Awww! But the kids are so cute! So small! So nutritious!
On this day back in 1989, Walt Disney and Rick Moranis went small as the actor played a someone home-grown scientific genius who accidentally miniaturizes his children with the help of his latest invention. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids -- directed by genre-fave Joe Johnston -- did gangbusters at the box office, and it only helped further pave the way for Moranis's eventual retirement from acting.
On this day back in 1989, Walt Disney and Rick Moranis went small as the actor played a someone home-grown scientific genius who accidentally miniaturizes his children with the help of his latest invention. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids -- directed by genre-fave Joe Johnston -- did gangbusters at the box office, and it only helped further pave the way for Moranis's eventual retirement from acting.
Paul Orban was a Science Fiction and Fantasy illustrator who emerged during the great pulp era, sketching and creating cover as well as interior art for space age and monster tales. Though he's no longer with us, Orban was born on this day in 1896.
Michael Shaara dabbled in the realms of Science Fiction and Sports fiction as well as penning some historical fiction for good measure. Though he's no longer with us, Shaara was born on this day in 1928.
It took a face as lovely as that belonging to Leigh Snowden to make The Creature Walks Among Us (1956) for Universal International Pictures. Who can you blame a sea creature for wanting its own pet? Though she's no longer with us, Snowden was born on this day in 1929. [Source: IMDB.com]
The works of Jerry Ahern included a survivalist angle while set in the post-Apocalyptic world left to ex-CIA Agent John Thomas Rourke. Though he's no longer with us, Ahern was born on this day in 1946.
While actor Ted Shackelford may be more widely known for his role in TV's soapy dramas of the 1980's (namely Dallas and Knots Landing), SciFi fans probably remember him best as Lieutenant Patrick Brogan, one of the boys-in-blue for Gerry Anderson's property Space Precinct (1994). Shackelford was born on this day in 1946.
I've heard it said that -- in Hollywood -- the "producer" is a necessary evil ... but if I must embrace evil then let me say that I'm thrilled that quality genre entertainment has one on our side as thoughtful, creative, and SciFi-friendly as is the lovely Lauren Shuler Donner. She's been the driving force behind some of the biggest hits, including the various X-Men properties and (most recently) the cinematic debut of Deadpool. Shuler Donner was born on this day in 1949.
Director Russell Mulcahy has a pretty impressive list of genre-related properties including Highlander (1986), Highlander II: The Quickening (1991), The Shadow (1994), HBO's Tales from the Crypt, and Teen Wolf. Though many critics dismissed his early work because the man earned his stripes shooting music videos in the dawn of MTV, he's maintained a stylish appeal of visuals that have given his films a strong cult following. Mulcahy was born on this day in 1953.
Even Oscar-winning actress Frances McDormand can't escape the intoxicating appeal of appearing within the realm of Science Fiction: in 2005, she appeared in the rather tepid adaptation of Aeon Flux. Hopefully that film didn't scare her off our genre. McDormand was born on this day in 1957.
After a breakout role in 1987's popular Lost Boys, Billy Wirth dabbled off-and-on in some smaller genre projects. In 1991, he visited HBO's Tales from the Crypt. In 1993, he appeared in Body Snatchers (pictured above right). And in 1996 he had the SciFi two-fer Starlight and Space Marines. Wirth was born on this day in 1962.
Joss Whedon has quickly become Marvel Entertainment's "go-to-guy" in crafting big visuals for some of their most ambitious cinematic outings. Always a bit of a genre-favorite, Whedon helped build several franchises into cult properties, including Fox TV's Firefly. Sadly, he's emerged as a bit of a sexist pig according to his ex. Still, Whedon was born on this day in 1964.
If there ever is a real-life Piranhaconda (2012), then let's just hope and pray that the real-life hero to save all of us from it is as lovely and as dreamy as is the lovely and dreamy Terri Ivens. Ivens was born on this day in 1967.
God bless James Cawley! For those of you who don't know, Cawley is responsible largely for keeping storytelling like what was done in the original Star Trek series alive by producing and starring in a web-project called Star Trek: Phase II and Star Trek: New Voyages. Cawley was born on this day in 1967.
Fandom loves Selma Blair -- or, at least, fanboys do! -- though it really is a crying shame that she doesn't get more work. She was one of the only elements of the Hellboy films I truly appreciated, but otherwise it seems she's destined for more indie-style films. Blair was born on this day in 1972.
I'm usually never a fan when Hollywood sets its sights on "re-interpreting" classic science fiction films, but -- every now and then -- I can appreciate when writers, directors, and actors do show some appreciation by trying something different. Case in point: 2011's The Thing ignored attempting an unnecessary remake while instead revisiting the material by way of an interesting prequel. One of its stars -- Joel Edgerton -- continues to turn up in equally impressive projects. Edgerton was born on this day in 1974.
Though I suspect the lovely Emmanuelle Vaugier remains far more well known for her sexy role on Syfy's equally sexy fantasy program, Lost Girl, the actress has given SciFi fans plenty to crow about. She's had roles aboard Smallville, Andromeda, First Wave, The Outer Limits, Seven Days, and Painkiller Jane. Plus ... she just plain looks sexy. Did I say that already? Vaugier was born on this day in 1976.
I caught the first few episodes of Syfy's Killjoys before I tuned it out. Just wasn't for me. Still, I can appreciate fine work by all of the cast and crew, of which Morgan Kelly plays a role. Kelly was born on this day in 1976.
Ah, the lovely Melissa Rauch! That's Melissa Ivy Rauch! She plays the delightfully looney Bernadette Rostenkowski on the fan-favorite sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Since the program regularly skewers fandom and Science Fiction, I thought it deserved a mention. Plus, she looks lovely, no? Rauch was born on this day in 1980.
It's been great to watch young actors like Connor Jessup evolve both as a person and a talent as part of the family ensemble at the core of TNT's alien invasion drama, Falling Skies. Over the program's seasons, he's slowly taken charge of the alien technology implanted in his body, and he's begun putting it to good use as a leader of Earth's resistance. Jessup was born on this day in 1994.
A huge, huge, huge birthday shout-out goes forth today in honor of the youngest incarnation of Amy Pond to appear on the BBC's popular Doctor Who, that being the one belonging to Caitlin Blackwood. She imbued the inevitable companion with just the right balance of curiosity and youthful cynicism to make this Pond the most magical. Blackwood was born on this day in 2000.
On this day in 1933 (in France), the mysterious Doctor X promised to cure what ailed audiences. The SciFi feature starred Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A monster lurks as New York newspaperman Lee Taylor investigates one of the "Moon Killer" murders, in which the victims are strangled, cannibalized and surgically incised under the light of the full moon. The trail leads to the cliffside mansion of Dr. Xavier, where the doctor and his colleagues conduct a strange experiment."
"A monster lurks as New York newspaperman Lee Taylor investigates one of the "Moon Killer" murders, in which the victims are strangled, cannibalized and surgically incised under the light of the full moon. The trail leads to the cliffside mansion of Dr. Xavier, where the doctor and his colleagues conduct a strange experiment."
Alongside George Lucas's original Star Wars (1977), one of the most significant sci-fi flicks to come out of the late '70's was Logan's Run -- which the entertainment industry desperately wants to remake. Let me go out on a limb and pronounce that I'll probably always prefer the original anyway. Here's the plot from IMDB.com:
"Logan, a Sandman (police assassin), is forced to search for "Sanctuary" - a place to which people have apparently escaped from the sealed city of the future in which he lives. Jessica is caught up along the way and becomes his companion fugitive as they are both pursued by Francis, a fellow Sandman. Sanctuary is not what they expect."
"Logan, a Sandman (police assassin), is forced to search for "Sanctuary" - a place to which people have apparently escaped from the sealed city of the future in which he lives. Jessica is caught up along the way and becomes his companion fugitive as they are both pursued by Francis, a fellow Sandman. Sanctuary is not what they expect."
On this day in 1986 (in Spain), the Fantasy-themed Sword of the Valiant experienced its theatrical premiere. (It had premiered in 1984 in the United States.) The feature starred Miles O'Keeffe and Sean Connery, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Gawain was a squire in King Arthur's court when the Green Knight burst in and offered to play a game with a brave knight. No knights stand to defend their king's honor. Except for the valiant Gawain. After being quickly knighted Gawain plays the game, but learns that it's all a trick, and he has lost. But the Green Knight shows mercy, letting Gawain grow a year older before having to face the consequences. Gawain journeys across the land, learning about life, saving damsels, and solving the Green Knight's riddle."
"Gawain was a squire in King Arthur's court when the Green Knight burst in and offered to play a game with a brave knight. No knights stand to defend their king's honor. Except for the valiant Gawain. After being quickly knighted Gawain plays the game, but learns that it's all a trick, and he has lost. But the Green Knight shows mercy, letting Gawain grow a year older before having to face the consequences. Gawain journeys across the land, learning about life, saving damsels, and solving the Green Knight's riddle."
On this day in 1989 (in Denmark), 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.”
On this day in 1993, the Legend Of The Roller Blade Seven enjoyed its premiere in the U.S. home video market. The feature starred Karen Black and Joe Estevez, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"In a post-apocalyptic world where rollerblading is the chief means of travel, the evil Pharoah sends his minions outside the Wheel Zone to abduct a psychic. The psychic has been trained in the way of the samurai, but has shunned her training to become a Passive. Once abducted, her brother joins forces with others to try and rescue her, but they face many challenges from the Dark Side."
"In a post-apocalyptic world where rollerblading is the chief means of travel, the evil Pharoah sends his minions outside the Wheel Zone to abduct a psychic. The psychic has been trained in the way of the samurai, but has shunned her training to become a Passive. Once abducted, her brother joins forces with others to try and rescue her, but they face many challenges from the Dark Side."
On this day in 2005 (in Hungary), the SciFi/Fantasy Sumuru enjoyed its television premiere. The feature starred Michael Shanks and Alexandra Kamp, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"Based on Sax Rohmer's cult novels "Sumuru", this futuristic fantasy takes you to an Earth-colony in the far future, in which women rule and men are used to propagate the race and work in the mines."
"Based on Sax Rohmer's cult novels "Sumuru", this futuristic fantasy takes you to an Earth-colony in the far future, in which women rule and men are used to propagate the race and work in the mines."
Never underestimate the power of a girl and her smartphone! On this day in 2014, the Walt Disney Channel dipped into the realm of Fantasy with the premiere of the Telefilm called Zapped. The feature starred Zendaya and Spencer Boldman, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Sixteen-year-old Zoey Stevens, a skilled dancer and straight-A student, is having a hard time adjusting to a new high school, a new and klutzy dance squad, a new step-dad, three new rowdy step-brothers and an unruly dog, but things change when a dog training app on her smart phone begins to somehow control all the boys around her."
"Sixteen-year-old Zoey Stevens, a skilled dancer and straight-A student, is having a hard time adjusting to a new high school, a new and klutzy dance squad, a new step-dad, three new rowdy step-brothers and an unruly dog, but things change when a dog training app on her smart phone begins to somehow control all the boys around her."
On this day in 2015, Advantageous found life among those living in the near-future. The feature starred Jacqueline Kim and James Urbaniak, and here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"In a near-future city where soaring opulence overshadows economic hardship, Gwen and her daughter Jules do all they can to hold on to their joy together, despite the instability surfacing in their world."
"In a near-future city where soaring opulence overshadows economic hardship, Gwen and her daughter Jules do all they can to hold on to their joy together, despite the instability surfacing in their world."
On this day in 2015, Jurassic Prey enjoyed its original U.S. premiere. The SciFi/Comedy starred Danielle Donahue and Jeff Kirkendall, and here's the plot summary provided by IMDB.com:
"A woman steals money from her mob boss husband hoping to start a new life with her lover. Meanwhile, a washed-up former child star and his buddies rob a bank with a police detective hot on their trail. Through a twist of fate, these people all find themselves at a remote cabin, unaware that recent construction work has unleashed a ferocious creature which now roams the surrounding area!"
"A woman steals money from her mob boss husband hoping to start a new life with her lover. Meanwhile, a washed-up former child star and his buddies rob a bank with a police detective hot on their trail. Through a twist of fate, these people all find themselves at a remote cabin, unaware that recent construction work has unleashed a ferocious creature which now roams the surrounding area!"
On this day in 2017, Arrowhead (aka Alien Arrival) enjoyed its U.S. premiere. The SciFi feature starred Aleisha Rose and Dan Mor, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Kye's a prisoner of war caught between 2 armies; neither side of which he believes. When offered an opportunity for freedom, he sets out on one last rescue mission, only to become stranded on a desert moon, when his ship - the Arrowhead - crash lands. Kye has to learn to survive when a new life is discovered, which will challenge his beliefs."
"Kye's a prisoner of war caught between 2 armies; neither side of which he believes. When offered an opportunity for freedom, he sets out on one last rescue mission, only to become stranded on a desert moon, when his ship - the Arrowhead - crash lands. Kye has to learn to survive when a new life is discovered, which will challenge his beliefs."
On this day in 1951, Space Patrol aired "Race Against Death." This served as the twenty-sixth episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by Space Patrol: Missions of Daring in the Name of Early Television:
"During an official reception at the governor's mansion on the planet Mars, the governor's son pressures Tonga into taking a space ride with him, but she is unaware that he has stolen his father's space coupe. When Buzz and Happy set out in pursuit, all of them end up being buried alive in a crystallized cave with little hope for escape."
"During an official reception at the governor's mansion on the planet Mars, the governor's son pressures Tonga into taking a space ride with him, but she is unaware that he has stolen his father's space coupe. When Buzz and Happy set out in pursuit, all of them end up being buried alive in a crystallized cave with little hope for escape."
It all began right here: on this day in 1966, Adam Adamant Lives premiered on UK television screens with the broadcast of "A Vintage Year For Scoundrels." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"In 1902, Adam Adamant is lured into a trap by his arch nemesis 'The Face' and frozen in ice for eternity. That is until he is accidentally freed by workmen in 1966. Bewildered to find himself in the Swinging Sixties, Adamant is taken in by mod girl and lifelong fan Georgina Jones. When Georgie's grandfather is killed by a couple of thugs, Adamant decides his services are once again needed."
"In 1902, Adam Adamant is lured into a trap by his arch nemesis 'The Face' and frozen in ice for eternity. That is until he is accidentally freed by workmen in 1966. Bewildered to find himself in the Swinging Sixties, Adamant is taken in by mod girl and lifelong fan Georgina Jones. When Georgie's grandfather is killed by a couple of thugs, Adamant decides his services are once again needed."
On this day in 2000, Farscape aired the eighth episode of its second season, an hour titled "Dream A Little Dream." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"While waiting for Moya to pick their Transport Pod, Zahn tells Crichton of Moya's adventures after the Gammeck base was destroyed. Zahn was on trial for murder, with Chiana, and Rygel acting as her defense lawyers."
"While waiting for Moya to pick their Transport Pod, Zahn tells Crichton of Moya's adventures after the Gammeck base was destroyed. Zahn was on trial for murder, with Chiana, and Rygel acting as her defense lawyers."
On this day in 2000, Lexx aired "Norb." This served as the twelfth episode in the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The crew picks up a strange young boy named Norb who, according to Kai, lacks 'a certain vitality.'"
"The crew picks up a strange young boy named Norb who, according to Kai, lacks 'a certain vitality.'"
On this day in 2000, The Invisible Man aired "Ralph." This served as the third episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"An FBI-protected witness is killed in a forest and the only eyewitness of the crime is a little girl who only speaks to his invisible (and imaginary) friend Ralph. Darien becomes Ralph to protect the girl and to solve the case."
"An FBI-protected witness is killed in a forest and the only eyewitness of the crime is a little girl who only speaks to his invisible (and imaginary) friend Ralph. Darien becomes Ralph to protect the girl and to solve the case."
On this day in 2013, the battle for Earth's survival was amped up on TNT's Falling Skies when they aired the fourth episode of their third season. The hour was titled "At All Costs," and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"After the people of Charleston defeat another alien attack with the help of new advanced weaponry, and Tom is invited to meet with a powerful leader (guest star Stephen Collins)."
"After the people of Charleston defeat another alien attack with the help of new advanced weaponry, and Tom is invited to meet with a powerful leader (guest star Stephen Collins)."
On this day in 2014, TNT welcomed back the cast and crew of its SciFi invasion drama -- Falling Skies -- for its fourth season. The first hour was titled "Ghost in the Machine," and it was a bit of a game-changer in that in broke the 2nd Mass into smaller units, the result of an all-out engagement by Earth's enemies. Here's the hour's plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"On the outskirts of Charleston, just steps away from perceived safety, The Mason Clan and the remaining 2nd Mass suddenly find themselves under brutal attack by a new Espheni war machine - and a new, deadly creation unlike anything previously encountered. Divided like chattel and spread to the winds, The Masons must each forge new relationships and abilities to survive."
"On the outskirts of Charleston, just steps away from perceived safety, The Mason Clan and the remaining 2nd Mass suddenly find themselves under brutal attack by a new Espheni war machine - and a new, deadly creation unlike anything previously encountered. Divided like chattel and spread to the winds, The Masons must each forge new relationships and abilities to survive."
On this day in 1941, The Adventures Of Superman radio serial began its "The White Plague" story. This serial began on this day and aired through July 9th, and here's the (edited) premise from the Superman Homepage (link):
"At a logging camp near the Big Beaver River up north that is owned by Walter Bartlett - a friend of Perry White's, there has been some trouble. The loggers in the camp believe that its troubles are being caused by something called the White Plague. Many men have quit their jobs in the camp because of their fear of the plague. One man named Gaston even screamed twice and disappeared in front of his cabin not long after he had said that he'd be going back to Quebec because of the White Plague. Middle aged camp foreman Fred Harmon and logging crew boss Bill Dawson and the others in the logging camp are now searching in the snowy, adverse weather conditions for the lumberjack."
"At a logging camp near the Big Beaver River up north that is owned by Walter Bartlett - a friend of Perry White's, there has been some trouble. The loggers in the camp believe that its troubles are being caused by something called the White Plague. Many men have quit their jobs in the camp because of their fear of the plague. One man named Gaston even screamed twice and disappeared in front of his cabin not long after he had said that he'd be going back to Quebec because of the White Plague. Middle aged camp foreman Fred Harmon and logging crew boss Bill Dawson and the others in the logging camp are now searching in the snowy, adverse weather conditions for the lumberjack."
