Difference between revisions of "Battlestar Galactica"

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Battlestar Galactica (often abbreviated BSG) is an American sci-fi franchise created by Glen A. Larson. It began with the original TV series which aired for 24 episodes in the 1978-79 television season before being cancelled. A write-in campaign brought the show back as Galactica 1980, a sequel series which was set thirty years after the original and featured an almost entirely new cast, with the only returnees being Lorne Greene as Commander Adama and Herbert Jefferson Jr. as Boomer (previously a lieutenant, now colonel and second-in-command). The series was not well received and aired for only ten episodes in 1980. The 1978 and 1980 series also gave rise to several films and TV movies (compiled from television episodes), a series of novels adapted from television episodes, and several comic book series. In addition, Richard Hatch, who played Captain Apollo in the 1978 series, wrote a series of original Battlestar Galactica novels which were published in the mid-1990s to mid-2000s.

In the 2000s, Battlestar Galactica returned to television as a re-imagined series, beginning with a miniseries which aired in 2003 and continuing with a weekly series which aired from 2004 to 2009. The re-imagined series has also spawned several TV movies, comic book series, novels, web series, and a prequel series, Caprica, which aired in 2010. The re-imagined series was critically acclaimed and was noted for changing the backstories and even genders of characters from the 1978 series, with the highest-profile change being that Lieutenant Starbuck, who had been male in the 1978 series, was female in the re-imagined series.

The common premise to both the 1970s and 2000s series is that human beings are all but wiped out in a massive sneak attack by a cybernetic race called the Cylons, whose goal is the extermination of all humanity. Survivors of the attack flee in spaceships, gathering in a fleet protected by the eponymous Battlestar Galactica, the sole surviving military capital ship. The plotline in both series revolves around the fleet continuing to battle the Cylons and encountering other dangers as it searches for a new homeworld for humanity.

Battlestar Galactica has been referenced several times in the Simpsons universe, in television episodes, comic stories and other media.

References

Television episodes

Picture Season Episode number Episode name Reference 3 46 "Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk" Homer attempts to put together a 5000-piece Battlestar Galactica jigsaw puzzle. 10 212 "Mayored to the Mob" A TV ad for the Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con shows two Cylons wrestling with C-3PO and R2-D2 from Star Wars. 11 230 "Treehouse of Horror X" During the opening sequence, a Cylon is in the audience as Kang and Kodos introduce the episode. After falling into a tank full of Lucite, The Collector struggles to strike a "classic Lorne Greene pose from Battlestar Galactica" before it solidifies. 239 "Saddlesore Galactica" Punned in the episode title. 14 296 "Helter Shelter" Among the items on Comic Book Guy's shelf of collectibles are a Cylon base ship and a Colonial Viper. 15 330 "My Big Fat Geek Wedding" At the Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con, one of the attendees is costumed as a Cylon. Also, a Battlestar Galactica banner is partially visible on the far side of the room (at the left edge of the frame) and two of the spaceship models hanging from the ceiling are of a Colonial Viper and a Cylon Raider. 20 424 "Treehouse of Horror XIX" In the opening credits, Consulting Producer Don Payne is credited as "Don 'The Final Cylon' Payne", a reference to the "Humanoid Cylons" plotline from the re-imagined series.

Comic stories

Picture Comic issue Story name Reference Simpsons Comics #39 Sense and Censorability Comic Book Guy is on trial, charged with selling obscene comic books. CBG acts as his own defense attorney, and in his opening statement, he berates the jury for being "flawed in dispositions and thought patterns", comparing them to Cylons, as well as Skrulls (from Marvel Comics) and members of the Draconian Empire (from Buck Rogers). Simpsons Comics #71 Simpson/Sideshow Sibling Smackdown As part of his campaign to destroy Lisa Simpson, Cecil Terwilliger blackmails Krusty into going off the air with the aid of the nerd trio of Gary, Benjamin and Doug. As a reward, Cecil gives them tickets to William Shatner's Star Trek Memories: The Musical, starring Richard Hatch from Battlestar Galactica. Simpsons Comics #75 ...The Permanent Record Room! When Jimbo says he hates being in a school where nerds are at the top of the pecking order, Kearney says he got a wet willie for not knowing the name of the robot dog on Battlestar Galactica. Simpsons Comics #118 The "X" Men A school bus driven by Otto crashes into a building where a meeting of a support group for the lovelorn is in progress, and the building quickly starts shaking and is on the verge of collapse. Comic Book Guy, one of the attendees, says, "We must flee from this place like the Capricans from the Cylons!" Bart Simpson #90 The Rebooting! While shopping in the comic store, Bart laments to Milhouse that new student Barb Simpkins can do everything that he can, only better. Comic Book Guy, overhearing, tells Bart that he's been rebooted, then explains, "Much like Starbuck on Battlestar Galactica, you've been replaced by a superior female version." CBG's explanation references the Starbuck character being male in the original series and female in the re-imagined series, and the female character ultimately becoming more popular than the original. The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Hoodoo Voodoo Brouhaha Comic Book Guy's Best Costumes Ever - Part 1 Comic Book Guy attended Battlestar Galacticon 2002 dressed up as Darth Maul from Star Wars. Chief Wiggum's Felonious Funnies 1 Future Cop! Chief Wiggum has a dream where he is a cop in the future and is putting down a riot at a space jail. In reality, however, he's attacking costumed attendees at the Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con, and when he wakes up, he panics when he sees several convention-goers costumed as aliens and robots, including a Cylon.

Books

Picture Book Reference Comic Book Guy's Book of Pop Culture One of the entries on Comic Book Guy's To-Do List is to TiVo Battlestar Galactica. Among the items in the back room of The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop is a VCR being used to make bootleg copies of a Galactica 1980 marathon. Comic Book Guy had Battlestar Galactica sheets in his basement bedroom in the 1980s. CBG's list of "Brushes with Greatness" includes trading bootleg H.R. Pufnstuf tapes back in the '80s with the actor who played Boomer. Comic Book Guy has props and costume pieces from several different superhero and sci-fi franchises displayed on a dress mannequin, topped with a Cylon helmet. Lisa Simpson's Guide to Geek Chic Batlestar Galactica (Bsg) is one of the elements in Lisa's Table of Geeky Delights.

Twitter

Common cast and crew

Cast

Picture Name Role in the BSG franchise Role on The Simpsons Ed Begley, Jr. Played Ensign Greenbean in the original series. Voiced himself in the Season 10 episode "Homer to the Max" and the Season 20 episode "Gone Maggie Gone". William Daniels Guest-starred in two episodes of Galactica 1980. Reprised his Knight Rider role as KITT in the Season 10 episode "The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace" and the Season 15 episode "Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore". Lucy Lawless Had a recurring role in the re-imagined series as a reporter who is later revealed to be a humanoid Cylon. Voiced herself appearing at a sci-fi convention as Xena in the Season 11 episode "Treehouse of Horror X". 150px Edward James Olmos Played Commander Adama in the re-imagined series. Voiced the pit master in the Season 27 episode "'Cue Detective".

Crew

Picture Name Role in the BSG franchise Role on The Simpsons William Arance Worked as a 3D modeler in the 2003 miniseries. Served as a CG animator for The Simpsons Movie and for Season 20 of the show. Steve Bartek Musician for the re-imagined series and for the TV movies Battlestar Galactica: Razor and Battlestar Galactica: The Plan. Served as an orchestrator for The Simpsons Movie and for the album The Simpsons Movie: The Music. Richard Gibbs Composed the theme music for the re-imagined series. Worked as a composer in Season 1. Don Kim Digital compositor in the re-imagined series. CG artist for The Simpsons Movie. Kenneth Kobett Served as a re-recording mixer in the re-imagined series, the Caprica prequel series, and the Battlestar Galactica: Razor TV movie. Served as a re-recording mixer for the Season 10 episode "Wild Barts Can't Be Broken". Geoffrey W. Mark 3D animator in the re-imagined series. CG animator and production assistant in Season 4 and Season 5. Peter Rotter Orchestra conductor for one episode of the re-imagined series. Music contractor for The Simpsons Movie and for the album The Simpsons Movie: The Music; conductor and contractor for Seasons 29 and 30 of the show. Gerald White Singer for one episode of the re-imagined series. Studio singer for the television show.

External links

• Battlestar Galactica at Wikipedia