Hats off to the smilers who tried to make Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles a success on the boob tube, but truth is that The Terminator franchise pretty much built its reputation on big, bigger, and biggest effects and action sequences. Try as we might, TV just can't pack that same punch on a week-by-week basis. Still, the players did some fine work, and Jonathan Jackson gave us yet one more look at John Connor's father, Kyle Reese. Jackson was born on this day in 1982.
Denver Pyle joined a pair of what may've been extraterrestrial children in the Walt Disney SciFi flick Escape To Witch Mountain (1975). Though he's no longer with us, Pyle was born on this day in 1920. [Source: IMDB.com]
Frank Thring is certainly more well known for his work in such high-minded affairs as Ben-Hur, El Cid, and King of Kings; but he did give SciFi fans something to crow about (albeit briefly) with a small but memorable role as 'The Collector' in 1985's underwhelming Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (pictured above). Though he's no longer with us, Thring was born on this day in 1926.
The lovely Joan Swift had a guest role aboard the classic Star Trek episode "Operation - Annihilate!" She also enjoyed an uncredited role aboard The Andromeda Strain (1971). Swift was born on this day in 1933.
1970's era Science Fiction and Fantasy was an awful lot of hit and miss. Actor Doug McClure helped bring to the screen a good number of mostly forgettable fare -- motion pictures like The Land That Time Forgot (1974), The People That Time Forgot (1977), Warlords of the Deep (1978), and even Humanoids From The Deep (1980) -- but, as a fan, you take the good with the bad. Though he's no longer with us, McClure was born on this day in 1935.
Pam Ferris played a critical role for the resistance in 2006's Children Of Men, arguably one of smartest Science Fiction Films so far of the twenty-first century. Ferris was born on this day in 1948.
Lance Hool not only had the SciFi hutzpah to produce the SciFi/Cult film Steel Dawn (1987) starring Patrick Swayze but also he directed it! Hool was born on this day in 1948.
One of great mysteries of all time is how Frances Fisher has never become a household name. I first noticed her when she was a cast regular on Fox TV's fantasy-themed Strange Luck (it was briefly paired up with The X-Files in the Friday night line-up). She's also appeared on The Outer Limits, The X-Files, Torchwood, Touch, and Resurrection. Fisher was born on this day in 1952.
I haven't seen an awful lot of Shohreh Aghdashloo's work, but what I have seen has been pretty phenomenal. In roles large or small, she tends to create a presence you want to listen to, you want to understand greater. She had a great turn in Fox TV's 24 a few years back, but she's also been a part of X-Men: The Last Stand, ABC TV's FlashFordward, and done voiceover work for the Mass Effect video game franchise. Most recently, she turned up in a role as part of Syfy's The Expanse. Aghdashloo was born on this day in 1952.
Regular readers of SciFiHistory.Net know how big a fan of the entire Superman franchise I am, but I didn't honestly much care for the Superboy iteration from the late 1980's / early 1990's. It was just a bit too campy for my tastes. Still, kudos to actor Gerard Christopher for his willingness to suit up for the lead. Christopher was born on this day in 1959. [Source: IMDB.com]
I've written about the weird dystopian drama The Handmaid's Tale in this space before. While it's not quite a film I'd encourage sci-fi fans to run out and watch immediately, it definitely falls within sci-fi's sphere on influence. I don't recall all of it perfectly, but I remember enjoying the late Natasha Richardson's performance. Though she's no longer with us, Richardson was born on this day in 1963.
Roark Critchlow has enjoyed screen time aboard a handful of terrific properties, including roles aboard Highlander, A.I. Assault (2006), Afterworld, Battlestar Galactica, V, Arrow, and Supernatural. Critchlow was born on this day in 1963. [Source: IMDB.com]
I'm not sure what the status of 2008's The Incredible Hulk is within the greater Marvel Universe. The last I'd heard, it was pretty much dismissed from canon, which is a shame considering I like it quite a bit. Tim Blake Nelson played 'Samuel Sterns' in it, and it was nice to see the actor in something less goofy than he usually plays. Nelson was born on this day in 1964.
For three seasons, Marguerite MacIntyre played 'Nicole Trager,' adoptive mother to Kyle XY himself on the popular teen program. Currently she can be found on the CW program, The Vampire Diaries. MacIntyre was born on this day in 1961. [Source: IMDB.com]
Nancy Hower had a terrific guest gig as Ensign Samantha Wildman throughout a good portion of Star Trek: Voyager's run. She's since moved on to the daunting challenges of writing and directing. Hower was born on this day in 1966.
Jeffrey Donovan (above in the brown coat) had a prominent role opposite Matthew Fox aboard Extinction (2015). Donovan was born on this day in 1968.
Nicky Katt has dabbled in some quality genre projects across his professional career. Fans might recognize him from work in Voyagers, Gremlins (1984), V, Martians Go Home (1989), Knight Rider 2010 (1994), Strange Days (1995), Kindred: The Embraced, Batman & Robin (1997), Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords, and Planet Terror (2007). Katt was born on this day in 1970. [Source: IMDB.com]
No doubt savvy viewers might recognize the face of Aaron Pearl as he's certainly enjoyed a good number of small roles in a handful of solid franchises. To date, he's stolen scenes in Poltergeist: The Legacy, Highlander, First Wave, Escape from Mars (1999), The Outer Limits, Taken, The Twilight Zone, X-Men 2 (2003), Smallville, Stargate: SG-1, Battlestar Galactica, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), The Dead Zone, Fringe, Supernatural, Godzilla (2014), and Arrow. Pearl was born on this day in 1972. [Source: IMDB.com]
According to IMDB.com, Todd Hann's last recorded theatrical project was a little something called Alien Agenda: Project Grey (2007). He also enjoyed small roles aboard Anthrax (2001), Stargate: SG-1, and Stargate: Atlantis. Hann was born on this day in 1974.
Veteran character actor Coby Bell enjoyed a meaty supporting role aboard Fox TV's Superhero drama The Gifted. Bell was born on this day in 1975. [Source: IMDB.com]
In his younger days, Austin O'Brien did double-duty, playing the character of Peter Parkette in The Lawnmower Man and Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace. He also paired up with no less than Arnold Schwarzenegger in the tepid Last Action Hero. O'Brien was born on this day in 1981.
Before he sang his heart out on Fox TV's popular Glee, young Cory Monteith explored time and space in a guest spot aboard Stargate: SG-1. Though he's no longer with us, Monteith was born on this day in 1982.
The delicioius Holly Valance had a terrific supporting role aboard the SciFi gaming property Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising. Valance was born on this day in 1983. [Source: IMDB.com]
Up'n'coming Lana Condor got her start on the silver screen with a small role aboard Marvel's X-Men: Apocalypse (2016). Condor was born on this day in 1997. [Source: IMDB.com]
Curse you, Ed Wood, Jr.! It was on this day in 1955 that his original "masterpiece" Bride Of The Monster enjoyed its original theatrical debut in Hollywood, California. The feature starred Bela Lugosi and Tor Johnson, and here's the plot summary that's been provided by the good folks at IMDB.com:
"A mad doctor attempts to create atomic supermen."
"A mad doctor attempts to create atomic supermen."
On this day in 1966 (in France), Agent For H.A.R.M. served up a slice of Science Fiction by way of the greater spy genre. The feature starred Peter Mark Richman and Wendell Corey, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Secret agent tries to stop a scientist who has devised a bacterium that devours the body from within."
"Secret agent tries to stop a scientist who has devised a bacterium that devours the body from within."
On this day in 1984 (in West Germany), Death Dimension opened the door to another realm. The SciFi-lite feature starred Jim Kelly and George Lazenby, and here's the premise as listed on IMDB.com:
"The Pig has a plan to eradicate some people with a freeze bomb that instantly freezes people to death. It is up to Detective Ash to stop him and protect the woman with the secret to the ice bomb embedded in a microdot under the skin of her forehead."
"The Pig has a plan to eradicate some people with a freeze bomb that instantly freezes people to death. It is up to Detective Ash to stop him and protect the woman with the secret to the ice bomb embedded in a microdot under the skin of her forehead."
On this day in 1987 (at the Cannes Film Festival of all places), the SciFi/Comedy/Exploitation film Star Slammer premiered. (Sorry, folks, but the US theatrical release date appears lost to history.) The feature starred the lovely Sandy Brooke and Suzy Stokey, and here's the plot summary as detailed on IMDB.com:
"Two women who have been unjustly confined to a prison planet plot their escape, all the while having to put up with lesbian guards, crazed wardens and mutant rodents."
"Two women who have been unjustly confined to a prison planet plot their escape, all the while having to put up with lesbian guards, crazed wardens and mutant rodents."
On this day in 1990, the cheesy sci-fi flick Class of 1999 was released theatrically. Here's the plot summary, compliments of our friends over at IMDB.com:
"Robot teachers have been secretly placed in the schools where the students have run riot. The teachers do a god job of controlling the unruly youngsters, until they go too far and some students get suspicious."
"Robot teachers have been secretly placed in the schools where the students have run riot. The teachers do a god job of controlling the unruly youngsters, until they go too far and some students get suspicious."
On this day in 1989 (in Argentina), 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 2001 (in Brazil), Jean-Claude Van Damme gave the world of Science Fiction another go with Replicant. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Scientists create a genetic clone of a serial killer in order to help catch the killer, teaming up with two cops."
"Scientists create a genetic clone of a serial killer in order to help catch the killer, teaming up with two cops."
On this day in 2006 (in Russia), the Fantasy-themed Minotaur took audiences through a labyrinth of horror. The feature starred Tom Hardy (yes, that Tom Hardy) and Tony Todd, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Long ago in the Iron Age, a shadow loomed over a lonely village. For generations, the village youths are stolen from their families and delivered as sacrifice to a mythical beast - the Minotaur that dwells beneath a great palace. Theo, haunted by the loss of his love in an earlier sacrifice is convinced that the beast isn't real, and that his girl still lives as a slave within the palace. His father, Cyrnan, the village leader, tries to reason with Theo not to go, but Theo is driven by blind rage. He devises a plan and is taken with the other youths who are dragged screaming from their families."
"Long ago in the Iron Age, a shadow loomed over a lonely village. For generations, the village youths are stolen from their families and delivered as sacrifice to a mythical beast - the Minotaur that dwells beneath a great palace. Theo, haunted by the loss of his love in an earlier sacrifice is convinced that the beast isn't real, and that his girl still lives as a slave within the palace. His father, Cyrnan, the village leader, tries to reason with Theo not to go, but Theo is driven by blind rage. He devises a plan and is taken with the other youths who are dragged screaming from their families."
On this day in 2016, Einstein's God Model found theatrical release. The feature starred Aaron Graham and Kirby O'Connell, and here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"For thousands of years, only religion has offered an answer to what happens after death. Science is about to change that. With the help of a physicist, a blind medium, and Thomas Edison's final experiment, Brayden Taylor embarks on a quest to contact the afterlife. For his love to transcend dimensions, he must defy the laws of quantum physics. He must defy the balance nature demands. He must defy ... the God Model."
"For thousands of years, only religion has offered an answer to what happens after death. Science is about to change that. With the help of a physicist, a blind medium, and Thomas Edison's final experiment, Brayden Taylor embarks on a quest to contact the afterlife. For his love to transcend dimensions, he must defy the laws of quantum physics. He must defy the balance nature demands. He must defy ... the God Model."
On this day in 1960, Men Into Space aired "Beyond the Stars." This served as the thirty-first episode in the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A 3-man team visit the Lunar Observatory, isolated from all Earth signals on the Moon's far side, for routine Radio Telescope work. They pass the time during a long sky-mapping session by taping 'A glimpse of lunar life' sound-broadcast. An power fault interrupts and requires a Moon walk to the Radio Telescope. One man is badly injured while returning. Unconscious for days, he responds to the tape-recording and deliriously asks to hear the 'sound from the stars'. His colleagues comply and make an interesting discovery."
"A 3-man team visit the Lunar Observatory, isolated from all Earth signals on the Moon's far side, for routine Radio Telescope work. They pass the time during a long sky-mapping session by taping 'A glimpse of lunar life' sound-broadcast. An power fault interrupts and requires a Moon walk to the Radio Telescope. One man is badly injured while returning. Unconscious for days, he responds to the tape-recording and deliriously asks to hear the 'sound from the stars'. His colleagues comply and make an interesting discovery."
On this day in 1962, The Twilight Zone aired "Young Man's Fancy." This served as the thirty-fourth episode to the long-running program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Newlywed Alex Walker finds himself being pulled back to his childhood and back to his widowed mother in the house where he grew up."
"Newlywed Alex Walker finds himself being pulled back to his childhood and back to his widowed mother in the house where he grew up."
On this day in 1968, Doctor Who aired "The Wheel In Space, Part 3." This served as the thirty-seventh episode of the program's fifth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Jamie sabotages the Wheel's x-ray laser, unknowingly giving the Cybermen an opportunity to reach the Wheel."
"Jamie sabotages the Wheel's x-ray laser, unknowingly giving the Cybermen an opportunity to reach the Wheel."
On this day in 1974, Doctor Who aired "Planet of the Spiders, Part 2." This served as the twenty-second episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Lupton forms an alliance with the spider to steal the Doctor's blue crystal, while Sarah and Mike attempt to alert people to what they've seen."
"Lupton forms an alliance with the spider to steal the Doctor's blue crystal, while Sarah and Mike attempt to alert people to what they've seen."
On this day in 1991, Star Trek: The Next Generation aired "The Host." This served as the twenty-third episode of the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Dr. Crusher falls for someone who's not at all what she expects him to be."
"Dr. Crusher falls for someone who's not at all what she expects him to be."
On this day in 1994, Babylon 5 aired "By Any Means Necessary." This served as the twelfth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"While the station's dock workers stage an illegal strike, G'Kar tries to hold a Narn religious ceremony, but Londo holds the plant he needs and won't relinquish it."
"While the station's dock workers stage an illegal strike, G'Kar tries to hold a Narn religious ceremony, but Londo holds the plant he needs and won't relinquish it."
On this day in 2002, Mutant X aired "Deadly Desire." This served as the twentieth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The team tries to stop Eckhart from acquiring a rare element. But a thief gets it. The woman who has the ability to make men fall in love with her sets her sights on Brennan. She makes him fall for her and he leaves the team to be with her. Adam suspects she has the abilities of a scorpion who in addition to making men fell for her, kills them after she's done with them. Adam has to find a way to break her control over him."
"The team tries to stop Eckhart from acquiring a rare element. But a thief gets it. The woman who has the ability to make men fall in love with her sets her sights on Brennan. She makes him fall for her and he leaves the team to be with her. Adam suspects she has the abilities of a scorpion who in addition to making men fell for her, kills them after she's done with them. Adam has to find a way to break her control over him."
On this day in 2007, Stargate: SG-1 aired "Bounty" as the fifteenth episode of the long-running program's tenth (and final) season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"After SG-1 successfully destroys a major shipment of corn, the Lucian Alliance leader Netan puts a bounty on them. With some time off, the members of SG-1 pursue their own interests. Sam is giving a lecture at a conference, Daniel is conducting research, Teal'c is off-world with the Jaffa and Mitchell attends a high school reunion with Vala in tow. Daniel and Sam escape their pursuers without injury and Teal'c is wounded. Vala is having good time, learning more about Mitchell and meeting Amy Vandenberg, the woman he never had the nerve to ask out when they were in high school. After Mitchell is taken prisoner, SG-1 soon arrives to help out their colleagues."
"After SG-1 successfully destroys a major shipment of corn, the Lucian Alliance leader Netan puts a bounty on them. With some time off, the members of SG-1 pursue their own interests. Sam is giving a lecture at a conference, Daniel is conducting research, Teal'c is off-world with the Jaffa and Mitchell attends a high school reunion with Vala in tow. Daniel and Sam escape their pursuers without injury and Teal'c is wounded. Vala is having good time, learning more about Mitchell and meeting Amy Vandenberg, the woman he never had the nerve to ask out when they were in high school. After Mitchell is taken prisoner, SG-1 soon arrives to help out their colleagues."
On this day in 2013, the BBC's Orphan Black aired "Parts Developed In An Unusual Manner." This was the seventh episode to the popular program's first season, and here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"With Paul missing, Sarah is forced to confront the conspiracy head on. But when Paul learns Sarah has kept essential information from him, the fragile trust between them threatens to shatter. Meanwhile, Cosima grows closer to Delphine and the dangerously fascinating Dr. Leekie."
"With Paul missing, Sarah is forced to confront the conspiracy head on. But when Paul learns Sarah has kept essential information from him, the fragile trust between them threatens to shatter. Meanwhile, Cosima grows closer to Delphine and the dangerously fascinating Dr. Leekie."
On this day in 2013, Doctor Who aired "Nightmare In Silver." This served as the thirteenth episode to the program's seventh season, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"Hedgewick's World of Wonders was once the greatest theme park in the galaxy, but it's now the dilapidated home to a shabby showman, a chess playing dwarf and a dysfunctional army platoon. When the Doctor, Clara, Artie and Angie arrive, the last thing they expect is the re-emergence of one of the Doctor's oldest foes. The Cybermen are back!"
"Hedgewick's World of Wonders was once the greatest theme park in the galaxy, but it's now the dilapidated home to a shabby showman, a chess playing dwarf and a dysfunctional army platoon. When the Doctor, Clara, Artie and Angie arrive, the last thing they expect is the re-emergence of one of the Doctor's oldest foes. The Cybermen are back!"
