Sci-Fi 5
540 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 26 ratingsYour daily Sci-Fi 5 is five minutes of science fiction history. Presented by a panel of hosts who share some of the least-known details about some of the best-known stories in popular culture. Brought to you by Roddenberry, the first name in science fiction.
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Episodes
Color Out of Space - February 25, 2019
February 25, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 5.05 MBH.P. Lovecraft wrote the story in 1927 of this fearsome foe from outer space: the color magenta. If that premise isn't oddly intriguing enough, the movie version had the good sense to put Nicolas Cage in the lead role. Find out what exactly is the Color Out of Space that premiered on February 25, 2019. Subscribe to Sci-Fi 5 for a daily dose of science-fiction history.
The Empire Strikes Back - Atari - February 24, 1982
February 24, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 5.09 MBThe juggernaut that is the Star Wars universe has permeated every form of media, including video games. The first official game, The Empire Strikes Back, made its debut on the Atari 2600 system on February 24, 1982. Many players were thrilled play in the Star Wars universe, even while Harlan Ellison called it "electronic botulism." Subscribe to Sci-Fi 5 for a daily dose of science-fiction history.
The Phantom Empire - February 23, 1935
February 23, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.97 MBIf your science fiction could use more singing cowboys and robot hats, The Phantom Menace has got you covered. Find out why this serial delighted audiences with its tales of a lost, scientifically-advanced civilization and the crooning of Gene Autry. Subscribe to Sci-Fi 5 for a daily dose of science-fiction history.
Babylon 5 - February 22, 1993
February 22, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.92 MBJ. Michael Straczynski's Babylon 5 premiered on February 22, 1993 although it would be much longer before audiences got anything beyond the pilot episode. The show that paved the way for science-fiction on TV the flex serialized storytelling is the focus of today's Sci-Fi 5. Subscribe to Sci-Fi 5 for your daily dose of science-fiction history.
Project U.F.O. - February 19, 1978
February 19, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.96 MBThat thing in the sky was just some swamp gas... or was it? Dragnet's Jack Webb dug into the government's files for sightings of unidentified flying objects to bring "Project U.F.O." to TV audiences on February 19, 1978. Subscribe to Sci-Fi 5 for a daily dose of science-fiction history.
Pluto Discovered - February 18, 1930
February 18, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 5.12 MBPlanet or planetoid? Does it even matter? Either way, that far-off body in our solar system has inspired the creators of science fiction stories from the date it was first spotted - February 18, 1930. Subscribe to Sci-Fi 5 for your daily dose of science-fiction history.
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure - February 17, 1989
February 17, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.36 MBWho can forget the adventures of Bill and Ted in their time van with faithful companion dog Rufus? All of us - because that's not the movie we got. In 1989, we get Bill & Ted's Excellent adventured which premiered on February 17th. Here's the story behind the excellent story. Subscribe to Sci-Fi 5 for a daily dose of science-fiction history.
Jeremy Bulloch - February 16, 1945
February 16, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 5.34 MBFind out how having the perfect shoe size led to Jeremy Bulloch inhabiting one of the most iconic roles in the Star Wars universe. Then hear the tragic story of what happened to a signed, mint-condition Boba Fett action figure. Subscribe to Sci-Fi 5 for a daily dose of science fiction history.
Red Dwarf - February 15, 1988
February 15, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.68 MBNot doing anything for the next three million years? Then grab a curry and join the crew of the Red Dwarf. The series about the last human alive and his companions premiered on February 15, 1988 and merged sci-fi with comedy... or comedy with sci-fi... and cats. Subscribe to Sc-Fi 5 for a daily dose of science fiction history.
Robocop - February 12, 2014
February 12, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 5.79 MBDuring a surge of popular 1980s movies being remade in the 2010s, Robocop seemed a sure bet. Without the violence or biting satire of the original, would audiences respond? Today we're looking back at Robocop, released on February 12, 2014. Get five minutes of science-fiction history every weekday by subscribing to Sci-Fi 5.
R.U.R. TV broadcast - February 11, 1938
February 11, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 5.42 MBThe first ever science-fiction TV broadcast occurred on February 11, 1938. The BBC aired a 35-minute adaptation of Karel Capek's play "R.U.R." which also happened to be the first place the word "robot" was ever used. Check out the modern adaptation of R.U.R. by director James Kerwin. Subscribe to Sci-Fi 5 for your daily five minutes of science-fiction history.
Attack of the Crab Monsters - February 10, 1957
February 10, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.43 MBWhere atomic testing occurs, giant mutant monsters can't be far behind. That's the setup for Roger Corman's "Attack of the Crab Monsters" that premiered on February 10, 1957. Ever meet a man-eating crab that snores and speaks with a French accent? You're going to now. Get a daily dose of science fiction history in each episode of Sci-Fi 5.
Doomwatch - February 9, 1970
February 09, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.99 MBWhen a couple of Doctor Who writers struck out on their own to create an original TV science-fiction series, they delivered "Doomwatch" which premiered on February 9, 1970. Part science, part government conspiracy, the show was a more adult take on the genre, and it was well received at the time. Find out why audiences today will have a hard time catching up on the series. Subscribe to Sci-Fi 5, your daily five minutes of science fiction history.
Jules Verne - February 8, 1828
February 08, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 5.28 MBIt's impossible to imagine modern entertainment without the groundbreaking work of novelist Jules Verne, born February 8, 1828. Before the phrase "science fiction" had even been invented, Verne was speculating about a future of moon voyages, electric submarines and a news report that that was spoken rather than printed - almost as if he was listening to a podcast... Subscribe to Sci-Fi 5 and get your daily five minutes of science fiction history.
Captain America - February 5, 1944
February 05, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 5.21 MBBefore the Captain America we know and love, there was the Captain America of the comics. As a weird footnote to that, there was also the Captain America of the Republic serial films - the first Marvel superhero to jump to film. Get ready for sheildless, gun-toting Cap who premiered on February 5, 1944 Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Videodrome - February 4, 1983
February 04, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.3 MBDavid Cronenberg's Videodrome premiered on February 4, 1983, cementing the director's signature body-horror style. Which person on the crew had ideas that were a little too creepy even for Cronenberg? Find out in today's Sci-Fi 5. Don't miss your daily five minutes of science fiction history. Subscribe today at Roddenberry Podcasts.
The Fantastic Journey - February 3, 1977
February 03, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 7.64 MBIf you take every fantastical tale like the Loch Ness monster, Atlantis, Bigfoot, and UFOs, push them through the Bermuda Triangle and introduce time travel, you may end up with a show like The Fantastic Journey. Even with Roddy McDowall and a host of '70s guest stars, NBC found that audience expectations for science fiction would change in a big way after this show premiered on February 3, 1977. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Star Trek in syndication - February 2, 1970
February 02, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.45 MBStar Trek may have been cancelled in 1969, but the story was far from over. Within a year, audiences and TV stations had discovered that the adventures of the starship Enterprise were a ratings phenomenon. The industry sat up and took notice when Paramount took out a full page ad in Broadcasting Magazine to celebrate its success on February 2, 1970. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
George Pal - February 1, 1908
February 01, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 5.91 MBDesigner, animator, cinematographer, director... There were many titles that got applied to the skills embodied by George Pal. Born on February 1, 1908, George's legacy would go beyond the animated "Puppetoons" that made him famous and cement his influence on science fiction and fantasy films for generations. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Dr. Strangelove - January 29, 1964
January 29, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 7.05 MBHeld back from its initial holiday release in 1963, Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, made its debut on this day in 1964. Find out how Stanley Kubrick took the threat of nuclear annihilation and made it funny. But also serious. But also funny. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
The Blaster Beam - January 28, 1978
January 28, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.34 MBAn iconic sound, produced by an instrument with a sci-fi name, made its soundtrack debut in The Bionic Woman episode "The Martians are Coming" on this day in 1978. Find out what a "blaster beam" is and how it became an indelible part of sci-fi history. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Galactica 1980 - January 27, 1980
January 27, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 5.95 MBThe demands of passionate Battlestar Galactica fans were answered when ABC launched a sequel to the epic space adventure. Would the Earth-bound Galactica 1980 fire on all thrusters when it launched on January 27? Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Le Prix du Danger - January 26, 1983
January 26, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.16 MBIn a dystopian future, an everyman is the contestant on a gameshow where the other players are trying to kill him. If that sounds like "The Running Man," it does, but the story origins are complicated. "Le Prix du Danger" predated that film by four years though, and was released on this day in 1983. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
JJ Abrams Star Wars Announcement - January 25, 2013
January 25, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 5.43 MBThe keys to the Star Wars kingdom were handed over to producer/director JJ Abrams on January 25, 2013. Like a womp rat in the cross hairs of a T-16, Abrams was the target of speculation and scrutiny by fans all over the world. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Contagious - January 22, 1997
January 22, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.2 MBBack in 1997, a TV movie was trying to warn us about the dangers of a deadly infection as well as ordering seafood on an airplane. Throw in a drug-dealer subplot plus the star power of Lindsay Wagner and Tom Wopat and you've got Contagious - premiering January 22, 1997. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Star Trek Lives! - January 21, 1972
January 21, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6 MBStar Trek's cancellation in 1969 was just the beginning. The growing fan community was ready to give it new life, and a few years later the first major convention took place in New York, barely containing the excited fans and special guests. Find out what happened that weekend starting January 21, 1972. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Tom Baker - January 20, 1934
January 20, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.27 MBWho's your doctor? If you were one of the millions of Doctor Who fans in the 1970s and '80s, there's a good chance it was Tom Baker, the fourth actor to inhabit the role on TV. Learn all about the man behind the excessively long scarf, born on this day in 1934. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Avenue 5 - January 19, 2020
January 19, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 5.84 MBIf you had been looking for a science-fiction satire set on a futuristic cruise ship to the stars, HBO answered your dreams on January 19, 2020. Find out how the production avoided disaster while lampooning disaster. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Cloverfield - January 18, 2008
January 18, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.27 MBWho can forget where they were that fateful day when the monster started wreaking havoc on Earth? January 18th will be remembered for the horror unleashed - and caught on film. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
The Martian Chronicles - January 15, 1980
January 15, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.86 MBThe highly-anticipated premiere of The Martian Chronicles TV miniseries was nearly torpedoed by none other than the book's author himself, Ray Bradbury. Find out how NBC saved face and how audiences received the star-studded tale when it finally aired starting January 15, 1980. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
The Fifth Annual Saturn Awards - January 14, 1978
January 14, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 5.89 MBSure, the 1978 Science Fiction Film Awards boasted an all-star lineup and heaped its praise on Star Wars. You may remember the show for a different reason though - the show-stopping rendition of Elton John's "Rocket Man" as performed by William Shatner. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
DeepStar Six - January 13, 1989
January 13, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 7.55 MBIn a year full of underwater horror movies, one of them had to be first. Find out how DeepStar Six won the race, if not the box office or critical approval. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Batman TV Premiere - January 12, 1966
January 12, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.12 MBHoly anniversary! Today was the day Batman made the jump from comic book and serial to an iconic TV series starring Adam West. The 1966 version of the caped crusader still resonates today with Bat-fans everywhere. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Wir - January 11, 1982
January 11, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.35 MBLiving in a surveillance-state dystopia may sound like a bad idea, but at least everyone gets a smart uniform and some privacy once per week for some intimacy. Dieter Laser (Lexx) stars as "D-503" and could be the one who snaps his world out of oppression. Or not. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Roy Batty - January 8, 2016
January 08, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.59 MBSci-Fi 5 turns its attention to the Tyrell Corporation. It was on this day in 2016 that the infamous Roy Batty was activated (or "incepted") and started his career as an off-world combat replicant. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Flash Gordon - January 7, 1934
January 07, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 7.85 MBHe might not have been the first comic-strip sci-fi hero, but Flash Gordon grabbed the imagination of millions of people starting on this day in 1934. Get your Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
The Changes - January 6, 1975
January 06, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.62 MBIf you feel like your television, smartphone or computer has a mind of its own, it could just be a software bug. Of course, it could also be a nefarious signal that will plunge us into a post-technology apocalypse. That was the premise of "The Changes" that premiered on this day in 1975 on the BBC. Get your daily Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Space Transportation System - January 5, 1972
January 05, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.62 MBOn this day in 1972, the Nixon administration approved America's next generation space vehicle, the Space Transportation System, popularly known as the space shuttle. Find out how the new NASA hardware influenced years of science fiction that followed. Get your daily Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Star Trek: The Experience - January 4, 1998
January 04, 2021 08:00 - 5 minutes - 6.9 MBThe Enterprise landed in Las Vegas on this day in 1998. Find out what a trip to "Star Trek: The Experience" was like and what Paramount's other plans were for the themed attraction. Get your daily Sci-Fi 5, five minutes of science fiction history, at Roddenberry Podcasts.
Sci-Fi 5 Trailer
December 31, 2020 06:21 - 1 minute - 668 KBStarting Monday, January 4th, the first name in science fiction brings you a daily dose of science fiction history. Sci-Fi 5's panel of hosts explore the creators and backgrounds of your favorite pop-culture stories - all in just five minutes! Subscribe now and don't miss a single episode. sci-fi-5.libsyn.com Roddenberry Podcasts Facebook Instagram