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.
Barry Russo leaves behind a resume rich with appearances from television of a bygone era. Fans might recognize him from appearances aboard 20 Millions Miles To Earth (1957), The Outer Limits, My Favorite Martian, The Invaders, and Star Trek. Though he's no longer with us, Russo was born on this day in 1925. [Source: IMDB.com]
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.
John Hamill enjoyed really only a passing flirtation with the realm of Science Fiction with small roles aboard No Blade Of Grass (1970), Space:1999, and Doctor Who. Hamill was born on this day in 1947. [Source: IMDB.com]
Chris Mulkey is another one of those fabulous character actors who turns in a great performance every time he's called upon. Fans might recognize him from his work aboard The Hidden (1987), Twin Peaks, K-9000 (1991), The Outer Limits, or Cloverfield (2008). Mulkey was born on this day in 1948. [Source: IMDB.com]
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.
Peter Guinness played one of the prisoners locked into a box with a growing, hungry Xenomorph aboard David Fincher's Alien 3 (1992). Guinness was born on this day in 1950. [Source: IMDB.com]
Caitlin Clarke enjoyed her big screen debut in one of the fonder memories of my youth: 1981's Dragonslayer brought Fantasy to the silver screen in a pretty epic way without any of that insufferable CGI nonsense. Though she's no longer with us, Clarke was born on this day in 1952. [Source: IMDB.com]
Toni Naples dipped her toes into the realm of genre entertainment with work aboard Deathstalker II (1987), Munchie (1992), Dinosaur Island (1994), and Sorceress (1995). Naples was born on this day in 1952. [Source: IMDB.com]
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.
Though she's quite probably best remembered of one of the many victims of slasher Jason Voorhees, Amy Steel did dabble outside the realm of Horror with appearances aboard The Powers of Matthew Star, Quantum Leap, Time Trax, Viper, and Millennium. Steel was born on this day in 1960. [Source: IMDB.com]
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.
Russian-born actor Danila Kozlovsky headlined the Time Travel Fantasy We Are From The Future (2008) for A-1 Kino Video. Kozlovsky was born on this day in 1985. [Source: IMDB.com]
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.
Jessica Sula dipped her pretty young toes into the realm of television Fantasy with a guest spot aboard Fox's popular Lucifer. Sula was born on this day in 1994. [Source: IMDB.com]
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 1961, George Pal's Atlantis: The Lost Continent submerged into its U.S. theatrical run. The Fantasy film starred Sal Ponti and Joyce Taylor, and here's the premise as listed on IMDB.com:
"A Greek Fisherman brings an Atlantean Princess back to her homeland which is the mythical city of Atlantis. He is enslaved for his trouble. The King is being manipulated by an evil sorcerer who is bent on using a natural resource of Atlantis to take over the world. The Atlanteans, or rather the slaves of Atlantis, are forced to mine a crystalline material which absorbs the suns rays. These crystals can then be used for warmth. The misuse of science has created weapons out of the crystals that can fire a heat ray to destroy whatever it touches."
"A Greek Fisherman brings an Atlantean Princess back to her homeland which is the mythical city of Atlantis. He is enslaved for his trouble. The King is being manipulated by an evil sorcerer who is bent on using a natural resource of Atlantis to take over the world. The Atlanteans, or rather the slaves of Atlantis, are forced to mine a crystalline material which absorbs the suns rays. These crystals can then be used for warmth. The misuse of science has created weapons out of the crystals that can fire a heat ray to destroy whatever it touches."
On this day in 1968 (in West Germany), the original Planet Of The Apes enjoyed its theatrical release. The SciFi/Classic starred Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowall, and here's the plot summary as provided by 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."
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.
On this day in 2003, Silent Warnings enjoyed a release on home video. The SciFi feature starred Stephen Baldwin and A.J. Buckley, and here's the plot summary as listed on IMDB.com:
"After the accidental death of his cousin Joe Vossimer, the just-graduated electronic engineer Layne Vossimer joins his girlfriend and four friends of them to visit and clean the inherited farm in the country. The local Sheriff Bill Willingham is an old friend of Layne, and also grieves the death of Joe. When the group arrives in the farm, some weird and mysterious signs appear in the cornfield, but they believe the other locals are joking with them. When Iris Doyle vanishes, the rest of the group realizes that there is a serious menace jeopardizing that place."
"After the accidental death of his cousin Joe Vossimer, the just-graduated electronic engineer Layne Vossimer joins his girlfriend and four friends of them to visit and clean the inherited farm in the country. The local Sheriff Bill Willingham is an old friend of Layne, and also grieves the death of Joe. When the group arrives in the farm, some weird and mysterious signs appear in the cornfield, but they believe the other locals are joking with them. When Iris Doyle vanishes, the rest of the group realizes that there is a serious menace jeopardizing that place."
On this day in 2009, Fireball turned up the heat as a SciFi/Fantasy/Telefilm. The feature starred genre regulars Ian Somerhalder and Lexa Doig, and here's the premise that's provided compliments of IMDB.com:
"Inspector Ava Williams investigates a prison fire to its source, a prisoner seeking revenge against those who put him behind bars."
"Inspector Ava Williams investigates a prison fire to its source, a prisoner seeking revenge against those who put him behind bars."
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."
"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."
On this day in 2018, F.R.E.D.I. was first screened for audiences attending the Bentonville Film Festival. This Family-friendly SciFi feature starred Kelly Hu and Candace Cameron Bure, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A teenager makes the discovery of a lifetime in the forest behind his Arkansas home, a friendly robot named F.R.E.D.I. Join James, Danny and Natalie as they come together to help F.R.E.D.I. find her way back to her creator Dr. Palmer and evade an evil corporate villain."
"A teenager makes the discovery of a lifetime in the forest behind his Arkansas home, a friendly robot named F.R.E.D.I. Join James, Danny and Natalie as they come together to help F.R.E.D.I. find her way back to her creator Dr. Palmer and evade an evil corporate villain."
On this day in 1975, Doctor Who aired "Revenge Of The Cybermen: Part 3." This served as the nineteenth episode in the long-running program's twelfth season, and here's the plot summary that's been provided by IMDB.com:
"The Cybermen force the Doctor, Stevenson and Lester to carry bombs to the centre of Voga while Sarah, Harry and Tyrum decide to contact Vorus."
"The Cybermen force the Doctor, Stevenson and Lester to carry bombs to the centre of Voga while Sarah, Harry and Tyrum decide to contact Vorus."
On this day in 1979, TV's Time Express aired the second episode of its only season in existence. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Two years ago, a shy, timid, awkward, and clumsy man who works for an ad agency, who went to Paris for a shoot meets the beautiful model and is smitten with her. But after fumbling on their first meeting, he thinks he blew it. But she later comes to see him and she invites him out but gets the address mixed up he arrives late and she left thinking he stood her up. Now he wants another chance. And a young skater who three years ago while competing in Montreal meets another skater and there's an obvious connection. They want to pursue a relationship but a woman who claims to be "with" him tells her and she leaves and would regret it."
"Two years ago, a shy, timid, awkward, and clumsy man who works for an ad agency, who went to Paris for a shoot meets the beautiful model and is smitten with her. But after fumbling on their first meeting, he thinks he blew it. But she later comes to see him and she invites him out but gets the address mixed up he arrives late and she left thinking he stood her up. Now he wants another chance. And a young skater who three years ago while competing in Montreal meets another skater and there's an obvious connection. They want to pursue a relationship but a woman who claims to be "with" him tells her and she leaves and would regret it."
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."
On this day in 1996, Fox TV's popular The X-Files aired "Quagmire." This served as the twenty-second episode in the program's third season, and here's the premise as listed on IMDB.com:
"Mulder suspects that a beast similar to the Loch Ness Monster is responsible for the deaths of several people who reside near a large lake. Frustrated Scully insightfully confronts Mulder about the futility of their work on X-Files."
"Mulder suspects that a beast similar to the Loch Ness Monster is responsible for the deaths of several people who reside near a large lake. Frustrated Scully insightfully confronts Mulder about the futility of their work on X-Files."
On this day in 2000, Seven Days went back to high school with the airing of "Witch Way To The Prom." This served as the twentieth episode in the program's second season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"3 high school girls use magic and believe they have conjured Parker during a backstep and therefore control him, all just to get a date to prom."
"3 high school girls use magic and believe they have conjured Parker during a backstep and therefore control him, all just to get a date to prom."
On this day in 2002, Earth: Final Conflict aired "Heroes & Heartbreak." This served as the twentieth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary that's provided by IMDB.com:
"Augur is recruited by a Taelon weapons project, but the others are worried about his involvement. When the project is launched earlier than originally planned to fight a Jiridian fleet, the Earth is in danger."
"Augur is recruited by a Taelon weapons project, but the others are worried about his involvement. When the project is launched earlier than originally planned to fight a Jiridian fleet, the Earth is in danger."
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.
It all came down to this: on this day in 2002, Dark Angel aired "Freak Nation." This served as the twentieth episode of the program's second season -- its finale -- and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Tensions escalate into a showdown between White, the breeding cult and a group of Transgenics, and the employees of Jam Pony get caught in the middle."
"Tensions escalate into a showdown between White, the breeding cult and a group of Transgenics, and the employees of Jam Pony get caught in the middle."
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 2004, Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda aired "Time Out Of Mind." This served as the twentieth episode in the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A person posing as a Wayist is killed by agents of the Abyss. He's a man from Beka's past. The crew must find what her friend was after before the Abyss finds it."
"A person posing as a Wayist is killed by agents of the Abyss. He's a man from Beka's past. The crew must find what her friend was after before the Abyss finds it."
On this day in 2004, Mutant X aired "The Prophecy." This served as the twentieth episode in the program's third (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Brennan battles with a Guardian of the Prophecy to stop the late mutant Ashlocke's plan from beyond the grave of world domination."
"Brennan battles with a Guardian of the Prophecy to stop the late mutant Ashlocke's plan from beyond the grave of world domination."
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."
On this day in 2016, Stitchers aired "Pretty Little Lawyers." This served as the seventh episode in the program's second season, and here's the premise that's listed on IMDB.com:
"A young lawyer is fatally poisoned, with her other colleagues being suspects. Maggie reconnects with Sam Lewis, an ex-boyfriend and the head of the law firm that the Stitchers team is investigating. Kirsten finds out about Camille and Liam's relationship, and also how Maggie had instructed it. Kirsten, after finding out, decides that Camille should stop the relationship between herself and Liam, due to it being to dangerous. Then also stated that she, herself, would pretend to be his girlfriend, going undercover to find out what he knows about her father, Daniel Stinger."
"A young lawyer is fatally poisoned, with her other colleagues being suspects. Maggie reconnects with Sam Lewis, an ex-boyfriend and the head of the law firm that the Stitchers team is investigating. Kirsten finds out about Camille and Liam's relationship, and also how Maggie had instructed it. Kirsten, after finding out, decides that Camille should stop the relationship between herself and Liam, due to it being to dangerous. Then also stated that she, herself, would pretend to be his girlfriend, going undercover to find out what he knows about her father, Daniel Stinger."
On this day in 2017, The 100 aired "Die All, Die Merrily." This served as the tenth episode of the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Octavia fights in the final battle for survival, but not everyone is willing to play fair."
"Octavia fights in the final battle for survival, but not everyone is willing to play fair."
