I've seen the original series. The remake ran much longer. The original series did not go off the air due to low ratings, but due to being too expensive (for the ratings.) The much cheaper original follow-up, Gallatica 1980 went off the air due to low ratings likely partly caused by the show running at 7 PM, which at that time was mandated for children's viewing. So, the show had to include education lessons for children (which it actually did very well) but also had to limit the amount of violence. In the end, the show was geared too much for children.
The classic series is fascinating. Even after
Star Wars, how did a broadcast network decide to dump enormous sums of money into a youth-oriented space opera inspired by Mormon theology? Many years ago, I tried watching it and made it through about ten minutes. (And it's not as if I lack a tolerance for sci-fi schlock - I made it through
Farscape.)
The reboot is a personal favorite. I can remember a time when it was one of the most discussed shows on the internet. Now it seems almost as forgotten as the original.
