Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Return of the Fighting 69th
TV Flash files “Return of the Fighting 69th” as a desk essential hour — Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979–1981) on NBC, season 1, episode 8, aired 1979-10-25, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E08: listed hour 8 of 37 in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century guide, hour 8 of 24 in season 1. It aired 1979-10-25 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “The Plot to Kill a City (2)” (S01E07). Next is “Unchained Woman” (S01E09).
Essential hour: “Return of the Fighting 69th”. Return of the Fighting 69th is Earth-war folklore in the 25th century. The flyboy brief restated: past as costume, Wilma still the command presence, the wink still the tone.
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Commander Corliss and Roxanne Trent lead a criminal organization holed up in the Necrosis asteroid belt. No one can reach them there because no one knows how to enter except them - and an old fighter pilot Wilma forced out of service for medical reasons. When Corliss steals a quantity of nerve gas slated for destruction, reaching him becomes essential. He plans to release the gas in Earth's atmosphere: revenge for his maiming during a narrow escape from Earth forces. Wilma must ask a man she recently described as inadequate for help.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Return of the Fighting 69th sit in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century guide?
S01E08 is listed hour 8 of 37 — hour 8 of 24 in season 1, season 1 episode 8.
When did Buck Rogers in the 25th Century S01E08 air?
Return of the Fighting 69th aired 1979-10-25 and is listed at 60 minutes.
Pilot movie first?
Yes if you want the slickest gloss. The 1979 theatrical/TV feature launched the series; Gerard, Gray, and Twiki follow into the weekly hour.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Gil Gerard thaws a twentieth-century flyboy into disco-era space, with Erin Gray's Col. Wilma Deering as the actual command presence and Twiki as comic sidekick. Post-Star Wars network sci-fi with a slick pilot movie and toyetic charm. Lasers, jumpsuits, and a wink aimed at the merch aisle.
Open on a thaw. Twentieth-century astronaut Buck Rogers awakens in the 25th century to help Earth defense forces battle galactic threats: NBC's Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979–1981), from Glen A. Larson and Leslie Stevens, began as a 1979 theatrical/TV pilot feature. Gil Gerard's thawed flyboy, Erin Gray's Col. Wilma Deering as the actual command presence, Felix Silla and Mel Blanc's Twiki, Tim O'Connor's Dr. Elias Huer. Twiki and Dr. Theopolis added kid-friendly robot banter. Part of Larson's late-1970s…
Open the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century package · Season 1 hub
Filed against
- Gil Gerard as Capt. William 'Buck' Rogers
Gil Gerard thawed a twentieth-century flyboy into disco-era space as Capt. William 'Buck' Rogers — Erin Gray's Col. Wilma Deering as command presence, Twiki as comic sidekick, post-Star Wars network sci-fi with toyetic charm. TV Flash…
- Erin Gray as Col. Wilma Deering
Erin Gray’s Col. Wilma Deering made Buck Rogers in the 25th Century the actual command presence — 1970s catalog disco-era space, jumpsuits, a flyboy thawed into toyetic charm, then Silver Spoons stretching the steel into 1980s mansion…
- Felix Silla as Twiki (body)
Felix Silla wore Twiki on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century — disco-era space, Gil Gerard thawed into jumpsuits, Erin Gray's actual command presence, and a comic robot whose body had to walk the gag. Post-Star Wars network sci-fi, toyetic…
- Mel Blanc as Twiki (voice)
Mel Blanc’s Barney Rubble gave The Flintstones its next-door giggle — 1960s catalog Bedrock, a laugh-track sitcom in stone, the pal Fred could not do without. The Jetsons and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century kept the most famous voice in…
- Tim O'Connor as Dr. Elias Huer
Tim O'Connor briefed Buck Rogers in the 25th Century as Dr. Elias Huer — disco-era space, a twentieth-century flyboy thawed into jumpsuits, toyetic charm, lasers with a wink aimed at the merch. Post-space-opera network sci-fi. TV Flash…