Finally, America GETS IT! The 'Doctor' is in!
| Forget "Star Trek", "Doctor Who" is the longest running science fiction program in the history of television. The good doctor began his run the day after JFK was shot in 1963. For Americans, the old show was an "acquired taste". This was due to the fact that the earlier episodes are VERY British and even in the 21st Century, the USA has problems understanding even Monty Python. Plus, the BBC had such a low budget that interiors were done on videotape while location shooting was done on film. The quick cuts between the two, coupled with the special effects that even in the ‘80’s are of half the quality of “I Dream Of Jeannie” and “Mr. Ed”; do not make it a “must see TV” for 'used to 'Star Trek The Next Generation', SFX, fans’ in the US. However, get past the technical limitations and idiosyncrasies, and get to the characters and story, and this show has always been a winner. The concept of a Time Lord from the Planet Gallifrey, who travels anywhere through time and space in a TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension In Space)disguised as a Police Box, or, for us Yanks, a phone booth size police communication device, that strangely enough, is enormously huge on the inside. It is a great premise. The upside for the producers is that they don't have "Sean Conneryitis". Which simply means that when the lead character quits the series he can die, and regenerate into a new body. He can do this 13 times. Casting is not an issue. In 2005, the BBC brought back the good Doctor, after being put on hiatus in 1989 after 7 regenerations. There was one other incarnation in 1996 involving both Fox & the BBC with a Doctor Who movie that wisely showed the regeneration from the BBC’s 7th Doctor, to the 8th. This connects it to the official canon, or official history of the Doctor’s continuity, created in 1963. It was an excellent film with great special effects. Sylvester McCoy reprised his role as the 7th Doctor and was regenerated into the 8th Doctor, played brilliantly by Paul McGann. Sad it is, that he had no chance to continue in a Fox weekly series. Alas, he was pitted against the final episode of 'Roseanne' and got his butt kicked. No one saw it. McGann does still do the character in radio drama type recordings available from “Big Finish” Even worse, the rights to the film of the show are so screwed up that the USA may never see a DVD release of the film. How sad is the entertainment industry getting? Ah, but as Alton Brown of “Good Eats” would say, “….that’s another show”. However, I digress. Finally the 2005 season of the new Doctor Who is going to be broadcast in the US on the Sci-Fi channel, beginning March 17th, 2006, 9pm. This spring, for 13 weeks, we will be getting the best science fiction show available on television, worldwide. The Doctor will dominate ratings on that channel and Sci-Fi will buy the second season, that begins airing in March on the BBC, after the first three outings, and they will wonder why they didn’t buy it for parent company NBC. Take it to the bank! Although 13 weeks is a short season on REAL network TV. A normal run is around 22. Cable doesn't have that much budget and only produces 13, and sometimes, fewer, episodes per season of their original series. I have seen the 2005 season and it is absolutely fabulous. As good as anything we already have here in the states and better than most. Christopher Eccelston and Billie Piper have an uncanny chemistry and everyone gives great performances through the entire 13 episode series. The producing & writing, by Russell T. Davis, of “Queer As Folk” fame, insures that the scripts are top notch. The DVD’s of this season (#1 or 20 something, depending on your perception) will be available July 4th. Watch it on 'Sci-Fi then buy it. You won’t be disappointed. |
posted by Chris Foxx at 9:02 PM
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