Yes, we all know that all good things must come to an end, but why, oh why, did it have to happen after only seven seasons? I was one who always thought -- and still does -- that Star Trek: The Next Generation -- could've gone on indefinitely. It's episodic format made for great television storytelling. Because Starfleet was a huge organization, producers could always bring in new characters -- even in prominent roles -- to fill in the gaps of any actors or actresses who'd decided they had enough. Also, the entire palate of the various worlds and races of the Federation really lends itself to boundless alternatives.
Alas, it wasn't meant to be, and on this day back in 1994, TNG's wonderful send-off episode "All Good Things ..." brought about a televised end to the crew of the Enterprise-D. Oh, they lived on in four major motion pictures ... but we'll always have syndication. And repeats.
Alas, it wasn't meant to be, and on this day back in 1994, TNG's wonderful send-off episode "All Good Things ..." brought about a televised end to the crew of the Enterprise-D. Oh, they lived on in four major motion pictures ... but we'll always have syndication. And repeats.
You can't know anything about the world of Star Trek novelizations and not know the name of James Blish for it was Blish who adapted all of the early Trek tales into novels for fans hungry to revisit their favorite adventures of Kirk, Spock, Bones, and the crew of the Enterprise. Also, Blish wrote one of the best original tales in the franchise -- Spock Must Die! -- and it remains a favorite of mine even today. Though he's no longer with us, Blish was born on this day in 1921.
The venerable Nigel Davenport (above right) was all that stood between human extinction and a band of giant ants in the cult flick, Phase IV (1974). Though he's no longer with us, Davenport was born on this day in 1928.
A visit into Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone -- one of the greatest SciFi and Fantasy programs of all time -- will certainly draw you a mention on these pages, and such is the case for the lovely Laura Devon. Though she's no longer with us, Devon was born on this day in 1931.
She first appeared quiet and unassuming, just out of reach and standing on the stairs, but before the hour was over she would become the only woman Star Trek fans know with absolute certainty broke Capt. Jim Kirk's heart. She was Edith Keeler, played by the incomparable Joan Collins, and she was given the distinction of appearing in what would inevitably be overwhelming embrace by all of Trekdom as the program's finest hour, "City of the Edge of Forever." Collins was born on this day in 1933.
I probably don't speak often enough of my love for Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989). This time travel comedy has a terrific sense of lunacy about the conceit of time travel being used for what basically boils down to a high school book report, and the comic timing of the entire cast just sells it perfectly. Hal Landon, Jr. played Ted's dad, and he's also appeared in The Twilight Zone, Quantum Leap, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Landon, Jr. was born on this day in 1941.
Alex Henteloff (above center) joined the crew of the Starship Enterprise (albeit briefly) in what remains the most commercially popular cinematic adventure of the original crew - Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986). Henteloff was born on this day in 1942.
I know so many folks really hated Tim Burton's Mars Attacks (1996), but I thought it delivered a wonderful mix of SciFi camp and general silliness to make it all worthwhile. The lovely O-Lan Jones was willing to risk it all to protect hers, and that's definitely worth a mention here. Jones was born on this day in 1950.
The luminous twins Cyb and Patricia Barnstable were the delightful pair that undoubtedly made 70's comedy shtick Quark so memorable. The Barnstable ladies were born on this day in 1951.
Fans of the fondly remembered Quantum Leap have nothing but endless praise for that franchise, so much so that they'd love to see it come back in some way, shape, or form. The lovely Beverly Leech played a guest role in an episode, and she also dabbled in the worlds of Alien Nation, Babylon 5, and Star Trek: Voyager. Leech was born on this day in 1959.
The talented Linden Ashby took a crack at curing the Apocalypse that was Resident Evil: Extinction (2007). He's also booked screen time in such properties as Werewolf, Mortal Kombat (1995), Iron Man 3 (2013), and Teen Wolf. Ashby was born on this day in 1960.
What's a VJ to do once there are no more Vs (videos) to spin? Well, how about a career in film! MTV VJ Karen Duffy dabbled in SciFi with a plum role aboard Memory Run (aka Synapse) in 1995. Duffy was born on this day in 1961.
Precious are the fragile moments when Carol -- aka Melissa McBride -- rises up during an hour of AMC's The Walking Dead to show us just how badass a woman can be. She's singlehandedly saving us from the Apocalypse! McBride was born on this day in 1965.
Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) was just an awful, awful film, but that's fault of the talent: John Ortiz (above left) did what he could as the small town officer trying to face off against the unearthly menaces. Ortiz was born on this day in 1968.
B-movie queen Felissa Rose has far more 'under her belt' in the realm of horror and thrillers, but she has appeared in small roles in a handful of SciFi-themed properties. Rose was born on this day in 1969.
The hunky LaMonica Garrett is known far more for his work in mainstream fare, but he did has a small role in Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011). Garrett was born on this day in 1975.
When the G.I. Joe franchise roared back onto the silver screen for its second installment, G.I. Joe: Retaliation introduced D.J. Cotrona as 'Flint.' Cotrona was born on this day in 1980.
Gavin Free is one of the merry yucksters (actor and filmmaker) behind the Rooster Teeth production company (for those who know what is, it's definitely a cause worth celebrating), and he recently was one of the headliners for the SciFi-themed Lazer Team. Free was born on this day in 1988.
On this day in 1969, the unthinkable took place when Destroy All Monsters pitted every foam-stuffed creature in existence against all of mankind! In case you've missed it, here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"Female aliens take control of Earth's monsters and begin using them to destroy the human race."
"Female aliens take control of Earth's monsters and begin using them to destroy the human race."
On this day in 1986, a li'l sci-fi something called Star Knight premiered in theatres. I've never seen it. I'd actually never even heard of it until I did some research on an old movie website and happened across it. Anyway, here's the summary from IMDB.com:
"When a dazzling craft illuminates the sky above a medieval European village, the townspeople fear mayhem while the ruling party prepares for battle with the mysterious "dragon in the sky." After Princess Alba is discovered missing, the quest for power and the young girl's affections drive Klever to free her from the strange cosmic knight. But is that her desire? Worldly boundaries are crossed in this gothic sci-fi tale of power, greed and the universal language of love."
And for those who REALLY want to know more, here's a little preview of it from YouTube!
"When a dazzling craft illuminates the sky above a medieval European village, the townspeople fear mayhem while the ruling party prepares for battle with the mysterious "dragon in the sky." After Princess Alba is discovered missing, the quest for power and the young girl's affections drive Klever to free her from the strange cosmic knight. But is that her desire? Worldly boundaries are crossed in this gothic sci-fi tale of power, greed and the universal language of love."
And for those who REALLY want to know more, here's a little preview of it from YouTube!
On this day in 1995, the SciFi/Telefilm White Dwarf aired for the first time. It starred Paul Winfield and Neal McDonough, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"In a distant future New York, medical student Driscoll Rampart accomplishes his internship at Rusta, a rural planet that doesn't revolve around its axis and therefore is divided into contrasting halves of eternal day vs. eternal night. One is a Victorian-styled colony, the other a medieval kingdom. Both leave Rampart in a state of constant wonder, as he finds his way among humans and aliens, strange dreams and even stranger reality, a dark keep and a red sea, and more universal matters of war and peace, good and bad, love and hate and sickness and health."
"In a distant future New York, medical student Driscoll Rampart accomplishes his internship at Rusta, a rural planet that doesn't revolve around its axis and therefore is divided into contrasting halves of eternal day vs. eternal night. One is a Victorian-styled colony, the other a medieval kingdom. Both leave Rampart in a state of constant wonder, as he finds his way among humans and aliens, strange dreams and even stranger reality, a dark keep and a red sea, and more universal matters of war and peace, good and bad, love and hate and sickness and health."
On this day in 1952, Tales Of Tomorrow aired "World Of Water." This served as the thirty-fourth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A disgruntled refugee scientist, frustrated in both his professional and personal lives, develops a universal solvent, which threatens to turn all solid material into water."
"A disgruntled refugee scientist, frustrated in both his professional and personal lives, develops a universal solvent, which threatens to turn all solid material into water."
On this day in 1963, The Twilight Zone aired "The Bard." This served as the eighteenth episode to the program's mildly revamped fourth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"Julius Moomer, a talentless self-promoting hack who dreams of becoming a successful television writer, uses a book of magic to summon William Shakespeare to write dramatic teleplays that Moomer will pass off as his own. Shakespeare becomes irritated by Moomer's lack of appreciation and is even more appalled when he discovers the changes wrought on his plays by cynical television executives."
"Julius Moomer, a talentless self-promoting hack who dreams of becoming a successful television writer, uses a book of magic to summon William Shakespeare to write dramatic teleplays that Moomer will pass off as his own. Shakespeare becomes irritated by Moomer's lack of appreciation and is even more appalled when he discovers the changes wrought on his plays by cynical television executives."
On this day in 1964, "The Temple of Evil" aired as part of Doctor Who's first season. Here's the episode summary from IMDB.com:
"The TARDIS arrives on Earth landing in 16th century Aztec society. Barbara goes off exploring - despite the Doctor's orders not to wander off - and is taken away by the high priest Autloc who believes she is the reincarnation of the goddess Yetaxa. They believe it is a sign that the rains - which are late - will now come. The high priest of sacrifice Tlotoxl recruits Ian to lead their army but he finds he has a rival in Ixta. Ian is less than comfortable with his role when he learns that they are to deliver the human sacrifice to the high priest at the rain ceremony."
"The TARDIS arrives on Earth landing in 16th century Aztec society. Barbara goes off exploring - despite the Doctor's orders not to wander off - and is taken away by the high priest Autloc who believes she is the reincarnation of the goddess Yetaxa. They believe it is a sign that the rains - which are late - will now come. The high priest of sacrifice Tlotoxl recruits Ian to lead their army but he finds he has a rival in Ixta. Ian is less than comfortable with his role when he learns that they are to deliver the human sacrifice to the high priest at the rain ceremony."
On this day in 1993, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine aired "The Forsaken." This served as the sixteenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Lwaxana Troi comes for a political visit and instead hounds Odo for romantic attention. Meanwhile, an alien probe wrecks havoc with the station's computer, leaving Odo and Lwaxana trapped together."
"Lwaxana Troi comes for a political visit and instead hounds Odo for romantic attention. Meanwhile, an alien probe wrecks havoc with the station's computer, leaving Odo and Lwaxana trapped together."
On this day in 1994, Time Trax aired "The Last M.I.A." This served as the fourteenth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"Darien is wounded while in pursuit of a fugitive from the future. He awakens to find himself fixed up by an ex military vet who was astonished by Darien's physical capabilities. So much so he has a request: help him bring back his son, who is missing in action, reportedly held prisoner, in Cambodia."
"Darien is wounded while in pursuit of a fugitive from the future. He awakens to find himself fixed up by an ex military vet who was astonished by Darien's physical capabilities. So much so he has a request: help him bring back his son, who is missing in action, reportedly held prisoner, in Cambodia."
By contrast (from the aforementioned "All Good Things"), the finale of Star Trek: Voyager was called "Endgame," and there was truly plenty in it to like as there was to dislike. As a finale that aired in 2001, it really only answered one true question -- how will the crew of the Voyager get home -- and it comes not so much as a consequence of anything they've done but instead as yet another chance to work the infamous Borg into a show that relied on the Borg all too much.
Truth be told, I struggled with VOYAGER more than I had the other Trek incarnations that had come before it. I never 'bought' Janeway as a character -- she seemed more than a bit self-serving and/or arrogant at times, and she was never a captain I'd definitely want to serve under. Still, because it was Trek, I stuck with it until that bitter end, but I'm not all that surprised that the powers that be at Paramount have let that sleeping dog stay in its house.
Truth be told, I struggled with VOYAGER more than I had the other Trek incarnations that had come before it. I never 'bought' Janeway as a character -- she seemed more than a bit self-serving and/or arrogant at times, and she was never a captain I'd definitely want to serve under. Still, because it was Trek, I stuck with it until that bitter end, but I'm not all that surprised that the powers that be at Paramount have let that sleeping dog stay in its house.
