The Evil and the Weak Must Be Purged

Leaving a window open on your computer playing old, bad television while going through email can lead to one of two things – inbox zero if you maintain your focus on the email, or more likely a couple of good animated GIF ideas for ds106.

Above is the fabulous Jack Palance playing the false prophet Kaleel in the episode Planet of the Slave Girls in the 1979 season of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Kaleel had the “touch of truth” and as he placed his glowing hands upon you – “if your heart was good and true, you would live.”

Palance played dozens of supporting roles in television and film, usually as some form of tough guy, thug, or killer. His intimidating presence and annunciated style of speaking often allowed him to steal the scene. Here Palance kills the audience (and the faithless) with his portrayal of an intolerant preacher who kept his weak and defenseless followers in line with a touch of death.

Though the Buck Rogers series is very dated, in the tradition of many SciFi series, it tried to tackle big issues. In this episode, the writers are likely commenting on the rise of televangelism during the late 70s. A lot of well know televangelists rose to prominence at this time – notably Jimmy Swaggart, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, and Jerry Fallwell – building financial and communication empires around themselves. The Palance character is a great riff on the “health and wealth” tv preacher. His touch of truth kills the faithless rather than healing the faithful. Also rather than have his followers give money to finance his ministry, he sells them into slavery to support the “good” cause.