Sci-Fi 5

It was a day like any other in 1980, except that a month before the new Star Wars movie came out, the toys were already in stores.  Today's Sci-Fi 5 rewinds to examine a merchandising blitz that changed how movies are marketed forever.

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Written by Earl Green

Hosted by Kim Horcher

Music by Devin Curry

The first "Buck Rogers" TV series premiered 72 years ago today. Thought to be lost forever, one episode has recently resurfaced, giving us a glimpse into how Buck appeared to kids in TV's early golden age.

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Written by Johnny Kolasinski

Hosted by Ryan Myers

Music by Devin Curry

Standby for action! Today on Sci-Fi 5, we celebrate the birthday of iconic TV producer Gerry Anderson - the talent behind some of the best-loved British children's sci-fi shows and creator of SUPERMARIONATION!

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Written by David Sohl

Hosted by Kim Horcher

Music by Devin Curry

One of Batman's most enduring villains debuted today, not in the pages of comics, but in the TV series starring Adam West.  Today's Sci-Fi 5 digs into the backstory - and the surprising longevity - of King Tut.

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Written and hosted by Earl Green

Music by Devin Curry

It was the unlikely pairing of comedic actor Charles Nelson Reilly and a script deep in sci-fi meta references that made one episode of "The X-Files" stand out from the crowd. Hear the story of "Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space'" on today's Sci-Fi 5.

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Written by Ashley Thomas

Hosted by Jessica Lynn Verdi

Music by Devin Curry

Great historic moments have always inspired Hollywood. Sometimes they get it right, and sometimes there's more fiction than fact. Hear how NASA's "finest hour" inspired retellings of Apollo 13's mission on today's Sci-Fi 5.

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Written by Brian Clayton

Hosted by Roberto Lewis

Music by Devin Curry

A true master of his craft, Douglas Trumbull broke new ground in visual effects and defined futuristic worlds on screen for decades. Celebrating what would have been is 80th birthday, Sc-Fi 5 looks back at Trumbull's career.

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Written by Ashley Thomas

Hosted by Jessica Lynn Verdi

Music by Devin Curry

Children's programming on the BBC in the early '70s injected elements of horror and the supernatural in its science fiction. One of the strangest entries, "Sky," premiered on this day in 1975, and Sci-Fi 5 is here to give you the lowdown in all its subversive glory.

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Written by Shane Vaughn

Hosted by Kim Horcher

Music by Devin Curry

It was a movie that eschewed dialogue for a tense, all-encompassing silence - and now looms loud as a rapidly expanding franchise.  Lean in and listen closely for the story behind A Quiet Place in today's Sci-Fi 5.

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Written by Ryan Myers

Hosted by Roberto Lewis

Music by Devin Curry

Every Federation citizen knows the general details of First Contact Day, but a new in-depth investigation may have found something fishy in the origin story of the Federation.  Get a taste of the details in today's Sci-Fi 5.

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Written by Tom Kozak

Hosted by Ryan Myers

Music by Devin Curry