BG-01: Saga Of A Star World

[Flamingo Girl]

Distant colonies of man are in celebration, they are about to see the end of a 1,000-yahren old war with the race known as Cylons. Unfortunately, a trator has sold them to their enemies, who proceede to distroy the celegrating colonists. One military starship survives the destruction, the battlestar Galactica, which leads a handful of survivors in a civilian starship fleet to refuge amongst the stars. They stumble across a resort planet no one has ever heard of that suplies them with they need to flee the Cylon forces, but the paradise turns out to be anything but, and the colonists flee once more to the stars. The Galactica's commander, Adama, decides to search for a legendary lost Thirteenth Tribe of humans who inhabit a planet called Earth. And the Cylons hunt the surviving humans, led by Baltar, the Colonial traitor who helped orchestrate the holocaust.


Series stars; Richard Hatch as Apollo, Dirk Benedict as Starbuck, Herb Jefferson Jr. as Boomer, Lorne Greene as Adama, Terry Carter as Colonel Tigh, Maren Jensen as Athena, Tony Swartz as Jolly, Laurette Spang as Cassiopia, Noah Hathaway as Boxey, Sarah Rush as Rigel, David Greenan as Omega, and John Colicos as Baltar.

Guest stars include Jane Seymour as Serina, Rick Springfield as Zac, Lew Ayres as President Adar and Ray Milland as Sire Uri.

[skippercollecto]

I never heard or read the name "Saga of a Star World" until the mid-80s when I started joining Galactica fan clubs and received some fanzines and newsletters. The name is not mentioned in the pilot's credits, nor is it ever mentioned in any of the novelizations or comic books or any of the late 70s licensed merchandise. So where did the name "Saga" come from? Was it the title of the script itself?
Mary

[Gemini1999]

Mary -

The title came from when ABC was showing promos for BSG when it was yet to be shown in 1978. Even on the night of the premiere broadcast, the voice-over referred to it as "Battlestar Galactica - The Saga of a Star World" It is now used to differentiate betweeen the ABC 3 hour broadcast and the theatrical release which was edited down a bit to keep it closer to 2 hours.

I hope this helps a bit -

Bryan
________
FETISH LEATHER (http://www.****tube.com/categories/522/leather/videos/1)

[cdlegend]

Hello,
Saw this forum and thought that I'd give my opinion on the best of the Galactica episodes.
Many of the writers for Galactica were not science fiction writers, so they did their best to use their imaginations. I get a kick out of The Lost Warrior... love the shoot out scene... but episodes like that were not the best of the best. I'm certain that most fan will agree that the best of the episodes were the longer episodes like The Planet of the Gods, War of the Gods, Gun on Ice Planet Zero, and Hand of God. These were superior scripts and well put together. My personal favorite is War of the Gods. Mythos runs rampet in this episode as the good - Apollo - challenges the bad - Iblis. I found the philosophy facinating and the appearance of the Ship of Lights was grand! If anyone reads Richard Hatch's books, he also mentions the Ship of Lights and explores its origins.
The Hand of God was another one of my favorite episodes. This show is like a "missing link" as it links us with these humans from another galaxy who come in search of Earth. Seeing NASA's Apollo mission tape playing at the end sent chills through me the first time I saw that episode so long ago. It brings up the question: are we arrogant enough to believe that we are the only ones "out there" in the universe with a higher order of thinking?
Glen Larson did not make wise choices for his creation, but he did lend it a legacy, he gave it a place to belong. Though these people were from so far away, we could feel their pain and hunger to be save and away from harm long enough to find brothers... alies that would take them in and welcome them after their hardships. Who better than those who have known war, pain, hunger, and hollocaust.
Bravo to the writers of these episodes! Of course, there are a few more that deserve our attention.... like Murder on the Raising Star and a few more.
So, let's talk. Which episodes were your favorites or least favorites?
Galactican Pride!
Legend:warrior:

[kingfish]

I wrote a review myself.

This is the one that launched the series. there are two versions a long one and a short one. All of us own the short one if we bought the crapy DVD or VHS release. The pilot was originally released in Canada and latter in the USA in a surround theater presentation. The episode starts out with the peace conference to end the thousand yahren war. little do the colonials know it will be their end. baltar has set the perfect trap. President Adar who wants peace above all else fails to see the deception before his eyes. Adama isn't folled. Adama knows the enemy and the tactics he is capable of. Zac wants to go on his first patrol in order to prove to his big brother that he is a warrior. Starbuck feigns an illness to help out Zac. The patrol seems routine until Apollo stumbles upon the Cylon attack force, Zac's ship is disabled, and Apollo has to make a decision that probably haunted him. Adama returns to utter confusion and realizes something is afoot when the patrol is being deliberately jammed. A drill is ordered to Starbuck's surprise especially since he is holding the winning hand at Pyramid. Adama pleads with Adar only to be ignored. Zac's ship finally is destroyed with Zac at the controls.

Adar: What was that?

Adama: That was my son mr president.

Greene's delvery of that line was outstanding and worth an award.

Richard Colla directed the first half of Saga but was let go for failing to meet the shooting schedule. This was a mistake one of many that hurt the production in the long run.

The Cylons launch their attack and obliterate everyone. Now Moore has to redo it with Tactical Nuclear Weapons. The attack was effective enough. Watching the expresion on the Galactica bridge crew conveyed the message. A strong man like Tigh is even crying at witnessing the final annihilation. Adama heads foor the surface of Caprica after the attack to see if there are any survivors only to find his home gone and wife dead.

Apollo; Maybe Mother wasn't here.

Adama :She was here. I was never here when it counted.

After the betrayal Baltar is brought before the Imperious leader to explain why some of the humans escaped. Pompous and grandeous Baltar becomes a sniveling wreck when the leader tells him he also must die. Two scenes were shot. One where Baltar loses his head and the other where he is spared. Colicos' acting was what kept the character going. Glen was impressed.

The humans flea the destruction in any vehical that will carry them including the now famous Colonial Movers ship. However mankind hasn't learned much because the new Council of The Twelve want to head to Carillon which is probably a trap but Sire Uri could care less. Now we get to see some action between Starbuck and Cassiopeia. The launch tube scene. One scene called for a topless Cassi while another had a bareback Starbuck on the floor with Cassi. Neither was shown because the audience wouldn't be able to handle it. The scenes were done with class. In the new show sex will probably run rampant. Enough said.


Finally Carillon is reached only after a heroic mission is flown to sweap the area of space mines. The Ovions seem friendly enough and offer the colonials a place to live. However they are also in league with the Cylons by supply them fuel. Adama suspects something and must have a private chat with Tigh in the launch bay via the comlinks in two seperate Viper fighters. This is when they come up with a plan to send anyone that may be taken for a warrior to the party to honor Apollo, Starbuck, and Boomer for their heroic flying.

Tigh: When the commander sees these he is going to go nuts.

Boomer: It must be the pressure.

Finally the Cylons launch their attack. The Raiders approach the seemingly helpless galactica. Apollo and Starbuck head to the lower levels only to find cassi at the hands of the Ovions who use humans a food. A firefight begins and the resulting richochets begin to start fires. Now the Cylons are coming out of the woodwork. centurions are all over the place shooting at anything human. Apollo, Starbuck, and the rest reach the party where Councilor Uri is eager to hand command over to Apollo as the Cylons begin pouring into the room. Jolly and the rest of Blue squadron show up via Landram's and begin attacking the Cylons. Jolly also explains that Adama sent anyone in a warriors uniform to the party.

Blue Squadron launches and begins to head for the Galactica which is now under heavy attack.

Starbuck: If we don't do something soon we may have to go back and live on that rock.

The Vipers make quick work of their adversaries. Apollo and Starbuck go after the rogue Basestar and manage to destroy it.

Athena: Father we don't have Purple and Orange squadrons.

Now in the novel the ending is quite different. There is no pursuit of the Basestar. Starbuck and Cassi manage to fly one of the shuttles which is loaded with fuel to the Galactica while the Cylons are attacking.

[cdlegend]

King Fish,
That was a great rendition of the pilot - ie the movie as well. Many fans do not realize that Battlestar Galactica was a motion picture shot in Surround Sound at Universal Theater and released in Canada after Star Wars made such a huge impact. Then, it was released (BSG) in the US. I saw the movie and will never forget the almost deafening sound of the Battlestar as she floated across the big screen.
Later on, Universal wanted Larson to turn BSG into a series. IT was a rush, rush thing. With a little more time, the show could have been a lot better. Anyway, because mini series' were big things back then, the powers decided that BSG would be a great mini series. It began with the shortened movie and ended, of course with "Planet of the Gods"because actress Jane Seymore never bargined for a series. She needed an out for her character, so they killed her off. Richard Hatch says that he considered himself a lucky man to have played opposite Seymore.
This mess that Moore has cooked up is not - and I repeat NOT a remake of the original series premire. IT is a totally different script. Characters have been changed, the time has been changed, the complete attitude and mythos behind the original Film/series has been changed.
I read an article that featured New series star Edward James Olmos telling fans to pop in the DVD ( going to be released in October 2003 - totally remastered and restored Dolby Surround Sound and all) Watch it instead of the mini series because it is going to be crap! At least Olmos honest.
cdlegend:D

[shiningstar]

Kingfish that was a perfect rendering of the pilot.
I remember almost crying at the words ........
"What was that?" "THat was my son...Mr. President."

What I really liked about BSG .......was it was easy and
even ENJOYABLE to follow the story line.

[Gemini1999]

I just recently purchased a copy of "Saga" from a seller on eBay. They claimed that it was the ENTIRE premiere episode that ABC had shown so 25 yahrens ago. I had a tape of "Saga" that was recorded on audio cassette that I picked up at a con a long time ago, so I was familiar with all of the bits that had been edited out over the years.

When I got the tape, the first thing I realized was that the material was in an "unrestored" condition by today's standards, but very watchable. It was indeed the entire telefilm sans commercial interruptions. It was the first time since the show premiered in '78 that I had seen every scene intact. I know that the DVD's will be out in a couple of months, but when Skiffy ran the entire series in May, there were one or two scenes (Serina's broadcast), that had been put back in and I really just wanted to watch the whole episode again as I remembered it.

I can't wait for the DVDs to come out!

Best to all,
Bryan
________
Washington dispensaries (http://washington.dispensaries.org/)

[shiningstar]

Neither can I Bryan!

[Belloby]

I was a freshman in high school at the time. Everyone I knew at school..heck the whole school...watched it and it was the talk in the cafeteria for at least a week.

The following week the school paper ran a poll: Who was cuter? Starbuck, Apollo or Zac. And guess what? Zac won! :D

[shiningstar]

In our school Belloby .......starbuck won hands down.

[Doctor Salik]

Starbuck is such a fascinating character... Even the GIRLS wanted to be Starbuck where I am from. Now if that isn't food for thought...

[silverspar]

second favorite episode next to the pegasus. i started watchin BSG in the middle, so i had no idea there were other battlestars, so when i happened to watch the beginning, i was stunned to see the battlestar Atlantia. and me bein a kid thought, how dumb, they names the lead battlestar after atlanta georgia?!?. . . . .while later oooooohhhh!! Atlantis, i get it

worthy quotes:

adama: launch all remaining fighters, colonel have the rest of the fleet launched their's??
tigh: negative
adama: lord help us all

----------

boomer on the planet to starbuck: that's just it, have you EVER been to a casino where you win????

[Domiano]

Well...I remember when I watched it for the first time being very excited and sitting in front of the televison with my entire family. That doesn't happen too often these days. My mother took me to the mall and I bought my first BSG toy, a Colonial Viper. From the opening scene till the end where Apollo and Starbuck make it back to the Galactica. Thanks to the recent release on DVD of the COMPLETE series I can now see Saga of a Star World the way it is meant to be seen.

[originalsinner]

The start of a Classic, What ever Ron Mooore said is wrong, A hole lot of people watch it, and a whole lot more remenber it, Some may say, its cheesey or a Star Wars clone are all wrong! Star Wars brought scifi to movies, Bsg brought back scifi to TV,

[shiningstar]

I think you have a great point there Original Sinner.

I personally think that it's a mistake to make
science fiction ONLY on EARTH as MOORE AND HAMMER
want to do.

[ViperTech]

This is one I can watch over and over. The movie puts the viewer through many emotions-excitement, sadness, concern, and a sense of triumph.

Overall, it is one of the saddest, what with Zach's death, the destruction of Colonies'. But we get great dramatic acting from Maren Jensen in these scenes, such as her very
well-played devastation over the loss of Caprica, followed by a great scene with Starbuck where she breaks the news to him.

The whole last battle on and around Carillon is epic and anticipation for it is built up nicely. I still get goosebumps
when I watch the Vipers launch from Carillon's surface. It's a little less dramatic but still fun when Starbuck climbs out of the Landram and asks what's going on and he is told: "Courtesy of Commander Adama" and he lets out a
high-pitched Yee-Haw!

And the end music as Starbuck and Apollo approaching the landing bays is also very dramatic.

A great movie.

[originalsinner]

I wish i got to see on the big screen, Hopefully BSGs return is a Motion Picture, I would see it 50 times! BSG "The saga of the star world", ranks up there with "Star Wars", "Back to the Future", "Ghostbusters", "Star Wars ESB" "ID4"!

[cdlegend]

Hello All,

Well, another year has come and gone... but Galactica fans last forever! I am an Official Regional Chair for Battlestar Fan Club, and while checking my email today... I found a wonderful message from the Chair from England which says: " I feel that with this new year, we've got an entire Universe to jump start!" I agree.
When you sit back and look at the progress that the fans have made on behalf of Battlestar Galactica, you will see that we've climbed mountains. There is that wonderful DVD set, a mini series (yuck), several of the bigger BSG sites have gone down for lack of bandwith... which simply means that they couldn't keep up with the hords of fans who have felt the same kind of re-energized after the blitz of BSG news.
Now, it is out job to keep the fires burning. Battlestar FAn Club needs financial help, or we face having to close the site. Fans need to help out. We need to ask them just what they'd like in return for their help. Let's jump start the fans in a possitive way. Let's celebrate what we've accomplished and clean up after that mini series mess... well - we all do spill occationally. [lol]
I received my DVD box set as a shocking but welcome Christmas gift. The first thing I had to do was to watch the scenes that they cut from the opening/movie. I found it facinating as to what they decided could not or would not work, especialy Serina who went from dying of a starvation rather than a trane wreck! I really liked the scene where Adama is questioning himself and his ability to lead after they have realized the full magnitude of the destruction of the Colonies.
Happy New Year!
Legend :salute:

[shiningstar]

That was an EXCELLENT Post CDLegend. welcome to the club.

[droopy]

were there 5 battlestars at the peace talks?

what were their names??

Galactica, Atlantia, Columbia??

[Sci-Fi]

Originally posted by droopy
were there 5 battlestars at the peace talks?

what were their names??

Galactica, Atlantia, Columbia??

Read this link: http://www.geocities.com/sjpaxton/battlestars2.html

[shiningstar]

Thanks for posting the link Sci-fi.

[cdlegend]

Hey Droopy,

There were quite a few Battlestars mentioned in Galactica, but only a few of them were ever visible to the "watchers" (us). Yes, the link is a good one. Full of information....
According to Larson, he says that besides the GAlactica and the Atlantia the Battlestars were Pacifica, Acropolis, and Solaria. Other Battlestars were Pegasus (of course), Poseidon, Triton, Argo, Olympia, and Cerberus. There were also supposed to be battle cruisers as well as vipers, but that never came to be.
Isn't it fun to test fans by asking trivia like this? I really enjoy seeing how much I can remember, or how much information I have compiled in the last twenty-five years!
Hope you enjoyed Susan Paxon's site as well.
Legend :salute:

[droopy]

Im amazed and the web site was great. I bought the DVD's and Im now going to listen to the time codes from the ep to see if I can here the dialog.

Also, has anyone ever seen any schematics of the galactica?

[CmdrCain]

I'm confused on the issue of Jane Seymour. Why did she drop out? Was she trying to stay in film so she had no interest in doing a TV show, or what was the case?

Anyone know?

[cdlegend]

There are schematics out there of the Galactica. You just have to look. As a matter of fact, I happen to know someone who has a copy. Perhaps he can put it on the web, or send them to you.
The DVDs are wonderful. I have the boxed set. I haven't had much time to look, but the first thing I did was watch the scenes deleted. It was interesting to find out what could have been part of the classic.

Also about Jane Seymore, in reality, Jane's character was supposed to be stricken with an illness from the destruction of the planets. She was not meant to live at all past the pilot or film. For some reason, Larson decided that he wanted to keep her in the series long enough to go with his original plan to kill her off. I doubt that it had anything to do with the actress or her willingness to continue to play the role.

Legend :salute:

[Imagination]

Originally posted by cdlegend

Also about Jane Seymore, in reality, Jane's character was supposed to be stricken with an illness from the destruction of the planets. She was not meant to live at all past the pilot or film. For some reason, Larson decided that he wanted to keep her in the series long enough to go with his original plan to kill her off. I doubt that it had anything to do with the actress or her willingness to continue to play the role.

Legend :salute: [/B]

Do you know where you read/heard this? In the back of my mind, I seem to remember reading YEARS ago that Jane shot the pilot and another one (possibly Dr. Quinn - when did that start?), and of course couldn't do both (I don't remember the source, and if Jane was contractually tied to the second show or had to make a decision).

[Gemini1999]

Originally posted by Imagination
Do you know where you read/heard this? In the back of my mind, I seem to remember reading YEARS ago that Jane shot the pilot and another one (possibly Dr. Quinn - when did that start?), and of course couldn't do both (I don't remember the source, and if Jane was contractually tied to the second show or had to make a decision).

If you have access to the BSG DVD set, the discs have the cut scenes from "Saga of a Star World" which show all of Serina's "Space Cancer" part of the story. Her character would have died at the end of "Saga" if they had kept the storyline. The reason that they were dropped was that Jane's character was to stick around a while longer - at least long enough to die at the end of "Lost Planet of the Gods"

Best regards,
Bryan
________
Karin1 (http://www.girlcamfriend.com/cam/Karin1/)

[Starbuck]

Originally posted by Imagination
Do you know where you read/heard this? In the back of my mind, I seem to remember reading YEARS ago that Jane shot the pilot and another one (possibly Dr. Quinn - when did that start?), and of course couldn't do both (I don't remember the source, and if Jane was contractually tied to the second show or had to make a decision).

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman didn't happen until 1993. As Bryan said, Serina was suppose die at the end of the pilot. Those scenes are included in the deleted scene section in the DVD box set. Also, if you have the original soundtrack, there is track called "Boxey's Problem/Serina's Illness." :girl:

[shiningstar]

Droopy they did have a schematic of the Galactica
displayed on a display in the ep "fire in space".
Also if you buy the dvd set, there are schematics
shown in the booklet that comes with it.

[cdlegend]

It is so nice to know that there are so many fans out there who are so very willing and able to help out others with information and trivia. I have been posting on this site for over two years now and have always spoke to and heard from the best fans ever!
I am proud to be a part of this fandom and wish to stop a micron and let all of you out there know that.
I have just recently been elected President of the Chairpersons leading Galactica Fan Club. Before me served a wonderful fan who runs the website Battlestar New York. We at Galactica fan Club want each and every fan who is a member and those who have not joined us yet to feel a part of this fandom as I have for these few years.
Since the mini series aired in December 2003, there has been a super nova explosion of fans and traffic on all of the Galactica website. Not all fans are happy about that mini or with Ron Moore... but Galactica fans must all be embrassed. Those of us who have held this fandom together for twenty-five years are not afraid to extend a hand to a new fan. We don't have to like the new mini.... many loth it, but the fans have come together to celebrate a story that has endured. That is what is important.
Some fans have questions about the original and we need to willingly give them this informtion. That is what this fandom is about. Remember, we are all GAlacticans! All connected in some way.
I'd like to ask new fans and old to let us know what you would like to have us do to make you feel more like a member of our club. Use this forum if you'd like, or drop me a line at cdlegend40@hotmail.com We serve you!
I also recommend each and everyone to purchase the new DVD collection. It is nicely done. You can learn so much about the "Saga of a Star World" Also, to all fans - purchase a DVD from GAlacticon 2003. Those of the original cast who came to be with the fans really spoke to us from the heart. I know that a piece of every one of them made up a part of each character they played.
I salute you all!
Legend:salute:

[droopy]

Does anyone know what happened to Maren Jensen??

[shiningstar]

welcome to the fleets Droopy. I love your nickname by
the way.

[Sci-Fi]

Originally posted by droopy
Does anyone know what happened to Maren Jensen??

According to imdb:
(December 2003) Became one of the first people in Hollywood to suffer the debilitating effects of Epstein-Barr syndrome (in the 1980s). She has since recovered, but has left show business behind her.

Hope she is still doing well.

[Imagination]

Just came today! So, no, haven't seen them yet. Tonight is a WYWO marathon (I am a woman of many and varied interests! Snicker).

[cdlegend]

My niece suffers from Epstein-Barr as well. It does not go away and a busy career like modeling or acting will certainly add to the pain and chaos of the disability. I'm sure that we all wish her well. We shall always remember Maren as the beautiful Athena - loyal to her father and passionate about that rascal Starbuck! In Richard Hatch's books, she is the commander of her own Battlestar..... and capable as well. She is important to him as he is to her. A fitting continuation of a character that was hardly ever explored buring the original's one and only first season. May the Lords of Kobol look over our Athena!
Legend:salute:

[droopy]

With the sci-fi reimagining is Richard Hatch's the second comming finished??

[shiningstar]

Thanks for the info. I was wandering myself WHY
Seymour wasn't kept with the series. WHile it helped
to have the dvd's and learn about her illness; I always
wandered whether it was HER decision not to stay with
the show ........... Or larson and desanto's.

[cdlegend]

While it appears as though Moore and his miniseries has the spotlight in the world of Galactica right now, the fans all revere Richard's vision and activly push for a continuation. Richard put much blood sweat and tears into this film and continues to show it around the contry and at other venues around the world. As far as getting a green light from Universal - it is doubtfull at this point; however, if it were not for that bit of film and the hard work of Richard Hatch, we would not have the DVD box set or the miniseries (such as it is). Much attention has been given Galactica in the last few years and it all began with fans like you and I. Richard is a fan and always will remain a fan of Galactica. We can continue to enjoy his vision through his novels and who knows - perhaps one day we'll see the return of Galactica the way it was ment to be. Until then, Richard will be turning his attention to his new project - Magellan and I ask all fans to support him in his endeavor. He is a truly remarkable gentleman and deserves our graditude and love.
Legend:salute:

[WARDAGGIT73]

****

Flawed to be sure, but a as perfect an introduction to the Battlestar Galactica universe as there could have been. Love the Athena locker-room scene, i'd like to dream about it :tongue:

[shiningstar]

While it appears as though Moore and his miniseries has the spotlight in the world of Galactica right now, the fans all revere Richard's vision and activly push for a continuation. Richard put much blood sweat and tears into this film and continues to show it around the contry and at other venues around the world. As far as getting a green light from Universal - it is doubtfull at this point; however, if it were not for that bit of film and the hard work of Richard Hatch, we would not have the DVD box set or the miniseries (such as it is). Much attention has been given Galactica in the last few years and it all began with fans like you and I. Richard is a fan and always will remain a fan of Galactica. We can continue to enjoy his vision through his novels and who knows - perhaps one day we'll see the return of Galactica the way it was ment to be. Until then, Richard will be turning his attention to his new project - Magellan and I ask all fans to support him in his endeavor. He is a truly remarkable gentleman and deserves our graditude and love.
Legend:salute:

I soooooooooooooooooooo agree ..........by the way Welcome to the
fleet cdlegend! :thumbsup:

[Lurkerzrule]

What really struck me was how well the characters worked together.

[shiningstar]

What really struck me was how well the characters worked together.

I really liked the way all the characters seemed to know precisely where they
belonged and why .........I really loved learning more about HOW that was
accomplished by watching the extra features on the DVD set I bought.

[launchcruiser7]

god bless maren i pray for her and always loved here in that show she dated don henley of the eagles in the late 70s early 80s she has credit as a writer on the song down on the sunsett strip better than any of the teen queens today

[launchcruiser7]

god bless maren i pray for her and always loved here in that show the seens in saga and plant of the gods of here in her pruesser suit are better than any of the teen queens today :heart: :love: :cylon: :milk: :halo: in the commatary by drik /herb /richard they all say how nice see was i myself had a freind who helped set up a party see was at in the last 80 yearns i have met only 2 or 3 wemen more kind or openhearted yhwa bless you maren this old tanker really misses you on the bridge happy saint paddys day battlestar forever :warrior: :thumbsup: :)

[shiningstar]

god bless maren i pray for her and always loved here in that show she dated don henley of the eagles in the late 70s early 80s she has credit as a writer on the song down on the sunsett stripthe seens in saga and plant of the gods of here in her pruesser suit are better than any of the teen queens today

I agree with you about Maren. I was really bumbed when Larsen
threw out the Adama family out of the script. I missed Athena and boxey.

Also ........I agree with you about how beautiful she is. I too think that she
is far far prettier then the 'teen queens' of today.

[kingfish]

I'm confused on the issue of Jane Seymour. Why did she drop out? Was she trying to stay in film so she had no interest in doing a TV show, or what was the case?

Anyone know?


They mentioned somthing on the BG sciography special that it was Jane's agent who encouraged her not to remain.

[shiningstar]

They mentioned somthing on the BG sciography special that it was Jane's agent who encouraged her not to remain.

And NOW Kingfish ...........I hate her agent. :duck:

[braxiss]

And NOW Kingfish ...........I hate her agent. :duck:

i agree, should we send her agent for a thwacking??????

[shiningstar]

i agree, should we send her agent for a thwacking??????

A THWACKING is too good for her agent.

I was thinking more along the lines of a collective KICK in the agent's
ASSETTS! :devil:

[braxiss]

ouch, that'll leave a mark


:thumbsup: :salute:

[shiningstar]

ouch, that'll leave a mark


:thumbsup: :salute:

Hopefully my size 9 boot will do the job :D

[braxiss]

roflmao :laugh: :laugh:

[shiningstar]

roflmao :laugh: :laugh:

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
:P: :P: :P: :P: :P: :P: :P: :P: :P: :P: :P: :P: :P:

[Bombadil]

The BG premiere was loads of fun to watch, and got the show off to a good start. But it did begin to reveal what would be a continuing pattern of not paying too much attention to details.

1,000 Cylon fighters attacked and destroyed the battlestar fleet? Not too likely! That isn't near enough fighters to do the job. And there were no equivalents of bombers or torpedo planes, just the Cyclon fighters strafing the battlestars. Not nearly enough firepower.

And the Colonial home worlds were destroyed by strafing? That was just ridiculous. The mini did better by introducing nuclear weapons, which was pretty obvious but TOS failed to pick up on it. The show just didn't have any sense of realistic proportion or scale.

One thing I did like, though, was the clear preaching of military preparedness. It wasn't very subtle at all--it was obvious to any observant child that the "peaceniks" were stupid, while the truly wise men like Adama did not love violence but knew that sometimes it had to be used. And in case anybody missed that lesson with the destruction of the Colonial home worlds, they reviewed the lesson when the new Council, ignoring the lesson they should have just learned, chose to lay down their arms to show their peaceful intent at Carillon. Again, only Adama's stubborn insistence on military preparedness saved the day. Since I happen to agree with Adama's philosophy, I liked the direction the show was headed.
:warrior:

[Dawg]

Just a minor clarification, Thomas, it wasn't 1000 cylon raiders - it was, in Apollo's words, "1000 to 1 odds".

If memory serves. ;)

I am
Dawg
:warrior:

[Bombadil]

Just a minor clarification, Thomas, it wasn't 1000 cylon raiders - it was, in Apollo's words, "1000 to 1 odds".

If memory serves. ;)

I am
Dawg
:warrior:

Ah, memory is such a fun tool! I have an old videotape of the episode, but haven't watched it for a while. You may be right I remember Apollo saying that while all the Cylon raiders starting showing up on the radar screen. So, 2000 raiders vs. Zack and Apollo? Still a small number. Should have been at least 100,000.

Oh, and another thing about the "peaceniks". A buddy of mine pointed out that when the U.S. fleet entered Tokyo Bay to accept the Japanese surrender, the carriers kept a full combat patrol in the air at all times, just in case the Japanese, even though totally defeated, pulled something funny. He found it impossible to "suspend disbelief" at the idea that the battlestar fleet would keep all their Vipers on deck to demonstrate their peaceful intent.
:salute:

[shiningstar]

Just a minor clarification, Thomas, it wasn't 1000 cylon raiders - it was, in Apollo's words, "1000 to 1 odds".

If memory serves. ;)

I am
Dawg
:warrior:

I do believe you are right Dawg. Just finished watching that dvd myself and
I do believe that's exactly what Apollo said. :thumbsup:

[skippercollecto]

Chip Johnson plays a Warrior in one of the elevator scenes in "Saga," the one in which Answaw and her friend talk about having eaten too much. The elevator is taken to the ground level and the Warrior and the two women are presumably captured by the Ovions.
However, actor Chip Johnson is listed in the closing credits of "War of the Gods." He is one of the pilots who disappears flying over Iblis' planet.
So I am assume his character escaped the Ovions, lived through the attack on Carillon and returned to duty aboard the Galactica. So, what is the name of his character, and how did he escape?
I'll let one of the rest of you decide a on a plot for the rest of us.
Mary

[skippercollecto]

Wilfrid Hyde-White played Sire Anton, a member of the council, in "Saga." His real-life son, Alex Hyde-White, played Bow in "Gun on Ice Planet Zero." Bow gets killed; however, Alex shows up as another Warrior in "Man with Nine Lives."
So this is my assumption:
Sire Anton had identical twin sons who were Warriors. What's the other Warrior's name? Did this family have a similar relationship to that of Adama and his children?
To further complicate matters, in the children's novelization of the episode, entitled "The Battlestar Galactica Storybook," Sire Anton is referred to as SIRESS ANTONIE!

Mary

[skippercollecto]

Bruce Wright plays more roles than any other actor in the series. In "Saga" he was a deck hand; in "Lost Planet" he was a blackshirt guard; in "9 Lives" he played Corporal Lomas; and in "Baltar's Escape" he reprised his role as a blackshirt.
So this is my suggestion: There are three brothers, identical triplets. One is Corporal Lomas, the second is his brother the civilian peace officer and the third is the Galactica crew member. I'll let one of the rest of you decide the other two men's names.

Mary

[bsg1fan1975]

This episode is a prime example of how when a group or groups are down they come back up stronger and more resilient. The colonials weren't willing to just stay in the colonies to be wiped out. They got away and regrouped to take on the Cylons!

[Antelope]

One thing I did like, though, was the clear preaching of military preparedness. It wasn't very subtle at all--it was obvious to any observant child that the "peaceniks" were stupid, while the truly wise men like Adama did not love violence but knew that sometimes it had to be used. And in case anybody missed that lesson with the destruction of the Colonial home worlds, they reviewed the lesson when the new Council, ignoring the lesson they should have just learned, chose to lay down their arms to show their peaceful intent at Carillon. Again, only Adama's stubborn insistence on military preparedness saved the day. Since I happen to agree with Adama's philosophy, I liked the direction the show was headed.
:warrior:

The theme of the failure of democracy and the stupidity or manipulability of politicians is a major overall theme of both Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars. It is my understanding that both Lucas and Larson are skeptics on the long term viabilty of our form of democracy. Both shows were to some extent a warning to the public on where the writers thought the U.S. was/is going.

[Captain Morgan]

I just got the DVD's and watched the pilot over the last couple days and man I gotta say this show is bad and I like it as much as when I was 6 years old.I can't wait to watch it over and over again!

[jewels]

I'm confused on the issue of Jane Seymour. Why did she drop out? Was she trying to stay in film so she had no interest in doing a TV show, or what was the case?

Anyone know?
I believe she was in high demand at the time and she didn't want to get locked into what looked like a multiple year series because of her film careeer.
Jewels

[JustinB]

:warrior: I was bored today so I got my BSG DVD's and put on the special feature disk. Heading straight to the deleted scenes and sat down with a coldie.
I watched the Scene with Adama and Athena and how he opened up to her, but gave us an insight that he was still human. I liked it very much because you don't see much dialogue between the two.
Then you add in the next scene with Apollo speaking his mind to both Athena and Adama and you wonder why they cut it out. I beleive it is a relevant scene, because it gave the three characters some dimension. They acted like a family going through a hard time. Firstly, you have Adama who has borne the stress and trials of command in a crucial time in humanities history. Secondly, you have Athena who wants to do everything to help her father through this time. Lastly you have Apollo saying what he feels to Adama and the confrontation between the 3 is awsome.
I am glad to have watched these scenes even if they were Deleted. :warrior:

[Crewmember]

One thing I did like, though, was the clear preaching of military preparedness. It wasn't very subtle at all--it was obvious to any observant child that the "peaceniks" were stupid, while the truly wise men like Adama did not love violence but knew that sometimes it had to be used.
:warrior:

The new show seems a little different. Not so much military readiness, but kind of anti-modern. Adama doesn't like modern computers, and he turns out to be right. I'm not sure where the writers are heading with this message.

[Captain Morgan]

I watched the pilot with the commentary on ,and it makes me wish they all have it.





:warrior:


BSG is becoming one of my favorite things I'm so glad these DVDs came my way

[Eric Paddon]

After forcing myself to sit through a second viewing of the miniseries today (just to reconfirm my impressions) I promptly popped Saga back in to the DVD player and found myself seeing no comparison between the two in terms of which is the better.

Would it have been nice if the whole three hours could have dealt solely with the Destruction and built its way to that? Certainly, but I think the negativity toward the Carillon subplot I've seen from some people is a bit overblown. One thing that helps is that the way the Casino sequence was edited down, you have to practically blink to see non-humans there and that helps make it seem less a copy of Star Wars and the Cantina sequence as some claim.

The real pity is that Ray Milland and Wilfrid Hyde-White didn't appear again in the series because they were by far the best actors to portray Council members, with none of the emptyheadedness that typifies the Council in episodes like "Greetings From Earth" and "Baltar's Escape."

[Senmut]

I will agree. I wish Milland had been used again, although I suppose the idea was that after Carillon, he was disgraced. I will however say that I didn't think all Council members after that were emptiheaded. I thought John Williams' portrayal of Sire Montrose in WOTG was excellent. Sad that he had neither more material to work with, nor a return engagement.

[bsg1fan1975]

This episode gave people the impression of in the face of adversity one can rise up and carry on or make a fresh start.

[kingfish]

Missing Saga Scenes.

http://s4.invisionfree.com/Battlestar_Pacifica/index.php?showtopic=160

[BRG]

BRG awards this 3 part episode 4 stars out of 5. :)

As a boy I loved the 2hr movie version of this pilot, and with fond memories of my wee brother & I watching the film then running about as Starbuck & Apollo, I was a wee bit worried that it would be a dissapointment when I watched it as a man fast aproaching 30. I'm glad to say that I still love it!

The SFX are still good, although they have clearly been overtaken by the stunning visuals in TNG, Babylon 5, and other shows over the years, they still have the magic 'Star Wars' look of the late 70's. The characters are great, Apollo, Adama, Boomer, Tigh, and Baltar are brilliantlly cast & performed, Athena is stunning! :eek: ;) And has there ever been a cooler, more likable character than Starbuck? :cool: The story is always interesting, from the opening attack though the mine field until the showdown at Carillon, it mixed great action with nice character stuff, some real emotion and a few laughs.

A few wee niggles I have with it wave probably already bean covered. First, I agree with the point that Cylon Raiders using dogfighting lasers would not be enough to take out a fleet of capital ships or wipe out a planetary population, although I assume the Raiders used kamakasi ships to take out the Battlestars, and there was unseen planatery bombardment. And there surely would have been routine patroles, and any ship entering the airspace would be intersepted, after all the RAF intersept & turn away French jets, and we have been allies for 100 years! :eek:
I still find Boxey & Muffit annoying, and Zac is a crap name for a guy in this show! Next to Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer, the name Zac seems out of place.

But apart from those wee points, it was a brilliant show, and a great start to the series!
BRG

PS- as a lad, I seem to recall Baltar was killed in this film. Strange.... :eek:

[shiningstar]

BRG awards this 3 part episode 4 stars out of 5. :)

As a boy I loved the 2hr movie version of this pilot, and with fond memories of my wee brother & I watching the film then running about as Starbuck & Apollo, I was a wee bit worried that it would be a dissapointment when I watched it as a man fast aproaching 30. I'm glad to say that I still love it!

The SFX are still good, although they have clearly been overtaken by the stunning visuals in TNG, Babylon 5, and other shows over the years, they still have the magic 'Star Wars' look of the late 70's. The characters are great, Apollo, Adama, Boomer, Tigh, and Baltar are brilliantlly cast & performed, Athena is stunning! :eek: ;) And has there ever been a cooler, more likable character than Starbuck? :cool: The story is always interesting, from the opening attack though the mine field until the showdown at Carillon, it mixed great action with nice character stuff, some real emotion and a few laughs.

A few wee niggles I have with it wave probably already bean covered. First, I agree with the point that Cylon Raiders using dogfighting lasers would not be enough to take out a fleet of capital ships or wipe out a planetary population, although I assume the Raiders used kamakasi ships to take out the Battlestars, and there was unseen planatery bombardment. And there surely would have been routine patroles, and any ship entering the airspace would be intersepted, after all the RAF intersept & turn away French jets, and we have been allies for 100 years! :eek:
I still find Boxey & Muffit annoying, and Zac is a crap name for a guy in this show! Next to Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer, the name Zac seems out of place.

But apart from those wee points, it was a brilliant show, and a great start to the series!
BRG

PS- as a lad, I seem to recall Baltar was killed in this film. Strange.... :eek: You bought up some good points Brg although Baltar was NOT
killed in this film. They held the cylons sword to his neck but then took
him away for the time being which baffled me to no end :wtf: But
considering what a actor Colicos was .......I'm glad Baltar kept
returning!

[Senmut]

In the pilot, Apollo says "Just fighters. Maybe a thousand." Thus the number. A thousand fighters would be sufficient to do the job, given the fact that almost no one was ready to launch interceptors. At 200 fighters to each Battlestar, that should do it. And, even if more Battlestars had survived Cimtar, the Cylons had done their job. Kept them tied up, and unable to defend the Colonies. Aftgerwards, shot-up nearly wrecked ships will present no serious threat.
(As an aside, imagine this. It is 1945, and a group of 5 American carriers are moving through the Pacific. The enemy has sued for peace, and no one is expecting treachery. Suddenly, radar picks up over 1,000 enemy planes. 50 miles and closing. Your pilots are either asleep or off-duty. Your planes are mostly unfueled, and on the hangar decks. You have to turn the ships into the wind to launch, and to top it off, no one is manning the anti-aircraft batteries. By the time you can get planes and pilots together, gassed up, armed and on the elevators....)
Now, after they flee the Colonies, Apollo saya to Jolly "chances are some of it was shielded enough from the bombs to be saved." Jolly tells him that they checked "for radiation. Yes." So we can assume that some form of nuclear weapons were used on the Colonies. Remember the picture of one of the planets as the ships leave? We see masses of fire where cities used to be. Why the straffing? It would make sense that the Cylon would not nuke every Human settlement. One, they may not have that many bombs. Two, their BaseShips can bombard from orbit. Three, the Cylons want the Human cities, as they did those of the Delphians. And four, too much radiation can be as harmful to electronics as to living tissue.

[BRG]

Senmut , once again you make excellent points. Thanks for clearing up some points I was not sure about! :thumbsup: :salute:

About the fighters not launching, yes I competely agree. The other Battlestar's would probably only have a handfull of fighters & pilots ready to launch( I assume there is always a patrol fueled & armed with pilots on standby) while the Galactica was running a full scale battle 'drill' with all crews & fighters ready for launch. Also it is safe to assume that the first target of the Cylon raiders would have been the launch bays on all Battlestars, there for apart from the few on stand by, no other vipers would get int the air.( I also assume the Vipers from Galactica's first priority was to protect there own baseship)
It's funny how obvious it all seems after someone has pointed the obvious out too you! :blush: :salute: And as I said, I always assumed the Cylons used bombs, but I guess the budget for the show could not streach to a planatery bombardment, so had to make do with straifing runs.


Shiningstar Thanks for your comment! I have since watched the bonus disc, and have seen the alternate take on that scene.(Maybe I should have watched this before writing my original comment! :blush: )
It has been many years since I last saw the TV movie vesion of Battlestar Galactica(it was a popular Sunday afternoon film for TV stations when I was a lad!) And I had never seen the full 3 part TV series version. I just assumed they were both the same with some scenes trimmed to get the movie version down to two hours. So the fact that they had comletely different takes on that cene caused my confusion! :LOL:
And I couldn't agree more with you on Colicos, a brilliant actor! His performance as Kor, the original Klingon in Star Trek is a delight to behold! He single handedly turned the Klingons from a villian of the week race into the greatest of Star Trek aliens for the last 40 years! And I would still rate Kor as one of the top 5 villians from any Star Trek episode. :cool:
I even caught a Colicos guest apperance in 'Charlies Angels' on daytime TV a few weeks ago! Although it's not my favourite show, I still watched it because he was the bad guy! :D
BRG

[skippercollecto]

I just received a WAY COOL item I bought off of ebay, the laserdisc of the theatrical version of the pilot. It's dated 1982 MCA Videodisc. I have no way of playing it, but what scenes are/aren't on this disc, its condition, when this was sold and how many--well, those aren't my questions. Those questions pale in comparison to something else that's on the jacket cover.
There is a cast list on the back of the jacket that includes a lot more people than the closing credits in the Sept. 17 premiere, the theatrical VHS or DVD, the new extended DVD, or any version of Saga that ever aired on TV. I am in shock, and am absolutely delighted, because it answers some questions I've had for 25 years.
First off, there are six people mentioned whose names have appeared in other sources over the years, and you may recognize these names: the three Tucana singers (Myrna Matthews, Stephanie Spruill and Pattie Brooks), the two Ovions Lotay (Dianne L. Burgdorff) and Seetol (Sandy Gimpel), and Imperious Leader (Dick Durock).
But these other names are also mentioned:
1. Gemon...Rene Assa (this must be one of the people with Cassiopeia but I don't know which one)
2. Commentator...Jim Peck
3. Wounded man...Don Maxwell (I wonder if this is the guy that rescues Serina and Boxey, or perhaps it is the man for whom Cassiopeia translates)
4. Man #1...David Byrd
5. Man #2...Richard Bronda (I am wondering if these are the guys coming down the hill on Caprica)
6. Woman #1...Lois Adams
7. Woman #2...June Whitley Taylor (There is also a Woman #3 mentioned. It's Carol Baxter, and she's the woman in the elevator complaining about how much weight she's gained.)
8. Sandell...David Tress
9. Lobe...Lee McLaughlin (he's in the novelization; he's one of the Council members)
10. Old woman...Louise Lorimer
11. Crewman...Stoney Bower (I wonder if this is the guy who isn't Bruce Wright who is working on Starbuck's Viper)
12. Pit boss...Ben Frommer
13. Guard...Michael J. London
14. Centurion #1...Ted White
15. Dealer...John Zenda

[Eric Paddon]

2. Commentator...Jim Peck

Jim Peck I remember as TV game show host in the 70s, and I'm curious as to where this "commentator" part is in the episode to see if that's indeed him, or if it's just a voiceover thing.

12. Pit boss...Ben Frommer

And he played Nogow in "The Magnificent Warriors" if I'm not mistaken.

[kingfish]

Saga Novel Review and Number of battlestars:


http://s4.invisionfree.com/Battlestar_Pacifica/index.php?showtopic=121&st=0

[skippercollecto]

Well, I just HAD to go watch my DVD of the pilot to see if I could identify some of the folks mentioned on the jacket of the laser disc. I also watched the movie with subtitles, and that helped somewhat. This is what I discovered.
1. Commentator...You hear a male reporter's voice talking about the attack on Caprica. I believe this is Jim Peck.
2. Woman #1...You hear only this voice during the attack. She says "there's a second wave coming in."
2. Woman #2...You hear only the voice "is this channel operative?"
3. Man #1...You hear only his voice on the hill on Caprica, saying "this way."
4. Man #2...You hear only his voice on the hill on Caprica, saying "there must be food somewhere."
5. Guard...I believe this must be the man outside Uri's quarters.

[Senmut]

During the attack, in the longer uncut version, we hear Starbuck say "The main attack is on the President's ship." This in part is what helps the Galactica get away.

[martok2112]

Well, I finally got the BSG Box set, and I love it thus far.

I had not seen MANY of these episodes (most especially the three hour version of SASW) in years. I had forgotten just how good SASW as a TV cut was.

The cinematography is excellent. Big screen quality for 1978. Ambitious.

The acting is great. Very emotional...and Maren Jensen shines, especially in the more familial scenes (scenes I think she just excels at.)

The special effects for 1978 television were cutting edge.

Good fun in a simpler time.

Respectfully,
Martok2112

[_No_Name_]

<snip>
And four, too much radiation can be as harmful to electronics as to living tissue.

You know, I never even thought of that angle--the use of nukes to take out cities would produce a pretty hefty source-region EMP. Hardenening Centurions to this effect would not be trivial. A 1 MT near-surface burst would produce an EMP effect out to about 8 miles.

The rad effects from fallout would not be that significant since the Cylons would only have to worry about a gamma dose and the activity from fission products would be down by about three orders of magnitude within 24 hours.

Since we presume that the Cylons want to preserve cities (as evidenced by the Delfian experience) and want to kill humans efficiently we can conclude:

-- The indiscrimnate use of nuclear weapons would destroy too many cities and infrastructure.
-- Large collections of humans are good targets for nukes

So, the best way to maximize human casualties while minimizing the destruction of cities is to cause the humans to flee the cities. So sending in the Raiders to "shoot up the place" would induce the humans to flee from the cities. Once they are out of the city, then you nuke the humans. Chilling. :cylon:

[Senmut]

But oh so effective!

[skippercollecto]

In 1978, when the show premiered, Mardi Gras was not the big party day in most of American that it is now. In fact, I had barely heard of it, and, being Catholic, Ash Wednesday was a much bigger deal. So I would have never paid attention to this idea when I first watched the pilot.
Today I got some Mardi Gras masks, and for a moment, wondered what they reminded me of. It dawned on me that the mask and feathers and headdresses and flowing but skimpy costumes that Mardi Gras revelers wear are similar to what the Tauran woman (Randi Oakes) and the other female tourists on Carillon were wearing.
Which leads me to three questions:
1. Did the initial attack on the Colonies take place just before the Colonial equivalent of Carnivale?
2. This is a topic for fan fiction, but is Carnivale yet another of those traditions that has its roots in the Colonies?
3. I know all of the Galactica costumes "walked off" the set at one point or another, and wonder if any of those costumes are showing up in Mardi Gras krewe parades.
Mary

[KJ]

Watching DK edit of Saga fleshes out the epic series of BSG by 10x fold!

Think watching DK's edit of the pilot is now needed to get the full on effect of the beginning of the series, and how it was all set up!

KJ

[skippercollecto]

Has there ever been discussion as to how long the attacks on the Colonies lasted, and how long the evacuation of the planets took?
I'm asking about comparing it to real Earth time? A week? A month? Two months? The episode always made it look like it just took a few hours, but it had to be longer than that.

Mary

[Athene]

Has there ever been discussion as to how long the attacks on the Colonies lasted, and how long the evacuation of the planets took?
I'm asking about comparing it to real Earth time? A week? A month? Two months? The episode always made it look like it just took a few hours, but it had to be longer than that.

Mary
I too was wondering about that.
I've got two versions of Saga of a Starworld. The movie version and the one in the boxed set.
I'm going to watch them and see if I can find out more.
I also thought it only took a few hours...since it was a surprise attack.

[Athene]

Watching DK edit of Saga fleshes out the epic series of BSG by 10x fold!

Think watching DK's edit of the pilot is now needed to get the full on effect of the beginning of the series, and how it was all set up!

KJ
Could you kindly refresh my memory?
How did you get the DK edit?
Thanks!

[Charybdis]

I was watching the portion when Adama, Apollo and Serina were on Kobol and walking around. They used Egyptian extras to film those scenes, but one continuity error I saw was that in one of the closeup walking shots taken from behind them, the Apollo extra is wearing the plain dress boots. A scene later when Richard Hatch and the real actors come onscene, he is wearing the combat boots...

[Athene]

I was watching the portion when Adama, Apollo and Serina were on Kobol and walking around. They used Egyptian extras to film those scenes, but one continuity error I saw was that in one of the closeup walking shots taken from behind them, the Apollo extra is wearing the plain dress boots. A scene later when Richard Hatch and the real actors come onscene, he is wearing the combat boots...
I think you are referring to "The Lost Planet of the Gods".
I noticed that too. ;)

[skippercollecto]

What does DK mean? The only one I know is Donna Karan, and I know she's not what you're referring to!

Mary

[Kronus]

What does DK mean? The only one I know is Donna Karan, and I know she's not what you're referring to!

Mary

My guess would be Denmark...:D

They maybe referring to another country's version/edits of the show. USA (back in the day and still some today) edit out content and there are several versions of those scenes they mensioned...one with Stabuck with his tunic still on and one with it off, for example.

The DK version may have less censorship and helps the viewer understand more of what is being said.

[skippercollecto]

I always thought solium was one of Glen Larson's made-up words, but I found a reference to it in something that has nothing whatsoever to do with science fiction.
I was at an antique show the other week and one of the dealers was selling a box of powdered detergent. I don't remember the brand name, but the box's appearance made me think it was from the 1940s or 1950s. The box said that its secret ingredient was solium, and it had something to do with "the power of sunlight."
Was this just an advertiser's made-up marketing term 60 years ago? Did Glen Larson borrow the term? Is it just coincidence that both Glen and the detergent maker used this same word? Or is solium a real substance? Or is it just plain old sunlight?

Mary

[Athene]

I watched the movie version again of Saga of a Starworld in honour of the 31st anniversary. :salute:
It was interesting that they used "years" instead of "yahrens" in the movie.(I think I've said this before...) ;)
I actually watched both versions. The one with the locker room scene with Athena and Starbuck and Starbuck with his shirt off in the launching bay and then I watched the version that I have in the boxed set.
It was lots of fun. :D

[LZaza]

I always thought solium was one of Glen Larson's made-up words, but I found a reference to it in something that has nothing whatsoever to do with science fiction.
I was at an antique show the other week and one of the dealers was selling a box of powdered detergent. I don't remember the brand name, but the box's appearance made me think it was from the 1940s or 1950s. The box said that its secret ingredient was solium, and it had something to do with "the power of sunlight."
Was this just an advertiser's made-up marketing term 60 years ago? Did Glen Larson borrow the term? Is it just coincidence that both Glen and the detergent maker used this same word? Or is solium a real substance? Or is it just plain old sunlight?

Mary

Isn't "Sol" Spanish for "sun"? Probably derived from that?

[Athene]

I always thought solium was one of Glen Larson's made-up words, but I found a reference to it in something that has nothing whatsoever to do with science fiction.
I was at an antique show the other week and one of the dealers was selling a box of powdered detergent. I don't remember the brand name, but the box's appearance made me think it was from the 1940s or 1950s. The box said that its secret ingredient was solium, and it had something to do with "the power of sunlight."
Was this just an advertiser's made-up marketing term 60 years ago? Did Glen Larson borrow the term? Is it just coincidence that both Glen and the detergent maker used this same word? Or is solium a real substance? Or is it just plain old sunlight?

Mary
Out of curiosity I googled the term solium.
Found one term in a medical dictionary which referred to solium as "Chlordiazepoxide". :blink:

I too thought it had reference to the sun.

[Charybdis]

It's funny now that you mention solium as a detergent. I show a video to my students every semester about the history of radio (I know, that sounds weird, but it's one of those educational documentaries) and in one of the parts they show old radio stations where everything was live, etc.

In one of the ads that they play for a program, they talk about a detergent called "Rinso...with solium!"

[Eric Paddon]

The other night I watched this for the first time in a couple years. In fact, it was the first time in a couple years I had watched *any* episode of Galactica, and even though I have watched it many, many times over the years, this would be like a new experience in light of the fact that since I last watched "Saga" or any other episode of "Galactica" I've had a chance to see a LOT of vintage TV on DVD in the intervening period. It almost had me concerned that maybe after seeing so many other shows in all that time, would I suddenly be more aware of perceived faults in how Saga was done? Granted, I've noted inconsistencies and other assorted things in the past, but would they stick out more this time?

Thankfully, the opposite proved true. If anything, I found myself struck by how incredibly well Saga holds up as a pilot show, AND how it succeeds magnificently in communicating that sense of distance and awe that's necessary to sell the believability of the whole storyline to the viewers. There is no attempt to be cutesy and cheesy like "Lost In Space" or "Buck Rogers" a year later. We're expected to take this grand space adventure across the farthest reaches of the unknown from our own world as a serious piece of storytelling with just some occasional humorous undertones, and I still believe Saga does that brilliantly.

Most importantly, Saga gives us a premise of what these people are seeking....Earth, and it soon becomes clear with subsequent episodes that this motivation that guides them is going to remain an integral part of the series and isn't just going to be set aside in the name of doing totally self-contained adventures we can watch at random. Indeed, you can look at other shows that all but ignored forward momentum past their first one or two shows like the 1974 TV version of "Planet Of The Apes", but with "Galactica" we got some necessary forward momentum at key points and thus after just one season, "Galactica" it was possible to look back and see a season where things were no longer the same as they'd been when the template was first established. Not many other series of the day, even the most popular ones, could ever claim that.

I will admit that perhaps those of us who first experienced Galactica in 1978 did have one advantage over the adults of the day watching in that we could more easily embrace that seriousness of storyline because we came in with no familiarity with the actors from the roles they played before. Were there many of us before Galactica who had been regular viewers of "Bonanza?" We could more easily look at Lorne Greene and accept him as Commander Adama because we never knew he'd spent a veritable lifetime in TV as Ben Cartwright. I guess for the adults who came of age from their childhood to adulthood watching Lorne on another show, they were just never capable of suspending their disbelief, and maybe that underlying prejudice accounted in some small part for the unfair notices Galactica got at the time.

It's sometimes easy to become so fascinated with the minutiae of Galactica as we do in forums like this that we can end up going a long time without watching the show. It's nice to find out that when we do return to it and give it another look, the enjoyment level that's made us join forums like this, is still there.

[LZaza]

I know what you mean, Eric. I threw on an episode for a reference last night, which seems to be the usual way I watch BSG these days. It was Baltar's Escape where Wilker was explaining why he couldn't rebuild the Cylons and then decides just to show Starbuck and Apollo. When they walk into the lab and see the dismantled Cylons, wires hanging out everywhere, Starbuck says "You're harder on them than I am!" or words to that effect. What a great line. And I'd totally forgotten it. :LOL:

[Eric Paddon]

Even though fanfic writing has been the key to my staying really involved with Galactica over the years, the one thing that's concerned me is that writing so much about the future of the show's characters could make me appreciate less the filmed stories we were introduced to first or look more easily for flaws. It's always nice to discover that those fears are groundless!

Watched LPOTG tonight. Even though we know all about the rushed nature of how the story was put together which compressed so many major plotlines at once, I was struck by how the storyline still flowed beautifully and took advantage of the two part format to pace itself in a way where your attention was held the entire while. Indeed, this use of the two part episode on so many occasions and the willingness to give a story some more breathing room has to be considered Galactica's greatest contribution to sci-fi TV in general because there was nothing like this before. Star Trek's only two-parter was a one shot deal designed to save costs by recycling the initial pilot. Galactica didn't try to give good scripts short shrift by shoehorning them all into the standard one hour format.

[Senmut]

That's WHY it's BSG. What more need one say?

[skippercollecto]

I never saw the theatrical version of the pilot in the theater. Was it shown in widescreen?

[Eric Paddon]

What we'd call a "fake widescreen" in the sense of the image being blown up to accomodate a widescreen image but in the process it results in chopping off of the top and bottom of the original image. In effect it's the reverse of panning/scanning for old format TV when you'd lose the sides of a widescreen image to fit the proportions of a TV set.

[Senmut]

I recall seeing it in teatro, and noticed how the picture was cropped, top and bottom. Although you didn't miss much, it could get a tad annoying, after a bit.

[skippercollecto]

A few times, Baltar is referred to as "Count" or "Lord." Do you think he actually was a member of the gentry, or was that a title he came up with himself to make him sound more important?

[LZaza]

Well, seeing as how he was on the original Quorum of Twelve and held a Seal of Kobol, like Adama, as well as the President's trust, I'd say the odds were good that he was a nobleman of some distinction.

[Senmut]

He is also called "Commander Baltar" by both Apollo and Charybdis in MOTRS. In LPOTG, Baltar refers to being caught "between the Presiden't Battlestar and my own." Did he command a ship? Probably, based on this. Colonial society may have been much like that of the Early Romans, who combined political office with military commands. Not always a smooth combination.

[LZaza]

Good point, Sen. I'd forgotten that detail.

[skippercollecto]

So this is a fan fiction question:
What do you think motivated Baltar, who probably had a very good life, to turn against the humans? Pure greed? Was he insane? Did Iblis possess him?

[LZaza]

Power. Egomania.

Baltar seemed to think he'd be lord and master of his planet. Didn't he claim his colony was to be spared? The Cylons duped him. They manipulated a greedy, power-hungry man into betraying his people with the promise of ultimate power over the last remaining human settlement . . . through the grace of Baltar's favour with the Cylons.

From his lack of remorse, I'd say it's a safe bet to presume he was a sociopath.

At least that's my take.

Today. ;)

[Athene]

Power. Egomania.

Baltar seemed to think he'd be lord and master of his planet. Didn't he claim his colony was to be spared? The Cylons duped him. They manipulated a greedy, power-hungry man into betraying his people with the promise of ultimate power over the last remaining human settlement . . . through the grace of Baltar's favour with the Cylons.

From his lack of remorse, I'd say it's a safe bet to presume he was a sociopath.

At least that's my take.

Today. ;)
Yes, Baltar was power-hungry and I do agree with you a sociopath. Did you know in the original script they were going to kill Baltar off? Glad they kept him on for the series. Made for a very interesting villain.

Watched Saga of a Starworld(the movie version) last night. Hadn't watched it again for a while. And the special effects still hold up to this day. What a treat. :)

[skippercollecto]

Was Caprica Baltar's colony/planet? Or was his home somewhere else? I think that this was never mentioned in either the series or the novelizations.

[LZaza]

Presuming that each Council member represented a Colony, and Adama's family lived on Caprica, then Baltar had to come from another colony.

I don't believe it was mentioned in the series, but don't recall for the novelizations. Admittedly, I haven't finished reading them all. In fan fiction, it's widely accepted that he came from Piscon (insert other derivations here). Where that association came from, I don't know.

Anybody else know?

[Senmut]

No, but I have followed the Piscera/Piscon idea.

[Athene]

Watched this again last night. I never tire of it. And IMHO the special effects hold up to this day. A friend of mine who had never it watched it with me and really liked it. :)

[skippercollecto]

Your useless trivia for the day:
In the days before TV satellites, I knew that Hawaii didn't always air TV shows when they were originally aired in the continental United States. Instead, tapes of shows were sent there. I learned that Galactica aired on Friday nights in Hawaii instead of Sunday.

[Senmut]

Ah, Hawaii's loss.

[Croft2018]

What we'd call a "fake widescreen" in the sense of the image being blown up to accomodate a widescreen image but in the process it results in chopping off of the top and bottom of the original image. In effect it's the reverse of panning/scanning for old format TV when you'd lose the sides of a widescreen image to fit the proportions of a TV set.


It was shot with an OCN (original camera negative) ratio of 1.37:1; also known as Academy ratio, 4:3, full frame etc. On TV thus would crop slightly to 1.33:1.

However, because TVs have what’s called overscan around all four sides, the film makers ensure that essential information occurs in a safe area within the frame, and sometimes (as is the case with Saga of a Star World) they would shoot it safe for widescreen cropping when they made their theatrical release version (124 minutes; the premiere edit without commercials runs 139 minutes).

Many feature films were shot this way - certainly in the days of 1.33:1 TVs - so that when they were transfered to video or were shown on TV they wouldn't lose any picture info (unlike films shot in 2.35:1 Scope widescreen formats). This process was called shooting “soft matte” (aspect ratios: 1.66:1, 1.75:1, 1.85:1).

Some films were shot “hard matte” in the same three ratios which meant a plate was put in the camera that equalled those aspect ratios; titles shot this way would lose picture info at the sides on 1.33:1 video and TV.

To prepare a 2.35:1 or hard matte film the process was called panning and scanning, whereby the telecine operator would make choices on a second by second basis as to which parts of the frame were in vision at any one moment.

Saga of a Star World was shot soft matte but designed to be cropped to 1.85:1 in cinemas, which is why it looks fine in the widescreen 124 minute theatrical version.

[Senmut]

Power. Egomania.

Baltar seemed to think he'd be lord and master of his planet. Didn't he claim his colony was to be spared? The Cylons duped him. They manipulated a greedy, power-hungry man into betraying his people with the promise of ultimate power over the last remaining human settlement . . . through the grace of Baltar's favour with the Cylons.

From his lack of remorse, I'd say it's a safe bet to presume he was a sociopath.

At least that's my take.

Today. ;)

Obviously, Colonial mental health screening left a few thing to be desired, Zaz.

[Senmut]

Very interesting, Croft. Are/were you a film student? Have you worked on any films?

[Croft2018]

Thanks, glad you found it interesting. No, just a film buff.

[Senmut]

Well, good input. Hopefully there will be more?????

Are you a FanFic writer?

[Croft2018]

No, not a fan of fanfic.

[Senmut]

Sad. There are some actually good stuff there. Some of us have even been doing what we call the VS, or Virtual Season, where we do stories that take the show beyond The Hand Of God, into where we would have liked to have seen it go. I've done several for it, myself.

[Croft2018]

There are only so many hours in the day and my interests lie elsewhere.

[Senmut]

Do you still exist, Croft?

[Croft2018]

Yes, I still exist.

[Senmut]

Okay, I was wondering. Got pretty quiet there for quite a while.

[Croft2018]

I belong to Colonial Fleets, By Your Command and BG Club forums and they're all pretty dead. Days sometimes weeks go by without any posts.

[Senmut]

Well, maybe we oughgt to stir them up a tad.
Do you write, at all?

[Croft2018]

I write technical reviews for Rewind:

www.dvdcompare.net

My work is down the right hand side towards the bottom; I do all of the technical reviews.

[Senmut]

No interest in FanFic?

[Croft2018]

None, sorry.

By Your Command was down over the weekend by the way.

[Senmut]

Technical glitches resolved, I presume?

[Croft2018]

No, still down.

[Senmut]

Obviously, a Cylon plot!

[Croft2018]

It's back up and working now.

[Senmut]

Excellent.

[skippercollecto]

I found this photo for sale on etsy. I am assuming it is from one of the unaired scenes of Saga, but what is this from and what are they looking at?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1544872295/jane-seymour-battlestar-galactica-8-x-10?click_key=8bfc5de06dffeb843b4d20ac46692d080259f0ac%3A1544872295&click_sum=5fa0907d&external_collection=&pro=1&sts=1

[Eric Paddon]

It may not be an unfilmed scene. Could be the commotion when the Cylons enter the party ("Do as he says, he's in charge!")

[Senmut]

I loved the way Uri flipped, when the Cylons entered. Total politician.

[Charybdis]

My sentiments exactly about the photo. Boomer has his blaster in his hand by his side. Looks to be right when the Cylons enter the room, that's the only time they would be terrorized at the party...