The Archons are coming! The Archons are coming! "The Return of the Archons" sees the Enterprise traveling to Beta III to uncover the fate of the USS Archon, a Federation spaceship that went missing a century ago. Lo and behold, things aren't quite what they seem when Kirk and crew beam down and find that 'the Archons' have earned quite a reputation. This Star Trek program aired on this day back in 1967.
I've said it before to some controversy, but I think it occasionally bears repeating: the seventh season of the fondly remembered Star Trek: The Next Generation really showed that the program was kinda/sorta winding down on original ideas involving the current cast as the stories grew a bit more fantastical, almost even experimental at times. Still, the hours gave some terrific guest stars a chance to occasionally shine, including the late Ronnie Claire Edwards in the role of 'Talur' aboard "Thine Own Self." Though she's no longer with us, Edwards was born on this day in 1933.
The lovely Marianna Hill gave a terrific performance aboard "Dagger Of The Mind," an episode of Star Trek's first season. Hill was born on this day in 1942.
In 1984's theatrical version of Supergirl, Mia Farrow (above left) starred briefly as Alura, Supergirl's Kryptonian mother. Farrow was born on this day in 1945.
Ah, is there anything better than a lady in uniform? Yes, that would be a lady in a space uniform, and Sally Knyvette suited up quite nicely in the guise of 'Jenna Stannis' aboard Blake's 7 for its run. Knyvette was born on this day in 1951. [Source: IMDB.com]
I don't know about you, but I absolutely love it when an actor with tremendous gravitas comes aboard any SciFi project, even if it's a small role. That's what happened for award-winning actor Ciaran Hinds (above left) gave his clout to Disney's John Carter. Sadly, it didn't save the picture, but it certainly didn't harm it, either. Hinds was born on this day in 1953.
The affable Jim J. Bullock played 'Prince Valium' aboard the Mel Brooks' SciFi/Farce Spaceballs (1987) for MGM. He also appeared several times aboard the SciFi/Sitcom ALF for good measure. Bullock was born on this day in 1955. [Source: IMDB.com]
The venerable Charles Shaughnessy has dabbled in the realm of Science Fiction with appearances aboard Stargate: SG-1 and Moontrap Target Earth (2017). Shaughnessy was born on this day in 1955.
Every red-blooded male swooned over the lovely Julie Warner when she appeared as the small-town-savvy galpal to Michael J. Fox in Doc Hollywood ... and anyone who tells you differently is lying! Even better, she had a brief stint on Star Trek: The Next Generation as Christy Henshaw, the girl with which Geordi LaForge proved how inept he was at picking up women. Warner was born on this day in 1965.
In the guest role as 'Jolan' aboard Stargate: SG-1, the hunky Jason George kicked butt and took no prisoners. George was born on this day in 1972.
Back in 2006, the great Shaun Parkes had two appearances aboard the BBC's long-running Doctor Who. More recently, he's turned up aboard The Aliens TV series. Parkes was born on this day in 1973.
Sexy-beyond-compare Amber Valletta helped deliver some much needed feminine wiles to the Gerard Butler SciFi actioner, Gamer, when it hit the silver screen back in 2009. Valletta was born on this day in 1974.
As I've mentioned previously, I've had the good fortune to view the first season of Real Humans, the Swedish television SciFi original that spawned AMC TV's Humans remake; and it's quite good. André Sjöberg played one of the central synthetics in the drama, and Sjöberg was born on this day in 1974. [Source: IMDB.com]
Funnyman Charlie Day helped deliver the laughs (what few there were) in famed director Guillermo del Toro's disappointing Pacific Rim. Day was born on this day in 1976.
A.J. Buckley has dabbled in genre entertainment with some quality work aboard The X-Files, Millennium, Doomsday Prophecy (2011) and the long-running Supernatural. Buckley was born on this day in 1977. [Source: IMDB.com]
International sensation Ziyi Zhang stepped into the future as the leading lady aboard Kar-Wai Wong's 2046 (2004). Zhang was born on this day in 1979.
Think what you may about the Marvel cinematic universe (I'm 'iffy' on it), but I believe one of the brighter additions has to be Tom Hiddleston. His particular take on Loki in Thor, Thor II, and The Avengers has given those films the kind of clout needed for a terrific theatrical villain. Hiddleston was born on this day in 1981.
Matty Cardarople showed up for a small role aboard Jurassic World (2015) and a bigger one on Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Cardarople was born on this day in 1983.
Young and pretty Rachel Melvin has built a career out of some pretty respectable appearances in genre, including work on Heroes, Zombeavers (2014), and Fox TV's Sleepy Hollow. Melvin was born on this day in 1985.
Super 8 (2011) is the kind of film that should've ruined a writer/director's career, but not JJ Abrams'; somehow his fractured storytelling escapes any kind of criticism. David Gallagher had a role in the film, and Gallagher was born on this day in 1985.
The delicious Rose Leslie stepped into the big leagues with her role aboard HBO's Games Of Thrones, and she recently turned up aboard the SciFi/Thriller Morgan (2016). Leslie was born on this day in 1987.
Young actor Michael B. Jordan's star is on the rise. He found big screen acclaim for his portrayal as a budding superhero in Chronicle, and he may've squandered it by appearing as Johnny Storm in the critically-drubbed Fantastic Four reboot. Jordan was born on this day in 1987.
I've only seen a few episodes of the Battlestar Galactica follow-up, Caprica, and I wasn't sure what all of the fuss was about. I guess it had some promise, but it just never seemed to go anywhere all that fast. Young Avan Jogia had a recurring role as Ben Stark for a short time, so he definitely deserves a mention. Jogia was born on this day in 1992.
The young Kelli Berglund wore the appropriate uniform to serve as one of the team of Walt Disney's Lab Rats and Lab Rats: Elite Force for the shows respectively. Berglund was born on this day in 1996. [Source: IMDB.com]
Kudos and birthday greetings go out today to Jimmy Bennett, the youngster tasked with portraying the youngest and most brash version of James T. Kirk yet aboard JJ Abrams' Star Trek (2009) reboot. Bennett was born on this day in 1996.
On this day in 2008, the SciFi/Horror/Telefilm known as Bone Eater enjoyed its small screen debut. The feature starred Bruce Boxleitner and Michael Horse, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Ancient Native American legend of the Bone Eater rises up and begins terrorizing the local townspeople."
"Ancient Native American legend of the Bone Eater rises up and begins terrorizing the local townspeople."
"Return to Tomorrow" -- a part of Star Trek's second season -- aired on this day in 1968. A long-dead race seeks one more chance at life, so they lure the Enterprise to their planet in hopes of inhabiting the bodies of Kirk, Spock, and crewmember Ann Mulhall (played by Diana Muldaur) for another go at it. Much jealousy and foul play ensues!
On this day in 1991, "Clues" aired as part of Star Trek: The Next Generation's fourth season. Here's the episode summary from IMDB.com:
"Effects of passing through a wormhole give the Enterprise crew a sense that they were unconscious for more than the thirty seconds they've been led to believe."
"Effects of passing through a wormhole give the Enterprise crew a sense that they were unconscious for more than the thirty seconds they've been led to believe."
On this day in 1991, Super Force aired "A Hundred Share." This served as the nineteenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from TV.com:
"Using subliminal messages, a reporter plans on getting the entire world to watch her broadcast."
"Using subliminal messages, a reporter plans on getting the entire world to watch her broadcast."
On this day as part of Babylon 5's first season in 1994, the hour titled "Born to the Purple" first aired. (In fact, it was the program's third episode ever.) Here's the episode summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Londo falls for a beautiful slave, whose owner wants to steal sensitive information. Garibaldi discovers that someone is using a restricted communications channel."
"Londo falls for a beautiful slave, whose owner wants to steal sensitive information. Garibaldi discovers that someone is using a restricted communications channel."
On this day in 1997, Dark Skies aired "Shades of Gray." This served as the fourteenth episode of the cult program's first and only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"John and Kim help draw an alien Gray into a Majestic trap."
"John and Kim help draw an alien Gray into a Majestic trap."
