On this day back in 1962, television history was made when The Jetsons premiered its very first episode, a little bit of lunacy entitled "Rosey the Robot." The show would last three seasons, and it won over its viewers detailing the adventures and misadventures of the space age family.
Legendary character actor Walter Pidgeon -- who played Dr. Morbius in 1956's iconic Forbidden Planet -- was born on this day back in 1897. (And, kids, if you've never seen Forbidden Planet, stop what you're doing right now and go to the video store.)
As I've often said, one of the appealing traits that Science Fiction possesses is its ability to blend with practically any other genre of record. For example, 1980's Death Watch -- which starred the lovely Romy Schneider -- is as much a drama as it is SciFi in that its story uses futuristic technology to track a woman suffering a terminal illness through her decline, all for the purpose of television ratings. Though she's no longer with us, Schneider was born on this day in 1938.
Much of what Anne Randall did as an actress was in far more conventional fare, but a single appearance aboard the seminal Westworld (1973) is certainly enough to draw mention from these pages. Randall was born on this day in 1944.
Enjoying a birthday on this date is the luscious Maren Jensen best known for her portrayal of Athena in the original TV version of Battlestar Galactica. Her character openly pined for Starbuck throughout the entire first (and only) season, and there's a part of me that hopes they still somehow ended up together! Jensen was born in 1956.
Rosalind Allen hasn't been seen all that much of late, but Science Fiction fans might recognize her from her work aboard Star Trek: The Next Generation and SeaQuest 2032. Allen was born on this day in 1957.
The lovely Rosalind Chao started out on Star Trek: The Next Generation and continued on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine when her character's husband -- Chief Myles O'Brien -- took a post there. After Trek, she's gone on to a series of roles in movies and television including Imposter (2001), The O.C., and The Event. Chao was born on this day back in 1957.
Elizabeth Peña built a career around solid performances involving smart and tough women dealing with the circumstances of whatever world her characters were deposited within. Truth be told, she didn't appear in very much genre-specific work, but she did enjoy exposure in Batteries Not Included, The Invaders, It Came From Outer Space II, and The Outer Limits. Though she's no longer with us, Peña was born on this day in 1959.
There's no doubt in my mind that actor Jason Alexander will always be fondly remember as the helplessly pathetic George Constanza on NBC's long-running Seinfeld sitcom, but allegedly the man is a confessed Trek fan as well. He whet his appetite, he took a guest role aboard Star Trek: Voyager's "Think Tank," a fifth season adventure that saw Capt. Janeway aligning with a group of problem solvers on her quest to get the crew home. Alexander was born on this day in 1959.
The venerable Chi McBride joined Will Smith in the big screen adaptation of Isaac Asimov's classic, I, Robot (2004), for 20th Century Fox Films. A fan favorite of many genres, McBride was born on this day in 1961.
Director Alex Proyas has a long career affiliated with some quality genre projects, including marshaling such projects to the screen as The Crow, Dark City, I Robot, and Knowing. Proyas was born on this day in 1963.
The delicious Jaime Bergman appeared in the direct-to-DVD monster movie Boa Vs. Python (2004). Bergman was born on this day in 1975.
Some are born to be the superhero, and some are born to help them out: such is the case of Warren Kole, who can be seen as one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s many bridge technicians aboard Marvel's The Avengers. Kole was born on this day in 1977.
Lovely Keri Lynn Pratt joined Tom Welling and the crew for several episodes of the WB's Smallville, filling in the shoes of ace reporter Cat Grant (pictured above). Pratt was born on this day in 1978.
Anthony Mackie soared to success in the role of Sam Wilson -- aka Falcon (pictured) -- in the Marvel Universe's Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), and he'll definitely be back for Captain America: Civil War. Mackie was born on this day in 1978.
Being perfectly honest, I've never seen Charly (1968), the SciFi/Drama starring Cliff Robertson and Claire Bloom that was released on this day in 1968; but I have read the story -- "Flowers for Algernon" -- upon which it is based. For those unaware, here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"An intellectually disabled man undergoes an experiment that gives him the intelligence of a genius."
"An intellectually disabled man undergoes an experiment that gives him the intelligence of a genius."
On this day in 2016 (in the Netherlands), society-at-large was treated to yet another view of the Apocalypse with Daylight's End. It starred Johnny Strong and Lance Henriksen, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Years after a mysterious plague has devastated the planet and turned most of humanity into blood-hungry creatures, a rogue drifter on a vengeful hunt stumbles across a band of survivors in an abandoned police station and reluctantly agrees to try to help them defend themselves and escape to the sanctuary they so desperately need."
"Years after a mysterious plague has devastated the planet and turned most of humanity into blood-hungry creatures, a rogue drifter on a vengeful hunt stumbles across a band of survivors in an abandoned police station and reluctantly agrees to try to help them defend themselves and escape to the sanctuary they so desperately need."
Back in 1963, The Outer Limits was only first finding itself. Its second episode, "The Hundred Days of the Dragon," premiered on this day back then, and here's the summary from IMDB.com:
"The election draws near and William Lyons Selby seems destined to win. Elsewhere, the communist nation of dictator Li Kwan has achieved a remarkable breakthrough: a serum that renders human flesh plastic. A simple injection and a process of molding allows an agent to quietly murder Selby and take his place! America has elected a spy to the highest office in that nation. Selby's daughter and his aide suspect all is not right, but have no idea what the real problem is. One thing seems certain: if they can't find out soon, the problem of "who's who" is sure to widen, and America will fall to an insidious enemy without firing a shot..."
"The election draws near and William Lyons Selby seems destined to win. Elsewhere, the communist nation of dictator Li Kwan has achieved a remarkable breakthrough: a serum that renders human flesh plastic. A simple injection and a process of molding allows an agent to quietly murder Selby and take his place! America has elected a spy to the highest office in that nation. Selby's daughter and his aide suspect all is not right, but have no idea what the real problem is. One thing seems certain: if they can't find out soon, the problem of "who's who" is sure to widen, and America will fall to an insidious enemy without firing a shot..."
On this day in 1976, Gemini Man launched its first (and only) season after hitting the airwaves the previous spring with a popular telefilm. The first episode was titled "Smithereens," and here's the plot summary compliments of TV.com:
"Sam is assigned to drive a truck transporting a secret fuel booster that can triple fuel economy in cars, along with the man who developed it. Not only is the additive dangerously unstable and explosive, the scientist has sold out to the oil industry and is now trying to eliminate Sam and all evidence of the chemical."
"Sam is assigned to drive a truck transporting a secret fuel booster that can triple fuel economy in cars, along with the man who developed it. Not only is the additive dangerously unstable and explosive, the scientist has sold out to the oil industry and is now trying to eliminate Sam and all evidence of the chemical."
On this day back in 1977, the TV show Logan's Run premiered "The Collectors," an episode wherein Logan and Jessica believes they've finally reached Sanctuary. Could it be true? (Hint: probably not!)
Does anyone remember Jason of Star Command? I sure do. I can remember having a lot of fun with the program was in the late '70's. On this day back in 1978, the episode "Escape from Dragos" premiered, and the story saw Jason and Commander Canarvin escaping from some galactic prison.
On this day in 1986, The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers aired "Wildfire." This (technically) served as the program's seventh episode (the episodes were aired wildly out of order), and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"While transporting some highly volatile isotopes, the Rangers encounter Wildfire. A rogue whose wanted in by several governments and criminals. With their engines damaged, the Rangers have to find a way who will stop at nothing to get Wildfire."
"While transporting some highly volatile isotopes, the Rangers encounter Wildfire. A rogue whose wanted in by several governments and criminals. With their engines damaged, the Rangers have to find a way who will stop at nothing to get Wildfire."
Meanwhile -- in TV syndication back in 1989 -- Star Trek: The Next Generation's third season premiered with an episode titled "Evolution." Here's the (edited) plot summary, compliments of IMDB.com:
"The Enterprise is carrying an eminent scientist, Dr. Paul Stubbs, to the site of a binary star where they are expecting a massive stellar explosion to occur in a few hours. He has been waiting many years for this to occur and has devoted his entire life to its study. The Enterprise however begins to suffer from a series of malfunctions, some minor but others far more serious."
"The Enterprise is carrying an eminent scientist, Dr. Paul Stubbs, to the site of a binary star where they are expecting a massive stellar explosion to occur in a few hours. He has been waiting many years for this to occur and has devoted his entire life to its study. The Enterprise however begins to suffer from a series of malfunctions, some minor but others far more serious."
On this day in 1994, The X-Files aired "The Host." This served as the second episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Mulder pursues a humanoid, parasitic organism that uses sewage systems as its home."
"Mulder pursues a humanoid, parasitic organism that uses sewage systems as its home."
On this day in 2000, Batman Beyond aired "Untouchable." This served as the second episode of the program's third (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Batman hunts for a mysterious criminal with a personal repulsion field and one of the occupants of a medical research lab may be that person."
"Batman hunts for a mysterious criminal with a personal repulsion field and one of the occupants of a medical research lab may be that person."
On this day in 2008, the Fringe Division was just getting started, and the show aired the third episode of its first season. The hour was titled "The Ghost Network," and here's the (edited) plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"The team investigates a young man, Roy McComb, who seems to have the ability to predict major incidents before they happen. When they search his apartment, they find drawings and models of a variety of attacks, including the flight from Germany. In the most recent incident, a bus load of people are gassed and a bag stolen from an undercover narcotics agent."
"The team investigates a young man, Roy McComb, who seems to have the ability to predict major incidents before they happen. When they search his apartment, they find drawings and models of a variety of attacks, including the flight from Germany. In the most recent incident, a bus load of people are gassed and a bag stolen from an undercover narcotics agent."
On this day in 2011, Fox TV's Fringe came back from its third season finale with the premiere of its fourth, an hour titled "Neither Here Nor There." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Just one week after Peter Bishop saved the day and was then wiped from existence, the truce between the two worlds remains intact and the two sides are forced to work together. Lincoln Lee joins the Fringe team as they investigate a shapeshifter case that is very personal to him."
"Just one week after Peter Bishop saved the day and was then wiped from existence, the truce between the two worlds remains intact and the two sides are forced to work together. Lincoln Lee joins the Fringe team as they investigate a shapeshifter case that is very personal to him."
