockoff, complete with a Spock-like character in the form of a man sporting a feathered wig, played by Thom Christopher. Buck was no longer bumping flirtatious intrigues with scantly clad space-babes with his daring-do, and Wilma's hard-nosed gut-driven "I am 25th Century Woman, hear me roar!" character was taken down a notch... that and she rarely wore her very appealing spandex uniform :)

In short, first season = Good: Second season = bleh.

I'm not sure what went wrong. The fist season teetered on the high-kamp abyss, but Gil Gerard and Erin Gray had a kind of relaxed and realistic chemistry that helped bring the viewer into their world. The stories were out of Hollywood Formula 101, but they were fun, thrilling, and enjoyable. The action sequences, the alluring fashions of the 25th century, the concept of a man from our time roaming the far future, scantly clad space-vixens, it all adds up to a fun show, if somewhat far fetched... then again plausibility wasn't what Buck Rogers was all about.

This show could've really gone the distance with its original formula, and should have. Why the show changed for the second season is beyond me, because it didn't need to. Part of the attraction of Buck Rogers wasn't the "science" in this science-fiction show, but Buck and Wilma's daring-do. Whoever thought otherwise, and tried to turn Buck into a more "serious" sci-fi venue, was dead wrong, and, as someone else said, quite thoroughly torpedoed the show by fixing it until it was broke.

I'm not a big Glen Larson fan. "Manimal" and "Automan" come to mind, but if I had one wish, with regards to a TV show, it would be to go back in time and see to it that Larson continued producing "Buck Rogers" as he envisioned it for the first season. Heck, maybe I could save Dorothy Lee Stratten for another guest appearance on the show. But alas we're only left with the legacy of the first and second season of this very adventurous TV series.

Well, Larson's helped relaunch BSG, and is now doing a "Knight Rider" revival... maybe he can give Buck Rogers another shot as well, only this time, if he does, let's hope he'll stick to his guns.

Until then; so long, Buck.