Glen A. Larson: Difference between revisions

From Battlestar Wiki, the free, open content Battlestar Galactica encyclopedia and episode guide
(Imported Wikipedia article, removed stub, removed TOS category)
(14, not 16)
(38 intermediate revisions by 21 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:Bsg_larson_glen_b&w_001.jpg|thumb|Glen A. Larson<br>(Source: Unknown)]]
{{expansion}}
{{derivative2|
{{Crew Data
INTERWIKI=Wikipedia|
| image=Bsg_larson_glen.jpg
TITLE=Glen A. Larson|
| role=Executive Producer
TITLE_TEXT=Glen A. Larson at Wikipedia|
| series=TOS
LICENSE=GNU FDL}}
| born_month=1
| born_day=3
| born_year=1937
| death_month=11
| death_day=14
| death_year=2014
| nationality=US
| imdb=0488991
}}


'''Glen A. Larson''' (born 1937) is a television writer and producer.  Some of his series have become cult hits and either remain in syndication or have been revived. Larson is sometimes compared to [[Wikipedia:Gene Roddenberry|Gene Roddenberry]] by fans of genre television. He began his career in the entertainment industry as a member of the singing group [[Wikipedia:The Four Preps|The Four Preps]] (with whom he appeared in one of the ''Gidget'' films).
'''Glen A. Larson''' (born 3 January 1937, died 14 November 2014) is the creator of the original ''[[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' and a "consulting producer" for the 2003 [[re-imagining|Re-imagined]] [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Series]].  


After working for [[Wikipedia:Quinn Martin|Quinn Martin]], Larson signed a production deal with [[Universal Studios|Universal]]. His first hit series was ''Alias Smith and Jones''. One of Larson's tactics has been to copy successful formats. He was involved in the development of ''The Six Million Dollar Man'' and later secured an unprecedented $1,000,000 per episode budget for ''[[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' which exploited the popularity of ''Star Wars'' ([[Wikipedia:George Lucas|George Lucas]] sued for copyright infringement and lost). Even with this generous budget the series was reportedly marred by recycled effects shots along with poor scripts and cancelled after a short run. The pilot episode of Galactica was refashioned as a theatrical release in North America and Europe, and in some Europeans markets was the top grossing film of 1979.
According to the Official Companion, Larson wanted a credit for the new 2003 [[Miniseries]] by [[Ronald D. Moore]] who began the Re-imagined Series, and his claim went to arbitration at the Writer's Guild of America. Ron Moore actually felt that Larson deserved a credit because the story was essentially the same as Larson's, just done "in different ways". As a result, Larson is credited in the Miniseries under the pseudonym "Christopher Eric James." Larson is also credited as a consulting producer on every episode of the Re-imagined Series because he holds the rights to the concept of ''Battlestar Galactica''.


Larson was known for co-authoring some of the themes to TV programs he produced, usually with the help of composer Stu Phillips.
== Early Life ==


Larson re-used sets, props, costumes, and effects work from ''Galactica'' to create the light-hearted sci-fi series ''Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'' (1979). Larson collaborated with [[Wikipedia:Donald Bellisario|Donald Bellisario]] in creating ''Magnum, P.I.'' one of the most enduring television series of the 1980s. (Curiously, "Magnum" was only developed because the production company had significant unutilized resources in Hawaii after the cancellation of "Hawaii 5-0".) 
As child to a single mother, Glen A. Larson would be later described as a "latchkey kid" by his son, [[David Larson]], who notes his father's predilection for running water as being a means to remind himself of the halcyon time in his childhood. This was because Glen A. Larson's mother would start running a bath upon returning from work at night, and thus Larson would know that she had returned.<ref name="p35">{{cite book/sswa|35}}</ref>


Larson also created ''The Fall Guy'', which made much use of stock footage as well. Larson's most influential series was probably ''Knight Rider'', featuring science-fiction elements with a light hearted action adventure scenario and limited violence. These basic elements characterised Larson's output through the 1980s with ''Automan'', ''Manimal'' and ''The Highwayman'' but few of these were renewed and Larson's popularity declined.  He made a brief comeback in the 1990s' with an adaptation of the Ultraverse comic Nightman, which lasted two seasons and became a small cult favourate, but failed to make a larger impact.
== The Four Preps ==


He was credited as ''consulting producer'' for the Sci-Fi Channel/Universal's radical 2003 [[re-imagining|remake]] of ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' which attracted wide attention and scattered critical praise.
Later in life as a kid, he became a page at [[w:NBC|NBC]], where he became surrounded by motion picture and, later, television production.<ref name="p35"/> During this time, he also entered music under [[w:The Four Preps|The Four Preps]] in the late 1950s, writing and performing songs that hit the top 5 in the [[w:Billboard chart|''Billboard pop charts]], including "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)"<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book
| first= Joseph
| last= Murrells
| year= 1978
| title= The Book of Golden Discs
| edition= 2nd
| publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd
| location= London
| page= 91
| isbn= 0-214-20512-6
| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr
}}</ref> and "Big Man." In 1959, Larson appeared in the film ''[[w:Gidget (film)|Gidget]]'', making it his first on-screen appearance.


Larson has a star on Hollywood Boulevard for his contributions to the television industry.
== Career ==


== External link ==
During his work with the Four Preps, Glen A. Larson began writing using [[w:IBM Selectric|IBM Selectric]]s, writing his first script called "Finger Popper," a script that has never been produced.<ref name="p35"/>
[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0488991/ Glen A. Larson] at the [[Wikipedia:The Internet Movie Database|Internet Movie Database]]


[[Category: A to Z]]
== Philosophy ==
 
When it came to writing, Larson believed that "writing isn't writing, it's rewriting" during the search for themes of a story. Whenever he would come across a story problem, he would "reverse it" -- "if you can't make something happen one way you look at the opposite [ways]."<ref name="p34">{{cite book/sswa|34}}</ref>
 
He was also known for isolating himself from distractions, secluding himself in his [[w:Malibu, California|Malibu, California]] residence when writing, not answering phone calls and delegating tasks to others.<ref name="p36">{{cite book/sswa|36}}</ref> [[Jeff Freilich]], [[Chris Bunch]], and [[Alan Cole]], among others, have noted this in various interviews relating to Larson's approach.
 
== Notable Filmography ==
*''It Takes a Thief'' (1968) (TV series) (associate producer)
*''The Six Million Dollar Man: Wine, Women and War'' (1973) (TV movie) (executive producer)
*''The Six Million Dollar Man: Solid Gold Kidnapping'' (1973) (TV movie) (executive producer)
*''Quincy, M.E.'' (1976) (TV series) (executive producer)
*''[[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' (1978)
*''Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'' Movie and TV series (1979)
*''[[Galactica 1980]]'' (1980)
*''Magnum, P.I.'' (1980)
*''Knight Rider'' (1982)
*''Team Knight Rider'' (1997) TV Series (executive producer)
*''Millennium Man'' (1999) (TV) (executive producer)
*''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' (2003) TV Miniseries (consulting producer)
*''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' (2004) TV Series (consulting producer)
*''[[Caprica (series)|Caprica]]'' (2009) TV Series (consulting producer)
 
== Official Statements ==
 
* ''Glen A. Larson comments on the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]]:''
 
:Our point was to whenever possible make it a departure like you're visiting somewhere else and {{TOS|List of terms|we did coin certain phrases}} for use in expletive situations, but we tried to carry that over into a lot of other stuff, even push brooms and the coin of the realm.<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/02/tv.what.the.frak.ap/|title=The curse word 'Battlestar Galactica' created|date=2 September 2008|accessdate=9 October 2008|last=|first=|format=|language=English}}</ref>
 
== External links ==
{{ext-wikipedia|article=Glen A. Larson}}
 
== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>
 
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Crew]]
[[Category:Crew (TOS)]]
[[Category:Crew (TOS)]]
[[Category:Producers]]
[[Category:TOS]]
[[de:Glen Larson]]
[[fr:Glen A. Larson]]

Revision as of 17:10, 16 November 2019

This article needs to be expanded.
Please improve this entry (Glen A. Larson) in accordance to the guidelines on requests for expansion and in any notations on the article's talk page. Once the requested improvements have been completed, you may remove this notice.
Glen A. Larson
Role: Executive Producer
BSG Universe: Original Series
Date of Birth: January 3, 1937
Date of Death: November 14, 2014
Age at Death: 77
Nationality: USA USA
IMDb profile

Glen A. Larson (born 3 January 1937, died 14 November 2014) is the creator of the original Battlestar Galactica and a "consulting producer" for the 2003 Re-imagined Series.

According to the Official Companion, Larson wanted a credit for the new 2003 Miniseries by Ronald D. Moore who began the Re-imagined Series, and his claim went to arbitration at the Writer's Guild of America. Ron Moore actually felt that Larson deserved a credit because the story was essentially the same as Larson's, just done "in different ways". As a result, Larson is credited in the Miniseries under the pseudonym "Christopher Eric James." Larson is also credited as a consulting producer on every episode of the Re-imagined Series because he holds the rights to the concept of Battlestar Galactica.

Early Life[edit]

As child to a single mother, Glen A. Larson would be later described as a "latchkey kid" by his son, David Larson, who notes his father's predilection for running water as being a means to remind himself of the halcyon time in his childhood. This was because Glen A. Larson's mother would start running a bath upon returning from work at night, and thus Larson would know that she had returned.[1]

The Four Preps[edit]

Later in life as a kid, he became a page at NBC, where he became surrounded by motion picture and, later, television production.[1] During this time, he also entered music under The Four Preps in the late 1950s, writing and performing songs that hit the top 5 in the Billboard pop charts, including "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)"[2] and "Big Man." In 1959, Larson appeared in the film Gidget, making it his first on-screen appearance.

Career[edit]

During his work with the Four Preps, Glen A. Larson began writing using IBM Selectrics, writing his first script called "Finger Popper," a script that has never been produced.[1]

Philosophy[edit]

When it came to writing, Larson believed that "writing isn't writing, it's rewriting" during the search for themes of a story. Whenever he would come across a story problem, he would "reverse it" -- "if you can't make something happen one way you look at the opposite [ways]."[3]

He was also known for isolating himself from distractions, secluding himself in his Malibu, California residence when writing, not answering phone calls and delegating tasks to others.[4] Jeff Freilich, Chris Bunch, and Alan Cole, among others, have noted this in various interviews relating to Larson's approach.

Notable Filmography[edit]

  • It Takes a Thief (1968) (TV series) (associate producer)
  • The Six Million Dollar Man: Wine, Women and War (1973) (TV movie) (executive producer)
  • The Six Million Dollar Man: Solid Gold Kidnapping (1973) (TV movie) (executive producer)
  • Quincy, M.E. (1976) (TV series) (executive producer)
  • Battlestar Galactica (1978)
  • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Movie and TV series (1979)
  • Galactica 1980 (1980)
  • Magnum, P.I. (1980)
  • Knight Rider (1982)
  • Team Knight Rider (1997) TV Series (executive producer)
  • Millennium Man (1999) (TV) (executive producer)
  • Battlestar Galactica (2003) TV Miniseries (consulting producer)
  • Battlestar Galactica (2004) TV Series (consulting producer)
  • Caprica (2009) TV Series (consulting producer)

Official Statements[edit]

Our point was to whenever possible make it a departure like you're visiting somewhere else and we did coin certain phrases for use in expletive situations, but we tried to carry that over into a lot of other stuff, even push brooms and the coin of the realm.[5]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Altman, Mark A.; Gross, Edward (2018). So Say We All: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Battlestar Galactica. Tor Books. ISBN 9781250128942, p. 35.
  2. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs, 2nd, London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd.
  3. Altman, Mark A.; Gross, Edward (2018). So Say We All: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Battlestar Galactica. Tor Books. ISBN 9781250128942, p. 34.
  4. Altman, Mark A.; Gross, Edward (2018). So Say We All: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Battlestar Galactica. Tor Books. ISBN 9781250128942, p. 36.
  5. The curse word 'Battlestar Galactica' created (backup available on Archive.org) . (2 September 2008). Retrieved on 9 October 2008.