Every time I see that kind of scene it creeps me out. It was very well done on this show and kept on going. The live newscast that goes poof was chilling. It reminded me of a couple of movies back in the 80's (the crazy scientist with a bomb on a ship in Charleston, Countdown to Looking Glass, By Dawn's Early Light, etc.).
It's difficult to compare this new version to the old one. The old one was for kids. This one isn't. I don't like the macho woman Starbuck. I do like the new Baltar. I see him as Clinton - his personal corruption leads to national tragedy.
It was an accurate portrayal of two things 1) the effects of a small nuclear blast at different distances and 2) the inflated sense of self importance in the media as it covers news events.
This video is recommended by BenLurkin to everyone who doesn't want to be surprised by the real thing when it comes.
"Countdown to looking Glass" was a different made for TV movie. It portrayed the lead-up top a full scale nuclear war. It included a chilling scene where the U.S. fleet off the Persian Gulf is attacked with nuclear torpedoes from a Russian sub.