On this day in 1951, mankind took a Flight to Mars. The film told the story of five astronauts who journey to the Red Planet only to find some pleasant occupants already in residence there. Their secret? They're secretly planning to invade the Earth! (Why does that always happen?) Can you believe it?
The venerable Robert Ryan (above center) stepped into the world of SciFi/Fantasy in the role of Captain Nemo in Captain Nemo and the Underwater City (1969). Though he's no longer with us, Ryan was born on this day in 1909.
It's been my experience that prose coming from the much-revered Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is an acquired taste. As a fan of all things SciFi, I checked out a few of his books in my youth, and I found some of his ideas a bit hard-to-follow, mainly because I wasn't all that thrilled with his particular style. Still, I'd never argue against his brilliance; I'd just caution folks to be patient with his work. Though he's no longer with us, Vonnegut was born on this day in 1922. [Source: IMDB.com]
In the early 1980's, legendary funnyman Jonathan Winters joined another legendary funnyman (Robin Williams) as a series regular in Mork and Mindy. Though Winters is no longer with us, he was born on this day in 1925.
An understandably 'frosty' Bibi Andersson joined Paul Newman in Quinet (1979), the tale of our world suffering near-extinction from what was then promised to be "Global Cooling." Though she's no longer with us, Andersson was born on this day in 1935.
During Star Trek's first season on television, Larry Anthony made it his business to steal a few scenes here and there, and he did so with work aboard "The Man Trap" and "Dagger Of The Mind." His career also includes visits to the worlds of The Wild Wild West, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and Batman. Anthony was born on this day in 1937. [Source: Memory Alpha]
Dennis Fimple (above left) built an impressive resume in secondary characters, including guest spots in such programs as Battlestar Galactica, The Incredible Hulk, The Greatest American Hero, Automan, The Twilight Zone, Quantum Leap, The Adventures of Brisco County Jr, and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Though he's no longer with us, Fimple was born on this day in 1940.
The late actor Vincent Schiavelli certainly had a charm all of his own, and that's largely why Tinseltown saw to it that he appeared in well over one hundred film and TV projects. During Star Trek: The Next Generation's run, Schiavelli even had a guest spot; he guest starred as 'the Peddler' in the rather forgettable "The Arsenal of Freedom." Other genre programs that benefited from his skills include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, M.A.N.T.I.S., and even The X-Files. Though he's no longer with us, Schiavelli was born on this day back in 1948.
Much like Star Trek before it, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century employed some of the loveliest ladies of a TV generation, including the luscious Anne-Marie Martin who went on to the cult cop comedy, Sledge Hammer, alongside David Rasche. Martin was born on this day in 1957.
In her youth, Donna Wilkes was a bit of a B-Movie Scream Queen (for lack of a better term), but she did have some small roles in The Incredible Hulk (TV) and, more recently, 90210 Shark Attack (2014). Wilkes was born on this day in 1959.
Few actors possess the ability to inhabit even a casual role as deeply as Stanley Tucci does (shown above from The Hunger Games). In fact, a talent of Tucci's level can make audiences even like characters they'd otherwise dismiss. Tucci also dabbled briefly in the Marvel Universe of movies as well as Transformers: Age of Extinction. Tucci was born on this day in 1960.
On CBS's Supergirl, Calista Flockhart plays media mogul Cat Grant to some acclaim, chewing scenery in her attempts to get under the skin of National City's resident metahuman. Flockhart was born on this day in 1964.
Like so many moviegoers of a certain generation, I'll agree to have a soft spot for the Indiana Jones flicks, even though I've absolutely no problem in admitting the features greatly diminished in quality as the series wore on. In any event, the lovely Alison Doody left her mark by appearing in the franchise's Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989) opposite Harrison Ford, and Doody was born on this day in 1966. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Jennifer Jostyn has played roles in such SciFi projects as Omega Cop (1990), Deep Impact (1998), and Maximum Velocity (2002). Jostyn was born on this day in 1968.
Continuing the DeLuise dynasty of actors comes David DeLuise! SciFi fans have enjoyed his work in such properties as Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, SeaQuest 2032, Roughnecks: The Starship Trooper Chronicles, and Stargate: SG-1. DeLuise was born on this day in 1971.
Adam Beach joined no less than Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford in attempting to face the alien menace at the heart of 2011's disappointing Cowboys & Aliens. Beach was born on this day in 1972.
I struggled with the premise and execution of Christopher Nolan's Inception so much that I probably didn't enjoy it as much as a film as others did, but sometimes that's just the nature of 'heady' projects. Still, I appreciated the skills Leonardo DiCaprio brought to the mix. DiCaprio was born on this day in 1974.
Not since Syfy's newfangled Battlestar Galactica did so many good-looking people get sent into space: that's my story, and I'm sticking to it wherein it concerns the cast of ABC's short-lived Defying Gravity. Each and every one of them were a bit prettier than the last, and that goes for the boys as well! Eyal Podell played Dr. Evram Mintz, and he was basically surrounded my a bunch of underwear models in zero-G. What a awful place to work! Podell was born on this day in 1975.
Before graduating to the big leagues with 2014's Godzilla, Gareth Edwards wrote and directed Monsters, a brilliant but vastly misunderstood SciFi drama for audiences who mistook the name for something other than what it meant. In it, Scoot McNairy portrayed photographer Andrew Kaulder, a man tasked with the daunting challenge of navigating a wasteland to get a damsel-not-so-much-in-distress back home safely. McNairy was born on this day in 1977.
The comely Amy Rutberg made a nice splash in the televised world of Marvel Entertainment with a solid role aboard Netflix's Daredevil during its run on the streaming platform. Rutberg was born on this day in 1981. [Source: IMDB.com]
Melanie Liburd joined the insane crew serving what must be the least safe ship in all the galaxy as part of the SciFi/Drama better known as Dark Matter. Liburd was born on this day in 1987.
Seriously, how does anyone keep up with the whole Power Rangers universe? Is there an APP for that? Camille Hyde stepped into the spandex as Shelby Watkins, aka Pink Dino Charge Ranger, for TV's Power Ranger Dino Charge. Hyde was born on this day in 1993.
Connor Price is a gifted young actor who continues to impress with each new gig. Genre fans might know him best from his work aboard The Dead Zone, The Middleman, Haven, Alphas, Being Human, and Supernatural. Price was born on this day in 1994.
Young Tye Sheridan dipped into magical waters in a big way by slipping on the spectacles of one Scott Summers, better known as Cyclops as part of X-Men: Apocalypse. Sheridan was born on this day in 1996.
A star is born! On this day in 1981, the SciFi/Telefilm Goliath Awaits rose from the TV depths. The feature starred Robert Forster and Mark Harmon, and here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"During World War II the passenger liner "Goliath" is sunk by a German submarine. Portions of the ship's hull remain airtight, and some of the passengers and crew survive. Over the decades they build a rigidly regulated society completely isolated from the surface world, until in contemporary times a diving team begins to explore the wreck."
"During World War II the passenger liner "Goliath" is sunk by a German submarine. Portions of the ship's hull remain airtight, and some of the passengers and crew survive. Over the decades they build a rigidly regulated society completely isolated from the surface world, until in contemporary times a diving team begins to explore the wreck."
On this day in 1994 (in Portugal), Timecop turned back the clock for audiences. Directed by Peter Hyams, the SciFi feature starred Jean-Claude Van Damme and Mia Sara, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Max Walker, an officer for a security agency that regulates time travel, must fend for his life against a shady politician who's intent on changing the past to control the future."
"Max Walker, an officer for a security agency that regulates time travel, must fend for his life against a shady politician who's intent on changing the past to control the future."
A star is born! On this day in 2008, One-Eyed Monster took a swipe at mankind when it played for audiences in attendance of an AFM Screening. Directed by Adam Fields, the SciFi/Comedy starred Amber Benson and Jason Graham, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Ten people travel into the mountains of Northern California to shoot a porn movie. During a scene break early in filming Ron Jeremy gets hit by a shooting star and in the following scene his penis, now possessed by a sex-hungry alien, detaches itself, leaving Ron for dead. The remaining cast and crew theorize about the murdering penis' vulnerability after climax, 'when it is limp, and at its weakest'. They hatch a plan to lure the penis into a neuro-tactile simulator and then circumcise it with an ax during its 'refractory period'."
"Ten people travel into the mountains of Northern California to shoot a porn movie. During a scene break early in filming Ron Jeremy gets hit by a shooting star and in the following scene his penis, now possessed by a sex-hungry alien, detaches itself, leaving Ron for dead. The remaining cast and crew theorize about the murdering penis' vulnerability after climax, 'when it is limp, and at its weakest'. They hatch a plan to lure the penis into a neuro-tactile simulator and then circumcise it with an ax during its 'refractory period'."
A star is born! On this day in 2011, Humans Vs Zombies enjoyed a limited U.S. theatrical release. Written and directed by Brian T. Jaynes, the SciFi/Horror starred Dora Madison and Melissa Carnell, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Students on summer break are exposed to a deadly virus that is spread rapidly through direct human contact. The infected become enslaved by the invading "swarm" intelligence and driven by an insatiable appetite to consume human flesh. Returning home, the students spread the infection to their fellow classmates and other unsuspecting townspeople. One by one, more students fall victim to the plague, triggering an epidemic that spawns a horde of ravenous zombies. The zombie horde grows and spreads quickly. Amidst the chaos, a campus security guard, obsessed with conspiracy theories, leads a group of students to safety as they and a small band of uninfected townspeople set out to find other human survivors in an attempt to discover the source of the "zombie" virus and save the world."
"Students on summer break are exposed to a deadly virus that is spread rapidly through direct human contact. The infected become enslaved by the invading "swarm" intelligence and driven by an insatiable appetite to consume human flesh. Returning home, the students spread the infection to their fellow classmates and other unsuspecting townspeople. One by one, more students fall victim to the plague, triggering an epidemic that spawns a horde of ravenous zombies. The zombie horde grows and spreads quickly. Amidst the chaos, a campus security guard, obsessed with conspiracy theories, leads a group of students to safety as they and a small band of uninfected townspeople set out to find other human survivors in an attempt to discover the source of the "zombie" virus and save the world."
A star is born! On this day in 2016, The Otherworld opened its doors for business theatrically both in the United States and the United Kingdom. Written and directed by Gisela Pereira, the Fantasy film starred James Karcher and Hjeron O'Sidhe, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The Otherworld is an original story and mystical tale inspired by Celtic mythology and Irish legends. One of the most fascinating characters in Celtic mythology, the Warrior Lugh, crosses Woodland heading to Tara to join the court of King Nuada and the Tuatha De Danann. Nuada and his kingdom are at this time oppressed by the Fomorian tribe, and trying to retaliate for their land and freedom. During Lugh's travel, he is bewitched by a faerie (Immrama) to a Beltane celebration, when the line between the human and fairy world are vulnerable and Lugh crosses unaware to The Otherworld - the fairy realm. Lugh and Immrama fall in love. However, they live in different times and worlds..."
"The Otherworld is an original story and mystical tale inspired by Celtic mythology and Irish legends. One of the most fascinating characters in Celtic mythology, the Warrior Lugh, crosses Woodland heading to Tara to join the court of King Nuada and the Tuatha De Danann. Nuada and his kingdom are at this time oppressed by the Fomorian tribe, and trying to retaliate for their land and freedom. During Lugh's travel, he is bewitched by a faerie (Immrama) to a Beltane celebration, when the line between the human and fairy world are vulnerable and Lugh crosses unaware to The Otherworld - the fairy realm. Lugh and Immrama fall in love. However, they live in different times and worlds..."
On this day in 1958, The Invisible Man aired "Crisis In The Desert." Officially, this served as the second episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Military Intelligence asks Peter to undertake a mission to rescue an intelligence operative. To free the man, Peter and a local resistance fighter must breach the high-security hospital and get the operative out."
"Military Intelligence asks Peter to undertake a mission to rescue an intelligence operative. To free the man, Peter and a local resistance fighter must breach the high-security hospital and get the operative out."
On this day in 1959, Men Into Space aired "Moonquake." This served as the sixth episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Trailblazer I is on route to the Moon when one of the crew gets word his wife has been hurt in a car wreck. Although distracted, the crewman needs to focus all his skills and abilities to overcome a major accident."
"Trailblazer I is on route to the Moon when one of the crew gets word his wife has been hurt in a car wreck. Although distracted, the crewman needs to focus all his skills and abilities to overcome a major accident."
On this day in 1965, Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds aired "30 Minutes After Noon." This served as the seventh episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Thomas Prescott picks up a strange hitch hiker who suddenly attaches a bomb to his wrist, then tells him he needs to get to the 'Hudson Building' before 8pm to find the key and avoid being killed in the explosion. Prescott makes it to the building but is still in an elevator when the bomb detonates trapping the man amid the carnage of the bombing and subsequent fire. International Rescue spring into action deploying all their resources in a desperate attempt to rescue the trapped man."
"Thomas Prescott picks up a strange hitch hiker who suddenly attaches a bomb to his wrist, then tells him he needs to get to the 'Hudson Building' before 8pm to find the key and avoid being killed in the explosion. Prescott makes it to the building but is still in an elevator when the bomb detonates trapping the man amid the carnage of the bombing and subsequent fire. International Rescue spring into action deploying all their resources in a desperate attempt to rescue the trapped man."
On this day in 1970, Gerry Anderson's UFO aired "Sub-Smash." Officially, this served as the tenth episode in the program's first (and only) season, and here's the plot summary that's provided by IMDB.com:
"After an underwater UFO has attacked and sunk a freight ship in the ocean, Straker, Foster and SHADO lieutenant Nina Barry join a submarine crew to find out what they can. However, they too are attacked by the UFO's vessel and, as a result, their submarine is grounded on a ledge. Straker has to overcome his claustrophobia in order to work out an escape plan."
"After an underwater UFO has attacked and sunk a freight ship in the ocean, Straker, Foster and SHADO lieutenant Nina Barry join a submarine crew to find out what they can. However, they too are attacked by the UFO's vessel and, as a result, their submarine is grounded on a ledge. Straker has to overcome his claustrophobia in order to work out an escape plan."
On this day in 1978, Battle Of The Planets aired "Perilous Pleasure Cruise." This served as the thirteenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by TV.com:
"G-Force is called on to check out the mysterious sinking of a ocean liner."
"G-Force is called on to check out the mysterious sinking of a ocean liner."
On this day in 1978, Jason Of Star Command aired "The Disappearing Man." Officially, this served as the tenth episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Lt. Matt Prentiss has escaped from being experimented on by Dragos, but is stuck in time, moving at a much faster pace than everyone around him. Jason volunteers to enter the other time dimension to rescue him."
"Lt. Matt Prentiss has escaped from being experimented on by Dragos, but is stuck in time, moving at a much faster pace than everyone around him. Jason volunteers to enter the other time dimension to rescue him."
It all came down to this: On this day in 1979, Salvage 1 aired "Hard Water, Part 2." This served as the second episode of the program's second season (while this wasn't the last episode filmed for the show, it was the last one aired as the property was canceled due to poor ratings by the network), and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Harry and the Salvage One team try to direct the iceberg out of the shipping lanes, but the U.S. Navy is determined to blast the berg to smithereens."
"Harry and the Salvage One team try to direct the iceberg out of the shipping lanes, but the U.S. Navy is determined to blast the berg to smithereens."
On this day in 1981, The Greatest American Hero aired "Operation Spoilsport." This served as the second episode to the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"The aliens return and tell Ralph and Bill that they have to stop World War III when they are told that a failsafe system which will launch an attack on the other side if the country's been decimated has been activated. So they have to stop it. But unfortunately they discover someone on their side is behind the whole thing."
"The aliens return and tell Ralph and Bill that they have to stop World War III when they are told that a failsafe system which will launch an attack on the other side if the country's been decimated has been activated. So they have to stop it. But unfortunately they discover someone on their side is behind the whole thing."
On this day in 1986, The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers aired "Badge of Power." This (technically) served as the program's forty-fifth episode (they were aired wildly out of sequence), and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Mogul and Slade work together and manage to steal all of Q-Ball's data, including the data on the Series 5 implants. They use the data to create a badge that replicates all the Rangers powers. The Rangers must get the data back."
"Mogul and Slade work together and manage to steal all of Q-Ball's data, including the data on the Series 5 implants. They use the data to create a badge that replicates all the Rangers powers. The Rangers must get the data back."
On this day in 1989, the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode titled "The Price" aired in syndication. Here's the summary from IMDB.com:
"The Enterprise hosts diplomatic negotiations while in a stable orbit around the planet Barzan, which is badly dependent on external supplies, for control of the one thing which would render it truly viable: a single stable wormhole, perfect for travel all the way to a distant quadrant. Federation delegate Seth Mendoza is informed by Data that the technologically backward Barzanians' observations are fallible, the wormhole may actually prove instable; Data and Gordi test it themselves, to determine its real value. Counselor Deanna Troi falls madly in love with a mysterious sherpa, Devinoni Ral; after sharing his bed, she realizes he shrewdly uses his empathic abilities to read and play into his opponent's emotions, wrestles with the ethics, and must decide whether to use her own..."
And here's the preview from YouTube.com: http://youtu.be/s9faygrbuzs
"The Enterprise hosts diplomatic negotiations while in a stable orbit around the planet Barzan, which is badly dependent on external supplies, for control of the one thing which would render it truly viable: a single stable wormhole, perfect for travel all the way to a distant quadrant. Federation delegate Seth Mendoza is informed by Data that the technologically backward Barzanians' observations are fallible, the wormhole may actually prove instable; Data and Gordi test it themselves, to determine its real value. Counselor Deanna Troi falls madly in love with a mysterious sherpa, Devinoni Ral; after sharing his bed, she realizes he shrewdly uses his empathic abilities to read and play into his opponent's emotions, wrestles with the ethics, and must decide whether to use her own..."
And here's the preview from YouTube.com: http://youtu.be/s9faygrbuzs
On this day in 1993, Red Dwarf aired "Out Of Time." Officially, this served as the sixth episode in the program's sixth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Starbug enters a fog in space containing devices that create false realities, where the crew find a time machine, where they meet themselves 15 years in the future and engage in a space battle, when they learn their future selves are corrupt time travelers who are experiencing the very best of history."
"Starbug enters a fog in space containing devices that create false realities, where the crew find a time machine, where they meet themselves 15 years in the future and engage in a space battle, when they learn their future selves are corrupt time travelers who are experiencing the very best of history."
On this day in 1994, The X-Files aired "One Breath." This served as the eighth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"When Scully's comatose body is discovered at a local hospital, Mulder suspects the government was responsible for her disappearance."
"When Scully's comatose body is discovered at a local hospital, Mulder suspects the government was responsible for her disappearance."
On this day in 1994, Time Trax aired "The Scarlet Koala." This served as the nineteenth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"A distress call from the future has Darien on the hunt for a rare koala to cure a future epidemic."
"A distress call from the future has Darien on the hunt for a rare koala to cure a future epidemic."
On this day in 1996, Babylon 5 aired "Whatever Happened To Mr. Garibaldi?" This served as the second episode of the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"G'Kar finds trouble while searching for Garibaldi. Sheridan hovers between life and death."
"G'Kar finds trouble while searching for Garibaldi. Sheridan hovers between life and death."
On this day in 1998, Babylon 5 took one more fateful step toward its big finish: the showed aired the twentieth episode of its fifth and final season. "Objects in Motion" looked like it was going to finally deliver marital bliss to the stars, and here's what you need to know about it according to IMDB.com:
"Garibaldi and Lise are going to get married, he'll run her late husband's company. An assassin is hired to kill Lise. Zack has a plan to smoke him out, but another person wants G'Kar dead as well. Both attacks are prevented. Garibaldi deals with the people who ordered the hit on Lise. G'Kar and Lyta leave the station."
"Garibaldi and Lise are going to get married, he'll run her late husband's company. An assassin is hired to kill Lise. Zack has a plan to smoke him out, but another person wants G'Kar dead as well. Both attacks are prevented. Garibaldi deals with the people who ordered the hit on Lise. G'Kar and Lyta leave the station."
On this day in 1998, Seven Days aired "Doppleganger: Part 2." Officially, this served as the seventh episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"After being left for dead, Parker has to find a way to stop his malevolent duplicate and reverse General Starker's takeover of the United States government."
"After being left for dead, Parker has to find a way to stop his malevolent duplicate and reverse General Starker's takeover of the United States government."
On this day in 2001, The X-Files aired "Nothing Important Happened Today." Officially, this served as the first episode in the program's ninth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"While Doggett's investigation of Deputy Director Kersh hits difficulties, the agents encounter a beautiful woman with the ability to remain submerged underwater."
"While Doggett's investigation of Deputy Director Kersh hits difficulties, the agents encounter a beautiful woman with the ability to remain submerged underwater."
On this day in 2002, Andromeda aired "The Leper's Kiss." This served as the seventh episode to the program's third season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Another "founding father" of the New Commonwealth contacts Dylan to help in taking down a very deadly assassin named "the Leper" who is currently targeting him. He has Dylan keep this mission top secret, even from his superiors. In order to get information on the Leper's whereabouts Dylan promotes himself as an agent of the Leper looking to hire talent for a hit. He manages to catch the Leper's sister, Sasha, in his trap and milks her for information."
"Another "founding father" of the New Commonwealth contacts Dylan to help in taking down a very deadly assassin named "the Leper" who is currently targeting him. He has Dylan keep this mission top secret, even from his superiors. In order to get information on the Leper's whereabouts Dylan promotes himself as an agent of the Leper looking to hire talent for a hit. He manages to catch the Leper's sister, Sasha, in his trap and milks her for information."
On this day in 2011 (that's right, in case you missed it, on 11/11/11 ... freaky!), Fringe aired the sixth episode of its fourth season. It was an hour ominously entitled "And Those We Left Behind", and here's the plot summary compliments of our friends at IMDB.com:
"The Fringe team must find the pattern between tragic time loop anomalies. As the investigation unfolds, Raymond, an electrical engineer, and his wife Kate, a professor of theoretical physics, enter the picture."
"The Fringe team must find the pattern between tragic time loop anomalies. As the investigation unfolds, Raymond, an electrical engineer, and his wife Kate, a professor of theoretical physics, enter the picture."
On this day in 2011, Sanctuary aired "Homecoming." Officially, this served as the sixth episode in the program's fourth (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Will's trip to Liberia turns bad when he suffers a head trauma from an attack. The trauma brings up powerful memories about his mothers death and the inadequacies of his father. Magnus deals with be-winged scam artist."
"Will's trip to Liberia turns bad when he suffers a head trauma from an attack. The trauma brings up powerful memories about his mothers death and the inadequacies of his father. Magnus deals with be-winged scam artist."
On this day in 2014, Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. aired "The Writing On The Wall." Officially, this served as the seventh episode in the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A mysterious man is killing off former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and carving the same markings as Coulson. Coulson tries to track him down. Meanwhile, May leads a team on a manhunt for Ward."
"A mysterious man is killing off former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and carving the same markings as Coulson. Coulson tries to track him down. Meanwhile, May leads a team on a manhunt for Ward."
