Premiering on this day back in 1975, Space:1999 built a modest audience, but it's remained more of a 'cult' favorite among sci-fi enthusiasts over the years. I never much cared for it -- I thought the premise was kinda/sorta interesting enough, but the characters never really compelled me to tune in to know more about them. However, I'm happy to admit that I recently started watching it again on DVD, and -- despite some obviously aged elements to so much of it -- I'm enjoying it quite immensely.
History records that it was on this fateful day back in the year 1966 that Gene Roddenberry -- believing he had captured lightning in a bottle -- took a copy of Star Trek's "Where No Man Has Gone Before" to play for the crowds gathered at the World Science Fiction Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. How was the program first received? Well, let's just say that Gene couldn't sate their appetites, and -- before the event was all over -- crowds also demanded to view the black-and-white print the man also brought along of the original Trek pilot, "The Cage." So it goes without saying that many folks credit September 4th as the serendipitous birth of the franchise.
Nicholas Worth had the good fortune of appearing in several SciFi properties during his tenure in the entertainment business. Most notably? I remember seeing him first as Bruno in 1982's campy Swamp Thing. Not long after, he popped up in roles in Hell Comes to Frogtown, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The X-Files, and Star Trek: Voyager. Though he's no longer with us, Worth was born on this day in 1937.
Actor Michael Berryman enjoys a huge, huge following in genre entertainment as what many would describe as a 'horror icon.' Still, he's garnered a few SciFi appearances, most notable a brief role as Captain Rixx in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as an uncredited role in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Berryman was born on this day in 1948.
What's not to love about the lovely, Patricia Tallman? Great actress? Hot! Babylon 5? Hot! Actress? Hot! Stuntwoman, too? Hottest! She's been a part of SciFi for about as long as she's been in the business, and she's rightly amassed a terrific fan following. Happy Birthday, Pat! She was born on this day in 1957 ... and she's still rockin' that red look!
Legendary voice actor John DiMaggio (and general vocal badass) has a pretty impressive career in bringing characters to life, but, for my tastes, he's done nothing so impressive as to give voice to Bender, the duplicitous robot on Futurama. Mr. DiMaggio was born on this day back in 1968.
Noah Taylor had a terrific role opposite Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow (2014). The actor has also appeared in such properties as Predestination (2014) and Powers (2015). Taylor was born on this day in 1969.
In CBS's apocalyptic-themed Jericho, Richard Speight Jr. played Bill, one of the local policemen forced to keep the peace when the U.S. government apparently went bye-bye. Speight was born on this day in 1970.
Whether you know it or not, Françoise Yip maintains an impressive resume among some very memorable SciFi projects. Since beginning her career in 1995, she's been involved in Millennium, Earth: Final Conflict, Seven Days, Robocop: Prime Directives, Mindstorm, Freedom, Smallville, Andromeda, Flash Gordon, Aliens V. Predator: Requiem, Caprica, Fringe, Sanctuary, and Arrow. Yip was born on this day in 1972.
I'm of the opinion that no version or iteration of the Power Rangers is Science Fiction, but I've been told many of the programs dabble generously in SciFi elements. So out of respect to my budding readership, I'll give longtime Power Ranger actor Jason David Frank a courteous nod: he's played Tommy Oliver for the better part of a decade. Frank was born on this day in 1973.
Lovely Nona Gaye was a key supporting player in both The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. It was a role she also reprised in The Matrix Online video game. Gaye was born on this day in 1974.
Wes Bentley welcomed fame and fortune as it came hand-in-hand with his part in the big screen adaptation of The Hunger Games (2012). As well he should: check out his profile on IMDB.com, and you'll see he has plenty of other opportunities in the pipeline. Bentley was born on this day in 1978.
Young Carter Jenkins played a significant role in the short-lived Surface (2005) program alongside budding starlet Lake Bell. Jenkins has also worked on Lost, The 4400, and a variety of more mainstream fare. Jenkins was born on this day in 1991.
On this day in 1975, Space:1999 aired its very first episode. The series premiere was titled "Breakaway," and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The new commander of Moonbase Alpha's investigation of a mysterious disease uncovers the evidence of a far greater looming disaster."
"The new commander of Moonbase Alpha's investigation of a mysterious disease uncovers the evidence of a far greater looming disaster."
On this day in 1976, Space: 1999 returned to the airwaves for its second season. The episode was called "The Metamorph," and here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:
"An Eagle is sent onto the surface of the planet Psychon, which has titanium, needed for repairs to the Alpha Base. It fails to return and is used by Psychon scientist Mentor as a bait with which to entice other members of the Alphan crew onto the planet. Mentor is building a computer but it will be fuelled by the living brains of humans, and he has his eye on those of the Alphan crew. Fortunately his daughter, the shape-shifting Maya, does not share her father's views and is on the side of the Alphans."
"An Eagle is sent onto the surface of the planet Psychon, which has titanium, needed for repairs to the Alpha Base. It fails to return and is used by Psychon scientist Mentor as a bait with which to entice other members of the Alphan crew onto the planet. Mentor is building a computer but it will be fuelled by the living brains of humans, and he has his eye on those of the Alphan crew. Fortunately his daughter, the shape-shifting Maya, does not share her father's views and is on the side of the Alphans."
On this day in 1996, Star Trek: Voyager premiered its third season on the UPN Network, airing "Basics, Part 2," the conclusion of a cliffhanger spawned at the end of its second season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The entire Voyager was marooned on a desolate planet by the Kazon. Tom Paris was sent out to try and find someone who can help them. And Lon Suder and the Doctor who are still on Voyager try to help."
"The entire Voyager was marooned on a desolate planet by the Kazon. Tom Paris was sent out to try and find someone who can help them. And Lon Suder and the Doctor who are still on Voyager try to help."
You're all free to think what you might about the Star Wars universe -- yes, that OTHER big space franchise. Me? I like it well enough. I figure that the universe is big enough for me to have many sci-fi loves in my life. Anyway, on this day in 2013, Dark Horse Comics launched the first issue of The Star Wars. It was an impressive experiment that actually went back to George Lucas's original script for his expansive space opera and re-examined the story from that unique perspective. Familiar characters were given new looks, as well as new origins, but, for my tastes, it felt an awful lot more like the Prequel Trilogy than it did the Original Trilogy.
