Battlestar: Galactica had microns, centons, yahren, and other funny measurements.

Farscape has microts, arns, and other funny measurements.

Battlestar: Galactica had “felgercarb” and other epithets.

Farscape has “frell” and other epithets.

So why was it so stupid on Battlestar: Galactica but so cool on Farscape?

I mean, I know that Farscape is very cool, and Battlestar: Galactica is very stupid, just as a given.

But I can clearly remember that everyone thought the ersatz language in Battlestar: Galactica was also stupid. And everyone seems to think the same thing in Farscape is very cool, to the extent that I know of people (including my sainted wife) who, with a straight face, use the word “frell” in conversation.

Next week we’ll talk about “shazbat” and “nanoo-nanoo.”