Nice. I saw it too in the theater, was only 12 at the time. It was a great year for sci fi for a kid. The Black Hole, Star Trek TMP, Buck Rogers, Alien, Moonraker. I totally dug it, man.
hard to say where mine began. probably some kids show on the tv during the 60's. Astro Boy anime was out back then. Gigantor, Space Ghost (not the talk show version) Jetsons etc. and of course OG Trek. Time Tunnel, Land of the Giants.
Me as well, I was 12 and this show was my SciFi start. I had to stay up to watch it every week. This one hits as a gut punch a bit. RIP Mr. Gerard. Going to have to binge some episodes tonight.
Gil Gerard helped save my life by inspiring me to do something about my weight. He had the same issue and had surgery to fix it.
I was on the fence, and watched a documentary about his WLS, recovery, and the months following. He, like I, became half the man he was - in the best way.
A year or two after my surgery, I contacted him on social media, specifically to thank him for the inspiration. And he responded!
Right? My mom is almost 90. Lunches with friends, mah jong, water aerobics, movie (and wine) club. I know it's coming but it sure doesn't feel like it.
The first season is spectacular cheesy fun in the vein of Flash Gordon 1980, while the second is mostly a boring slog due to behind the scenes changes, mandates, and cast interference.
It's one of those shows you discover (Andromeda is a later examples) and after watching a little of it for the first time, are saying "this is fantastic! Why wasn't it a bigger success and better known?". Then you get to the second half and it dives off a cliff. "Oh. That's why."
It's why Firefly has the reputation it does; cancelled before it had a chance to become crap!
I seem to recall Buck was a similar issue too; lead actor wanted to change the show big time. Regardless, Sorbo absolutely ruined Andromeda, which was so promising for the first couple of seasons. I don't think I even finished watching it and I was super invested early on. Got so mad how Tir was treated, both character and actor.
It WAS a reboot of the original 1939 movie serial and radio dramas. But yeah, it's possible they could make a go of it again.
As a kid I thought Bring 'em Back Alive was a fresh show trying to capitalize on Raiders of the Lost Ark, until one of my dad's friends heard the title and said, "With Frank Buck?"
Now I'm wondering if they could do something good with Tales from the Gold Monkey and perhaps Cliffhangers.
As a kid I thought Bring 'em Back Alive was a fresh show trying to capitalize on Raiders of the Lost Ark, until one of my dad's friends heard the title and said, "With Frank Buck?"
You could consider Farscape to be a sort of spiritual successor. Similar premise of a present-day everyman who finds himself in a weird science fiction universe.
You know you are getting old when you scoff at the idea of a reboot of a series as being way too soon but then realise we are now further from the reboot as the reboot was from its own OG or inspiration series. ie. Farscape first aired 20 years after its inspiration Buck Rogers. We didn't feel Farscape was 'Too Soon'. Yet its now 26 years since Farscape first aired or 23 years since it ended...but to old farts like me it somehow feels 'Too Soon' for a reboot because it wasnt that long ago that we watched Farscape as it aired, theres simply no way it was 26 years ago..Right?.....RIGHT!!!!????
Had the same reaction to the talk of a Battlestar Galactica reboot last year... In that case we are a bit closer to the reboot than the reboot was to the OG but we old farts have to accept that while the Miniseries and Series 1 airing in 2003/2004 feels like yesterday to us, its positively ancient history to anyone under 25-30yo.
A movie has been kicking around development hell for a while now, there was an article that one of the writers of Deadpool 3 had been tasked with putting a script together for Legendary.
Who remembers that the pilot for the show was feature length and aired first in actual theaters nationwide some time before the NBC network premiere? That whole gang rocked.
I actually saw it in a theater! I had to drag my parents down there so that I could see it.
Since Star Wars, I wanted to see any and all sci-fi space adventures.
Wow I had no idea about his kidneys failure and transplant! Now I'm feeling like I just got thawed in the future, having not read about Ernie or Connie Sellecca since the 80s... And catching up on their lifetimes.
Gerard wrote: “My life has been an amazing journey. The opportunities I’ve had, the people I’ve met and the love I have given and received have made my 82 years on the planet deeply satisfying. … Don’t waste your time on anything that doesn’t thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos.”
And tbh, only the first season was any good.
I don’t know why someone thought setting off on a Star Trek type voyage for the second season was a good idea. 🤷♂️
I liked that show as a kid. Mostly because of Erin Gray and the gal who played Princess Ardala. Gil Gerard had a likable screen presence, though. At the time I thought of him as kind of a knockoff version of Lee Majors. Looking at pictures of Gerard just now, he really seems to resemble David Morrissey - anybody else see that?
As others have said, Buck Rodger’s fuelled my dreams of scifi adventures. A young me always looked forwards to watching the show. That dance scene was fantastic. Who knew disco would survive into the future?!
I only looked up the cast recently and was especially reminded of Erin Grey as well…
RIP to my first tv childhood hero. I devoured that show, only 2 seasons and I saw all of them so many times. The first show I ever really nerded out about. Gil, you were one of the great ones, and as an adult I truly felt very sympatico with Gil's struggles with his weight, though that may have been a white spandex thing more than anything.
Fun fact: a long time ago, my wife went out on two dates with him. This was long before we met. The first time he showed up 30 minutes late and forgot his wallet. The second time he showed up smelling really bad. She said it was like he had thrown up on himself. She got up and left.
So my wife dated Buck Rogers twice and both times got nothing. Oh well.
Hey he was also in a pretty big Little House on the Prairie episode. I remember it!
Pa was gone for work and he helped build onto the Ingall’s house. He played a very nice dude but there was ABSOLUTELY some static cling between he and ma. Gil felt bad about it and left.
But yeah he was badass in Buck Rogers. Anyone have the toys? His ship was sooooo cool! Basic ship but also unique. White. The badguys had a brown ship with huge lasers on the sides.
I had lots of fun putting those up against Kenner Star Wars vehicles!!!
The show that launched my 40+ year love of sci-fi.
Launched my love of Erin Gray
For some reason the uniform for female officers in the Earth defense forces was skin-tight spandex and my teenage self appreciated that very much.
RIP Gil.
Boomers: Ginger vs. Mary Anne
Millennials: Carmen vs. Dizzy
Gen X: Ardala vs. Wilma
Don't leave out Athena vs Cassiopeia.
Where does slave bikini Princess Leia fit into this? Asking for a friend.
Right, as a late Gen Xer, there was no vs.
CORRECTAMUNDO. The Huttslayer is her own tier, her own pantheon.
There is no versus for her. She wins every contest.
Core command is aware of the problem
Also Bailey Quarters vs. Jennifer Marlow
ever see the old British sci-fi series UFO? Yowzers!
I love that show so much.
yeah I had the toy set. The Skydiver and Sub and the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea toys. Matt Mason stuff. Cool time to be a kid.
Especially the Moonbase uniforms.
https://youtu.be/Jmfw9O7I3vE?si=fHInTlo61IS4BlrB
Ah yes, the wool uniforms and “anti-static” wigs.
I’ll be in my bunk…
I think the mens was pretty similar, but I ain't looking it up.
More Princess Ardala for me, but Erin Gray's character was awesome too.
Fuckin' A. Fellow bad girl lover.
Same. Erin was hot but as a kid I had a serious crush on Princess Ardala.
Also for Princess Aura from Flash Gordon 1980, who is a similar character. I guess I have a thing for sexy evil space princesses?
Ardala was bad. very very bad…..yessss.
She walked in the skin tight jumpsuit so that Jeri Ryan could run.
Once episode in particular for me, it involved a use of telekinetic powers rarely seen outside of hentai anime.
She speed ran me through puberty.
THIS
She had a very unusual childhood.
Erin Gray still looks great at 75.
I played the coleco computer game first ,but yeah this show and PBS reruns of Doctor Who with Tom Baker. 44 years old though . RIP Gil "Buck" Gerard!
Fellow colecovision owner! When I tell people that I had one they think I’m making it up.
The strangest controller I've ever seen...
I loved it, shame it was canned after 2 years.
I didn't own it my dad did, but I dont thinking ever talked about it. The only computer I have nowadays is a laptop.
Tom baker still kicking it at 90 and got his OBE last month!
That's basically my experience too, except I had a Commodore 64.
And my love of men in tight white pants
Space Mooseknuckle
Judge Smails?
I actually saw the pilot in the theater, they released it as a movie. So it was even more magical to my tiny brain.
Nice. I saw it too in the theater, was only 12 at the time. It was a great year for sci fi for a kid. The Black Hole, Star Trek TMP, Buck Rogers, Alien, Moonraker. I totally dug it, man.
That and Battlestar and Doctor Who and Blakes 7!
hard to say where mine began. probably some kids show on the tv during the 60's. Astro Boy anime was out back then. Gigantor, Space Ghost (not the talk show version) Jetsons etc. and of course OG Trek. Time Tunnel, Land of the Giants.
Me as well, I was 12 and this show was my SciFi start. I had to stay up to watch it every week. This one hits as a gut punch a bit. RIP Mr. Gerard. Going to have to binge some episodes tonight.
Bee Dee Bee Dee Bee Dee Buuuuck
Voiced by Mel Blanc.
First season only.
He came back for the later episodes of season 2.
No. That was the other guy.
Duck Dodgers? in the Twenty Fourth and a half Century?
Yeah, that was Mel.
Dr Theopolis and Twiggy(?)
Twiki
Because when you’re making a robot, give it a speech impediment. That makes sense.
I hated that stupid robot.
Bee Dee Bee Dee Bee Dee Bye Buck
Remember the episode with "booty booty"? I didn't get it then, but now do on rewatch.
Also the actor Thom Christopher 84, who played the warrior Hawk on Buck Rogers, passed away Dec. 5th 2024
“Haaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwkkkkk!”
"Biiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrd Perrrrrrrrrsssson!"
Gil Gerard helped save my life by inspiring me to do something about my weight. He had the same issue and had surgery to fix it.
I was on the fence, and watched a documentary about his WLS, recovery, and the months following. He, like I, became half the man he was - in the best way.
A year or two after my surgery, I contacted him on social media, specifically to thank him for the inspiration. And he responded!
Gosh, I'll miss him.
I saw parts of that documentary - he was very open about the toll his weight was taking on him, and very informed about long-term risks and options.
Awesome to read that he inspired you to get the surgery, and it’s very cool that he responded. I’m sure he enjoyed hearing that.
Well done, mate. And good on Gil for responding. Nice to hear one of my first childhood heroes was an actual good guy.
82... Wow, it just doesn't seem that long ago
When your parents hit their 80s it suddenly seems young.
Right? My mom is almost 90. Lunches with friends, mah jong, water aerobics, movie (and wine) club. I know it's coming but it sure doesn't feel like it.
Young? No.
But time passes so quickly? Yes.
People used to typically pass in their 60s. Now more common for 70s and 80s.
So young. Had his whole life ahead of him.
Just a kid
Buck Rogers doesn't get nearly the credit it deserves.
The first season is spectacular cheesy fun in the vein of Flash Gordon 1980, while the second is mostly a boring slog due to behind the scenes changes, mandates, and cast interference.
It's one of those shows you discover (Andromeda is a later examples) and after watching a little of it for the first time, are saying "this is fantastic! Why wasn't it a bigger success and better known?". Then you get to the second half and it dives off a cliff. "Oh. That's why."
It's why Firefly has the reputation it does; cancelled before it had a chance to become crap!
As a kid in the 80s it was peak - as you say behind the scenes stuff - the audience was there for it and it could have been massive
Spot on with Andromeda; first 2 seasons are stupid good, then....whoof never let Sorbo take control of your show!
I seem to recall Buck was a similar issue too; lead actor wanted to change the show big time. Regardless, Sorbo absolutely ruined Andromeda, which was so promising for the first couple of seasons. I don't think I even finished watching it and I was super invested early on. Got so mad how Tir was treated, both character and actor.
Trimmed it a bit for ya
From what I understand, Gil didn't like Erin Grey getting all the attention. They actually tried to cut her part in season 2.
Never go full Sorbo
I am JUST now learning that Duck Dodgers had an inspiration
Wait until you find out that Duck Dodgers predates Buck Rogers the TV show by a good quarter century.
Of course, both had the same inspiration...
Of the 24th 1/2 CENTURYYYYY....
It’s weird that it hasn’t been rebooted.
It WAS a reboot of the original 1939 movie serial and radio dramas. But yeah, it's possible they could make a go of it again.
As a kid I thought Bring 'em Back Alive was a fresh show trying to capitalize on Raiders of the Lost Ark, until one of my dad's friends heard the title and said, "With Frank Buck?"
Now I'm wondering if they could do something good with Tales from the Gold Monkey and perhaps Cliffhangers.
same.
Is Tales the one with Bruce Boxleitner?
No, that was Bring 'em back Alive.
Gold Monkey was with Stephen Collins.
Tales was one of my favorite shows when i was a kid.
That intro song was excellent!
You could consider Farscape to be a sort of spiritual successor. Similar premise of a present-day everyman who finds himself in a weird science fiction universe.
Of course, Farscape is due for a reboot too....
You know you are getting old when you scoff at the idea of a reboot of a series as being way too soon but then realise we are now further from the reboot as the reboot was from its own OG or inspiration series. ie. Farscape first aired 20 years after its inspiration Buck Rogers. We didn't feel Farscape was 'Too Soon'. Yet its now 26 years since Farscape first aired or 23 years since it ended...but to old farts like me it somehow feels 'Too Soon' for a reboot because it wasnt that long ago that we watched Farscape as it aired, theres simply no way it was 26 years ago..Right?.....RIGHT!!!!????
Had the same reaction to the talk of a Battlestar Galactica reboot last year... In that case we are a bit closer to the reboot than the reboot was to the OG but we old farts have to accept that while the Miniseries and Series 1 airing in 2003/2004 feels like yesterday to us, its positively ancient history to anyone under 25-30yo.
A movie has been kicking around development hell for a while now, there was an article that one of the writers of Deadpool 3 had been tasked with putting a script together for Legendary.
Awesome theme tune!
Who remembers that the pilot for the show was feature length and aired first in actual theaters nationwide some time before the NBC network premiere? That whole gang rocked.
I actually saw it in a theater! I had to drag my parents down there so that I could see it.
Since Star Wars, I wanted to see any and all sci-fi space adventures.
Who remembers the opening credits from that movie? Wild relic from a very different era.
I do! Very Bond.
South Park did!
Thank you for this. Hadn’t seen it.
Searching my mind for some truths to reveal
What thoughts are fantasy, what memories real?
I saw it in theaters. Loved the scene where Buck stuck a bomb down a baddies’ pants and kicked him away to explode.
RIP
He’s already experienced heaven:
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQIPLw1n7KX_f-9IY78DP2UrB9SRB-hYh20bzueMSnypBejBQAbBLMvjS8&s=10
bidi bidi g'bye' Buck
and Sidekicks with the loveable Ernie Reyes jr
:(
Ernie was in secrets of the ooze, the second life action ninja turtles movie and I watched the VHS religiously because of his skills.
Everyone would always talk about Casey jones and I'm like "kino fought barehanded !"
Wow I had no idea about his kidneys failure and transplant! Now I'm feeling like I just got thawed in the future, having not read about Ernie or Connie Sellecca since the 80s... And catching up on their lifetimes.
Gerard wrote: “My life has been an amazing journey. The opportunities I’ve had, the people I’ve met and the love I have given and received have made my 82 years on the planet deeply satisfying. … Don’t waste your time on anything that doesn’t thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos.”
That’s actually beautiful.
(Sigh) - another one gone. So long, Buck
Given his history of addiction and obesity, the real story is that he lived to 82. Dude survived his demons longer than most.
Shit that gives me hope.
Just seeing that Buck Rogers only lasted two seasons?
Fuck
It felt like 5 years when you were a kid
Gil should have been a global star with those looks, but - alas - I'm reading here he had some demons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Gerard#Personal_life_and_death
And tbh, only the first season was any good. I don’t know why someone thought setting off on a Star Trek type voyage for the second season was a good idea. 🤷♂️
Back then half the shows on were reruns. I remember watching the original Star Trek every week as a kid in the 70’s.
I loved this show, he was so handsome.
I liked that show as a kid. Mostly because of Erin Gray and the gal who played Princess Ardala. Gil Gerard had a likable screen presence, though. At the time I thought of him as kind of a knockoff version of Lee Majors. Looking at pictures of Gerard just now, he really seems to resemble David Morrissey - anybody else see that?
Confused him for the fall guy all the time.
Bidi bidi bidi. Bye Buck :-(
Thanks for being part of my childhood
lol I watched this in South Africa but it was dubbed in Afrikaans. lol.
What's Afrikaans for "bidi bidi"?
“Bidi-bidi-bidi! lol.
Sad news. I remember meeting him at a con a few years ago and he was incredibly nice to everyone. He really embraced the fandom.
He’s got a brand new car
Does it have a CD player?
RIP Gil. I really enjoyed the show when I was a kid.
Anyone remember the space vampire episode? It kinda freaked me out
Oh man! Loved that show😔
RIP Captain.
Frozen . . . in a tiiiiimme and space . . . divide . . .
Digi… digi….digi…. bye Buck!
As others have said, Buck Rodger’s fuelled my dreams of scifi adventures. A young me always looked forwards to watching the show. That dance scene was fantastic. Who knew disco would survive into the future?!
I only looked up the cast recently and was especially reminded of Erin Grey as well…
Bidi bidi bidi good night buck
Thanks GIl, I really enjoyed Buck Rogers, you were a kind Legend!
Loved this show as kid Buck was cool and the women were amazing.
RIP Gil.
Fantastic intro song
RIPDBDBDB
This week fucking sucks.
2025 sucks
Damn. if only he could have held on just four more centuries, it would have really been his time to shine.
That first season of Buck Rogers was great. Then they ruined it in the second season.
Bidi bidi bidi “bye buck”
https://youtu.be/pk_AGsmZajc
Thank god you're here!
I always wanted his hair, but I really wanted Erin Gray more.
RIP legend
Twiki will always be by his side. RIP
RIP to my first tv childhood hero. I devoured that show, only 2 seasons and I saw all of them so many times. The first show I ever really nerded out about. Gil, you were one of the great ones, and as an adult I truly felt very sympatico with Gil's struggles with his weight, though that may have been a white spandex thing more than anything.
Man, reading about the 78-80 year olds dying while I'm going on 40 is really fucking with me this week. :[
“In 1977 films…”
There’s no way this article wasn’t at least partially written by AI.
thats sad, i might watch an episode or two tonight in honour
This sucks. RIP to one of my childhood favorites.
I loved it when Hawkman showed up. Great Sci-Fi television. Thanks for the memories.
Goddamn it. I said, when Ozzy died, 'this is going to be the first in a wave of people I grew up loving.'
And sure enough, we lost Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, now Gil Gerard. And the list is going to keep on growing.
Bidibidibidi I'll miss you, Buck.
Fun fact: a long time ago, my wife went out on two dates with him. This was long before we met. The first time he showed up 30 minutes late and forgot his wallet. The second time he showed up smelling really bad. She said it was like he had thrown up on himself. She got up and left.
So my wife dated Buck Rogers twice and both times got nothing. Oh well.
Godspeed Buck. 🚀
Princess Adama
Princess Ardala
Adama was Battlestar Galactica. Same roots, though.
And Colonel Deering
Edward James Olmos in a dress in a Buck Rodgers reboot would be amazing. "Yeah, I'm a princess. So what?"
He would carry it off better than his predecessor Lorne Greene ever could!!
Nope
Duck dodgers in the 24th and 1/2 century enjoyers are in shambles.
I remember he was in a very short lived TV show in the 90’s called E.A.R.T.H. Force.
Damn I’m old!
that “welcome to the 21st century, buck rogers!” joke in the movie “This is the End” makes a lot of sense now
He will be missed. He can join Twiki in the great beyond.
RIP space man
Ok, some trivia questions:
"Buck" was his nickname.
* What was his actual first name?
* Also, what was Buck's rank, and
* What was the name of his "one-man exploration vessel"?
---
Tbf, I had to look up the answers.
Capt William Rogers in the Ranger 3!!
Captain William "Buck" Rogers launched in Ranger 3, the last of America's Deep Space Probes.
R.I.P.🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️❤️
Have Gil or Erin (esp Erin!) attended many cons? just occurred to me I don’t think I’ve seen them at the smaller ones.
Favorite episode ever was Space Vampire. Erin Gray was wild in it. Loved how Rogers was really working extra hard to save her. Loved Buck.
Oh :(
One of my all time favorites as a kid. I always rooted for NBC on 'Battle of the Network Stars' when Gil was on the team.
Loved the show as a kid. RIP
RIP in peace. One of the best scifi shows ever
R.I.P.
I remember that show fondly. RIP.
TIL Duck Dodgers must have been a spoof of this show?
A-bleep-bleep-bleep-bleep. Rest in peace, Buck.
Damn, forgot all about the show. Watched it in the late 70's/early 80's. Mel Blanc as the voice of Twiki.
https://youtube.com/shorts/CqhSHc8lroU?si=8Tx6OuwoucxmkGT5
Rest in Peace.
Twiki had a penis gland for a head. There, I said it. We were all thinking it.
The worst thing you can do in Hollywood--more than being a drug addict--is to gain weight.
TIL Daffy Duck’s space odysseys were actually based on a show.
Oh man. I just saw this today. RIP Gil. If there was only a way we could have frozen him alive and transported him to the 25th century.
I had such a crush on him!
biggie biggie biggie....i'm bummed.
Bummer.
Rip he will be missed
Came to a Con in Chile in the early 2000s. Lovely dude. I remember he was always wearing ahort and had really big ankles.
Hey he was also in a pretty big Little House on the Prairie episode. I remember it!
Pa was gone for work and he helped build onto the Ingall’s house. He played a very nice dude but there was ABSOLUTELY some static cling between he and ma. Gil felt bad about it and left.
But yeah he was badass in Buck Rogers. Anyone have the toys? His ship was sooooo cool! Basic ship but also unique. White. The badguys had a brown ship with huge lasers on the sides.
I had lots of fun putting those up against Kenner Star Wars vehicles!!!
Oh man! Loved him in Buck Rogers.
Beedy-beedy, Gil.
I loved him as Buck Rogers
Wish I could have met him during any kind of Comiccon Meet and Greet. Buck Rogers was my childhood hero.
RIP! My parents mentioned they were fans of the show.
Best of the Goldbox series, IMO
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Rogers:_Countdown_to_Doomsday
Buck Rogers wasn't just a show , it was a gateway.
I use to tune in the show just to see him in those uniforms/costumes, he was everything
Aww, loved this show as a kid. Rest in peace, Gil.
aww, thats so sweet you found something you loved! i kinda want to watch it now