First Screen Actors Guild Awards 1995

The Inaugural Screen Actors Guild was held February 25, 1995, awarding the new statuette The Actor. Tom Hanks won Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Leading Role for his work in Forrest Gump. Angela Lansbury was the presenter and handed him the award.

Martin Landau won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood, a well-deserved recognition.

Lansbury was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her work in Murder, She Wrote, but lost to Kathy Baker(?),

Patrick Stewart was nominated for his portrayal as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series, but lost to Dennis Franz (??).

Atlantis (STS-71) launched 1995

STS-71 crew

Seated (L-R): Vladimir Dezhurov, Robert Gibson, Anatoly Solovyev

Standing (L-R): Norman Thagard, Gennady Strekalov, Gregory Harbaugh, Ellen Baker,Charles Precourt,Bonnie Dunbar, Nikolai Budarin

STS-71 mission patch

Atlantis (STS-71), launched June 27, 1995, was the first Space Shuttle to dock with the Russian Space Station Mir.  Its crew consisted of Commander Robert Gibson, Pilot Charles Precourt, Ellen Baker, Gregory Harbaugh, and Bonnie Dunbar.  It delivered two cosmonauts, Anatoly Solovyev and Nikolai Budarin, to Mir to participate in Expedition EO-19, and return with members of EO-18. 

The mission included filming with an IMAX camera, the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment-II (SAREX-II), and to conduct biomedical investigations.  Some of these experiments covered cardiovascular and pulmonary functions, human metabolism, neuroscience, hygiene, sanitation, radiation, and behavioral performance.

Atlantis undocked from Mir on July 4, and returned to Earth with the original crew, Gennady Strekalov, Vladimir Dezhurov, and Norman Thagard.  The shuttle's crew spent almost 10 days in space.  

Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Voyager, Cyndi Lauper, and Babylon 5 win Primetime Emmys 1995

Star Trek: Deep Space 9 and Star Trek: Voyager each won 3 Primetime Emmys at the 47th annual ceremony held September 10, 1995.  My girl Cyndi Lauper won for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her work in Mad About You.  Babylon 5 won Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series for Acts of Sacrifice. Angela Lansbury was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Murder, She Wrote. The X-Files received 7 nominations, four of which were for the episode Duane Barry. Mystery Science Theater 3000 was nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program.  CCH Pounder was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in The X-Files.

DS9 won:

Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series for Distant Voices

Outstanding Individual Achievement – Special Visual Effects for The Jem’Hadar
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series for Improbable Cause

Voyager won:

Outstanding Individual Achievement – Special Visual Effects for Caretaker
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme Music for Jerry Goldsmith
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series for Faces

Voyager was nominated for:

Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a Series for Heroes and Demons
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series for Caretaker
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Graphic Design and Title Sequences
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series for Caretaker
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for Caretaker
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for Heroes & Demons

X-Files was nominated for: 

Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a Series for One Breath
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Series – Single Camera Production for Sleepless
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Series – Single Camera Production for Duane Barry
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series for Duane Barry
Outstanding Writing for a Drama for Duane Barry

Murder, She Wrote was also nominated for 
Nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Series for Death ‘N’ Denial
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costuming for a Series for Murder A La Mode
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for Murder in High C

Martin Landau wins Golden Globe for "Ed Wood" 1995

Martin Landau won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Performance by an Actor in a Movie for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi in the movie Ed Wood at the 52nd ceremony held January 21, 1995.  I loved his performance and was so happy when he won the Golden Globe and the Oscar for this role.  

It was his third Golden Globe of his career.

Celebrating Hispanic-Heritage Month: Katya Echazarreta, first Mexican-born woman in space

Katya Echazaretta, born June 16, 1995 in Guadalajara, Mexico, went into space aboard Blue Origin NS-21 as a Space for Humanity Ambassador in June 2022.  She worked at NASA JPL as an intern, and after her graduation from UCLA, she got a full-time position as an engineer.

She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in electrical and computer engineering at Johns Hopkins University. 

Cyndi Lauper wins Primetime Emmy 1995

The lovely, wonderful, talented Cyndi Lauper won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guess Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance as Marianne Lugasso on the television series Mad About You, September 10, 1995.  

So far, she has won an Emmy, Tony, and two Grammys.

Star Trek: Deep Space 9 episode "Family Business" airs 1995

The twenty-third episode of the third season of Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Family Business, is one of my favorites because it stars the incomparable Andrea Martin, one of the funniest comediennes ever.  She appears as Ishka, mother to Quark (Armin Shimerman) and Rom (Max Grodenchik), who are horrified when they learn their mother has been wearing clothes and making profits, absolutely forbidden for Ferengi women.

Endeavour (STS-67) launched 1995

STS-67 crew:

Front row (L-R): Stephen Oswald, Tamara Jernigan, William Gregory

Back row (L-R): Ronald Parise, Wendy Lawrence, John Grunsfeld, Samuel Durrance

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-67), launched March 2, 1995, was dedicated to conduct astronomical observations in the ultraviolet wavelengths.  Its crew consisted of Commander Stephen Oswald, Pilot William Gregory, John Grunsfeld, Wendy Lawrence, Tamara Jernigan, Samuel Durrance, and Ronald Parise.  

The Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope, the Wisconsin Ultraviolet, the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT), and the Photo-Polarimeter Experiment were the three most important instruments aboard the Endeavour.  

They returned to Earth on March 18.

"The Lion King" wins three Golden Globe awards 1995

The Lion King, another Disney animated masterpiece, won three Golden Globes at the 52nd ceremony January 21, 1995.  It won for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy.  Hans Zimmer won for Best Original Score and Elton John won Best Original Song for Can you Feel the Love Tonight.

The X-Files episode "D.P.O." airs 1995

The third episode of the third season of X-Files, D.P.O., aired October 6, 1995.  Scully and Mulder investigate a young man who appears to possess electrokinesis, the ability to manipulate electricity.  Sound familiar?  A man in Oklahoma who can control lightning?

Oh, well.

Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny portray their characters of Scully and Mulder.  Giovanni Rabisi plays the man with the ability to conjure lightning bolts and Jack Black plays the same character he does in almost all his movies.

  

Discovery (STS-70) launched 1995

STS-70 crew (L-R): Kevin Kregel, Nancy Currie, Terence Henricks, Mary Weber, Donald Thomas

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-70), launched July 13, 1995, was the last to carry a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite.  Its crew consisted of Commander Terence Henricks, Pilot Kevin Kregel, Donald Thomas, Nancy Currie, and Mary Weber.  Thomas and Weber oversaw the deployment of the TDRS.

They returned to Earth July 22.

Discovery (STS-63) launched 1995

STS-63 crew

First row (L-R): Janice Voss, Eileen Collins, James Wetherbee, Vladimir Titov

Back row (L-R): Bernard Harris, Michael Foale

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-63), launched February 3, 1995, was the first space shuttle rendezvous with the space station Mir.  Its crew consisted of Commander James Wetherbee, Pilot Eileen Collins, Bernard Harris, Michael Foale, Janice Voss, and Vladimir Titov (Roscosmos).  It was the first flight to have a female pilot.

Foale and Harris performed an EVA for over 4 1/2 hours.

They returned to Earth February 11.

"Cutthroat Island" released 1995

Okay, I know it wasn't a milestone in movie-making, but it certainly is nowhere near the worst movie I've ever seen.  I really enjoyed Cutthroat Island, released December 22, 1995 with Geena Davis, Matthew Modine and Frank Langella.  It was exciting and fun.  And I'm not just saying that because I like pirate movies, but not all pirate movies are as entertaining as this one was.

Still, it was one of the biggest box-office bombs of all time.  Problems making the movie were rampant and it sounds as it if was a miracle the film was even completed. 

But I love it!

Soyuz TM-22 launched 1995

Soyuz TM-22 crew (L-R): Yuri Gidzenko, Thomas Reiter, Sergei Avdeyev

Mission patch

Soyuz TM-22, launched September 3, 1995, carried three cosmonauts to the space station Mir.  Its crew consisted of Commander Yuri Gidzenko, Sergei Avdeyev and Thomas Reiter (ESA).  They docked with Mir on September 5 and returned to Earth February 29, 1996.

"Star Trek: Voyager" premieres 1995

Star Trek: Voyager, the fourth live-action Star Trek series, premiered January 16, 1995.  In the first episode, Caretaker, the star ship Voyager is thrown 70,000 light-years away into the Delta Quadrant along with a Maqui ship full of rebels, some of whom were in Star Fleet.  They have to join an uneasy alliance to make it back home.

It is the first series to have a female captain, Capt. Kathryn Janeway played by Kate Mulgrew.  Robert Beltran played Starfleet-turned-outlaw-turned-Starfleet Commander Chakotay.  I thought he was the coolest second-in-command of all the series and the most under-appreciated.  Voyager also introduced the first character that I really did not like: Neelix.  He was the most annoying of ALL Star Trek characters.

The rest were pretty awesome people.  Garret Wang (Ensign Kim), Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine),  Roxann Dawson (B'Elanna Torres), Robert Duncan McNeill (Lt. Paris), Robert Picardo (the Doctor) and Tim Russ (Lt. Tuvok).

I stopped watching the show after the third season when it became The Janeway/Seven of Nine Show, but I did watch the last season.

Endeavour (STS-69) launched 1995

STS-69 crew

Seated (L-R): Kenneth Cockrell, David Walker; 

Standing (L-R): Michael Gernhardt, James Newman, James Voss

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-69) launched September 7, 1995 for the 100th successful manned spaceflight for NASA.  Its crew consisted of Commander David Walker, Pilot Kenneth Cockrell, James Voss, James Newman, and Michael Gernhardt.

It was also the second flight of the Wake Shield Facility.  Other experiments investigated bone loss during space flights, monitoring and measuring long-term variations in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) from the sun and tested assembly techniques for the International Space Station.

They returned to Earth September 18.

"Xena: Warrior Princess" premieres 1995

Xena: Warrior Princess, a spin-off of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, premiered on television September 4, 1995 and became a cult classic almost overnight.  It quickly eclipsed Hercules in the ratings and is still one of the biggest top culture shows ever.

It starred Lucy Lawless as the title character and Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle, the sidekick.  Joxer would show up later.

The premise of the series is Xena, a warlord (warlady?) or "Destroyer of Nations" has decided to change her ways and become good.  She teams up with Gabrielle as they travel the countryside standing up for the greater good.

The series ended in 2001.

Soyuz TM-21 launched 1995

From left to right: Norman Thagard, Vladimir Dezhurov, Gennady Strekalov

Mission patch

Soyuz TM-21, launched March 14, 1995, carried the first American on a Soyuz spacecraft and to board Mir.  The crew consisted of Vladimir Dezhurov, Flight Engineer Gennady Strekalov and Research cosmonaut Norman Thagard.  They would be expedition Mir EO-18.

It was the first time ever that thirteen humans had been in space simultaneously: 3 aboard Soyuz, 3 aboard Mir and 7 aboard Endeavour (STS-67)

The X-Files episode "Død Kalm" airs 1995

One of the first episodes of the X-Files I ever saw, Dod Kalm, aired March 10, 1995, is still one of my favorites.  As usual with X-Files, an eerie, seemingly paranormal or science-fiction setting has a factual conclusion.  But they can make anything creepy.

When a U.S. naval ship disappears in the Norwegian Sea, survivors are picked up several hours later, having aged considerably.  Only one survives the trip back to the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland but no one will tell Scully what happened.

Mulder manages to get them on a boat, the captain is the only one who will take them to the last place the ship was known to be.  They find the ship (although satellites and search boats cannot) in dead calm waters.  The ship's captain is still alive but extremely aged.  The bodies of the crew are mummified and the vessel is in advanced stages of corrosion, as if it has been at sea for decades instead of months.

Soon, Mulder and Scully get symptoms of aging and they realize they have little time to figure out what is happening, if they are to get out alive.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Little Green Men" airs 1995

One of the funniest episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was Little Green Men, which aired November 13, 1995.  It answers the decade-long question of what happened in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947.  For seventy years now, people have been speculating that an alien spacecraft crashed in the desert and has been the subject of the largest government cover-up in history.

It appears they were right.  Quark, Rom and Nog are on their way to Earth when they realize their shuttle craft has been sabotaged.  Nom figures out a way to keep the ship from tearing apart and they crash on Earth but in the year 1947.

It has some of the best lines ever:


Rom: Maybe we are dead.
Quark: What're you talking about?
Rom: Maybe this is the Divine Treasury.
Quark: Oh, don't be ridiculous, the Divine Treasury is made of pure latinum. Besides, where is the Blessed Exchequer? Where are the Celestial Auctioneers? And why aren't we bidding for our new lives, hmm?
Rom: You don't think we're in the other place?
Nog: The Vault of Eternal Destitution?


Nurse Garland: For all we know, it could be the mother.
[Quark is shouting at Rom in Ferengi]
Jeff Carlson: If she is the mother, she's quite a shrew.


Major Kira: Quark, Rom and Nog together on that ship all the way to Earth? Glad I'm not going with them.
Captain Ben Sisko: Only thing that worries me... no one warned Earth that they're coming.