Battlestar Galactica Is A Classic, But Katee Sackhoff Says The Premiere Got Slammed: ‘I was Booed’

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The Battlestar Galactica series has been a beloved part of science fiction for decades, originally gaining popularity in the 1970s and 80s. A reimagined version premiered on Syfy in 2003, captivating both longtime fans and new viewers with four seasons, a miniseries, and two TV movies. Though quite different from the original show, the reboot received widespread praise from critics. Interestingly, Katee Sackhoff, a star of the series, has said the original show didn’t start out very well.

Katee Sackhoff became a popular star for her role as Kara “Starbuck” Thrace, the pilot in Battlestar Galactica. However, the show didn’t immediately win everyone over, and her casting specifically received some negative reactions. Sackhoff recently discussed this on The Joe Rogan Experience, explaining that some fans were upset she was chosen for the role because the original series had a male Starbuck. She went on to say:

Our first experience at San Diego Comic Con was…rough. I actually got booed while on stage! This was back when the internet was brand new – it barely existed. Someone told me people were discussing the show on online forums, so I went to an internet café, completely clueless about what the internet even was.

Before the reimagined series, Battlestar Galactica initially ran for one season on ABC from 1978 to 1979, followed by a 10-episode run of Galactica 1980. This original series had already gained a dedicated following. Katee Sackhoff remembered seeing negative comments directed at her online and actively avoided searching for herself to avoid making things worse. However, she encountered this negativity in person at San Diego Comic-Con. Fortunately, she handled the situation with professionalism.

It definitely bothered me at the time, but thankfully, a lot of people were really supportive of the show, so I didn’t dwell on the negativity. I was also young – 23 – and probably a bit naive. Looking back, I think it would be much harder to deal with now. But back then, I didn’t expect the show to be successful anyway, so I just shrugged it off. It felt like a minor issue, especially being at a big event like Hall H. Gradually, though, the show started to win people over.

Taking on a well-loved character, even one with a relatively short original run, is always a challenge. However, Katee Sackhoff seemed unfazed. As she appeared at more fan events, she noticed a shift in the audience. People admitted they were hesitant at first, but ended up really enjoying the show, and the lines to meet her kept growing.

It’s understandable that science fiction fans have mixed feelings about a new Battlestar Galactica series. Luckily, many gave the show and Katee Sackhoff a chance, which is good because it could have gone either way. While the reboot was much darker and different from the original Battlestar Galactica, it eventually gained a dedicated following.

A few years ago, NBCUniversal planned to revive Battlestar Galactica on their Peacock streaming service, but as of July 2024, those plans have been cancelled. It’s unclear if the show will return in the future, but the successful reboot from the early 2000s – which remains popular with fans – might make people more receptive to another attempt.

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2025-10-28 02:09