By Iris Harris
Hey there, sci-fi fans,A new season of “Battlestar Galactica” is just around the corner. This will be the fourth season in creator Ron Moore’s version of the cult-classic 1978’s series, which starred Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict. On April 4, 2008, many fans will be glued to their television sets, anxiously finding out how the citizens of the 12 colonies will get to Earth. Now, many are probably saying, “Hey, why should I watch this “Battlestar Galactica? Doesn’t Dwight from ‘The Office’ watch that?” Well, yes, he does, and with good reason.
It’s unfortunate, but true, that “Battlestar Galactica” (BSG) only gets about 1 million viewers a week on average. Compare that to the near 15 million viewers that “Moment of Truth” gets-well, it’s easy to see that the TV-watchers of America are none too interested in romantic drama, brilliant political commentary and very attractive people wearing tight uniforms or no clothing at all.
The fact that the show has such a small audience each week is not a comment on its quality. This version of BSG is revered by critics, has won numerous awards (including an Emmy and a spot on “Time” magazine’s top ten shows of 2007), and is generally adored by the population of Hollywood. The people viewers love to watch on TV love to watch BSG. Joss Whedon, creator of the classic TV series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” has been quoted as saying, , “I love that show the way other people love ‘Buffy.’ I love it unreasonably. It feels wrong.”
So if many of America’s gifted TV-creators, actors and critics alike agree that BSGis “where it’s at,” so to speak, then why is it that only about 1 million people across the nation seem to agree with them? Only 1 million TV-watchers seem to find rave-reviews and intelligent celebrity endorsements compelling.
When one first sits down to watch the new series,BSG seems boring and unfamiliar, even to those who have grown up watching sci-fi. It would be difficult to pinpoint exactly when the distaste for the handycams and space/military jargon turn to deep, unwavering affection, but it happens. However, it will take a little bit of time. Viewers have to familiarize themselves with the show, and once far enough into the story, there is no going back. For a fan of sci-fi, this is a show that needs to be watched. For someone who is not a fan of science fiction, this is a show for that needs to watched. The hardest part is getting past the tossing-around of the word “frak,” but once that beast has been tamed, it’s pure joy.
If you cannot get to watch the first three seasons by Friday, April 4 (and that’s understandable, as this may be difficult to accomplish), then go to Wikipedia and just try to get a general idea of what has been going on. Then, on that fateful Friday, tune into the Sci-fi channel and join the rest of the fans in watching the fourth season premiere.
(battlestarscifi.com)