Let me be perfectly honest: I can appreciate any actor's desire to be a part of the comics-to-movies universe ... but Ryan Reynolds should've walked away from Green Lantern (FYI: it premiered on this day theatrically back in 2011). The script almost feverishly dumbed down the tapestry of the space opera that is the Lantern universe, and no talent had a prayer of saving it at the box office.
While I'll likely remember William Lucking (pictured above from Star Trek: Enterprise) for delivering one of the great many deaths aboard the biker drama Sons of Anarchy, it's grand that the actor dabbled in the realm of Science Fiction, too. He's also had guest roles aboard Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975), Captain America II: Death Too Soon, The Incredible Hulk, The Greatest American Hero, Voyagers!, Knight Rider, The X-Files, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Lucking was born on this day in 1941.
As the alien named Martin, Frank Ashmore was there with the Resistance (when he could be) as part of V, V: The Final Battle, and the subsequent short-lived series. Ashmore was born on this day in 1945.
It may not be much, but when you're given the futile task of teaching the android Data how to tell a joke (as part of Star Trek: The Next Generation), I think it deserves a mention. That's what comedian Joe Piscopo brought to the Trek mythology, and he was born on this day in 1951.
The heavenly Kelly Curtis did Trek fandom a solid by appearing aboard Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in a guest role. Why, she's even lovelier under all of that make-up, if that's at all possible! Curtis was born on this day in 1956.
Andrew Bicknell is a fantastic character actor who has jumped easily in and out of many different genres of film and television. He had a guest role aboard Star Trek: The Next Generation in the third season outing, "The Hunted." He's also had the distinction of voicing James Bond in a video game, so that's uber-cool! Bicknell was born on this day in 1956.
If you haven't figured it out yet, then let me be perfectly clear: I have a lot of respect for the 'little guys.' Why? Well, first, they get so little attention in fandom. Second, when haven't the rest of us felt like the little guy? Jon Gries has had a wonderful workmanship career, popping up in great character roles all across fandom. He first popped on my radar with NBC's The Pretender, and I've kept an eye on him ever since ... especially when he showed up in ABC TV's Lost. Gries was born on this day in 1957.
Thomas Haden Church gave Tobey Maguire as Spider-man a run for his money in the poorly received Spider-man 3 (2007). Church was born on this day in 1960.
The thing one has to keep in mind when researching older Science Fiction films is that for every gem you might stumble upon there are at least one, two, or three lesser (ahem) "gems." These are flicks which aren't necessarily bad; it's just they scored points for their significance based entirely on their time and place. Such is the case with 1986's Solarbabies, an adventure that pitted a bunch of rollerskating tweens against the ruling elite. In it, a young Jason Patric played "Jason" (go figure), and he even managed to take his shirt off to impress the ladies. Patric was born on this day in 1966.
Scott Adkins has appeared in the Metal Hurlant Chronicles, Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and a host of other sci-fi-friendly projects. He was born on this day in 1976.
I'm going to try to be exceeding clear on this point: I'm perfectly OK with Jodie Whittaker's performance as the seminal Time Lord from Gallifrey, Doctor Who. Furthermore, I really have no qualms about her being the 'first' female incarnation of the character; yeah, I think I had some grouse about it early on -- when her first stories rolled in and they weren't very good -- but I eased into the idea as the writing improved. What does all of this gender-swapping mean for the greater mythology of the program? Pfft. Only time will tell. Whittaker was born on this day in 1982. [Source: IMDB.com]
Actor Arthur Darvill landed one of the best gigs in all of fandom: his character Rory Williams was handpicked to serve as one of the companions to the time-traveling Doctor Who himself. Nice job ... but it didn't end all that well. (Does is ever for the Companions?) And dare I fail to mention Legends of Tomorrow? Darvill was born on this day in 1982.
John Gallagher, Jr. recently appeared alongside John Goodman in the kinda/sorta Cloverfield sequel, 10 Cloverfield Lane. Gallagher Jr. was born on this day in 1984. [Source: IMDB.com]
Now, the CW's The 100 is not a perfect show. In fact, I'd argue that it's highly imperfect, in several respects. Still, this "little engine that could" has grown to be one of my greatest SciFi guilty pleasures of the last decade. The lovely Marie Avgeropoulos plays the kinda/sorta lovely badass Octavia Blake on the program, and she definitely makes it worth a watch. Avgeropoulos was born on this day in 1986.
As I always say: "God bless the girls who'll play dress up!" Jaci Twiss has brought Jaina Solo -- one of the many creations that the Walt Disney Company thumbed their corporate nose at by dismissing so much of the Star Wars' Expanded Universe -- in the fan flick, Star Wars Legends: Legacy of the Force. Twiss was born on this day in 1987.
On this day in 1953, the Horror/SciFi flick Mesa of Lost Women crawled up from the depths. The feature starred Jackie Coogan and Allan Nixon, and here's the premise as cited on IMDB.com:
"A mad scientist named Arana is creating giant spiders and dwarfs in his lab on Zarpa Mesa in Mexico. He wants to create a master race of superwomen by injecting his female subjects with spider venom."
"A mad scientist named Arana is creating giant spiders and dwarfs in his lab on Zarpa Mesa in Mexico. He wants to create a master race of superwomen by injecting his female subjects with spider venom."
King Dinosaur (1955) looks to be the kind of highbrow entertainment that would find its way onto the airwaves via the delightful satirists of MST3K, and who knows? Maybe it has. In any event, the film was released on this day in 1955, and -- according to our friends at IMDB.com -- here's the plot summary:
"A new planet moves into our solar system and four scientists (two couples) are sent to explore Planet Nova. In between romantic interludes, the cast faces an iguana masquerading as a Tyrannosaurus Rex."
"A new planet moves into our solar system and four scientists (two couples) are sent to explore Planet Nova. In between romantic interludes, the cast faces an iguana masquerading as a Tyrannosaurus Rex."
On this day in 1963, The Mouse on the Moon enjoyed its theatrical release. The feature starred Margaret Rutherford and Bernard Cribbins, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A tiny country persuades the Americans and Soviets that they're starting a space program, when they really just want some money for new plumbing."
"A tiny country persuades the Americans and Soviets that they're starting a space program, when they really just want some money for new plumbing."
On this day in 1983, Superman returned to the silver screen and tried to bring some laughs (by way of adding funnyman Richard Pryor to cast) with Superman III. According to IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Synthetic kryptonite laced with tobacco tar splits Superman in two: good Clark Kent and bad Man of Steel."
"Synthetic kryptonite laced with tobacco tar splits Superman in two: good Clark Kent and bad Man of Steel."
Thanks in large part to the success of 1982's Conan The Barbarian, a plethora of low budget Fantasy flicks were rushed into production, one of which was called The Throne of Fire. It premiered on this day in 1983 (in Italy), and it starred Pietro Torrisi and Sabrina Siani in key roles. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A mighty hero battles the son of Satan and his evil witch ally to save a kingdom from being taken over by the duo."
"A mighty hero battles the son of Satan and his evil witch ally to save a kingdom from being taken over by the duo."
On this day in 2006 (in Finland), Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey screened a 70mm print for audiences in attendance of the Midnight Sun Film Festival. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"After discovering a mysterious artifact buried beneath the Lunar surface, mankind sets off on a quest to find its origins with help from intelligent supercomputer H.A.L. 9000."
"After discovering a mysterious artifact buried beneath the Lunar surface, mankind sets off on a quest to find its origins with help from intelligent supercomputer H.A.L. 9000."
On this day in 2006 (in Russia), The Ugly Swans (aka Gadkie lebedi) enjoyed its premiere. The feature starred Gregory Hlady and Leonid Mozgovoy, and here's the plot summary that's provided compliments of IMDB.com:
"The writer is invited to the town of Tashlinsk by the mutants who emerged after an unnatural and constant rain causing the evacuation of the city, and by the children who are studying the unearthly knowledge of mutants."
"The writer is invited to the town of Tashlinsk by the mutants who emerged after an unnatural and constant rain causing the evacuation of the city, and by the children who are studying the unearthly knowledge of mutants."
On this day in 1960, The Twilight Zone aired "The Mighty Casey." This served as the thirty-fifth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A down-and-out baseball team's fortunes are lifted by a mysterious but seemingly unbeatable young player."
"A down-and-out baseball team's fortunes are lifted by a mysterious but seemingly unbeatable young player."
On this day in 1967, Doctor Who aired "The Evil of the Daleks: Part 5." This served as the forty-first episode of the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"With the experiment at an end, the Doctor begins to suspect the key to rescuing Jamie, Victoria and Kemel from the Daleks lies with Terrall."
"With the experiment at an end, the Doctor begins to suspect the key to rescuing Jamie, Victoria and Kemel from the Daleks lies with Terrall."
On this day in 1989, Star Trek: The Next Generation demoted Riker to ship's porter in a very special episode titled "Manhunt." This served as the nineteenth hour to the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by TrekCore.com:
"The Enterprise crew welcomes an Antedian delegation to a peace summit and Troi's mother, now in a phase of increased sexual activity, has come to the Enterprise to visit Picard, which meets with disapproval from Counselor Troi and amusement from Riker."
"The Enterprise crew welcomes an Antedian delegation to a peace summit and Troi's mother, now in a phase of increased sexual activity, has come to the Enterprise to visit Picard, which meets with disapproval from Counselor Troi and amusement from Riker."
On this day in 1995, TekWar aired "Cyberhunt." This served as the twelfth episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as detailed on TV.com:
"Nika gets herself into trouble when she hacks into cyberspace to find hidden bullion a favor to an old friend and because she feels under appreciated at Cosmos. Jake must intervene to rescue her from the law, the underworld and even the bullion."
"Nika gets herself into trouble when she hacks into cyberspace to find hidden bullion a favor to an old friend and because she feels under appreciated at Cosmos. Jake must intervene to rescue her from the law, the underworld and even the bullion."
On this day in 1998, Babylon 5 aired "Movements of Fire and Shadow." This served as the seventeenth episode of the program's fifth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by TV.com:
"Sheridan finally authorizes the White Star fleet to participate in the war. Delenn travels to Minbar to start a Minbari/Earth joint project to build a prototype White Star destroyer class ship. And Vir hires Franklin and Lyta to investigate why the Drazi do not return the bodies from destroyed Centauri ships."
"Sheridan finally authorizes the White Star fleet to participate in the war. Delenn travels to Minbar to start a Minbari/Earth joint project to build a prototype White Star destroyer class ship. And Vir hires Franklin and Lyta to investigate why the Drazi do not return the bodies from destroyed Centauri ships."
On this day in 2007, The 4400 aired "The Wrath of Graham." This served as the first episode of the program's fourth (and final) season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A high school kid named Graham develops an ability which makes people worship him to the point of sacrificing their lives for him. Tom visits Isabelle in jail, hoping to get information on the whereabouts of Alana who's been missing for months. Marco calls Diana to let her know that her sister April has promicin and is nowhere to be found. NTAC gets a new director. Kyle meets a young woman named Cassie who has some advice about how to get Shawn out of his coma. Jordan shows up to deal with the high school kid."
"A high school kid named Graham develops an ability which makes people worship him to the point of sacrificing their lives for him. Tom visits Isabelle in jail, hoping to get information on the whereabouts of Alana who's been missing for months. Marco calls Diana to let her know that her sister April has promicin and is nowhere to be found. NTAC gets a new director. Kyle meets a young woman named Cassie who has some advice about how to get Shawn out of his coma. Jordan shows up to deal with the high school kid."
TNT's Falling Skies came back from its downtown to premiere two episodes on this day in 2012.
Worlds Apart: "Three months have passed, now mobilized the 2nd Mass. persists on the run without Tom, but a flaw makes them prey to attack. Tom sees the traps of good and evil on the long road home after fleeing, but questions of his escape go unanswered."
Shall We Gather At The River: "Tom is still haunted by memories of his time with the aliens and begins to wonder if they did something to his mind. Pope, who is in charge of questioning Tom, plants seeds of doubt about him among the group."
Worlds Apart: "Three months have passed, now mobilized the 2nd Mass. persists on the run without Tom, but a flaw makes them prey to attack. Tom sees the traps of good and evil on the long road home after fleeing, but questions of his escape go unanswered."
Shall We Gather At The River: "Tom is still haunted by memories of his time with the aliens and begins to wonder if they did something to his mind. Pope, who is in charge of questioning Tom, plants seeds of doubt about him among the group."
On this day in 1951, The Shadow radio serial aired "The Twin-Engine Terror." According to our friends at The Shadow Wiki, the details surrounding this particular tale have been lost to history. Not even The Shadow knows!
