scifi top five
Greetings, gentle readers!
One of the things I've been working behind-the-scenes on developing specifically for SciFiHistory.Net is the introduction of more daily features. I know, I know, I know: you're all insisting that -- what with the wealth of research I've done to keep the interior Daily Citation Pages growing and growing and growing -- I've probably done enough, am I right? Well, that wouldn't be the way I'd prefer to see the site continue expanding into strange new worlds and new civilizations, so all I ask is that you keep your eyes peeled for these new bits because they're definitely in the offing. In fact, I'd wanted to make the transition over to doing them via YouTube.com videos, but I'm sadly behind-the-times on that front. But stay focused ... we'll get there!
One of the things I've been working behind-the-scenes on developing specifically for SciFiHistory.Net is the introduction of more daily features. I know, I know, I know: you're all insisting that -- what with the wealth of research I've done to keep the interior Daily Citation Pages growing and growing and growing -- I've probably done enough, am I right? Well, that wouldn't be the way I'd prefer to see the site continue expanding into strange new worlds and new civilizations, so all I ask is that you keep your eyes peeled for these new bits because they're definitely in the offing. In fact, I'd wanted to make the transition over to doing them via YouTube.com videos, but I'm sadly behind-the-times on that front. But stay focused ... we'll get there!
william hartnell (1908-1975)
They always say that you'll remember your first doctor.
Now, the cynic in me suspects that it was some organization of pediatricians who came up with that phrase, but the truth is probably more likely owed to the contingent of fans who celebrate the wide, wide world of the Whoniverse ... more specifically, those who love all things related to the BBC's long-running SciFi/Fantasy serial Doctor Who. Yes, I realize that property has -- ahem -- presently fallen onto pretty hard times, but -- like many of you -- I'll hold out hope that one day someone will come in and right the ship, sending the TARDIS spinning off once again the proper storytelling direction. In the meantime -- as they say -- we'll always have yesterday.
Well, it was the late William Hartnell who gets to claim the title of 'the very first Doctor.' While he wasn't my first (that was Tom Baker), I have had the opportunity over the years to go back and watch some of Hartnell's era on home video. What I've seen is very good -- perhaps it's correct to say they're more 'charming' than they are moving -- and I think that he was undoubtedly the right candidate to bring the time traveler from Gallifrey to life in those first few fumbling moments. He certainly set a welcoming tone for those who initially found the show; and for fandom owes him a debt we can never ever repay.
Happy heavenly birthday, William Hartnell!
Now, the cynic in me suspects that it was some organization of pediatricians who came up with that phrase, but the truth is probably more likely owed to the contingent of fans who celebrate the wide, wide world of the Whoniverse ... more specifically, those who love all things related to the BBC's long-running SciFi/Fantasy serial Doctor Who. Yes, I realize that property has -- ahem -- presently fallen onto pretty hard times, but -- like many of you -- I'll hold out hope that one day someone will come in and right the ship, sending the TARDIS spinning off once again the proper storytelling direction. In the meantime -- as they say -- we'll always have yesterday.
Well, it was the late William Hartnell who gets to claim the title of 'the very first Doctor.' While he wasn't my first (that was Tom Baker), I have had the opportunity over the years to go back and watch some of Hartnell's era on home video. What I've seen is very good -- perhaps it's correct to say they're more 'charming' than they are moving -- and I think that he was undoubtedly the right candidate to bring the time traveler from Gallifrey to life in those first few fumbling moments. He certainly set a welcoming tone for those who initially found the show; and for fandom owes him a debt we can never ever repay.
Happy heavenly birthday, William Hartnell!
yvette mimieux (1942-2022)
The 'Old Dogs' or the 'Old Guard' such as myself who cut our teeth on Science Fiction and Fantasy from the earlier era will forever be under the spell of the lovely Yvette Mimieux.
The acclaimed actress got her start in some small supporting roles, but nothing likely compared her for the path to genre fortune and fame when she scored the role as 'Weena' aboard George Pal's Oscar-winning adaptation of H.G. Wells' The Time Machine (1960) for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Naturally, Mimieux expanded her professional portfolio by persuing work in Dramas and Comedies of the era; but -- to fandom's delight -- she returned to the fold in 1979's The Black Hole, an early attempt of the Walt Disney Company to capitalize on the box office prospects that George Lucas's Star Wars set in motion. While I'm not as much as fan of Hole as are so many of my generation, I'll still jump at the chance to watch the legendary Mimieux doing what she does so well on the silver screen.
Happy birthday, Yvette Mimieux!
The acclaimed actress got her start in some small supporting roles, but nothing likely compared her for the path to genre fortune and fame when she scored the role as 'Weena' aboard George Pal's Oscar-winning adaptation of H.G. Wells' The Time Machine (1960) for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Naturally, Mimieux expanded her professional portfolio by persuing work in Dramas and Comedies of the era; but -- to fandom's delight -- she returned to the fold in 1979's The Black Hole, an early attempt of the Walt Disney Company to capitalize on the box office prospects that George Lucas's Star Wars set in motion. While I'm not as much as fan of Hole as are so many of my generation, I'll still jump at the chance to watch the legendary Mimieux doing what she does so well on the silver screen.
Happy birthday, Yvette Mimieux!
michelle forbes
Trekkies, Trekkers, and general Star Trek enthusiasts have almost always functioned from the same consumer attitude of cheering for our supporting players.
It's a big, big, big universe, you see, and because we've been boldly going for decades we've had the opportunity to be introduced to an incredibly vast number of smilers in each and every iteration of the property. On some occasions, these guest stars make some an impression both behind-the-scenes and in front of the camera that producers or fans cry out for more; and that's the case today with actress Michelle Forbes. Her 'Ensign Ro Laren' first appeared aboard Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1991 (though I've read that the actress had a different role in a previous installment); and she kept serving the Federation proudly for another seven adventures, each time earning more respect from her shipmates and fandom alike.
Thankfully, Forbes has been no stranger to the world of genre entertainment; and she's been able to parlay such favorable notices into gigs across several popular franchises and beyond. She even gave a rather commanding performance aboard Syfy's reincarnated version of the beloved Battlestar Galactica during its time on the Boob Tube; and -- even though she wasn't exactly a Happy Camper in that universe (as a character) -- she definitely helped elevate that mythology to impressive heights.
Happy birthday, Michelle Forbes!
It's a big, big, big universe, you see, and because we've been boldly going for decades we've had the opportunity to be introduced to an incredibly vast number of smilers in each and every iteration of the property. On some occasions, these guest stars make some an impression both behind-the-scenes and in front of the camera that producers or fans cry out for more; and that's the case today with actress Michelle Forbes. Her 'Ensign Ro Laren' first appeared aboard Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1991 (though I've read that the actress had a different role in a previous installment); and she kept serving the Federation proudly for another seven adventures, each time earning more respect from her shipmates and fandom alike.
Thankfully, Forbes has been no stranger to the world of genre entertainment; and she's been able to parlay such favorable notices into gigs across several popular franchises and beyond. She even gave a rather commanding performance aboard Syfy's reincarnated version of the beloved Battlestar Galactica during its time on the Boob Tube; and -- even though she wasn't exactly a Happy Camper in that universe (as a character) -- she definitely helped elevate that mythology to impressive heights.
Happy birthday, Michelle Forbes!
rachel nichols
Alright, hear me out, you lucky bastards:
I realize that 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra wasn't exactly everyone's cup of tea, but you know what? I quite liked it. The story of the wider Joe army banding together to save life as we know it was simply enough to keep me entertained, and the glitz and glamor of the action definitely appealed to the 12-14 year old boy's sensibilities still alive and well in this old man's beating heart. No, it wasn't likely going to break any box office records nor get inducted into the National Film Registry, but it was fun ... and it had Rachel Nichols!
The lovely and talented actress may not have benefitted to any noticeably degree by appearing in the role of 'Scarlett,' but she still managed to turn more than a few heads in that costume. (Snicker snicker!) Plus, it gave her a chance to be seen -- something I'd imagine a great number of actresses would've been equally smitten with -- and she's also been able to expand her genre portfolio from there with work aboard Star Trek (2009), Continuum (2012-2015), The Librarians (2017-2018), Titans (2018-2019), and The Man In The High Castle (2019). That, my friends, is some resume!
Happy birthday, Rachel Nichols!
I realize that 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra wasn't exactly everyone's cup of tea, but you know what? I quite liked it. The story of the wider Joe army banding together to save life as we know it was simply enough to keep me entertained, and the glitz and glamor of the action definitely appealed to the 12-14 year old boy's sensibilities still alive and well in this old man's beating heart. No, it wasn't likely going to break any box office records nor get inducted into the National Film Registry, but it was fun ... and it had Rachel Nichols!
The lovely and talented actress may not have benefitted to any noticeably degree by appearing in the role of 'Scarlett,' but she still managed to turn more than a few heads in that costume. (Snicker snicker!) Plus, it gave her a chance to be seen -- something I'd imagine a great number of actresses would've been equally smitten with -- and she's also been able to expand her genre portfolio from there with work aboard Star Trek (2009), Continuum (2012-2015), The Librarians (2017-2018), Titans (2018-2019), and The Man In The High Castle (2019). That, my friends, is some resume!
Happy birthday, Rachel Nichols!
roy batty (2016-2019)
From SciFiHistory.Net's Daily Citation Page for January 8th:
As fans, we strive to bring meaning to those things -- films, books, TV shows, and even characters -- that give our lives meaning. By doing so, we're given the chance to celebrate over and over and over again influences that otherwise go unnoticed by society-at-large, by the countless horde of mindless drones who haven't yet embraced these things that necessarily give us joy. This is what I've always tried to do with SciFiHistory.Net; and it's a feature I occasionally get to draw a bit of attention through in these small(ish) Serendipity posts. It's a tragedy when things are forgotten -- or lost in time -- and I hope that each of us -- no matter what franchise we celebrate -- share that simple trait in common.
That said: for those of you who may've missed it, 1982's seminal Science Fiction Classic Blade Runner -- from renowned director Ridley Scott -- brought us perhaps its most meaningful creation in the guise of the replicant Roy Batty. His sometimes violent nature -- he was bred for combat, after all -- meant that he couldn't quite find peace in peacetime surroundings; and the character spent the better part of his last few days of existence trying to understand this crazy little thing called life, a journey each of us makes on his or her own. It was a performance that continues to resonate decades later, and it's one of the most celebrated portrayals in all of Science Fiction.
According to the movie's mythology, Batty was born on this day -- January 8th -- in 2016.
That's today's serendipitous moment.
-- EZ
As fans, we strive to bring meaning to those things -- films, books, TV shows, and even characters -- that give our lives meaning. By doing so, we're given the chance to celebrate over and over and over again influences that otherwise go unnoticed by society-at-large, by the countless horde of mindless drones who haven't yet embraced these things that necessarily give us joy. This is what I've always tried to do with SciFiHistory.Net; and it's a feature I occasionally get to draw a bit of attention through in these small(ish) Serendipity posts. It's a tragedy when things are forgotten -- or lost in time -- and I hope that each of us -- no matter what franchise we celebrate -- share that simple trait in common.
That said: for those of you who may've missed it, 1982's seminal Science Fiction Classic Blade Runner -- from renowned director Ridley Scott -- brought us perhaps its most meaningful creation in the guise of the replicant Roy Batty. His sometimes violent nature -- he was bred for combat, after all -- meant that he couldn't quite find peace in peacetime surroundings; and the character spent the better part of his last few days of existence trying to understand this crazy little thing called life, a journey each of us makes on his or her own. It was a performance that continues to resonate decades later, and it's one of the most celebrated portrayals in all of Science Fiction.
According to the movie's mythology, Batty was born on this day -- January 8th -- in 2016.
That's today's serendipitous moment.
-- EZ
RSS Feed