Day: January 27, 1966

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Batman Season 1

Batman Is Riled

BatmanA furious fight ensues before the Joker can unmask Batman and Robin on live TV, but during this fight, Batman discovers that the Joker has his own utility belt, modeled after Batman’s own indispensible crime-fighting gear. In their next fight, the Joker swaps Batman’s belt with his own, leaving the Dynamic Duo helpless to catch him. With a well-publicized appearance to attend, and Gotham City’s media questioning their competence, Batman and Robin are certain that they’re walking into another trap set by the Joker.

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Robert Dozier
directed by Don Weis
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), Cesar Romero (The Joker), Nancy Kovack (Queenie), Jerry Dunphy (Newscaster), Al Wyatt (Henchman #1), Angelo de Meo (Henchman #2)

Notes: BatmanThe Joker’s crime wave in this episode and the previous one is described as the worst in Gotham City’s history. (It’s only the sixth episode of the series.) The Joker is sent back to prison, but returns to cause Batman trouble again within 10 episodes.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Classic Season 10 Doctor Who

Carnival of Monsters

Doctor WhoInstead of arriving on the fabled blue planet, Metebelis 3, the Doctor and Jo materialize on board a ship in the Indian Ocean in what appears to be 1926. They soon discover, however, that they are in fact trapped in a “miniscope” – a transdimensional “ant farm” in which the humans are but one exhibit. The miniscope is the property of the rapscallion Vorg, a sort of cosmic carny from the planet Lurman who, with his assistant Shirna, is the first off-world visitor to the planet Inter Minor. He is not welcome there, as the local ruling class – officious, humorless bureaucrats – fail to find his portable zoo entertaining and fear that it may teem with germs and contagion. While Vorg awaits deportation and tries to rescue his “collection” (which include a few Ogrons and some nasty giant carnivorous worms called Drashigs), the Doctor finally emerges from the machine – inadvertently abetting the escape of the horrible Drashigs behind him.

Download this episodewritten by Robert Holmes
directed by Barry Letts
music by Dudley Simpson

Guest Cast: Stuart Fell (Functionary), Michael Wisher (Kalik), Terence Lodge (Orum), Cheryl Hall (Shirna), Leslie Dwyer (Vorg), Tenniel Evans (Major Daly), Andrew Staines (Captain), Ian Marter (Andrews), Jenny McCracken (Claire Daly), Peter Halliday (Pletrac)

Broadcast from January 27 through February 17, 1973

LogBook entry & review by Robert Seulowitz

Categories
Changes, The

Hostages!

The ChangesThe uneasy relationship between the villagers and the Sikhs gradually begins to settle; the Sikhs are able to forge tools the villagers need, and the villagers leave them alone. The calm is disrupted by the arrival of another party of strangers on horseback. They want both the villagers and the Sikhs to work for them, and to ensure the village’s cooperation, they take a child hostage. The Sikhs, with some help from Nicky, prepare to send a clear message that they won’t be victimized in the same way…and perhaps they can earn the village’s respect in the process.

written by Anna Home
based on the novels by Peter Dickinson
directed by John Prowse
music by Paddy Kingsland

The ChangesCast: Vicky Williams (Nicky), Arthur Hewlett (Mr. Tom), David King (Mr. Barnard), Edward Brayshaw (Chief Robber), Derek Ware (Second Robber), Rafiq Anwar (Chacha), Marc Zuber (Kewal), Sahab Qizilbash (Grandmother), Rugby Brar (Gopal), Rebecca Mascarenhas (Ajeet), Gopal Bhanot (Sikh Interpreter), James Ottoway (Maxie)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Season 2 Star Blazers

Teresa: Farewell To Love!

Star BlazersWith barely a month and a half to return to Earth and mount what may be a hopeless defense of Earth against the Comet Empire’s onslaught, the crew of the Argo prepares to leave Telezart. But Mark Venture has already given up hope – Trelaina can’t be convinced to join the crew, and she stands by her pledge not to use her tremendous powers. Even when she’s told that the Comet Empire will strike at Telezart itself in only three days, Trelaina doesn’t relent…until Venture says that he will stay there with her instead of returning to the Argo. She comes back to the Argo with him briefly, but returns to her planet as the ship gets underway. Wildstar is grateful, knowing how vital his chief navigator is to the battle ahead, but when Venture learns that Trelaina has remained behind on Telezart, he may have lost his fighting spirit.

Order the DVDswritten by Keisuke Fujikawa & Eiichi Yamamoto
directed by Leiji Matsumoto
music by Hiroshi Miyagawa

Season 2 Voice Cast: Kenneth Meseroll (Derek Wildstar), Tom Tweedy (Mark Venture), Amy Howard (Nova), Eddie Allen (Leader Desslok), Chris Latta (Sgt. Knox), Lydia Leeds (Trelaina), Chris Latta (General Dire), Chris Latta (Captain Gideon), other actors unknown

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Battlestar Galactica (Classic Series) Season 2 (Galactica: 1980)

Galactica Discovers Earth

Battlestar Galactica (original)The beleaguered Battlestar arrives at Earth, a full generation after having received the planet’s location. But there are two problems: the Cylons are still in pursuit of Galactica, and somewhat to the crew’s surprise, Earth (in the year 1980 A.D., by its time scale) isn’t even remotely capable of withstanding a Cylon attack. Adama’s grandson Troy (who spent his childhood with the nickname “Boxey”) and Lt. Dillon remain on Earth as their ship departs Earth once more in an attempt to divert the Cylons from the defenseless human race. A plan emerges to give the human race a higher order of technology to defend Earth from the Cylon onslaught, but there is disagreement over how much technology should be given to a race which is just as likely to destroy itself. And one member of the Council of Twelve decides to take matters into his own hands, traveling back in time to arm the people of Earth with advanced weaponry…but he may be handing dangerously sophisticated technology to precisely the wrong players in Earth’s history.

Season 2 Regular Cast: Lorne Greene (Commander Adama), Kent McCord (Captain Troy), Barry Van Dyke (Lt. Dillon), Robyn Douglass (Jamie Hamilton), Patrick Stuart (Dr. Zee), Herbert Jefferson Jr. (Colonel Boomer), Fred Holliday (Brooks)

Order the DVDsDownload this episodewritten by Glen A. Larson
directed by Sidney Hayers

Guest Cast: Robbie Rist (Dr. Zee), Richard Lynch (Xavier), Robert Reed (Professor Mortinson), Christopher Stone (Major Stockwell), Sharon Acker (Secretary), Richard Eastham (General Cushing), Albert Paulsen (?), Louis Turenne (?), Michael Strong (?), Pamela Susan Shoop (Ms. Carlyle), Vernon Weddle (First cop), David Moses (Second cop), Brion James (Willy), Mickey Jones (Donzo), Duncan Mackenzie (First pilot), Bruce Douglas (Second pilot), Eddie Firestone (Derelict), Frank Downing (First guard), Don Maxwell (Second guard), Ted Gehring (Sheriff), Curt Lowens (German commander), James R. Parkes (Walt Griffin), Bruce Wright (Aide), Adam Starr (Willy Griffin), Missy Francis (Little girl), Todd Martin (Third German), John Zenda (Cop), Erik Holland (Second German officer), Eric Forst (First German officer), Hank Brandt (Colonel), Duncan Mackenzie (Third guard), Jonathan Williams (Second guard), Paul Brown (Fourth guard), Ray Duke (Newspaper boy), Doug Hale (Air Force Major), Billy Jacoby (Tucker)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Categories
Season 05 Star Trek The Next Generation

Hero Worship

Star Trek: The Next GenerationStardate 45397.3: Investigating the disappearance of the USS Vico, the Enterprise crew finds that the missing vessel has been heavily damaged and is adrift inside a dark matter cluster. A single survivor, young Timothy, is rescued by Data, and is the only means of finding out what happened since the logs of the disaster were also damaged. Timothy tries to emulate Data’s lack of emotions in order to overcome his own confused feelings, but stops short of telling the truth about what happened – which is what Picard needs to know as the Enterprise follows the Vico’s fateful course.

Order the DVDsteleplay by Joe Menosky
story by Hilary J. Bader
directed by Patrick Stewart
music by Jay Chattaway

Cast: Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker), LeVar Burton (Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge), Michael Dorn (Lt. Worf), Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Troi), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data), Joshua Harris (Timothy), Harley Venton (Transporter Chief), Sheila Franklin (Ensign), Steven Einspahr (Teacher)

Note: It was during the filming of this episode that Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry died in October 1991.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Categories
Space Rangers

Fort Hope

Space RangersIn the year 2104, Fort Hope is the most distant human outpost in deep space. A peacekeeping force called the Space Rangers struggles to maintain law and order on the frontier, all while tiptoing around treaties and delicate political situations. The job isn’t easy, and it is dangerous. Only the best need apply. Space Ranger John Boon is about to begin two months’ leave when Commander Chennault calls him back into action. A human ship has been forced down on the contested planet Scarab, and launching a rescue mission will violate numerous treaties; Chennault can’t offer any backup because she has to maintain deniability. Worse yet, one of the downed ship’s crew is Boon’s mentor.

Boon rounds up his crew, including a wet-behind-the-ears hotshot, Daniel Kincaid, whose bravado melts away when he sees the state of Boon’s transport. Ship’s engineer “Doc” delights in rattling Kincaid prior to launch; pilot Jojo’s rough flying and the presence of a Graaka warrior named Zylyn rattle him even more. Upon arrival at Scarab, Boon’s crew has to fight off an attack by space-borne marauders called Banshees. Once on the surface of Scarab, Boon realizes that the “rescue” was a trap all along.

Space Rangersteleplay by Pen Densham & M. Jay Roach
story by Pen Densham
directed by Mikael Salomon
music by Hans Zimmer & Mark Mancina

Cast: Jeff Kaake (Captain John Boon), Marjorie Monaghan (Jojo), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Zylyn), Jack McGee (Doc), Clint Howard (Mimmer), Danny Quinn (Daniel), Gottfried John (Weiss), Linda Hunt (Chennault), Wings Hauser (Decker), Amy Steel (Sarah Boon), Sally Elise Richardson (Survivor), Art La Fleur (Henchman), Pat Morita (Nazzer), Danielle Zuckerman (Roxie Boon), Gary Lee Davis (Thick Neck), Thomas Rosales (Gambler), Dan Zukovick (Arran)

Notes: Co-writer Jay Roach (sometimes credited with an M. in front of his name) has previously worked with series creator Pen Densham on a Fox sci-fi TV movie, Lifepod, early in 1993, and was at one time attached to direct a movie version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, working closely with Douglas Adams through most of the 1990s until he got involved with his next big project, directing Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery and its sequels. Roach went on to even greater success directing Meet The Parents and its sequel, Meet The Fockers.

Though this was the series pilot, it was the last episode to air in the U.S.; CBS cancelled Space Rangers after four weeks due to low ratings. Two episodes were left unaired, premiering abroad and only appearing on home video in the U.S. Although he appears in the opening credits, Weiss does not appear in this episode.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Categories
Babylon 5 / Crusade Season 4

The Long Night

Babylon 5As Shadow and Vorlon forces rampage through the galaxy, destroying virtually all that they encounter, Sheridan assembles the largest fleet in the history of the younger races to take them on. Many of the members of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds are skeptical of their chances of success, but Sheridan insists that the offensive must proceed despite the fact that it is barely understood how the Shadows’ and Vorlons’ planet-killers work. In the meantime, Centauri Emperor Cartagia has traveled to the Narn homeworld with Londo in tow to attend G’Kar’s execution. Londo, however, has other plans, namely the assassination of the insane Cartagia. Londo’s pawns include Vir, other Centauri conspirators, and G’Kar himself, and Londo’s strategy depends on everything falling into place at precisely the right moment. Sheridan’s war strategy also depends on a number of favorable conditions, and an extraordinary sacrifice. His plan is to lure the Vorlons and Shadows to the same place with the hope that the two superpowers will annihilate one another.

Order now!Download this episodewritten by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by John Lafia
music by Christopher Franke

Cast: Bruce Boxleitner (Captain Sheridan), Claudia Christian (Commander Ivanova), Jerry Doyle (Garibaldi), Mira Furlan (Delenn), Richard Biggs (Dr. Franklin), Bill Mumy (Lennier), Jason Carter (Marcus Cole), Stephen Furst (Vir), Jeff Conaway (Zack Allan), Patricia Tallman (Lyta Alexander), Andreas Katsulas (G’Kar), Peter Jurasik (Londo), Bryan Cranston (Ericsson), Wortham Krimmer (Emperor Cartagia), Mark Bramhall (Centauri #2), Ron Campbell (Drazi Ambassador), Carl Reggiardo (Centauri #1), Kim Strauss (G’Lorn), Tim Barron (Humanoid), William Scudder (Jester)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Categories
Deep Space Nine Season 05 Star Trek

The Begotten

Star Trek: Deep Space NineStardate not given: When Quark sells him an injured baby Changeling he obtained through a trader, Odo becomes determined to find a way to communicate with it by teaching it to shapeshift. Unwanted help arrives in the form of Dr. Mora, the Bajoran scientist who studied Odo. Mora advocates the electrostatic techniques he used with Odo, while Odo is determined not to subject the Changeling to the pain he went through in his early days; their arguments resurrect the bitterness of their past history. Meanwhile, Kira prepares to give birth to the O’Briens’ baby at last.

Order the DVDsDownload this episode via Amazonwritten by Renè Echavarria
directed by Jesus Salvador Trevino
music by Jay Chattaway

Guest Cast: Rosalind Chao (Keiko), Duncan Regehr (Shakaar), Peggy Roeder (‘Pora), James Sloyan (Dr. Mora Pol)

LogBook entry by Tracy Hemenover

Categories
Season 2 Xena: Warrior Princess

Destiny

Xena: Warrior PrincessXena has returned to the ruins of Cirra, the place that was once home to Callisto. She is hoping to understand how she became an evil warlord. Gabrielle is kidnapped while she waits for Xena, by a tribe that plans on sacrificing her along with other people that they have captured. During her rescue attempt, Xena is seriously injured. One of the savages tries to kill her while she is down. Gabrielle manages to stop him, but not without being injured herself. Slipping into unconciousness, Xena begans to relive her life from ten years before. At the time she was a pirate with her own ship, and Julius Caesar was her prisoner. Also on board is a stowaway with remarkable skills.

Order the DVDsteleplay by R.J. Stewart & Steven L. Sears
story by Robert Tapert
directed by Robert Tapert
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Karl Urban (Julius Ceaser), Ebonie Smith (M’Lila), Nathaniel Lees (Nicklio), Grant Boucher (Telos), Rebecca Kopacka (Young Callisto), Slade Leef (Sitacles), Mark Perry (Vicerius), Grant Triplow (Brutus), Rebecca McKinnon (Slave Girl), Dan Ryan (Roman #1)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

Categories
Season 05 Star Trek Voyager

The Bride of Chaotica

Star Trek: VoyagerThe Story So Far: In our last adventure, heroic space pilot Tom Paris created a holodeck simulation to recreate the sci-fi serials of the 1950s. But this week, young Tom is faced with a deadly dilemma as photonic aliens board the proud starship Voyager and find themselves under attack from the evil Doctor Chaotica! Will Tom vanquish the evil Chaotica and make peace with these visitors made of light? Will Captain Janeway save the crew without losing her dignity in the process? Tune in next time, true believers!

Order the DVDsteleplay by Bryan Fuller & Michael Taylor
story by Bryan Fuller
directed by Allan Kroeker
music by Paul Baillargeon

Guest Cast: Martin Rayner (Dr. Chaotica), Nicholas Worth (Lonzak), Jim Krestalude (Alien #1), Tarik Ergin (Robot), Majel Barrett (Computer voice)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Categories
Season 09 SG-1 Stargate

Stronghold

  • By Dave
  • January 27, 2006

Stargate SG-1Mitchell takes some time off from Stargate Command to visit his friend and former colleague Major Bryce Ferguson. Four years ago, he got a piece of shrapnel in his head saving Mitchell’s life, and now Mitchell has had him moved to the Air Force hospital associated with the Stargate program in hopes that their advanced technology can heal the aneurysm that threatens his life. Ferguson has accepted his fate, however – he just wants to know about what top-secret projects Mitchell has been involved in. He’s heard rumors of dogfights over Antarctica and other crazy things – things he may have been involved with himself if he hadn’t been injured. But Mitchell can reveal nothing.

On Dakara, Teal’c and Bra’tac attempt to dissolve the high council in order to allow open democratic elections for leadership of the Free Jaffa Nation. But they are surprised when their allies turn against them without warning. When Teal’c attempts to investigate, Ba’al’s forces kidnap him. The Goa’uld wants to keep the council in place so that he can assume leadership of the Jaffa and prepare them for war against the Ori, and he has brainwashed many Jaffa to help him – including members of the council. Teal’c’s own resistance is too strong, so Ba’al is forced to take harsher measures. Bra’tac turns to the SGC for help; Daniel accompanies him back to Chulak and Dakara to investigate while Carter prepares a rescue force.

The hospital is unable to help Ferguson, so Mitchell gets permission to use a modified version of the memory transfer device to let his friend live his experiences of the last four years. The grateful Ferguson urges Mitchell to get back to the SGC and help rescue Teal’c, and not feel guilty about what has happened – Mitchell is in a line of work where he needs to follow his instincts, even if that leads him into trouble. Mitchell joins the rescue team, clearly with a lot of frustration to take out on someone. The only question is whether he’s more dangerous to Ba’al’s forces or to himself.

Order the DVDswritten by Alan McCullough
directed by Peter DeLuise
music by Joel Goldsmith

Guest Cast: Tony Amendola (Bra’tac), Cliff Simon (Ba’al), Reed Diamond (Major Ferguson), Dakin Matthews (Maz’rai), Simone Bailly (Ka’lel), Yan Feldman (Til’Vak), Veena Sood (Dr. Kelly), Don Thompson (U’kin), Gardiner Millar (Yat’yir), Ken Kirzinger (Jaffa Commander), Erik Breker (SG-3 Leader)

Notes: Mitchell’s prior experience with the memory device was in Collateral Damage. Teal’c was brainwashed by Apophis in season 5’s Enemies. Bra’tac helped him undergo the ritual of Mal’sharran to overcome the brainwashing in the following episode, Threshold. The Antarctic mission that Ferguson has heard about originally occurred in season 7’s Lost City, Part 2, and Mitchell’s part in that mission was shown in this season’s Avalon, Part 1. The exploding building that Ferguson mentions was the result of Ba’al’s activities in this season’s Ex Deus Machina.

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer

Categories
Season 2 Stargate Stargate Atlantis

Grace Under Pressure

Stargate AtlantisRodney and fellow Atlantis crewmember Griffin take a recently repaired puddle jumper out on a proving flight, with Rodney in a near-panic that the ship, which has been refitted after suffering serious damage, will never be spaceworthy again. As it turns out, that’s the least of his problems. On approach to land at Atlantis, the jumper’s engines malfunction and the little ship plunges into the ocean seconds after Griffin fires off a desperate distress call to Atlantis. At 1,200 feet beneath the surface of the ocean and falling, the jumper must now prove itself to be seaworthy… and again, it fails the test, as the cockpit begins to buckle under the pressure. Rodney and Griffin try to retreat to the rear compartment and close the pressure hatch to the cockpit, but when he realizes that only the cockpit’s hatch controls are still working, Griffin sacrifices himself to save Rodney’s life. Still plummeting toward the ocean floor, Rodney is now facing his own extinction at a depth that none of Atlantis’ craft can hope to reach for a rescue, and worse yet, he’s facing it alone…or so he thinks at first.

Order the DVDswritten by Martin Gero
directed by Martin Wood
music by Joel Goldsmith

Guest Cast: Amanda Tapping (Samantha Carter), David Nykl (Dr. Zelenka), William MacDonald (Griffin), Peter Abrams (Donaldson), Nimet Kanji (Bryce)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Categories
Battlestar Galactica (New Series) Season 2

Black Market

Battlestar GalacticaShortly after President Roslin meets with Admiral Adama and the Pegasus’ Commander Fisk about cracking down on black market activity within the fleet, Fisk is murdered. Adama puts Apollo on the case, giving him free reign to follow wherever the trail leads him. But given the shady nature of the black market, that trail passes through several unexpected places, from Baltar’s office to Colonel Tigh’s quarters…and even Apollo himself can’t claim to be clean, having paid several visits to a prostitute aboard the Cloud 9 and grown close to her and her small daughter. But when their lives are threatened, Apollo comes to the rescue and finds himself at the mercy of the same men who killed Commander Fisk. Almost right on cue, Tom Zarek shows up to check on Apollo and quietly slips some information to him about the black market and the people behind it. The black market trail finally leads to the Colonial ship Prometheus, where Apollo decides that the illegal activity can’t be eliminated, but it can be controlled if he takes drastic action. But if Apollo takes out the man who ordered Fisk’s death and has now kidnapped Apollo’s ladyfriend and her daughter, will he be putting someone even more dangerous in charge?

written by Mark Verheiden
directed by James Head
music by Bear McCreary

Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Paul Campbell (Billy Keikeya), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek), Graham Beckel (Commander Fisk), Claudette Mink (Shevon), Donnelly Rhodes (Dr. Cottle), Bill Duke (Phelan), Leah Cairns (Racetrack), Amy Lalonde (Gianne), Hayley Guiel (Paya), John Mann (Linden), James Ashcroft (Security Officer), Brad Mann (Pegasus Marine), Gustavo Febres (Herbalist)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Categories
5th Doctor Doctor Who The Audio Dramas

The Bride Of Peladon

Doctor Who: The Bride Of PeladonResponding to an Ice Warrior ambassador’s distress call, the Doctor, Peri and Erimem wind up on a doomed ship on a crash course for the planet Peladon, a world the Doctor has visited before. The Ice Warrior’s ship breaks up as it begins to enter the atmosphere, stranding the TARDIS in orbit as the crew cabin plummets to the planet below. On Peladon, a recent tragedy has left the planet without its queen, and a young prince prepares to take the throne on the eve of his wedding to a princess from Earth. But the prince, among others, has been hearing a mysterious voice, bidding all who hear it to offer up a sacrifice of royal blood – and any royal blood, from the arriving princess to Erimem, will suffice to unlock an ancient terror similar to one that the Doctor has faced before.

Order this CDwritten by Barnaby Edwards
directed by Barnaby Edwards
music by ERS

Cast: Peter Davison (The Doctor), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Caroline Morris (Erimem), Phyllida Law (Belldonia); Jenny Agutter (Voice); Christian Coulson (Pelleas), Yasmin Bannerman (Pandora), Nicholas Briggs (Zixlyr), Jane Goddard (Alpha Centauri), Richard Earl (Frankis), Peter Sowerbutts (Elkin), Philip Childs (Foreman), Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Miner)

Timeline: between The Mind’s Eye and Mission Of The Viyrans

LogBook entry and TheatEar review by Earl Green