Cylons

In the novelization of the series pilot, the Cylons are described as a militaristic, reptilian race which has been conquering its way across the galaxy. The novelization is written by Glen Larson, the series creator, who originally intended the Cylons to be an alien species; and, in fact, dialog which was later edited out of "Saga of a Star World" illustrated this point. However, network censors were concerned about violence, so the Cylons became robots. By this time, two novels had been written describing the Cylons as multibrained aliens, so the Cylon Drone was invented to justify all the robots dying on-screen. As living, organic beings, the original Cylon troops could be promoted through the surgical implantation of a second brain. When a Cylon was elevated to Imperious Leader, he received a third brain.

The novelization of the original series states that an elite class of Command Centurions act as executive officers to the Imperious Leader and are not subordinate to the IL-Series. In the TV series they are distinguished from other Command Centurions by black bands on their gold armor and are very rarely seen. Vulpa was originally of this class but had been demoted and stationed on ice planet Arcta.

In the later novelization of the original series it is stated that there is a class lower than the typical Centurion, that of the Cylon Drone. Although appearing identical to Centurions, Drones are robots, not capable of sophisticated independent thought—beyond following simple instructions to perform menial tasks.

The shows that the original Cylon models were extremely similar to the ones from the original series. In fact, actual props from the original were used in the display cases containing a Cylon Baseship and the upper torso and arms of a centurion.

re-imagined series

Two Cylon references can be witnessed in the series. In "Bendin' in the Wind", a Cylon is part of the musical duo Cylon and Garfunkel, a parody of Simon and Garfunkel. In "The Six Million Dollar Mon", Hermes has both a Cylon eye and a Cylon 'member' when in bed with his wife, LaBarbara.

Futurama

In the episode "I Shrink, Therefore I Am", Crichton's ship is invaded by a race with bioengineered exoskeletons. "This is John Crichton paging the head cylon, pick up the phone imperious leader."

Farscape

The classic Cylons have also appeared on on several occasions, the most notable in "Mayored to the Mob" during a sci-fi convention. There's a quick gag in a boxing arena where three Centurions square off against R2-D2 and C-3PO from Star Wars. ("See the mighty robots from Battlestar Galactica fight the gay robots from Star Wars!") They easily pin C-3PO to the floor, and R2 refuses to help.^[49]

The Simpsons

In the FOX animated series , the host of "KISS Forum" also hosts "Battlestar Galactica Forum" on Quahog's Public-access television cable TV channel. He introduces the forum by putting a classic Centurion mask on and saying "Welcome to Battlestar Galactica Forum" in traditional Cylon computerized-monotone.

Family Guy

Several Cylons appear briefly in the epic Imaginationland, as one of the evil fictional creations set free when the barrier between the "good" and "evil" halves of the imagination is destroyed by terrorists.

South Park

In the opening credits of certain seasons of , Dirk Benedict watches a Cylon walk past (while at the Universal Studios tour), raises a finger and opens his mouth as if to say something, then gives up. Dirk Benedict played the character Starbuck in the original Battlestar Galactica series. This scene is later recreated on the animated show Family Guy.

The A-Team

In a third season episode of , "Halloween Knight", the episode villain is shown briefly in a Cylon mask. Both series were created by Glen A. Larson.

Knight Rider

Cylons were the focus of a short skit on the program Robot Chicken, in which it is said that the original Cylon actors had so many problems walking around in their suits that they were constantly falling down.

Adult Swim

In episode "Space Family Daring", Riley finds a head of a Cylon in a cabinet on board the spaceship.

The Replacements

SpongeBob SquarePants

In the CBS program , the character Sheldon makes Cylon toast.^[50]

The Big Bang Theory

In the ABC medical drama , in season 12 episode 3, the character Maggie Pierce goes on a rant about being alone and refers to her sister Meredith as a Cylon. Quote: "You're a cylon, this is Galactica".

Grey's Anatomy

In the episode "Backslide" Jess thinks she is a Cylon because she cannot stay in relationships.

New Girl

at the Battlestar Wiki (Original series)

Cylons

at the Battlestar Wiki (Reboot series)

Cylons

at the Battlestar Wiki

Humanoid Cylon