Think what you will, but death doesn't slow some folks down, not in the slightest. Such was the case with the British Fantasy/Comedy serial known as Randall And Hopkirk Deceased (aka My Partner The Ghost). Here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk are private detectives who specialize in divorce cases. Their long-running partnership seems to come to an abrupt end when Marty is killed by a hit-and-run, but Marty is soon back--as a ghost--to help solve his own murder. While he's doing it, he misses his chance to go to heaven, thanks to an ancient curse that states: "Before the sun shall rise, each ghost unto his grave must go. Cursed be the ghost who dares to stay and face the awful light of day." So Marty is stuck on Earth, as a white-suited spirit whom only Jeff can see, continuing their partnership and keeping (jealous) tabs on his wife/widow, Jean."
"Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk are private detectives who specialize in divorce cases. Their long-running partnership seems to come to an abrupt end when Marty is killed by a hit-and-run, but Marty is soon back--as a ghost--to help solve his own murder. While he's doing it, he misses his chance to go to heaven, thanks to an ancient curse that states: "Before the sun shall rise, each ghost unto his grave must go. Cursed be the ghost who dares to stay and face the awful light of day." So Marty is stuck on Earth, as a white-suited spirit whom only Jeff can see, continuing their partnership and keeping (jealous) tabs on his wife/widow, Jean."
On this day in 1996, the brilliantly-conceived but poorly-executed (in my humble opinion) Dark Skies premiered as part of NBC's evening line-up. The show tried to revisit major events in history from the point of view involving possible extraterrestrial influence, an idea so already richly introduced in Fox TV's brilliant The X-Files. Still, kudos for the attempt, but let's hope a reboot gives it a more compelling version. Here's the series' premise as provided by IMDB.com:
"20th century history as we know it is a lie. Aliens have been among us since the 1940s, but a government cover-up has prevented the public from knowing this. As the series progresses, we follow John Loengard and Kim Sayers as they attempt to thwart numerous plans of the alien Hive, most of which are tied to historical events and figures. In addition, the pair must stay one step ahead of a covert government agency, Majestic-12, tasked with fighting the aliens while maintaining the conspiracy of silence."
For the record:
Though I could be wrong, I think Dark Skies truly only resonated with a 'cult' audience, never truly finding mainstream success but instead tickling the fancy of genre junkies who found the show's knack for debunking history by way of extraterrestrial intervention. Still, the show did win a Primetime Emmy for 'Outstanding Main Title Design' (I seriously never knew there was such an award), but perhaps the more impressive nods came from the Academy Of Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror: Dark Skies enjoyed three nominations at the 1997 Saturn Awards for 'Best Genre TV Actor,' 'Best Genre TV Actress,' and 'Best Genre Network TV Series.'
"20th century history as we know it is a lie. Aliens have been among us since the 1940s, but a government cover-up has prevented the public from knowing this. As the series progresses, we follow John Loengard and Kim Sayers as they attempt to thwart numerous plans of the alien Hive, most of which are tied to historical events and figures. In addition, the pair must stay one step ahead of a covert government agency, Majestic-12, tasked with fighting the aliens while maintaining the conspiracy of silence."
For the record:
Though I could be wrong, I think Dark Skies truly only resonated with a 'cult' audience, never truly finding mainstream success but instead tickling the fancy of genre junkies who found the show's knack for debunking history by way of extraterrestrial intervention. Still, the show did win a Primetime Emmy for 'Outstanding Main Title Design' (I seriously never knew there was such an award), but perhaps the more impressive nods came from the Academy Of Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror: Dark Skies enjoyed three nominations at the 1997 Saturn Awards for 'Best Genre TV Actor,' 'Best Genre TV Actress,' and 'Best Genre Network TV Series.'
Flash Gordon remains one of my favorite pop culture heroes, but this animated incarnation that premiered on this day in 1996 in television syndication? I had high hopes for it, especially given the participation of Garfield Reeves-Stevens as creator and writer. Alas, it just wasn't very good, and I tuned it out very, very quickly. Maybe someone will finally pick up this mantle and give Flash another great TV version? In any event, here's the series' premise as provided by IMDB.com:
"After his astronaut parents are sucked into a dimensional hole to the planet Mongo, the teenage hoverboard enthusiast Flash Gordon, his love interest Dale Arden and the scientist Dr. Hans Zarkov travelled to Mongo in their own spaceship to rescue them. The dimensional hole was placed just outside of Earth's atmosphere by Ming the Merciless, the Emperor of Mongo, in order to provide open access for his invading armies. After the dimensional hole is closed, Flash and his friends are trapped on Mongo but they are determined to defeat Ming."
"After his astronaut parents are sucked into a dimensional hole to the planet Mongo, the teenage hoverboard enthusiast Flash Gordon, his love interest Dale Arden and the scientist Dr. Hans Zarkov travelled to Mongo in their own spaceship to rescue them. The dimensional hole was placed just outside of Earth's atmosphere by Ming the Merciless, the Emperor of Mongo, in order to provide open access for his invading armies. After the dimensional hole is closed, Flash and his friends are trapped on Mongo but they are determined to defeat Ming."
On this day in 2005, Invasion premiered to those interested in the U.S.'s TV audiences. As so often happens in the nature of the hour-long drama, Invasion didn't last more than a single season. Here's the series' premise as provided by IMDB.com:
"In the aftermath of a hurricane, a Florida Park Ranger and his family deal with strange occurrences, including luminescent creatures in the water and people that somehow seem to have changed after surviving the night of the disaster out in the open."
For the record:
Despite never crawling out of the ratings basement, Invasion did draw the attention of the Academy Of Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror. For the 2006 season, the show received nominations (but no wins) in the categories of 'Best Actor On Television' and 'Best Network Television Series.'
"In the aftermath of a hurricane, a Florida Park Ranger and his family deal with strange occurrences, including luminescent creatures in the water and people that somehow seem to have changed after surviving the night of the disaster out in the open."
For the record:
Despite never crawling out of the ratings basement, Invasion did draw the attention of the Academy Of Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror. For the 2006 season, the show received nominations (but no wins) in the categories of 'Best Actor On Television' and 'Best Network Television Series.'
On this day in 2015, Fox Television dug deep into the realm of Science Fiction with a TV adaptation of ideas inspired by the work of Philip K. Dick: Minority Report tackled thematically the same territory explored in the similarly-named Steven Spielberg movie from 2002 but forced its characters and circumstances into the weekly procedural. Apparently, audiences weren't all that interested, and this Report lasted only ten scant episodes. Here's the series' premise from IMDB.com:
"10 years after the end of Precrime in Washington DC one of the three PreCogs attempts to lead on a normal life while still suffering from visions of the future. Will they be able to hold it together or mentally breakdown and give up?"
For the record:
The show scored the coveted trophy from the Critics Choice Television Awards in 2015 for the 'Most Exciting New Series.'
"10 years after the end of Precrime in Washington DC one of the three PreCogs attempts to lead on a normal life while still suffering from visions of the future. Will they be able to hold it together or mentally breakdown and give up?"
For the record:
The show scored the coveted trophy from the Critics Choice Television Awards in 2015 for the 'Most Exciting New Series.'
While you may not recognize the face, I guarantee you'll recognize his name: H.G. Wells. The literary genius himself, Mr. Wells is responsible for a whole slew of SciFi properties, many of which continue to inspire us today in our own pursuits of strange, new worlds. (I've read The Time Machine, and -- to be honest -- I found it a bit tedious.) He was born on this day back in 1866. [Source: IMDB.com]
For the record:
It's worth mentioning that decades after his work first appeared in print Wells continues to impress entertainment moguls who seek to revisit, revise, and reboot his stories for new generations. For example, Wells' The Invisible Man novel has been sourced for an incredible handful of both television incarnations as well as silver screen; and the same can be said of several of his works. Fans of Science Fiction would do well to check out his resume on IMDB.com as they'll no doubt be impressed by how timely this writer's ideas remain.
For the record:
It's worth mentioning that decades after his work first appeared in print Wells continues to impress entertainment moguls who seek to revisit, revise, and reboot his stories for new generations. For example, Wells' The Invisible Man novel has been sourced for an incredible handful of both television incarnations as well as silver screen; and the same can be said of several of his works. Fans of Science Fiction would do well to check out his resume on IMDB.com as they'll no doubt be impressed by how timely this writer's ideas remain.
The late Larry Hagman enjoyed a funny cameo-style appearance in 1978's Superman: The Movie for Warner Bros. Undoubtedly the actor is best remembered by fans of a certain era for his work in the TV Fantasy/Comedy I Dream Of Jeannie which lasted an impressive five seasons. Though he's no longer with us, Hagman was born on this day in 1931. [Source: IMDB.com]
Oh, gosh, I can remember from my youth seeing the face of Henry Gibson all over television. Throughout his time in the business, he appeared in such projects as Wonder Woman, The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981), The Twilight Zone, Galaxy High School (animated), Innerspace (1987), Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Total Recall 2070, and Stargate: SG-1. Though he's no longer with us, Gibson was born on this day in 1935. [Source: IMDB.com]
Jerry Ayres enjoyed a pair of appearances in the greater world of the original Star Trek in two different roles; alas, in both of them, he was wearing a 'red shirt.' That rarely ends well, people. Though he's no longer with us, Ayres was born on this day in 1936. [Source: IMDB.com]
English-born actress Tracy Reed enjoyed screen appearances aboard such genre projects as Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (1964), Casino Royale (1967), Out Of The Unknown, and UFO. Though she's no longer with us, Reed was born on this day in 1941. [Source: IMDB.com]
Anyone who grew up watching the original Battlestar Galactica should certainly recognize the face of 'Flight Officer Omega,' or as he's more fittingly known in reality as actor David Greenan. Greenan was born on this day in 1943. [Source: IMDB.com]
Writer and director Nick Castle also celebrates his birthday today. Born in 1947, Nick (along with director John Carpenter) penned the scripts for the two Snake Plissken films (Escape from New York and Escape from L.A.), but his real claim to fame (so far as this fan is concerned) is directing 1984's The Last Starfighter. [Source: IMDB.com]
How can you not give a shout-out to Bill Murray on his birthday? Come on, man. He's the original Ghostbuster. He headlined the time travel yarn Groundhog Day. And he's easily one of the funniest people alive on the planet. Give it up! Murray was born on this day in 1950. [Source: IMDB.com]
Mary Mara leaves behind a legacy of just under one hundred different screen roles. Fans might recognize her from appearances aboard such entities as The Visitor, Farscape, Good Vs Evil, K-PAX (2001), Star Trek: Enterprise, Joan Of Arcadia, and Lost. Though she's no longer with us, Mara was born on this day in 1960. [Source: IMDB.com]
Actor David James Elliott did what he could to keep our sun from exploding in the SciFi-telefilm, Exploding Sun (2013). Elliott was born on this day in 1960. [Source: IMDB.com]
I will always remember Angus Macfadyen for his work aboard ABC TV's short-lived Fantasy program, Miracles; in any just version of the universe, Miracles would've become a suitable replacement for Fox TV's The X-Files, which kinda/sorta jumped the shark way too much in its golden years. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. Macfadyen was born on this day in 1963. [Source: IMDB.com]
I kid you not: IMDB.com reports that the lovely Cheryl Hines got her professional acting start aboard an episode of TV's incarnation of Swamp Thing. Hines was born on this day in 1965. [Source: IMDB.com]
David Wenham is probably most associated with his work as Faramir aboard Peter Jackson's epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but he's also made waves aboard Return To Jupiter (TV), Dark City (1998), Van Helsing (2004), 300 (2006), and Netflix's Iron Fist series. Wenham was born on this day in 1965. [Source: IMDB.com]
Rob Benedict has certainly jumped around the entertainment spectrum, but SciFi and Fantasy fans probably know him best from CBS's short-lived Threshold and The CW's long-running Supernatural. Benedict was born on this day in 1970. [Source: IMDB.com]
Funnyman Luke Wilson gave a terrific performance in one of The X-Files' better adventures: 1998's "Bad Blood" pitted Scully versus Mulder in a search for the truth involved a town of traveling vampires. Wilson was born on this day in 1971. [Source: IMDB.com]
Shelley Conn enjoyed a trip through time aboard Fox TV's short-lived Terra Nova. She also enjoyed work aboard Lifetime's SciFi series The Lottery. Conn was born on this day in 1976. [Source: IMDB.com]
Paulo Costanzo was there (until he wasn't) aboard Syfy's impressive Science Fiction series The Expanse. Costanzo was born on this day in 1978. [Source: IMDB.com]
That luscious li'l minx is actress Autumn Reeser. She doesn't have what I'd call 'tons' of SciFi credentials to her name, but she has made appearances on Star Trek: Voyager (under heavy make-up) as well as playing a character of sorts in 2008's SciFi-gaming release, Command & Conquer 3: Red Alert (from which the above photo is representative). And she is luscious, no? Reeser was born on this day in 1980. [Source: IMDB.com]
HubbaHubba Alert! The delicious Adult film actress Phoenix Marie dipped her wings (ahem) in Fantasy with a top role -- costume and all -- aboard Xena XXX: An Exquisite Films Parody (2012). God bless her wonderful li'l heart! Marie was born on this day in 1981. [Source: IMDB.com]
Maggie Grace found herself as one of the castaways on ABC's super-popular Lost. Since then, she's gone on to more big screen fare, such as appearing alongside Liam Neeson in Taken as well as playing the President's daughter in the Guy Pearce SciFi actioner Lockout (2012). Grace was born on this day in 1983. [Source: IMDB.com]
In his youth, actor Joseph Mazzello played 'Tim,' the young man who brought our collective fascination with all things dinosaur to life in Steven Spielberg's epic Jurassic Park (1993). Mazzello was born on this day in 1983. [Source: IMDB.com]
Sadly, I know next to nothing about Pluton B.R.B. Nero, a Spanish-language Science Fiction television series starring the lovely Carolina Bang; and that's only because it appears that the program has never had a DVD release with English subtitles. I have seen her work in non-SciFi properties, and she's definitely a talent worth watching. Bang was born on this day in 1985. [Source: IMDB.com]
Sorry, folks, but after being super-disappointed with how quickly NBC's Heroes went off the rails, I really wasn't all that interested in giving Heroes Reborn a view. Still, kudos to young star Ryan Guzman for participating in the project. Guzman was born on this day in 1987. [Source: IMDB.com]
In the role of Claudia Donovan, young Allison Scagliotti was just one of the 'locals' trapped within the mystery at the heart of Syfy's Warehouse 13. Scagliotti was born on this day in 1990. [Source: IMDB.com]
We here at SciFiHistory.Net have nothing but respect for girls with attitude, and Christian Serratos imbues her 'Rosita Espinosa' with must the perfect amount of abilities and cynicism on AMC's impressive The Walking Dead. Serratos was born on this day in 1990. [Source: IMDB.com]
On this day in 1953 (in Denmark), Flight To Mars launched onto the silver screen. Written by Arthur Strawn and directed by Lesley Selander, the SciFi film starred Marguerite Chapman and Cameron Mitchell, and here's the plot summary that's been provided by the always reliable IMDB.com:
"A newspaper reporter and a bunch of scientists fly a rocket to Mars just to find out that Martians look exactly like us. Mars is running low on one of their natural resources (Corium), and plan to steal the Earth astronauts' rocket and conquer Earth. The Martian underground helps the Earthmen stop the insidious plan."
For the record:
In 2021, I had the good fortune of receiving a complimentary 4K restoration Blu-ray disk from the good people at The Film Detective, a release complete with some incredible extras. Want to know more? Then how about checking out my review of the flick right here.
"A newspaper reporter and a bunch of scientists fly a rocket to Mars just to find out that Martians look exactly like us. Mars is running low on one of their natural resources (Corium), and plan to steal the Earth astronauts' rocket and conquer Earth. The Martian underground helps the Earthmen stop the insidious plan."
For the record:
In 2021, I had the good fortune of receiving a complimentary 4K restoration Blu-ray disk from the good people at The Film Detective, a release complete with some incredible extras. Want to know more? Then how about checking out my review of the flick right here.
A star is born! On this day in 1967 (in West Germany), audiences were treated to the theatrical release of Herrliche Zeiten Im Spessart (aka Glorious Times In The Spessart). Directed by Kurt Hoffmann from a script by Günter Neumann, the SciFi/Comedy starred Liselotte Pulver, Harald Leipnitz, and Vivi Bach. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The countess is married, and the ghosts are still in the Spessart. Her husband becomes an astronaut and the story involving time and space traveling starts."
For the record:
At the 1967 German Film Awards, actor Willy Millowitsch enjoyed a nomination in the category of 'Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role' for his work in the film.
"The countess is married, and the ghosts are still in the Spessart. Her husband becomes an astronaut and the story involving time and space traveling starts."
For the record:
At the 1967 German Film Awards, actor Willy Millowitsch enjoyed a nomination in the category of 'Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role' for his work in the film.
A star is born! On this day in 1972 (in East Germany), the German-language SciFi/Romance Eolomea enjoyed its first theatrical engagement ever. Hermann Zschoche directed this Willi Brückner adaptation of the novel by Angel Vagenshtain, and it starred Cox Habbema, Ivan Andonov, and Rolf Hoppe. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Eight space cargo-ships disappear without a trace within three days. And the orbit station "Margot" has suddenly fallen silent. The space council is faced with a mystery and the scientist in charge, Maria Scholl, sees no other solution than ordering a total flight stop to this mysterious sector of space. Her colleague, Prof. Tal seems to be suspicious since he knows things before they are even released. A forbidden look into his personal file brings to light that Tal was part of the Eolomea project that never found approval of the commission in charge."
"Eight space cargo-ships disappear without a trace within three days. And the orbit station "Margot" has suddenly fallen silent. The space council is faced with a mystery and the scientist in charge, Maria Scholl, sees no other solution than ordering a total flight stop to this mysterious sector of space. Her colleague, Prof. Tal seems to be suspicious since he knows things before they are even released. A forbidden look into his personal file brings to light that Tal was part of the Eolomea project that never found approval of the commission in charge."
On this day in 1983 (in France), the SciFi/Animated feature Chronopolis enjoyed its release. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Weary immortals inhabit a metropolis in the sky and amuse themselves with constructions as they kill time and await whatever comes next."
"Weary immortals inhabit a metropolis in the sky and amuse themselves with constructions as they kill time and await whatever comes next."
On this day in 1983 (in Italy), the Fantasy-themed Hearts And Armour enjoyed its theatrical release. The film starred Zeudi Araya Cristaldi and Barbara De Rossi, and here's the premise as listed on IMDB.com:
"Bradamante, a woman wearing an invincible suit of armor, is travelling the countryside at the time of the Crusades. After ending up in the middle of a web of romantic and cultural tangles, she finds herself in love with a Moor prince, while one of the Christian knights has fallen in love with a Moor princess. Others, however, are against the cross-cultural romance, and Bradamante's love is soon forced into a duel to the death. Will she ever be with her true love?"
"Bradamante, a woman wearing an invincible suit of armor, is travelling the countryside at the time of the Crusades. After ending up in the middle of a web of romantic and cultural tangles, she finds herself in love with a Moor prince, while one of the Christian knights has fallen in love with a Moor princess. Others, however, are against the cross-cultural romance, and Bradamante's love is soon forced into a duel to the death. Will she ever be with her true love?"
On this day in 1985 (in the Philippines), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome enjoyed its theatrical release. The SciFi/Thriller starred Mel Gibson as Max himself, and here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"After being exiled from the most advanced town in post apocalyptic Australia, a drifter travels with a group of abandoned children to rebel against the town's queen."
"After being exiled from the most advanced town in post apocalyptic Australia, a drifter travels with a group of abandoned children to rebel against the town's queen."
On this day in 1988 (in Japan), Ator, The Fighting Eagle enjoyed its release in the home video marketplace. Written (in part) and directed by Joe D'Amato, the Fantasy feature starred Miles O'Keeffe, Sabrina Siani, and Ritza Brown; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The son of Torren learns of his heritage, goes to avenge the deaths of his fellow villagers, and rescue his sister/love interest from the evil Dakkar and his spider cult. Ator battles giant spiders, swordsmen cloaked in shadow, re-animated dead warriors, and horribly hideous witches."
For the record:
While perhaps not the recipient of any major commercial or critical praise, Ator -- at the very least -- was the launch of a new fantasy franchise. This first film (which premiered in 1982) was followed by The Blade Master in 1983, which eventually begat Iron Warrior in 1987, which paved the way to the final installment known as Ator IV: The Hobgoblin in 1990.
"The son of Torren learns of his heritage, goes to avenge the deaths of his fellow villagers, and rescue his sister/love interest from the evil Dakkar and his spider cult. Ator battles giant spiders, swordsmen cloaked in shadow, re-animated dead warriors, and horribly hideous witches."
For the record:
While perhaps not the recipient of any major commercial or critical praise, Ator -- at the very least -- was the launch of a new fantasy franchise. This first film (which premiered in 1982) was followed by The Blade Master in 1983, which eventually begat Iron Warrior in 1987, which paved the way to the final installment known as Ator IV: The Hobgoblin in 1990.
On this day in 1990 (in Finland), RoboCop 2 enjoyed its theatrical release. The feature starred Peter Weller as the man-turned-man-and-machine, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Cyborg law enforcer RoboCop returns to protect the citizens of old Detroit but faces a deadly challenge when a rogue OCP member secretly creates a new, evil RoboCop 2."
For the record:
Despite an underwhelming story, RoboCop 2 did score three impressive nominations from the 1991 Saturn Awards: Best Science Fiction Film, Best Performance By A Younger Actor, and Best Special Effects. It lost in all three categories.
"Cyborg law enforcer RoboCop returns to protect the citizens of old Detroit but faces a deadly challenge when a rogue OCP member secretly creates a new, evil RoboCop 2."
For the record:
Despite an underwhelming story, RoboCop 2 did score three impressive nominations from the 1991 Saturn Awards: Best Science Fiction Film, Best Performance By A Younger Actor, and Best Special Effects. It lost in all three categories.
A star is born! On this day in 1992 (in Japan), Prototype enjoyed its release on home video. Written (in part) and directed by Phillip J. Roth, the SciFi/Thriller starred Lane Lenhart, Robert Tossberg, and Brenda Swanson. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"In a post-apocalyptic future, a wheelchair-bound veteran volunteers for an experimental cybernetic program that will allow him to walk again, only to find that it turns him into a lethal killing machine pre-programmed to kill the last remaining member of the resistance - the woman he loves."
"In a post-apocalyptic future, a wheelchair-bound veteran volunteers for an experimental cybernetic program that will allow him to walk again, only to find that it turns him into a lethal killing machine pre-programmed to kill the last remaining member of the resistance - the woman he loves."
On this day in 1994 (in Japan), Dinosaur Island enjoyed its premiere on home video. The Fantasy/Comedy feature starred Griffin Drew and Michelle Bauer, and here's the premise as listed on IMDB.com:
"An army captain is flying three misfit deserters home for a court martial when the plane has engine trouble and they must land on an uncharted island. There they find a primitive society of cave women who routinely sacrifice virgins to appease The Great One, the top dog dinosaur on the the island. Mistaken for gods, the men must destroy The Great One or face death, but meanwhile they fall in love."
"An army captain is flying three misfit deserters home for a court martial when the plane has engine trouble and they must land on an uncharted island. There they find a primitive society of cave women who routinely sacrifice virgins to appease The Great One, the top dog dinosaur on the the island. Mistaken for gods, the men must destroy The Great One or face death, but meanwhile they fall in love."
On this day in 1996 (in Japan), The Demolitionist destroyed the competition with its release on home video. According to our friends on IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A murdered police officer is brought back to life by a cold-hearted scientist to serve as "The Demolitionist", the ultimate crime-fighting weapon in a city overrun by criminals and internal corruption."
"A murdered police officer is brought back to life by a cold-hearted scientist to serve as "The Demolitionist", the ultimate crime-fighting weapon in a city overrun by criminals and internal corruption."
On this day in 2000 (in Iceland), Escape From Mars enjoyed its release on home video. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"In 2015, five astronauts make the first manned trip to Mars. They must battle and overcome inferior computer components, corporate greed and indifference, their own personal problems, as well as the surprises that the Red Planet has in store for them."
"In 2015, five astronauts make the first manned trip to Mars. They must battle and overcome inferior computer components, corporate greed and indifference, their own personal problems, as well as the surprises that the Red Planet has in store for them."
On this day in 2008 (in the U.S.), the SciFi/Horror film Vipers slithered its way onto television. Directed by Bill Corcoran from a script by Brian Katkin, the feature starred Tara Reid, Jonathan Scarfe, and Corbin Bernsen; and here's the premise as listed on IMDB.com:
"A set of vipers has been taken by the scientists, when the vipers escape into the woods, they do more than just bite."
"A set of vipers has been taken by the scientists, when the vipers escape into the woods, they do more than just bite."
On this day in 2012, the character of Judge Dredd returned to the big screen in a big way with Dredd. The feature starred Karl Urban and Lena Headey, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"In a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO."
"In a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO."
On this day in 2015 (in Russia), Ratpocalypse enjoyed its theatrical premiere. Written and directed by Vladimir Uglichin, the SciFi feature starred Casper Van Dien, Victoria Sumer, and Linda Bella. Here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"American Senator delivers a speech to the Russian Parliament warning that corruption would turn them into rats. His prediction becomes reality."
"American Senator delivers a speech to the Russian Parliament warning that corruption would turn them into rats. His prediction becomes reality."
On this day in 2017 (in the U.S.), the 1996-produced SciFi/Thriller Bio-Tech Warrior enjoyed a release on home video. Written and directed by Bret McCormick, the film starred Sky Callahan, TJ Myers, and Robert J. Cawley. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A deadly cybernetic organism wreaking havoc on America with the intent of detonating a nuclear device in Washington, D.C."
"A deadly cybernetic organism wreaking havoc on America with the intent of detonating a nuclear device in Washington, D.C."
A star is born! On this day in 2018 (in Sweden), the Family-friendly SciFi/Comedy Alone In Space enjoyed its theatrical debut. Written (in part) and directed by Ted Kjellsson, the Swedish-language film starred Ella Rae Rappaport, Dante Fleischanderl, and Henrik Ståhl (who also contributed on the script). According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Young Gladys and her little brother Keaton's lonely days in space are interrupted, when something unknown crashes into their spacecraft."
For the record:
To the film's credit, Alone In Space enjoyed a wee bit of praise from screenings on the film festival circuit.
"Young Gladys and her little brother Keaton's lonely days in space are interrupted, when something unknown crashes into their spacecraft."
For the record:
To the film's credit, Alone In Space enjoyed a wee bit of praise from screenings on the film festival circuit.
On this day in 2018, Beyond The Sky enjoyed a limited U.S. theatrical release as well as launching on various streaming platforms. Written (in part) and directed by Fulvio Sestito, the film starred Ryan Carnes, Jordan Danger, and Claude Duhamel. According to IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"While shooting a documentary to expose the lies of alien abductees, a provocative filmmaker and his crew encounter a young woman with a dark secret who leads them to uncover a disturbing truth."
ExtraExtra Alert:
In 2018, I had the good fortune of screening Beyond The Sky from a complimentary home video release provided to me via a distributor relationship. Folks interested in knowing what I thought of the feature can find my review right here.
"While shooting a documentary to expose the lies of alien abductees, a provocative filmmaker and his crew encounter a young woman with a dark secret who leads them to uncover a disturbing truth."
ExtraExtra Alert:
In 2018, I had the good fortune of screening Beyond The Sky from a complimentary home video release provided to me via a distributor relationship. Folks interested in knowing what I thought of the feature can find my review right here.
A star is born! On this day in 2019 (in the U.S.), In The Shadow Of The Moon enjoyed a theatrical engagement when it played for audiences in attendance of Fantastic Fest. (The film would debut the next week around the globe via the Netflix streaming platform.) Directed by Jim Mickle from a script by Gregory Weidman and Geoffrey Tock, the SciFi/Thriller starred Boyd Holbrook, Cleopatra Coleman, and Bokeem Woodbine. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A Philadelphia police officer struggles with a lifelong obsession to track down a mysterious serial killer whose crimes defy explanation."
"A Philadelphia police officer struggles with a lifelong obsession to track down a mysterious serial killer whose crimes defy explanation."
On this day in 1966 (in the U.S.), Lost In Space aired "Wild Adventure." This served as the second episode of the second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Smith finds the course back to earth, but a space female lures Smith out of the ship and saving him again leaves the crew of the Jupiter 2 lost in space."
"Smith finds the course back to earth, but a space female lures Smith out of the ship and saving him again leaves the crew of the Jupiter 2 lost in space."
On this day in 1968 (in the United Kingdom), Doctor Who aired "The Mind Robber: Part 2." This served as the seventh episode of the program's sixth season, and here's the plot summary as detailed on IMDB.com:
"With the TARDIS destroyed, the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe find themselves in a strange forest patrolled by mysterious soldiers."
"With the TARDIS destroyed, the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe find themselves in a strange forest patrolled by mysterious soldiers."
It all came down to this: on this day in 1968 (in the U.S.), Fantastic Four bowed out of its original broadcast existence with the airing of "The Deadly Director." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The Imposter plans to lure the Fantastic Four into a trap by posing as a famous Hollywood director. The four are tempted to be in a movie and briefly retell their previous adventures to the director. The next day, the four fly to the director's island and the director blows them out of the sky. The Fantastic Four are forced to go through the director's deadly movie landscapes and make it to the boat on the other side of the island which the director detonates. The Imposter removes his disguise and the Fantastic Four surprise him. The real director prevents the Imposter from escaping."
"The Imposter plans to lure the Fantastic Four into a trap by posing as a famous Hollywood director. The four are tempted to be in a movie and briefly retell their previous adventures to the director. The next day, the four fly to the director's island and the director blows them out of the sky. The Fantastic Four are forced to go through the director's deadly movie landscapes and make it to the boat on the other side of the island which the director detonates. The Imposter removes his disguise and the Fantastic Four surprise him. The real director prevents the Imposter from escaping."
On this day in 1968 (in the U.S.), Fantastic Voyage aired "The Menace From Space." Officially, this served as the second episode in the program's only season on original broadcast television, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A space capsule on it's way back to Earth is immobilized by tiny crystal particles. The Voyager rockets into the capsule using radio beams to save the Earth from a possible alien infection. Insterstellar Biology expert Dr. Calvin Casdan joins the CMDF team."
"A space capsule on it's way back to Earth is immobilized by tiny crystal particles. The Voyager rockets into the capsule using radio beams to save the Earth from a possible alien infection. Insterstellar Biology expert Dr. Calvin Casdan joins the CMDF team."
On this day in 1969 (in the U.S.), Land of the Giants aired "The Mechanical Man." This served as the first episode of the program's second (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A huge robot that is even bigger than many of the giants that the castaways have encountered accidentally destroys a store and in the process kills a policeman. Steve, Mark and Fitzhugh, who were scavenging for food and supplies witness this and in the process Mark and Fitzhugh are captured. They are then brought to the laboratory of its creator Professor Gorn who offers to help them return to Earth if they can help him fix the flaw in his creation. They eventually do and the robot works perfectly. Unfortunately, Gorn double crosses them and decides to turn them over to the SID."
"A huge robot that is even bigger than many of the giants that the castaways have encountered accidentally destroys a store and in the process kills a policeman. Steve, Mark and Fitzhugh, who were scavenging for food and supplies witness this and in the process Mark and Fitzhugh are captured. They are then brought to the laboratory of its creator Professor Gorn who offers to help them return to Earth if they can help him fix the flaw in his creation. They eventually do and the robot works perfectly. Unfortunately, Gorn double crosses them and decides to turn them over to the SID."
It all began right here: on this day in 1969 (in the United Kingdom), Randall And Hopkirk Deceased came to life. Officially, the first episode was titled "My Late Lamented Friend And Partner," and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Private eyes Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk are gathering information to allow Fay Sorrensen to divorce her cheating husband but he murders her and makes it look like a heart attack. Marty is suspicious but is killed by a hit-and-run driver before he can prove that Sorrensen is a murderer. His white-suited ghost gets Jeff to meet him at his grave in the cemetery and they expose the murderer between them. However, Marty has been out of his grave beyond the dawn and must wander the Earth as a ghost for the next century, though only Jeff can see him."
"Private eyes Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk are gathering information to allow Fay Sorrensen to divorce her cheating husband but he murders her and makes it look like a heart attack. Marty is suspicious but is killed by a hit-and-run driver before he can prove that Sorrensen is a murderer. His white-suited ghost gets Jeff to meet him at his grave in the cemetery and they expose the murderer between them. However, Marty has been out of his grave beyond the dawn and must wander the Earth as a ghost for the next century, though only Jeff can see him."
On this day in 1974 (in the U.S.), Land of the Lost aired "Dopey." This served as the third episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A troublesome baby brontosaurus follows Will and Holly home."
"A troublesome baby brontosaurus follows Will and Holly home."
On this day in 1974 (in the U.S.), Partridge Family 2200 A.D. aired "The Incredible Shrinking Keith." This served as the third episode in its only season, and here's the summary from the Partridge Family 2200 A.D. online website:
"Danny's unfinished invention throws a spray of sparks on Keith, shrinking him to pint size. Keith is furious, but his visiting fans from Minitravia are overjoyed to find Keith their own size. Danny vows to throw away the mechanism, but Keith manages to get a second spray, this time landing him ten feet tall!"
"Danny's unfinished invention throws a spray of sparks on Keith, shrinking him to pint size. Keith is furious, but his visiting fans from Minitravia are overjoyed to find Keith their own size. Danny vows to throw away the mechanism, but Keith manages to get a second spray, this time landing him ten feet tall!"
On this day in 1978 (in the U.S.), Project U.F.O. aired "Sighting 4015: The Underwater Incident." This served as the first episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Capt. Ryan and S Sgt. Fitz investigate a report of a UFO that came down from the night sky and submerged itself off the coast of California before ramming into a boat, injuring the two men on board."
"Capt. Ryan and S Sgt. Fitz investigate a report of a UFO that came down from the night sky and submerged itself off the coast of California before ramming into a boat, injuring the two men on board."
On this day in 1985 (in the United Kingdom), The Tripods aired "Will Is Arrested." This served as the third episode in the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Will and Beanpole miss their ship after being chased by the Black Guard. With the help of new friends they hope to continue on their way to The Games."
"Will and Beanpole miss their ship after being chased by the Black Guard. With the help of new friends they hope to continue on their way to The Games."
On this day in 1987 (in the United Kingdom), Doctor Who aired "Time and the Rani: Part 3." This served as the third episode of the program's twenty-fourth season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"The solstice nears, making it time for the Rani to bring her plans into fruition. The Doctor's sympathies for Beyus, ruler of the Lykertyans, are rather qualified. Beyus' heart is for his people yet something prompts him to collaborate fully in helping the Rani reach all her objectives. The answer, he's told, lies within the Center of Leisure."
"The solstice nears, making it time for the Rani to bring her plans into fruition. The Doctor's sympathies for Beyus, ruler of the Lykertyans, are rather qualified. Beyus' heart is for his people yet something prompts him to collaborate fully in helping the Rani reach all her objectives. The answer, he's told, lies within the Center of Leisure."
It was on this day back in 1991 that Star Trek: The Next Generation returned from its summer break, launching into its fifth season with the episode, "Redemption, Part 2." The story brought about what I thought was a much-too-neatly-tied-up end to the Klingon Civil War that had divided the Empire -- personally, I would rather have seen the events spread out over several more episodes, if not an entire season -- but I guess that wasn't meant to be.
It all began right here: on this day in 1996 (in the U.S.), Dark Skies aired "The Awakening," the pilot episode for the UFO conspiracy series. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Idealistic couple John Loengard and his girlfriend Kim Sayers arrive in Washington DC to work for the Kennedys. However, John's world shatters when he gets reassigned to Project Blue Book and uncovers an alien conspiracy."
For the record: Scriptors Bryce Zabel and Brent V. Friedman shared the 1998 WGA TV Award nomination for 'Original Long Form' though the trophy went elsewhere. Still, kudos to the pair for crafting a compelling pilot that drew the attention of the Writers Guild Of America!
"Idealistic couple John Loengard and his girlfriend Kim Sayers arrive in Washington DC to work for the Kennedys. However, John's world shatters when he gets reassigned to Project Blue Book and uncovers an alien conspiracy."
For the record: Scriptors Bryce Zabel and Brent V. Friedman shared the 1998 WGA TV Award nomination for 'Original Long Form' though the trophy went elsewhere. Still, kudos to the pair for crafting a compelling pilot that drew the attention of the Writers Guild Of America!
It all began right here: on this day in 1996 (in the U.S.), the animated Flash Gordon enjoyed its premiere. The first episode was titled "Marooned On Mongol," and here's the plot summary as listed on IMDB.com:
"Earth teenagers Flash Gordon and Dale Arden, and their reluctant friend Dr. Zarkov, journey to the fantastic planet Mongo where they fight to defeat the evil planetary dictator, Ming the Merciless."
"Earth teenagers Flash Gordon and Dale Arden, and their reluctant friend Dr. Zarkov, journey to the fantastic planet Mongo where they fight to defeat the evil planetary dictator, Ming the Merciless."
On this day in 1996 (in Australia), Ocean Girl aired "Extraterrestrial Abilities." This served as the eighth episode of the program's third season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Neri awakes on the island to find Kal missing, he's gone to ORCA. Jason and Brett introduce Kal to Diane and Winston. Shortly after, Neri arrives and tells Diane about UBRI's plans to use explosives on the ocean floor in their construction."
"Neri awakes on the island to find Kal missing, he's gone to ORCA. Jason and Brett introduce Kal to Diane and Winston. Shortly after, Neri arrives and tells Diane about UBRI's plans to use explosives on the ocean floor in their construction."
On this day in 1996 (in the U.S.), Superman: The Animated Series aired "Feeding Time." Officially, this served as the sixth episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A lowly janitor is transformed into the Parasite, a superhuman capable of draining and harnessing the energy, powers, and memories of any living being...including Superman."
"A lowly janitor is transformed into the Parasite, a superhuman capable of draining and harnessing the energy, powers, and memories of any living being...including Superman."
On this day in 2002 (in the U.S.), Andromeda aired "If The Wheel Is Fixed." This served as the first episode of the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Dylan attempts to rescue Tyr and Beka by taking the Maru back towards the tunnel, but is forced to abandon it due to a large field of debris being sucked into the tunnel. When he returns, Beka and Tyr appear on Andromeda for no apparent reason. Now that her crew has been reunited, the Andromeda attempts to break free from the gravitational pull of the tunnel. During the attempt, Beka tries to slip too early, causing the Andromeda to be pulled into the tunnel. Dylan quickly takes control of the helm and pulls the ship out, but Tyr and Beka both seem to be acting strangely."
"Dylan attempts to rescue Tyr and Beka by taking the Maru back towards the tunnel, but is forced to abandon it due to a large field of debris being sucked into the tunnel. When he returns, Beka and Tyr appear on Andromeda for no apparent reason. Now that her crew has been reunited, the Andromeda attempts to break free from the gravitational pull of the tunnel. During the attempt, Beka tries to slip too early, causing the Andromeda to be pulled into the tunnel. Dylan quickly takes control of the helm and pulls the ship out, but Tyr and Beka both seem to be acting strangely."
On this day in 2014 (in the U.S.), Lifetime's The Lottery aired "Mr. Torino." This served as the ninth episode to the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"The President discovers that Gabrielle has made a deal with Perry and confronts her."
"The President discovers that Gabrielle has made a deal with Perry and confronts her."
It all began right here: on this day in 2015 (in the U.S.), Minority Report premiered on television. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary for the pilot episode:
"Detective Vega gets help from Dash, a precog who can see murders before they happen. After seeing the death of a politician's wife, the two work together while trying to protect Dash's secret."
"Detective Vega gets help from Dash, a precog who can see murders before they happen. After seeing the death of a politician's wife, the two work together while trying to protect Dash's secret."
On this day in 2017 (in the U.S.), The Orville aired "About A Girl." This served as the third episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Bortus and Klyden debate whether their newborn child should have a controversial surgery."
"Bortus and Klyden debate whether their newborn child should have a controversial surgery."
It all came down to this: on this day in 2017 (in the U.S.), Zoo bowed out of televised existence with the airing of "The Barrier." This served as the thirteenth episode of the third season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"The team races to stop the hybrids from breaching the barrier wall by shutting down the last beacon that draws them in."
"The team races to stop the hybrids from breaching the barrier wall by shutting down the last beacon that draws them in."
