Questions
Who created the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century TV series?
It was developed by Glen A. Larson and Leslie Stevens, based on the character Philip Francis Nowlan created in 1928.
When did the show first air?
The TV series premiered on NBC on September 20, 1979, and ran for two seasons and 37 total episodes through April 16, 1981.
Wait, wasn’t there a Buck Rogers movie in theaters first?
Yes. The pilot was released theatrically on March 30, 1979, and reportedly made $21 million at the North American box office, which prompted a weekly series.
Why did they put the pilot in cinemas instead of just airing it?
Universal chose a theatrical release after having success with the pilot of Battlestar Galactica, creating a revenue opportunity before launching the TV show.
What is the basic premise of the show?
A NASA and USAF pilot launched in 1987 is accidentally frozen for 504 years, then discovered in 2491 and awakens to an Earth rebuilt after a nuclear war.
Who played Buck Rogers and Wilma Deering?
Gil Gerard starred as Captain William ’Buck’ Rogers and Erin Gray played Colonel Wilma Deering.
Who voiced Twiki the little robot?
Mel Blanc voiced Twiki with a distinctive gruff voice, while Felix Silla performed the robot physically.
What was Twiki’s famous catchphrase?
Twiki communicated with an electronic noise that sounded like ’biddi-biddi-biddi’, often prefacing English statements with it while using 20th-century slang learned from Buck.
Who is Dr. Theopolis?
Dr. Theopolis is a sentient computer disk about nine inches in diameter with an illuminated face, voiced by Eric Server, who could understand Twiki and served on Earth’s computer council.
Was Twiki ever voiced by someone other than Mel Blanc?
Yes. Because of illness, Mel Blanc was reportedly replaced by Bob Elyea for the first five episodes of the second season, with no explanation given when Blanc returned.
Was there really drama behind the scenes with Gil Gerard?
Reportedly Gerard often clashed with producers over the comedic tone, preferring serious stories, and writers Anne Collins and Alan Brennert reportedly quit mid-season after a difficult meeting with him.
How did the second season change things?
After a 1980 actors’ strike, new showrunner John Mantley moved the setting to a spaceship called the Searcher on a mission seeking lost tribes of humanity, adding the alien bird-man Hawk played by Thom Christopher.
Any famous guest stars I might recognize?
Guest stars included Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Palance, Gary Coleman, and former Batman villains Cesar Romero and Frank Gorshin.
How did the show do against the competition?
Reviews were mixed, but in the UK it competed against Doctor Who in the ratings and reportedly won for 16 consecutive weeks.
