Jon Pertwee wasn't my first "Doctor."
Oh, I was familiar with him, but I honestly didn't begin watching the BBC's massive sci-fi franchise Doctor Who until after Tom Baker was aboard as the time-traveling do-gooder. I've since had the good fortune of going back and watching some of Pertwee's run, and, while there were some laughable special effects at the time, it was clear that even he embraced that lunacy as a part and parcel of delivering a commanding performance. His take was a bit more elegant than Baker's but it was no less compelling.
Though he's no longer with us, Pertwee was born on this day in 1919.
Oh, I was familiar with him, but I honestly didn't begin watching the BBC's massive sci-fi franchise Doctor Who until after Tom Baker was aboard as the time-traveling do-gooder. I've since had the good fortune of going back and watching some of Pertwee's run, and, while there were some laughable special effects at the time, it was clear that even he embraced that lunacy as a part and parcel of delivering a commanding performance. His take was a bit more elegant than Baker's but it was no less compelling.
Though he's no longer with us, Pertwee was born on this day in 1919.
The works of Robert Heinlein have come to many to signify precisely what quality Science Fiction can do for entire generations of readers: not only can it present ideas and concepts understandably in such a way as to involve the reader's mind but also it serves fiction's greatest purpose to vicariously transport him or her hundreds if not thousands of light years away from every day life into a world of tomorrow. In 1974, the author was named the first "Grand Master" by the Science Fiction Writers of America, and the works he has created have totaled an astounding seven Hugo Awards (several of them rewarded retro- as the distinction didn't exist at the time of original publication).
Though he's no longer with us, Heinlein was born on this day in 1907.
Want to know more? Check out his biography over at Wikipedia.
Though he's no longer with us, Heinlein was born on this day in 1907.
Want to know more? Check out his biography over at Wikipedia.
The great Joe Spano (above center) dipped into Chris Carter's The X-Files not once but twice in a terrific supporting role. He also appeared in an episode on Syfy's The Invisible Man for good measure. Spano was born on this day in 1946.
Veteran character actor Vaughn Armstrong possesses a workman-like attitude that's served him well across several Sci-Fi projects. He's been a part of the Star Trek franchise -- appearing in The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise in various roles -- but he's also enjoyed adventures as part of Quantum Leap, The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., Babylon 5, and Dark Skies. Armstrong was born on this day in 1950.
Billy Campbell certainly knows his way around more than a single franchise. In 1988, he had a small role as Capt. Thadiun Okona on Star Trek: The Next Generation. In 1991, he blasted off into the skies as hero Cliff Secord in The Rocketeer (above left). And from 2004-2007, his Jordan Collier -- the self-described savior to mankind -- made USA Network's The 4400 a program worth watching. Most recently, he headlined Syfy's Sci-Fi thriller Helix (above right). Campbell was born on this day in 1959.
That kindly, unassuming face belongs to Akiva Goldsman. It's a name most folks probably wouldn't recognize, but Sci-Fi fans definitely should. Goldsman has crafted such screenplays as Lost in Space (1998); I, Robot (2004); and I Am Legend (2007). Also -- as the story goes -- he helped turn JJ Abrams' TV program Fringe into the Sci-Fi juggernaut became once it found its legs with the whole 'joined worlds' storyline. Goldsman was born on this day in 1962.
SciFi and Young Adult author Tricia Sullivan has certainly created her own style within the realms of imagination, so much so she's been a recipient of the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Dreaming In Smoke (1998). Sullivan was born on this day in 1968.
Though Jorja Fox (above left) is far more well-known for her role on CBS's CSI flagship series, she has given Science Fiction fans a look at her work: she appeared in 1999's Velocity Trap (above right). Fox was born on this day in 1968.
The characters, ideas, and situations present in the Southern Reach Trilogy from SciFi author Jeff VanderMeer have drawn critical comparisons to the work of H.G. Wells. That, my friends, is nothing to sneeze at. VanderMeer was born on this day in 1968.
Though lovely Amy Carlson's scenes were cut from 2011's lukewarm origins picture for DC Comics' Green Lantern, she also enjoyed a guest spot aboard Fox TV's Fringe. Carlson was born on this day in 1968.
Actress Cree Summer has helped bring to life several memorable animated characters, including those part of such properties as Spider-Man, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Justice League, and Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. Summer was born on this day in 1969.
The lovely Robin Weigert has appeared in all kinds of dramatic and comedic properties, and (thankfully) she's trafficked in genre work as well, including ABC TV's Lost and Netflix's Jessica Jones. (FYI: that's her bloodied and on the floor, poor thing.) Weigert was born on this day in 1969.
2013's Europa Report remains an overlooked gem in the realm of Science Fiction movies. Yes, I'm well aware that many critics kinda/sorta dismissed the film as a horror flick set in space, but (ahem) isn't that what Ridley Scott's seminal Alien was? Seriously, check it out on home video if you like cerebral horror because it definitely fits the bill. In it, Christian Camargo (pictured above) played one of the mission specialists trying to undercover whether or not life exists on Jupiter's fourth moon. Camargo was born on this day in 1971.
Far too many viewers and critics dismissed 2007's Sci-Fi flick Sunshine as being a kind of highbrow slasher-film-in-space; and I think to do so truly misses the point the story was trying to make about how far mankind is willing to go in its darkest hours to survive. One of the film's players -- Troy Garity -- continues to turn in impressive work on the big and small screen. Garity was born on this day in 1973.
Hamish Linklater (pictured above left) embraced fandom with a role in 2005's Fantastic Four. He also booked appearances in 2011's The Future as well as 2012's big screen Battleship movie. Linklater was born on this day in 1976.
The dreamy Jessica Chobot has covered the realm of Science Fiction and Fantasy in her various roles as a host and reporter of various media outlets. Chobot was born on this day in 1977.
A luscious and relatively scantily-clad Ai Wan joined Pamela Anderson in the SciFi-lite Barb Wire (1996) in a supporting role. Wan was born on this day in 1977.
Young adult author Victoria V.E. Schwab has a few fantasy/SciFi-lite novels under her belt. Check out the reviews for A Darker Shade of Magic, which explores magicians in a parallel universe London. Schwab was born on this day in 1987.
Young adult author Betsy Cornwell is responsible for the forthcoming Mechanica, a novel that's billed as a steampunk retelling of the Cinderella story. It's due to hit shelves late August, 2015. Cornwell was born on this day in 1988.
Relative newcomer Gatlin Green jumped headfirst into the realm of Science Fiction and Fantasy with a bigtime role aboard NBC's Heroes Reborn. Green was born on this day in 1997.
I know, I know. You're part of that contingent of websurfers who absolutely hated 2013's Man of Steel. Well, this long-time Superman fan had an awful lot of fun with the flick. In it, young Dylan Sprayberry played young Clark Kent (pictured above) in those fateful days when he was only just discovering what his abilities were. Sprayberry was born on this day in 1998.
On this day in 1989 (in Finland), the SciFi/Comedy My Stepmother Is An Alien enjoyed its theatrical release. The feature starred Dan Aykroyd and Kim Basinger, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"An alien is sent on a secret mission to Earth, where she appears as a gorgeous, attractive, and single lady. Her mission is to make contact with a rather nerdy young scientist, who's quite overwhelmed by her attentions, and isn't aware of the connection between her arrival and his work."
"An alien is sent on a secret mission to Earth, where she appears as a gorgeous, attractive, and single lady. Her mission is to make contact with a rather nerdy young scientist, who's quite overwhelmed by her attentions, and isn't aware of the connection between her arrival and his work."
Released theatrically on this day in 1995, Species wasn't exactly a box office blow-out. Still, it was successful enough to garner three sequels, and that's never a bad thing so far as Hollyweird is concerned. Here's the plot summary from our friends at IMDB.com:
"A group of scientists try to track down and trap a killer alien seductress before she successfully mates with a human alien."
Don't you hate it when that happens?
"A group of scientists try to track down and trap a killer alien seductress before she successfully mates with a human alien."
Don't you hate it when that happens?
On this day in 1998, Kraa! The Sea Monster scared up what box office it could. The feature starred Michael Guerin and Jerry Lentz, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Planet Patrol agent Mogyar allies with a team of human planetary guardians to stop the plans of evil galactic overlord Lord Doom when he sends a gargantuan monster called Kraa to destroy the Earth."
"Planet Patrol agent Mogyar allies with a team of human planetary guardians to stop the plans of evil galactic overlord Lord Doom when he sends a gargantuan monster called Kraa to destroy the Earth."
On this day in 2006 (in Japan), Alien Incursion brought yet another species to life. The film starred Michael Coleman and David Lewis, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A park ranger must protect hikers from an invasion of meteor-spawned aliens and hunters that want to eliminate the creatures - and any witnesses to their arrival on Earth."
"A park ranger must protect hikers from an invasion of meteor-spawned aliens and hunters that want to eliminate the creatures - and any witnesses to their arrival on Earth."
On this day in 2007, the SciFi/Telefilm Destination: Infestation made audiences afraid to go on vacation. It starred Jessalyn Gilsig and Antonio Sabato Jr., and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"While on a flight home from Colombia, the plane that Dr. Carrie Ross and her daughter are on is attacked by bullet ants whose sting is the most painful and deadliest on the planet. Joining forces with air marshal Ethan Hart, Dr. Ross, an entomologist, tries desperately to save the flight from disaster. In the end, their struggle brings them closer together and offers the couple hope for the future."
"While on a flight home from Colombia, the plane that Dr. Carrie Ross and her daughter are on is attacked by bullet ants whose sting is the most painful and deadliest on the planet. Joining forces with air marshal Ethan Hart, Dr. Ross, an entomologist, tries desperately to save the flight from disaster. In the end, their struggle brings them closer together and offers the couple hope for the future."
On this day in 1992, Mann & Machine aired "Billion Dollar Baby." This served as the eighth episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A genetically engineered baby is sought by baby brokers who will kill to find the child. The baby's presence prompts parental instincts in Eve."
"A genetically engineered baby is sought by baby brokers who will kill to find the child. The baby's presence prompts parental instincts in Eve."
On this day in 2000, Farscape aired "Out of Their Minds." This served as the ninth episode of the second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The crew is attacked by a vessel, Zahn goes over to the ship to negotiate a peace. But the ship attacks again, the attack reacts unexpectedly interacts with the shields causing everyone on board Moya to switch identities, ie Aeryn is now Rygel, Rygel is now Crichton, etc. Now the crew must figure a way to get back to their original bodies."
"The crew is attacked by a vessel, Zahn goes over to the ship to negotiate a peace. But the ship attacks again, the attack reacts unexpectedly interacts with the shields causing everyone on board Moya to switch identities, ie Aeryn is now Rygel, Rygel is now Crichton, etc. Now the crew must figure a way to get back to their original bodies."
On this day in 2000, Stargate: SG-1 aired "The Other Side." This served as the second episode of the long-running program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"SGC is contacted by an advanced and embattled alien human civilization seeking military assistance, but their exact reasons for it become increasingly suspect."
"SGC is contacted by an advanced and embattled alien human civilization seeking military assistance, but their exact reasons for it become increasingly suspect."
On this day in 2000, The Outer Limits aired "Abaddon." This served as the fourteenth episode of the program's sixth season, and here's the plot summary as listed on IMDB.com:
"In the late in the 23rd century an outdated star ship is on a ten-year reclamation project. The crew is in suspended animation and awakes to find a mysterious object floating in space. The pod contains the body of a rebel who was executed 150 years earlier for the slaughter of more than a million people and is still alive."
"In the late in the 23rd century an outdated star ship is on a ten-year reclamation project. The crew is in suspended animation and awakes to find a mysterious object floating in space. The pod contains the body of a rebel who was executed 150 years earlier for the slaughter of more than a million people and is still alive."
On this day in 2013, TNT's Falling Skies aired "Be Silent And Come Out." This served as the sixth episode of the program's third season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Hal finally reveals his internal struggle to everyone, and it doesn't bode well for the Masons."
"Hal finally reveals his internal struggle to everyone, and it doesn't bode well for the Masons."
On this day in 2015, Zoo aired "Fight Or Flight." This served as the second episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Jackson's best friend, Abraham, thinks lions might be killing humans for sport."
"Jackson's best friend, Abraham, thinks lions might be killing humans for sport."
On this day in 1955, the Science Fiction radio serial X Minus One aired "The Green Hills Of Earth." According to our friends at Old Time Radio Downloads (link), here's the episode's plot summary:
"This is the story of Riesling, the singer of the space ways. Future generations of school children have sung his songs in English, French or German, the language doesn't matter, but it was an Earth tongue. But the real story of Riesling is not found in the footnotes of a scholars critique or a publishers biography. It is in the memories of the old time space men the pioneers who pushed the thundering old fashioned rockets to the far strange ports that are our common place heritage - these men know the true story of Riesling."
"This is the story of Riesling, the singer of the space ways. Future generations of school children have sung his songs in English, French or German, the language doesn't matter, but it was an Earth tongue. But the real story of Riesling is not found in the footnotes of a scholars critique or a publishers biography. It is in the memories of the old time space men the pioneers who pushed the thundering old fashioned rockets to the far strange ports that are our common place heritage - these men know the true story of Riesling."
