Countdown To Portal Awards: A Little History

'Star Trek: Voyager' is still the leader of Portal Awards wins, although 'Battlestar Galactica' leads in nominations.CBS Television Studios

Fans will be asked to continue a tradition that is now 13 years old when voting for the 2012 Airlock Alpha Portal Awards begins June 25.

The awards themselves started in 1999 as the SyFy World Genre Awards. At the time, SyFy World, still living in its home in the now defunct GeoCities, was just starting to gain a small following, thanks to its spoiler reporting on shows like "Earth: Final Conflict," "Star Trek: Voyager," and the final episodes of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

There wasn't a lot of science-fiction on television and in the movies at the time, but the audience was there, and the fact is, there was no other way for genre fans to express their love for their favorite shows and movies.

The Genre Awards were an instant hit, so much that it has continued through name changes (from SyFy World to SyFy Portal to Airlock Alpha), through the expansion of entertainment into devices that were just science-fiction themselves when we first started, and more.

While there is no actual physical trophy, the award has been celebrated by fans, actors, writers, producers, directors and composers alike. It has earned mentions and campaigning in all kinds of venues, including San Diego Comic-Con, and in recent years, even Twitter.

To date, the number of votes counted is well into seven digits, and for many shows, this is the biggest and best chance to get recognized.

The Portal Awards, renamed in 2009 to reflect the name change of Airlock Alpha (and honoring the legacy of SyFy Portal), are based on nominations from an international committee comprised of fans and members of the GenreNexus staff. The committee is hand-picked by me to make sure that as many different fan aspects of the genre are represented, so that everything has an equal chance of being nominated.

Many committee members return y! ear afte r year, and those who submit nominating ballots are automatically asked to return. We then look for a handful of new people each year as well, from hundreds of applications.

Over the next several days leading up to the Portal Awards, we will be breaking down the various categories and nominees. Who are some of these people and shows, why are these movies being recognized, and what is it that we should know about as we get ready to submit our 30 ballots over the next month.

In the meantime, just to top off a little bit of history, here are the past winners of the Airlock Alpha Portal Awards.

BEST ACTOR/Television2011 - Sean Bean, "Game of Thrones"2010 - David Tennant, "Doctor Who"2009 - Jensen Ackles, "Supernatural"2008 - Jensen Ackles, "Supernatural"2007 - Joe Flanigan, "Stargate: Atlantis"2006 - Nathan Fillion, "Firefly"2005 - Ben Browder, "Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars"2004 - David Boreanaz, "Angel"2003 - Ben Browder, "Farscape"2001 - Ben Browder, "Farscape"2000 - Avery Brooks, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"1999 - Avery Brooks, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"

BEST ACTRESS/Television2011 - Anna Torv, "Fringe"2010 - Eve Myles, "Torchwood"2009 - Catherine Tate, "Doctor Who"2008 - Mary McDonnell, "Battlestar Galactica"2007 - Amanda Tapping, "Stargate SG-1"2006 - Evangeline Lilly, "Lost"2005 - Claudia Black, "Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars"2004 - Sarah Michelle Gellar, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"2003 - Claudia Black, "Farscape"2001 - Kate Mulgrew, "Star Trek: Voyager"2000 - Kate Mulgrew, "Star Trek: Voyager"1999 - Kate Mulgrew, "Star Trek: Voyager"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR/Television2011 - John Noble, "Fringe"2010 - Bernard Cribbins, "Doctor Who"2009 - Michael Emerson, "Lost"2008 - Michael Emerson, "Lost"2007 - Masi Oka, Heroes"2006 - Adam Baldwin, "Firefly"2005 - Michael Shanks, "Stargate SG-1"2004 - James Marsters, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"2003 - James Marsters, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"2001 - Robert Picardo, "Star Trek: Voyager"20! 00 - Rob ert Picardo, "Star Trek: Voyager"1999 - David Hemblen, "Earth Final Conflict"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS/Television2011 - Alaina Huffman, "Stargate: Universe"2010 - Alaina Huffman, "Stargate: Universe"2009 - Summer Glau, "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"2008 - Allison Mack, "Smallville"2007 - Ali Larter, "Heroes"2006 - Amy Acker, "Alias"2005 - Amy Acker, "Angel"2004 - Amy Acker, "Angel"2003 - Gigi Edgley, "Farscape"2001 - Jeri Ryan, "Star Trek: Voyager"2000 - Jeri Ryan, "Star Trek: Voyager"1999 - Jeri Ryan, "Star Trek: Voyager"

BEST ACTOR/Movie2011 - Leonardo DiCaprio, "Inception"2010 - Robert Downey Jr., "Iron Man 2"2009 - Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"2008 - Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd"2007 - Gerard Butler, "300"2006 - Daniel Radcliffe, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"2005 - Will Smith, "I Robot"2004 - Johnny Depp, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl"2003 - Viggo Mortensen, "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"2001 - Patrick Stewart, "X-Men"2000 - Tom Hanks, "The Green Mile"1999 - Patrick Stewart, "Star Trek: Insurrection"

BEST ACTRESS/Movie2011 - Emma Watson, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1"2010 - Sigourney Weaver, "Avatar"2009 - Gillian Anderson, "The X-Files: I Want To Believe"2008 - Emma Watson, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"2007 - Lena Headey, "300"2006 - Emma Watson, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"2005 - Kate Winslet, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"2004 - Liv Tyler, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"2003 - Liv Tyler, "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"2001 - Anna Paquin, "X-Men"2000 - Sigourney Weaver, "Galaxy Quest"1999 - Donna Murphy, "Star Trek: Insurrection"

BEST YOUNG ACTOR2011 - Daniel Radcliffe, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1"2010 - Daniel Radcliffe, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"2009 - Thomas Dekker, "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"2008 - Hayden Panettiere, "Heroes"2007 - Hayden P! anettier e, "Heroes"2006 - Emma Watson, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"2005 - Daniel Radcliffe, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"2004 - Elijah Wood, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"2003 - Daniel Radcliffe, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"2001 - Manu Intiraymi, "Star Trek: Voyager"2000 - Scarlett Pomers, "Star Trek: Voyager"1999 - Scarlett Pomers, "Star Trek: Voyager"

BEST SPECIAL GUEST/Television2011 - Leonard Nimoy, "Lysergic Acid Diethylamide," Fringe2010 - Alex Kingston, "Time of Angels," Doctor Who2009 - Alan Tudyk, "Omega," Dollhouse2008 - James Marsters, "Exit Wounds," Torchwood2007 - Richard Dean Anderson, "200," Stargate SG-12006 - Christina Hendricks, "Trash," Firefly2005 - Claudia Black, "Prometheus Unbound," Stargate SG-12004 - Charisma Carpenter, "You're Welcome," Angel2003 - Juliet Landau, "Lies My Parents Told Me," Buffy the Vampire Slayer2001 - Susanna Thompson, "Unimatrix Zero," Star Trek: Voyager2000 - Marina Sirtis, "Pathfinder," Star Trek: Voyager1999 - Bill Mumy, "The Siege of AR-558," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

BEST EPISODE/Television2011 - "Winter is Coming," Game of Thrones2010 - "End of Time," Doctor Who2009 - "Monster at the End of the Book," Supernatural2008 - "Blink," Doctor Who2007 - "Parting of the Ways," Doctor Who2006 - "Trash," Firefly2005 - "Prometheus Unbound," Stargate SG-12004 - "A Hole in the World," Angel2003 - "Conversations With Dead People," Buffy the Vampire Slayer2001 - "The Body," Buffy the Vampire Slayer2000 - "What You Leave Behind," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine1999 - "Dark Frontier," Star Trek: Voyager

BEST SERIES/Television2011 - Game of Thrones2010 - Doctor Who2009 - Supernatural2008 - Supernatural2007 - Battlestar Galactica2006 - Firefly2005 - Stargate SG-12004 - Angel2003 - Farscape2001 - Star Trek: Voyager2000 - Star Trek: Voyager1999 - The X-Files

BEST MOVIE2011 - Inception2010 - Avatar2009 - Star Trek2008 - Harry Potter and the Order! of the Phoenix2007 - 3002006 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire2005 - The Incredibles2004 - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King2003 - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers2001 - X-Men2000 - Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace1999 - The Matrix

GENE RODDENBERRY AWARD Lifetime Achievement2011 - J.J. Abrams2010 - Russell T. Davies2009 - James Cameron2008 - J.K. Rowling2007 - James Doohan2006 - Stan Lee2005 - Steven Spielberg2004 - Joss Whedon2003 - J.R.R. Tolkien2001 - Leonard Nimoy2000 - George Lucas1999 - Gene Roddenberry

ROD SERLING AWARD for Classic Television(started 2010)2011 - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine2010 - Star Trek: The Next GenerationCHARTER - Twilight ZoneCHARTER - Star TrekCHARTER - Doctor Who

BEST WEB PRODUCTION (started 2007, suspended 2011-12)2010 - Stargate: Universe - Kino2009 - Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog2008 - Star Trek: Of Gods and Men2007 - "Episode 1," Sanctuary

BEST WEB SITE (started 2006, discontinued 2012)2011 - GateWorld2010 - SciFi Wire2009 - Supernatural.tv2008 - Supernatural.tv2007 - GateWorld2006 - Whedonesque

BEST THEME SONG/Television (discontinued 2005)2004 - Angel2003 - Farscape2001 - Earth: Final Conflict2000 - Star Trek: Voyager1999 - Star Trek: Voyager

BEST COMIC BOOK (discontinued 2006)2005 - Astonishing X-Men (Vol. 1), Joss Whedon

BEST NOVEL (discontinued 2006)2005 - "Star Trek: Worlds of Deep Space Nine: Trill and Bajor, Vol. 2," Andy Mangels, Michael A. Martin, J. Noah Kym

For those who like statistics, Daniel Radcliffe leads with the most Portal Awards wins at five with Emma Watson close behind at four. Six actors have three each -- Amy Acker, Claudia Black, Ben Browder, James Marsters, Kate Mulgrew and Jeri Ryan. Thirteen actors have two wins each.

In television, "Star Trek: Voyager" has a huge lead over everything else with 18 wins. "Doctor Who" and "Farscape" are tied for secon! d with e ight wins. "Angel" has seven wins, and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is behind them with five wins. They are followed by "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Firefly," "Stargate SG-1" and "Supernatural" with five each.

In films, the Harry Potter franchise leads with 11 wins, followed by the Lord of the Rings franchise with six and the Star Trek franchise with four.

In all, 76 people have been honored over the years from 27 television shows and 19 film franchises.

Don't forget that voting begins June 25 and lasts through July 25 right here at Airlock Alpha! Learn more about this year's nominees by clicking here.

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