In 1978, TV was a different beast. Science fiction wasn't a "prestige" genre; it was mostly seen as kid stuff or a risky gamble. Then came Glen A. Larson’s space opera. It had a budget that made network executives sweat—about $1 million per episode—at a time when most shows were lucky to get half that. But the secret weapon wasn't the sparkling Vipers or the chrome Cylons. It was the man at the helm. Battlestar Galactica with Lorne Greene didn't just feel like a sci-fi show; it felt like an event because "Pa" Cartwright had traded his horse for a Battlestar.
The Commander Who Came from the Ponderosa
Honestly, you can't talk about the original series without acknowledging how much weight Lorne Greene brought to the set. Before he was Commander Adama, he spent 14 seasons as Ben Cartwright on Bonanza. He was the ultimate father figure for an entire generation. When Universal and ABC decided to launch a show about the near-extinction of the human race, they knew they needed gravitas. They needed someone who could look at a fleet of 220 ragtag ships and make you believe they had a chance.
Greene wasn't just a face, though. He was "The Voice of Doom." That was his literal nickname back in Canada during World War II when he was a radio announcer. His baritone was so deep and authoritative that it could make a grocery list sound like a divine decree. On the set of Battlestar Galactica, he became "Poppa" to the younger cast. Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict were the stars, sure, but Greene was the anchor.
Interestingly, he wasn't just there to collect a paycheck. He was a mathematics whiz who used to challenge the younger actors to intellectual duels between takes. He even invented a "backwards clock" for his radio days to keep track of time—a bit of technical ingenuity that stayed with him his whole life.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 1978 Series
If you’ve only seen the 2004 reboot, you probably think the original was just "Star Wars for TV." That’s a bit of a disservice. While the lawsuit from George Lucas (who claimed the show ripped off Star Wars) is a famous bit of trivia, the shows were fundamentally different in DNA.
The original was deeply rooted in Mormon theology. Glen A. Larson was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the "Quorum of Twelve," the marriage "sealings," and the search for "Kobol" (an anagram of Kolob) were all direct nods to his faith. Lorne Greene’s Adama wasn't just a military leader; he was a high priest of sorts.
A Rough Production Cycle
The show was supposed to be a series of TV movies or a miniseries. ABC changed their minds at the last second, ordering a full season while the pilot was still being edited. This led to absolute chaos.
- Recycled Footage: Because the special effects were so expensive (done by John Dykstra, who worked on Star Wars), they had to reuse the same shots of Cylon Raiders exploding. Over. And over.
- Insane Hours: The cast worked 16-hour days, seven days a week.
- The Casino Factor: Fans often point out the tonal whiplash. One minute the colonies are nuked, and the next, everyone is at a space casino on Carillon.
The Adama Legacy: Greene vs. Olmos
It’s the classic debate. Who is the "real" Adama?
Edward James Olmos brought a gritty, weary realism to the 2004 role. His Adama was a man who didn't want the job and struggled with the moral rot of war. Lorne Greene’s Adama was different. He was a pillar. Even when the scripts were a little thin or the disco music was a bit too loud, Greene maintained a sense of unwavering nobility.
You've gotta appreciate the nuance he brought to a character that could have easily been a cartoon. In the episode "War of the Gods," when they encounter the mysterious Count Iblis, Greene plays the suspicion and spiritual dread with a subtlety that belongs in a much higher-budget production. He didn't play "sci-fi"; he played a leader of a displaced tribe.
The Galactica 1980 Disaster
We have to talk about it. The "unofficial" second season.
When the original show was canceled in 1979 due to costs and a brutal time slot (it had to compete with 60 Minutes), the fans went wild. They sent thousands of letters. ABC eventually caved, but they did it on the cheap. They set the show on Earth to save on "alien" sets and moved it to a "family-friendly" time slot that required educational content.
Lorne Greene was the only lead who returned. He stood there, still wearing his Commander’s robe, while kids on "flying bikes" zipped around Los Angeles. It was a tough watch. Yet, even in the middle of that mess, Greene remained professional. He treated the role of Adama with the same respect in a bad spin-off as he did in the $8 million pilot.
Why You Should Revisit It
If you’re looking for a dark, serialized drama, the 1978 version isn't that. It’s a space opera. It’s hopeful. Despite the genocide that kicks off the plot, the show is ultimately about the resilience of the human family.
Lorne Greene’s performance is the reason the franchise survived long enough to be rebooted. He gave the concept a soul. Without his "white James Earl Jones" voice (as some fans call it) narrating the opening credits, the show might have been forgotten as just another 70s relic.
Actionable Insights for BSG Fans:
- Watch the "The Living Legend" two-parter: This features Lloyd Bridges as Commander Cain and is arguably the peak of the original series' writing.
- Listen to the soundtrack: Stu Phillips’ score is genuinely epic and holds up better than many modern orchestral soundtracks.
- Check out the "Voice of Doom" history: Look up Lorne Greene's old CBC radio broadcasts to hear just how much power that man's voice truly had before he ever set foot on a Battlestar.
- Spot the Mormon imagery: If you're into world-building, look for the parallels between the Galactica's journey and the Mormon pioneer trek to the West—it adds a whole new layer to Adama’s motivations.