On this day in 2012, IDW Comics went boldly where no one had gone before when it premiered an epic crossover event, and this one was indeed one for the ages: Doctor Who landed in the Star Trek universe! The storyline -- official titled "Assimilation2" -- involved a dastardly union of the Cybermen and the Borg, and the action saw Matt Smith's Doctor leaping into both the TOS and TNG creations. Having read it, I give it an enthusiastic thumbs out, though the action does kinda/sorta peter out toward the big finish.
Hollywood heavyweight Howard Hawks didn't lend his clout to many films in the realm of Science Fiction and Fantasy, but he certainly brought one of the most memorable to the silver screen: 1951's The Thing From Another World continues to delight and inspire to this day. Though he's no longer with us, Hawks was born on this day in 1896. [Source: IMDB.com]
As is so often the case with so very much of sci-fi, fans never really know the faces much less the names of those who worked behind-the-scenes to bring some of the very best of our beloved genre to life. Pictured above is the late Franklin J. Schaffner, the man who directed 1968's unforgettably awesome Planet of the Apes. After that? He went on to do a little film called Patton. A few years later, he went on to direct another film with some sci-fi-lite elements called The Boys From Brazil. Though he's no longer with us, Schaffner was born on this day in 1920.
Screen veteran Clint Walker may've built his reputation on playing cowboys but he also faced down evil of a different sort (Fantasy-themed) in Killdozer (1974). Though he's no longer with us, Walker was born on this day in 1927.
Let me be the first to admit that -- unlike so many others -- I wasn't won over with Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Sure, it had some powerful visuals backed up with an interesting, intelligent story; but that ending drug trip probably meant more culturally for its time and place in history than it does today. I could be wrong. I have been before. In any event, I did like Keir Dullea's workmanlike performance in the film; certainly his role as Dr. Dave Bowman gave audiences one of the first looks at what would happen in the ol' "man vs. machine" showdown. Dullea was born on this day in 1936.
Deanna Lund got small for a cause. The cause? It was her work aboard the SciFi/Action series Land Of The Giants from the mind of TV's Irwin Allen. Lund was born on this day in 1937. [Source: IMDB.com]
Earlier in his career, the great Michael J. Pollard gave a stand-out performance aboard "Miri," an episode of the classic Star Trek. Pollard was born on this day in 1939.
Star Trek fans owe a debt of gratitude to the late Michael Piller. While he was with us, Piller had his creative fingers into every incarnation of Trek for the time, including Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager. He was also given screenplay credit for the largely maligned Star Trek: Insurrection movie, a film that I'll agree had some narrative problems but still managed to be entertaining. Though he's no longer with us, Piller was born on this day in 1948.
One of those talented guys who seemingly appears everywhere when you're least expecting it, Stephen Tobolowsky even managed a supporting spot in Mel Brooks' Spaceballs (1987) for good measure. Tobolowsky was born on this day in 1951. [Source: IMDB.com]
Colm Meaney was another actor who pretty much started out as just a 'face' in the background on Star Trek: The Next Generation, but, after a few strong years in a supporting role, he was promoted over to Station Chief at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Meaney brought a wonderful humanity to the portrayal of a non-commissioned officer in Starfleet, and both shows were greatly enriched by having him around. Meaney was born on this day back in 1953.
Earlier in his professional career, John Terlesky swaggered his way into Fantasy with a starring role in Deathstalker II (1987). He's since built an impressive career as a director for episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and NBC's Timeless. Terlesky was born on this day in 1961. [Source: IMDB.com]
Chicago-born Tonya Pinkins continues to impress in the field of Science Fiction and Fantasy. She's been a part of 11.22.63, Gotham, and The Strain. Pinkins was born on this day in 1962.
Tracey Childs (above left) joined Peter Capaldi the first time he appeared in the universe of Doctor Who (in a role other than being a Timelord, that is); it was an episode called "The Fires Of Pompeii." Childs was born on this day in 1963.
HubbaHubba Alert! The lovely Cynthia Gouw did what she could with the material she was given to elevate William Shatner's vanity project Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) to the stars. Gouw was born on this day in 1963. [Source: IMDB.com]
Veteran character actor Mark Sheppard has been a part of so many incredible franchises. The X-Files. Supernatural. Warehouse 13. Doctor Who. And, of course, Syfy's the newfangled Battlestar Galactica. What I find uniquely amazing is that -- no matter where he pops up -- he always (always) turns in a terrific performance. Also, in 2013 I had the chance to meet him at the Star Trek Las Vegas Convention, and he's just flat-out a nice, amiable fellow. Sheppard was born on this day in 1964.
That fresh-faced smiler with the mildly disheveled hair is none other than Duncan Jones. The writer/director pretty much burst onto the SciFi scene when, in 2009, his film Moon drew critical praise from around the planet. (Get the wordplay there, folks?) Also, he directed 2011's Source Code, probably one of the slickest and most interesting time travel flicks most folks have never seen. If you haven't, then I encourage you to give it a spin. It's very good. Jones was born on this day in 1971.
The lovely Minae Noji has been providing professional voice acting to such properties as Earth and Beyond (video game), Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (video game), and X-Men: Destiny (video game). Noji was born on this day in 1973.
The lovely Rachael Stirling gave up a bit of that loveliness to play 'Ada' who was smitten by "The Crimson Horror" on Doctor Who. Stirling was born on this day in 1977.
Though it would appear much of her work is more mainstream fare, the talented Jenny Mollen did enjoy a role aboard Extraction aka Extracted (2012). Mollen was born on this day in 1979.
Catherine Corcoran found herself traumatized -- or is that Troma-tized? -- for her work aboard Return To Nuke 'Em High Volume 1 and Return To Nuke 'Em High Volume 2. Corcoran was born on this day in 1992. [Source: IMDB.com]
Kudos to your actor Jake Short for bringing SciFi-lite to the young-at-heart as part of the cast of TV's Mighty Med. Short was born on this day in 1997.
Young Jared Gilmore has found fame and fortune in the realm of Fantasy as he's a regular aboard ABC TV's long-running Once Upon A Time. Gilmore was born on this day in 2000.
Argh. So little time. So many cheesy sci-fi movies! Premiering on this day theatrically back in 1990, The Dark Side of the Moon (aka Parasite in some countries) came and went as quickly as a shadow on the dark side of the moon. Here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"It is the year 2022. A mysterious systems failure causes the crew of a spaceship to be stranded on the dark side of the moon, while rapidly running out of fuel and oxygen. They are surprised to discover a NASA space shuttle floating in space, and board it in the hope of salvaging some supplies. One by one, the crew is possessed and killed, and it is up to Paxton Warner to find the links between the dark side of the moon, the Bermuda Triangle, and the Devil himself."
"It is the year 2022. A mysterious systems failure causes the crew of a spaceship to be stranded on the dark side of the moon, while rapidly running out of fuel and oxygen. They are surprised to discover a NASA space shuttle floating in space, and board it in the hope of salvaging some supplies. One by one, the crew is possessed and killed, and it is up to Paxton Warner to find the links between the dark side of the moon, the Bermuda Triangle, and the Devil himself."
On this day in 2007 (in France), 1959's The World, The Flesh, And The Devil enjoyed a rare theatrical re-release. The SciFi/Apocalypse-Drama starred Inger Stevens and Harry Belafonte, and here's the premise from IMDB.com:
"A miner trapped in a cave-in resurfaces, and upon discovering mankind has been wiped out in a nuclear holocaust, sets out to find other survivors."
"A miner trapped in a cave-in resurfaces, and upon discovering mankind has been wiped out in a nuclear holocaust, sets out to find other survivors."
On this day in 2012 (in Sweden), 51 enjoyed its release on DVD for the home video marketplace. The SciFi feature starred Tammi Arender and Jillian Batherson, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"51 chronicles what happens after political pressure from the American public forces the Air Force to provide a few well-known reporters with limited access to the most secretive base on the planet: Area 51. When one of the base's hidden 'long term visitors' exploits this unprecedented visit as a chance to liberate himself and his fellow alien captives, Area 51 turns from a secure government base to a horrifying destination of terror."
"51 chronicles what happens after political pressure from the American public forces the Air Force to provide a few well-known reporters with limited access to the most secretive base on the planet: Area 51. When one of the base's hidden 'long term visitors' exploits this unprecedented visit as a chance to liberate himself and his fellow alien captives, Area 51 turns from a secure government base to a horrifying destination of terror."
On this day in 2016 (in Spain), the original SciFi/Classic The War Of The Worlds enjoyed a rare theatrical re-release. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A small town in California is attacked by Martians, beginning a worldwide invasion."
"A small town in California is attacked by Martians, beginning a worldwide invasion."
On this day in 1952, Tales Of Tomorrow aired "The Little Black Bag." This served as the thirty-fifth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"A depressed, tired doctor with a shrewish wife is ready to end his practice. Instead he comes into possession of a doctor's kit with miraculous properties. He and his wife disagree ethically on how to use their newfound luck."
"A depressed, tired doctor with a shrewish wife is ready to end his practice. Instead he comes into possession of a doctor's kit with miraculous properties. He and his wife disagree ethically on how to use their newfound luck."
On this day in 1964, the inaugural season of Doctor Who marched on. "The Warriors of Death" aired on the BBC, and here's the episode summary from IMDB.com:
"Barbara tries to change the course of history - and Ian fights for his life."
"Barbara tries to change the course of history - and Ian fights for his life."
On this day in 1970, Doctor Who aired "Inferno: Part 4." This served as the twenty-second episode of the program's seventh season, and here's the plot summary that's provided by IMDB.com:
"The Doctor attempts to convince the alternate Inferno staff that penetrating the earth's crust will cause a disaster but instead is imprisoned with an infected Bromley."
"The Doctor attempts to convince the alternate Inferno staff that penetrating the earth's crust will cause a disaster but instead is imprisoned with an infected Bromley."
Universally praised as one of the best hours of Trekdom for all of the series, "The Inner Light" aired in Star Trek: The Next Generation's syndication on this date back in 1992. The story featured the Enterprise-D's crew encountering a space probe that "injects" Captain Picard with the memories of a people who long ago passed into history, and it featured one heartbreaking moment after another.
On this day in 1993, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine aired "Dramatis Personae." This served as the seventeenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The entire station's command staff, save Odo, become power hungry and vie to defeat each other by forming secret alliances and plotting assassinations. Odo tries to figure out the cause of this mysterious behavior."
"The entire station's command staff, save Odo, become power hungry and vie to defeat each other by forming secret alliances and plotting assassinations. Odo tries to figure out the cause of this mysterious behavior."
Tempers started to flare on this day in 2008 when Syfy aired the eighth episode of Battlestar Galactica's fourth season. The hour was titled "Sine Qua Non," and here's the plot summary compliments of our friends at IMDB.com:
"President Roslin's abduction by the Cylon Hybrid triggers a bitter power struggle within the Colonial Fleet."
"President Roslin's abduction by the Cylon Hybrid triggers a bitter power struggle within the Colonial Fleet."
On this day in 2008, Doctor Who aired "The Poison Sky." This served as the fifth episode of the program's fourth re-launched) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"With planet Earth choking under the poison sky, the Doctor must stop the Sontarans' threat to the planet."
"With planet Earth choking under the poison sky, the Doctor must stop the Sontarans' threat to the planet."
