Flight Sergeant Jolly can be best described as an overweight, jovial, likable fellow; and a quite competent Viper pilot. He was involved in the discovery of the pluton poisoning of the foodstuffs they had gotten from the Colonies before making way. Jolly was also involved in discovering the tylium deposits on Carillon after making way through the Straits of Madagon. He, Serina, and Apollo were subsequently captured and brought to Lotay, Queen of the Ovions.
He was one of the many Viper pilots that had been unable to attend the ceremonies since Adama expected the Cylons to attack, and sure enough they did. Jolly came riding in atop of a landram and drove off the Cylon onslaught as the Colonials had fled the Ovions glorified farm. He commented later on that Adama had expected the attack and had uniforms of the pilots distributed to anyone he could find -- civilians, techs, and cooks -- and made a quip about the person who received his uniform: "You should see the one who got my uniform!" (Saga of a Star World)
He and Lieutenant Boomer often flew together, and discovered a Cylon base on an asteroid. They managed to escape relatively undetected, but managed to contract an life-threatening infectious disease that apparently manage to manifest itself within a majority of the Viper corps, save Apollo and Starbuck who were delayed. (Lost Planet of the Gods)
Suffice it to say, Jolly recovered and was only one of two Viper pilots who found out the Cylon agenda to attack and destroy the agro ships. He managed to save the day by saving the third agro ship (Agro Ship 9), but couldn't save the crops onboard. He also accompanied Adama, Apollo, Starbuck, Boomer, Boxey and Siress Belloby to Sectar, but stayed behind on the shuttle. (The Magnificent Warriors)
He was later involved with several engagements, and was one of the first to be abducted by the colossal Ship of Lights. Of course, after Iblis was cast out due to Iblis' killing of Apollo, Jolly was returned along with Boomer, Bojay, and other taken Viper pilots. (WOTG) He later on also assisted Starbuck, Apollo, Salik and Cassiopeia sneak Terrans Michael and Sarah back on Lunar Avion appropriated by Michael and keep up the façade that they were transferring the children off of the ship. Prior to this, he referred to them, almost humorously, as "Earthlings". When their deception was revealed by Reese, Boomer quipped to Jolly: "Jolly! You forgot the kids!" This scene gave the Lunar Avion the opportunity to leave the Galactica's bays and for Apollo and Starbuck to "pursue". (Greetings form Earth)
Portrayed by Tony Swartz
Notes[edit]
There are two instances of Jolly's rank being that of a Lieutenant:
- Sire Geller, in "Greetings From Earth", referred to Jolly as thus. Whether he was actually promoted or an indication of Geller's senility -- or just simply a script screw up -- is never clarified.
- Jolly was referred to as lieutenant in the novelization of "Saga of a Star World".