I've talked with some SciFi fans who hate-hate-hate to acknowledge that the overall history of SciFi film and images is occasionally riddled with cheese. The truth is that some of the most inspired if not downright crazy fun in all of SciFiDom (my word for all things SciFi) happens to come from such huge blocks of cheese. (Yes, I'm talking about you, Roger Corman, and your films.)
One half of Quentin Tarantino's Grindhouse experiment was a nasty (in a good way) piece of cheese from Robert Rodriguez called Planet Terror. In it, Rose McGowan plays a stripper with a heart of gold and a leg that's a lethal weapon battling the scientifically created undead in a bid to save the world as we know it. If you haven't seen it, make sure you have a strong stomach before you do. In any event, the lovely Ms. McGowan -- also seen in the Conan the Barbarian (2011) reboot as well as TV's Charmed -- celebrates her birthday today, born on this date back in 1973.
One half of Quentin Tarantino's Grindhouse experiment was a nasty (in a good way) piece of cheese from Robert Rodriguez called Planet Terror. In it, Rose McGowan plays a stripper with a heart of gold and a leg that's a lethal weapon battling the scientifically created undead in a bid to save the world as we know it. If you haven't seen it, make sure you have a strong stomach before you do. In any event, the lovely Ms. McGowan -- also seen in the Conan the Barbarian (2011) reboot as well as TV's Charmed -- celebrates her birthday today, born on this date back in 1973.
When award-winning make-up artist Stuart Freeborn was tasked with creating the face of Star Wars Jedi Master Yoda for The Empire Strikes Back (1980), he resorted to using his own face as a foundation ... and mixed in a little whimsical expression of that from theoretical physicist Albert Einstein for good measure. Though he's no longer with us, Freeborn was born on this day in 1914. [Source: IMDB.com]
The venerable Nora Marlowe leaves behind a legacy of well over one hundred different screen credits, including work genre fans might recall from One Step Beyond, The Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone, Soylent Green (1973), and Westworld (1973). Though she's no longer with us, Marlowe was born on this day in 1915. [Source: IMDB.com]
The episodes of Star Trek (TOS) involving the scheming Harry Mudd are always a source of merriment for serious Trek enthusiasts, and why wouldn't they be? Any time Harry Mudd was around viewers were assured of some great con, a few good laughs, and a host of lovely ladies ... much like Rhae and Alyce Andrece from "I, Mudd." Though this duo is no longer with us, the Andrece sisters were born on this day in 1936.
The talented Donna Anderson (above left) joined Anthony Perkins with a role aboard the Apocalyptic thriller On The Beach (1959). She also enjoyed a guest spot aboard CBS's The Incredible Hulk. Anderson was born on this day in 1939. [Source: IMDB.com]
I've always liked the work of William Devane. I remember first seeing him in a TV movie back in 1977, a flick called Red Alert, wherein he was a regular Joe racing against time to avert a nuclear catastrophe. He's had a great turn as part of Kiefer Sutherland's 24 universe, and he's even blessed SciFi fans with appearances in franchises like Stargate: SG-1. Devane was born on this day in 1939.
Not only has George Lazenby played the iconic James Bond but also he's played Jor-El -- father to Superman -- in TV's serial adventure, Superboy. Lazenby was born on this day in 1939.
Hey, kids: there's one of the original "HubbaHubbas" in all of SciFiDom. That -- if you don't know it -- is the lovely Raquel Welch. Fans in these parts best know her from her work in 1966's Fantastic Voyage wherein she was shrunk down and injected into the body of man ... all in the name of science. Welch was born on this day in 1940.
As of late, the venerable Christian Rodska hasn't done much in the realm of Science Fiction, but -- back in the day -- he had appearances in such properties as The Tomorrow People (1978) and The Galactic Garden (1985). Rodska was born on this day in 1945.
Dennis Dugan managed to squeeze in twice the screen time aboard Walt Disney's SciFi/Comedy Unidentified Flying Oddball back in 1979. Dugan was born on this day in 1946. [Source: IMDB.com]
In his role as the frontman for Queen, Freddie Mercury certainly penned and performed a SciFi anthem for the ages with his work aboard Flash Gordon (1980). Though he's no longer with us, Mercury was born on this day in 1946. [Source: IMDB.com]
Effects man Andrew Probert got his start on the original Battlestar Galactica before moving on to such projects at Star Trek - The Motion Picture (1979), Airwolf, The Philadelphia Experiment (1984), Street Hawk, Back to the Future (1985), and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Probert was born on this day in 1946.
It isn't often that a comedian like Michael Keaton gets a mention from the world from SciFi, but I'll give him one today: he starred as billioinaire business tycoon Raymond Sellars in 2014's Robocop. Yes, he was the bad guy! Keaton was born on this day in 1951.
Though her resume is quite a bit slim for a few decades, the lovely Glory Annen managed to corner the market on a few of the sexier SciFi roles of her generation. She booked appearances aboard Alien Prey (1977), Spaced Out (1979), and Supergirl (1984). Though she's no longer with us, Annen was born on this day in 1952.
Genre regular Peter Wingfield has lined up solid roles in several notable franchises of merit, including work aboard Highlander, The Outer Limits, First Wave, Queen of Swords, Stargate: SG-1, The Dead Zone, X-Men 2 (2003), Smallville, Riverworld, Caprica, Alphas, and Sanctuary. Wingfield was born on this day in 1962.
Self-described 'word monkey' Stephen Greenhorn has certainly strung a few quality sentences together for his work aboard the BBC's long-running Doctor Who, turning in scripts and concepts for "The Lazarus Experiment," "The Doctor's Daughter," and "The Magician's Apprentice." Greenhorn was born on this day in 1964. [Source: IMDB.com]
Dweezil Zappa had a small role aboard the SciFi/Cult flick, The Running Man (1987), alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. Zappa was born on this day in 1969.
I honestly don't know much about the whole Dark Rising franchise, but I've been assured it's the welcome home of some campy, SciFi pulp. In any event, Landy Cannon (above right) made regular appearances aboard its various incarnations, as well as enjoying some screen time on PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal, Earth: Final Conflict, and Lexx. Cannon was born on this day in 1971.
You know what they say: "So many Power Rangers, so little time ..." Justin Nimmo (above right) slipped into the suit of the Silver Space Ranger for the short-lived Power Rangers in Space. Nimmo was born on this day in 1974.
Syfy's Farscape is one of those rare SciFi gems that continues to delight even upon multiple rewatching. And the program had so very many gifted guest stars, including the lovely Bianca Roe, who made things tough on astronaut John Crichton for a few intertwined episodes. Roe was born on this day in 1976.
Critical darling, Game of Thrones star, and generally super-sexy Carice van Houten doesn't have much that resembles Science Fiction on her resume; so let's be thankful for her appearance in Repo Men (2010). Van Houten was born on this day in 1976.
Laura Bertram was part and parcel of the ensemble at the heart of a program called Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda. I lasted with it for its first two seasons, but then I realized it just didn't feel like it was going anywhere. However, Bertram always hit her marks and gave me one reason to hang with it as long as I did. Bertram was born on this day in 1978.
The lovely Annabelle Wallis paired up with screen legend Tom Cruise for a bit of Fantasy/Adventure for her part aboard The Mummy (2017). Wallis was born on this day in 1984. [Source: IMDB.com]
In her youth, the lovely Davida Williams enjoyed a guest spot aboard "Children of Time," an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's fifth season. Williams was born on this day in 1986. [Source: IMDB.com]
On this day in 1975 (in West Germany), sports and business collided in the future in Rollerball. Directed by Norman Jewison, the SciFi feature starred James Caan and John Houseman, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"In a corporate-controlled future, an ultra-violent sport known as Rollerball represents the world, and one of its powerful athletes is out to defy those who want him out of the game."
"In a corporate-controlled future, an ultra-violent sport known as Rollerball represents the world, and one of its powerful athletes is out to defy those who want him out of the game."
On this day in 1980 (in West Germany), Contamination contaminated the consciousness of audiences who took it in. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A former astronaut helps a government agent and a police detective track the source of mysterious alien pod spores, filled with lethal flesh-dissolving acid, to a South American coffee plantation controlled by alien pod clones."
"A former astronaut helps a government agent and a police detective track the source of mysterious alien pod spores, filled with lethal flesh-dissolving acid, to a South American coffee plantation controlled by alien pod clones."
On this day in 1980 (in Finland), The Final Countdown dabbled in the realm of temporal paradoxes with a decidedly military setting. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"In 1980, the assistant of the Department of Defense Warren Lasky is assigned by his mysterious chief Richard Tideman to visit the aircraft carrier USS Nimtz commanded by Capt. Matthew Yelland as an observer of the routines. Lasky finds that Wing Commander Richard T. Owens has a great knowledge of history. Out of the blue, the vessel faces a weird storm and they find that they have traveled back in time to the eve of the attack of Pearl Harbor on 06 December 1941. When the two Japanese Zeros attack the motorboat of Senator Samuel Chapman, the crew of the Nimitz rescues the senator and his assistant Laurel Scott. But sooner Lasky learns that the senator had disappeared on that day and Capt. Matthew Yelland is planning to attack the Japanese. Will these actions create a time paradox?"
"In 1980, the assistant of the Department of Defense Warren Lasky is assigned by his mysterious chief Richard Tideman to visit the aircraft carrier USS Nimtz commanded by Capt. Matthew Yelland as an observer of the routines. Lasky finds that Wing Commander Richard T. Owens has a great knowledge of history. Out of the blue, the vessel faces a weird storm and they find that they have traveled back in time to the eve of the attack of Pearl Harbor on 06 December 1941. When the two Japanese Zeros attack the motorboat of Senator Samuel Chapman, the crew of the Nimitz rescues the senator and his assistant Laurel Scott. But sooner Lasky learns that the senator had disappeared on that day and Capt. Matthew Yelland is planning to attack the Japanese. Will these actions create a time paradox?"
On this day in 1991 (in Germany), Science Fiction got borderline matrimonial with the big screen release of Wedlock. According to IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Frank has been convicted of stealing millions of dollars in diamonds, which have not been recovered. In his unisex prison, each inmate has an unknown partner. When the two are separated by more than one hundred yards, an explosive collar kills both inmates. Frank and his female partner escape and head for the money, but they are hotly pursued by his double-crossing colleagues."
"Frank has been convicted of stealing millions of dollars in diamonds, which have not been recovered. In his unisex prison, each inmate has an unknown partner. When the two are separated by more than one hundred yards, an explosive collar kills both inmates. Frank and his female partner escape and head for the money, but they are hotly pursued by his double-crossing colleagues."
A star is born! Or is that digitized? On this day in 1995, the SciFi/Actioner Digital Man premiered in the modern era of film. (Well, to be accurate, it premiered on home video.) The feature starred Ken Olandt, Kristen Dalton, and Adam Baldwin, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"An out-of-control robot is inadvertently set loose in a small community, and a crack squad of soldiers are sent to hunt it down. Gradually, the members of the squad begin to suspect that some of them are robots."
"An out-of-control robot is inadvertently set loose in a small community, and a crack squad of soldiers are sent to hunt it down. Gradually, the members of the squad begin to suspect that some of them are robots."
On this day in 1995, Not Of This Earth delivered that kind of campy SciFi goodness so commonly associated with the works of the great Roger Corman. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"An anemic alien comes to Earth from a dying planet, in the remake of the Corman 50s classic."
"An anemic alien comes to Earth from a dying planet, in the remake of the Corman 50s classic."
On this day in 1996 (in Hong Kong), Pamela Anderson brought out her big guns for the silver screen release of Barb Wire, a property based on a Dark Horse comic book. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"During the Second American Civil War in 2017, Barb Wire owns a nightclub called the Hammerhead. Things become complicated when her ex-lover Axel Hood, who is married to the fugitive Corrina Devonshire, re-enters her life."
"During the Second American Civil War in 2017, Barb Wire owns a nightclub called the Hammerhead. Things become complicated when her ex-lover Axel Hood, who is married to the fugitive Corrina Devonshire, re-enters her life."
On this day in 2003 (in South Korea), Natural City opened theatrically. The feature starred Ji-tae Yu and Jae-un Lee, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"In the year 2080, the world is connected by a massive computer network. Combiners have developed a process that allows them to merge the souls of human and machine/cyborg, wreaking havoc in a deeply divided society."
"In the year 2080, the world is connected by a massive computer network. Combiners have developed a process that allows them to merge the souls of human and machine/cyborg, wreaking havoc in a deeply divided society."
A star is born! On this day in 2005, the SciFi/Telefilm Supernova exploded into existence. The feature starred Luke Perry and Tia Carrere, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A scientific possibility becomes a terrifying reality when the most powerful force in the universe threatens to hurtle home."
"A scientific possibility becomes a terrifying reality when the most powerful force in the universe threatens to hurtle home."
On this day in 1952, Tales of Tomorrow aired "Seeing-Eye Surgeon." This served as the third episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Faced with performing a very difficult brain operation on an important scientist, a neurosurgeon is given a pair of glasses with special powers."
"Faced with performing a very difficult brain operation on an important scientist, a neurosurgeon is given a pair of glasses with special powers."
On this day in 1953, Space Patrol aired "The Trap of Planet X." Officially, this served as the thirty-fifth episode in the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by Solarguard.com:
"Major Robertson and Tonga face a horde of dinosaurs when they are compelled to land their damaged space ship on the ominous Planet X. Concealed beneath the planet's shroud of swirling mist is a dense, impenetrable jungle, which provides a natural fortress for the villainous Baccarratti."
"Major Robertson and Tonga face a horde of dinosaurs when they are compelled to land their damaged space ship on the ominous Planet X. Concealed beneath the planet's shroud of swirling mist is a dense, impenetrable jungle, which provides a natural fortress for the villainous Baccarratti."
On this day in 1964, "A Bargain of Necessity" aired as part of Doctor Who's first season. Here's the episode summary from IMDB.com:
"Ian finds himself held prisoner by the treacherous Leon while the Doctor attempts to engineer Susan and Barbara's escape."
"Ian finds himself held prisoner by the treacherous Leon while the Doctor attempts to engineer Susan and Barbara's escape."
On this day in 1966, The Space Giants aired "Zandosis Strikes." Officially, this served as the tenth episode in the program's only season in original broadcast existence, and here's the plot summary as provided by YouTube.com:
"Tom and Mikko take the tape recorder to the authorities and play the recording of Tomoko."
"Tom and Mikko take the tape recorder to the authorities and play the recording of Tomoko."
On this day in 2006, Eureka aired "Right As Raynes." Officially, this served as the eighth episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Odd fluctuations in computer-controlled environments may have something to do with the return of Eureka's prodigal son."
"Odd fluctuations in computer-controlled environments may have something to do with the return of Eureka's prodigal son."
On this day in 2008, Stargate: Atlantis aired "Whispers." Officially, this served as the seventh episode in the program's fifth (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"After an an off-world team led by Maj. Anne Teldy finds what appears to be one of Michael's abandoned laboratories, Sheppard and Dr. Beckett travel to the planet to see for themselves. It's not obvious why the lab has been abandoned since the information in the computer system seems to indicate that Michael's experiments had been successful. The village is empty and they have no idea what may have happened to the residents - until they find 12 empty pods and have to assume there are a dozen human-Wraith hybrids now roaming the area. Just as they think they've gained the upper hand however, they discover something in a hidden room."
"After an an off-world team led by Maj. Anne Teldy finds what appears to be one of Michael's abandoned laboratories, Sheppard and Dr. Beckett travel to the planet to see for themselves. It's not obvious why the lab has been abandoned since the information in the computer system seems to indicate that Michael's experiments had been successful. The village is empty and they have no idea what may have happened to the residents - until they find 12 empty pods and have to assume there are a dozen human-Wraith hybrids now roaming the area. Just as they think they've gained the upper hand however, they discover something in a hidden room."
On this day in 2017, Somewhere Between aired "Destiny's Child." This served as the eighth episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"From inside the psych ward where Tom has committed her against her will, Laura learns that Serena is at the TV station, and fears that her daughter will suffer the same fate if she can't get out. Nico fails to stop the killer from snatching Serena, and pursues the him but he evades capture. Laura escapes and goes to the station, where Tom is both devastated and furious that she didn't bring him the jewels so he could have stopped this. Laura asks Nico to pick up the jewels from the DNA lab, where Nico learns that this evidence could help save his brother."
"From inside the psych ward where Tom has committed her against her will, Laura learns that Serena is at the TV station, and fears that her daughter will suffer the same fate if she can't get out. Nico fails to stop the killer from snatching Serena, and pursues the him but he evades capture. Laura escapes and goes to the station, where Tom is both devastated and furious that she didn't bring him the jewels so he could have stopped this. Laura asks Nico to pick up the jewels from the DNA lab, where Nico learns that this evidence could help save his brother."
On this day in 2019, The Outpost aired "There Will Be A Reckoning." Officially, this served as the ninth episode in the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"As the Outpost is besieged, its most wanted prisoner plans an escape. Talon and Zed unearth an enemy from Talon's childhood. Milus leaves the Outpost bitterly disappointed."
"As the Outpost is besieged, its most wanted prisoner plans an escape. Talon and Zed unearth an enemy from Talon's childhood. Milus leaves the Outpost bitterly disappointed."
