Lt. Starbuck … Lost In Castration.

Big Hollywood ^ | January 19, 2009 | Dirk Benedict

[EveningStar]

Once upon a time, in what used to be a far away land called Hollywood (but is now a state of mind and everywhere), a young actor was handed a script and asked to bring to life a character called Starbuck. I am that actor. The script was called “Battlestar Galactica.”

Fortunately, I was young, my imagination fertile and adrenal glands strong, because bringing Starbuck to life was over the dead imaginations of a lot of Network Executives...

Witness the “re-imagined” “Battlestar Galactica,” bleak, miserable, despairing, angry and confused. Which is to say, it reflects in microcosm the complete change in the politics and morality of today’s world, as opposed to the world of yesterday. The world of Lorne Greene (Adama), Fred Astaire (Starbuck’s Poppa) and Dirk Benedict (Starbuck). I would guess Lorne is glad he’s in that Big Bonanza in the sky and well out of it. Starbuck, alas, has not been so lucky. He’s not been left to pass quietly into that trivial world of cancelled TV characters...

[Bender2]

bump for later read

[DieHard the Hunter]

“Faceman” knocks it out of the park! Bookmarked, and thanks for posting this article.

> The original BSG really wasn’t very good.

It depends what “not very good” means. At the time it was excellent, coming right on the heels of Star Wars (the original one, what is it called now? #4??) By today’s standards Star Wars wasn’t particularly good either, but back then it was mind-blowing stuff...

[martin_fierro]

In Space, Everyone Has Disco Feathered Hair™.

[Cheesel]

I remember theold one as a kid and loved it, too. I sort of like the new one but it is depressing. Those people are messed up and then they get to Earth and it’s a burned out cinder (well, at least the part they land on).

[org.whodat]

,” bleak, miserable, despairing, angry and confused.

He has that part correct!!

[BenLurkin]

“A reluctant hero who found humor in the bleakest of situations.”

Exactly what the bleak and despairing current BSG lacks and needs but can and will never have.

[Lee'sGhost]

Well said, and accurate.

[martin_fierro]

NOT a

MANGLED GENITALS PING

[junta]

Besides no one really wants to live save for a few episodes that focus on some nihilistic sexual relations. The comments on the SciFi channel’s bulletin boards elicit about a 50/50 split agreeing in part with Mr. Benedict’s assesment.

[BallyBill]

As a fan of the old and the new, I must say the new one is slipping a bit, but as long as Lucy Lawless is on, I'll be watching. I have no idea what her character is, I just like to stare at her.

[ontap]

I don't know what your definition of “Good” is. Was it a critical star? Probably not. Was it extremely fun to watch? Absolutely.

[Le Chien Rouge]

I was a kid when the original was on - I LOVED it...Granted, there are hot women on the new version, no doubt, but that’s the only thing the new has over the old.

...Jane Seymour, Laurette Spang ,and Maren Jensen were pretty damn hot ......

[freedumb2003]

How can you forget:

[GunsAndBibles]

I cut the cable umbilical cord 10 years ago and I’m never going back. TV is a colossal waste of time. The only thing I miss is wasting an entire Sunday watching NFL games (with BBQ and beer).
So I’ve shifted my time-wasting to sites like this.

PS. Anybody know how to get the NFL on the internet for cheap?

[Sudetenland]

Dirk defined the role of Starbuck. He had the perfect combination of joie de vivre, "flyboy" mentality with the sangfroid of a combat pilot.

The single worst aspect of the new version was the substitution of a dike-like "uber-woman." Pure Hollywood BS feminism with a hint of GLBT thrown in.

Of all the cast in the original, admittedly banal and cheesy series, Dirk stood out with his interpretation of Starbuck.

BTW there were some fine women in the original series, Maren Jensen and Laurette Spang come to mind (not Ann Lockhart though). I like Edward James Olmos better than Lorne Green, but Lorne had the duel role of military and spiritual leader.

Basically I liked most of the original...could have done without Boxy and the robot dog though.

[OCCASparky]

I’m suprised that the show just doesn’t end with everyone just giving up and taking a handful of tranquilizers.

You obviously didn't watch last Friday's show (first of final ten episodes). They might be done cleaning Dee's brains off the wall by now.

[Kitanis]

“Benedict is just bitter cause Kara Thrace has a bigger set than his Starbuck ever had.”

Yep... and he made a BIG mistake by having a little short film with Katee Sackhoff in a coffee house and handing her a “official” Starbuck cigar to her to pass of the Baton before the first film.

Dirk has his point about BSG.. but I still like the new series as something separate from the old. Just like I all the flavors of the Star Trek but still like the original the best.

[wbill]

I kept hearing about how great the new Battlestar Galatica was. I watched it, and tried to like it. Really, I did. I've always liked Edward James Olmos, and some of the new (and old) characters intrigued me. For instance, I was not turned off by a "Female Starbuck".

But, even with trying, I just couldn't get into the series. While the old one was campy and fun, the new one just took itself far too seriously.

[Sudetenland]

What do you expect from a dike. Benedict was the epitome of a “fly-boy.” She’s just a lesbian in drag.