Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Buck Rogers 1.11: “Cosmic Whiz Kid”


Airdate: 11/22/79

Duel of the Shorties!
11-year old Heronymous Fox, played by Diff’rent Strokes star Gary Coleman, has just been kidnapped by the evil Roderick Zale (Ray Walston). Fox is president of the planet Genesia, a world that cannot possibly meet Zale’s ransom demands, so they send Lt. Dia Cryton, who forcibly enlists the help of Buck Rogers, to carry out a rescue mission. Wilma also infiltrates the compound where Fox is being held, and through both her and Buck’s efforts they manage to return the pint-sized prez back to safety – and the galaxy is once again back to normal… at least for this week.

Then red-hot Coleman adds a much-needed boost of levity to the series with his guest appearance, and the dialogue they wrote for him makes fine use of his cute, street-smart comebacks and funny faces. Also great to see one of my favorite character actors, Ray Walston, return to light science fiction. (Evidently, the fall of ’79 was a busy time for him; he had also guest-starred on The Incredible Hulk just a month earlier.) Add to that the perfect abs of Melody Rogers (she wears a mid-riff baring top in every scene she’s in), and you’ve got pure, unadulterated late-70’s cheese with a pickle on the side. Amen!

PS: Best performance by a robot: Erin Gray’s snide “boss” when she goes undercover to rescue Zale.  He hates humans and never misses a chance to insult them whenever possible.


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