References in Galactica 1980

A list of references in Galactica 1980 to various events and cultural call-backs.

Part of the series on Battlestar Galactica References
References in	the Original Series Galactica 1980 the Re-imagined Series Caprica
References to	the Original Series Galactica 1980 the Re-imagined Series Caprica

Events

• In "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I," Colonel Briggs asks if the landing of the unidentified craft is another Skylab incident. However, this proven to not be the case.
• In the same episode, Butler asks Briggs if the incident is a repeat of the incident with the Russian satellite that crashed in Canada. While not specifically named, he is referring to the Cosmos 954 Satellite Crash on January 24, 1978, a nuclear powered Soviet Radar Ocean Reconnaissance Satellite that crashed in the Great Slave Lake area of the Northwest Territories.

Literature

• Stockwell's passphrase to the resistance leader references the book The Moon and Sixpence ^{(1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II")}.
• A young boy, Tommy, is dressed up as the character Raggedy Andy from the Raggedy Ann book series ^{(1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part II")}.

Movies

The Day the Earth Stood Still

• Troy's leaving a revised, but incomplete formula about nuclear degeneration on Dr. Donald Mortinson's computer is a nod to this movie ^{(1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")}.

Earthquake

• Scenes of the city being devastated by the earthquake were used to show the Cylon attack on Earth in Galactica 1980, which were overlaid with special effects of Cylon attack scenes from the Original Series ^{(1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")}.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

• In both parts of "The Super Scouts," Collins tells the sheriff that he believes the aliens have taken over the kids bodies, referring to this movie indirectly.

This Island Earth

• Troy, Dillon and the Super Scouts are watching an old science fiction movie called This Island Earth, many of them noting that the mutant alien looks like a Gorkon ^{(1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")}.

Silent Running

• Same reference in References in the Original Series

Music

• Billy Joel's "My Life" is featured twice in the series:
  • In "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I," the song is playing on the radio in Jamie Hamilton's car as she pulls up to the gas station.
  • In "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part II," the song is beginning to play in the background at the WQSL radio station, as Andromus comments that humans are unimportant to a truly efficient society.
• Fleetwood Mac's song "Don't Stop" is playing on a radio in the background as Xaviar interrogates a newsboy in "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III".
• Linda Rondstat's version of "That'll Be the Day" plays in the background as Wolfman Jack, Andromus and Centuri walk through the halls of the radio station in "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part II".
• The song introduced by Wolfman Jack on the radio in Norman Blore's car is "Disco Inferno" by The Trammps, which was made popular by Saturday Night Fever ^{(1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")}.

Television

Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I

• A broadcast with Rod Serling introducing an episode of Night Gallery is seen on Doctor Zee's monitors.
• An episode of Woody Woodpecker can also be seen on Zee's monitors.

Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II

• When Jamie Hamilton introduces herself to Major Stockwell, who has ejected from his B-17 bomber, as an American, he sarcastically replies that he is Bugs Bunny ^{(1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II")}.

The Super Scouts, Part I

• After Troy and Dillon use the flying feature on their turbines, the senior highway patrol officer references CHiPs in his comments.

The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I

• Troy mentions that the names for the pre-paid tickets are "Jones and Smith," aliases that Hamilton had suggested they'd use since the names of Troy and Dillon are known to Earth's authorities. This is a likely reference for the show Alias Smith and Jones, one of writer and creator Glen Larson's first television shows. Coincidentally, Roger Davis (Andromus) narrated and acted on the series as a series regular.

The Night the Cylons Landed, Part II

• Dillon's "dancing mammals" are costumed performers depicting Scooby Doo, Hair Bear, and Hong Kong Phooey. They sing and dance to "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" from Disney's 1946 film Song of the South during a stage performance that Dillon and Troy happen across while avoiding the NYPD.
• Grover and various NYPD police officers are characters from McCloud, a police procedural set in New York City that had been produced by Glen A. Larson, and portrayed by those same actors. The only exception is the police chief portrayed by Bernie Hamilton, who is named Clifford in the script after Chief Peter B. Clifford (portrayed by J.D. Cannon in McCloud).

General

• The opening shot of Earth, notably with the Earth in half-shadow and to the left of the screen, is footage from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

Other

• In "Spaceball," Hal Fredricks references the board game Monopoly after Mr. Brooks makes it clear to Jamie Hamilton that she's to head directly to Billy Eheres' camp.