NBC airs the The Martian Chronicles: The Martians
NBC airs the third installment of the lavish three-part miniseries based on Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles. Adapted for TV by respected SF author Richard Matheson, the miniseries has already taken an embarrassing public beating by none other than Bradbury itself, inspiring NBC to yank the heavily-publicized off of the fall 1979 schedule and burn off the miniseries in January 1980 prior to the 1980 Winter Oympics. Rock Hudson, Barry Morse (Space: 1999) and Bernadette Peters star. The miniseries is a co-production between NBC and the BBC (who won’t air it until later in 1980).
BBC1 premieres the Galactica 1980: Galactica Discovers Earth I
The first episode of a vastly retooled Battlestar Galactica (or, depending on how you look at it, the first episode of the show’s second season) premieres on ABC, with an almost completely new cast. Kent McCord, Robin Douglass and Barry Van Dyke take over as the series leads; the only holdovers from the original season are Lorne Greene as Adama and Herb Jefferson as Boomer.
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Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 12
The 12th episode of Douglas Adams’ breakthrough radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is first broadcast on BBC Radio, ending the second series of the now-hit cult science fiction phenomenon. The conclusion of this episode effectively ends the series, though this ending is ignored by all later Hitchhiker’s Guide media, including the 21st century revival of the radio series, which will take its cues from Adams’ post-radio-series novels. Jonathan Pryce, Rula Lenska, and Ken Campbell guest star.
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Buck Rogers: Ardala Returns
NBC airs the 15th episode of Buck Rogers In The 25th Century. Pamela Hensley and Michael Ansara guest star.
Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 11
The 11th episode of Douglas Adams’ breakthrough radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is first broadcast on BBC Radio, continuing the second series of the now-hit cult science fiction phenomenon. At this point, the story has diverged into material that will not be repeated in later iterations of Hitchhiker’s Guide; Rula Lenska guest stars.
More about The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy in the LogBook
Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 10
The tenth episode of Douglas Adams’ breakthrough radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is first broadcast on BBC Radio, continuing the second series of the now-hit cult science fiction phenomenon. At this point, the story diverges into material that will not be repeated in later iterations of Hitchhiker’s Guide; Rula Lenska and John Le Mesurier guest star.
More about The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy in the LogBook
The Martian Chronicles: The Settlers
NBC airs the second installment of the lavish three-part miniseries based on Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles. Adapted for TV by respected SF author Richard Matheson, the miniseries has already taken an embarrassing public beating by none other than Bradbury itself, inspiring NBC to yank the heavily-publicized off of the fall 1979 schedule and burn off the miniseries in January 1980 prior to the 1980 Winter Oympics. Rock Hudson, Darren McGavin, Fritz Weaver and Roddy McDowall star. The miniseries is a co-production between NBC and the BBC (who won’t air it until later in 1980).
Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 9
The ninth episode of Douglas Adams’ breakthrough radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is first broadcast on BBC Radio, continuing the second series of the now-hit cult science fiction phenomenon. (Some elements of the second radio series will go on to form the basis of Adams’ novel The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe.)
More about The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy in the LogBook
Blake’s 7: Volcano
BBC1 premieres the 29th episode of Terry Nation’s science fiction series Blake’s 7. This episode focuses heavily on new series regulars Josette Simon and Steven Pacey; Michael Gough (Batman) guest stars.
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Blake’s 7 now streaming on Britbox
Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy: Episode 8
The eighth episode of Douglas Adams’ breakthrough radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is first broadcast on BBC Radio, continuing the second series of the now-hit cult science fiction phenomenon. (Some elements of the second radio series will go on to form the basis of Adams’ novel The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe.) Valentine Dyall (Doctor Who’s Black Guardian) guest stars.
More about The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy in the LogBook
Buck Rogers: A Blast For Buck
NBC airs the 14th episode of Buck Rogers In The 25th Century. Gary Coleman guest stars.
The Martian Chronicles: The Expeditions
NBC airs the first installment of the lavish three-part miniseries based on Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles. Adapted for TV by respected SF author Richard Matheson, the miniseries has already taken an embarrassing public beating by none other than Bradbury itself, inspiring NBC to yank the heavily-publicized off of the fall 1979 schedule and burn off the miniseries in January 1980 prior to the 1980 Winter Oympics. Rock Hudson, Bernie Casey, and Robert Beatty star. The miniseries is a co-production between NBC and the BBC (who won’t air it until later in 1980).
More about The Martian Chronicles in the LogBook
Hear about it on the Sci-Fi 5 podcast
Blake’s 7: Power Play
BBC1 premieres the 28th episode of Terry Nation’s science fiction series Blake’s 7. This episode continues the story arc of the Federation’s postwar rebuilding. Michael Sheard and John Hollis (both of whom will be seen later in 1980 in The Empire Strikes Back) guest star.
More about Blake’s 7 in the LogBook and theLogBook.com Store
Blake’s 7 now streaming on Britbox
Split Enz shows its True Colours
Mushroom Records releases the first Split Enz album of the 1980s, True Colours. Produced by future Prince protege David Tickle, the album gives the band a new sound and includes what will become its signature worldwide hit, “I Got You” (written by Neil Finn, who now alternates songwriting and lead vocal duties with his older brother, Enz co-founder Tim Finn). The album is released with eight different color variations, and is the first laser-etched LP. The album also suddenly draws the attention of American labels, resulting in A&M signing up to issue the band’s future output in North America.
Doctor Who: The Horns Of Nimon, Part 4
The 525th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Graham Crowden guest stars. Due to the cancellation of the six-part season finale Shada, this episode becomes the closing chapter of season 17. Both producer Graham Williams and script editor Douglas Adams leave the series, which will return in the fall with a radically new look and feel.
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NBC airs the Blake’s 7: Aftermath
BBC1 premieres the 27th episode of Terry Nation’s science fiction series Blake’s 7. This episode kicks off the third season and a running story arc through the third season regarding the Federation’s severe loss of manpower and territory during the intergalactic war that happens off-screen between seasons. Josette Simon and Steven Pacey are introduced as new guest stars, and Paul Darrow as Avon is established as the show’s new lead actor. Richard Franklin (Doctor Who) guest stars.
More about Blake’s 7 in the LogBook and theLogBook.com Store
Blake’s 7 now streaming on Britbox
Doctor Who: The Horns Of Nimon, Part 3
The 524th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Graham Crowden guest stars. This is the first Doctor Who episode of the 1980s.
More about Doctor Who in the LogBook
Order VWORP!1 from theLogBook.com Store
NBC airs the