Saturday, February 15, 2014

15 February 2014

 Birthdays
Brendon Small b. 1975 (The Venture Brothers)
Sara Wynter b. 1973 (Stephen King’s Dead Zone [TV], The 6th Day, Species II)
Renee O’Connor b. 1971 (Ark, Alien Apocalypse, Xena, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Boogeyman 2, Darkman II)
Michael Easton b. 1967 (Mutant X, Total Recall 2070, VR.5)
Christopher McDonald b. 1955 (Stargate Universe, Spy Kids 2, The Iron Giant, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Twilight Zone [1986])
Matt Groening b. 1954 (writer, Futurama)
Jane Seymour b. 1951 (Smallville, Battlestar Galactica, Somewhere in Time)
Sherry Jackson b. 1942 (Star Trek, Lost in Space, Batman, Twilight Zone)
Harvey Korman b. 1927 died 29 May 2008 (Munchies, The Invisible Woman, The Star Wars Holiday Special)
Herman Kahn b. 1922 died 7 July 1983 (author, The Next 200 Years)
Meg Wyllie b. 1917 died 1 January 2002 (Star Trek, Twilight Zone)
Kevin McCarthy b. 1914 died 11 September 2010 (Ghoulies III, Eve of Destruction, Innerspace, Twilight Zone: The Movie, The Howling, Invasion of the Body Snatchers [1978 and 1956], Piranha, Between Time and Timbuktu, The Invaders, Twilight Zone [1960])
Cesar Romero b. 1907 died 1 January 1994 (Batman, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century)

My defense for the selection of the Picture Slot boils down to one word.

Iconic.

There are plenty of other choices that make sense. Kevin McCarthy in Invasion of the Body Snatchers is also iconic and so is Renee O'Connor in Xena. A still from Futurama isn't a bad choice, either. Both Sherry Jackson and Meg Wyllie were on the two shows from the 1960s which matter most, Star Trek and The Twilight Zone.

The only thing I can say with confidence is that next 15 February, it will not be a picture of Harvey Korman from The Star Wars Holiday Special.

Many happy returns to all the living on the list, and to the dead, thanks for all the memories.
 


Prediction: 1988: The United States is divided into multiple administrative areas in 1988, one year after the Soviet takeover.

Predictor: Amerika mini-series, first aired 15 February 1987

Reality: This was one of the first times whining by conservatives turned into a TV show. The Day After mini-series in 1983 really bothered a lot of right wingers with its implicit anti-nuke position and they wanted a "pro-nuke" mini-series to balance it out. The best they got is this thing which posited that the Russkis could take over the US without a shot if we went all "ban the bomb".

The mini-series did all right in its first few nights, but it lasted a week and ended up with a 19 rating and a 29 share, compared to The Day After's of a 46 rating and a 62 share. As usual, when conservatives try to be entertaining, the result doesn't appeal to a wide audience.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

Another prediction of war in the late 20th Century, this one with genetic supermen.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!

2 comments:

  1. It's great to learn things at my age. I google imaged Meg Wyllie and Sherry Jackson. Jackson was also in the TV Batman, from the stills it looks like she was a pawn of Frank Gorshin as the Riddler. I had no idea the bald Talosian keeper was played by a female (Wyllie). The voice over was done by Malachi Throne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank, Mr. Driscoll, I missed Ms. Jackson's bit on Batman. This has been rectified.

      Delete

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