Cylon (1978)
Encyclopedia
Cylons are a fictional race of robots in the original Battlestar Galactica
TV series. They are the primary antagonists of the series and are at war with the Twelve Colonies
of humanity. The Cylons also appeared in the short-lived 1980 spin-off series Galactica 1980
.
The Cylons were created by a reptilian race, also called Cylons. However, the reptilian race died out centuries earlier leaving behind only their race of robots.
is the leader of the Cylon Alliance and highest Cylon model. The Imperious Leader is an IL-Series Cylon with some extra augmentation, including a third brain and a body shell resembling the reptilian Cylons. It is stated in the original novelization of the pilot episode that the Imperious Leader's third brain is specifically designed to emulate the human mind (solely for the purpose of anticipating human actions). One was killed at the Battle of Carillon (pilot episode) and his successor was possibly destroyed during the Battle of Gamoray (episode: "The Living Legend - part 2"). In the original 1978-79 series, the voice of the Imperious Leader is identical to that of Count Iblis
(both voices were performed by Patrick Macnee
). In the Galactica 1980 episode "Space Croppers", the voice of the Imperious Leader was performed by Dennis Haysbert
. All of the Imperious Leaders look identical.
Lucifer refers to the second Imperious Leader as being upgraded from being a IL-model like himself.
In the novelization of the original series it is stated that there is an elite class of Command Centurions (referred to as First Centurions), roughly equivalent to feudal Count
s, which act as executive officers to the Imperious Leader and are not subordinate to the IL-Series, and (like the IL-series) they were also said to have multiple brains. In the TV series these are actually seen on screen, though very rarely, and are distinguished from other Command Centurions by black bands on their gold armor. Vulpa was originally of this class but had been demoted and stationed on ice planet Arcta.
Centurion
s commanded a unit of eighty men, Cylon Centurions form the rank and file of the Cylon forces. Some Centurions in the series have been given names: Flight Leader Serpentine from "Saga of a Star World", Centuri from "The Night the Cylons Landed" (Galactica 1980), and Cyrus from "The Return of Starbuck" (also Galactica 1980). In the episode "The Lost Warrior", there is a Cylon Centurion that remained active after its ship crashed on the planet Equellus and was named "Red Eye" by the humans who found it.
The Cylon Centurions – the type most often depicted in the original Battlestar Galactica — were strikingly similar to the Imperial stormtrooper
s of Star Wars
(in fact, both were designed by the same concept artist, Ralph McQuarrie
). The similarities were so strong that it was one of the factors that prompted 20th Century Fox
's lawsuit for copyright infringement against Universal Studios
, the owners of Battlestar Galactica. However, the lawsuit was ultimately unsuccessful.
The Cylon Centurions voicing was done on an EMS Vocoder 2000 and voiced by Michael Santiago.
". This is evidently some kind of civilian Cylon, as Gamoray is said to have a very large community of civilian Cylons, though how civilian Cylon society differs from its military is never explored.
" of Galactica 1980, one of which is named Andromus. This model is an android and has a superficial human appearance (and a condescending attitude toward Centurions), though is entirely mechanical beneath its artificial skin.
and the 1980 spin-off
, the Cylons were created by an extinct reptilian race that were also called Cylons, as related by Apollo in the premiere episode. In the episode "War of the Gods
", Count Baltar
mentions that he recognizes Iblis's voice as that of the Cylon leader, and Iblis counters that if that was true it must have been "transcribed" over a thousand yahren (years) ago.
At the beginning of the series the Cylons are singularly devoted to the destruction of humanity. The war started when the Cylon Empire sought to expand into the territory of the Hasaries, and the Human Colonies intervened on behalf of the conquered Hasaries. Due to those events, the Cylon Empire now viewed the entire human race as a target.
Cylons are led by the Imperious Leader, an IL-Series Cylon elevated to a supreme leadership position over all Cylons. All Cylons from the IL-series down, typically repeat the phrase "By Your Command" when responding to any order.
The Cylon Empire is also responsible for tributary powers under the aegis of the Cylon Alliance. The Ovions (an insectoid race enslaved by the Cylons and transported to the planet Carillon for mining purposes) are the only known member of the Cylon Alliance shown onscreen. Aside from the Ovions and (the defeated) Hasaries, the only other known race conquered by the Cylons are the Delphians, which are mentioned to have been exterminated in "The Living Legend".
Cylon society appears to be almost exclusively military. Until the discovery of Gamoray, which the Colonial fleet had targeted for its rich fuel reserves, no civilian Cylon outpost had ever been seen by anyone.
.
Presented in The Gun on Ice Planet Zero book, multi-brain status is presumed to be the upgraded inclusion of an auxiliary brain unit, allowing for higher-level thinking abilities. The command centurion and garrison commander on planet Tairac, Vulpa, demonstrated this ability.
, the Cylon imperious leader made a deal with the mysterious and demonic Count Iblis
(meaning "Satan
" in the Arabic language
) to betray his entire race in exchange for power that would allow him to "become like Count Iblis." Count Iblis lied about the process of "empowerment" and changed the imperious leader into a cybernetic entity, more machine than being. Enraged, the imperious leader swore revenge and became more and more driven by conquest and warfare.
In the Maximum Press comic, the Cylons were originally led by a ruthless, conquest and expansionism-driven emperor named Sobekkta, one of the original living Cylons, who were a race of intelligent fully evolved reptiles.
came out with a bubble
toy in 1978 called the Battlestar Galactica Cylon Bubble Machine as well as a line of other inexpensive toys.
Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction television series, created by Glen A. Larson. It starred Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict and ran for one season in 1978–79. After cancellation, its story was continued in 1980 as Galactica 1980 with Adama, Lieutenant Boomer and...
TV series. They are the primary antagonists of the series and are at war with the Twelve Colonies
Twelve Colonies
The Twelve Colonies of Man are fictional locations that constitute the principal human civilization in the original Battlestar Galactica television series, the "reimagined" series of the same name in 2004, and in the prequel series, Caprica...
of humanity. The Cylons also appeared in the short-lived 1980 spin-off series Galactica 1980
Galactica 1980
Galactica 1980 is a science fiction television series, and a spin-off from the 1978–1979 series Battlestar Galactica. It was first broadcast on the ABC network in the United States from January 27 to May 4, 1980.-Development:...
.
The Cylons were created by a reptilian race, also called Cylons. However, the reptilian race died out centuries earlier leaving behind only their race of robots.
Imperious Leader
Imperious LeaderImperious Leader
The Imperious Leader is the ruler of the Cylons as depicted in the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series.The Imperious Leader's body is built to resemble the reptilian race that originally built the Cylons, but is not organic in any way...
is the leader of the Cylon Alliance and highest Cylon model. The Imperious Leader is an IL-Series Cylon with some extra augmentation, including a third brain and a body shell resembling the reptilian Cylons. It is stated in the original novelization of the pilot episode that the Imperious Leader's third brain is specifically designed to emulate the human mind (solely for the purpose of anticipating human actions). One was killed at the Battle of Carillon (pilot episode) and his successor was possibly destroyed during the Battle of Gamoray (episode: "The Living Legend - part 2"). In the original 1978-79 series, the voice of the Imperious Leader is identical to that of Count Iblis
Count Iblis
Count Iblis is an alien on the TV series Battlestar Galactica. He was part of the original 1978 series, and was central to the plot of the two-part episode War of the Gods. In that episode, he was played by Patrick Macnee. He did not appear in the re-imagined series.- 1978 continuity :When a...
(both voices were performed by Patrick Macnee
Patrick Macnee
Patrick Macnee is an English actor, best known for his role as the secret agent John Steed in the series The Avengers.-Early life:...
). In the Galactica 1980 episode "Space Croppers", the voice of the Imperious Leader was performed by Dennis Haysbert
Dennis Haysbert
Dennis Dexter Haysbert is an American film and television actor. He is known for portraying baseball player Pedro Cerrano in the Major League film trilogy, President David Palmer on the American television series 24, and Sergeant Major Jonas Blane on the drama series The Unit, as well as his work...
. All of the Imperious Leaders look identical.
IL-series
IL-series Cylons act as commanders for the military and governors for civilians of the Alliance . They have two brains, and a mostly transparent head through which various lights can be seen pulsing. They also have a metallic, humanoid face with two eye scanners (compared to the single eye scanner of the Centurion models), and wear clothing (full-length glittering robes). Two IL-series Cylons have been seen onscreen, both of which have an effete human-sounding voice, unlike the flat mechanical tones of Centurions. They are:- LuciferLucifer (Battlestar Galactica)Lucifer is a fictional character from the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series. Lucifer is the robot assistant to Count Baltar, voiced by Jonathan Harris of Lost in Space fame....
— Baltar'sCount BaltarIn the original 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series, Count Baltar was a leading antagonist character who betrayed the human race to its enemy, the robot race of Cylons...
ambitious second in command (voiced by Jonathan HarrisJonathan HarrisJonathan Harris was an American stage and film character actor. Two of his best-known roles were as the timid accountant Bradford Webster in the TV version of The Third Man, and the comic villain Dr. Zachary Smith, in the 1960s sci-fi television series, Lost in Space...
). - Specter — Commander on the planet Atilla in "The Young Lords", and a rival of Lucifer and equally ambitious (voiced by Murray MathesonMurray MathesonMurray Matheson , born Sidney Murray Matheson was an actor who had appeared on stage and in films and television programs until 1983....
).
Lucifer refers to the second Imperious Leader as being upgraded from being a IL-model like himself.
Command Centurion
Command Centurion are Centurions with gold armor. These are the lower commanders for individual military units, though they can be responsible for entire Basestars and garrisons. The most well-known Cylon of this model is Commander Vulpa in "The Gun on Ice Planet Zero". Their voices are slightly lower pitched than regular Centurions.In the novelization of the original series it is stated that there is an elite class of Command Centurions (referred to as First Centurions), roughly equivalent to feudal Count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
s, which act as executive officers to the Imperious Leader and are not subordinate to the IL-Series, and (like the IL-series) they were also said to have multiple brains. In the TV series these are actually seen on screen, though very rarely, and are distinguished from other Command Centurions by black bands on their gold armor. Vulpa was originally of this class but had been demoted and stationed on ice planet Arcta.
Centurion
Military androids with silver armor. Basic Centurions make up the ground forces and pilots of the Alliance military. Centurions are armed with a powerful energy weapon, often referred to as a blaster rifle. They also have bayonets and swords for close combat and the execution of prisoners. Although Earth's RomanAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
Centurion
Centurion (Roman army)
A centurion , also hekatontarch in Greek sources, or, in Byzantine times, kentarch was a professional officer of the Roman army after the Marian reforms of 107 BC...
s commanded a unit of eighty men, Cylon Centurions form the rank and file of the Cylon forces. Some Centurions in the series have been given names: Flight Leader Serpentine from "Saga of a Star World", Centuri from "The Night the Cylons Landed" (Galactica 1980), and Cyrus from "The Return of Starbuck" (also Galactica 1980). In the episode "The Lost Warrior", there is a Cylon Centurion that remained active after its ship crashed on the planet Equellus and was named "Red Eye" by the humans who found it.
The Cylon Centurions – the type most often depicted in the original Battlestar Galactica — were strikingly similar to the Imperial stormtrooper
Imperial stormtrooper
The Imperial Stormtroopers are fictional soldiers from George Lucas' Star Wars universe. Stormtroopers are the soldiers of the imperial army under the leadership of the evil Sith Lord and Emperor Palpatine and his commanders, most notably Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin.They are shown in...
s of Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
(in fact, both were designed by the same concept artist, Ralph McQuarrie
Ralph McQuarrie
Ralph McQuarrie is a conceptual designer and illustrator who designed Star Wars , the original Battlestar Galactica , E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Cocoon, for which he won an Academy Award....
). The similarities were so strong that it was one of the factors that prompted 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
's lawsuit for copyright infringement against Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
, the owners of Battlestar Galactica. However, the lawsuit was ultimately unsuccessful.
The Cylon Centurions voicing was done on an EMS Vocoder 2000 and voiced by Michael Santiago.
Civilian
There is also a unique Cylon with glittering robes, with a metallic humanoid face. They are seen in the Imperious Leader's delegation to Gamoray in "The Living LegendThe Living Legend
"The Living Legend" is a two-part episode of the original Battlestar Galactica television series. The episode is often rated as one of the most popular of the original series...
". This is evidently some kind of civilian Cylon, as Gamoray is said to have a very large community of civilian Cylons, though how civilian Cylon society differs from its military is never explored.
Humanoid
Two Cylon humanoids are featured in the episode "The Night the Cylons LandedThe Night the Cylons Landed
"The Night the Cylons Landed" is a double episode, consisting of the seventh and eighth episodes of the television series Galactica 1980, a spin-off of the earlier ABC science fiction series Battlestar Galactica. The episode first aired in two parts broadcast on April 13 and April 20, 1980 on...
" of Galactica 1980, one of which is named Andromus. This model is an android and has a superficial human appearance (and a condescending attitude toward Centurions), though is entirely mechanical beneath its artificial skin.
Spacecraft
Cylons employ several spacecraft models, such as- Basestar: A large warship mounting two pulsars, many laser turrets, and carrying 300 Raiders.
- Cylon RaiderCylon RaiderThe Cylon Raider is the standard starfighter used by the Cylons, in the various Battlestar Galactica movies and television series. Cylon raiders are used as the main line of defense for Cylon Basestars.- Original series :...
: A heavy fighter with a crew of three, two pilots and a commander. They are armed with dual-firing laser cannons. - A-B Raider: An advanced variation of the Raider, crewed by three Centurions and two Cylon Androids. Seen in the Galactica 1980 episode "The Night the Cylons Landed" Part 1.
- The reimagined series analogue of this is the Cylon Heavy RaiderCylon Heavy RaiderThe Cylon Heavy Raider is a heavy fighter used by the Cylons, in the television series Battlestar Galactica.- History :The first Heavy Raider encountered by the Fleet crash landed into Galacticas non-operational starboard hangar bay, and a boarding party of Cylon Centurions exited the wreck to...
.- Cylon Freighter: A cargo ship referenced in the Battlestar Galactica soundtrack and ship that was responsible for the electronic jamming at the Battle of Cimtar in "Saga of a Star World".
- Cylon Tanker: A ship for transporting the fuel "tylium". One was used by the Cylons to fuel the fighters at the Battle of Cimtar in "Saga of a Star World". Two others were encountered at the Battle of Gamoray in "The Living Legend".
Civilization
In the 1978 Galactica movie and seriesBattlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction television series, created by Glen A. Larson. It starred Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict and ran for one season in 1978–79. After cancellation, its story was continued in 1980 as Galactica 1980 with Adama, Lieutenant Boomer and...
and the 1980 spin-off
Galactica 1980
Galactica 1980 is a science fiction television series, and a spin-off from the 1978–1979 series Battlestar Galactica. It was first broadcast on the ABC network in the United States from January 27 to May 4, 1980.-Development:...
, the Cylons were created by an extinct reptilian race that were also called Cylons, as related by Apollo in the premiere episode. In the episode "War of the Gods
War of the Gods (Battlestar Galactica)
"War of the Gods" is a two-part episode of the original Battlestar Galactica television series.-Part I:Four Vipers on patrol encounter mysterious orbs of light and are soon overtaken by a larger ship, which disables the Viper's instruments and emits a deafening sound. Aboard the Galactica, other...
", Count Baltar
Count Baltar
In the original 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series, Count Baltar was a leading antagonist character who betrayed the human race to its enemy, the robot race of Cylons...
mentions that he recognizes Iblis's voice as that of the Cylon leader, and Iblis counters that if that was true it must have been "transcribed" over a thousand yahren (years) ago.
At the beginning of the series the Cylons are singularly devoted to the destruction of humanity. The war started when the Cylon Empire sought to expand into the territory of the Hasaries, and the Human Colonies intervened on behalf of the conquered Hasaries. Due to those events, the Cylon Empire now viewed the entire human race as a target.
Cylons are led by the Imperious Leader, an IL-Series Cylon elevated to a supreme leadership position over all Cylons. All Cylons from the IL-series down, typically repeat the phrase "By Your Command" when responding to any order.
The Cylon Empire is also responsible for tributary powers under the aegis of the Cylon Alliance. The Ovions (an insectoid race enslaved by the Cylons and transported to the planet Carillon for mining purposes) are the only known member of the Cylon Alliance shown onscreen. Aside from the Ovions and (the defeated) Hasaries, the only other known race conquered by the Cylons are the Delphians, which are mentioned to have been exterminated in "The Living Legend".
Cylon society appears to be almost exclusively military. Until the discovery of Gamoray, which the Colonial fleet had targeted for its rich fuel reserves, no civilian Cylon outpost had ever been seen by anyone.
Novels
- In the novelization of the original series it is stated that there is an elite class of Command Centurions which act as executive officers to the Imperious Leader and are not subordinate to the IL-Series. In the TV series they are distinguished from other Command Centurions by black bands on their gold armor and are very rarely seen. Vulpa was originally of this class but had been demoted and stationed on ice planet Arcta.
- In the novelization of the original series it is stated that there is a class lower than the typical Centurion, that of the Cylon Drone. Though appearing identical to Centurions, Drones are not capable of sophisticated independent thought beyond following simple instructions to perform menial tasks. These are observed on the episode "The Living Legend" of the original series. Centurions can be relegated to Drone status for being rebellious, in which case they are essentially lobotomized.
Multi-brain status and built-in lie detectors
The Berklee book series also explored two other aspects of Cylon design. The first is the development of multiple brain status. This allows Cylons additional thinking and deductive abilities. The second is an unexplained talent for knowing when a human is lying, which was suggested in the episode The Lost WarriorThe Lost Warrior
"The Lost Warrior" is an episode of the original Battlestar Galactica television series.-Plot synopsis:The episode begins with Apollo, in his Viper, under attack by Cylon Raiders. He radios for help, but does so only to deceive the Cylons and lure them away from the fleet...
.
Presented in The Gun on Ice Planet Zero book, multi-brain status is presumed to be the upgraded inclusion of an auxiliary brain unit, allowing for higher-level thinking abilities. The command centurion and garrison commander on planet Tairac, Vulpa, demonstrated this ability.
- Cylon centurions (the chrome soldiers) have single brain status.
- Command centurions have three brain status.
- Imperious leaders enjoy three or four brain status.
- IL-series Cylons, such as Lucifer and Specter have second brain status.
Comic books
According to the Maximum Press comic of Battlestar Galactica, just prior to the start of The Thousand Yahren WarCylon War
The Cylon War is a fictional interstellar war that occurred in the Battlestar Galactica universe. Both the original 1978 Battlestar Galactica movie and the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica miniseries are set shortly after that conflict....
, the Cylon imperious leader made a deal with the mysterious and demonic Count Iblis
Count Iblis
Count Iblis is an alien on the TV series Battlestar Galactica. He was part of the original 1978 series, and was central to the plot of the two-part episode War of the Gods. In that episode, he was played by Patrick Macnee. He did not appear in the re-imagined series.- 1978 continuity :When a...
(meaning "Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
" in the Arabic language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
) to betray his entire race in exchange for power that would allow him to "become like Count Iblis." Count Iblis lied about the process of "empowerment" and changed the imperious leader into a cybernetic entity, more machine than being. Enraged, the imperious leader swore revenge and became more and more driven by conquest and warfare.
In the Maximum Press comic, the Cylons were originally led by a ruthless, conquest and expansionism-driven emperor named Sobekkta, one of the original living Cylons, who were a race of intelligent fully evolved reptiles.
Video games
The Cylons also appear in the official computer game adaptation, which is a prequel to both the original and re-imagined series.Toys
LaramiLarami
Larami Corp. was founded in 1947 and was a toy company whose products usually ranged from the cost of .39 to .99. Larami Corp. was eventually acquired by Hasbro Inc., becoming Larami Inc. in 1995. The Larami company name was finally retired in 2002....
came out with a bubble
Soap bubble
A soap bubble is a thin film of soapy water enclosing air, that forms a hollow sphere with an iridescent surface. Soap bubbles usually last for only a few seconds before bursting, either on their own or on contact with another object. They are often used for children's enjoyment, but they are also...
toy in 1978 called the Battlestar Galactica Cylon Bubble Machine as well as a line of other inexpensive toys.
In popular culture
- In the source code of MozillaMozillaMozilla is a term used in a number of ways in relation to the Mozilla.org project and the Mozilla Foundation, their defunct commercial predecessor Netscape Communications Corporation, and their related application software....
(and its NetscapeNetscape NavigatorNetscape Navigator was a proprietary web browser that was popular in the 1990s. It was the flagship product of the Netscape Communications Corporation and the dominant web browser in terms of usage share, although by 2002 its usage had almost disappeared...
predecessor), the indeterminate progress bar that slides back and forth — rather than rolling or filling up from left to right — is referred to as the "Cylon". - A Cylon appears in the FuturamaFuturamaFuturama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
episode "Bendin' in the WindBendin' in the Wind"Bendin' in the Wind" is the thirteenth episode in season three of Futurama. It originally aired April 22, 2001. The title comes from the Bob Dylan song "Blowin' in the Wind". In South America, this episode was #1 in "Bender's Best" top ten Bender-related Futurama episodes.- Plot :Fry gets a free...
". He’s part of the musical duo Cylon and Garfunkel, a parody of Simon and GarfunkelSimon and GarfunkelSimon & Garfunkel are an American duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had their first success with the minor hit "Hey, Schoolgirl". As Simon & Garfunkel, the duo rose to fame in 1965, largely on the strength of the...
. - In FarscapeFarscapeFarscape is an Australian-American science fiction television series filmed in Australia and produced originally for the Nine Network. The series was conceived by Rockne S. O'Bannon and produced by Jim Henson Productions and Hallmark Entertainment...
episode "I Shrink, Therefore I Am", Crichton's ship is invaded by a race with bioengineered exoskeletons. "This is John Crichton paging the head cylon, pick up the phone imperious leader." - The classic Cylons have also appeared on The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
on several occasions, the most notable in Mayored to the MobMayored to the Mob"Mayored to the Mob" is the ninth episode of The Simpsons tenth season, which originally broadcast on December 20, 1998. After Homer prevents Mayor Quimby and Mark Hamill from being trampled at a convention, Homer trains to become a bodyguard and is employed by Quimby...
during a sci-fi convention. There's a quick gag in a boxing arena where three Centurions square off against R2-D2R2-D2R2-D2 , is a character in the Star Wars universe. An astromech droid, R2-D2 is a major character throughout all six Star Wars films. Along with his droid companion C-3PO, he joins or supports Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Obi-Wan Kenobi in various points in the saga...
and C-3POC-3POC-3PO is a robot character from the Star Wars universe who appears in both the original Star Wars films and the prequel trilogy. He is also a major character in the television show Droids, and appears frequently in the series' "Expanded Universe" of novels, comic books, and video games...
from Star Wars. ("See the mighty robots from Battlestar Galactica fight the gay robots from Star Wars!") They easily pin C-3PO to the floor, and R2 refuses to help. - In the FOX Animated Series Family GuyFamily GuyFamily Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
, the host of 'KISS Forum' also hosts 'Battlestar Galactica Forum' on Quahog's Public-access televisionPublic-access televisionPublic-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
cable TV channel. He introduces the forum by putting a classic Centurion mask on and saying "Welcome to Battlestar Galactica Forum" in traditional Cylon computerized-monotone. - Several Cylons appear briefly in the South ParkSouth ParkSouth Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
epic ImaginationlandImaginationland"Imaginationland" is a three-part episode of the American animated television series South Park.*Episode I*Episode II*Episode III...
, as one of the evil fictional creations set free when the barrier between the "good" and "evil" halves of the imagination is destroyed by terrorists. - In the opening credits of certain seasons of The A-TeamThe A-TeamThe A-Team is an American action adventure television series about a fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces personnel who work as soldiers of fortune, while on the run from the Army after being branded as war criminals for a "crime they didn't commit". The A-Team was created by...
, Dirk BenedictDirk BenedictDirk Benedict is an American movie, television and stage actor, perhaps best known for playing the characters Lieutenant Templeton "Faceman" Peck in The A-Team television series and Lieutenant Starbuck in the original Battlestar Galactica film and television series.-Early life:Benedict was born...
watches a Cylon walk past (while at the Universal StudiosUniversal StudiosUniversal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
tour), raises a finger and opens his mouth as if to say something, then gives up. Dirk Benedict played the character Starbuck in the original Battlestar Galactica series. This scene is later recreated on the animated show Family GuyFamily GuyFamily Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
. - In a third season episode of Knight Rider, "Halloween Knight", the episode villain is shown briefly in a Cylon mask. KITT's red LED forward scanner throughout the series, of course, is an homage to the Cylon's red eye, which oscillates back and forth while active while using the same sound effect. Both series were created by Glen Larson.
- Cylons were the focus of a short skit on the Adult SwimAdult SwimAdult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
program Robot ChickenRobot ChickenRobot Chicken is an American stop motion animated television series created and executive produced by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich along with co-head writers Douglas Goldstein and Tom Root. Green provides many voices for the show...
in which it is said that the original cylon actors had so many problems walking around in their suits that they were constantly falling down. - A Cylon makes a brief appearance, firing off his blaster in the 'Alien Attack' section of the ride, in the final firefight scene of Beverly Hills Cop 3.
- A Cylon lookalike robot is featured in the official music video for Bloc PartyBloc PartyBloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
's single, "FluxFlux (song)"Flux" is a song by Bloc Party which was released as a single on 12 November 2007. It was produced by Jacknife Lee, along with several other new songs, during the band's week in the studio after their performances at the Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festivals. The song uses mostly electronic...
". - In The Replacements episode "Space Family Daring", Riley finds a head of a Cylon in a cabinet onboard the spaceship.
- The re-imagined series shows that the original Cylon models were extremely similar to the ones from the original series.
- In the video game Persona 3Persona 3Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3, originally released in Japan as simply , is the fourth video game in the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series of console role-playing games developed by Atlus, which is part of the larger Megami Tensei series of video games...
one of the items the player can buy is a drink called "Cylon Tea." (This may be a misspelling of "Ceylon"; this nation, now called Sri LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, is famous for the quality of its teaTeaTea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
.) - The album Programmed to LoveProgrammed to LoveProgrammed to Love is the debut album from the electronica chillout duo Bent, released in 2000. The album contains various styles of electronica music and samples.-Release:The album was released in several versions...
by British electronica band BentBent (band)Bent are an electronica act from Nottingham in England, consisting of Neil "Nail" Tolliday and Simon Mills. They gained critical acclaim from their debut album Programmed to Love in 2000....
features the song "Cylons in Love". - In SpongeBob SquarePantsSpongeBob SquarePantsSpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series, created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg. Much of the series centers on the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the underwater city of "Bikini Bottom"...
:- In the episode "Plankton's Army", Plankton uses a robotic fish that features a revolving light over its "eyes" that is highly reminiscent of the Cylons' eyes.
- In another episode, "Komputer Overload" Plankton replaces his computer wife, Karen, with three robots made from random items lying around the Chum Bucket, one of which happens to be an old chrome-plated toaster, possibly meant to be a reference to the Colonials' nickname for the Cylon Centurions ("Toasters").
- In The Fairly OddParentsThe Fairly OddParentsThe Fairly OddParents is an American-Canadian animated television series created by Butch Hartman about the adventures of Timmy Turner, who is granted fairy godparents named Cosmo and Wanda. The series started out as cartoon segments that ran from September 4, 1998 to March 23, 2001 on Oh Yeah!...
episode "Future Lost", Cosmo turns into a robot who has a toaster inside his head, which is quite possibly another reference to the nickname the Colonials give the Centurions. - In the Dark HorseDark Horse ComicsDark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
Star WarsStar WarsStar Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
Comic series Tag and Bink, Cylons appear as the Emperor's Guards, Tag and Bink feature many other references to other Science Fiction Franchises. - In the CBS program The Big Bang TheoryThe Big Bang TheoryThe Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom serve as executive producers on the show, along with Steven Molaro. All three also serve as head writers...
The character Sheldon makes Cylon toast.