20th century astronaut Buck Rogers emerges out of 500 years of suspended animation into the 25th century to become Earth's greatest hero and to explore the unknown reaches of deep space.20th century astronaut Buck Rogers emerges out of 500 years of suspended animation into the 25th century to become Earth's greatest hero and to explore the unknown reaches of deep space.20th century astronaut Buck Rogers emerges out of 500 years of suspended animation into the 25th century to become Earth's greatest hero and to explore the unknown reaches of deep space.
- Won 1 Primetime Emmy
- 1 win & 5 nominations total
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaProps, costumes, special effects shots, and sets from Battlestar Galactica (1978) were used in this series.
- GoofsThrough the series, there are many sequences when Buck Rogers and/or Wilma Deering would take off in one configuration of a starfighter and then different cuts would have them sitting side by side and then a moment later one before the other. There would also be different ships (sky sled) where they would take off in one type of ship, exterior shots show them as they fly through space in a totally different looking ship, and then either land in the same ship they took off in, or in another different looking ship.
- Quotes
Narrator: [voiceover during narrative] 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.
- Crazy creditsThe opening credits for the first season finale "Flight of the War Witch" differ from the credit sequences for the rest of the season's episodes (except the pilot). After the series title appears, there follows a succession of short scenes from this episode as well as from the television version of the pilot (including the episode). After about 20 seconds, the credits resume as normal.
- Alternate versionsThe opening episode "Awakening" was originally released as the theatrical movie Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979). For television, the movie's sensual opening credits were removed, a scene showing Tigerman being killed was omitted, some dialogue was toned down, and several scenes were added including an epilogue setting up the television series. The movie was also re-edited into a two-parter for syndication.
- ConnectionsEdited into The Adventures of Taura: Prison Ship Star Slammer (1986)
...and in a very real sense, that's how "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" came to television, in 1979! Based, originally, on a 1928 short story, 'Buck Rogers' achieved his greatest fame in comic strips, radio, and a movie serial in the 1930s, but by 1979, the character had been 'retired' for 28 years, and Larson knew he could 'update' the story without arousing much controversy. The 'new' Buck was an astronaut piloting the last of Earth's 'Deep Space' probes, Ranger 3, in 1987(!), which was thrown off-course by a cosmic disturbance, and damaged, entering a centuries-long looping orbit back to Earth, and releasing a mix of gases that placed Rogers into suspended animation for 500 years. Revived by the evil Draconian Empire, Rogers soon is returned to an Earth in ruins after a nuclear holocaust, where he gradually earns the government's trust, and becomes a civilian 'troubleshooter', using his 20th century wiles to save Mankind, again and again.
Casting was essential for the series to succeed, and Larson made an inspired choice in Gil Gerard, 36, as the lead. Ruggedly handsome, Gerard combined maturity with a boyish charm, and an ability to make even the most risqué remark seem unoffensive (and the series pilot, released theatrically, had a LOT of risqué remarks!) As Wilma Deering, a Colonel in Earth's Defense Force, Erin Gray, 29, was a bit wooden, but gloriously beautiful, and wholesomely sexy; Tim O'Connor, 52, as wise Dr. Huer, provided kind stability and statesman-like wisdom to the mix, and a goofy little robot, "Twiki", voiced by Mel Blanc, gave the kids something to enjoy (although he would utter an occasional risqué or ethnic aside, as well).
The first season of "Buck Rogers", while certainly not 'Classic TV', offered an entertaining mix of adventure and comedy, with stories that intentionally avoided the 'heaviness' that plagued "Galactica". Rogers would face a variety of galactic terrorists, dictators, and madmen, fend off advances by a variety of scantily-clad women, and maintain a "Will they or Won't they?" relationship with Deering. High points were the guest appearances by Pamela Hensley as the evil but vampy Drackonian Princess Ardala, in huge head wear (and little else), and, in a wonderful cameo, the legendary Buster Crabbe, who'd played both "Buck Rogers" and "Flash Gordon" in the 1930s, as 'Brigadier Gordon'.
While ratings were mediocre, at best, the series was renewed for a second season...and all the mistakes of "Galactica" were repeated, when the Earth-centered series was dropped, in favor of a starship-based, 'serious' adventure, as Buck and Wilma joined in a "Galactica"-like search for 'lost' tribes of humans who'd fled Earth at the time of the Holocaust. Why was the entire concept changed so abruptly, and disastrously? The reason I've been told, was that Gerard, a devout Christian, did not like the sexual undercurrent of the first season, and wanted stories that would be more uplifting and family-friendly, and that he forced the changes on a less-than-enthusiastic Glen Larson. Whether or not this was true, the season lacked all the swashbuckling joy of Season One, and despite an attempt to introduce a bird-like, stoic alien ('Hawk', portrayed by Thom Christopher), to attract the "Spock" crowd, the episodes were frequently dull and uninspired, and the ratings plummeted. When NBC canceled the series, just 13 episodes into Season Two, no one was truly surprised.
While Gerard's post-"Buck Rogers" career was a roller-coaster ride of highs and lows, Erin Gray enjoyed a long, successful run on "Silver Spoons", and both actors, today, are popular Convention guests, as both "Buck Rogers" and Larson's "Battlestar Galactica" have achieved 'cult' status.
"Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" will never be held in the kind of esteem "Star Trek" or "Babylon 5" enjoy, but, as a rare chance to see how television viewed Science Fiction in the "Disco Decade", the series has earned it's own piece of immortality!
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Buck Rogers
- Filming locations
- Trona Pinnacles - 300 S. Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, California, USA(Featured in fly over during opening credits/titles for the show)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1