It all began right here: On this day back in 1987, lightning stuck again when Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Encounter at Farpoint" premiered in television syndication. Trek fans had waited almost two decades for their franchise to return to the small screen where the adventures of the United Federation of Planet's flagship had begun. Audiences were introduced to Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D. I certainly remember it well. I recall thinking, at the time, that I didn't much care for the adventure -- it seemed a bit 'juvenile,' almost a deliberate, intentional nod back to the original program's storytelling techniques -- but I was thrilled to have an all-new cast & crew with which to continue exploring the human condition.
Even with as imperfect an incarnation as Star Trek: Enterprise was (and, mark my words, it was imperfect), it still at times proved to be "the little engine that could," chugging along without a whole lot of love for its four seasons. Coming when it did in the history of Trek may've in some small ways doomed it to obscurity, and certainly serving as the flagship SciFi program for the failing UPN Network did its crew no favors. Still, its cast and its fans deserved better than they got with its jilted finale (which was handed over to guest stars, mind you), and it all began on this day back in 2001.
Let it be said: "A great cast does not always make for a great reboot." That was largely my issue with NBC's 2007 retooling of the 1970's SciFi series Bionic Woman, a reimagining seemingly only prescient enough to drop the word "the" from the original title. Sure, it offered up some modern era special effects and whatnot, but lost was the heart and soul of the character -- Jaime Sommers -- that made the original such a joy to watch. That's not intended as a slight to series lead Michelle Ryan as the talented actress did the best she could with the material showrunners provided. It premiered on this day in 2007. Alas, it wasn't meant to be ...
For the record, I don't dislike Star Wars: Rebels. What I do feel is that -- when it's compared alongside the previous animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars -- it's easily distinguished as a vastly inferior program. Some of that may be owed to characters who took a great while to grow on me (as a viewer), as I've recently said some of Rebels finer moments involve established Star Wars characters showing up in guest spots. In any event, it is what it is, and I'd always rather have more Star Wars on the television than less. It premiered on this day back in 2014.
The great Edmund Gwenn (above left) is probably best remembered by most for his portrayal of Kris Kringle aboard the 1947 holiday-classic, Miracle On 34th Street; but -- to SciFi fans -- he'll always be Dr. Harold Medford in 1954's 'Giant Ant' flick, Them. Though he's no longer with us, Gwenn was born on this day in 1877.
Roger Corman's Death Race 2000 gets a bad rap as being more exploitation-style filmmaking than it does Science Fiction, but I tend to think its ideas and themes definitely belong properly explored in our favored genre. The lovely Joyce Jameson appeared as one of the 'scummy' TV reporters in the flick, and -- though she's no longer with us -- Jameson was born on this day in 1927.
Though he only appeared briefly as the holographic Landru from Star Trek's "The Return of the Archons," Charles Macaulay also enjoyed a small role in "Wolf in the Fold" for good measure. He also enjoyed work on Wonder Woman and the original version of the alien invasion drama V. Though he's no longer with us, Macaulay was born on this day in 1927.
Veteran character actor Richard Herd has built an impressive resume, boasting nearly 150 separate roles across several decades in the business. Science Fiction fans probably best remember him from the original run of V, but he's also enjoyed work aboard Star Trek: The Next Generation, Quantum Leap, SeaQuest 2032, and Star Trek: Voyager. Herd was born on this day in 1932.
Since beginning her career in the early 1960's, the lovely Martine Beswick has built an impressive resume in some quality genre entertainment. Her theatrical debut was as a Bond girl in From Russia With Love (1963), and she went on to roles in such projects as Thunderball (1965), One Million Years B.C. (1966), The Solarnauts (1967), Prehistoric Women (1967), Night Gallery (1971), Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde (1971), Strange New World (1975), The Six Million Dollar Man (1976), The Powers of Matthew Star (1983), Cyclone (1987), and Trancers II (1991). Beswick was born on this day in 1941.
Though he found fame originally in the long-lasting police procedural Adam-12 playing officer Jim Reed, Kent McCord is best remembered by SciFi fans as the father of John Crichton on Syfy's underrated Farscape. And who could forget his role as Capt. Troy on Galactica 1980? (Well, Galactica fans might want to!) McCord was born on this day in 1942.
When it comes to prehistoric women, Raquel Welch seems to draw all of the attention, but my money's on the dreamy Victoria Vetri, shown above from her performance in When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970). Vetri was born on this day in 1944.
D.A.R.Y.L. (1985) remains one of those 1980's SciFi film that has yet to find its way into the remake hopper, but there's still time for this tale of a young boy who discovers he's a robot to get a modern makeover. In the film, Michael McKean and Mary Beth Hurt played Daryl's adoptive parents, and Hurt was born on this day in 1948.
She remains the original Sarah Conner, mother to the man who saved our world from the ravages of 'the machines.' Linda Hamilton was born on this day in 1956, and she blazed a trail for female action heroes to follow in the 1984 sci-fi classic The Terminator. Once was never enough, and she returned for good measure in 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
Though she's definitely more well known for her work in Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Sue Anderson turned in a solid performance watching the world end in 10.5: Apocalypse (2006). Anderson was born on this day in 1962.
In 1983, Lysette Anthony starred as the lovely Lyssa in the cult space fantasy Krull, wooing fanboys to the possible franchise in a heartbeat. Anthony was born on this day in 1963.
Ty Miller explored his 'inner monster' with a guest spot aboard Fox TV's long-running The X-Files. The actor also enjoyed screen time aboard Not Quite Human II (1989), Trancers 4: Jack of Swords (1994), and Trancers 5: Sudden Deth (1994). Miller was born on this day in 1964.
Jim Caviezel has had a bit of a storied career. He's played Jesus in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, and now he's saving mankind one person at a time as part of the CBS technology procedural Persons of Interest. I like to remember him best from 2000's time travel-ish yarn Frequency and the delicious SciFi B-movie Outlander (2008). Caviezel was born on this day in 1968.
The actor known only as Ninja (aka Watkin Tudor Jones) delivered fiery goodness to Neill Blomkamp's box office dud, Chappie (2015). Ninja was born on this day in 1974.
Jacob Tierney's resume isn't exactly running over with work in Science Fiction, but an appearance in TekWar: TekJustice (1994) certainly deserves a mention. Tierney was born on this day in 1979.
Mark Famiglietti played a role in 2003's Terminator: Rise of the Machines as Claire Dane's initial love interest. Famiglietti was born on this day in 1979.
Back in 2007, easy-on-the-eyes Christina Milian had a single guest starring appearance on one of the CW's signature dramas, Smallville (pictured). Milian was born on this day in 1981.
Talulah Riley has visited the Doctor Who universe as Miss Evangelista twice back in 2008. Plus, she had a role in Christopher Nolan's Inception (2010). Not a bad couple of years, eh? Riley was born on this day in 1985.
On this day in 1952, Adventures of Superman aired "The Haunted Lighthouse." This served as the second episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"While visiting his aunt and cousin on Moose Island, Jimmy is alarmed by their suspicious behavior. After being warned to stay away from a lighthouse that is said to be haunted, he calls Clark for help in his investigation."
"While visiting his aunt and cousin on Moose Island, Jimmy is alarmed by their suspicious behavior. After being warned to stay away from a lighthouse that is said to be haunted, he calls Clark for help in his investigation."
On this day in 1953, Tom Corbett, Space Cadet aired "The Outpost Of Danger." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the adventure's plot summary:
"Tom and his crew respond to a distress signal and find an remote outpost whose colonists are ravaged by a deadly disease."
"Tom and his crew respond to a distress signal and find an remote outpost whose colonists are ravaged by a deadly disease."
On this day in 1986, The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers aired "The Power Within." This (technically) served as the program's twentieth episode (they were aired wildly out of order), and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"While investigating the disappearance of several ships in a sector, the Rangers are captured by Nimrod. He strips them of their badges then forces them into a game where Nimrod hunts the Rangers. Can the Rangers survive the game without their powers?"
"While investigating the disappearance of several ships in a sector, the Rangers are captured by Nimrod. He strips them of their badges then forces them into a game where Nimrod hunts the Rangers. Can the Rangers survive the game without their powers?"
On this day in 1993, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman aired "Strange Visitor (From Another Planet)." This served as the second episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A paranoid rogue Federal agent's investigation of Superman leaves Clark wondering about his true origins."
"A paranoid rogue Federal agent's investigation of Superman leaves Clark wondering about his true origins."
On this day in 1993, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine returned for its second season with the airing of "The Homecoming." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Word that a previously thought dead Bajoran resistance legend is still alive sends Kira and Chief O'Brien to Cardassia IV to rescue him; meanwhile "The Circle", a sect of the Bajoran provisional government that is intent on wiping out alien influence, is sneaking into power."
"Word that a previously thought dead Bajoran resistance legend is still alive sends Kira and Chief O'Brien to Cardassia IV to rescue him; meanwhile "The Circle", a sect of the Bajoran provisional government that is intent on wiping out alien influence, is sneaking into power."
On this day in 1994, Ocean Girl aired "Human Tears." This served as the fifth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as detailed on IMDB.com:
"Jason talks to Neri about the divorce of his parents. Meanwhile, Dianne is trying to convince Commander Lucas to ratify new equipment for her lab and Brett is convinced that his mother wants Commander Lucas to be his step-father."
"Jason talks to Neri about the divorce of his parents. Meanwhile, Dianne is trying to convince Commander Lucas to ratify new equipment for her lab and Brett is convinced that his mother wants Commander Lucas to be his step-father."
On this day in 1997, Stargate: SG-1 aired "Thor's Hammer." This served as the ninth episode to the long-running program's first season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"SG-1 goes to the planet Cimmeria in search of allies against the Goa'uld. Upon arrival, Jack and Teal'c are trapped in a labyrinth, where the only exit is through Thor's Hammer, a device to destroy Goa'uld, but preserve the host. Daniel Jackson must destroy the device that could someday have saved his wife in order to free his friends."
"SG-1 goes to the planet Cimmeria in search of allies against the Goa'uld. Upon arrival, Jack and Teal'c are trapped in a labyrinth, where the only exit is through Thor's Hammer, a device to destroy Goa'uld, but preserve the host. Daniel Jackson must destroy the device that could someday have saved his wife in order to free his friends."
On this day in 1999, Fox TV's Futurama aired "A Flight To Remember." This served as the premiere for the popular program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"Professor Farnsworth treats the Planet Express crew to a vacation on the largest, most luxurious space cruise ship ever built... the Titanic. Once in space, love is in the air as Bender falls for a beautiful robot Countess and Fry dates both Leela and Amy. Captain Zapp Brannigan sets a course for adventure when he decides to steer the Titanic through a swarm of comets, or as he calls them, "the icebergs of the sky"."
"Professor Farnsworth treats the Planet Express crew to a vacation on the largest, most luxurious space cruise ship ever built... the Titanic. Once in space, love is in the air as Bender falls for a beautiful robot Countess and Fry dates both Leela and Amy. Captain Zapp Brannigan sets a course for adventure when he decides to steer the Titanic through a swarm of comets, or as he calls them, "the icebergs of the sky"."
Unlike most critics, I actually thought the idea surrounding Star Trek: Enterprise -- the idea of going back in time before the Federation existed -- was brilliant. My thinking at the time was that we were going to shed the glossy political correctness of that "perfect union" in favor of showing Earth man's first real struggles to reach the distant stars. It could be the launching pad for something really, really special in all of Trekdom ... and then it premiered, and I realized the powers that be basically threw all of that promise out the nearest airlock in favor of something vastly more familiar than it should've been. Still, kudos to Paramount for keeping the torch alive as long as they did, and the two-hour premiere titled "Broken Bow" first hit the airwaves on this day back in 2001. According to our friends at TrekCore.com, here's the plot summary:
"When a Klingon is injured escaping from the Suliban in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, Starfleet Command views it as the perfect opportunity to launch their first warp five starship, the NX-01 Enterprise, commanded by Captain Jonathan Archer, to return the Klingon to Qo'nos, the Klingon homeworld."
"When a Klingon is injured escaping from the Suliban in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, Starfleet Command views it as the perfect opportunity to launch their first warp five starship, the NX-01 Enterprise, commanded by Captain Jonathan Archer, to return the Klingon to Qo'nos, the Klingon homeworld."
On this day in 2006, Eureka aired "H.O.U.S.E. Rules." This served as the eleventh episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A bad day in the lab forces Carter to rethink his decision to live in Eureka, prompting an intervention from S.A.R.A.H. (the self Activated Residential Automated Habitat)."
"A bad day in the lab forces Carter to rethink his decision to live in Eureka, prompting an intervention from S.A.R.A.H. (the self Activated Residential Automated Habitat)."
On this day in 2007, a fully rebooted Bionic Woman premiered on television. This version starred the lovely Michelle Ryan filling in the bionic shoes of Jaime Sommers, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Jamie Sommers is a young woman and college dropout working at a San Francisco nightclub to support her rebellious 15-year-old sister Becca since the death of their parents. But her life changes in one night when the car Jamie is riding in with her fiancée is hit by a truck. But help arrives in the form of a top-secret government team, led by the shady Jonas Bledsoe, who saves Jamie's life by having her severely damaged legs, right arm, and right eye and ear replaced with million-dollar bionics which give Jamie superhuman abilities."
"Jamie Sommers is a young woman and college dropout working at a San Francisco nightclub to support her rebellious 15-year-old sister Becca since the death of their parents. But her life changes in one night when the car Jamie is riding in with her fiancée is hit by a truck. But help arrives in the form of a top-secret government team, led by the shady Jonas Bledsoe, who saves Jamie's life by having her severely damaged legs, right arm, and right eye and ear replaced with million-dollar bionics which give Jamie superhuman abilities."
On this day in 2011, Alphas aired "Original Sin." This served as the eleventh episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Dr. Rosen (David Strathairn) and his team must decide who to trust when Red Flag, led by Stanton Parish (guest star John Pyper-Ferguson), escalates the war on the Department of Defense."
"Dr. Rosen (David Strathairn) and his team must decide who to trust when Red Flag, led by Stanton Parish (guest star John Pyper-Ferguson), escalates the war on the Department of Defense."
It all began right here: the Walt Disney Company bought Lucasfilm, and the first incarnation of Star Wars they launched was Star Wars: Rebels for Disney XD on this day in 2014. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the premise for the hour-long launch titled "Spark of Rebellion":
"Ezra is a normal boy who finds himself caught up in the beginning of the Rebellion against the mighty Empire."
"Ezra is a normal boy who finds himself caught up in the beginning of the Rebellion against the mighty Empire."
On this day in 2015, Doctor Who aired the second episode to the long-running program's ninth season. This was the second part of the two-part opener, and -- according to our friends at IMDB.com -- here's the plot summary:
"Trapped and alone in a terrifying Dalek city, the Doctor is at the heart of an evil Empire; no sonic, no TARDIS, nobody to help. With his greatest temptation before him, can the Doctor resist? And will there be mercy?"
"Trapped and alone in a terrifying Dalek city, the Doctor is at the heart of an evil Empire; no sonic, no TARDIS, nobody to help. With his greatest temptation before him, can the Doctor resist? And will there be mercy?"
It all began right here: on this day in 1937, The Shadow radio serial premiered, bringing the adventures of one of the coolest crime fighters ever to the masses at large. The first episode was titled "The Death House Rescue," and here's the adventure's plot summary as provided by The Shadow Wiki:
"A man who's looking for a job mistakenly becomes involved with a bank robbery. He is later sentenced to death for a cop killing he didn't commit. The Shadow investigates and locates a missed piece of evidence, which helps free the wrongly accused man."
"A man who's looking for a job mistakenly becomes involved with a bank robbery. He is later sentenced to death for a cop killing he didn't commit. The Shadow investigates and locates a missed piece of evidence, which helps free the wrongly accused man."
