I guess it's one thing to have a small part in a pretty big film ... but it's another thing entirely to have a small part that's remembered for, possibly, many generations. That's what happened for the young Carrie Henn, who was cast as 'Newt' in the James Cameron sequel to the original Alien ... called (suitably enough) Aliens. Newt helped redefine the strong woman character for that franchise, and, for that, we celebrate her. Happy birthday wishes go out to you, Ms. Henn! She was born on this day in 1976.
Jon Lormer left behind a legacy of over one hundred and sixty different screen credits. He served time aboard such properties as Destination Space (1959), One Step Beyond, The Twilight Zone, Dimension 5 (1966), The Invaders, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Batman, Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, and The Incredible Hulk. Though he's no longer with us, Lormer was born on this day in 1906.
Oh, back in the day, nobody like the Night Stalker could hunt down our demons-of-the-week. This was long before The X-Files, but the actor who played Kolchak was revered so much that Chris Carter and his crew cast actor Darren McGavin to kinda/sorta reprise him symbolically in the much later Fox TV program. Though he's no longer with us, Mr. McGavin celebrated this day as his birthday. He was born in 1922.
Science Fiction and Fantasy author Gene Wolfe has achieved critical fame, being regarded by many of one of the best living writers today. In 1996, he won the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement, and he topped that off by being named to The Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2007. Wolfe was born on this day in 1931.
Actor Roger Perry landed one of the more memorable guest appearances in all of Trekdom, appearing as Capt. John Christopher in the first season of Star Trek. "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" pitted Kirk and company in one of the program's first time travel yarns, with Perry along merrily for the ride. The actor also posted appearances in such sci-fi shows as The Invaders, The Six Million Dollar Man, and The Bionic Woman. Perry was born on this day in 1933.
John Fleck was born on this day back in 1951. He's had a long, rather illustrious career as a character actor in many programs. He's made appearances in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, as well as Star Trek: Enterprise (he played Silik). He's even been aboard Babylon 5. Quite a major contributor to several franchises. You should check out his resume on IMDB.com. Pretty impressive. Happy birthday to you, Mr. Fleck! He was born in 1951.
Gary Westfahl (above right) is what one would call a 'Science Fiction academic.' He was penned over twenty books exploring the scholarship of Science Fiction as it pertains to our culture; additionally he was written reviews on the subject matter for the Los Angeles Times, Internet Review of Science Fiction, and Locus Online. Westfahl was born on this day in 1951.
Despite all of his pissyness, Farscape's Peacekeeper captain Meeklo Braca was one of those characters audiences secretly rooted for. They hoped he'd wise up, come to his senses, and leave all of the shenanigans behind. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. Still, Braca was brought to life wonderfully by David Franklin, who was born on this day back in 1962.
Most red-blooded American males know Traci Lords for something that isn't really so SciFi-related (we'll leave it nameless on these pages), but she's also dabbled in more mainstream fare. As Jordan Radcliffe, Traci helped expose an alien menace bent on invading Earth as part of their First Wave. And -- in 2009 -- she played SciFi's Dejah Thoris (Google it if you don't know) in the direct-to-DVD release, Princess of Mars. Lords was born on this day in 1968.
You may not know Breckin Meyer's face, but odds are if you're an animation or gaming fan you know his voice. He's been a part of such staples as Robot Chicken since its inception. He's also appeared in Escape From L.A. (1996) and enjoyed a small role in NBC's Heroes. Meyer was born on this day in 1974.
Alexander Ludwig (above left) made a splash in The Hunger Games' universe as the 'heavy' Cato, one of the biggest challenges for Katniss and her group in the first film. He's since found fame playing Bjorn Lothbrok on the History Channel's action/drama Vikings. Ludwig was born on this day in 1992.
On this day in 2011, the SciFi/Telefilm Almighty Thor took another look at the hero from Norse mythology. It starred Richard Grieco and Patricia Velasquez, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"When a demon god steals the Hammer of Invincibility, Thor strikes a mighty blow to get it back."
"When a demon god steals the Hammer of Invincibility, Thor strikes a mighty blow to get it back."
On this day in 1982, the incomparable Roger Corman released the incomparable Forbidden World (aka Mutant) on the unsuspecting masses. Essentially, the film borrowed heavily from many SciFi flicks that had come before -- Ridley Scott's Alien definitely comes to mind in a single viewing -- and, naturally, it served up some hammy acting along with some campy situations. Here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"In the distant future, a federation marshal arrives at a research lab on a remote planet where a genetic experiment has gotten lose and begins feeding on the dwindling scientific group."
Screencaps can be found here.
"In the distant future, a federation marshal arrives at a research lab on a remote planet where a genetic experiment has gotten lose and begins feeding on the dwindling scientific group."
Screencaps can be found here.
On this day in 1978, Project U.F.O. aired "Sighting 4010: The Waterford Incident." This served as the tenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Major Gatlin and S Sgt. Fitz go to a Military Academy for boys in Waterford, IA that was left covered with a spider web like substance by an alleged UFO. Then they travel to Wisconsin to see a man who says he shot arrows at an alien robot."
"Major Gatlin and S Sgt. Fitz go to a Military Academy for boys in Waterford, IA that was left covered with a spider web like substance by an alleged UFO. Then they travel to Wisconsin to see a man who says he shot arrows at an alien robot."
One of the more interesting episodes to Star Trek: The Next Generation's mostly forgettable first season is the hour titled "Conspiracy." This little thriller postulated that an alien species was secretly seizing control of Starfleet, pitting Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew against some of the Federation's most powerful officers. The story first aired in television syndication on this day in 1988.
It all came down to this: on this day in 1990, Alien Nation aired the last of its hourly episodes. Though the program's storylines would continue on in several made-for-TV movies, the universe launched by a stand-alone motion picture followed up by its hourly exploits came to an end with "Green Eyes," the twenty-first episode and series finale. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's what all of the hubbub was about:
"Tensions between partners erupt when Francisco passes the Detective 2 exam and is promoted over Sikes. Matt becomes uncomfortable with his attraction to Cathy. The mysterious death of a Newcomer judge points to a lethal bacterium being used as a weapon."
"Tensions between partners erupt when Francisco passes the Detective 2 exam and is promoted over Sikes. Matt becomes uncomfortable with his attraction to Cathy. The mysterious death of a Newcomer judge points to a lethal bacterium being used as a weapon."
On this day in 1990, War of the Worlds aired "The True Believer." This serves as the nineteenth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary from TV.com:
"In desperate straits, the aliens gain a piece of valuable information: the identities of Harrison, Suzanne, and Kincaid. Soon the team has been accused of bank robbery and murder, and Malzor has taken over the police investigation."
"In desperate straits, the aliens gain a piece of valuable information: the identities of Harrison, Suzanne, and Kincaid. Soon the team has been accused of bank robbery and murder, and Malzor has taken over the police investigation."
On this day in 1994, Star Trek: The Next Generation aired "Emergence." This served as the twenty-third episode of the program's seventh season, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at TrekCore.com:
"The crew discover a strange modification of the ship's circuitry, one which seems to be tying many disparate systems together. When the ship's systems take measures to protect the anomaly, the truth becomes clear: an intelligence is taking over the Enterprise."
"The crew discover a strange modification of the ship's circuitry, one which seems to be tying many disparate systems together. When the ship's systems take measures to protect the anomaly, the truth becomes clear: an intelligence is taking over the Enterprise."
On this day in 1997, Star Trek: Voyager aired "Displaced." This served as the twenty-fourth episode of the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at TrekCore.com:
"Crewmembers from Voyager disappear and are replaced by befuddled aliens, but the crew suspects a more sinister plot. Sure enough, the aliens are moving Voyager's crew to a penal colony in preparation to take over the ship, which Chakotay sabotages before being taken himself."
"Crewmembers from Voyager disappear and are replaced by befuddled aliens, but the crew suspects a more sinister plot. Sure enough, the aliens are moving Voyager's crew to a penal colony in preparation to take over the ship, which Chakotay sabotages before being taken himself."
On this day in 1999, "I, E.T." aired as the seventh episode of Farscape's first season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The removal of Moya's control collar activates a homing signal. Pilot manages to mask it by landing Moya in a swamp, unsure if a Leviathan can land on a planet or take off again. They homing signal must be removed, but they need to find something to dull the pain it will cause Moya when the device is removed."
"The removal of Moya's control collar activates a homing signal. Pilot manages to mask it by landing Moya in a swamp, unsure if a Leviathan can land on a planet or take off again. They homing signal must be removed, but they need to find something to dull the pain it will cause Moya when the device is removed."
One of the primary reasons that I gave up on Star Trek: Enterprise after only two seasons was that not only did the show promise to go where no one had gone before but also it had the real, honest, hard-core potential to do it, primarily by setting the show before the time periods previously explored in Trek television. Unfortunately, the powers that be couldn't help themselves but go back to tried-and-true territory, such as the episode "Regeneration" that aired on this day in 2003 as the show's twenty-third episode. It brought alive The Borg in Enterprise's canon, and that's when I really started to see the show more as a sinking ship than any attempt to reinvigorate Trek storytelling. Such is life ...
On this day in 2005, Doctor Who aired "The Long Game." This served as the seventh episode to the (restarted) program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The Doctor and Rose arrive in the year 200,000 to see The Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. But something has gone wrong - someone is holding back the development of mankind. Who could have done this? And why?"
"The Doctor and Rose arrive in the year 200,000 to see The Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. But something has gone wrong - someone is holding back the development of mankind. Who could have done this? And why?"
On this day in 2010, A Good Knight's Quest aired the eleventh episode of its only season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Dorian, Adrianna and Gabriel come face to face with Agent Zero."
"Dorian, Adrianna and Gabriel come face to face with Agent Zero."
On this day in 2011, "The Curse of the Black Spot" aired as the third season to Doctor Who's sixth season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"On board a 17th century pirate ship sailing the ocean waves, a crew under the command of one Captain Avery are being picked off one by one by a ghostly apparition. They believe it to be a legendary Siren, a beautiful and mesmerizing demon who lures men to their death with its haunting Siren song. She marks her prey before retrieving them with a black spot on their hand, a mark that means certain death. As they are becalmed and stuck in the ocean, all seems lost for the dwindling pirate crew... until three stowaways are discovered with a mysterious blue crate."
"On board a 17th century pirate ship sailing the ocean waves, a crew under the command of one Captain Avery are being picked off one by one by a ghostly apparition. They believe it to be a legendary Siren, a beautiful and mesmerizing demon who lures men to their death with its haunting Siren song. She marks her prey before retrieving them with a black spot on their hand, a mark that means certain death. As they are becalmed and stuck in the ocean, all seems lost for the dwindling pirate crew... until three stowaways are discovered with a mysterious blue crate."
On this day in 2014, The 100 aired "Day Trip," the eighth episode of the program's first season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Shumway secretly orders one of the 100 to kill Bellamy. Meanwhile, hallucinogenic nuts provide Octavia with an opportunity to help the Grounder escape the camp, and Bellamy and Clarke investigate a nearby underground depot, where they find military weapons."
"Shumway secretly orders one of the 100 to kill Bellamy. Meanwhile, hallucinogenic nuts provide Octavia with an opportunity to help the Grounder escape the camp, and Bellamy and Clarke investigate a nearby underground depot, where they find military weapons."
On this day in 2014, Tesla Effect found its way into the consumer market for electronic games. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the premise behind the action:
"Sixth adventure of Tex Murphy, a heroic down-on-his-luck private investigator in a post-WWIII San Francisco. This time, Tex must deal with amnesia, babes, doomsday cultists, and a conspiracy surrounding Nikola Tesla's ultimate invention."
"Sixth adventure of Tex Murphy, a heroic down-on-his-luck private investigator in a post-WWIII San Francisco. This time, Tex must deal with amnesia, babes, doomsday cultists, and a conspiracy surrounding Nikola Tesla's ultimate invention."
