Not all that many people heard about so much as watched Roughnecks: The Starship Trooper Chronicles when it premieredon this day in 1999. Its inspiration -- the theatrical Starship Troopers -- was kinda/sorta split in fandom (probably as many folks liked it as loathed it), so the series never had much of a chance. And that's a shame because quite a bit of it is actually vastly superior to the original movie. I've read that the show actually developed a respectable following once it came out on DVD, but, by then, there just wasn't enough interest for Sony to give producers the money to wrap it all up nice and neat. Instead, the show ended on a massive cliffhanger, with the alien bugs poised to invade the planet Earth.
I'm willing to lay odds that few folks recognize the face of the lovely lady above. That there is none of than Mary Shelley. Folks interested in SciFi should definitely know who she is as Shelley practically 'engineered' a whole sub-genre of horror tinkering on the fringes of science with her seminal Gothic horror novel Frankenstein. Though she's no longer with us, Shelley was born on this day in 1797.
A young Raymond Massey sat thinking about his future in the film adaptation of H.G. Wells Things To Come (1936). Despite serving up an impressively visual last sequence, the film tinkers with its political messages far too closely to really be memorable so far as this viewer is concerned, but Massey (in multiple roles, as are most in the cast) certainly did his best to elevate the production. Though he's no longer with us, Massey was born on this day in 1896.
Unless I miss my guess, that looks like Joan Blondell is going to go all 'Rocky Balboa' on Burgess Meredith from an episode of the classic The Twilight Zone. Though she's no longer with us, Blondell was born on this day in 1906. [Source: IMDB.com]
Walt Disney Studios took the infinitely likeable Fred MacMurray and cast him as The Absent Minded Professor (1961), making him a SciFi movie star. Though he's no longer with us, MacMurray was born on this day in 1908. [Source: IMDB.com]
Funnyman Bill Daily will go down in TV history for his work aboard I Dream Of Jeannie and The Bob Newhart Show, but he also tried on SciFi/Horror for size with work aboard Alligator 2: The Mutation (1991). Though he's no longer with us, Daily was born on this day in 1927. [Source: IMDB.com]
The original Solaris (1972) is one of those films I've read plenty about yet never seen, mostly because what I've read hasn't much interested me in pursuing it. Still, kudos to Anatoliy Solonitsyn for making a key appearance in the flick. Though he's no longer with us, Solonitsyn was born on this day in 1934.
With just over fifty screen credits to his name, it's still surprising how many entries the late Don Pedro Colley managed to squeeze into genre projects. Fans might recognize him from work aboard The Wild Wild West, Beneath The Planet Of The Apes (1970), THX 1138 (1971), Night Gallery, The Bionic Woman, Space Academy, Quest Of The Delta Knights (1993), and Piranha (1995). Though he's no longer with us, Colley was born on this day in 1938. [Source: IMDB.com]
Smart and sexy Elizabeth Ashley played smart and sexy 'Dr. Erica Bergner' opposite Lee Majors' 'Steve Austin' in The Solid Gold Kidnapping, one of the original telefilms which launched The Six Million Dollar Man franchise. Ashley was born on this day in 1939. [Source: IMDB.com]
During his career in the business, Ben Jones paid a visit to the fourth season of Sliders for good measure. Jones was born on this day in 1941. [Source: IMDB.com]
The forever sexy Peggy Lipton (above center) had a role accepting mail from Kevin Costner in 1997's Apocalyptic drama The Postman. Though she's no longer with us, Lipton was born on this day in 1946.
Christopher Collins chewed scenery admirably (as a Klingon captain) with his work aboard Star Trek: The Next Generation's "A Matter Of Honor," but he was also the voice of a solid handful of additions to the original world of TV's animated The Transformers. Though he's no longer with us, Collins was born on this day in 1949. [Source: IMDB.com]
Throughout his career, Timothy Bottoms has popped up in a handful of franchises which tickle the fancy of SciFi fans. The versatile actor has scored roles in such properties as Invaders From Mars (1986), The Twilight Zone (1988), The Ray Bradbury Theatre (1990), and Land of the Lost (1991-92). Bottoms was born on this day in 1951.
Early in his professional career, the great David Paymer played a young scientist aboard Night Of The Creeps (1986). Though he tends to gravitate toward more conventional fare, Paymer also appeared in The Powers Of Matthew Star, The Greatest American Hero, and Howard The Duck (1986). Paymer was born on this day in 1954. [Source: IMDB.com]
The talented Joan McMurtrey played arguably what is one of the more tragic creations in Babylon 5 (wiki link here) in the guise of 'Carolyn Sanderson.' The actress also booked roles aboard Alien Nation, Dark Skies, and Tremors. McMurtrey was born on this day in 1958. [Source: IMDB.com]
Ely Pouget (pictured above center) has enjoyed roles in such SciFi projects as Death Machine (1994), Lawnmover Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace (1996), and Total Reality (1997). Pouget was born on this day in 1961.
That smiling astronaut is actor Michael Chiklis, tackling the role of Ben Grimm in Marvel's Fantastic Four (2005). (Though those of us who know the story know he won't be smiling for much longer!) The actor reprised the role in the sequel -- Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) -- but that franchise is in the midst of a reboot. Chiklis was born on this day in 1963.
Laeta Kalogridis is a producer and screenwriter who continues to impress fans with work on such properties as Birds Of Prey, Bionic Woman, Terminator Genisys (2015), and Altered Carbon. Kalogridis was born on this day in 1965. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Michael Michele played a role aboard the 1998 television miniseries Creature for Hallmark Entertainment. Michele was born on this day in 1966. [Source: IMDB.com]
Not even a vision as lovely as Frederique Van Der Wal could elevate Wild Wild West (1999) to the former blockbuster status of Will Smith. Van Der Wal was born on this day in 1967. [Source: IMDB.com]
I know, I know: some of these SciFi citations may not amount to much, that doesn't negate the 'cool factor' you can gain by surprising your friends with a bit of trivia from time-to-time. Back in the days when Cameron Diaz was being linked to Tom Cruise, she offered up a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo in Minority Report (2002). Diaz was born on this day in 1972. [Source: IMDB.com]
Kimberley Joseph was one of the many, many secondary characters given the chance to play out a small arc as part of ABC TV's long-running Lost. Joseph was born on this day in 1973.
Writer and producer J.J. Philbin has certainly veered as of late toward much more conventional fare, but her involvement with NBC's Heroes franchise still deserves a mention. Philbin was born on this day in 1974. [Source: IMDB.com]
Elden Henson got all up into Ashton Kutcher's business for manipulating time in 2004's cultish The Butterfly Effect. The actor has also scored roles in Amazing Stories, Evil Alien Conquerors, Deja Vu, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2. Henson was born on this day in 1977.
Angel Coulby played a role in the 2006 episode of the BBC's Doctor Who, "The Girl In The Fireplace." For the record, she's also the voice of Kayo in the current animated relaunch of Thunderbirds Are Go. Coulby was born on this day in 1980.
Emily Montague played a role aboard the SciFi/Horror hybrid The Endless from Snowfort Pictures. As for genre contributions, she also appeared in the under-appreciated Fright Night reboot. Montague was born on this day in 1984. [Source: IMDB.com]
Johanna Braddy proved she had the right stuff (and even came armed for more) for her work aboard Video Game High School. Braddy was born on this day in 1987. [Source: IMDB.com]
Gaia Weiss proved herself to be a force to be reckoned with for her work in The Legend of Hercules (2014). She's also enjoyed a guest spot aboard Starz Networks' popular Outlander adaptation. Weiss was born on this day in 1991. [Source: IMDB.com]
JJ Abrams' bland and unoriginal Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens gave a slew of otherwise colorful actors and actresses the chance to fill up some bland and unoriginal characters, including Jessica Henwick's turn as Rebel pilot Jess Pava. Henwick was born on this day in 1992.
What do you do when you're the lovely Viktoriya Agalakova and your star is on the rise? You continue to seek out new roles in the realm of Science Fiction and Fantasy, meaning that she may just be seen as something out of this world in the forthcoming Gatekeeper Of The Galaxy. Agalakova was born on this day in 1996. [Source: IMDB.com]
Young Raffey Cassidy did what she could to catapult Walt Disney's Tomorrowland into the stratosphere, but alas even the most ambitious youngster can only accomplish so much with the weight of George Clooney wrapped around her neck. Cassidy was born on this day in 2002. [Source: IMDB.com]
On this day in 1963 (in Finland), Walt Disney's Son of Flubber opened in theatres. The film starred Fred MacMurray and Nancy Olson, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"When Professor Brainard experiments further on Flubber derivatives, he gets in trouble and only his students can help."
"When Professor Brainard experiments further on Flubber derivatives, he gets in trouble and only his students can help."
On this day in 1979 (in Puerto Rico), Ridley Scott's SciFi/Classic Alien took a bite out of the box office. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"In the distant future, the crew of the commercial spaceship Nostromo are on their way home when they pick up a distress call from a distant moon. The crew are under obligation to investigate and the spaceship descends on the moon afterwards. After a rough landing, three crew members leave the spaceship to explore the area on the moon. At the same time as they discover a hive colony of some unknown creature, the ship's computer deciphers the message to be a warning, not a distress call. When one of the eggs is disturbed, the crew realizes that they are not alone on the spaceship and they must deal with the consequences."
"In the distant future, the crew of the commercial spaceship Nostromo are on their way home when they pick up a distress call from a distant moon. The crew are under obligation to investigate and the spaceship descends on the moon afterwards. After a rough landing, three crew members leave the spaceship to explore the area on the moon. At the same time as they discover a hive colony of some unknown creature, the ship's computer deciphers the message to be a warning, not a distress call. When one of the eggs is disturbed, the crew realizes that they are not alone on the spaceship and they must deal with the consequences."
On this day in 1979 (in Mexico), Stella Star took to the silver screen with the release of Starcrash. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Outlaw smugglers Stella Star and Akton manage to pick up a castaway while running from the authorities, who turns out to be the only survivor from a secret mission to destroy a mysterious superweapon designed by the evil Count Zarth Arn. The smugglers are soon recruited by the Emperor of the Galaxy to complete the mission, as well as to rescue the Emperor's son, who has gone missing."
"Outlaw smugglers Stella Star and Akton manage to pick up a castaway while running from the authorities, who turns out to be the only survivor from a secret mission to destroy a mysterious superweapon designed by the evil Count Zarth Arn. The smugglers are soon recruited by the Emperor of the Galaxy to complete the mission, as well as to rescue the Emperor's son, who has gone missing."
On this day in 1980 (in Italy), The Quatermass Conclusion enjoyed a brief theatrical run. The SciFi feature starred John Mills and Barbara Kellerman, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A separate screenplay by Nigel Kneale for theaters, parallel to the 1979 Quatermass four part mini-series. The story set in the near future involves influences from outer space that are possessing people. Professor Quatermass must save his granddaughter from the clutches of a popular and sinister cult "Planet People" that "performs raptures"."
"A separate screenplay by Nigel Kneale for theaters, parallel to the 1979 Quatermass four part mini-series. The story set in the near future involves influences from outer space that are possessing people. Professor Quatermass must save his granddaughter from the clutches of a popular and sinister cult "Planet People" that "performs raptures"."
On this day in 1985 (in Sweden), the box office turned a bit jurassic with the release of Baby: Secret Of The Lost Legend. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A paleontologist and her husband discover a mother and baby brontosaurus in Africa, and try to protect them from a group of hunters intent on capturing the dinosaurs."
"A paleontologist and her husband discover a mother and baby brontosaurus in Africa, and try to protect them from a group of hunters intent on capturing the dinosaurs."
A star is born! On this day in 2003 (in Japan), Dragonhead (aka Dragon Head) took audiences on yet one more trip into mankind's oblivion. Directed by Jôji Iida, this Apocalypse/Drama starred Satoshi Tsumabuki, Sayaka Kanda, and Takayuki Yamada; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A teenage boy wakes up and finds himself on a train. He vaguely remembers being on a class trip when something terrible happened, and he is one of the few survivors."
For the record: The film's lead -- Satoshi Tsumabuki -- scored a pair of 'Best Actor' wins for his work in the flick.
"A teenage boy wakes up and finds himself on a train. He vaguely remembers being on a class trip when something terrible happened, and he is one of the few survivors."
For the record: The film's lead -- Satoshi Tsumabuki -- scored a pair of 'Best Actor' wins for his work in the flick.
On this day in 2009 (in the Netherlands), Painkiller Jane took aim and fired at its target audience. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"After an army unit is exposed to a biochemical weapon, everyone is killed except one young woman. She not only recovers from the exposure but has developed the ability to recover from any type of injury within days. After discovering that the army is not trying to help cure her, but rather is experimenting on her to develop a serum to be used on other soldiers, she escapes. Obviously the army wants to hunt her down and get her back under their security."
"After an army unit is exposed to a biochemical weapon, everyone is killed except one young woman. She not only recovers from the exposure but has developed the ability to recover from any type of injury within days. After discovering that the army is not trying to help cure her, but rather is experimenting on her to develop a serum to be used on other soldiers, she escapes. Obviously the army wants to hunt her down and get her back under their security."
On this day in 2016 (per Amazon.com), the 1985-produced Evils Of The Night enjoyed a special edition DVD release from Vinegar Syndrome. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Vacationing teens are systematically kidnapped and taken to a strange, rural hospital, run by a mysterious group that needs their blood."
"Vacationing teens are systematically kidnapped and taken to a strange, rural hospital, run by a mysterious group that needs their blood."
A star is born! On this day in 2016 (in Brazil and the U.S.), Maximum Ride delivered an adaptation of the James Patterson YA novel to unsuspecting audiences. Directed by Jay Martin, the Fantasy feature starred Allie Marie Evans, Patrick Johnson, and Lyliana Wray; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Having been broken out from the lab that created them, six winged children have cared for themselves over the last two years in an isolated mountain home. Their fragile peace ends when wolf-boys (known as Erasers) abduct their youngest. The flock (as they're called) takes flight for a rescue, only to discover their true situation."
"Having been broken out from the lab that created them, six winged children have cared for themselves over the last two years in an isolated mountain home. Their fragile peace ends when wolf-boys (known as Erasers) abduct their youngest. The flock (as they're called) takes flight for a rescue, only to discover their true situation."
A star is born! On this day in 2019, Bloodsucker's Planet tried to suck the blood out of audiences in attendance of the GenreBlast Film Festival. Written and directed by Mark Beal, the SciFi/Horror starred Cory W. Ahre, Jessica Bell, and Joe Grisaffi; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"In this '60s retro prequel to the bizarro-noir Bloodsucker's Handbook (AKA Enchiridion), Bloodsucker's Planet follows the crew of the space ship Argosy as they respond to a distress signal from the industrial Planet Mara only to discover the planet is ruled by the sinister Mother Vampire. Along the way, they encounter disease-carrying Mara bats, a talking space roach, and Adrianna, the gynoid whose developing self-awareness is aided by her collection of vintage romance comics."
"In this '60s retro prequel to the bizarro-noir Bloodsucker's Handbook (AKA Enchiridion), Bloodsucker's Planet follows the crew of the space ship Argosy as they respond to a distress signal from the industrial Planet Mara only to discover the planet is ruled by the sinister Mother Vampire. Along the way, they encounter disease-carrying Mara bats, a talking space roach, and Adrianna, the gynoid whose developing self-awareness is aided by her collection of vintage romance comics."
On this day in 2019, The Tangle played for audiences in attendance of the GenreBlast Film Festival. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Set in a near future in which the Tangle connects everyone to everything via hard drives in the brain, a group of government agents try to protect humanity from within hidden technology saferooms, rooms the Tangle cannot reach."
"Set in a near future in which the Tangle connects everyone to everything via hard drives in the brain, a group of government agents try to protect humanity from within hidden technology saferooms, rooms the Tangle cannot reach."
A star is born! On this day in 2020 (in Canada), Come True played for audiences in attendance of the Fantasia Film Festival. With a script and directed by Anthony Scott Burns, the SciFi/Horror starred Julia Sarah Stone, Landon Liboiron, and Carlee Ryski; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"High school student Sarah is at her lowest point when she runs away from home and finds herself with no one to rely on and struggling with recurring nightmares. She chances upon a university sleep study that offers the promise of safety and money, and which also brings her an unexpected friend and confidant in the overseeing scientist Jeremy. But there's something curious about proceedings, and being under observation seems to make Sarah's disturbing dreams even worse. As the darkness begins to close in, it's soon clear that Sarah has unknowingly become the conduit to a horrifying new discovery."
For the record: At the 2020 Canadian Blood In The Snow Film Festival, this tight little chiller racked up some incredible recognition, including wins for 'Best Music Score,' 'Best FX Makeup - Feature,' 'Best Cinematography,' 'Best Screenplay,' 'Best Actress,' and 'Best Feature Film.'
"High school student Sarah is at her lowest point when she runs away from home and finds herself with no one to rely on and struggling with recurring nightmares. She chances upon a university sleep study that offers the promise of safety and money, and which also brings her an unexpected friend and confidant in the overseeing scientist Jeremy. But there's something curious about proceedings, and being under observation seems to make Sarah's disturbing dreams even worse. As the darkness begins to close in, it's soon clear that Sarah has unknowingly become the conduit to a horrifying new discovery."
For the record: At the 2020 Canadian Blood In The Snow Film Festival, this tight little chiller racked up some incredible recognition, including wins for 'Best Music Score,' 'Best FX Makeup - Feature,' 'Best Cinematography,' 'Best Screenplay,' 'Best Actress,' and 'Best Feature Film.'
On this day in 1980, Doctor Who aired "The Leisure Hive: Part 1." This served as the first episode of the program's eighteenth season, and here's the premise that's listed on IMDB.com:
"Finding out-of-season Brighton beach somewhat lacking, the Doctor and Romana travel to the leisure planet Argolis - but there strange experiments are taking place."
"Finding out-of-season Brighton beach somewhat lacking, the Doctor and Romana travel to the leisure planet Argolis - but there strange experiments are taking place."
On this day in 2003, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed aired "A Place For The Soul." This served as the forty-sixth episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A war is under way between genetically enhanced Coordinators and unmodified Naturals."
"A war is under way between genetically enhanced Coordinators and unmodified Naturals."
On this day in 2003, Starhunter aired "Chasing Janus." This served as the fourth episode to the program's rebooted second season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"It is the year 2300. Bounty hunter Travis Montana, his female cousin Percy and his misfit crew patrol the galaxy hunting criminals. Travis searches for his lost father Dante while investigating the secrets of the mysterious Divinity Cluster."
"It is the year 2300. Bounty hunter Travis Montana, his female cousin Percy and his misfit crew patrol the galaxy hunting criminals. Travis searches for his lost father Dante while investigating the secrets of the mysterious Divinity Cluster."
On this day in 2014, Doctor Who aired "Into the Dalek." This served as the second episode to the popular program's eighth season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"The Doctor and Clara find themselves inside of a supposedly good Dalek."
"The Doctor and Clara find themselves inside of a supposedly good Dalek."
It all came down to this: on this day in 2015, TNT's Falling Skies aired its series finale. It was titled "Reborn," and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"The final standoff brings the Masons, 2nd Mass, and their new allies into the bowels of an American location, wrought with unpredictable obstacles."
For the record: Falling Skies was gifted with a pretty solid cast, but -- for what it's worth -- I thought the show meandered through too many of its seasons almost as if it was constantly in search of a greater plot. When what really mattered was an alien invasion, it went off in search of allegories like 'Hitler Youth,' occasionally giving off the vibe that no one knew where this was all going to end. It did, eventually, end and did so with a relatively impressive record, scoring a wealth of award nominations and even a few statues along the way. Kudos to all involved.
"The final standoff brings the Masons, 2nd Mass, and their new allies into the bowels of an American location, wrought with unpredictable obstacles."
For the record: Falling Skies was gifted with a pretty solid cast, but -- for what it's worth -- I thought the show meandered through too many of its seasons almost as if it was constantly in search of a greater plot. When what really mattered was an alien invasion, it went off in search of allegories like 'Hitler Youth,' occasionally giving off the vibe that no one knew where this was all going to end. It did, eventually, end and did so with a relatively impressive record, scoring a wealth of award nominations and even a few statues along the way. Kudos to all involved.
On this day in 2016, Zoo aired "The Contingency." This served as the eleventh episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Mitch and Jamie find themselves in the middle of an animal attack at the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Jackson finally gets the answers he's been looking for...and it's from a surprising source."
"Mitch and Jamie find themselves in the middle of an animal attack at the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Jackson finally gets the answers he's been looking for...and it's from a surprising source."
On this day in 2017, Salvation aired "Coup de Grace." This served as the tenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Grace and Darius seek answers from the President and Harris discovers deadly secrets."
"Grace and Darius seek answers from the President and Harris discovers deadly secrets."
