They Killed Starbuck!

[The Voice of Reason]

Fans of Battlestar Galactica must be crying in their beer following Sunday night's episode where Kara Thrace (Starbuck) was killed off at the end of the show.
So what's the deal? Did actress Katie Sackoff just get tired of the role and wanted to move on or did the decision to ace Starbuck come from a higher authority (the producers)?

 

[Garrett]

Katie Sackoff was unhappy with the scripts and that she was being under used. Also, keep in mind that this is, after a Sci-fi show, so she may not really be dead for long.

Here's a link to the interview (or part of it) on Trekweb.com:
http://trekweb.com/articles/2007/03/04/Katee-Sackhoff-Feels-Under-Used-in.shtml

 

[denwak]

Whats the incident with Dirk Benedict they talk about and where can I read about that?

Thanks

Dennis

 

[dhett]

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer printed an interview with Sackhoff. From the article:

Benedict is quoted saying, "It was about why you can't have a character like Starbuck in a show today -- a cigar-smoking, drinking, womanizing, lovable scoundrel. The feminist movement got rid of those guys. In the war against masculinity, the only way that character could work was to make him a woman."

Apparently, that got Sackhoff a bit rankled. She claims she was protesting the idea that they would bring in an actor who has, in her opinion, blatently bashed the show.

For the record, I agree with Benedict.

 

[Mark Giardina]

Katie Sackhoff might be one of the smart ones to leave the show. This way she can do feature work and not be stereotyped as Starbuck. Tricia Helfer's apperances have also wained prompting me to wonder if she also might soon depart Galactica.

Look how Richard Hatch's career went after the original series went off the air in 1979. He spent over a quarter century trying to get the show back on the air and now that's its back Hatch has been relegated to a guest star appearance only.

While I enjoy BSG very much, especially compared to the debacle "Galactica 1980", the current show has slid into a rut.

Recent episodes have been blasé. I'm sure the upcoming trial of Baltar might prove interesting, but where are the Cylons? And why hasn't the writers concentrated more on the mysterious "five"?

While the program claims to be one of the best on television, the writers needs to inject more action scenes into the show otherwise BSG will just be another science fiction soap opera.

Personally I find recent episodes not up to the standards established in the first and second seasons.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

I wish that Galactica was back on Friday night's instead of Sunday, but that's just my opinion. As for Katie Sackhoff's departure from the show, thanks for the background information. As a regular viewer I didn't think that she was being under-utilized, but perhaps that’s true. The same goes for the tall blonde woman who is Baltar's lover. For a while Lucy Lawless was getting more air-time than Tricia Helfer, prompting me to think that Lawless might join the show as a regular. Someone made a good point here noting that Helfer's air time has been limited over recent episodes. Anyone know why?

 

[FilmCritic3K]

Thanks for the spoiler, [EDIT]

In case you don't know message board etiquette...

DON'T POST SPOILERS IN THE TITLE!


[EDIT-namecalling]

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Thanks for the spoiler, [EDIT]

In case you don't know message board etiquette...

DON'T POST SPOILERS IN THE TITLE!


[EDIT-namecalling]

Oh lighten up! Anyone who is a fan of the show already knew that Sackhoff was leaving. Besides the posting was made AFTER the show aired, not before. A person who uses profane words to emphasize their point needs to go grow up and be an adult.

 

[FilmCritic3K]

Thanks for the spoiler, [EDIT]

In case you don't know message board etiquette...

DON'T POST SPOILERS IN THE TITLE!


[EDIT-namecalling]

Oh lighten up! Anyone who is a fan of the show already knew that Sackhoff was leaving. Besides the posting was made AFTER the show aired, not before. A person who uses profane words to emphasize their point needs to go grow up and be an adult.

Uh, I am a fan of the series, have been watching since the miniseries, and did not know Katee Sackhoff was leaving. Like alot of people, I have TiVo and watch my favorite TV series at my own leisure. That's what's nice about having a DVR. Besides, it *is* common Internet knowledge (and has been for years and years now), on a vast array of message boards, that when one is discussing a book, movie, or TV series, posting spoilers as a title to a post is regarded as despicable behavior.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Thanks for the spoiler, [EDIT]

In case you don't know message board etiquette...

DON'T POST SPOILERS IN THE TITLE!


[EDIT-namecalling]

Oh lighten up! Anyone who is a fan of the show already knew that Sackhoff was leaving. Besides the posting was made AFTER the show aired, not before. A person who uses profane words to emphasize their point needs to go grow up and be an adult.

Uh, I am a fan of the series, have been watching since the miniseries, and did not know Katee Sackhoff was leaving. Like alot of people, I have TiVo and watch my favorite TV series at my own leisure. That's what's nice about having a DVR. Besides, it *is* common Internet knowledge (and has been for years and years now), on a vast array of message boards, that when one is discussing a book, movie, or TV series, posting spoilers as a title to a post is regarded as despicable behavior.

First I apologize if I spoiled the show for you, it was not my intention. But when it comes to your comment about despicable behavior, I find using profanity against another person just as despicable. Thank goodness this board's moderators sought fit to eliminate your swear words.

[In the interest of accuracy: when edits are made to user posts, the reasons for them are made clear at the bottom of the page. There was no profanity or anything that could be remotely considered a swear word In FilmCritic3K's post. Managing Board Editor]

 

[hootmon]

Maybe everyone should post their viewing schedule in order to avoid a discussion that may spoil a show unseen by someone else. I usually watch recorded shows within a day. Unless the weather is nice and that may delay it for a day or two. But then the weekend comes up, and there's house projects and dinners and parties, so it may go into next week. But then next week, I'm going out of town and then the week after that, there is a big project at work that will require some late nights.

HMMMMMM....I've got it. No discussing a show until the tenth year after the original air date. That should do it.


******SPOILER ALERT******
Film Critic: Last night, on Chiller, on the Monsters show.....................a doll killed the mailman. I hope I didn't ruin it for you, since it was about 20 years ago that I first saw this.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Thanks for the spoiler, [EDIT]

In case you don't know message board etiquette...

DON'T POST SPOILERS IN THE TITLE!


[EDIT-namecalling]

Oh lighten up! Anyone who is a fan of the show already knew that Sackhoff was leaving. Besides the posting was made AFTER the show aired, not before. A person who uses profane words to emphasize their point needs to go grow up and be an adult.

Uh, I am a fan of the series, have been watching since the miniseries, and did not know Katee Sackhoff was leaving. Like alot of people, I have TiVo and watch my favorite TV series at my own leisure. That's what's nice about having a DVR. Besides, it *is* common Internet knowledge (and has been for years and years now), on a vast array of message boards, that when one is discussing a book, movie, or TV series, posting spoilers as a title to a post is regarded as despicable behavior.

First I apologize if I spoiled the show for you, it was not my intention. But when it comes to your comment about despicable behavior, I find using profanity against another person just as despicable. Thank goodness this board's moderators sought fit to eliminate your swear words.

[In the interest of accuracy: when edits are made to user posts, the reasons for them are made clear at the bottom of the page. There was no profanity or anything that could be remotely considered a swear word In FilmCritic3K's post. Managing Board Editor]

Ok then he/she didn't swear. Just namecalling, which is a trait that I stopped after first grade.

 

[FilmCritic3K]

Thanks for the spoiler, [EDIT]

In case you don't know message board etiquette...

DON'T POST SPOILERS IN THE TITLE!


[EDIT-namecalling]

Oh lighten up! Anyone who is a fan of the show already knew that Sackhoff was leaving. Besides the posting was made AFTER the show aired, not before. A person who uses profane words to emphasize their point needs to go grow up and be an adult.

Uh, I am a fan of the series, have been watching since the miniseries, and did not know Katee Sackhoff was leaving. Like alot of people, I have TiVo and watch my favorite TV series at my own leisure. That's what's nice about having a DVR. Besides, it *is* common Internet knowledge (and has been for years and years now), on a vast array of message boards, that when one is discussing a book, movie, or TV series, posting spoilers as a title to a post is regarded as despicable behavior.

First I apologize if I spoiled the show for you, it was not my intention. But when it comes to your comment about despicable behavior, I find using profanity against another person just as despicable. Thank goodness this board's moderators sought fit to eliminate your swear words.

[In the interest of accuracy: when edits are made to user posts, the reasons for them are made clear at the bottom of the page. There was no profanity or anything that could be remotely considered a swear word In FilmCritic3K's post. Managing Board Editor]

My choice of words was not wise at all and for that I am sorry and apologize. I really enjoy this place and didn't like seeing a huge spoiler as a title. In future, I would greatly appreciate it if you'd avoid it please, and simply title the post the name of the show and episode.

 

[FilmCritic3K]

Maybe everyone should post their viewing schedule in order to avoid a discussion that may spoil a show unseen by someone else. I usually watch recorded shows within a day. Unless the weather is nice and that may delay it for a day or two. But then the weekend comes up, and there's house projects and dinners and parties, so it may go into next week. But then next week, I'm going out of town and then the week after that, there is a big project at work that will require some late nights.

HMMMMMM....I've got it. No discussing a show until the tenth year after the original air date. That should do it.


******SPOILER ALERT******
Film Critic: Last night, on Chiller, on the Monsters show.....................a doll killed the mailman. I hope I didn't ruin it for you, since it was about 20 years ago that I first saw this.

All I'm asking for is a little common courtesy regarding spoilers.

 

[Mark Giardina]

I can understand the frustration about having someone post a spoiler to a favoriate show. Yet, not in defense of the person who did this, if one goes on MSNBC or many other sites, they feature what has happened during the last episode. That's how my wife keeps up with Desperate Housewives, Lost, and (god forbid) American Idol.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

And besides, don't worry! He still makes great coffee! ;D

 

[FilmCritic3K]

And besides, don't worry! He still makes great coffee! ;D

I do love the coffee but I can't afford to pay $17 a cup so I just make it at home ;D

 

[TexasTom]

Maybe everyone should post their viewing schedule in order to avoid a discussion that may spoil a show unseen by someone else. I usually watch recorded shows within a day. Unless the weather is nice and that may delay it for a day or two. But then the weekend comes up, and there's house projects and dinners and parties, so it may go into next week. But then next week, I'm going out of town and then the week after that, there is a big project at work that will require some late nights.

HMMMMMM....I've got it. No discussing a show until the tenth year after the original air date. That should do it.

Really, all it takes is a few simple steps -- such as not posting the spoiler information in the title of the thread, and providing some warning upfront that spoiler information will follow.

That way, those who have already seen the program in question can contribute freely, while those who haven't yet watched get to decide whethe to read on or not.

Speaking of which...for anyone who hasn't seen the program yet, the following will contain minor spoilers:


Meanwhile, the controversy over the spoiler in the title seems to have derailed from the discussion of the actual program that was aired. Perhaps that is just as well, considering that it was one of the lousiest episodes that have aired in the entire series. If they were actually going to kill off Starbuck, the least they could have done is to have her die in the course of something worthwhile, rather than inflicting us with 43 minutes of unbelievable metaphysical drivel and pseudo-psychology first. Most of the show was dedicated to showing was an absolute witch Starbuck's mom was -- and then they turned around and gave us that incredibly unbelievable and out of character "reconciliation" scene between Starbuck and her mom right before Starbuck's suicide.

 

[Prodigalpete]

It should also be pointed out to those who were not around for the original series that Starbuck was lost in the final episode. I believe it was the episode where he and the Cylon were stranded together on the planet where there were people who had been lost from the original colonies. But I do remember that there was a story about the "legend" of Starbuck. I think that it was tragic in this series because I think there were still many ways to go with that character and still hold to the parallel with the original series. I thought Kara Thrace was the best. Comparing the two and considering that the original show by comparison was "hokey", Starbuck was far less geeky than Dirk Benedict's character.

Just as a thought, as well, when proceeding to the next stage, if they do find Earth I think that it was be a cool twist if the two civilizations did not evolve in a parallel. After all, the "legend" was that the 13th colony was lost in space. It holds that the other twelve continued to evolve and as we all see used space travel routinely. In other words I think it would be cool if the remnants of the 12 other colonies showed up and man on Earth had not advanced to our present stage, but were at the era, say, of the Roman Empire or the Barbarians or Middle Ages. Then to introduce the Cylons in the mix. Well, it would be cool to see what develops from there.

 

[TexasTom]

It should also be pointed out to those who were not around for the original series that Starbuck was lost in the final episode. I believe it was the episode where he and the Cylon were stranded together on the planet where there were people who had been lost from the original colonies. But I do remember that there was a story about the "legend" of Starbuck.

The story of Starbuck being stranded on that planet ran during the "Galactica 1980" follow-on series, and was definitely one of the better episodes from that series. I think that it may have been the final episode of "Galactica 1980", but am not certain because it has been such a long time.