46 Years Ago, a Forgotten Sci-if Spinoff Devastated Fans With How Bad It Was (Luckily the Franchise Didn’t Die)

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Forty-six years ago, a spin-off series badly disappointed fans and nearly ended a beloved franchise. Following the massive success of Star Wars and Star Trek‘s move to the big screen, other studios tried to capitalize on the popularity of science fiction. While many attempts were unsuccessful and felt like cheap copies, some shows, like Battlestar Galactica, showed potential – even if the networks broadcasting them didn’t fully believe in it.

Glen A. Larson originally created Battlestar Galactica as a TV series in 1978, but it was canceled by ABC after just one season and 24 episodes. Disappointed fans launched a letter-writing campaign – a rare effort at the time – to try and save the show. ABC responded by attempting to revive the franchise with a spin-off called Galactica 1980, which premiered on January 27, 1980. Unfortunately, it was a major failure and nearly ended the Battlestar Galactica series altogether.

Galactica 1980 Suffered From Massive Network Interferance

The main reason Galactica 1980 didn’t succeed was ABC’s handling of the show. The network seemed lost from the beginning and made a series of poor decisions. Although they aimed to please fans, ABC disregarded Glen A. Larson’s original vision and forced changes that ultimately diminished what made the original Battlestar Galactica so good.

To save money on a potential spinoff series, Glen Larson and Donald P. Bellisario decided to set it five years after the end of Battlestar Galactica. This would allow them to exclude characters who were no longer needed. They planned to feature Commander Adama (Lorne Greene), Apollo (Richard Hatch), Starbuck (Dirk Benedict), and Lord Baltar (John Colicos). The plot involved Baltar proposing to use his time travel technology to change Earth’s past, and then attempting to do so even after being refused.

The original plan was for Apollo to chase the time-traveling villain and try to prevent his actions, while Starbuck handled things with their commanders. Unfortunately, the first choice for a role wasn’t available, and another actor turned it down due to the script. Ultimately, ABC decided to scrap the time travel element altogether. The show was then reworked to take place entirely on Earth, focusing on two new characters dedicated to protecting children.

Without the time travel elements or the grand space setting of the original, Galactica 1980 felt completely different, and viewers didn’t respond well. Many disliked the new main characters, finding them poor substitutes for the beloved Apollo and Starbuck. The show only lasted 10 episodes before ABC cancelled it while they were working on the eleventh.

Battlestar Galactica Survived & Thrived Two Decades Later

The recent changes felt like they completely damaged the Battlestar Galactica brand. While the original show and its Cylons remained popular, and toys kept children engaged, the franchise continued through novels, comics, and video games. This helped Ronald D. Moore and David Eick eventually revive it.

In 2003, the show was revived as a new, three-hour miniseries split into two parts. It was a big hit for the Sci-Fi channel, leading to a four-season, 76-episode series. Many consider it the best science fiction show the channel ever produced and a key part of television’s “Golden Age,” alongside shows like The Sopranos. The rebooted Battlestar Galactica won a Peabody Award in 2005 and an Emmy in 2007 – achievements that would have surprised viewers of the original Galactica 1980.

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2026-01-27 18:42