Starting on this day back in 2013, the Walt Disney Company officially recognized May 4th as Star Wars Day, more commonly known as "May The Fourth Be With You," as a means of celebrating Star Wars fandom around the world. While the background of how May the Fourth actually came to be is subject to some differing opinions, I personally had always thought it was a day chosen by Lucasfilm to encourage literacy among school children (by obviously getting them to read Star Wars books), but I've been told that's inaccurate. Anyone with the "official" straight scoop, feel free to contact me and set me straight.
But in the meantime: "May The Fourth Be With You!"
But in the meantime: "May The Fourth Be With You!"
Luther Adler found himself in the most precarious of identities aboard Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone. Though he's no longer with us, Adler was born on this day in 1903.
Esmond Knight (center) left behind a legacy of over one hundred and fifty different screen credits, but fans probably know him best from his appearance aboard the BBC's A For Andromeda in 1961. He did make an appearance in the world of Doctor Who, as well. Though he's no longer with us, Knight was born on this day in 1906.
Peter Bathurst played in the world of Doctor Who aboard the serials "The Claws of Axos" and "The Power of The Daleks." Though he's no longer with us, Bathurst was born on this day in 1912.
The late Godfrey Quigley made an appearance in the world of Doctor Who in the role of 'Dortmun' in Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D., a theatrical release from 1966. Though he's no longer with us, Quigley was born on this day in 1923.
The lovely Christine White (above left) joined William Shatner aboard "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," arguably one of the most memorable episodes of The Twilight Zone. Though she's no longer with us, White was born on this day in 1926.
Veteran character actor Paul Gleason (shown above from the seminal high school flick, The Breakfast Club) dabbled in the realms of Science Fiction. In his career, he appeared in such properties as Panic In The Year Zero!, The Invaders, Doc Savage: Man of Bronze, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Digital Man, and Dark Skies. Though he's no longer with us, Gleason was born on this day in 1939.
Best-selling author Robin Cook knows more than a thing or two about fashioning cutting edge science / Science Fiction into real world thrillers. His works typically tend to dabble with viruses posing unique challenges for the characters they inflict, and he's even played in the realm of viruses emerging on Earth from deep space spelling certain doom for all of mankind (TV movie Invasion). Cook was born on this day in 1940.
The venerable Richard Jenkins are arguably one of the most talented character actors of his generation, and SciFi fans have been able to mark his goodness with performances aboard The Manhattan Project (1986), What Planet Are You From? (2000), and The Core (2003). Jenkins was born on this day in 1947.
Pia Zadora played DeeDee in 1984's cult SciFi musical comedy Voyage Of The Rock Aliens. (Don't bother looking it up, as you'll be disappointed.) Zadora was born on this day in 1954.
Jeff Lester played the FBI agent who got to question the captured Pavel Chekov aboard Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986). Lester was born on this day in 1955.
I actually caught about thirty minutes of the SciFi/B-Movie Steel And Lace one night on television. Meh. While I'll admit it wasn't for me, I didn't mind watching Clare Wren spin some SciFi revenge. Wren was born on this day in 1962. [Source: IMDB.com]
Though she's probably remembered more for her forays in the realm of Horror, the lovely Juliette Cummins enjoyed a guest spot aboard the SciFi/Cult series Max Headroom. Cummins was born on this day in 1964.
The lovely Jodi Russell lent her vocal charms and identity to Tesla Effect, a SciFi video game released to the market in 2014. Russell was born on this day in 1965.
The great Murray McArthur has had the opportunity to play in the greater universes of Doctor Who and HBO's Game Of Thrones. McArthur was born on this day in 1966.
Whereas Fox TV's The X-Files played the alien abduction phenomenon for drama, TBS's People Of Earth plays it for laughs, with the funny and talented Ana Gasteyer starring as the host of a support group for abductees in a small Midwestern town. Gasteyer was born on this day in 1967.
Funnyman Will Arnett had an uncredited role aboard Men In Black III back in 2012. He also appeared in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows in 2016. Arnett was born on this day in 1970.
Aleksandar Jovanovic played the part of 'Dr. Sim' aboard the Doctor Who holiday special, "The Return of Doctor Mysterio," in 2016. Jovanovic was born on this day in 1971.
If you face and survive the dreaded Dragon Wasps (2012), then let's hope somebody somewhere writes about it! Dominika Juillet did so in the direct-to-DVD feature, and she's also enjoyed screen time on Fox TV's Dark Angel during its run. Juillet was born on this day in 1975.
Young Emily Perkins (pictured above from her guest appearance aboard The Twilight Zone) certainly gravitates toward roles where characters matter most. She turned in memorable performances as part of The X-Files, the Ginger Snaps franchise, Supernatural, and 2014's Extraterrestrial. Perkins was born on this day in 1977.
Jeepers. One can only hope Jesse Moss has seen better days than the above production still from 2014's Extraterrestrial. The actor has also enjoyed work aboard Poltergeist: The Legacy, Stargate: SG-1, The Outer Limits, Dark Angel, Jeremiah, The Twilight Zone, Tru Calling, The Dead Zone, The Andromeda Strain, and Continuum. Moss was born on this day in 1983.
Science Fiction and Fantasy comes in all shapes and sizes, and that's precisely why we can give the talented Courtney Jines a birthday shout for her work aboard Spy-Kids 3D: Game Over (2003). Jines was born on this day in 1992.
Young Grace Phipps (now known as Gracie Gillam) starred in a SciFi short film by the name of The Signal, a tale about wireless power gone awry. The actress has also enjoyed a guest starring role on the CW's long-running Supernatural. Phipps was born on this day in 1992. [Source: IMDB.com]
In one of her earlier screen roles, young and lovely Ashley Rickards played 2Katchapredator in the cyber thriller, Gamer (2009), with Gerard Butler. Rickards was born on this day in 1992.
Miles Robbins plunged himself into the dark corridors of The X-Files' greater mythology by appearing as the young adult-aged son of Dana Scully in Season 11. Robbins was born on this day in 1992. [Source: IMDB.com]
Newcomer Brianna Joy Chomer has flired with Science Fiction with roles in such projects as Zoombies (2016) and the Escape From The Zoombies video game. Chomer was born on this day in 1994.
Newcomer Alexander Gould provided vocals for 'Jimmy Olsen' aboard the 2013 DC Comics animated project, Superman: Unbound. Gould was born on this day in 1994.
The Fantasy/Telefilm The Unknown enjoyed a curious life. It appeared both as a standalone flick which aired on this day in 1964 as well as appearing as an installment of The Outer Limits (albeit under a slightly modified name). According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Near Aix-les-Bains (South-East of France), two women, Kassia and Leonora, are driven by a fanatical blackmailer, named André, in a white Rolls Royce at full speed. Suddenly, they stop near a lake, in the middle of the woods, where the man decides to have a swim. He asks the two women for a drink. The women plan to assassinate him by introducing a deadly leaf from a Thanatos tree in the cocktail. The man dies by poisoning and drowning and the women stare at him without moving. They put the dead body in the trunk of the fancy car. Later, they've lost their way in the countryside and, finally, find a mansion where an old blind man, Colas, opens the door. Upstairs, a strange inventor, Tone Hobart, built a time machine which could resurrect the dead. Unfortunately, André is now alive and ready for a revenge."
"Near Aix-les-Bains (South-East of France), two women, Kassia and Leonora, are driven by a fanatical blackmailer, named André, in a white Rolls Royce at full speed. Suddenly, they stop near a lake, in the middle of the woods, where the man decides to have a swim. He asks the two women for a drink. The women plan to assassinate him by introducing a deadly leaf from a Thanatos tree in the cocktail. The man dies by poisoning and drowning and the women stare at him without moving. They put the dead body in the trunk of the fancy car. Later, they've lost their way in the countryside and, finally, find a mansion where an old blind man, Colas, opens the door. Upstairs, a strange inventor, Tone Hobart, built a time machine which could resurrect the dead. Unfortunately, André is now alive and ready for a revenge."
Never forget: Science Fiction comes in all shapes and sizes ... so on this day in 2012 the SciFi/Adult feature Dirty Blondes From Beyond enjoyed its cinematic life. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"With the Galaxy under attack, Princess Farra and her beautiful bodyguard flee to a strange alien planet - Earth. They are pursued by the evil Empress and her henchwoman."
"With the Galaxy under attack, Princess Farra and her beautiful bodyguard flee to a strange alien planet - Earth. They are pursued by the evil Empress and her henchwoman."
On this day in 2013 (in the United Kingdom), 1965's Dr. Who And The Daleks enjoyed a rare theatrical re-release. The feature starred Peter Cushing as the signature Timelord, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"An eccentric inventor and his companions travel in his TARDIS to the Planet Skaro and battle the evil menace of the Daleks."
"An eccentric inventor and his companions travel in his TARDIS to the Planet Skaro and battle the evil menace of the Daleks."
On this day in 1956, Science Fiction Theatre aired "When A Camera Fails." This served as the fifth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A geophysics professor uses his revolutionary new microscope to make a startling discovery: certain crystals act as photographic film. Examining prehistoric rocks, he's able to see images of dinosaurs; glass formed by an atomic test show him the mushroom cloud."
"A geophysics professor uses his revolutionary new microscope to make a startling discovery: certain crystals act as photographic film. Examining prehistoric rocks, he's able to see images of dinosaurs; glass formed by an atomic test show him the mushroom cloud."
On this day in 1960, Men Into Space aired "Emergency Mission." This served as the thirtieth episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A miss-fire of the MR28 sees the craft miss the Moon and head for deep space. The only chance of rescue is a new MX experimental rocket. In theory, the new ship should have the range. In practice, no one really knows."
"A miss-fire of the MR28 sees the craft miss the Moon and head for deep space. The only chance of rescue is a new MX experimental rocket. In theory, the new ship should have the range. In practice, no one really knows."
On this day in 1962, The Twilight Zone aired "The Dummy." This served as the thirty-third episode of the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"Ventriloquist Jerry Etherson is convinced that his dummy, Willie, is alive and evil. He locks Willie in a trunk and makes plans for a new act with a new dummy. Too bad he didn't clear those plans with Willie first."
"Ventriloquist Jerry Etherson is convinced that his dummy, Willie, is alive and evil. He locks Willie in a trunk and makes plans for a new act with a new dummy. Too bad he didn't clear those plans with Willie first."
On this day in 1964, The Outer Limits aired "The Forms of Things Unknown." This served as the season finale to the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"Two female friends poison a sadistic blackmailer, then while fleeing happen upon an isolated house containing a time machine. Kasha his lover, & Leonora the daughter of the blackmail target, fight to bury him before the idealistic inventor Tone is able to re-animate the murdered man, by tilting him back into the past."
"Two female friends poison a sadistic blackmailer, then while fleeing happen upon an isolated house containing a time machine. Kasha his lover, & Leonora the daughter of the blackmail target, fight to bury him before the idealistic inventor Tone is able to re-animate the murdered man, by tilting him back into the past."
On this day in 1968, Doctor Who aired "The Wheel In Space, Part 2." This served as the thirty-sixth episode of the program's fifth season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"The Doctor and Jamie are brought aboard the Wheel where Jamie is horrified to learn the crew plan to destroy the Silver Carrier with the TARDIS on board."
"The Doctor and Jamie are brought aboard the Wheel where Jamie is horrified to learn the crew plan to destroy the Silver Carrier with the TARDIS on board."
On this day in 1974, Doctor Who aired "Planet of the Spiders, Part 1." This served as the twenty-first episode of the program's eleventh season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"While the Doctor carries out an investigation into ESP, Mike Yates asks Sarah to look into some strange goings on at a meditation centre he's attending."
"While the Doctor carries out an investigation into ESP, Mike Yates asks Sarah to look into some strange goings on at a meditation centre he's attending."
On this day in 1977, The Bionic Woman aired "Once A Thief." This served as the twenty-second episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"After small time burglar Inky is thwarted by Jaime, he decides to prove he did not imagine her bionic powers by filming her doing super human feats. This in turn gives him the idea to blackmail her into helping him pull one big score: a bank robbery."
"After small time burglar Inky is thwarted by Jaime, he decides to prove he did not imagine her bionic powers by filming her doing super human feats. This in turn gives him the idea to blackmail her into helping him pull one big score: a bank robbery."
On this day in 1980, "The Return of Starbuck" aired as the series finale to the otherwise tepid Galactica 1980. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The Seraph youth Doctor Zee sees Commander Adama to explain that he is experiencing dreams. Adama shows no particular concern, but when Doctor Zee explains that his dream involves a mysterious Colonial warrior named Starbuck, Adama realizes there is something very real in Zee's dream."
"The Seraph youth Doctor Zee sees Commander Adama to explain that he is experiencing dreams. Adama shows no particular concern, but when Doctor Zee explains that his dream involves a mysterious Colonial warrior named Starbuck, Adama realizes there is something very real in Zee's dream."
On this day in 1991, Star Trek: The Next Generation aired "Half A Life." This served as the twenty-second episode of the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Counselor Troi's mother visits the Enterprise and becomes infatuated with a man whose culture forces him into a suicidal ritual called 'The Resolution.'"
"Counselor Troi's mother visits the Enterprise and becomes infatuated with a man whose culture forces him into a suicidal ritual called 'The Resolution.'"
And it all came down to this: Sam Beckett spent five, fun-filled season leaping about time in NBC's stellar Quantum Leap, but on this day in 1993 it would come to the inevitable series finale with the airing of "Mirror Image." As the twenty-second story of the fifth season, this adventure turned in what I felt was a pitch perfect finale, certainly leaving open the prospect for a follow-up (one has been rumored at for years) yet also summing it all up in bittersweet fashion. As for the tale itself? Here's the summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"Sam leaps into a bar with a bartender that's more than he appears. When Sam looks into a mirror, he sees his own reflection. In the future, they realize that Sam has leaped into himself, they search history for Sam. Sam learns more about Quantum Leap, and who's responsible for his leaps. Before he takes his next leap, he realizes he must correct something that could affect his personal history."
"Sam leaps into a bar with a bartender that's more than he appears. When Sam looks into a mirror, he sees his own reflection. In the future, they realize that Sam has leaped into himself, they search history for Sam. Sam learns more about Quantum Leap, and who's responsible for his leaps. Before he takes his next leap, he realizes he must correct something that could affect his personal history."
On this day in 1994, Babylon 5 aired "Survivors." This served as the eleventh episode to the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"Garibaldi is blamed for an accident aboard B5, leading to his return to the bottle."
"Garibaldi is blamed for an accident aboard B5, leading to his return to the bottle."
On this day in 1997, The X-Files aired "Elegy." This served as the twenty-second episode to the long-running program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Mulder and Scully investigate a series of deaths after reports that people are seeing the victims' ghosts just before they die. All of the victims were young women and in the most recent case, a bowling alley owner saw the victims spirit floating above the pin sorting machine at the end of one of the alleys. When they examine the bowling alley, they find the message 'she is me' on the floor. Harold Spuller works at the bowling alley and is slightly autistic. He lives in an institutional setting and to the local police, he is the prime suspect. Mulder begins to believe there is a psychic connection between the current and the next victim. It bodes ill for Scully who is still having nose bleeds and then sees a victim's spirit with the 'she is me' message in a bathroom mirror."
"Mulder and Scully investigate a series of deaths after reports that people are seeing the victims' ghosts just before they die. All of the victims were young women and in the most recent case, a bowling alley owner saw the victims spirit floating above the pin sorting machine at the end of one of the alleys. When they examine the bowling alley, they find the message 'she is me' on the floor. Harold Spuller works at the bowling alley and is slightly autistic. He lives in an institutional setting and to the local police, he is the prime suspect. Mulder begins to believe there is a psychic connection between the current and the next victim. It bodes ill for Scully who is still having nose bleeds and then sees a victim's spirit with the 'she is me' message in a bathroom mirror."
On this day in 2002, Mutant X aired "Nothing To Fear." This served as the nineteenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A mutant with telepathic abilities who can make people experience mentally anything he wants manages to get into the minds of Mutant X. Now he is making them experience their worse fears. He is working for Eckhart cause he blames them for his wife's death because that's what Eckhart told him. It isn't long before he also gets Eckhart in his mind web cause he blames him too. But Adam thinks he's, found a way to appease the man."
"A mutant with telepathic abilities who can make people experience mentally anything he wants manages to get into the minds of Mutant X. Now he is making them experience their worse fears. He is working for Eckhart cause he blames them for his wife's death because that's what Eckhart told him. It isn't long before he also gets Eckhart in his mind web cause he blames him too. But Adam thinks he's, found a way to appease the man."
On this day in 2005, Lost aired "The Greater Good." This served as the twenty-first episode to the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"After burying one of their own, tempers flare as the castaways' suspicions of each other grow -- and an unlikely survivor vows revenge. Meanwhile, Claire and Charlie struggle to calm her newborn."
"After burying one of their own, tempers flare as the castaways' suspicions of each other grow -- and an unlikely survivor vows revenge. Meanwhile, Claire and Charlie struggle to calm her newborn."
On this day in 2007, Stargate: SG-1 aired "The Shroud" as the fourteenth episode of the long-running program's tenth (and final) season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"SG-1 travels to a planet where a Prior of the Ori has recently visited. Unlike others, this Prior hasn't been threatening in any way but has only tried to convince them that theirs is the right way. When the Prior finally appears, it's Daniel Jackson whom they beam aboard the Prometheus. Under restraints, Daniel tells them what he's been up to since they last saw him. Adria spent a good deal of time converting him to Origin and he agreed. Daniel assures them it's all part of his plan to destroy the Ori. He's nearly completed Merlin's weapon and his plan is to put it aboard an Ori ship and send it back to them through the super-gate. The question for General Landry is whether Daniel can be trusted - a decision that is taken out of his hands when Richard Woolsey arrives with the news that the IOA has decided Daniel should be eliminated. SG-1 thinks otherwise."
"SG-1 travels to a planet where a Prior of the Ori has recently visited. Unlike others, this Prior hasn't been threatening in any way but has only tried to convince them that theirs is the right way. When the Prior finally appears, it's Daniel Jackson whom they beam aboard the Prometheus. Under restraints, Daniel tells them what he's been up to since they last saw him. Adria spent a good deal of time converting him to Origin and he agreed. Daniel assures them it's all part of his plan to destroy the Ori. He's nearly completed Merlin's weapon and his plan is to put it aboard an Ori ship and send it back to them through the super-gate. The question for General Landry is whether Daniel can be trusted - a decision that is taken out of his hands when Richard Woolsey arrives with the news that the IOA has decided Daniel should be eliminated. SG-1 thinks otherwise."
On this day in 2013, Doctor Who aired the twelfth episode of its seventh season. It was called "The Crimson Horror," and -- according to our friends at IMDB.com -- here's the plot summary:
"The Doctor and Clara arrive in 19th century Yorkshire where moral crusader Mrs Gillyflower is recruiting beautiful people for her idyllic garden city. At the same time rigid corpses dyed red are piling up and the brother of one of the victims seeks help from Madame Vastra. She and her party travel to Yorkshire where they rescue Doctor Who and Clara from the clutches of Mrs Gillyflower. They discover that the woman is a fanatical exponent of ethnic cleansing who plans to do away with those who do not meet her standards - even her daughter Ada. The Doctor and his allies set out to stop her and her reclusive partner in crime Mr Sweet."
"The Doctor and Clara arrive in 19th century Yorkshire where moral crusader Mrs Gillyflower is recruiting beautiful people for her idyllic garden city. At the same time rigid corpses dyed red are piling up and the brother of one of the victims seeks help from Madame Vastra. She and her party travel to Yorkshire where they rescue Doctor Who and Clara from the clutches of Mrs Gillyflower. They discover that the woman is a fanatical exponent of ethnic cleansing who plans to do away with those who do not meet her standards - even her daughter Ada. The Doctor and his allies set out to stop her and her reclusive partner in crime Mr Sweet."
Is your marital bliss not all it's cracked up to be? Then you might take a cue from the episode of the BBC's Orphan Black that aired on this day in 2013. It was called "Variations Under Domestication," and here's the episode summary from IMDB.com:
"Sarah's hunt for answers is interrupted by a trip to the suburbs. Alison's paranoia has boiled over, putting all the Orphans at risk. But when Sarah, Alison and Beth's worlds dangerously collide, Sarah must decide who to trust with her secret."
"Sarah's hunt for answers is interrupted by a trip to the suburbs. Alison's paranoia has boiled over, putting all the Orphans at risk. But when Sarah, Alison and Beth's worlds dangerously collide, Sarah must decide who to trust with her secret."
On this day in 2010, Iron Man 2 (Video Game) was released to the consumer marketplace. As I'm no gamer, I couldn't say much about this particular title except that I suspect it was intended as a tie-in alongside the second Iron Man feature film. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's really all you need to know about it:
"Iron man shoots up the bad guys with his black friend. BAM!"
"Iron man shoots up the bad guys with his black friend. BAM!"
