Glen A. Larson

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Glen Albert Larson (January 3, 1937 – November 14, 2014) was an American television producer, writer, and composer. He created many series, including Alias Smith and Jones, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, Quincy, M.E., The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, B. J. and the Bear, The Fall Guy, Magnum, P.I., and Knight Rider. Active on television until the early 2010s, he was also a member of the folk revival/satire group The Four Preps.

Career

Larson began his career in the entertainment industry in 1956 as a member of the vocal group The Four Preps, with whom he appeared in one of the Gidget films. The Four Preps ultimately produced three gold records for Capitol, all of which Larson himself wrote and/or composed: "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)", "Big Man", and "Down by the Station". A later member of the Four Preps, David Somerville, and a session singer he knew, Gail Jensen, later collaborated with Larson to write and compose "The Unknown Stuntman", the theme from The Fall Guy; series lead Lee Majors performed this song over the opening titles.

After working for Quinn Martin on productions including The Fugitive (where he had his first writing credit), Larson signed a production deal with Universal Studios. His first hit series was Alias Smith and Jones, a 1971–1973 Western which described the activities of Hannibal Heyes and Jedediah "Kid" Curry, concentrating on their efforts to go straight. (George Roy Hill's film, scripted by William Goldman, about Butch Cassidy and the "Sundance Kid", is commonly believed to have been the inspiration for the series.)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Larson was involved in the development for television of The Six Million Dollar Man, based on Martin Caidin's novel Cyborg, into the successful series, and was one of the program's early executive producers.

Larson later secured a then-unprecedented $1 million per episode budget for Battlestar Galactica. The show incorporated many themes from Mormon theology, such as sealing (marriage) for "time and eternity" and a "council of twelve". Larson, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in real life,<ref>"LDS Scene", Ensign, August 1979, 80. In 1979, Larson received an award from the Associated Latter-day Media Artists.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> had been working on the concept since 1968 with former Star Trek producer Gene L. Coon mentoring him in its early development. Although, he originally wanted to name the series Adam's Ark, he instead opted for Galactica. He was later convinced to include the word "star" in the title to capitalize on the recently released film Star Wars, eventually morphing the title into Battlestar Galactica. Larson was similarly convinced to deviate from his plan to produce the property as a series of TV movies to a weekly hour-long series, which caught his crew by surprise with a production schedule more demanding than originally expected in terms of writing while it overwhelmed the series' budgetary limits.

Even with its generous budget, the series often recycled effects shots and was canceled after one season. The pilot episode, titled "Saga of a Star World" was edited into a two-hour theatrical film and a re-edit of the other episodes was released as a second theatrical feature film titled Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack. After the series was canceled, Larson went on to create a relatively low-budget sequel titled Galactica 1980, which was set many years later, when the Galactica had reached Earth. It was less successful than the original and was canceled after 10 episodes.

Larson re-used some of the sets, props, costumes, and effects work from Galactica for the light-hearted sci-fi series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century in 1979. Based on the comic-book character created in 1928 by Philip Francis Nowlan, Larson co-developed the series with Leslie Stevens. The feature-length pilot episode was released as a theatrical film in March 1979 and grossed $21 million at the North American box office.<ref>Box Office Mojo (Buck Rogers)</ref> The weekly television series began in September 1979, running for two seasons until April 1981.

In the 1980s, Larson had further success as one of the creators of Magnum, P.I., which ran from 1980 to 1988. Around the same time, he left Universal to work for 20th Century-Fox.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Additionally, Larson created The Fall Guy, which ran from 1981 to 1986. Larson's next prominent series was Knight Rider, which featured science-fiction elements with a light-hearted action-adventure scenario and limited violence. These basic elements characterized many of Larson's series' throughout the 1980s with Automan, Manimal and The Highwayman, though all of these shows were unsuccessful and none lasted more than a single season. Larson's profile declined, though he made a brief comeback in the 1990s with an adaptation of the Ultraverse comic Night Man, which lasted two seasons.

In 2003, Battlestar Galactica was remade for the Sci-Fi Channel as a miniseries; it was followed by a 2004 series, that lasted multiple seasons. Larson was not involved in any capacity with the new series, though he did receive a screen credit as "Consulting Producer". After the series ended in 2009, a short-lived prequel series, Caprica, followed in 2010. Larson was again not involved, but he was given a screen credit for the creation of certain characters.

In February 2009, media sources reported that Larson was in talks with Universal Pictures to bring Battlestar Galactica to the big screen, though any potential feature film would not be based on the recent Sci-Fi Channel series remake, but would possibly be based on the original series. The project stalled for some time; in 2011 a re-announced version was now no longer a continuation of the original series but rather a complete remake.

Criticism

Despite his success, much criticism has been aimed at Larson for his perceived general lack of originality as many of his television series are seen as small screen "knock-offs" of feature films. Harlan Ellison once referred to him as "Glen Larceny" for the similarities between Larson's shows and cinema blockbusters.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In his autobiography, The Garner Files, James Garner claimed that Larson stole a number of plots of The Rockford Files (which Garner's production company co-produced), then used them for his own shows, simply changing the dialogue minimally and using different character names. Garner's group complained to the Writer's Guild; Larson was fined, and an episode of Larson's series Switch, "Death by Resurrection", had the writing credits revised to give sole credit to the writers of the Rockford Files episode "This Case Is Closed", as it was the basis of the Switch episode. Nevertheless, Garner felt that the fine had taught Larson nothing when he persisted, including copying the theme music from The Rockford Files for one of his shows. Garner stated that when Larson subsequently showed up on the Rockford set, he put his arm around Garner and said: "I hope there are no hard feelings, Jim." After Larson ignored a warning by Garner to take his arm off him, Garner claimed to have punched Larson so hard that Larson "flew across the curb, into a motor home, and out the other side."<ref>James Garner & Jon Winokur. The Garner Files: A Memoir. Simon & Schuster, 2011. Template:ISBN. Chapter 7: "The Rockford Files" (page 129).</ref>

Lawsuit against Universal Studios

In July 2011, Larson began a lawsuit against Universal Studios, alleging a decades-long fraud and claimed the studio had not paid him a share of the profits owed from the television shows he produced while working with them. Larson's involvement with Universal had begun in the 1970s, and his contractual agreement had secured him net profits from the revenues generated by the shows he worked on as a producer, including The Six Million Dollar Man, Quincy, M.E., Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Magnum, P.I. and Knight Rider.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The dispute was settled in 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

This was not the first legal wrangle Larson had with the studio, as there had previously been a disagreement over ownership of rights to the Battlestar Galactica franchise. It was ultimately determined that Larson no longer owned the television rights to the property, but retained feature film rights.

Death

Larson died on November 14, 2014, in UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, California, from esophageal cancer, aged 77 and was survived by his wife Jeannie and nine children.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He is buried at Rose Hill Burial Park (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma).

Awards and honors

Larson also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the television industry.

Filmography

Title Year Director Writer Producer Creator Composer Notes
The Fugitive 1966 Template:Yes
Twelve O'Clock High 1966 Template:Yes
It Takes a Thief 1968–70 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
The Virginian 1970–71 Template:Yes Template:Yes
McCloud 1970–77 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Alias Smith and Jones 1971–73 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
The Six Million Dollar Man 1973 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes 2 additional television films
Fools, Females and Fun 1974 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Unsold pilot
Get Christie Love! 1975 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Switch 1975–78 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Quincy, M.E. 1976–83 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Benny and Barney: Las Vegas Undercover 1977 Template:Yes Template:Yes Television film
Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries 1977–78 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Evening in Byzantium 1978 Template:Yes Template:Yes Mini-series
The Islander 1978 Template:Yes Template:Yes Television film
A Double Life 1978 Template:Yes Template:Yes Television film
Battlestar Galactica 1978–79 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Pilot also theatrical release
Sword of Justice 1978–79 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Cliffhangers: The Secret Empire 1979 Template:Yes
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century 1979 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Theatrical film
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century 1979–81 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo 1979–81 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
B. J. and the Bear 1979–81 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Battles: The Murder That Wouldn't Die 1980 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Unsold pilot
Galactica 1980 1980 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Nightside 1980 Template:Yes Template:Yes Unsold pilot
Magnum, P.I. 1980–88 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Fitz and Bones 1981–82 Template:Yes Template:Yes
The Fall Guy 1981–86 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Rooster 1982 Template:Yes Template:Yes Unsold pilot
Simon & Simon 1982 Template:Yes
Knight Rider 1982–86 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Manimal 1983 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Trauma Center 1983 Template:Yes Template:Yes
Automan 1983–84 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Masquerade 1983–84 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Cover Up 1984–85 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Half Nelson 1985 Template:Yes Template:Yes
In Like Flynn 1985 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Unsold pilot
Crazy Dan 1986 Template:Yes Unsold pilot
The Highwayman 1987–88 Template:Yes Template:Yes
The Road Raiders 1989 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Television film
Chameleons 1989 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Unsold pilot
P.S. I Luv U 1991–92 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
Staying Afloat 1993 Template:Yes Television film
One West Waikiki 1994–96 Template:Yes Template:Yes
Team Knight Rider 1997–98 Template:Yes
Night Man 1997–99 Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes Template:Yes
The Darwin Conspiracy 1999 Template:Yes Template:Yes Television film
Millennium Man 1999 Template:Yes Template:Yes Television film
Battlestar Galactica<ref name=":0">"Consulting producer" credit only</ref> 2003-09 Template:Yes Template:Yes Including miniseries,<ref>Writer as "Christopher Eric James".</ref> TV movies (1, 2) & web-series
Knight Rider 2008-09 Template:Yes
Caprica<ref name=":0" /> 2009-10 Template:Yes
Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome<ref name=":0" /> 2012 Template:Yes Web-series

Books written

Title Year Co-writer Followed series Notes
The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula 1977 Michael Sloan Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Novelisation for two same name episode
Battlestar Galactica 1978 Robert Thurston Battlestar Galactica (1978) Novelisation for three-part pilot episode "Saga of a Star World"
The Cylon Death Machine 1979 Robert Thurston Battlestar Galactica (1978) Novelisation for two episodes "The Gun on Ice Planet Zero"
The Tombs of Kobol 1979 Robert Thurston Battlestar Galactica (1978) Novelisation for two episodes "Lost Planet of the Gods"
The Young Warriors 1980 Robert Thurston Battlestar Galactica (1978) Novelisation for episode "The Young Lords"
Galactica Discovers Earth 1980 Michael Resnick Galactica 1980 Novelisation for three same name episodes
The Living Legend 1982 Simon Hawke Battlestar Galactica (1978) Novelisation for two same name episodes
War of the Gods 1982 Simon Hawke Battlestar Galactica (1978) Novelisation for two same name episodes
Greetings from Earth 1983 Ron Goulart Battlestar Galactica (1978) Novelisation for two-part same name episode
Knight Rider 1983 Roger Hill Knight Rider (1982) Novelisation for two-part pilot episode "Knight of the Phoenix"
Trust Doesn't Rust 1984 Roger Hill Knight Rider (1982) Novelisation for same name episode
Experiment in Terra 1984 Ron Goulart Battlestar Galactica (1978) Novelisation for episodes "Baltar's Escape" and "Experiment in Terra"
Hearts of Stone 1984 Roger Hill Knight Rider (1982) Novelisation for same name episode
The 24-Carat Assassin<ref name=":1">UK released only</ref> 1984 Roger Hill Knight Rider (1982) Novelisation for two-part episode "Mouth of the Snake/All That Glitters"
Mirror Image<ref name=":1" /> 1984 Roger Hill Knight Rider (1982) Novelisation for two-part episode ""Goliath"
The Long Patrol 1984 Ron Goulart Battlestar Galactica (1978) Novelisation for same name episode
The Nightmare Machine 1985 Robert Thurston Template:N/a Original Battlestar Galactica novel
"Die, Chameleon!" 1986 Robert Thurston Template:N/a Original Battlestar Galactica novel
Apollo's War 1987 Robert Thurston Template:N/a Original Battlestar Galactica novel
Surrender the Galactica! 1988 Robert Thurston Template:N/a Original Battlestar Galactica novel

References

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