10 October 2014

Birthdays
Aimee Teegarden b. 1989 (Star-Crossed, Legend of the Seeker)
Emer Kenny b. 1989 (Vampire Killers)
Lucy Griffiths b. 1986 (True Blood)
Aaron Himelstein b. 1985 (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Journeyman)
Amber Scott b. 1984 (Hook)
Kassem Gharaibeh b. 1983 (Transformers: Age of Extinction, I <3 Vampires)
 Dan Stevens b. 1982 (Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, Vamps, The Turn of the Screw, Dracula [2006 TV], Frankenstein [2004 TV])
Jodi Lyn O’Keefe b. 1978 (The Vampire Diaries, Lost, The Big Bang Theory, Charmed, The Crow: Salvation, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later)
Trevor Eyster b. 1978 (Babylon 5, Alligator II: The Mutation, Hard Time on Planet Earth)
Natalie Ramsey b. 1975 (Pleasantville)
Majan Neshat b. 1975 (RoboCop [2014], Fringe)
Chad Willett b. 1971 (Haven, Supernatural, Category 6: Day of Destruction, The Chronicle, Charmed, Poltergiest: The Legacy, The X Files)
Manu Bennett b. 1969 (The Hobbit, Arrow, Sinbad and the Minotaur, 30 Days of Night, Xena, BeastMaster [TV])
Bai Ling b. 1966 (The Lazarus Papers, Lost, Southland Tales, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Jake 2.0, Angel, The Crow, The Monkey King)
Martin Kemp b. 1961 (Strippers vs Werewolves, Tales from the Crypt, Embrace of the Vampire, The Outer Limits, Highlander [TV], Waxwork II; Lost in Time)
Bonita Friedericy b. 1961 (Paranormal Activity 3, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Alien Raiders, Star Trek: Enterprise, Angel, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Buffy)
Jodi Benson b. 1961 (Enchanted)
Bradley Whitford b. 1959 (The Cabin in the Woods, Bicentennial Man, Cloned, The X-Files)
Julia Sweeney b. 1959 (Clockstoppers, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Coneheads, Honey I Blew Up the Kid, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Hard Time on Planet Earth)
Karen Kopins b. 1958 (Once Bitten, Amazing Stories, Creator, Knight Rider)
Jessica Harper b. 1949 (Minority Report, Starman [TV], Tales from the Darkside, Phantom of the Paradise)
Larry Lamb b. 1947 (Blood: The Last Vampire, Superman III, Superman)
Ben Vereen b. 1946 (Lois & Clark, Star Trek: the Next Generation, Intruders, Faerie Tale Theatre, Mary’s Incredible Dream)
Charles Dance b. 1946 (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Game of Thrones, Dracula Untold, Midnight’s Children, Underworld: Awakening, Space Truckers, The Last Action Hero, Alien³, The Golden Child)
Peter Coyote b. 1941 (FlashForward, The 4400, Return of the Living Dead, Phenomenon II, E.T., Sphere, The Twilight Zone, Deadly Nightmares, Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann)
Laurel Cronin b. 1939 died 26 October 1992 (Hook)
Peter White b. 1937 (The X Files, Armageddon, Flubber, Deep Space Nine, Superboy, The Greatest American Hero)
Ron Feinberg b. 1932 died 29 January 2005 (A Boy and His Dog, It’s About Time)
Dana Elcar b. 1927 died 6 June 2005 (2010, Knight Rider, Small & Frye, Voyagers!, Galactica 1980, The Incredible Hulk, The Six Million Dollar Man, Gemini Man, The Sixth Sense, The Invaders, Dark Shadows [1967], ‘Way Out)
Richard Jaeckel b. 1926 died 14 June 1997 (Starman, Salvage 1, Twilight’s Last Gleaming, The Green Slime, The Time Tunnel, The Outer Limits)
Alice Nunn b. 1927 died 1 July 1988 (Misfits of Science, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Knight Rider, The Fury)
Ed Wood, Jr. b. 1924 died 10 December 1978 (director, Night of the Ghouls, Plan 9 From Outer Space, Bride of the Monster)
Janos Prohaska b. 1919 died 13 March 1974 (Star Trek, Land of the Giants, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Outer Limits)
Charles Lloyd Pack b. 1902 died 22 December 1983 (Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell, The Reptile, The 3 Worlds of Gulliver, The Revenge of Frankenstein, Horror of Dracula, Curse of the Demon, Enemy from Space, Vampire Over London)



Notes on the birthday list
1. The Picture Slot. Last year it was Janos Prohaska as the mogatu on Star Trek. He spent most of his career in costumes. This year, a tip of the hat to Charles Dance, who was so very good as Tywin Lannister. George R.R. Martin said the one role that was completely sewn up before production started was Peter Dinklage as Tyrion, and it's understandable because there's no little person actor who is quite in his league right now, but honestly, Dinklage is much prettier that the Tyrion you find in the book. On the other hand, when I saw Charles Dance as Tywin, I could not imagine anyone else in that role. Ever.


2. Next year's Picture Slot. A whole lot of pretty at the top of the list, but not a whole lot of iconic genre roles. Dan Stevens, for example, is plenty pretty, but he's Matthew on Downton Abbey to most of his fans. If I go with my favorite actor, it's probably Oh That Guy Dana Elcar. If I get in an odd mood, it might be Ed Wood, Jr.


3. Spot the Canadian. Chad Willett. Seeing both Supernatural and The X Files together is a bit of a giveaway.


4. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure genre? I count it as genre because of Large Marge the trucker. Alice Nunn played Large Marge.


5. Ummm... imdb? Peter Coyote has done a LOT of narration and a bunch of it isn't listed on imdb.com, included all the stuff he's done for Ken Burns. That's just wrong.


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

Predictor: Editor in charge of business book at Prentice-Hall, circa 1957

Prediction: I have traveled the length and breadth of this country, and have talked with the best people in business administration. I can assure you on the highest authority that data processing is a fad and won’t last the year.

Reality: I'm only sad that we don't have an actual name to go with this one. It's as good as the guy at Decca passing on the Beatles because the guitar band fad was at an end.


Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

Back to 1893 and a predictor whose name is still known to us today.

Also, fantastic facial hair.


Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!