So far as this sci-fi fan is concerned, there was a lot wrong with the Robocop (2014) reboot -- video-game intensity of the plot; no real strong emotional core to Det. Murphy's struggle; and no charismatic villain in sight. But one of the things they got right was casting screen veteran Gary Oldman as the kind-hearted Dr. Dennett Norton, Robocop's kinda/sorta creator. Goldman was born on this day in 1958.
With over 100 films to his credit, is it any wonder that SciFi fans will probably always know Gustav Fröhlich for his work as 'Freder' aboard Fritz Lang's SciFi classic Metropolis (1927)? Though he's no longer with us, Fröhlich was born on this day in 1902. [Source: IMDB.com]
With well over one hundred different screen credits, Logan Ramsey still made time for appearances in Science Fiction. Fans recognize him from roles in Star Trek, Mork & Mindy, Battlestar Galactica (ABC) , Knight Rider, and ALF. Though he's no longer with us, Ramsey was born on this day in 1921.
James Coco is a name that doesn't exactly scream Science Fiction. Still, he managed a few appearances of note, including work aboard The Ray Bradbury Theatre, The Twilight Zone, and The Stepford Children (1987). Though he's no longer with us, Coco was born on this day in 1930. [Source: IMDB.com]
Illustrator Al Williamson helped such projects climb off the page as Weird Science, Weird Fantasy, and Weird Science-Fiction, and Flash Gordon. Though he's no longer with us, Williamson was born on this day in 1931.
Lorene Yarnell Jansson enjoyed a fairly diverse life in the world in entertainment. Genre fans are probably most familiar with her work aboard Wonder Woman, The Wild Wild West Revisited (1979), and as the droid 'Dot Matrix' aboard Mel Brooks' Spaceballs. Though she's no longer with us, Jansson was born on this day in 1944. [Source: IMDB.com]
Throughout her tenure in the entertainment business, Hilary Minster garnered guest spots aboard such series as Timeslip, Doctor Who, The Tomorrow People, and Bugs. Though she's no longer with us, Minster was born on this day in 1944. [Source: IMDB.com]
Before he became James Bond, actor Timothy Dalton played Prince Barin in 1980's deliciously campy Flash Gordon reboot. (Meh, it sadly didn't take, but a sequel would've been nice for those of us who embraced the vision.) He's also booked appearances in The Rocketeer, Tales from Earthsea, Doctor Who, and Hot Fuzz for good measure. Dalton was born on this day in 1944.
Any smilers out there remember the Saturday morning live action children's SciFi program better known as Ark II? If you do, then you must remember the lovely Jean Marie Hon, one of principle stars of the show. She went on to guest aboard Man From Atlantis as well as the SciFi/Telefilm Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983). Hon was born on this day in 1955. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Sabrina Le Beauf (above right) had the chance to pilot the Enterprise-D aboard "Gambit," a two-part episode of the popular Star Trek: The Next Generation. Le Beauf was born on this day in 1958.
Jon Macht is a special effects wizard who has contributed to such properties as Masters of the Universe (1987) and Star Trek: Renegades. Macht was born on this day in 1960.
Note to director Roland Emmerich: Matthew Broderick is no action star. Period. FYI: He was Ferris Bueller (for God's sake!), and he did just fine with that. So the next time you want to try to update any monster movie (such as 1998's Godzilla), try casting an action star in an action star role. Broderick was born on this day in 1962.
Cynthia Geary burst onto the pop culture scene with her work as the plucky and attractive 'Shelley' aboard CBS's quirky Alaska comedy Northern Exposure. Thankfully, she's dabbled in SciFi with performances in The Outer Limits and the Fantasy/Telefilm Bigfoot (2012). Geary was born on this day in 1965. [Source: IMDB.com]
Remember Star Trek (2009)? Remember that somewhat cocky engineer who overshot the potential space-drop landing aboard that destructive Romulan drill that destroyed Vulcan? That was Greg Ellis. Check out his profile on IMDB.com, and you'll find he's a very impressive resume of voiceover work as well as live appearances. Ellis was born on this day in 1968.
Actor Jaye Davidson had very little acting experience when he burst onto the scene in The Crying Game (1992) and then followed it up with a sci-fi star turn in Roland Emmerich's Stargate (1994) ... and it kinda showed. As the Egyptian God (or was he?) Ra, he pretty much stood there and tried to make his small frame look menacing. Davidson was born on this day in 1968.
Lisa Ann Russell earned some SciFi credentials aboard A.P.E.X., a SciFi/Thriller from Blue Rider Pictures. Russell was born on this day in 1972. [Source: IMDB.com]
As I've always said, fandom loves it when a gal plays dress-up ... and those are sentiments I suspect the yummy Vanessa Branch can appreciate. In Star Trek: Voyager's seventh season, she played the adult version of fan favorite Naomi Wildman in the episode titled "Shattered." Branch was born on this day in 1973.
Luscious Laura Allen left fandom swooning (can you blame us?) over her work as Lily Moore Tyler in the USA Network original The 4400, the tale of UFO abductees being returned to Earth years later with some minor modifications to their DNA. Allen was born on this day in 1974.
I don't have Netflix (probably never will, either, due to the President's pronounced anti-American sentiments), so I've never seen the Wachowskis' Sense8. I have been told I'm not missing much as even critics have found it somewhat perplexing. In any event, actor Joseph Mawle stars aboard the streaming vehicle. Mawle was born on this day in 1974.
Even though I loved most of Fox TV's The X-Files in its original television fun, I honestly didn't much care for the recent relaunched miniseries. Sure, it had great potential as well as some solid ideas, but methinks the glory days of the program are well in the past at this point. Stilll, funnyman Rhys Darby had a great guest role, though his story was far too tongue-in-cheek for me to really celebrate it. Darby was born on this day in 1974.
Voice actress Rachael MacFarlane has provided tracks to such projects as Samurai jack, The Batman, The Incredible Hulk, and Starcraft II: Wings Of Liberty (2010). MacFarlane was born on this day in 1976. [Source: IMDB.com]
I have a secret fondness for the much maligned AVP: Aliens Vs. Predator. I get that it probably wasn't bled from the same thematic vein that gave us Alien or even Aliens, but it had a kind of B-movie quality that made it a fun popcorn movie for me. Sam Troughton had a small role in it, so kudos to the man. He's also appeared in the BBC's Robin Hood as well as the dark drama Hex. Troughton was born on this day in 1977.
Though he may be better recognized from work in dramas, Bruno Langley did offer up a pair of guest spots aboard the BBC's popular Doctor Who. Langley was born on this day in 1983. [Source: IMDB.com]
Natalie Gumede enjoyed a guest spot aboard Doctor Who's episode "Last Christmas" in 2014. Gumede was born on this day in 1984. [Source: IMDB.com]
Playboy playmate Tamara Witmer flexed her acting chops for work aboard the SciFi feature Supergator (2007) for New Horizons Pictures. Witmer was born on this day in 1984. [Source: IMDB.com]
She hunted zombies on AMC's stellar The Walking Dead, and Sonequa Martin-Green had a role in the SciFi flick Shockwave Darkside back in 2014. More recently, she went boldly where no one has gone before aboard CBS's web-based Star Trek: Discovery, debatedly one of the worst incarnations of the Gene Roddenberry juggernaut ever. Martin-Green was born on this day in 1985.
Scott Eastwood was one of the regulars who worked very hard to make the Suicide Squad (2016) get along with one another. Eastwood was born on this day in 1986.
Jasmin Savoy Brown continues to impress in the realm of Fantasy with work aboard Stitchers and HBO's The Leftovers. Brown was born on this day in 1994. [Source: IMDB.com]
When Power Rangers (2017) finally came to the silver screen, young RJ Cyler stepped into the shoes of the Blue Ranger. Cyler was born on this day in 1995. [Source: IMDB.com]
On this day in 1958 (in France), The Deadly Mantis crawled into theatres. The feature starred Craig Stevens and William Hopper, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A giant prehistoric praying mantis, recently freed from the Arctic ice, voraciously preys on American military at the DEW Line and works its way south."
"A giant prehistoric praying mantis, recently freed from the Arctic ice, voraciously preys on American military at the DEW Line and works its way south."
A star is born! On this day in 1962 (in Japan), Gorath lumbered onto the silver screen. Directed by Ishirô Honda, the SciFi feature starred Ryô Ikebe, Yumi Shirakawa, and Akira Kubo; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"In 1980, a giant planetoid named Gorath is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. Even though it is smaller than Earth, its mass is huge enough to crush the Earth and destroy it. A mission sent to observe Gorath is destroyed after all the orbiting ships are drawn into the planetoid. A later mission is sent to observe and the crew barely leaves before suffering the same fate. However Astronaut Tatsuo Kanai is left in a catatonic state due to his near death experience. The Earth's scientists then come up with a desperate plan to build giant rockets at the South Pole to move Earth out of Gorath's path before it is too late."
"In 1980, a giant planetoid named Gorath is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. Even though it is smaller than Earth, its mass is huge enough to crush the Earth and destroy it. A mission sent to observe Gorath is destroyed after all the orbiting ships are drawn into the planetoid. A later mission is sent to observe and the crew barely leaves before suffering the same fate. However Astronaut Tatsuo Kanai is left in a catatonic state due to his near death experience. The Earth's scientists then come up with a desperate plan to build giant rockets at the South Pole to move Earth out of Gorath's path before it is too late."
On this day in 1968 (in London), Planet Of The Apes enjoyed a run at the box office. The feature starred Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowall, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"An astronaut crew crash-lands on a planet in the distant future where intelligent talking apes are the dominant species, and humans are the oppressed and enslaved."
"An astronaut crew crash-lands on a planet in the distant future where intelligent talking apes are the dominant species, and humans are the oppressed and enslaved."
A star is born! In the 1970's, even the Walt Disney Company had a few campy sci-fi films they used to woo families into theatres. Evidence A: Escape To Witch Mountain. It premiered theatrically on this day in 1975 (in the U.S. and Ireland), and here's the film's plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"Two mysterious orphan children have extraordinary powers and are chased by a scheming millionaire. But where do these kids really call home?"
"Two mysterious orphan children have extraordinary powers and are chased by a scheming millionaire. But where do these kids really call home?"
A star is born! On this day in 1986, Gobots: Battle Of The Rock Lords served up animated SciFi action for the young at heart. This feature starred the voices of Roddy McDowall, Margot Kidder, and Telly Savalas. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The Go-Bots fight to rescue the Rock People."
"The Go-Bots fight to rescue the Rock People."
On this day in 1989, Gor II (aka Outlaw Of Gor and occasionally just Outlaw) premiered in the United States. The SciFi/Fantasy picture starred Rebecca Ferratti, Jack Palance, and Urbano Barberini, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"An Earthman returns to the planet Gor, and fights against tyranny."
For the record: Gor II's original release date at present appears lost to history (though I'm always searching, folks). For those who are interested in this sort of trivia, the lovely Rebecca Ferratti was featured as the 'Playmate Of The Month' in 1986's June Playboy Magazine. (Ask your parents, kids.) Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that Outlaw didn't escape the comic wrath of those lovable knuckleheads at Mystery Science Theater 3000 as it was lampooned by those yucksters in their December 11, 1993 broadcast.
"An Earthman returns to the planet Gor, and fights against tyranny."
For the record: Gor II's original release date at present appears lost to history (though I'm always searching, folks). For those who are interested in this sort of trivia, the lovely Rebecca Ferratti was featured as the 'Playmate Of The Month' in 1986's June Playboy Magazine. (Ask your parents, kids.) Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that Outlaw didn't escape the comic wrath of those lovable knuckleheads at Mystery Science Theater 3000 as it was lampooned by those yucksters in their December 11, 1993 broadcast.
On this day in 1991 (in Germany), Prayer of the Rollerboys enjoyed earning its place in SciFi history. The feature starred Corey Haim and Patricia Arquette, and here's the plot summation as provided by IMDB.com:
"Set in an unspecified time in the future, USA has declined and become a country of violence and racial prejudice. Griffin earns his living delivering pizzas while he tries to take care of his little brother. An old friend of his, Gary Lee, is the leader of a gang with big ambitions, the Rollerboys. Griff joins them to help the police keep track of the gang."
For the record: Prayer is another one of those flicks whose original theatrical presentation date is lost to history right now, though it apparently screened at a film festival in Italy sometime during 1990. Still, the film did receive a nomination for Best Science Fiction Film from the 1992 Saturn Awards as well as a nom for Best Performance By A Younger Actor given to the late Corey Haim.
"Set in an unspecified time in the future, USA has declined and become a country of violence and racial prejudice. Griffin earns his living delivering pizzas while he tries to take care of his little brother. An old friend of his, Gary Lee, is the leader of a gang with big ambitions, the Rollerboys. Griff joins them to help the police keep track of the gang."
For the record: Prayer is another one of those flicks whose original theatrical presentation date is lost to history right now, though it apparently screened at a film festival in Italy sometime during 1990. Still, the film did receive a nomination for Best Science Fiction Film from the 1992 Saturn Awards as well as a nom for Best Performance By A Younger Actor given to the late Corey Haim.
On this day in 1998, the SciFi/Telefilm The Advanced Guard aired on television. The feature starred Robert Amico and James Avery, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"As a prelude to full-blown alien invasion, a team of four aliens telepathically linked with their lifelike human-looking android bodies abducts four random humans to test them to determine if humans can make good slaves."
"As a prelude to full-blown alien invasion, a team of four aliens telepathically linked with their lifelike human-looking android bodies abducts four random humans to test them to determine if humans can make good slaves."
On this day in 2003, the Horror/SciFi film Dreamcatcher enjoyed its big screen debut. The feature starred Morgan Freeman and Thomas Jane, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Friends on a camping trip discover that the town they're vacationing in is being plagued in an unusual fashion by parasitic aliens from outer space."
"Friends on a camping trip discover that the town they're vacationing in is being plagued in an unusual fashion by parasitic aliens from outer space."
On this day in 2014, Shailene Woodley packed all of her Shailene Woodley goodness into the Young Adult SciFi release, Divergent. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it's too late."
"In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it's too late."
On this day in 2017, The Quiet Hour quietly found its way to audiences via home video and streaming. The SciFi-lite flick starred Dakota Blue Richards and Karl Davies, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"In the aftermath of an alien invasion, a feisty teenage girl sets out to protect her farm from human scavengers who will stop at nothing in order to survive in a post-apocalyptic world."
"In the aftermath of an alien invasion, a feisty teenage girl sets out to protect her farm from human scavengers who will stop at nothing in order to survive in a post-apocalyptic world."
- For those who'd like to know a bit more, you can read SciFiHistory.Net's review of the release right here.
On this day in 1952, Tales Of Tomorrow aired "The Fisherman's Wife." This served as the twenty-fifth episode of the program's first season, and -- despite searching -- I've been unable to find a plot summary anywhere on the world wide web.
On this day in 1964, Doctor Who's first season marched onward, airing an episode titled "Rider from Shang-tu." Here's the summary from IMDB.com:
"The Doctor and his friends elect to warn Marco of Acomat's attack even though it means losing their chance to gain access to the TARDIS."
"The Doctor and his friends elect to warn Marco of Acomat's attack even though it means losing their chance to gain access to the TARDIS."
On this day in 1967, The Invaders aired "The Ivy Curtain." This served as the eleventh hour to the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A school in New Mexico is really a front for an alien indoctrination center. The head of the school offers a pilot a lot of money to smuggle in its otherworldly students."
"A school in New Mexico is really a front for an alien indoctrination center. The head of the school offers a pilot a lot of money to smuggle in its otherworldly students."
On this day in 1970, Doctor Who aired "The Ambassadors Of Death, Part 1." This served as the twelfth episode of the program's seventh season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"While the Brigadier investigates a loss of contact with Mars Probe 7, the Doctor realises signals coming from the probe are of extra-terrestrial origin."
"While the Brigadier investigates a loss of contact with Mars Probe 7, the Doctor realises signals coming from the probe are of extra-terrestrial origin."
On this day in 1981, Doctor Who aired "Logopolis, Part 4." This served as the twenty-eighth episode of the program's eighteenth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"With the universe collapsing, the Doctor forms an uneasy alliance with the Master to save it. In case all does not go well, the Watcher takes the Doctor's companions to a safe place, but his plans for them don't stop there. The one hope for all lies back on Earth."
"With the universe collapsing, the Doctor forms an uneasy alliance with the Master to save it. In case all does not go well, the Watcher takes the Doctor's companions to a safe place, but his plans for them don't stop there. The one hope for all lies back on Earth."
On this day in 1987, Starman aired "The Wedding." This served as the eighteenth episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The owner of a fishing fleet hires Paul to photograph his daughter's wedding."
"The owner of a fishing fleet hires Paul to photograph his daughter's wedding."
As much as I loved the idea behind Star Trek: The Next Generation's episode "Cause and Effect," I still found it terribly painful to watch the signature ship of the Federation destroyed again and again and again in that temporal causality loop! The hour first aired on this day in 1992, serving as the eighteenth episode to the fifth season, and here's the plot summary as properly detailed by our friends at TrekCore.com:
"The crew's regular poker game suddenly feels too familiar to Crusher who experiences deja vu. The Enterprise is charting the Typhon Expanise when the ship's systems fail, hurling it onto a collision course with another starship... the Enterprise has been destroyed."
"The crew's regular poker game suddenly feels too familiar to Crusher who experiences deja vu. The Enterprise is charting the Typhon Expanise when the ship's systems fail, hurling it onto a collision course with another starship... the Enterprise has been destroyed."
On this day in 1993, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine enriched the Ferengi universe with the airing of "The Nagus." This served as the tenth episode of its first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"The Ferengi leader, Grand Nagus Zek, comes to the station. He seems very interested in Quark's bar."
"The Ferengi leader, Grand Nagus Zek, comes to the station. He seems very interested in Quark's bar."
On this day in 1994, Robocop: The Series aired "Prime Suspect." This served as the third episode in the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"When a person is killed and the murder weapon is RoboCop's gun, he is arrested and placed on trial. He has an alibi which he refuses to divulge, so he's about to be deactivated."
"When a person is killed and the murder weapon is RoboCop's gun, he is arrested and placed on trial. He has an alibi which he refuses to divulge, so he's about to be deactivated."
In another look at Seven of Nine's struggle with recovering her humanity, "Human Error" explored her attempts to perfect the social skills she had. This put her on the path to discovering what was buried in her heart. This Star Trek: Voyager episode first aired on this day in 2001.
On this day in 2001, Starhunter aired the twenty-first episode of its first season. It was an hour titled "Travis," and here's the plot summary as provided by Wikipedia.org:
"Percy goes aboard The Raider's station and meets her cousin Travis who now called Zephryn and is the leader of the Raiders. Meanwhile, Dante deals with Senaca, Zephryn's mentor and father figure, who offers to hand Travis over for the genetic-enhanced seeds Dante got from Ike. Senaca says his plan is to use the seeds to restore their ancestral home Earth, which can no longer support life. Dante finally meets his son and together they use the hologram device to see Penny who admits to experimenting with the Divinity Cluster on herself which gave their child amazing powers. Later, Salomea warns Dante and Travis of Senaca's real plan - to actually destroy what is left of Earth for the seeds are really a bioweapon."
"Percy goes aboard The Raider's station and meets her cousin Travis who now called Zephryn and is the leader of the Raiders. Meanwhile, Dante deals with Senaca, Zephryn's mentor and father figure, who offers to hand Travis over for the genetic-enhanced seeds Dante got from Ike. Senaca says his plan is to use the seeds to restore their ancestral home Earth, which can no longer support life. Dante finally meets his son and together they use the hologram device to see Penny who admits to experimenting with the Divinity Cluster on herself which gave their child amazing powers. Later, Salomea warns Dante and Travis of Senaca's real plan - to actually destroy what is left of Earth for the seeds are really a bioweapon."
Only a program as consistently stellar as Farscape could manage to serve up a series finale that -- while still serving as a cliffhanger for it was filmed before showrunners had been told they weren't being renewed -- managed to capture so very well the overall tone for the program. "Bad Timing" aired on this day back in 2003 (in the United States and Australia) as the twenty-second episode of its fourth season, and it would be some time before producers managed to put together the funds and cooperation to give their story and fans the big send-off they deserved with Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars. As for their "Bad Timing," here's what you need to know compliments of IMDB.com:
"The Scarrans know where the Wormhole to Earth is, and they're on their way. Crichton and crew race to the wormhole to stop them. But saving the Earth means destroying the chance for John to ever return home. Aeryn finally reveals the father of the baby. John and Aeryn decide to get married, but fate steps in. The finale for the television series."
"The Scarrans know where the Wormhole to Earth is, and they're on their way. Crichton and crew race to the wormhole to stop them. But saving the Earth means destroying the chance for John to ever return home. Aeryn finally reveals the father of the baby. John and Aeryn decide to get married, but fate steps in. The finale for the television series."
On this day in 2016, The Department Of Time aired "Tiempo de magia." This served as the sixth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The 1924 Ministry contacts its 2016 self, concerned that one of its top agents plans to sell the secret of time travel to the highest bidder."
"The 1924 Ministry contacts its 2016 self, concerned that one of its top agents plans to sell the secret of time travel to the highest bidder."
