Hawkeye: So This Is Christmas?
Streaming service Disney Plus releases the sixth episode of Hawkeye, created for TV by Jonathan Igla and starring Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld. Vincent D’Onofrio and Linda Cardellini guest star in the first season finale.
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The Starliner’s first landing
Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner space vehicle ends its uncrewed maiden voyage by successfully landing with its combination of parachutes and impact-cushioning airbags at White Sands, New Mexico. Intended to visit the International Space Station on its first flight, the Starliner’s flight plan changed unexpectedly when a software and sensor mishap during launch put it into the wrong orbit, and used more fuel than expected, making it impossible to reach the same orbit as the ISS. Despite the mishaps, both Boeing and NASA expect the Starliner’s second flight, scheduled for 2020, to include a crew of astronauts.
George Clayton Johnson, writer, dies
Writer George Clayton Johnson, who co-wrote the 1967 novel Logan’s Run with William F. Nolan and wrote episodes of both The Twilight Zone and Star Trek, dies at the age of 86. As part of the legendary “Green Hand” collective of golden-age SF writers, Johnson penned his stories in the company of such fellow southern California writers as Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, Richard Matheson, Jerry Sohl, Robert Bloch, and Rod Serling (who paid Johnson for his first produced television work). For The Twilight Zone, Johnson wrote such memorable stories as The Four Of Us Are Dying, A Penny For Your Thoughts and Kick The Can, and for Star Trek he wrote a monster story called The Man Trap, which became that series’ first aired episode. Logan’s Run was adapted into a glitzy big-screen romp – arguably the last major theatrical SF event before the age of Star Wars – in 1976.
Star Trek director Joseph Sargent dies
Four-time Emmy winning film and TV director Joseph Sargent, who directed the influential Star Trek episode The Corbomite Maneuver (the first to be filmed after NBC picked up the series), dies at the age of 89. Having worked until he was 84, Sargant also directed episodes of Kojak, The Man From UNCLE, and the Fugitive, and movies and TV movies such as The Taking of Pelham One Two Three and the 1991 Leonard Nimoy drama Never Forget.
The Prisoner soundtrack
Rupert Gregson-Williams’ soundtrack to the 21st century remake of The Prisoner is released on Varese Sarabande Records.
Wah Chang, Star Trek FX designer, dies
Oscar-winning sculptor, artist and model maker Wah Ming Chang was probably best known in SF circles for creating elaborate creatures for Star Trek (including the Horta, the alien face of Balok, and the tricorder props) and The Outer Limits. Chang also won the Oscar for special effects for George Pal’s film adaptation of The Time Machine. He also created costumes on such non-SF movies as The King And I and Cleopatra, for which he sculpted Elizabeth Taylor’s headdress. He was 86 years old.
TekWar: Sellout
The first episode of the sci-fi crime series TekWar, based on William Shatner’s novel series, airs as part of the Universal Action Pack syndication package. Greg Evigan, Eugene Clark, William Shatner, and Torri Higginson star.
Super Force: Gravity’s Rainbow – Part 2
The 11th episode of the science fiction crime drama Super Force is broadcast in syndication in North America, starring Ken Olandt, Larry B. Scott, and Patrick Macnee (The Avengers). G. Gordon Liddy (of Watergate fame, or perhaps infamy) guest stars.
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Don’t Panic!
Titan Books UK publishes Neil Gaiman’s non-fiction account of the making of the Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy franchise, Don’t Panic! – The Official Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Companion. The book features numerous interviews with Douglas Adams and others involved in the making of the radio and television series, records and books.
Automan: Staying Alive While Running A High Flashdance Fever
The second episode of Glen A. Larson’s science fiction series Automan airs on ABC, starring Desi Arnaz Jr. and Chuck Wagner, taking at least a little bit of inspiration from the 1982 movie Tron. William Windom guest stars. 
Imagic releases the Doctor Who: The Horns Of Nimon, Part 1
The 522nd episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Graham Crowden guest stars. Though aired just before Christmas, this is not considered a “Christmas episode.”
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Wonder Woman: Pot Of Gold
The 46th episode of Wonder Woman airs on CBS, starring Lynda Carter and Lyle Waggoner.
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Wonder Woman now streaming on Amazon Prime
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The Bionic Woman: Jaime’s Shield Part 2
The 25th episode of The Bionic Woman, starring Lindsay Wagner and Richard Anderson, airs on ABC. Diane Civita (V) guest stars.
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The Starlost: Farthing’s Comet
The 14th episode of the short-lived Canadian-made science fiction series The Starlost, Farthing’s Comet, premieres.
Doctor Who: The Time Warrior, Part 2
The 357th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. This story introduces the Sontarans, created by writer Robert Holmes, as well as a new companion named Sarah Jane Smith, played by Elisabeth Sladen.
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Ghost Story: Time Of Terror
NBC airs the 14th episode of the supernatural anthology series Ghost Story, produced by 1960s horror movie mogul William Castle and starring Sebastian Cabot. Patricia Neal and Craig Stevens guest star. This is the final episode to air under the “Ghost Story” banner; the series will be retitled Circle Of Fear when it returns to the schedule in 1973.
Land Of The Giants: The Weird World
ABC airs the 11th episode of Irwin Allen’s sci-fi series Land Of The Giants, starring Gary Conway, Don Matheson, Deanna Lund, and Don Marshall. Glenn Corbett guest stars.
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Land Of The Giants now streaming on Amazon Prime
Star Trek: A Wolf In The Fold
The 43rd episode of Gene Roddenberry’s science fiction series Star Trek premieres on NBC. Robert Bloch, writer of the novel that inspired Hitchcock’s Psycho, returns with a script recasting Jack the Ripper as an extraterrestrial entity wreaking havoc down through the ages (with an airdate just before Christmas!).
Out Of The Unknown: Walk’s End
BBC2 airs the 23rd episode of science fiction anthology series Out Of The Unknown. Written by William Trevor, the story stars Sebastian Shaw (Return Of The Jedi). This episode no longer exists in the BBC’s archives.
The Avengers: Death Dispatch
British broadcaster ABC airs the 39th episode of Sydney Newman’s spy series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Honor Blackman. Gerald Harper (Adam Adamant Lives!) guest stars.
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The Avengers now streaming on Amazon Prime
The Twilight Zone: Five Characters In Search Of An Exit
The 79th episode of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone airs on CBS. Susan Harrison, William Windom, and Murray Matheson star.
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The Twilight Zone now streaming on Paramount Plus
One Step Beyond: Make Me Not A Witch
ABC airs the 36th episode of the supernatural anthology series One Step Beyond, hosted and directed by John Newland. Patty McCormack and Robert Emhardt guest star.
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One Step Beyond now streaming on Amazon Prime
Science Fiction Theatre: The Miracle Hour
The 70th episode of the syndicated science fiction Science Fiction Theatre airs on stations across the U.S. Hosted by Truman Bradley, the episode stars Dick Foran and Jean Byron.
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