Inception was one of those releases that most of mankind went ga-ga over. When my wife and I finally saw it, we thought, "Meh." It all felt like a bloated Twilight Zone episode to us, and certainly it wasn't anything worth re-evaluating your existence over. (We honestly don't "get" all the Christopher Nolan love.) It was a great idea, sure; it just wasn't our cup of tea. Still, Inception won over audiences on this day in 2010 when it premiered in theatres. Here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O."
"A thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O."
In the second season episode of Star Trek's original series -- "The Deadly Years" -- Felix Locher (above right) played 'Robert Johnson,' a Starfleet technician exposed to a form of radiation that caused rapid aging. Though he's no longer with us, Locher was born on this day in 1882. [Source: IMDB.com]
Veteran character actor Barnard Hughes stepped into a key role aboard Walt Disney's foray into digital storytelling, TRON (1982). The man can also be seen with roles aboard The UFO Incident (1975) and The Lost Boys (1987). Though he's no longer with us, Hughes was born on this day in 1915. [Source: IMDB.com]
During one of the classic Star Trek's maligned moments during its poorly received third season, Kirk and friends (including Abraham Lincoln) faced down an ensemble of history's worst villains, one of which was known as 'Col. Green' (pictured above left). Green was played by actor Phillip Pine, a man who also guest-starred in such properties as The Twilight Zone, The Invaders, Voyage To The Bottom of the Sea, and The Six Million Dollar Man. Though he's no longer with us, Pine was born on this day in 1920. [Source: IMDB.com]
A giant in the Science Fiction industry, Robert Sheckley wrote over two dozen novels and a veritable score of short stories. Throughout his life, he was nominated for both Hugo and Nebula Awards, and -- in 2001 -- he was named an Author Emeritus by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Though he's no longer with us, Sheckley was born on this day in 1928. (FYI: photo of Sheckley has been upscaled by Icons8.com.) [Source: IMDB.com]
Richard LeParmentier had only a small part in the original Star Wars ... but what a small part it was! His arrogance as 'General Motti' was precisely what gave audiences its first chilling example of the power of the Sith Lord as Darth Vader put the force-choke on the man for something as insignificant as his lack of faith. Gotta love the little guys, eh? Though he's no longer with us, LeParmentier was born on this day in 1946. [Source: IMDB.com]
Ann Turkel made a splash in some of the more subversive cult flicks of the late 1970's and 80's ... and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Personally, I remember her as Dr. Susan Drake from Roger Corman's Humanoids of the Deep (1980), a flick most folks would probably just as soon forget. She's also booked roles with such works as Ravagers, Deep Space, Robocop (the TV show), Highlander, and Deja Vu. Turkel was born on this day in 1946. [Source: IMDB.com]
Rubén Blades (pictured above) joined forces with the ensemble charged with carrying on the franchise after Arnold Schwarzenegger bowed out for Predator 2 (1990). The veteran actor has also appeared aboard The X-Files, and he played a role in AMC's Fear The Walking Dead. Blades was born on this day in 1948. [Source: IMDB.com]
Science Fiction and fantasy author Esther Mona Friesner Stutzman was a solid resume both in creating her own worlds as well as tinkering in franchises already established. The decorated writer has been named an Outstanding New Fantasy Author (1986) as well as having been nominated for Hugo and Nebula awards. Freisner Stutzman was born on this day in 1951. (Photo of Freisner has been enhanced by Icons8.com.) [Source: Wikipedia.org]
Babylon 5 was another show that, quite frankly, I just didn't get into. (I know, I know, I've probably mentioned that before!) I tried -- twice -- both times making it through its first season and halfway through its second. Maybe I'll get back around to it sometime in this lifetime. Though he's no longer with us, Jerry Doyle -- featured prominently in the program as Garibaldi -- was born on this day back in 1956. [Source: IMDB.com]
(FYI: I'd only noticed recently that Mr. Doyle passed, and it really struck a chord with me as he was one of the first celebrities to actually reach out and engage with me on Twitter. R.I.P., my friend.)
(FYI: I'd only noticed recently that Mr. Doyle passed, and it really struck a chord with me as he was one of the first celebrities to actually reach out and engage with me on Twitter. R.I.P., my friend.)
What?!?! Who is Faye Grant, you ask? Well, you young Turk, Faye Grant (above right) was fighting aliens when you weren't even old enough to wear diapers! I loved her in the original V minis and the subsequent series, as well as her star turn on The Greatest American Hero. Ms. Grant was born on this day in 1957. [Source: IMDB.com]
Early in her career, actress Phoebe Cates joined the cast of any smalltown America in combating those pesky Gremlins. Cates was born on this day in 1963. [Source: IMDB.com]
Though she's probably recognized more for her work in mainstream projects, lovely Amy Benedict has tinkered in the realm of Science Fiction. She's appeared in guest roles aboard both Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Torchwood. Benedict was born on this day in 1964. [Source: IMDB.com]
Daryl Mitchell made a terrific splash alongside his shipmates in the stellar Galaxy Quest, which poked about as much fun at the beloved Star Trek franchise as any film possibly could. Mitchell was born on this day back in 1965. [Source: IMDB.com]
Scott Derrickson is the big league writer and director who's been involving with bringing such properties as The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008) and Doctor Strange (2016) to the silver screen. Derrickson was born on this day in 1966. [Source: IMDB.com]
One of the biggest baddies in the DC Universe in none other than Darkseid himself, a villanous ruler brought to life vocally as part of Justice League Action by voice actor Jonathan Adams. Adams was born on this day in 1967. [Source: IMDB.com]
Funnyman Will Ferrell went a little bit jurassic for his part in the big screen adaptation of the popular children's television Fantasy, Land of the Lost (2009). Ferrell was born on this day in 1967. [Source: IMDB.com]
Early in his professional career, Corey Feldman made a splash opposite some of the cutest and cuddliest Gremlins (1984) known to man. Feldman was born on this day in 1971. [Source: IMDB.com]
Dreamy Jayma Mays' talent, comic timing, and general quirkiness tends to lend itself more toward much more mainstream fare, but she did play dreamy waitress Charlie Andrews (pictured above right) as part of Heroes' budding cast. Mays was born on this day in 1979. [Source: IMDB.com]
Michelle Morgan has made a splash in Science Fiction and beyond with some qualitiy screen time aboard Diary of the Dead (2007), Stargate: Atlantis, Dominant Gene (2011), and Supernatural. Morgan was born on this day in 1981. [Source: IMDB.com]
Rosa Salazar is attached (in a big way) to James Cameron's adaptation of Alita: Battle Angel (2018). She's also been involved with Insurgent (2015), Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015), and Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018). Salazar was born on this day in 1985. [Source: IMDB.com]
Zombies of the Stratosphere -- which screened on this day in 1952 -- was actually a feature culled together from a popular Republic SciFi serial of the era (Radar Men of the Moon). According to IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The invaders come to Earth to create an H-bomb to blast Earth out of orbit so that Mars can take its place."
"The invaders come to Earth to create an H-bomb to blast Earth out of orbit so that Mars can take its place."
While I'll admit I don't recall seeing 1959's The Alligator People, I am comfortable saying that -- based on the still photo above -- this is exactly the kind of thing I loved watching when I was a wee one. Released on this day in 1959, here's the plot summary as recounted by IMDB.com:
"A woman in a hypnotic state recounts to two doctors the details of a horrific experience from her past life that began with the mysterious and sudden disappearance of her husband."
"A woman in a hypnotic state recounts to two doctors the details of a horrific experience from her past life that began with the mysterious and sudden disappearance of her husband."
It all began right here: on this day in 1955, the television SciFi/Action serial -- Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe -- blasted into the stratosphere with its premiere episode, "Enemies of the Universe." Here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Commando Cody is introduced to his two new assistants, Joan and Ted. He briefs them on continued missile attacks on Earth and the steps being taken to stop them and track down the source of the attacks. Agents working for an unknown enemy are ordered to sabotage Cody's latest project. Commander Cody not only has to stop the sabotage but root out and expose the gang while ensuring the safety of his own team."
"Commando Cody is introduced to his two new assistants, Joan and Ted. He briefs them on continued missile attacks on Earth and the steps being taken to stop them and track down the source of the attacks. Agents working for an unknown enemy are ordered to sabotage Cody's latest project. Commander Cody not only has to stop the sabotage but root out and expose the gang while ensuring the safety of his own team."
Who doesn't want to celebrate a little vintage Who? On this day in 1966, Doctor Who's third season came to its finish with an episode titled "The War Machines - Part 4." Here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The first War Machine is defeated but the Doctor only has a matter of hours to destroy WOTAN before the rest of its army is activated."
"The first War Machine is defeated but the Doctor only has a matter of hours to destroy WOTAN before the rest of its army is activated."
On this day in 1979, Battle Of The Planets aired "Keyop Does It All." This served as the forty-second episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by TV.com:
"While G-Force is working as the special guard at the building where the Intergalactic Federation is meeting, Keyop discovers a car with a Spectra insignia and stows away in its trunk."
"While G-Force is working as the special guard at the building where the Intergalactic Federation is meeting, Keyop discovers a car with a Spectra insignia and stows away in its trunk."
On this day in 1995, The Outer Limits aired "The Message." This served as the seventeenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Implants that should've allowed deaf Jennifer Winter to finally hear cause her to receive a binary message no one else can hear. Her husband thinks she's insane. Her friend on meds, Robert, thinks it's an alien distress signal."
"Implants that should've allowed deaf Jennifer Winter to finally hear cause her to receive a binary message no one else can hear. Her husband thinks she's insane. Her friend on meds, Robert, thinks it's an alien distress signal."
On this day in 1999 (in Australia), Syfy's Farscape aired "The Flax." This served as the twelfth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"Aeryn takes Crichton out in a transport pod for flying lessons, they get stuck in the Flax, a space trap. To make some critical repairs, they must depressurize the pod, but there is only one functional space suit. D'Argo gets a lead on some star maps to get home. He will have to choose between retrieving the maps, or saving his comrades."
"Aeryn takes Crichton out in a transport pod for flying lessons, they get stuck in the Flax, a space trap. To make some critical repairs, they must depressurize the pod, but there is only one functional space suit. D'Argo gets a lead on some star maps to get home. He will have to choose between retrieving the maps, or saving his comrades."
On this day in 1999, Stargate: SG-1 aired "Legacy." This served as the fourth episode of the long-running program's third season, and here's the plot summary as listed on IMDB.com:
"When the SG-1 team discover a sealed chamber of dead Goa'ulds, Daniel Jackson is exposed to the parasites that killed them and threaten to drive him insane."
"When the SG-1 team discover a sealed chamber of dead Goa'ulds, Daniel Jackson is exposed to the parasites that killed them and threaten to drive him insane."
On this day in 1999, The Outer Limits aired "The Inheritors." This served as the seventeenth episode of the program's fifth season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A man is killed when a meteor strikes him in the head. When the coroner examines him, tentacles exit the hole in his head and then the corpse gets up and walks off."
"A man is killed when a meteor strikes him in the head. When the coroner examines him, tentacles exit the hole in his head and then the corpse gets up and walks off."
On this day in 2000, Code Name: Eternity aired "Bounty Hunter." This served as the tenth episode of the program's first (and only) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by TV.com:
"Byder discovers the location of Ethaniels brother, Thorber, and Ethaniel goes to the airport to meet up with him. He arrives at the same time as Myroc, a bounty hunter hired by Banning to find Isaac Lobel. Isaac has a computer disc full of information about Banning's contacts and is going to sell it to Thorber. Myroc manages to capture Ethaniel and tells Thorber he will trade his brother for the disc. Laura, Thorber and Isaac join together to try and find Ethaniel and Myroc while Byder gets left with the job of looking after Emil, Isaac's brat of a son."
"Byder discovers the location of Ethaniels brother, Thorber, and Ethaniel goes to the airport to meet up with him. He arrives at the same time as Myroc, a bounty hunter hired by Banning to find Isaac Lobel. Isaac has a computer disc full of information about Banning's contacts and is going to sell it to Thorber. Myroc manages to capture Ethaniel and tells Thorber he will trade his brother for the disc. Laura, Thorber and Isaac join together to try and find Ethaniel and Myroc while Byder gets left with the job of looking after Emil, Isaac's brat of a son."
USA Network's The 4400 always made for some quality SciFi-Lite entertainment. Its cast was a bit too pretty for my tastes, though they were definitely talented, and the overall storyline of alien abductees returning to Earth with newfound powers and abilities gave the showrunners the flexibility they needed to explore different avenues. On this day in 2006, "The Home Front" aired as the sixth episode in the third season, and here's the summary from IMDB.com:
"Tom and Diana pursue the last member of the Nova Group, Gary Navarro but are foiled when he receives a tip off to escape capture. Alana is detained to explore suspected links to Nova Group."
"Tom and Diana pursue the last member of the Nova Group, Gary Navarro but are foiled when he receives a tip off to escape capture. Alana is detained to explore suspected links to Nova Group."
On this day in 2010, A Good Knight's Quest aired the twenty-first episode of its only season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Dorian tries to prevent a terrible evil from destroying the Earf."
"Dorian tries to prevent a terrible evil from destroying the Earf."
