On this day in 1964, Doctor Who aired "The Singing Sands" as part of its epic first season. Here's the episode summary from IMDB.com:
"Tegana sabotages the party's water bags, leaving them in dire need of fresh supplies."
"Tegana sabotages the party's water bags, leaving them in dire need of fresh supplies."
How incredible is it that something you wrote centuries ago is still being used to this day? Such is the case with composer Gioachino Rossini whose works continue to inspire storytellers and have been used in a wide, wide array of influences from projects like Marvel's Logan (2017) all the way to Spongebob Squarepants. Though he's no longer with us, Rossini was born on this day in 1792. [Source: IMDB.com]
She may have passed away, but the legacy of singer Dinah Shore lives on! Tracks from her have been used to embolden such genre projects as The Vampire Diaries and AMC's Fear The Walking Dead. Though she's no longer with us, Shore was born on this day in 1916. [Source: IMDB.com]
1953's Invaders From Mars remains one of the more fondly remembered SciFi flicks of yesteryear, and Arthur Franz (above center) played Dr. Stuart Kelston in the motion picture. The talented actor also made several appearances aboard the classic TV show, Science Fiction Theatre. Though he's no longer with us, Franz was born on this day in 1920. [Source: IMDB.com]
In the same year that film editor David Bretherton won an Oscar for his work on the movie musical Cabaret, he was also busy putting the editing touches to Michael Critchton's Westworld (1973) for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Though he's no longer with us, Bretherton was born on this day in 1924. [Source: IMDB.com]
I suspect most people recognize Joss Ackland from his appearance as 'the heavy' (meaning "the bad guy") opposite Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon 2 (1989), but he also made an appearance in Shadowchaser (1992), a SciFi-themed flick involving terrorism, robots, and politics. Ackland was born on this day in 1928.
There's no doubt that Edward Faulkner will always be remembered for his work in Westerns, but he did have roles outside of that genre, including work in The Invaders, Stowaway To The Moon (1975), and The Six Million Dollar Man. Faulkner was born on this day in 1932. [Source: IMDB.com]
Are you up for a little curious serendipity? Very early in his career, Alex Rocco enjoyed a guest visit to the world of late 60's TV incarnation of Batman; and in a curious bookended moment to his professional late, one of his last bits of screen work was providing the voice for an aging gangster in the DC Universe's direct-to-DVD animated projects Batman: Year One (2011). Though he's no longer with us, Rocco was born on this day in 1936. [Source: IMDB.com]
Aside from some terrific voicework in the world of Star Wars gaming (and beyond), the talented Harvey Jason has appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation (shown above from "The Big Goodbye") and Jurassic Park: The Lost World (1997). Jason was born on this day in 1940.
I truly, truly loved the work of Dennis Farina. Yes, he swore an awful lot, but he swore perfectly, and so many actors and actresses in this day and age just can't handle that vocabulary as technically professionally as could Farina. Late in his career, he brought the voice to Wildcat (aka Ted Grant) for DC's Justice League cartoon, and I'll be forever thankful for that. Though he's no longer with us, Farina was born on this day in 1944.
Actor Ted Le Plat enjoyed a small role aboard the SciFi/Thriller Project Shadowchaser II (1994) for Millennium Films. Le Plat was born on this day in 1944. [Source: IMDB.com]
Can it get more 'Fantasy' than a role in any version of Peter Pan? Well, we take what we can get 'round these parts, and Kerry Walker did just that: the actress played a small role in Peter Pan (2003) for Universal Pictures. Walker was born on this day in 1948. [Source: IMDB.com]
The beautiful Yanti Somer turned in some cheesy performance in some pretty cheesy SciFi imports, including work in The Time To Die (1970), Battle of the Planets (1977), War of the Robots (1978), and Star Odyssey (1979). Somer was born on this day in 1948. [Source: IMDB.com]
Fox TV's long-running The X-Files developed what could arguably be the most impressive roster of guest stars in the history of all television programs. Today's evidence: the great Ken Foree turned in a fabulous performance as Vincent Parmelly in "The List," a tale of vengeance beyond the electric chair. The actor also appeared on Blue Thunder, Knight Rider, From Beyond (1986), Quantum Leap, The Flash (CBS), Viper, M.A.N.T.I.S., and Babylon 5. Foree was born on this day in 1948.
English-born director Graham Theakston was one of the folks who helped bring The Tripods to life on the small screen in the 1980's. Though he's no longer with us, Theakston was born on this day in 1952. [Source: IMDB.com]
Albert Welling pursued power as no less than 'the Fuhrer' himself aboard an episode of the BBC's long-running Doctor Who. Welling was born on this day in 1952. [Source: IMDB.com]
One of the running gags within the greater mythology of the popular SciFi/Comedy Men In Black franchise was that the aliens weren't always hard-to-see but rather were 'hiding in plain sight' as celebrities and television talking heads. Case-in-point: look closely and you'll see that author and motivational speaker Anthony Robbins was one of the aliens being closely monitored by the super-secret government organization. Robbins was born on this day in 1960. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Suanne Braun has a terrific track record in the realm of Science Fiction. She's been seen aboard Stargate: SG-1, Starhyke, and Red Dwarf. Braun was born on this day in 1968. [Source: IMDB.com]
California-native Karla Zamudio continues to seek out and explore creative opportunities. Genre fans might recognize her from appearances aboard such projects as Futurestates, Maximum Ride (2016), and TNT's The Last Ship. Zamudio was born on this day in 1972. [Source: IMDB.com]
How do you best measure the power of a cult series? Mostly, it relates to how long its memory lasts, and -- even today -- Earth 2 retains a very loyal, very vocal fanbase that would love to see that world revisited in some way. Antonio Sabato Jr. was one of the program's original stars, and he's gone on to work in Deadly Skies (2006), Bad Girl Island (2007), Destination: Infestation (2007), and Ghost Voyage (2008). Sabato Jr. was born on this day in 1972.
Saul Williams shared the silver screen with no less than Kevin Spacey with his work aboard the SciFi/Drama K-PAX (2001) for Universal Pictures. Williams was born on this day in 1972. [Source: IMDB.com]
Early in his professional career, a young Shane Johnson enjoyed a guest visit to the world of TV's Birds Of Prey. Johnson was born on this day in 1976. [Source: IMDB.com]
The talented Peter Scanavino enjoyed a guest spot to the Apocalypse that was HBO's short-lived and poorly received The Leftovers. Scanavino was born on this day in 1980. [Source: IMDB.com]
Young George Young turned in a solid performance as a young cop trying to uncover the truth behind a phenomenon in Malignant (2021) for New Line Cinema. Young was born on this day in 1980. [Source: IMDB.com]
Sorry, folks, but I honestly know next-to-nothing about the Spanish-language SciFi/Animated project called Invizimals ... but I do know that the lovely Rakhee Thakrar voiced a character on the program so that has to count for something, no? Thakrar was born on this day in 1984. [Source: IMDB.com]
Newcomer Caitlin E.J. Meyer is only just starting to build her resume, but thankfully she's found a bit of SciFi in Alienate (2016) so that we can feature her here. Meyer was born on this day in 1992. [Source: IMDB.com]
Director, producer, and writer James Cullen Bressack continues to prove that he can do it all. He's been one of the driving forces behind such genre properties as Blood Lake: Attack Of The Killer Lampreys (2014), Pernicious (2014), and Deadly Reunion (2016). Bressack was born on this day in 1992. [Source: IMDB.com]
When a movie the size of Independence Day: Resurgence fails, everyone wants to know why; despite what some say, I've always maintained the least guilt should be attributed to the cast. After all, they can only serve up a performance worthy of what's been penned and asked for by the director, producers, etc., and Jessie T. Usher did what he could in the role of Dylan Hiller in the 2016 failed blockbuster. Usher was born on this day in 1992.
A star is born! On this day in 1940, Black Friday enjoyed its very first theatrical engagement ever opening up exclusively in theaters in Chicago, Illinois. Directed by Arthur Lubin, the Horror/Thriller starred Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Stanley Ridges; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Dr. Sovac transplants the brain of a gangster into his professor friend's body to save his life, but there is a side effect that causes a "dangerous split personality."
"Dr. Sovac transplants the brain of a gangster into his professor friend's body to save his life, but there is a side effect that causes a "dangerous split personality."
On this day in 2004 (in Finland), the 1965-produced Die, Monster, Die! (aka Monster Of Terror) played for audiences in attendance of the Night Visions Film Festival. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A young man visits his fiancée's estate to discover that her wheelchair-bound scientist father has discovered a meteorite that emits mutating radiation rays that have turned the plants in his greenhouse to giants. When his own wife falls victim to this mysterious power, the old man takes it upon himself to destroy the glowing object with disastrous results."
"A young man visits his fiancée's estate to discover that her wheelchair-bound scientist father has discovered a meteorite that emits mutating radiation rays that have turned the plants in his greenhouse to giants. When his own wife falls victim to this mysterious power, the old man takes it upon himself to destroy the glowing object with disastrous results."
On this day in 1952, Tales Of Tomorrow aired "The Children's Room." This served as the twenty-second episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary provided by IMDB.com:
"A couple -- Bill and Rose -- are having increasing difficulties with their son Walt: he talks down to his parents like they are stupid and reads books written in a language that no one understands. The books come from a "children's room" that supposedly does not exist. Once the room is discovered its true meaning is revealed."
"A couple -- Bill and Rose -- are having increasing difficulties with their son Walt: he talks down to his parents like they are stupid and reads books written in a language that no one understands. The books come from a "children's room" that supposedly does not exist. Once the room is discovered its true meaning is revealed."
On this day in 1980, The Incredible Hulk aired "A Rock And A Hard Place." Officially, this served as the nineteeth episode in the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"David 'Braynard' is arrested for carrying explosives for his little old landlady and employer, Lucy Cash. Then, via blackmail, he is forced by Lucy's jilted ex-boyfriend Agent DeKalb to help the FBI catch her. The old lady, however, finds out about his other secret and guilts him into helping with the heist."
"David 'Braynard' is arrested for carrying explosives for his little old landlady and employer, Lucy Cash. Then, via blackmail, he is forced by Lucy's jilted ex-boyfriend Agent DeKalb to help the FBI catch her. The old lady, however, finds out about his other secret and guilts him into helping with the heist."
On this day in 1988 (in the United Kingdom), Red Dwarf aired "Balance Of Power." Officially, this served as the third episode in the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Lister wants to go on a date with the hologram of navigation officer Kristine Kochanski, much to Rimmer's disapproval. Lister decides to do a cooking exam so he can outrank Rimmer. But Rimmer has a cunning plan."
"Lister wants to go on a date with the hologram of navigation officer Kristine Kochanski, much to Rimmer's disapproval. Lister decides to do a cooking exam so he can outrank Rimmer. But Rimmer has a cunning plan."
To its credit, Star Trek: The Next Generation kept putting its characters through their various paces, even well into its fifth season. On this day in 1992, the program aired "Ethics," and here's the summary from IMDB.com:
"After an accident that leaves him no longer able to walk, Worf asks Riker to help him commit suicide."
"After an accident that leaves him no longer able to walk, Worf asks Riker to help him commit suicide."
On this day in 2000, Angel aired "The Ring." Officially, this served as the sixteenth episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Owners of an underground arena enslave Angel and pit him against powerful demons for entertainment."
"Owners of an underground arena enslave Angel and pit him against powerful demons for entertainment."
On this day in 2000, Buffy The Vampire Slayer aired "Who Are You?" Officially, this served as the sixteenth episode in the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Having switched bodies with Buffy, Faith enjoys freedom. Meanwhile, Buffy finds herself at the mercy of the Watcher's Council."
"Having switched bodies with Buffy, Faith enjoys freedom. Meanwhile, Buffy finds herself at the mercy of the Watcher's Council."
On this day in 2000 (in the United Kingdom), The Strangerers aired "Crunchy Munchy." Officially, this served as the third episode in the program's only season, and here's the plot summary from TV.com:
"The Strangerers are in CD's hotel and start to get down to some crunchy breakfast not knowing that the hotel owner has plans for them, and so has Rina and Harry."
"The Strangerers are in CD's hotel and start to get down to some crunchy breakfast not knowing that the hotel owner has plans for them, and so has Rina and Harry."
On this day in 2016, The Ministry Of Time aired "Tiempo de hidalgos." Officially, this served as the third episode in the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Pacino's first mission with the squad will take him to 1604, to make sure Cervantes will publish the Quixote."
"Pacino's first mission with the squad will take him to 1604, to make sure Cervantes will publish the Quixote."
On this day in 2020, Teen Titans Go aired "Walk Away." Officially, this served as the twelfth episode in the program's sixth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"After the T-Car is destroyed in a fight, the Titans go to a used car lot to find another vehicle."
"After the T-Car is destroyed in a fight, the Titans go to a used car lot to find another vehicle."
On this day in 2020, ThunderCats Roar aired "The Legend Of Boggy Ben." Officially, this served as the third episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Lion-O has gotten ahold of the last jar of Thundersnaps - the best cookies Thundera had to offer! But a difficult to open cookie jar sends Lion-O and Cheetara chasing down the legend of Boggy Ben."
"Lion-O has gotten ahold of the last jar of Thundersnaps - the best cookies Thundera had to offer! But a difficult to open cookie jar sends Lion-O and Cheetara chasing down the legend of Boggy Ben."
Now, I could be wrong, but perhaps part of the reason why IDW's ongoing Star Trek imprint has failed (somewhat) to capture new readers is that far too often the storytellers have resorted to revisiting some of Trek's existing storylines within the context of silver screen Trek's new timeline. Today's evidence: on this day in 2012, Roberto Orci finished retelling Operation: Annihilate!, something that was already told as the season finale for the original Star Trek series on television. Here's the plot blurb as provided by our friends at Memory Alpha:
"It's the stunning conclusion of OPERATION: ANNIHILATE! The events of the new timeline unfold in shocking ways as Kirk reunites with his estranged brother to save a colony from extinction."
"It's the stunning conclusion of OPERATION: ANNIHILATE! The events of the new timeline unfold in shocking ways as Kirk reunites with his estranged brother to save a colony from extinction."
