Show Toppers: ‘Battlestar Galactica’ (1978)

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‘Battlestar Galactica’ TV intro, 1978

The original Battlestar Galactica ran for a single season from September, 1978 until April, 1979. The show was created by Glen A. Larson and starred Lorne Greene as Commander Adama, Richard Hatch as Capt. Apollo and Dirk Benedict as Lt. Starbuck.

Dirk Benedict as Lt. Starbuck, the Han Solo-esque charmer
Battlestar Galactica, 1978

I can remember eagerly awaiting and watching the first episode of Battlestar Galactica and making sure to watch it each week. It was the closest thing we kids had to Star Wars on TV. Galactica 1980 continued the series story and I watched that too – only not as religiously. It didn’t have quite the same magic.

Battlestar Galactica Intro 1978

Battlestar Galactica Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Show Toppers: Charlie’s Angels

Forgotten TV: Lotsa Luck, The Girl With Something Extra

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Kathleen Freeman wishes you ‘Lotsa Luck’
NBC, 1973

Sure, you remember Sanford and Son but how about Lotsa Luck and The Girl With Something Extra? Here’s an NBC Friday night promo from 1973 touting the above-mentioned shows.

Lotsa Luck starred Dom DeLuise and Kathleen Freeman and ran from September, 1973 to May, 1974. The Girl With Something Extra starred Sally Field, John Davidson and Terri Garr and also had a run from September ’73 to May ’74. Sing along with me now: “Memories…of Forgotten TV!”

(L to R) John Davidson, Sally Field, Zhora Lampert, Jack Sheldon
‘The Girl With Something Extra,’ NBC, 1973

Previously, on Forgotten TV: Future Cop, 1976

Trailer Tuesday: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

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Card sharp!
Roger Moore is James Bond in ‘The Man with the Golden Gun,’ 1974

Here’s a trailer featuring the 1970s James Bond, Roger Moore, in The Man with the Golden Gun. Sure, we had (the best 007), Sean Connery, in 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever, but from 1973 through 1985 – it was all Moore in the tux and Aston Martin. Moore did a fine job but he’s no Connery. Yeah, I’m one of those Bond fans.

The Man with the Golden Gun features Christopher Lee as baddie, Scaramanga and Britt Ekland and Maud Adams as the prerequisite beautiful and sexy Bond girls. Hervé Villechaize also appears in a slightly less sexy role as Nick Nack and you can see where the producers of Fantasy Island got their casting and costuming ideas for the actor. Fire up the trailer.

“Champagne, Boss?”
Herve Villechaize as Nick Nack – establishing his pre-Fantasy Island image, 1974

The Man with the Golden Gun Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Trailer Tuesday: What’s Up, Doc?

Music for Monday: The Brothers Johnson, ‘I’ll Be Good to You’

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“I’ll Be Good to You”
The Brothers Johnson on The Midnight Special, 1976

“I wanna love you girl – in a special way…”

Ready for a smooth and silky R&B tune to get your Monday started off right? Here’s The Brothers Johnson performing their hit tune, “I’ll be Good to You,” live on The Midnight Special.

“I’ll be Good to You” comes from the L.A.-based band’s 1976 debut L.P., Look Out for #1 and hit a high of #1 on the Billboard R&B Charts and #3 on the Billboard “Hot 100.”

Previously, on Music for Monday: Bruce Springsteen, ‘Born to Run’ (live, ’75)

70s shots: Anthony Hernandez, ‘Los Angeles Public Transit Areas’ (1975)

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Here’s a series of shots for you to explore. They were taken in the 1970s by photographer Anthony Hernandez and feature “Los Angeles Public Transit Areas” from 1975.

You can find a sample shot below – but hop over to investigate the photog’s work.

10th Street and Long Beach Blvd., Looking East, 1975

Anthony Hernandez photo, Long Beach, CA, 1975

Previously, on 70s shots: Star Wars footprints at the Chinese Theater

A Johnny Carson Moment: Carnac the Magnificent (05.25.76)

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Time to open some hermetically-sealed envelopes.
Carnac the Magnificent, ‘The Tonight Show,’ May, 1976

It’s time for a nice jolt of 1970s Johnny Carson. In fact, we may need to make this a semi-regular thing. Carson really brings back the era in a fun way. Then again, so does Ed McMahon’s suit.

Here’s an appearance by Carnac the Magnificent on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from the evening of May 25th, 1976. Carnac’s predictions mention Snoopy, Taxi Driver and “Scoop” Jackson. Adjust the rabbit ears and hit the clicker.

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Wiki, IMDb