If you're looking for vintage Science Fiction programming that kinda/sorta paved the wave for a whole host of shows that would inevitably follow in its footsteps, then look no further than Space Patrol. It lasted an incredible five seasons, breaking out on television sets on this day back in 1950 with its inaugural episode. It would garner an incredible two Primetime Emmy nominations at a time when there was practically no genre-specific competition, meaning it had to stand its own ground against much more conventional fare. Here's the series' premise as provided by IMDB.com:
"Commander Corey and youthful Cadet Happy roam the 30th century universe in their ship "Terra" fighting super-villains Mr. Proteus and Prince Baccarratti and other badguys. Captured badguys get zapped with the Paralyzer, then get reprogrammed with the Brainograph."
"Commander Corey and youthful Cadet Happy roam the 30th century universe in their ship "Terra" fighting super-villains Mr. Proteus and Prince Baccarratti and other badguys. Captured badguys get zapped with the Paralyzer, then get reprogrammed with the Brainograph."
One of my most favorite programs of the last decade (if not longer) is Star Wars: The Clone Wars because I think it's much closer to the spirit of the Original Star Wars Trilogy than was so much of the Prequels ... but that's an argument for another day and another time. On the show, voice actress Catherine Taber gave voice to several characters, the most prominent of which was none other than Senator Padme Amidala. The lovely Ms. Taber was born on this day in 1979. [Source: IMDB.com]
Jeanette Nolan was a staple of quality entertainment for so many years. With 200 different roles to her credit, SciFi fans probably know her best from appearances aboard The Twilight Zone, The Invaders, The Reluctant Astronaut (1967), The Incredible Hulk (CBS), and Goliath Awaits (1981). Though she's no longer with us, Nolan was born on this day in 1911. [Source: IMDB.com]
Regular readers of SciFiHistory.Net know just how huge a fan of All Things Superman I am, and character actor Joseph Bologna helped bring to life the character of Dan Turpin aboard Superman: The Animated Series during the program's run. Though he's no longer with us, Bologna was born on this day in 1934. [Source: IMDB.com]
Twin Peaks' resident wacky psychiatrist (as played by actor Russ Tamblyn) took a break from his patients to sign aboard Babylon 5 for a terrific guest appearance. Tamblyn was born on this day in 1934. [Source: IMDB.com]
Though he'll always remain best known for his voice work on Rugrats for a whole generation of TV viewers, Jack Riley did have a small role aboard Mel Brooks' SciFi comedy, Spaceballs. Though he's no longer with us, Riley was born on this day in 1935. [Source: IMDB.com]
Fred Ward appeared alongside Kevin Bacon (pictured above) in 1990's vastly underrated Tremors, a SciFi/Comedy that saw the two small-town handymen fighting a species of alien monsters who travel beneath the surface of the Earth. (If you haven't seen it, seriously, go do so.) Though he's no longer with us, Ward was born on this day in 1942. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Concetta Tomei continues to impress audiences no matter the demands of the work. SciFi fans might recognize her from appearances in Max Headroom, Star Trek: Voyager, and Deep Impact (1998). Tomei was born on this day in 1945. [Source: IMDB.com]
Lloyd Kaufman's is a name probably not well known in most households, but for those of us who grew up on a steady diet of B-Movies and the like it stands alongside many storytelling veterans. And to know Lloyd Kaufman's work is to love Lloyd Kaufman's work, so I encourage you to check out his many citations at IMDB.com right here. Kaufman was born on this day in 1945. [Source: IMDB.com]
In the 1970's, actor Michael Burns joined actress Lindsay Wagner -- better known as The Bionic Woman -- in the two-part adventure, "Fembots In Las Vegas." Burns was born on this day in 1947. [Source: IMDB.com]
Among Sheryl Lee Ralph's contributions to genre entertainment is voicework aboard Justice League as well as live acting appearances in Wonder Woman, V, and Amazing Stories. Ralph was born on this day in 1956. [Source: IMDB.com]
It's safe to say that the talented Patricia Kalember has really only dabbled in the realm of genre entertainment, what with small roles aboard Signs (2002) and Limitless (2011). Kalember was born on this day in 1957. [Source: IMDB.com]
SciFi and Fantasy films have always had an incredible roster of lovely ladies. Well, back in the days when 80's sensation Catherine Mary Stewart was 'all the rage,' I preferred to think of myself as a Kelli Maroney kind of guy. What can I say? I've got a soft spot for the plucky sidekick! In fact, she even joined Catherine Mary Stewart in playing mid-80's valley girls fighting the forces of evil that survived the Night of the Comet. She's so good that she makes Chopping Mall (1986) -- as awful as it can be -- downright watchable. And she also appeared in 1988's Not of This Earth. Not a bad resume, and I'll always love those eyes! Maroney was born on this day in 1960. [Source: IMDB.com]
The always likable George Newbern voiced no less than Superman himself as part of several DC Comics animated properties including Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, and a handful of direct-to-DVD releases. Newbern was born on this day in 1964. [Source: IMDB.com]
Talk about your dubious achievements: it's a long way from making a living by arranging Hollywood hook-ups to headlining a bit of SciFi cheesery perhaps best forgotten, but Heidi Fleiss did what she could with Alien 51 (2004) from Urban Girl Productions. Bless her heart! Fleiss was born on this day in 1965. [Source: IMDB.com]
Akosua Busia is likely better known for her work in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple, but she also had an appearance in Brother Future (1991), a time travel telefilm featuring the Civil War. Busia was born on this day in 1966. [Source: IMDB.com]
It looks like Bryan Burk is one of the 'creative folks' coming out of the JJ Abrams school of storytelling. According to his resume, he's thus far been involved with such projects as Alias, Lost, Star Trek (2009), Alcatraz, Fringe, Almost Human, Revolution, Believe, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015), 11.22.63, Person Of Interest, and Westworld ... to name but a few. Burk was born on this day in 1968. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Meredith Monroe played a small role aboard Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Minority Report (2002). She also provided the voice for Pepper Potts in the Iron Man and Iron Man 2 video games. Monroe was born on this day in 1969. [Source: IMDB.com]
Chris Vance played a fairly menacing Kryptonian, Non (a definite update to the character as depicted in Superman - The Movie and Superman II), through the inaugural season of Supergirl as it ran on CBS. Vance was born on this day in 1971. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Maureen Flannigan played an alien/human hybrid in the SciFi sitcom, Out of This World, for Bob Booker Productions. She also appeared in a guest role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Flannigan was born on this day in 1973. [Source: IMDB.com]
Though his IMDB profile is a bit slim as of late, Jason Behr became a bit of a heartthrob in the late 1990's by appearing on the teen-centered SciFi drama, Roswell. Behr was born on this day in 1973. [Source: IMDB.com]
Zahf Paroo enjoyed a shot at outer space aboard ABC's short-lived Defying Gravity. He's also booked appearances aboard Stargate: SG-1, Seven Days, Dark Angel, Andromeda, Battlestar Galactica, Fringe, Continuum, Polaris, Once Upon A Time, and The Magicians. Paroo was born on this day in 1975. [Source: IMDB.com]
Ahhh, I fell in love with Lucy Punch in the very clever rom/com The Wedding Video (2012), and thankfully she made the dip into genre with a top role in Netflix's Fantasy-themed A Series Of Unfortunate Events so that I can feature her in this space. Punch was born on this day in 1977. [Source: IMDB.com]
Tyrese Gibson was part of the military ensemble that helped make Michael Bay's first three Transformers films - Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon - even remotely interesting for those of us who wanted more human characters. Gibson was born on this day in 1978. [Source: IMDB.com]
Fact: you look like Eliza Dushku, and you're bound to get work in Hollywood. Dushku took the lead in Joss Whedon's Dollhouse, a SciFi-lite action series that dealt with beautiful agents with programmable minds doing jobs for the highest bidder. It lasted two seasons with its usual "Joss Whedon interesting enough idea," but it never really had solid ratings. Dushku was born on this day in 1980. [Source: IMDB.com]
As long as there has been Science Fiction and Fantasy, there have been opportunists willing to co-opt the genre for whatever nefarious purposes ... and, yes, that includes the Adult Film business. For what it's worth, I suppose that there's nothing wrong with a little soft TnA in the SF diet, perhaps a bit like what Kristen DeLuca provides in Space Spring Break (2014). DeLuca was born on this day in 1981. [Source: IMDB.com]
She was Lana Lang for a whole generation of Superman fans thanks to her work on Smallville. Kristin Kreuk has stayed near-and-dear to genre work: she can now be seen on the fantasy-themed Beauty and the Beast on television. Kreuk was born on this day in 1982. [Source: IMDB.com]
When she was but an urchin, young Noley Thorton made an appearance in "Imaginery Friend," a fifth season adventure for Star Trek: The Next Generation. As an actress, she also paid a visit (in a different role, of course) to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and even made the leap to Quantum Leap during its run. Thornton was born on this day in 1983. [Source: IMDB.com]
Syfy's miniseries adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's seminal Childhood's End presented audiences with a pretty big pill to swallow: essentially, all of it's a metaphor about accepting one's inevitable demise, thus the end of childhood. Ashley Zukerman played Jake Greggson in the mini, and Zukerman was born on this day in 1983. [Source: IMDB.com]
Fresh-faced Faye Marsay only recently entered the realm of BBC's long-running Doctor Who serial. In 2014's aptly titled "Last Christmas," she played Shona, a troubled young woman who joined forces with Clara Oswald briefly. (Watch the episode, and that'll make more sense!) Marsay was born on this day in 1986. [Source: IMDB.com]
Athletic and easy-on-the-eyes Caity Lotz was really all I found worth watching in 2013's largely derivative The Machine. In it, she starred as Ava, an android endowed with a fully-functioning brain that also made her self-aware. She's since gone on to fill the shoes (ahem) of Black Canary on the CW's popular Arrow program and 'took the reins' (as it were) aboard DC Comics' Legends Of Tomorrow. Lotz was born on this day in 1986. [Source: IMDB.com]
Jena Sims has dabbled in the fringes of Science Fiction, securing roles in such properties as Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader (2012), 3-Headed Shark Attack (2015), and Powers. Sims was born on this day in 1988. [Source: IMDB.com]
On this day in 1963 (in France), Amphibian Man submerged from the depths to grace the silver screen! According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"People living in a seaside town are frightened by reports about an unknown creature in the ocean. Nobody knows what it is, but it's really the son of Doctor Salvator. The doctor performed surgery on his son and now young Ichtiandr can live underwater. This gives him certain advantages, but creates a lot of problems."
"People living in a seaside town are frightened by reports about an unknown creature in the ocean. Nobody knows what it is, but it's really the son of Doctor Salvator. The doctor performed surgery on his son and now young Ichtiandr can live underwater. This gives him certain advantages, but creates a lot of problems."
On this day in 1976 (in Australia), Logan's Run made a break for it cinematically. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A police officer in the future uncovers the deadly secret behind a society that worships youth."
"A police officer in the future uncovers the deadly secret behind a society that worships youth."
On this day in 1982 (in Argentina), Walt Disney's TRON introduced audiences to the digital age of special effects. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A computer hacker is abducted into the digital world and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is with the help of a heroic security program."
"A computer hacker is abducted into the digital world and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is with the help of a heroic security program."
On this day in 1983 (in Ireland), Krull dazzled the masses with its (ahem) SciFi/Fantasy brilliance (ahem). According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A prince and a fellowship of companions set out to rescue his bride from a fortress of alien invaders who have arrived on their home planet."
"A prince and a fellowship of companions set out to rescue his bride from a fortress of alien invaders who have arrived on their home planet."
A star is born! On this day in 1987 (in Italy), the Apocalyptic-themed Urban Warriors found cinematic life. The feature starred Bruno Bilotta and Alex Vitale, and here's the premise as provided by IMDB.com:
"Three technicians working in an underground laboratory discover that a nuclear war has destroyed most of the aboveground world. After a brief search for food, the trio find that gangs of murderous mutants want them for their next meal. Will the scientists be able to find other uncontaminated humans to rebuild civilization with, or will they all end up as mutant chow?"
"Three technicians working in an underground laboratory discover that a nuclear war has destroyed most of the aboveground world. After a brief search for food, the trio find that gangs of murderous mutants want them for their next meal. Will the scientists be able to find other uncontaminated humans to rebuild civilization with, or will they all end up as mutant chow?"
On this day in 1996, Sci-fighters enjoyed its debut in the U.S. home video marketplace. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Boston, 2009. A police detective (Roddy Piper) searches for Adrian Dunn, his ex-partner (Billy Drago) who murdered his wife. Dunn has escaped from prison on the moon and returned to Earth with an alien virus."
"Boston, 2009. A police detective (Roddy Piper) searches for Adrian Dunn, his ex-partner (Billy Drago) who murdered his wife. Dunn has escaped from prison on the moon and returned to Earth with an alien virus."
On this day in 1997, Bombshell found onto video in the U.S. consumer marketplace. This SciFi/Thriller starred Henry Thomas and Madchen Amick, and here's the premise from IMDB.com:
"Characters in a bio technological firm utilize nanotechnology (miniature, smart robots) to control others for their own good."
"Characters in a bio technological firm utilize nanotechnology (miniature, smart robots) to control others for their own good."
On this day in 2003 (in the United Kingdom), the adult-themed SciFi romp The Exotic Time Machine 2: Forbidden Encounters found its release. According to our friends at Amazon.com, here's what all of the fuss was about:
"The forbidden time travelers continue their erotic travels... In an attempt to protect their time-traveling program, chuck and Melissa must travel the timeline to plant special beacons which will sabotage any effort to steal technology. Along the way our travelers meet and "mingle" with some of history's most famous characters. A hilarious encounter with the 1960's era hippy sisters TRIPPY and M00NBEAM will leave you feeling groovy. History class was never this much fun!"
"The forbidden time travelers continue their erotic travels... In an attempt to protect their time-traveling program, chuck and Melissa must travel the timeline to plant special beacons which will sabotage any effort to steal technology. Along the way our travelers meet and "mingle" with some of history's most famous characters. A hilarious encounter with the 1960's era hippy sisters TRIPPY and M00NBEAM will leave you feeling groovy. History class was never this much fun!"
It all began right here: on this day in 1950, Space Patrol blasted out over the television airwaves with the broadcast of its pilot episode, "Treachery On Mars." According to our friends at Trak.tv:
"Buzz Corry, the Commander of the Space Patrol is in route from the planet Terra to Earth. He is accompanied by Cadet Happy, a new Cadet and winner of the Corry Scholarship. They spot what appears to be a derelict guided missile. As they move to destroy the derelict, its engines fire and the missile launches toward the commander's craft. The missile narrowly misses and changes course to intercept. In reality, the missile is a disguised ""cosmic"" bomb controlled by Major Gorla from his fortress on Kars. The Major is assisted by Matra, an assistant to Terra' Secretary General. Together they plan to conquer the United Planets beginning with the murder of Commander Corry."
"Buzz Corry, the Commander of the Space Patrol is in route from the planet Terra to Earth. He is accompanied by Cadet Happy, a new Cadet and winner of the Corry Scholarship. They spot what appears to be a derelict guided missile. As they move to destroy the derelict, its engines fire and the missile launches toward the commander's craft. The missile narrowly misses and changes course to intercept. In reality, the missile is a disguised ""cosmic"" bomb controlled by Major Gorla from his fortress on Kars. The Major is assisted by Matra, an assistant to Terra' Secretary General. Together they plan to conquer the United Planets beginning with the murder of Commander Corry."
On this day in 1951, Out There aired "The Bus To Nowhere." Officially, this served as the tenth episode in the program's only season in original broadcast existence. As can happen with some of these older shows, I've been unable to locate a plot summary for the adventure, so -- in lieu -- I am placing the series' premise from IMDB.com:
"Innovative anthology series was one of the first adult-oriented science fiction series of the early-fifties and probably suffered for it. Teleplays were adapted from the best science fiction stories available from such masters as Ray Bradbury and Robert Heinlein."
"Innovative anthology series was one of the first adult-oriented science fiction series of the early-fifties and probably suffered for it. Teleplays were adapted from the best science fiction stories available from such masters as Ray Bradbury and Robert Heinlein."
On this day in 1959, Men Into Space aired "Quarantine." This served as the thirteenth episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Two scientists who can't get along are assigned to the same space station, and McCauley has to keep the peace."
"Two scientists who can't get along are assigned to the same space station, and McCauley has to keep the peace."
On this day in 1962 (in the United Kingdom), Fireball XL5 aired "Space Pen." Officially, this served as the tenth episode in the program's only season in original broadcast existence, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Space gangsters rob Steve's apartment and the isotope warehouse in Space City. Steve, Venus and Professor Matic must go to the Pen Planet to deal with them, but they might be up for a deadly surprise."
"Space gangsters rob Steve's apartment and the isotope warehouse in Space City. Steve, Venus and Professor Matic must go to the Pen Planet to deal with them, but they might be up for a deadly surprise."
On this day in 1965, Thunderbirds aired "The Mighty Atom." This served as the fourteenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"The Hood takes a special interest in the technology being used to run atomic irrigation plants around the world. His first attempt at stealing the technology leads to an atomic explosion. His second attempt using newly acquired spy equipment proves more successful but he decides to take everything a further step and try to steal the secret technology used by International Rescue."
"The Hood takes a special interest in the technology being used to run atomic irrigation plants around the world. His first attempt at stealing the technology leads to an atomic explosion. His second attempt using newly acquired spy equipment proves more successful but he decides to take everything a further step and try to steal the secret technology used by International Rescue."
On this day in 1966, The Time Tunnel aired its sixteenth episode. Here's the summary of "The Revenge of Robin Hood" from IMDB.com:
"In thirteenth century England, Doug and Tony become involved with the Earl of Huntington otherwise known as the legendary Robin Hood and their efforts to get King John to sign the Magna Carta."
"In thirteenth century England, Doug and Tony become involved with the Earl of Huntington otherwise known as the legendary Robin Hood and their efforts to get King John to sign the Magna Carta."
On this day in 1998, First Wave aired "Second Wave." Officially, this served as the seventeenth episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Foster investigates a UFO sighting and gets involved with some local peoples problems. Then the invasion begins and they all take cover together. Is Foster too late to stop it?"
"Foster investigates a UFO sighting and gets involved with some local peoples problems. Then the invasion begins and they all take cover together. Is Foster too late to stop it?"
On this day in 2002 (in the United Kingdom and Australia), John Crichton finally made it home again, though it wasn't exactly the home he remembered when Farscape aired "Kansas," the twelfth episode of its fourth (and final) season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's what you need to know about it all:
"Crichton has returned to Earth, but it's the 80's. And Crichton's father is supposed to fly the ill fated Challenger mission. They must save his father, or everyone on Moya will never have met. And some secrets are revealed about John's past."
"Crichton has returned to Earth, but it's the 80's. And Crichton's father is supposed to fly the ill fated Challenger mission. They must save his father, or everyone on Moya will never have met. And some secrets are revealed about John's past."
It all came down to this: on this day in 2011, Sanctuary bowed out of its original broadcast existence with the airing of its series finale, "Sanctuary For None: Part 02." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"SCIU has surrounded the 5th Ward with troops and an electric shield that prevents them from leaving. Caleb has a virus that can turn the human population into abnormals. Magnus enacts her ultimate plan for the Sanctuary network."
"SCIU has surrounded the 5th Ward with troops and an electric shield that prevents them from leaving. Caleb has a virus that can turn the human population into abnormals. Magnus enacts her ultimate plan for the Sanctuary network."
On this day in 2018, The Orville returned to the airwaves with the premiere of its second season. Officially, the episode was titled "Ja'loga," and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The crew face personal challenges on their way to witness Bortus perform a Moclan ceremony on his homeworld."
"The crew face personal challenges on their way to witness Bortus perform a Moclan ceremony on his homeworld."
