the first series was created in 1978 after the successful theater release of "". the series was shown on the american network abc. the series lasted for eight months and 17 episodes before it ended. the cost of making the series was said to be one of the reasons for it ending. the series starred lorne greene as commander adama, captain of the galactica. richard hatch played his son, the pilot apollo. dirk benedict played apollo's friend and fellow pilot, starbuck.