Some people have all the luck, and, by some people, I'm talking about director Joseph Kosinski. He was practically handpicked by TRON's creator himself to help bring that franchise back to life and into the 21st century, and the oft-maligned TRON: Legacy was born. Methinks Legacy gets a bad rap as it kept me entertained. Sure, it was all pretty and glossy, but is that such a bad thing? I mean ... have you ever looked at the inside of your PC? Happy birthday, Mr. Kosinski. He was born on this day in 1974.
For those of you who don't know it, the original Star Trek actually had two pilot episodes. The first one -- "The Cage" -- was deemed more than a bit too cerebral by (idiot) TV executives, but they saw the merit in the idea and execution so they asked Gene Roddenberry to try again ... and, thus, "The Man Trap" was born. In it, actress Jeanne Bal (pictured above with Trek regular DeForest Kelley) played Nancy Crater, a woman from his past who now had a dark secret to hide. Though she's no longer with us, Bal was born on this day in 1928.
Veteran character actor Alex Cord doesn't get that much work these days, but I've seen on the Internet that he's explored another life beyond acting by way of writing. I remember this Airwolf guy from one of Gene Roddenberry's other projects -- Genesis II -- so I think it's fair game to give him a birthday nod from us. Cord was born on this day in 1933.
In 1982's B-movie classic Forbidden World, Fox Harris played a scientist torn between saving a newly discovered alien creation or saving himself from own aggressive cancer. Though he's no longer with us, Harris was born on this day in 1936.
That rather mysterious looking fellow is none other than Denny O'Neil. For my tastes, he penned some of coolest Batman stories ever written in the comic books, as well as created the vastly underrated character of Azrael for DC Comics. His work on the Green Lantern and Green Arrow books are deservedly revered. O'Neil was born on this day in 1939.
Ron Canada has a terrific resume in quality genre entertainment. He's beamed aboard Star Trek: The Next Generation in a guest role for season 5's "The Masterpiece Society," as well as booking appearances on Babylon 5, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, The X-Files, Stargate:SG-1, The Strain, and much much more. Canada was born on this day in 1949.
When Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict was in its original syndicated run, I passed it up completely. I recall seeing a few commercials for it, and it just didn't seem all that interesting to me. I've since picked up the first season on DVD, and I'm slowly making my way through it. To its credit, it had a lot more going on than most SciFi procedurals, and methinks much of that is owed to the charisma of its lead, Kevin Kilner (above right). Kilner was born on this day in 1958.
He had his big screen debut in 1993's Civil War epic Gettysburg and then only a few years later he fought in the War of the Dominion as Ensign Paul Gordon aboard Star Trek: Deep Space Nine! Actor Joseph Fuqua has also enjoyed guest starring roles aboard Fox TV's popular The X-Files and NBC's The Pretender. Fuqua was born on this day in 1962.
I just love Amy Ryan. She's beautiful and talented, so much so I don't know how anyone convinced her to appear aboard Monster Trucks (2016), but if that gets her in the realm of Science Fiction and Fantasy here so that I can give her a shout here then so be it. Ryan was born on this day in 1968.
Multi-talented Bobby Cannavale made his first venture into the Marvel movie universe with a pretty plum role aboard the lukewarm Ant-Man. Cannavale was born on this day in 1970.
Blonde bombshell Kristin Lehman has toiled around the edges of sci-fi properties off-and-on for some time. Her early work included roles in The X-Files and Earth: Final Conflict before assuming greater status as part of the cast for Poltergeist: The Legacy. She's also appeared in Andromeda, The Outer Limits, and Strange World. Lehman was born on this day in 1972.
Mad Men's luscious Christina Hendricks brought her (ahem) considerable assets and put them at work in Joss Whedon's popular TV universe, Firefly, back in 2002. Hendricks was born on this day in 1975.
Lovely Rebecca Hall did what she could to elevate the Johnny Depp kinda/sorta cinema stinker Transcendence with her acting credibility. Unfortunately the project was pretty much D.O.A. at the box office. Hall was born on this day in 1982.
Pom Klementieff is looking to put her mark on genre entertainment with a role in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017). Klementieff was born on this day in 1986.
The lovely Dominique McElligott caught my eye aboard the AMC Western Hell On Wheels. Thankfully, she's appeared in the SciFi feature Moon (2009) so that I can recognize her here. McElligott was born on this day in 1986.
As Gracie Johanssen, Zoé De Grand Maison brought a measurable level of creepiness to the already occasionally-creepy BBC SciFi outing, Orphan Black. The lovely young lady was born on this day in 1995.
On this day in 1981, the Apocalypse-themed Image Of The Beast promised viewers that the end was near. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Third and best known entry in the Mark IV series of fundamentalist apocalypse films. Fundamentalist Christian guerrilla David helps condemned dissidents escape, attempts to subvert the computerized Mark of the Beast, and generally tries to survive as prophecy unfolds in the rise of the Antichrist to the pinnacle of his power and the beginning of God's war on sinful man."
"Third and best known entry in the Mark IV series of fundamentalist apocalypse films. Fundamentalist Christian guerrilla David helps condemned dissidents escape, attempts to subvert the computerized Mark of the Beast, and generally tries to survive as prophecy unfolds in the rise of the Antichrist to the pinnacle of his power and the beginning of God's war on sinful man."
In the bombed-out Apocalyptic world of tomorrow, one well-endowed woman rises from the ashes to prove once and for all that you can still have great hair and luscious lashes ... that is if she takes the shape of former Playboy Playmate Pamela Anderson. The film? It's a little something called Barb Wire. While it's based on a Dark Horse Comics property, the flick was basically a note-for-note remake of Casablanca but set in the future and with blazing semi-automatics and ample cleavage. It first screened theatrically on this day in 1996.
Iron Man 3 opened theatrically on this day in 2013. Me, I didn't much care for parts 1 and 2 -- they seemed like TRON: Legacy ... a bit too overproduced and glossy. But 3 seemed like a welcome return to far more comic book conventional storytelling, and I honestly had more fun with it. Go figure.
On this day in 2013 (in the United Kingdom), The Search for Simon opened theatrically, and writer/director/star Martin Gooch applied a healthy smear of British wit to the world more commonly linked with The X-Files. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"30 years ago, David's younger brother Simon disappeared without a trace and has never been seen since. David is still looking, and the search for Simon has become his life."
For those who'd like to know more, feel free to check out my review over on Amazon.com: link
"30 years ago, David's younger brother Simon disappeared without a trace and has never been seen since. David is still looking, and the search for Simon has become his life."
For those who'd like to know more, feel free to check out my review over on Amazon.com: link
On this day in 1989, Dr. Sam Beckett tried to break down racial barriers on Quantum Leap with the airing of "The Color of Truth." This served as the seventh episode to the popular program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"As the black chauffeur of an elderly southern woman, Sam must overcome prejudice to prevent the death of a black woman."
"As the black chauffeur of an elderly southern woman, Sam must overcome prejudice to prevent the death of a black woman."
On this day in 1993, "Revenge" aired as the twelfth episode of Time Trax's first season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Darien discovers some attacks that appear to be the work of a pro white movement from the future one of whose members is Sepp Dietrich, the man who killed an important man in the future whom Darien later caught but escaped with help from Sambi. And whom Sambi later sent into the past to kill the President but Darien stopped him and sent him back to the future or so he thinks. Later when he goes to the site of the attacks he learns that Dietrich is the leader."
"Darien discovers some attacks that appear to be the work of a pro white movement from the future one of whose members is Sepp Dietrich, the man who killed an important man in the future whom Darien later caught but escaped with help from Sambi. And whom Sambi later sent into the past to kill the President but Darien stopped him and sent him back to the future or so he thinks. Later when he goes to the site of the attacks he learns that Dietrich is the leader."
On this day in 1995, Babylon 5 aired "And Now For A Word." This served as the fifteenth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"ISN arrives on the station to film a documentary of the station and crew."
"ISN arrives on the station to film a documentary of the station and crew."
For those who watched Star Trek: Voyager closely, the character of Kes just kinda/sorta unceremoniously disappeared from the cast and crew. Any amount of research will lead one to a handful of "theories" involving her somewhat controversial departure. Whatever the case, I'm still glad that the writers gave her a return visit to the show in order to provide a measure of closure. Thus, on this day in 2000, "Fury" brought the Ocampan back aboard the lost Starfleet vessel, and she was more than a little pissed. This adventure served as the twenty-third episode of the sixth season.
On this day in 2002, Stargate: SG-1 aired "The Sentinel" as the twentieth episode of the program's fifth season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"To fix a mistake caused by the fake SG team, the real SG-1 must enlist the help of two convicts. The threat of an approaching Goa'uld mothership stresses the repair of the Sentinel."
"To fix a mistake caused by the fake SG team, the real SG-1 must enlist the help of two convicts. The threat of an approaching Goa'uld mothership stresses the repair of the Sentinel."
On this day in 2003, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed aired "Flashing Blades." This served as the thirtieth episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A war is under way between genetically enhanced Coordinators and unmodified Naturals."
"A war is under way between genetically enhanced Coordinators and unmodified Naturals."
On this day in 2014, Orphan Black aired "Mingling Its Own Nature With It." This served as the third episode to the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Sarah, Felix and Kira are on a road trip of sorts but Daniel Rosen isn't far behind. They take refuge in a house that turns out to be owned by someone Sarah knows. Felix packs his bags and leaves. Rosen has his first contact with Henrik Johanssen who arrives at the halfway house only to set it on fire. He soon tracks down Sarah. Pressure in mounting on Alison as opening night approaches. Art tells his partner Angela to lay off the case but she is dogged in her pursuit of Alison and poses as a new neighbor. Alison is quickly onto her, thinking she's a new monitor. Cosima learns of another clone, Jennifer, who had respiratory problems much like hers and died only a few days ago."
"Sarah, Felix and Kira are on a road trip of sorts but Daniel Rosen isn't far behind. They take refuge in a house that turns out to be owned by someone Sarah knows. Felix packs his bags and leaves. Rosen has his first contact with Henrik Johanssen who arrives at the halfway house only to set it on fire. He soon tracks down Sarah. Pressure in mounting on Alison as opening night approaches. Art tells his partner Angela to lay off the case but she is dogged in her pursuit of Alison and poses as a new neighbor. Alison is quickly onto her, thinking she's a new monitor. Cosima learns of another clone, Jennifer, who had respiratory problems much like hers and died only a few days ago."
