If I'm remembering this correctly, Odyssey 5 was one of those programs that premiered on the pay cable network Showtime during its run on television. I don't recall the show creating much of a buzz within fandom, and I'm not certain that it lives on in the hearts and minds of its viewers today. It's kinda forgotten, and that's a shame as it did give audiences a look into the realm of something special. Starring the great Peter Weller and Sebastian Roche, it had some solid potential, but alas wasn't meant to be. Here's the series' premise as provided by IMDB.com:
"After witnessing the sudden implosion of Earth from orbit, a group of five Odyssey astronauts is sent five years back in time by an alien force to find the cause and prevent the disaster. A vast conspiracy stands in their way."
"After witnessing the sudden implosion of Earth from orbit, a group of five Odyssey astronauts is sent five years back in time by an alien force to find the cause and prevent the disaster. A vast conspiracy stands in their way."
A star is born! Oy. If you've never seen Lifeforce which premiered on this day in 1985, then you've never really seen one of the strangest, weirdest, downright looniest sci-fi flicks ever released to audiences of unsuspecting masses. It's based on a book that also has a slightly offbeat premise, but, as a motion picture, director Tobe Hooper delivered up a finished product that appeared to break every known rule possible when attempting to tell a story. Still -- and this is only the fanboy in me speaking, ladies -- it does introduce the world to the voluptuous Mathilda May, so I guess it has that going for it! Here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The space shuttle Churchill is assigned to observe Halley's Comet under the command of Colonel Tom Carlsen. They see a strange form attached to the comet and Carlsen goes with a team to investigate. They find three humanoid life forms in caskets and they bring them to the Churchill. However, Earth loses contact with the shuttle and the Space Research Center sends another spacecraft to search the Churchill. They find the crew dead and the shuttle burnt and one rescue pod missing. They bring the humanoids to Earth and soon Dr. Hans Fallada and his team discover that the Space Girl is a sort of vampire and drains the life force from people, transforming them into zombies. When the authorities find that Colonel Tom Carlsen has survived, they summon him to explain what happened in the Churchill. Carlsen tells an incredible story about the three aliens and he teams up with Colonel Colin Caine trying to save mankind from the evil vampires from space."
"The space shuttle Churchill is assigned to observe Halley's Comet under the command of Colonel Tom Carlsen. They see a strange form attached to the comet and Carlsen goes with a team to investigate. They find three humanoid life forms in caskets and they bring them to the Churchill. However, Earth loses contact with the shuttle and the Space Research Center sends another spacecraft to search the Churchill. They find the crew dead and the shuttle burnt and one rescue pod missing. They bring the humanoids to Earth and soon Dr. Hans Fallada and his team discover that the Space Girl is a sort of vampire and drains the life force from people, transforming them into zombies. When the authorities find that Colonel Tom Carlsen has survived, they summon him to explain what happened in the Churchill. Carlsen tells an incredible story about the three aliens and he teams up with Colonel Colin Caine trying to save mankind from the evil vampires from space."
1985's Cocoon gave so many truly great actors and actresses of an earlier generation the chance to make a big screen appearance in a Science Fiction film, of which the much-praised Maureen Stapleton tried on the genre for good measure. Though she's no longer with us, Stapleton was born on this day in 1925.
For a certain generation of viewers, funnyman Bernie Kopell will always be the doctor who served faithfully aboard the one-time TV juggernaut The Love Boat (clearly, that wasn't Science Fiction), but he actually has a few respectable genre credentials worth mentioning in this space. He enjoyed screen time aboard such projects as My Favorite Martian, Get Smart, The Ghost Busters, The Six Million Dollar Man, Supertrain, and Charmed. Kopell was born on this day in 1933. [Source: IMDB.com]
Screen veteran Ron Ely brought Doc Savage: The Man Of Bronze to life for Warner Bros. back in 1975. He also sported roles in Tarzan (TV), Wonder Woman, and Superboy. Ely was born on this day in 1938.
The original Star Trek featured a whole score of lovely ladies, and one of the loveliest has always been Mariette Hartley. She appeared in the program's third season as Zarabeth, a brief love interest for our intrepid Vulcan/Human hybrid, Mr. Spock. As for sci-fi, she's also appeared in Earth II (1971), Genesis II (1973), and even in a guest spot as part of TV's Logan's Run series. Hartley was born on this day in 1940.
Back in the days of the TV sketch comedy classic SCTV, no one but no one could make me laugh as hard as Eugene Levy and Joe Flaherty did. They were the "Abbott and Costello" of my generation, bar none. Thankfully, Flaherty continues to pop up in roles from time to time, and how fitting it was for him to appear in the climax of Back to the Future 2 in order to send the young Marty McFly on his next adventure in time travel. Flaherty was born on this day in 1941.
With one hundred separate projects to his name, Lyman Ward has certainly built an impressive resume. He's had roles in Man from Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica, The Phoenix, Creature (1985), Independence Day (1996), and Black Scorpion. Ward was born on this day in 1941.
The lovely Corinna Tsopei was not only Miss Greece 1964 and Miss Universe 1964 but also starred as 'Princess Reyka' in an episode of Irwin Allen's SciFi classic series Lost In Space. Tsopei was born on this day in 1944. [Source: IMDB.com]
Director and producer Tony Scott leaves behind a resume worthy of reflection, though much of it involves far more conventional or mainstream material. Still, let's be thankful for small miracles, even though the reviews for the TV miniseries updating of The Andromeda Strain were a bit harsh. Though he's no longer with us, Scott was born on this day in 1944. [Source: IMDB.com]
When the dreaded V'Ger wrecked havoc aboard the bridge of the Starship Enterprise in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), it was 'Chief DiFalco' -- aka the lovely Marcy Lafferty -- who was called to duty to replace the recently departed Ilia. She also enjoyed screen time aboard Kingdom Of The Spiders (1977), The Day Time Ended (1979), and Airplane II: The Sequel (1983). Lafferty was born on this day in 1946. [Source: IMDB.com]
That knucklehead in the baseball cap not exactly exercising quality gun control there is none other than actor Michael Gross. Most folks known him from the 80's sitcom Family Ties, but sci-fi fans know him best as gun enthusiast Burt Gummer from the Tremors franchise. Gross was born on this day in 1947.
Robyn Douglass is a lovely American actress who was actually born in Japan. Science Fiction fans might remember her from the Gods-Of-Kobol-awful Galactica spin-off, Galactica 1980. Douglass was born on this day in 1953.
In his wild and crazy youth, a young Michael Bowen made a brief appearance in Roger Corman's Forbidden World (1982). Genre fans might recognize him from his appearances aboard Knight Rider, Night of the Comet (1984), The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., The X-Files, and Lost. Bowen was born on this day in 1953.
Artist and actor Leigh McCloskey has definitely made a mark on Science Fiction by assuming guest spots aboard Isis, The Bermuda Depths (1978), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Babylon 5, and Star Trek: Voyager. McCloskey was born on this day in 1955.
Clearly, Blake Gibbons is no genre heavyweight, but he's enjoyed some screen time in such programs as Charmed, A.I. Assault (2006), and The CW's long-running Supernatural. Gibbons was born on this day in 1961. [Source: IMDB.com]
Though I'll probably always think of him as the evil 'Governor' from AMC's The Walking Dead, actor David Morrissey hung up his eye patch in favor of some military colors to share the small screen with Halle Berry in CBS's Extant. For good measure, the actor has also made a guest starring appearance on Doctor Who (above right). Morrissey was born on this day in 1964.
The great Doug Savant is a reliable character actor who can make waves in any genre. SciFi fans probably know him best from appearances in The Outer Limits, Godzilla (1998), Harsh Realm, Firefly, and The X-Files. Savant was born on this day in 1964.
Approximately one-half of the creative team behind The Matrix trilogy of films -- Lana Wachowski (previously 'Larry Wachowski') -- celebrates her (previously 'his') birthday today. Wachowski was born on this day in 1965.
The delicious Carrie Preston delivered some comic relief to HBO's Fantasy-themed Vampire program True Blood throughout its run on the pay cable network. Preston was born on this day in 1967.
The always interesting Juliette Lewis made a rare appearance in the realm of Science Fiction by appearing in James Cameron's largely forgotten flick, Strange Days. Lewis was born on this day in 1973.
If IMDB.com's citations are correct, then methinks that the lovely Kelsey Matheson has left the whole acting thing behind for family and greener pastures. Thankfully she has a few genre credits so that we can give her a shout here, including roles in Code Name Phoenix (2000), Dracula 2000 (2000), and the SciFi/Short-Film Space Zombies: Terror From The Sky (2003). Matheson was born on this day in 1974. [Source: IMDB.com]
The Americanized version of the BBC's Life On Mars never even begins to approach the original's greatness. For starters, the BBC's is clearly grounded in characters and fantasy while the US "interpretation" never quite finds a compelling center and, instead, goes for a big(ish) SciFi finale. Meh. Still, I love Maggie Siff, and she gave an otherwise forgettable series a reason to pay attention. Siff was born on this day in 1974.
Nathan Darrow has brought to life the character of 'Victor Fries' (aka Mr. Freeze) for Fox TV's popular Gotham. Darrow was born on this day in 1976.
Ultimately, I think each of us has a reason deep down as to why we love the BBC's long-running SciFi juggernaut, Doctor Who, but I'd like to think that it's mainly due to the almost 'fairy tale quality' to the writing. The show certainly plumbs the depths of our nightmares as Will Thorp's make-up for his appearances as Toby Zed can attest. Thorp was born on this day in 1977.
The lovely Erica Durance was a late addition to the WB's Smallville series, coming aboard the show as yet the next TV incarnation of that feisty, spunky reporter Lois Lane. She's also made appearances in the Andromeda, Stargate: SG-1, and Supergirl TV universes, and she continues to be one of the hottest properties in fandom today. Durance was born on this day in 1978.
Chris Pratt played the lovable doofus Andy Dwyer on NBC's Parks & Recreation (one of my personal favorite sitcoms ever), and he does so with such perfection that I've wondered if audiences would take him seriously elsewhere. Well, he headlined Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) to great acclaim, so I guess we know the answer. Also, you can catch him in the Jurassic Park sequel, Jurassic World. Pratt was born on this day in 1979.
The talented Benjamin Walker brought to life some of the more fantastical elements of a U.S. President's secret life in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012). Walker was born on this day in 1982.
Should you share the screen with a Terminator -- regardless of the make or model -- methinks you deserve a mention, and such is the case for Brian Sites, who shared the screen briefly with one of the cybernetic killer in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Sites was born on this day in 1983.
Jussie Smollett tried Science Fiction on for size with a role aboard Ridley Scott's Alien: Covenant (2017), which was sadly poorly received by audiences. Don't know what this guy is up to now, though I think he had something to do with Subway not too long back. Smollett was born on this day in 1983.
Annalisa Cochrane took a trip into the world of televised Fantasy with a guest visit to Henry Danger for good measure. Cochrane was born on this day in 1994. [Source: IMDB.com]
HubbaHubba Alert! The eye-catching Kalinka Petrie stole scenes aboard Syfy's signature SciFi/Serial Killjoys during its 2017 season. She also enjoyed a few appearances aboard the Americanized remake of Being Human. Petrie was born on this day in 1994. [Source: IMDB.com]
Natalie Alyn Lind continues to blossom in all of the right ways. Genre fans probably know her best from work aboard Fox TV's The Gifted during its run on the network. Lind was born on this day in 1999. [Source: IMDB.com]
On this day in 1972, the SciFi/Horror hybrid Beware! The Blob enjoyed its release. Directed by Larry Hagman (yes, THAT Larry Hagman), the feature starred Robert Walker, Jr. and Gwynne Gilford, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A technician brings a frozen specimen of the original Blob back from the North Pole. When his wife accidentally defrosts the thing, it terrorizes the populace, including the local hippies, kittens, and bowlers."
"A technician brings a frozen specimen of the original Blob back from the North Pole. When his wife accidentally defrosts the thing, it terrorizes the populace, including the local hippies, kittens, and bowlers."
A star is born! How do you combine senior citizens in a retirement living community with science fiction and come up with a crowd-pleasing motion picture? Why, you hire Ron Howard to direct Cocoon! The film explored what effects an alien pod had on the old folks -- giving them a sense of youthful rejuvenation -- and it stirred up big business at the summer box office when it premiered on this day in 1985. Here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"When a group of trespassing seniors swim in a pool containing alien cocoons, they find themselves energized with youthful vigor."
"When a group of trespassing seniors swim in a pool containing alien cocoons, they find themselves energized with youthful vigor."
A star is born! On this day in 1986 (in Japan), Death Powder enjoyed its theatical release. The feature starred Shigeru Izumiya and Takichi Inukai, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Two people, a man and a woman enters a warehouse that will change their life and minds forever."
"Two people, a man and a woman enters a warehouse that will change their life and minds forever."
A star is born! On this day in 1986 (in Japan), the SciFi/Anime Project A-Ko enjoyed its theatrical run. The project featured the talents of Miki Itô and Stacey Gregg, and here's the premise as listed on the reliable IMDB.com:
"Project A-ko is the typical love triangle of three school girls and their confrontations with aliens, giant robots, and women who look like burly men."
"Project A-ko is the typical love triangle of three school girls and their confrontations with aliens, giant robots, and women who look like burly men."
A star is born! On this day in 1988 (in Japan), the kinda/sorta lusty Star Virgin enjoyed its premiere on home video. The feature starred Eiko Kuroki in the -- ahem -- titular role, and here's the plot summary compliments of Letterboxd online:
"Eiko is an alien girl with a unique superpower. She can sense when a man or a monster is out to rape her and take her virginity. She can transform into a superhero, Star Virgin, and use her super powers to destroy anyone out to take her chastity. Star Virgin never wears more than a small bikini and a headdress. Along with keeping her virginity, Eriko has to save the world from killer robots and spend time with her nerdy boyfriend."
"Eiko is an alien girl with a unique superpower. She can sense when a man or a monster is out to rape her and take her virginity. She can transform into a superhero, Star Virgin, and use her super powers to destroy anyone out to take her chastity. Star Virgin never wears more than a small bikini and a headdress. Along with keeping her virginity, Eriko has to save the world from killer robots and spend time with her nerdy boyfriend."
On this day in 1988 (in Spain), The Brother From Space crashed down to Earth (in theatres, that is). It starred Martin Balsam and Agostina Belli, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"After the crash of their spaceship the only surviving alien seeks refuge from the government. He finds the help of a blind music teacher with psychic powers, and a sympathetic priest."
"After the crash of their spaceship the only surviving alien seeks refuge from the government. He finds the help of a blind music teacher with psychic powers, and a sympathetic priest."
On this day in 1991 (in the U.S. and Canada), Walt Disney took to the skies with the theatrical release of The Rocketeer. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A young pilot stumbles onto a prototype jetpack that allows him to become a high-flying masked hero."
"A young pilot stumbles onto a prototype jetpack that allows him to become a high-flying masked hero."
On this day in 2010 (in Germany), 1957's Russian-language SciFi Doroga K Zvezdam enjoyed its release in the home video market. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A groundbreaking popular science fiction film about the past and future of astronautics, from the first experiments by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky to the manned spaceflight and colonization of the Moon."
"A groundbreaking popular science fiction film about the past and future of astronautics, from the first experiments by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky to the manned spaceflight and colonization of the Moon."
On this day in 2014 (in Canada), The Infinite Man played for audiences in attendance of the Niagara Integrated Film Festival. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A man's attempts to construct the ultimate romantic weekend backfire when his quest for perfection traps his lover in an infinite loop."
"A man's attempts to construct the ultimate romantic weekend backfire when his quest for perfection traps his lover in an infinite loop."
A star is born! On this day in 2015 (in Berlin, Germany), Terminator Genisys enjoyed its original theatrical premiere. Written by Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier and directed by Alan Taylor, this SciFi/Actioner starred Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, and Jai Courtney. Here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"When John Connor, leader of the human resistance, sends Sgt. Kyle Reese back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor and safeguard the future, an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline."
"When John Connor, leader of the human resistance, sends Sgt. Kyle Reese back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor and safeguard the future, an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline."
On this day in 1952, Space Patrol aired "Mission To Mercury." Officially, this served as the twenty-fifth episode in the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by Solarguard.com:
"Cadet Happy is sent on an important mission to Mercury with a briefcase full of papers which put the finger on an interplanetary official involved in a bribery scandal. In an unguarded moment the suspect replaces the contents of the case with a time bomb."
"Cadet Happy is sent on an important mission to Mercury with a briefcase full of papers which put the finger on an interplanetary official involved in a bribery scandal. In an unguarded moment the suspect replaces the contents of the case with a time bomb."
It all began right here: on this day in 1974 (in Australia), Alpha Scorpio aired its first episode in its single season broadcast existence. I've been unable to find individual episode summaries, so in lieu of that I'm provided the series' summary from IMDB.com:
"Two university students discover that their friend Mirny is a member of a group of aliens who have recently landed on Earth."
"Two university students discover that their friend Mirny is a member of a group of aliens who have recently landed on Earth."
On this day in 2002, Farscape aired the third episode of its fourth season, an adventure titled "What Was Lost, Part 2: Resurrection." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The crew discovers how far Scorpius has fallen in the Peacekeeper ranks. They must find and activate all the probes to stop the magnetic storm on Arnesk, but someone doesn't want them stopped."
"The crew discovers how far Scorpius has fallen in the Peacekeeper ranks. They must find and activate all the probes to stop the magnetic storm on Arnesk, but someone doesn't want them stopped."
It all began right here: on this day in 2002, Odyssey 5 aired its pilot episode for the very first time ever. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Five astronauts are sole survivors of an inexplicable apocalyptic event that caused Earth to suddenly blow up. An alien AI construct that's investigating similar incidents arrives and sends them five years into the past to stop the event."
"Five astronauts are sole survivors of an inexplicable apocalyptic event that caused Earth to suddenly blow up. An alien AI construct that's investigating similar incidents arrives and sends them five years into the past to stop the event."
On this day in 2003, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed aired "Divine Thunder." This served as the thirty-seventh episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A war is under way between genetically enhanced Coordinators and unmodified Naturals."
"A war is under way between genetically enhanced Coordinators and unmodified Naturals."
On this day in 2007 (in the Netherlands), Heroes aired "Chapter 01 - Genesis." Officially, this served as the first episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"In Manhattan, Peter Petrelli is the younger brother Nathan Petrelli an overly ambitious and unscrupulous candidate for the next New York congressman, and he dreams and believes that he can fly. He decides to prove his theory and jumps from the roof of a building in an alley and his brother flies and saves him. In Texas, cheerleader Claire Bennet learns that she is literally indestructible and can not harm herself or die. She saves a fireman in a fire in a train, but does not take the credit. In Tokyo, Hiro Nakamura believes he can control time and space continuum. In India, Mohinder Suresh moves to the Brooklyn, New York, where his father, that was researching a secret project called Genesis about genome and DNA, is killed in a taxi cab. In Lower Manhattan, the painter Isaac Mendez paints pictures of the future. In Las Vegas, stripper Niki Sanders borrows $30,000 from a powerful local mobster to get her young son into school, and does not have the money to pay her loan. She sees a different image of her in the mirror, and when two gangsters come to her house to collect the money, one of them hits her and she faints. Later Nikki wakes up, and the two thugs are dead... literally torn apart by her evil alter ego."
"In Manhattan, Peter Petrelli is the younger brother Nathan Petrelli an overly ambitious and unscrupulous candidate for the next New York congressman, and he dreams and believes that he can fly. He decides to prove his theory and jumps from the roof of a building in an alley and his brother flies and saves him. In Texas, cheerleader Claire Bennet learns that she is literally indestructible and can not harm herself or die. She saves a fireman in a fire in a train, but does not take the credit. In Tokyo, Hiro Nakamura believes he can control time and space continuum. In India, Mohinder Suresh moves to the Brooklyn, New York, where his father, that was researching a secret project called Genesis about genome and DNA, is killed in a taxi cab. In Lower Manhattan, the painter Isaac Mendez paints pictures of the future. In Las Vegas, stripper Niki Sanders borrows $30,000 from a powerful local mobster to get her young son into school, and does not have the money to pay her loan. She sees a different image of her in the mirror, and when two gangsters come to her house to collect the money, one of them hits her and she faints. Later Nikki wakes up, and the two thugs are dead... literally torn apart by her evil alter ego."
On this day in 2009 (in Hungary), Quantum Leap aired "A Song For The Soul." Officially, this served as the fifteenth episode in the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Singing in a 1960's black girl band, Sam must save one member from an unscrupulous nightclub owner."
"Singing in a 1960's black girl band, Sam must save one member from an unscrupulous nightclub owner."
On this day in 2011 (in the United Kingdom), Primeval aired "The End Of The Future: Part 1." Officially, this served as the fifth episode in the program's fifth (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"As the team explains to James that Burton was in league with Helen Cutter in wishing to return the world to its primeval state a huge T Rex which has come through one of his anomalies and is on the rampage in London needs their attention. Anomalies are opening the world over and Burton leaves Connor to die at one nearer home though fortunately Abby comes to the rescue. The team tries in vain to get Burton to close down his New Dawn machine but,after pterodactyls have seen off April,Burton closes all the other anomalies worldwide putting all their power into a huge one at ARC through which Connor is sucked."
"As the team explains to James that Burton was in league with Helen Cutter in wishing to return the world to its primeval state a huge T Rex which has come through one of his anomalies and is on the rampage in London needs their attention. Anomalies are opening the world over and Burton leaves Connor to die at one nearer home though fortunately Abby comes to the rescue. The team tries in vain to get Burton to close down his New Dawn machine but,after pterodactyls have seen off April,Burton closes all the other anomalies worldwide putting all their power into a huge one at ARC through which Connor is sucked."
On this day in 1953, The Shadow radio serial aired "The Invisible Weapon." According to our friends at The Shadow Wiki, it would appear all details surrounding this tale have been lost to history. Not even The Shadow knows!
