Buck Rogers in the 25th Century - Fusion Patrol Reviews

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century - Fusion Patrol Reviews

By Eugene GloverTV & FilmTV ReviewsFilm Reviews
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Buck Rogers in the 25th Century - Fusion Patrol Reviews episodes

  • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Review: Cosmic Whiz Kid – Fusion Patrol Ep. 768

    This week Fusion Patrol looks at Buck Rogers in the 25th Century – Season 1, Episode 11, Cosmic Whiz Kid as John and Eugene discuss—

    • Buck sidelined while Wilma saves the day
    • Cross-promotion stunt casting with Gary Coleman
    • Ray Walston as an unconvincing villain
    • The timeline and age math that do not work
    • Aldebaran 2 as a lawless world with municipal androids and no police
      • Cosmic Whiz Kid
      Airdate: November 15, 1979
      Runtime: 60 minutes
      Starring: Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Tim O’Connor
      Guest Stars: Gary Coleman, Ray Walston
      Director: Leslie H. Martinson
      Writer: Alan Brennert (teleplay), Anne Collins (story)
      Synopsis:
      When child genius and President of the planet Genesia Hieronymous Fox is kidnapped by criminal Roderick Zale, his bodyguard seeks help from Earth’s Defense Directorate. Buck Rogers is pulled from a planned vacation and teams up with Lieutenant Dia Cyrton to rescue Fox from Aldebaran II before Zale can use him as leverage for political gain.

      40 min
    • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Review: Planet of the Amazon Women – Fusion Patrol Ep. 763

      This week Fusion Patrol looks at Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, “Planet of the Amazon Women” as John and Eugene discuss

      • Looking “like leftover dinner” as an insult.
      • The proper technique for making a grilled cheese sandwich, which doesn’t involve holding bread over an open flame.
      • Twiki’s use of the phrase “Holy Toledo.”
        • Planet of the Amazon Women

        Airdate: 1 November 1979

        Runtime: 49 minutes

        Starring: Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Tim O’Connor

        Guest Stars: Ann Dusenberry, Jay Robinson, Anne Jeffreys

        Director: Philip Leacock

        Writer: D.C. Fontana, Richard Fontana

        Synopsis: Buck is tricked into landing on the planet Zantia, where he is made a prisoner before being sold as a slave to Ariela, the daughter of the planet’s Prime Minister. While living on the planet, Buck learns that all male members of Zantia’s population have become prisoners of war while battling the planet Ruathan.

        43 min
      • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Review: Unchained Woman – Fusion Patrol Ep. 760

        John and Eugene talk about the time Buck Rogers met the Scream Queen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and they discuss the Tennessee delicacy, sand squid, as they look at the episode Unchained Woman.

        Unchained Woman
        Airdate: November 1, 1979
        Runtime: 48 minutes
        Starring: Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Tim O’Connor, Pamela Hensley, Felix Silla, Mel Blanc
        Guest Stars: Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael DeLano, Walter Hunter
        Director: Dick Lowry
        Writer: Michael Bryant
        Synopsis: Buck Rogers infiltrates a desert prison colony on Zeta Minor to free Jen Burton, a young woman jailed for her boyfriend’s crimes and needed to testify against him. Their perilous escape from the colony is complicated by the relentless pursuit of ‘Hugo,’ a damaged yet unstoppable android. The journey exposes loyalties, betrayal, and the harsh realities of justice in the 25th century.

        52 min
      • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Review: Return of the Fighting 69th – Fusion Patrol Ep. 756

        Who’d have thunk it?  Buck Rogers in the 25th Century decides to tackle issues of ageism, the mental anguish of disabilities, and questions of identity as related to the concept of “fixing” a disability.   Or at least, it would have been if the production staff had given this episode much thought.

        John and Eugene, on the other hand, give this episode way too much thought as they look at the Return of the Fighting 69th.

        Return of the Fighting 69th
        Airdate: October 25, 1979
        Runtime: 48 minutes
        Starring:
        Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Tim O’Connor, Felix Silla, Mel Blanc
        Guest Stars:
        Peter Graves, Elizabeth Allen, Robert Quarry, Woody Strode, Eddie Firestone, K.T. Stevens, Katherine Wiberg, Robert Hardy, Duncan McKenzie, Clifford Turknett, Dan Sturkie
        Director: Jack Arnold
        Writer: David Carren (teleplay), Robert C. Dille (characters)
        Synopsis:
        Buck and Wilma are forced to team up with a legendary squadron of veteran pilots brought out of retirement to stop gunrunners Commander Corliss and Roxanne Trent, who plan to use stolen nerve gas weapons against Earth. When Buck and Wilma are captured, the older aces must overcome their self-doubt and rally for one last daring rescue amid the dangers of an asteroid belt and a heavily-fortified enemy base.
        1 hr
      • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Review: The Plot to Kill a City – Fusion Patrol Ep. 752

        John and Eugene discuss the time Buck Rogers pits himself again the lamest group of assassins the galaxy can muster, and they ponder the riddle, “Why are they even a threat?”

        It’s the two-part episode, The Plot to Kill a City.

        The Plot to Kill a City
        Airdate: October 11–18, 1979
        Runtime: 96 minutes (two-part episode)
        Starring:
        Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Tim O’Connor, Felix Silla, Mel Blanc
        Guest Stars:
        Frank Gorshin, John Quade, Anthony James, Robert Tessier, Nancy DeCarl, Markie Post, James Sloyan, Michael Delano, William Sanderson, Paul Koslo
        Director: Dick Lowry
        Writer: Alan Brennert (teleplay), Robert C. Dille (characters)
        Synopsis:
        Buck assumes the identity of a notorious assassin to infiltrate the Legion of Death, a group of super-powered criminals plotting the destruction of New Chicago. As Wilma goes undercover, Buck must outwit the deadly team—including their telekinetic, empath, and mutant members—while racing against time to save the city and expose the conspirators.
        45 min
      • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Review: Vegas in Space – Fusion Patrol Ep. 748

        This week, John and Eugene look at the Buck Rogers in the 25th century episode, Vegas in Space, where we ask the questions, do you see mirrors or a piano keyboard, and can Buck be a bigger SOB to Wilma than he was in the movie, we also reflect on Gil Gerard’s moment of acting.

        Vegas in Space
        Airdate: October 4, 1979
        Runtime: 48 minutes
        Starring:
        Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Tim O’Connor, Felix Silla, Mel Blanc
        Guest Stars:
        Juanin Clay, Ana Alicia, Richard Lynch, Pamela Susan Shoop, Cesar Romero, Joseph Wiseman, James Luisi, Alice Frost, Ted Chapman, William Conrad (voice), Eric Server (voice), Olan Soule (voice)
        Director: Sigmund Neufeld Jr.
        Writer: Anne Collins (teleplay), Robert C. Dille (characters)
        Synopsis:
        Buck and Major Marla Landers go undercover at the casino city of Sinaloa to rescue Felina Redding, a kidnapped employee carrying critical evidence. The mission puts them against the ruthless Morgan Velosi, forcing Buck to gamble with his life as they team up with unlikely allies to foil a deadly plot.
        49 min
      • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Review: Planet of the Slave Girls – Fusion Patrol Ep. 744

        Investigating a mystery on the planet of the slave girls. Tough job, and only one man in the 25th century is up to it: Capt. Buck Rogers!

        John and Eugene discuss Planet of the Slave Girls.

        Planet of the Slave Girls
        Airdate: September 27–28, 1979
        Runtime: ~95 minutes (as two-part episode)
        Starring:
        Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Tim O’Connor, Felix Silla, Mel Blanc
        Guest Stars:
        Jack Palance, David Groh, Roddy McDowall (as Roddy McDowell), Brianne Leary, Macdonald Carey, Karen Carlson, Michael Mullins, Buster Crabbe, Robert Dowdell, Sheila DeWindt (as Sheila Wills), Don Marshall, Diane Markoff, June Whitley Taylor
        Director: Michael Caffey
        Writer: Steve Greenberg, Aubrey Solomon, Anne Collins
        Synopsis:
        When Earth’s pilots are poisoned by contaminated food, Buck, Wilma, and Duke Danton travel to the farm planet Vistula to investigate. They uncover a web of slavery fueled by the sinister Kaleel, who plots to use the planet’s resources and people to launch an attack on Earth. With Governor Saroyan oblivious to the dark dealings on his planet, Buck must outwit both Kaleel and local factions to prevent disaster and liberate the oppressed.
        1 hr 9 min
      • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Review: The Awakening – Fusion Patrol Ep. 740

        At long last, John and Eugene begin the much-requested coverage of the epitome of 1970s space opera: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century!

        This week they look at the theatrical release and they spare some thoughts for the television re-edit.

        Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
        Release Date: March 30, 1979
        Runtime: 89 minutes
        Starring: Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Pamela Hensley, Henry Silva, Tim O’Connor, Joseph Wiseman
        Director: Daniel Haller
        Writer: Glen A. Larson, Leslie Stevens (screenplay); Philip Francis Nowlan (original characters)
        Synopsis:
        20th century astronaut Buck Rogers awakens 500 years in the future after a deep space accident. Trying to clear his name after being used as a pawn by the nefarious Draconians, Buck must adapt to a post-apocalyptic Earth and help defend it from imminent invasion. Along the way, he befriends Colonel Wilma Deering and uncovers a conspiracy that threatens humanity’s survival.
        59 min

      About Buck Rogers in the 25th Century - Fusion Patrol Reviews

      From the publisher's feed

      Strap in for a journey through the stargate with Fusion Patrol. In this feed, we set our coordinates for the Earth Defense Directorate to review the 1979–1981 cult favorite, Buck Rogers in the 25th…