I know how most folks feel about the Star Wars Prequels -- truth be told, I struggled with huge parts of the films, myself -- but I enjoy a good villain as much as the next fan. Christopher Lee played the dastardly Count Dooku perhaps only the way a screen legend would, so at least fans can be thankful for small favors. Though he's no longer with us, Lee was born on this day in 1922.
Horror icon Vincent Price is, arguably, much well known for his vast library of work in -- well -- horror (naturally), but he occasionally appeared in most SciFi and fantastical projects like The Bionic Woman and the short-lived Time Express. Though he's no longer with us, Price was born on this day in 1911.
Though I've never quite understood it, I've heard author Harlan Ellison called "the angriest man in Science Fiction." Like I said, I don't 'get' it, per se. Sure, he's passionate about his work, but would you expect any less? In any event, he's a bona fide genius amongst fandom, contributing to such TV classics as The Outer Limits, Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, and Babylon 5. Ellison was born on this day in 1934.
Actress Lee Meriwether was more than the cat's meow throughout her acting career -- tip: she was only one of the lovely ladies to play the Catwoman for that campy late 60's Batman series. She was also Losira in the Star Trek (TOS) episode "That Which Survives," and she was also a series regular aboard Irwin Allen's Time Tunnel series. Meriwether was born on this day in 1935.
1985's Enemy Mine is an often overlooked sci-fi gem. For my tastes, it all goes on a bit too long and gets a bit too schmaltzy, but watching veteran character actor Louis Gossett Jr. work his magic as the alien Jeriba Shigan is still worth the price of admission. Gossett Jr. was born on this day in 1936.
Take note, Man of Steel haters: one of the things the film did wrong was to introduce the character of Dr. Emil Hamilton (above, far right, as played by veteran character actor Richard Schiff) only then to see him killed off before the pictures fade to black. Big mistake as in the comic books Dr. Hamilton works at StarLabs and is frequently assisting 'Big Blue' in a host of ways. Schiff was born on this day in 1955.
A lovely Chelsea Field (above center) joined the cast in the big screen adaptation of the cartoon property -- He-Man and the Masters of the Universe -- back in 1987. Field was born on this day in 1957.
The affable Eddie McClintock headlined Syfy's long-running Warehouse 13, a SciFi procedural centered upon two federal agents maintaining a veritable treasure trove of supernatural and otherworldly objects. He's also enjoyed guest spots aboard Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Supergirl. McClintock was born on this day in 1967.
One of biggest disappointments in television for me was ABC TV's FlashForward. Instead of really developing an interesting sci-fi narrative (especially given the fact that it was based on a notable sci-fi book), the showrunners took the premise and then quickly did everything they could to dumb it down in a plot they hoped reminded audiences of LOST. Still, Joseph Fiennes did great work as agent Mark Benford. Fiennes was born on this day in 1970.
Monika Schnarre has one of those faces that tends to pop up in quality genre roles from time to time but never quite seems to land a leading spot. (Personally, I think that's a crying shame!) Fans probably recognize her best from appearances aboard Welcome to Paradox, Earth: Final Conflict, NightMan, Total Recall 2070, First Wave, Beastmaster, Mutant X, and Andromeda. Schnarre was born on this day in 1971.
Paul Bettany headlined 2011's Priest, a B-movie that rather successfully mixed action and sci-fi in a tale that saw Bettany's character ignoring the laws of his church while hunting down vampires who had kidnapped his niece. I saw it on home video and enjoyed it the way I do many B-movies. Bettany was born on this day in 1971.
Early in her career, easy-on-the-eyes Cindy Sampson had a few uncredited appearances aboard the cult SciFi TV show Lexx for good measure, and she ventured into the made-for-TV B-Movie flick High Plains Invaders in 2009. Sampson was born on this day in 1978.
A young Ben Feldman found himself trapped in the worst night of his life in Cloverfield (2008), and wouldn't you know somebody showed up with a camcorder to film it all? Feldman was born on this day in 1980.
The lovely Bella Heathcote brought her young beauty to 2011's sci-fi-themed In Time, a Justin Timberlake actioner that centered around tomorrow's wealthy elite being able to buy immortal youth. Let's hope she finds more sci-fi vehicles to participate in. Heathcote was born on this day in 1987.
Ah! The cinema! Is there anything more exciting, more visceral than a couple of would-be scientists sitting around looking at a self-storage facility? Meh. Primer is one of those films that has rabid fans, downright rabid supporters; and -- for the life of me -- I can't figure out why. Sure, it's an innovative flick (in the same way any would be if you or I or our fellow average Joes figured out how to build a time machine), but ... is that all there is? I was honestly bored stiff with the thing. It's like watching paint dry. And make that bad paint, a color you didn't even like. Go figure. To each his own.
Heavily praised around the web and beyond as well as the fact that it even won a few festival awards here and there, Primer first premiered theatrically (in Spain) on this day in 2004.
Heavily praised around the web and beyond as well as the fact that it even won a few festival awards here and there, Primer first premiered theatrically (in Spain) on this day in 2004.
On this day in 1978, Project U.F.O. aired "Sighting 4012: The Rock and Hard Place Incident." This served as the twelfth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Major Gatlin and S/Sgt. Fritz investigate a UFO that was seen in the night sky by numerous people (including themselves) and at different locations, all in the same night. As their investigation progresses they begin to suspect a hoax."
"Major Gatlin and S/Sgt. Fritz investigate a UFO that was seen in the night sky by numerous people (including themselves) and at different locations, all in the same night. As their investigation progresses they begin to suspect a hoax."
On this day in 1994, Robocop: The Series aired "The Human Factor." This served as the twelfth episode in the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"RoboCop teams-up with his unsuspecting father, a retired police captain, to stop an insane bomber from unleashing a campaign of terror against OCP that could end in nuclear Armageddon."
"RoboCop teams-up with his unsuspecting father, a retired police captain, to stop an insane bomber from unleashing a campaign of terror against OCP that could end in nuclear Armageddon."
On this day in 1998, Babylon 5 aired "Meditations on the Abyss." This served as the fourteenth episode of the program's fifth (and final) season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Vir learns he is the new Centauri ambassador to Babylon 5."
"Vir learns he is the new Centauri ambassador to Babylon 5."
On this day in 1940, The Adventures Of Superman radio serial aired "Alonzo Craig: Arctic Explorer." This particular story ran on this day through June 7th, and here's the (edited) plot summary from the Superman Homepage (link):
"Three years ago, Alonzo Craig was exploring the islands north of Elsmereland to prove that a race of giant white natives and their supposedly immortal witch doctor leader exist. Daily Planet reporter Ray Martin and and Professor Peters of the Metropolis Museum went on a search for Craig recently. Perry White has not heard from either Martin nor Peters in over a month. He's ordered Clark Kent to do what he can to find Martin, Peters and Alonzo Craig. Peters and Martin were to contact Perry via shortwave radio at Ormand. A telegraphed message from Fort Ormand says that gossip among the natives says that Professor Peters and Ray Martin are missing."
"Three years ago, Alonzo Craig was exploring the islands north of Elsmereland to prove that a race of giant white natives and their supposedly immortal witch doctor leader exist. Daily Planet reporter Ray Martin and and Professor Peters of the Metropolis Museum went on a search for Craig recently. Perry White has not heard from either Martin nor Peters in over a month. He's ordered Clark Kent to do what he can to find Martin, Peters and Alonzo Craig. Peters and Martin were to contact Perry via shortwave radio at Ormand. A telegraphed message from Fort Ormand says that gossip among the natives says that Professor Peters and Ray Martin are missing."
