Time travel is groovy, man! On this day in 1966, Irwin Allen took another stab at Science Fiction and Fantasy when he launched The Time Tunnel onto the television airwaves. The program showcased a hip cast, and its stories saw the heroes traveling about the past as they were stuck in it by a flawed experiment. Here's the series premise as provided by IMDB.com:
"Scientists Tony Newman and Doug Phillips are the young heads of Project Tic-Toc, a multi-billion dollar government installation buried beneath the desert. They have invented a Time Tunnel, which will allow people to visit anywhere in time and space. While testing the tunnel for an impatient senator, Newman and Phillips became trapped in time, and each week coincidentally found themselves at the site of an important historical event, be it the Siege of Troy, the sinking of the Titanic or an assassination attempt on President Lincoln. Sometimes they traveled into the future, and battled alien invaders. Ann MacGregor, Gen. Kirk and Dr. Swain are the scientists trying to fix the malfunctioning Time Tunnel and bring Doug and Tony back to the present (1968)."
"Scientists Tony Newman and Doug Phillips are the young heads of Project Tic-Toc, a multi-billion dollar government installation buried beneath the desert. They have invented a Time Tunnel, which will allow people to visit anywhere in time and space. While testing the tunnel for an impatient senator, Newman and Phillips became trapped in time, and each week coincidentally found themselves at the site of an important historical event, be it the Siege of Troy, the sinking of the Titanic or an assassination attempt on President Lincoln. Sometimes they traveled into the future, and battled alien invaders. Ann MacGregor, Gen. Kirk and Dr. Swain are the scientists trying to fix the malfunctioning Time Tunnel and bring Doug and Tony back to the present (1968)."
Back in the days when Saturday morning programming ruled the roost so far as the children were concerned, production companies were always tinkering with small screen adaptations of popular comic books. In that vein, DC Comics' Aquaman enjoyed a bit of exposure when it submerged (and emerged) to interested audiences on this day in 1967. Here's the series' premise as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"A repackaging of Aquaman's half of _"Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, The" (1967)_, including the rotating spot of The Atom; The Flash; Green Lantern; Hawkman; those heroes plus Superman and sometimes Aquaman combined as The Justice League of America; and Aquaman's sidekick Aqualad, Flash's partner Kid Flash, boy bowman Speedy, and adolescent Amazon Wonder Girl, together as The Teen Titans."
"A repackaging of Aquaman's half of _"Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, The" (1967)_, including the rotating spot of The Atom; The Flash; Green Lantern; Hawkman; those heroes plus Superman and sometimes Aquaman combined as The Justice League of America; and Aquaman's sidekick Aqualad, Flash's partner Kid Flash, boy bowman Speedy, and adolescent Amazon Wonder Girl, together as The Teen Titans."
Without a doubt, the works of Jules Verne have inspired countless television and movie executives to greenlight many versions of films and shows, but perhaps the one that gets overlooked the most is the short-lived and chaotically scheduled broadcast of the animated Journey To The Center Of The Earth. Though only a single season of seventeen episodes, the airing of these installments took place over two years -- probably with little rhyme or reason -- and thus it never really had a chance to establish much less build an audience. The first adventure premiered on this day in 1967, and here's the series premise as provided by IMDB.com:
"Based on the Jules Verne classic novel and the 1959 film by 20th Century Fox. This Saturday morning animated series followed the adventures of Professor Lindenbrook and his party trying to get to the center of the Earth before the evil Count Saknussem They follow a trail left centuries earlier by Arne Saknussem, an ancestor of the Count's."
"Based on the Jules Verne classic novel and the 1959 film by 20th Century Fox. This Saturday morning animated series followed the adventures of Professor Lindenbrook and his party trying to get to the center of the Earth before the evil Count Saknussem They follow a trail left centuries earlier by Arne Saknussem, an ancestor of the Count's."
Back in the day, kids could almost count on the fact that if one network had an all-new cartoon adaptation of a popular comic book of the day then the other network (or two) would follow suit; and on this day in 1967 Marvel The Fantastic Four took to the airwaves for a single season of existence that delivered twenty fun-filled episodes. Here's the series' premise as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"A rocket carrying four young people--scientific genius Reed Richards, his World War II buddy Ben Grimm, his wife Sue Richards and Sue's hot-headed brother Johnny Storm--is bombarded by cosmic rays while orbiting the Earth. The radiation gives them special powers: Richards can now stretch his limbs, Johnny can burst into flame, Sue can render herself invisible, while Ben has been physically transformed into a big orange rock and given super-strength. They decide to name themselves The Fantastic Four, and use their powers to battle world-dominating villains such as Doctor Doom and The Mole Man."
"A rocket carrying four young people--scientific genius Reed Richards, his World War II buddy Ben Grimm, his wife Sue Richards and Sue's hot-headed brother Johnny Storm--is bombarded by cosmic rays while orbiting the Earth. The radiation gives them special powers: Richards can now stretch his limbs, Johnny can burst into flame, Sue can render herself invisible, while Ben has been physically transformed into a big orange rock and given super-strength. They decide to name themselves The Fantastic Four, and use their powers to battle world-dominating villains such as Doctor Doom and The Mole Man."
Moonbase 3 is one of the more obscure titles I've happened across in my research of All Things Science Fiction. Essentially, it looks like this was one that suffered from the usual case of it-came-and-went in the blink of an eye, perhaps garnering only a small cadre of fans with no enough influence to keep it in production. It lasted a quick six episodes in the United Kingdom, and some of the unkind reviews even suggest that may've been a bit too long. Whatever the case, it premiered on this day back in 1973, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The adventures of David Caulder and his crew stationed on Moonbase 3 on the moon's surface. In 2003, representatives of many of the world's governments live in bases on the moon. Moonbase 3 was built by many Europeans, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Italy."
"The adventures of David Caulder and his crew stationed on Moonbase 3 on the moon's surface. In 2003, representatives of many of the world's governments live in bases on the moon. Moonbase 3 was built by many Europeans, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Italy."
Here's my position on reboots: rather than take something that has a broad mythology and established fanbase who'll fight you every step of the way, why not rescue a property like Jason Of Star Command from obscurity and retool it for a modern audience? Sure, the original was mostly high camp, but it worked for its era as respectable Saturday morning fare, and it could do the same with today's youth (and the young-at-heart) in any number of venues. It premiered on this day back in 1978, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A young Space Command officer fights the evil space lord Dragos and his minions in his jurisdiction of the universe."
"A young Space Command officer fights the evil space lord Dragos and his minions in his jurisdiction of the universe."
I think fans should have a lot of respect for shows that kinda/sorta come out of nowhere, do their job, and then -- albeit sadly -- disappear from whatever broadcast outlet gave them a reasonable try; and First Wave is just the kind of workhorse style property that deserves a re-discovery. (FYI: it first premiered on this day in 1998 in Canada, of all places.) It may have rung a lot of bells, but it held up for a solid sixty-six episodes and gave a small calvary of regulars a chance to shine in genre. Here's the series premise as provided by IMDB.com:
"Reformed thief Cade Foster discovers that aliens are among us in the form of genetic clones, intent on enslaving the population. To assess the human potential to fight back, they gather data from 117 test subjects. When Foster remembers the tests conducted on him, the aliens frame him for his wife's murder. Pursued by the police and a mysterious government agent, Foster discovers the quatrains of Nostradamus, which tells of three waves which will destroy the planet, unless a "twice blessed man" can stop them. Aided by a quirky cyber-journalist, Foster investigates strange occurrences which have ties to Nostradamus' quatrains, hoping to find what he needs to forestall the aliens' plans."
"Reformed thief Cade Foster discovers that aliens are among us in the form of genetic clones, intent on enslaving the population. To assess the human potential to fight back, they gather data from 117 test subjects. When Foster remembers the tests conducted on him, the aliens frame him for his wife's murder. Pursued by the police and a mysterious government agent, Foster discovers the quatrains of Nostradamus, which tells of three waves which will destroy the planet, unless a "twice blessed man" can stop them. Aided by a quirky cyber-journalist, Foster investigates strange occurrences which have ties to Nostradamus' quatrains, hoping to find what he needs to forestall the aliens' plans."
Unlike so many others, I didn't find the German SciFi/Fantasy program Dark perfect ... but I did find it near perfect. The program's first and second season were pretty spectacular, but I thought its third season kinda/sorta bobbed and weaved in some curious directions, and I'm not entirely convinced all of it was necessary. Still, I do agree that Dark presented serial Fantasy intelligently and in such a compelling way that audiences couldn't look away, much like ABC TV's Lost did when it was at its heighth. On this day in 2017 (in Canada), the first episode enjoyed a special screening for an exclusive audience in Toronto, making it the first display of record beyond the cast and crew. Here's the series premise as provided by IMDB.com:
"When two children go missing in a small German town, its sinful past is exposed along with the double lives and fractured relationships that exist among four families as they search for the kids. The mystery-drama series introduces an intricate puzzle filled with twists that includes a web of curious characters, all of whom have a connection to the town's troubled history - whether they know it or not. The story includes supernatural elements that tie back to the same town in 1986."
"When two children go missing in a small German town, its sinful past is exposed along with the double lives and fractured relationships that exist among four families as they search for the kids. The mystery-drama series introduces an intricate puzzle filled with twists that includes a web of curious characters, all of whom have a connection to the town's troubled history - whether they know it or not. The story includes supernatural elements that tie back to the same town in 1986."
Not only did Richard Webb enjoy a solid guest appearance aboard the classic Star Trek (he played 'Ben Finney' in "Court-Martial") but also he was previously known as 'Captain Midnight' in the 1950's serial of the same name. Though he's no longer with us, Webb was born on this day in 1915. [Source: IMDB.com]
[NOTE: Sadly, Richard struggled with the effects of a prolonged illness and eventually took his own life. So if you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please share the number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255. It's never too late to save a life.]
[NOTE: Sadly, Richard struggled with the effects of a prolonged illness and eventually took his own life. So if you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please share the number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255. It's never too late to save a life.]
Screen veteran Cliff Robertson played the U.S. President in 1996's "worst SciFi sequel ever" Escape from L.A. Robertson also played an important role in the Spider-man film as Ben Parker. Though he's no longer with us, Robertson was born on this day in 1923.
Darrell Zwerling -- shown above from his appearance on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century -- left behind a legacy of over fifty roles, most of which took place in conventional fare. He also appeared in 1975's adaptation of Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze. Though he's no longer with us, Zwerling was born on this day in 1928. [Source: IMDB.com]
Allow me to just state this unequivocally: those of you people who don't love 1980's deliriously cheesy Flash Gordon remake probably don't understand what makes Flash Gordon (as a serial) tick. Now, that said, I'll concede that Topol is probably my least favorite Dr. Hans Zarkov ever, but that doesn't make the film any less brilliant. Though he's no longer with us, Topol was born on this day in 1935. [Source: IMDB.com]
With over 150 roles to his name, Art LaFleur has a face that has popped up all over the map. In particular, Science Fiction and Fantasy fans probably recognize him from roles in The Incredible Hulk, The Invisible Woman (1983), Wizards and Warriors, WarGames (1983), Trancers (1984), Zone Troopers (1985), Pulse Pounders (1988), Field of Dreams (1989), Trancers II (1991), Tales from the Crypt, Space Rangers, and Strange Luck. Though he's no longer with us, LaFleur was born on this day in 1943. [Source: IMDB.com]
Tom Wopat joined his former Dukes of Hazzard co-star John Schneider in a guest role aboard the WB's Smallville. The actor also had roles aboard Contagious (1997), Meteorites (1998), and Jonah Hex (2010). Wopat was born on this day in 1951.
Growing up, I did watch the original Lost in Space, but I honestly never much cared for it. Its plots were all too contrived and far too similar for my young tastes, but I did appreciate the work the cast did. Angela Cartwright -- as the young Penny Robinson -- did an affable job bringing in the younger viewers, even though her screen brother Will ended up getting much more dialogue and action. Cartwright was born on this day in 1952. [Source: IMDB.com]
I think it goes without saying that if you've traveled with the Doctor then you're pretty much owed some place in the annals of SciFi History. At the very least, you'll get a mention here. Such is the case with the lovely Janet Fielding: she played the equally lovely companion Tegan as part of Doctor Who between 1981 and 1984. Fielding was born on this day in 1953. [Source: IMDB.com]
Oh, that face! That smiling, devilish face! Jeffrey Combs did a masterful job playing the conniving Vorta -- Weyoun -- on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. I can distinctly remember hissing every time he came onscreen. The actor has had a long career of some distinction, staring in the cult classic Re-Animator, and he recently chewed scenery as a conniving (who'da thunk it?) millionaire in the screen flick Would You Rather. Happy Birthday, Mr. Combs! He was born on this day in 1954.
Randy Stumpf played a part in one of the original Battlestar Galactica episodes: "Take the Celestra" pitted the Colonials against one another in the midst of a mutiny within the fleet. Stumpf was born on this day in 1956.
Good googley moogley, can we give a little love today to character actor Brent Stait? The man has a solid resume in quality genre roles, including appearances aboard Highlander, The X-Files, Poltergeist: The Legacy, Stargate: SG-1, Viper, Roswell: The Aliens Attack (1999), First Wave, Seven Days, The Outer Limits, Taken (miniseries), Andromeda, Battlestar Galactica (Syfy), The 4400, The Sea Beast (2008), Polar Storm (2009), Smallville, Stonehenge Apocalypse (2010), TRON: Legacy (2010), Fringe, Sanctuary, and Legends of Tomorrow. Stait was born on this day in 1959.
The reliable Kevin Grevioux eats quality genre roles for breakfast. Fans have marveled over his work in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Mask (1994), Alien Nation: Dark Horizon (1994), Batman Forever (1995), Sliders, Planet of the Apes (2001), Men in Black II (2002), Underworld (2003), Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009), as well as a host of voice performances. Grevioux was born on this day in 1962.
Ahem. Adam Sandler. Ahem. Now, just the mere mention of the man's name in mixed company usually tells you right away what the crowd thinks of him. Love him or hate him, he's definitely a phenomenon unto himself with seemingly endless clout to make one box office stinker after another. The summer of 2015 was particular unkind to his Pixels, his attempt to bring his particular brand of yucks to the SciFi invasion film. Sandler was born on this day in 1966.
Well before he found fortune and fame as part of ABC's popular sitcom, Modern Family, Eric Stonestreet delved into the cinema of Michael Bay with a small role in The Island (2005). Stonestreet was born on this day in 1971.
I guess if I were an alien and I were going to be found by a human who'd take me home and make sure I had plenty of Reese's Pieces to eat then there probably wouldn't be any better 'finder' than Elliott, as played by Henry Thomas in E.T. - The Extraterrestrial. Thomas was born on this day back in 1971.
Goran Visnjic can be seen opposite Halle Berry in the CBS summer SciFi series, Extant. He also had a meaty role in the BBC underwater SciFi miniseries, The Deep. Visnjic was born on this day in 1972. [Source: IMDB.com]
Michelle Goh's resume isn't what I would call "steeped" in Science Fiction, but it's clear she's been cast in some genre projects. Outside of the above (Alien Lockdown from 2004), she's enjoyed roles aboard Seven Days, Dark Angel, and Smallville. Goh was born on this day in 1973. [Source: IMDB.com]
In her youth, the always luminous Michelle Williams did some great work as the younger version of the lifeform Sil in one of the finest SciFi B-movies ever, Species. She's since migrated to much more mainstream fare, but I (for one) would love to see her back in the realm of SciFi. Williams was born on this day in 1980. [Source: IMDB.com]
Amy Manson made an indelible impression on watchers of the BBC's single season SciFi drama, Outcasts. Since that time, she's found success with work aboard Atlantis and a guest role aboard ABC TV's Once Upon A Time. Manson was born on this day in 1985. [Source: IMDB.com]
Adult film temptress Nicole Aniston suited up to battle the forces of evil -- and then likely stripped it all off down to her birthday suit -- aboard the Fantasy-themed Thor XXX: An Axel Braun Parody (2013). Aniston was born on this day in 1987. [Source: IMDB.com]
On this day in 1941 (in Argentina), The Devil Commands took to the silver screen. Based on the novel by William Sloane ("The Edge Of Running Water"), screenwriters Robert Hardy Andrews and Milton Gunzburg adapted the work for director Edward Dmytryk. The film starred Boris Karloff, Anne Revere, and Amanda Duff. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Dr. Julian Blair is engaged in unconventional research on human brain waves when his wife is tragically killed in a freak auto accident. The grief-stricken scientist becomes obsessed with redirecting his work into making contact with the dead and is not deterred by dire warnings from his daughter, his research assistant, or his colleagues that he is delving into forbidden areas of knowledge. He moves his laboratory to an isolated New England mansion where he continues to try to reach out to his dead wife. He is aided by his mentally-challenged servant Karl and abetted by the obsessive Mrs. Walters, a phony medium, who seems to exert a sinister influence over him. When their overly curious housekeeper discovers the truth about their experiments, her death brings the local sheriff in to investigate."
"Dr. Julian Blair is engaged in unconventional research on human brain waves when his wife is tragically killed in a freak auto accident. The grief-stricken scientist becomes obsessed with redirecting his work into making contact with the dead and is not deterred by dire warnings from his daughter, his research assistant, or his colleagues that he is delving into forbidden areas of knowledge. He moves his laboratory to an isolated New England mansion where he continues to try to reach out to his dead wife. He is aided by his mentally-challenged servant Karl and abetted by the obsessive Mrs. Walters, a phony medium, who seems to exert a sinister influence over him. When their overly curious housekeeper discovers the truth about their experiments, her death brings the local sheriff in to investigate."
A star is born! On this day in 1966 (in West Germany), The Diabolical Dr. Z (aka Miss Muerte) got into the cinematic business of revenge. Written (in part) and directed by Jesus Franco, the SciFi/Horror starred Estella Blain, Mabel Karr, and Howard Vernon. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Woman seeks to avenge her father's death by using a local dancer, with long poisonous fingernails, to do her bidding."
For the record:
This is a case wherein the original premiere date for The Diabolical Dr. Z is lost to history. IMDB.com shows that it originally screened in August, 1966 in Spain; as that date cannot be verified, I'm using this date as its first theatrical engagement.
"Woman seeks to avenge her father's death by using a local dancer, with long poisonous fingernails, to do her bidding."
For the record:
This is a case wherein the original premiere date for The Diabolical Dr. Z is lost to history. IMDB.com shows that it originally screened in August, 1966 in Spain; as that date cannot be verified, I'm using this date as its first theatrical engagement.
A star is born! On this day in 1982 (in Italy), the Fantasy-themed Gunan, King Of The Barbarians took a swipe at box office glory. Directed by Francesco Prosperi, the feature starred Pietro Torrisi, Malisa Longo, and Giovanni Cianfriglia; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The peaceful countryside village of Solmen is savagely assaulted by wild Ungats led by bloodthirsty Magen. In the midst of battle, two baby boys are miraculously saved by a tribe of Amazon warriors known as the Kuniats. The warriors nurture and train the boys for future struggles. The stronger of the two is named , Gunan The Invincible. It is up to Gunan to avenge the annihilation of his people. Gunan stages a spectacular one man war of vengeance against his enemy the Ungats, but they prove to be a formidable enemy, and much bloodshed ensues."
"The peaceful countryside village of Solmen is savagely assaulted by wild Ungats led by bloodthirsty Magen. In the midst of battle, two baby boys are miraculously saved by a tribe of Amazon warriors known as the Kuniats. The warriors nurture and train the boys for future struggles. The stronger of the two is named , Gunan The Invincible. It is up to Gunan to avenge the annihilation of his people. Gunan stages a spectacular one man war of vengeance against his enemy the Ungats, but they prove to be a formidable enemy, and much bloodshed ensues."
On this day in 1983 (in the U.S.), the SciFi/Horror anthology film Nightmares put all of its nightmarish pieces together for willing audiences. Directed by Joseph Sargent, the feature starred Cristina Raines, Anthony James, and Joe Lambie, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Anthology of four horror tales with a supernatural twist based on urban legends."
For the record:
At the 1984 Saturn Awards (sponsored by the Academy Of Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror Films), Nightmares enjoyed a nomination in the category of 'Best Make-Up.' Additionally, director Joseph Sargent enjoyed a festival circuit win for his work in bringing the picture to life.
"Anthology of four horror tales with a supernatural twist based on urban legends."
For the record:
At the 1984 Saturn Awards (sponsored by the Academy Of Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror Films), Nightmares enjoyed a nomination in the category of 'Best Make-Up.' Additionally, director Joseph Sargent enjoyed a festival circuit win for his work in bringing the picture to life.
A star is born ... and this one's packing heat! On this day in 1989 (in Japan), Robowar went to battle ... at the box office, of course. Directed by Bruno Mattei, the SciFi/Thriller starred Reb Brown, Catherine Hickland, and Massimo Vanni. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A clone/mix of PREDATOR, RAMBO, and ROBOCOP gone nuts jungle flick with an international cast, exotic locale and good electronic music."
"A clone/mix of PREDATOR, RAMBO, and ROBOCOP gone nuts jungle flick with an international cast, exotic locale and good electronic music."
On this day in 1991 (in Canada), The Arrival played for audiences in attendance of the Toronto International Film Festival. Directed by David Schmoeller, the SciFi/Horror starred John Saxon, Robert Culp, and Robin Frates. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"When an old man witnesses a strange meteor land, he finds himself growing younger, but his renewed youth has a price; he must kill or die. He is a vampire, but it is not blood he needs to satisfy his cravings. A series of murders in which several women are brutally slain leads the police on a confusing chase across several states."
For the record:
To the film's credit, The Arrival enjoyed a wee bit of praise from the film festival circuit.
"When an old man witnesses a strange meteor land, he finds himself growing younger, but his renewed youth has a price; he must kill or die. He is a vampire, but it is not blood he needs to satisfy his cravings. A series of murders in which several women are brutally slain leads the police on a confusing chase across several states."
For the record:
To the film's credit, The Arrival enjoyed a wee bit of praise from the film festival circuit.
A star is born! On this day in 1997 (in Canada), Cube played for audiences in attendance of the Toronto International Film Festival. Written (in part) and directed by Vincenzo Natali, the feature starred Nicole de Boer, Nicky Guadagni, and David Hewlett; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Six different people, each from a very different walk of life, awaken to find themselves inside a giant cube with thousands of possible rooms. Each has a skill that becomes clear when they must band together to get out: a cop, a math whiz, a building designer, a doctor, an escape master, and a disabled man. Each plays a part in their thrilling quest to find answers as to why they've been imprisoned."
For the record:
Cube was a bit of a sensation both on the film festival circuit as well as within the general awards arena. In 1999, it enjoyed a nomination from the Saturn Awards in the category of 'Best Home Video Release.' At the 1999 Fantasporto Film Festival, the film was awarded the Jury Prize as well as top honors in the categories of 'Best Special Effects' and 'Best Film.' Lastly, the Genie Awards -- which recognizes excellence in Canadian film and TV production -- blessed the flick with an incredible five nominations (but no wins) largely in technical categories.
"Six different people, each from a very different walk of life, awaken to find themselves inside a giant cube with thousands of possible rooms. Each has a skill that becomes clear when they must band together to get out: a cop, a math whiz, a building designer, a doctor, an escape master, and a disabled man. Each plays a part in their thrilling quest to find answers as to why they've been imprisoned."
For the record:
Cube was a bit of a sensation both on the film festival circuit as well as within the general awards arena. In 1999, it enjoyed a nomination from the Saturn Awards in the category of 'Best Home Video Release.' At the 1999 Fantasporto Film Festival, the film was awarded the Jury Prize as well as top honors in the categories of 'Best Special Effects' and 'Best Film.' Lastly, the Genie Awards -- which recognizes excellence in Canadian film and TV production -- blessed the flick with an incredible five nominations (but no wins) largely in technical categories.
A star is born! On this day in 2002 (in the U.S.), the SciFi/Fantasy better known as Fairie premiered. Written and directed by Willo Hausman, the feature starred Jack Wallace, Richard Parent, Angelica Page, and Ed Gale. Here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"In the world of nine fairy types who are celebrating New Years Eve at the base of the Hollywood Sign. Little tiny modern creatures, the fay (fairy) folk possess a vast assortment of magical powers and bizarre capabilities. Though physically different, their inner dilemmas are often akin to humans, making them simultaneously 'fantastical' and 'relate-able'. Inhabiting a parallel universe, yet now a separate one, the fay provide valuable life teachings through humor, absurdity, and simply clarity. A dose of social commentary with a pleasant taste, FAIRIE, is a wild coaster ride with a subliminal current of knowledge underlying its various twists and turns."
"In the world of nine fairy types who are celebrating New Years Eve at the base of the Hollywood Sign. Little tiny modern creatures, the fay (fairy) folk possess a vast assortment of magical powers and bizarre capabilities. Though physically different, their inner dilemmas are often akin to humans, making them simultaneously 'fantastical' and 'relate-able'. Inhabiting a parallel universe, yet now a separate one, the fay provide valuable life teachings through humor, absurdity, and simply clarity. A dose of social commentary with a pleasant taste, FAIRIE, is a wild coaster ride with a subliminal current of knowledge underlying its various twists and turns."
A star is born! On this day in 2006, Sasquatch Mountain (aka Devil On The Mountain) enjoyed its premiere on television. Directed by Steven R. Monroe, the feature starred Lance Henriksen, Cerina Vincent, and Michael Worth; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A lonely tow-truck driver gets caught in a deadly struggle between a pair of bank robbers with a beautiful hostage, local cops, and a monster that has come down from the Arizona mountains to eat human flesh."
"A lonely tow-truck driver gets caught in a deadly struggle between a pair of bank robbers with a beautiful hostage, local cops, and a monster that has come down from the Arizona mountains to eat human flesh."
A star is born! On this day in 2007, a Jules Verne classic was reimagined for a new era with the home video release of 30,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Directed by Gabriel Bologna from a screenplay by Eric Forsberg, the Fantasy/Adventure starred Lorenzo Lamas, Sean Lawlor, and Natalie Stone; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Captain Nemo goes even deeper into insanity in this mesmerizing fantasy tale. Once again at the helm of his fearsome, wildly advanced vessel, the nautical madman endeavors to turn the world above the waves upside down."
"Captain Nemo goes even deeper into insanity in this mesmerizing fantasy tale. Once again at the helm of his fearsome, wildly advanced vessel, the nautical madman endeavors to turn the world above the waves upside down."
On this day in 2009 (in the United Kingdom), the Fantasy-themed Dorian Gray defied the ages. The feature starred Ben Barnes and Colin Firth, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty eternally, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all."
"A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty eternally, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all."
A star is born! On this day in 2009 (in Canada), Frankenstein Unlimited took a few separate looks at the Frankenstein myth by way of a cinematic anthology. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A feature-length anthology project composed of six independently produced short films by young Montreal filmmakers all using the themes of the original Frankenstein novel as inspiration."
"A feature-length anthology project composed of six independently produced short films by young Montreal filmmakers all using the themes of the original Frankenstein novel as inspiration."
On this day in 2012 (in the Netherlands), the 1979-produced The Humanoid played for audiences in attendance of the Breda B-movies, Underground & Trash Film Festival. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Hoping to overthrow his brother as ruler of the planet Metropolis, the evil Graal enlists the help of the insane Dr. Kraspin, who has invented a chemical capable of turning an ordinary person into a perfect soldier. They test this chemical on the pilot Golob, turning the unsuspecting victim into a mindless but indestructable automaton possessing superhuman strength. The people of Metropolis must somehow outwit Graal before he can create an army of these soldiers, or their planet will be destroyed."
"Hoping to overthrow his brother as ruler of the planet Metropolis, the evil Graal enlists the help of the insane Dr. Kraspin, who has invented a chemical capable of turning an ordinary person into a perfect soldier. They test this chemical on the pilot Golob, turning the unsuspecting victim into a mindless but indestructable automaton possessing superhuman strength. The people of Metropolis must somehow outwit Graal before he can create an army of these soldiers, or their planet will be destroyed."
On this day in 2013, the SciFi telefilm Exploding Sun went out over the TV airwaves. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the 'rather involved' plot summary:
"The world watches in awe as the Roebling Clipper is launched into space. Using state-of-the-art scalar engines to fly around the Moon and back in just hours, the maiden voyage of the first-ever trans-lunar passenger ship is about to make history. Among those on board: First Lady Simone Mathany, space-exploration entrepreneur Steve Roebling, Dr. Denise Balaban, pilot Fiona Henslaw, and a very lucky lottery winner. But while en route, a massive solar flare sparks a cosmic-ray burst that accelerates Aurora's engine and blows the ship away from Earth's orbit. Now out of control, it's hurtling straight for the sun. At Mission Control, along with the desperate President Thomas Mathany, an increasingly anxious team of experts puts a plan into motion - an interception by a shuttle attached to the International Space Station. When that ends in disaster, the Aurora only picks up speed. Now being pulled toward the sun at three percent of the speed of light, it's only a matter of hours before it burns. With that, the scalar engine will trigger cosmic ray bursts, and a giant electromagnetic pulse storm that will blow Earth back into the Stone Age. Now, preparing for the inevitable seems the last - and only - terrifying option."
"The world watches in awe as the Roebling Clipper is launched into space. Using state-of-the-art scalar engines to fly around the Moon and back in just hours, the maiden voyage of the first-ever trans-lunar passenger ship is about to make history. Among those on board: First Lady Simone Mathany, space-exploration entrepreneur Steve Roebling, Dr. Denise Balaban, pilot Fiona Henslaw, and a very lucky lottery winner. But while en route, a massive solar flare sparks a cosmic-ray burst that accelerates Aurora's engine and blows the ship away from Earth's orbit. Now out of control, it's hurtling straight for the sun. At Mission Control, along with the desperate President Thomas Mathany, an increasingly anxious team of experts puts a plan into motion - an interception by a shuttle attached to the International Space Station. When that ends in disaster, the Aurora only picks up speed. Now being pulled toward the sun at three percent of the speed of light, it's only a matter of hours before it burns. With that, the scalar engine will trigger cosmic ray bursts, and a giant electromagnetic pulse storm that will blow Earth back into the Stone Age. Now, preparing for the inevitable seems the last - and only - terrifying option."
On this day in 2013 (in the United Kingdom), the SciFi/Drama Extracted found a path into our collective consciousness. The feature starred Sasha Roiz and Jenny Mollen, and here's the plot summary as provided on IMDB.com:
"A scientist who has invented a technique to watch people's memories finds himself in a dangerous situation after he's tasked with entering a heroin addict's mind to see whether the man committed murder."
"A scientist who has invented a technique to watch people's memories finds himself in a dangerous situation after he's tasked with entering a heroin addict's mind to see whether the man committed murder."
A star is born! On this day in 2016 (in Canada), Colossal enjoyed its very first theatrical engagement ever when it screened for audiences in attendance of the Toronto International Film Festival. Written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo, the SciFi/Comedy starred Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, and Austin Stowell; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Gloria is an out-of-work girl who, after getting kicked out of her apartment by her boyfriend, is forced to leave her life in New York and move back to her hometown. When news reports surface that a giant creature is destroying Seoul, South Korea, Gloria gradually comes to the realization that she is somehow connected to this far-off phenomenon. As events begin to spin out of control, Gloria must determine why her seemingly insignificant existence has such a colossal effect on the fate of the world."
"Gloria is an out-of-work girl who, after getting kicked out of her apartment by her boyfriend, is forced to leave her life in New York and move back to her hometown. When news reports surface that a giant creature is destroying Seoul, South Korea, Gloria gradually comes to the realization that she is somehow connected to this far-off phenomenon. As events begin to spin out of control, Gloria must determine why her seemingly insignificant existence has such a colossal effect on the fate of the world."
It all began right here: on this day in 1966, The Time Tunnel first opened up for television broadcast. The first episode was titled "Rendezvous With Yesterday," and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Congress has poured seven billion dollars into a large and deep hole in the ground - the home of Project TicToc and its revolutionary new technology, the Time Tunnel. A mechanism intended to access past and future, the tunnel is not quite ready despite a decade of work and all the billions. Senator Clark declares his intention to cut funding and abandon the project. Desparate scientist Tony Newman uses the apparatus to send himself through time to prove the concept. But the TicToc team cannot retrieve him, and so his mentor Doug Phillips goes back to help Tony out of the peril he has landed in: he has arrived on the RMS Titanic the day before she struck an iceberg and sank."
"Congress has poured seven billion dollars into a large and deep hole in the ground - the home of Project TicToc and its revolutionary new technology, the Time Tunnel. A mechanism intended to access past and future, the tunnel is not quite ready despite a decade of work and all the billions. Senator Clark declares his intention to cut funding and abandon the project. Desparate scientist Tony Newman uses the apparatus to send himself through time to prove the concept. But the TicToc team cannot retrieve him, and so his mentor Doug Phillips goes back to help Tony out of the peril he has landed in: he has arrived on the RMS Titanic the day before she struck an iceberg and sank."
It all began right here: on this day in 1967, Aquaman swam out of the depths and onto the small screen with the airing of "Menace Of The Black Manta / The Rampaging Reptile-Men / Between Two Armies." Officially, this served as the first episode in the program's only season in original broadcast existence, and here's the plot summaries as provided by IMDB.com:
"In "Menace Of The Black Manta," Aquaman and Aqualad are attacked by a sinister black submarine. / Reptile-Men abduct Aqualad in "The Rampaging Reptile-Men." / The Justice League battles invaders in "Between Two Armies.""
"In "Menace Of The Black Manta," Aquaman and Aqualad are attacked by a sinister black submarine. / Reptile-Men abduct Aqualad in "The Rampaging Reptile-Men." / The Justice League battles invaders in "Between Two Armies.""
It all began right here: on this day in 1967, TV producers dished up another incarnation of the Jules Verne property -- Journey To The Center Of The Earth -- this one being animated. The first episode was titled "Arena Of Fear," and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Count Saknussemm lures Lindenbrook's party into a trap. Luckily the a man-beast inside the trap turns out to be friendly. While traveling a volcanic region, the entire party is captured by a giant who pits them against prehistoric beasts in his personal arena."
"Count Saknussemm lures Lindenbrook's party into a trap. Luckily the a man-beast inside the trap turns out to be friendly. While traveling a volcanic region, the entire party is captured by a giant who pits them against prehistoric beasts in his personal arena."
It all began right here: on this day in 1967, The Fantastic Four aired "Menace Of The Mole Men," the pilot episode for its only season in original broadcast existence. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The Mole Man, out for revenge, lures the Fantastic Four to a deserted island. The Mole Man has constructed an elaborate tunnel system that can lower major cities of the world beneath the Earth's surface. The villain intends to eliminate the foursome so he can proceed with his plan."
"The Mole Man, out for revenge, lures the Fantastic Four to a deserted island. The Mole Man has constructed an elaborate tunnel system that can lower major cities of the world beneath the Earth's surface. The villain intends to eliminate the foursome so he can proceed with his plan."
It all began right here: on this day in 1973, Moonbase 3 appeared on the BBC's broadcast schedule. The first episod was titled "Departure and Arrival," and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Astronaut Harry Sanders suffers a mental breakdown while piloting a shuttle from the Moon back to Earth, causing an accident that kills him and his passenger, Moonbase 3 director Tony Ransome. Under political pressure to close the Moonbase following the deaths, the Director-General of the European space programme appoints David Caulder to take over as Director of Moonbase 3 and investigate the accident."
"Astronaut Harry Sanders suffers a mental breakdown while piloting a shuttle from the Moon back to Earth, causing an accident that kills him and his passenger, Moonbase 3 director Tony Ransome. Under political pressure to close the Moonbase following the deaths, the Director-General of the European space programme appoints David Caulder to take over as Director of Moonbase 3 and investigate the accident."
It all began right here ... because on this day in 1978 the Saturday morning kids' SciFi show Jason of Star Command launched onto the television airwaves. The first episode was titled "Attack of the Dragonship," and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"The Space Academy is struck by a mysterious force unleashed by an alien ship and Commander Canarvin is abducted by a mysterious beam. Jason and Dr. Parsafoot investigate in their spaceship and find and rescue Canarvin who was floating in outer space. Jason discovers the attacking vessel belongs to the evil Dragos and is captured and placed in prison."
"The Space Academy is struck by a mysterious force unleashed by an alien ship and Commander Canarvin is abducted by a mysterious beam. Jason and Dr. Parsafoot investigate in their spaceship and find and rescue Canarvin who was floating in outer space. Jason discovers the attacking vessel belongs to the evil Dragos and is captured and placed in prison."
On this day in 1986, The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers aired "One Million Emotions." This (technically) served as the program's ninth episode (they were aired wildly out of sequence), and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A priceless work of art is stolen. The Galaxy Rangers are assigned to recover it. The artwork makes anyone who comes into contact with it experience the life and emotions of the artist who created it. The ones who have come into contact with it usually end up catatonic, unable to process all the emotions."
"A priceless work of art is stolen. The Galaxy Rangers are assigned to recover it. The artwork makes anyone who comes into contact with it experience the life and emotions of the artist who created it. The ones who have come into contact with it usually end up catatonic, unable to process all the emotions."
It all began right here: on this day in 1998 (in Canada), First Wave premiered with the airing of "Subject 117." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"After having disturbing visions and finding a man dead of suicide whom was in one of his visions, Cade's life is suddenly turned upside; his house bugged, credit cards not working, job gone, and his wife terrified to even go home, things go from bad to worse."
"After having disturbing visions and finding a man dead of suicide whom was in one of his visions, Cade's life is suddenly turned upside; his house bugged, credit cards not working, job gone, and his wife terrified to even go home, things go from bad to worse."
On this day in 2005, Stargate: SG-1 aired "Babylon." This served as the eighth episode of the long-running program's ninth season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"SG-1 investigates a planet that is said to be the home of the Warriors of Sodan, a legendary tribe of Jaffa said to have not served the Goa'uld in hundreds of years. In an encounter with the warriors, Mitchell deals a deadly blow to one of the Sodan and is captured and taken to their village. There he awaits a battle to the death as punishment for his crime."
"SG-1 investigates a planet that is said to be the home of the Warriors of Sodan, a legendary tribe of Jaffa said to have not served the Goa'uld in hundreds of years. In an encounter with the warriors, Mitchell deals a deadly blow to one of the Sodan and is captured and taken to their village. There he awaits a battle to the death as punishment for his crime."
On this day in 2007 (in Hungary), Joss Whedon's Firefly aired "Trash." Officially, this served as the thirteenth episode in the program's only season of original broadcast existence, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Mal has an encounter with his old friend Monty Reynolds to transfer cargo to be smuggled and Monty tells that he got married. When he introduces his wife Bridget to Mal, he leans that she is Saffron. Monty leaves the woman on the planet and Mal locks her in a trunk and brings her on board of the Serenity. Soon Saffron proposes Mal and his crew to steal the priceless antique, the laser pistol Lassiter, from Durran Haymer in his fortress in the planet Balerephon. Is Saffron trustworthy?"
"Mal has an encounter with his old friend Monty Reynolds to transfer cargo to be smuggled and Monty tells that he got married. When he introduces his wife Bridget to Mal, he leans that she is Saffron. Monty leaves the woman on the planet and Mal locks her in a trunk and brings her on board of the Serenity. Soon Saffron proposes Mal and his crew to steal the priceless antique, the laser pistol Lassiter, from Durran Haymer in his fortress in the planet Balerephon. Is Saffron trustworthy?"
On this day in 2007, The 4400 aired "Tiny Machines." This served as the twelfth episode of the program's fourth (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Marco finds a way to get the old Tom back, but it is dangerous and they don't have a very long time."
"Marco finds a way to get the old Tom back, but it is dangerous and they don't have a very long time."
On this day in 2012 (in Hungary), Outcasts aired its first episode of its only season in original broadcast existence. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Carpathia awaits the arrival of a transporter from Earth. A leader amongst the Expeditionaries wants to break away from the settlement. And a secret lies beyond the gates of Forthaven."
"Carpathia awaits the arrival of a transporter from Earth. A leader amongst the Expeditionaries wants to break away from the settlement. And a secret lies beyond the gates of Forthaven."
It all began right here: on this day in 2017 (in Canada), Dark aired its first episode, an installment titled "Secrets." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The small german town of Winden is shook by the disappearance of a teenage boy. Some of the townsfolk look back to the events thirtythree years ago, when another teenage boy had disappeared. While most of them are occupied with secrets of their own, a group of teenagers heads into the woods near the towns caves at night, to recover something the missing boy may have left behind. What they find is not exactly what they were looking for. When they realize, that unknown danger awaits them in the dark of the woods as well as in the shadows of the caves, two of them get separated from the others in a headless flight to safety. In the Morning the Police makes a startling discovery - all between the looming nuclear power plant, that's about to be shut down, and the chilling, black shadows of the caves."
"The small german town of Winden is shook by the disappearance of a teenage boy. Some of the townsfolk look back to the events thirtythree years ago, when another teenage boy had disappeared. While most of them are occupied with secrets of their own, a group of teenagers heads into the woods near the towns caves at night, to recover something the missing boy may have left behind. What they find is not exactly what they were looking for. When they realize, that unknown danger awaits them in the dark of the woods as well as in the shadows of the caves, two of them get separated from the others in a headless flight to safety. In the Morning the Police makes a startling discovery - all between the looming nuclear power plant, that's about to be shut down, and the chilling, black shadows of the caves."
