Space Croppers
Encyclopedia
Space Croppers is the ninth episode of the television series Galactica 1980
, a spin-off of the earlier ABC science fiction series Battlestar Galactica
. The episode first aired on April 27, 1980 on ABC
.
orders the destruction of the Galactican Fleet’s food supply in order to increase their dependence on Earth. In the ensuing attack, two Agricultural Ships are destroyed. Adama presses Dr. Zee to establish their first agricultural colony on Earth, an assignment for which Troy and Dillon are recruited.
The two warriors contact Hector Alonzo, a rural Hispanic
farmer who has placed an advertisement in the local paper about his willingness to sell half the interest in his farm. Stricken by drought and a disadvantageous irrigation quota, Hector has considered moving his family if their prospects do not improve. Hector shows Troy and Dillon how John Stockton, head of the Growers Association, has dammed the local water supply, allowing his land to prosper while the Alonzos’ suffer under drought and Steadman’s prejudice against Latinos. When Steadman’s goons destroy their truckload of seed, Troy and Dillon meet with Steadman, who denies all involvement. He promises to replace the seed and offers the duo $1000 if they can ride Satan, an untamable horse. The two use their Languitron Translators to quickly subdue the beast, much to Stockton’s chagrin. He prepares to cut the Alonzos’ water quota.
Troy contacts Adama to explain their situation. Zee orders Troy to seed the fields before nightfall. Unable to reach local help, they enlist the Super Scouts. That night, Adama and Zee land the first of their colonists as their spacecraft whips up an artificial thunderstorm and injects a special formula to accelerate the growth process. Steadman, who secretly watches everything, reports his findings to the Growers Association, but his accusations are met with laughter and ridicule. The Association votes to knock out his dam and rescind quota restrictions. Troy and Dillon leave their colonists with the Alonzos.
Guests
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:...
, a spin-off of the earlier ABC science fiction series Battlestar Galactica
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...
. The episode first aired on April 27, 1980 on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
.
Plot
The Cylon 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...
orders the destruction of the Galactican Fleet’s food supply in order to increase their dependence on Earth. In the ensuing attack, two Agricultural Ships are destroyed. Adama presses Dr. Zee to establish their first agricultural colony on Earth, an assignment for which Troy and Dillon are recruited.
The two warriors contact Hector Alonzo, a rural Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
farmer who has placed an advertisement in the local paper about his willingness to sell half the interest in his farm. Stricken by drought and a disadvantageous irrigation quota, Hector has considered moving his family if their prospects do not improve. Hector shows Troy and Dillon how John Stockton, head of the Growers Association, has dammed the local water supply, allowing his land to prosper while the Alonzos’ suffer under drought and Steadman’s prejudice against Latinos. When Steadman’s goons destroy their truckload of seed, Troy and Dillon meet with Steadman, who denies all involvement. He promises to replace the seed and offers the duo $1000 if they can ride Satan, an untamable horse. The two use their Languitron Translators to quickly subdue the beast, much to Stockton’s chagrin. He prepares to cut the Alonzos’ water quota.
Troy contacts Adama to explain their situation. Zee orders Troy to seed the fields before nightfall. Unable to reach local help, they enlist the Super Scouts. That night, Adama and Zee land the first of their colonists as their spacecraft whips up an artificial thunderstorm and injects a special formula to accelerate the growth process. Steadman, who secretly watches everything, reports his findings to the Growers Association, but his accusations are met with laughter and ridicule. The Association votes to knock out his dam and rescind quota restrictions. Troy and Dillon leave their colonists with the Alonzos.
Cast
- Lorne GreeneLorne GreeneLorne Greene , was the stage name of Lyon Himan Green, OC, a Canadian actor.His television roles include Ben Cartwright on the western Bonanza, and Commander Adama in the science fiction movie and subsequent TV Series Battlestar Galactica...
as Commander AdamaCommander AdamaCommander Adama is a fictional character in the 1978 movie and subsequent ABC television series Battlestar Galactica and its continuation series, Galactica 1980. Adama is the commander of the great military vessel Battlestar Galactica, commander of the refugee fleet and military commander of the... - Herbert Jefferson, Jr. as Colonel BoomerLieutenant BoomerLieutenant Boomer, later known as Colonel Boomer, was a character on the 1978-1979 television series Battlestar Galactica and its spin-off series Galactica 1980. He was portrayed on both series by Herbert Jefferson, Jr. Boomer was a lieutenant in the Colonial Service, an officer with a background...
- Kent McCordKent McCordKent McCord is an American actor best known for his role as Officer Jim Reed on the television series Adam-12.- Biography :...
as Captain Troy - Barry Van DykeBarry Van DykeBarry Van Dyke is an American actor and the second son of actor and entertainer, Dick Van Dyke, and nephew of Jerry Van Dyke. He has one older brother, Christian, and two younger sisters, Stacy and Carrie Beth...
as Lieutenant Dillon - Robyn DouglassRobyn DouglassRobyn Douglass is an American actress and model. The daughter of an Army doctor and hospital administrator, she was born in Sendai, Japan. She began acting while attending a Catholic girls' school in Mountain View, California...
as Jamie Hamilton - Patrick StuartJames Patrick StuartJames Patrick Stuart is an English-American stage, film and television actor.-Theater:His early career began on stage, where his work received recognition.-Television:...
as Doctor Zee
Guests
- Ana AliciaAna AliciaAna Alicia is an American actress. She is best known for her role as scheming heiress Melissa Agretti on the long-running primetime soap opera Falcon Crest.-Early life:...
as Gloria - Bill Cort as Trent
- Dana ElcarDana ElcarDana Elcar was an American television and movie character actor. Although he appeared in about 40 films, his most memorable role was on the 1980s and 1990s television series MacGyver as Peter Thornton, an administrator working for the Phoenix Foundation...
as Steadman - Bill McKinneyBill McKinneyBill McKinney is an American character actor whose most famous role was the sadistic mountain man in the movie Deliverance...
as Barrett - Anna Navarro as Louise
- Ned RomeroNed RomeroNed Romero is an American actor and opera singer who has appeared in television and film.Romero was born in Franklin, the seat of St. Mary Parish in South Louisiana, the son of Anna and Sidney Romero. His ancestry is Chitimacha Native American, as well as Spanish and French...
as Hector - Dennis HaysbertDennis HaysbertDennis 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...
as the voice of the Imperious LeaderImperious LeaderThe 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...
Production
- Many of the visual effects, especially the Cylon attack on the Agricultural Ships, are reused from the 1978 episode The Magnificent WarriorsThe Magnificent Warriors"The Magnificent Warriors" is an episode of the original Battlestar Galactica television series.-Story:After a Cylon attack that targets the fleet's agricultural ships, the Colonials are faced with a shortage of seed to plant...
. - The film clip of the Imperious LeaderImperious LeaderThe 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...
and a Cylon Centurion aboard a Cylon BasestarCylon BasestarThe Basestar is the capital ship of the Cylons in the 1978 science fiction television series and movie Battlestar Galactica along with its re-imagining in the 2003 miniseries and 2004 television series.- Battlestar Galactica :...
is also reused from the original series, although the Imperious Leader's dialogue is new.