Friday, June 27, 2008

Doctor Who,.... Hey!,.... The Tardis


The only show I ever write about with any regularity is the incredibly funny 30 Rock, and that's less a review than it is a recitation of all the lines I thought were funny. Not to mention there's always the off chance that Tina Fey will read it and reach an epiphany that I am truly the man for her. We will all convert to Mormanism (?) and live out the rest of our lives in polygamous geeky goofiness.

That doesn't mean there aren't other shows I follow. Quite honestly, if it wasn't for tv I'd have no social life, since I am firmly convinced that is where all my friends live.
Timelord, (I know who you are Dr.F) want's to see some Doctor Who love, and rightly so. Since it's revamping by Russell T Davies this amaranthine series has gotten better with each season surviving numerous cast changes, and spawning two spin-offs. Hard to believe we're only in the fifth season.

The end of this season sees the departure of Mr. Davies as creative head. Steven Moffat the man responsible for the creepiest and possibly most creative episodes since the relaunch, ("Blink" may be one of the scariest things I've seen on tv, on par if not exceeding Buffys "Hush") will be taking over which can only mean good things for the show. Sadly, after this current season we will not see the Doctor till 2010. There has been some promise of specials over the next year, one which may feature Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous) as the first female Doctor, but I've learned not to hold my breath.

Bottom line, if you're not watching Doctor Who, what the heck is wrong with you. The show's been on 45 years! That should tell you something. I have heard the episodes currently running on the Sci-Fi channel are edited down from their BBC original length, but the edited episodes can be seen in their entirety on the DVD boxed sets which are worth renting. The BBC sets are still way overpriced unfortunately.

Past seasons are currently re-running on BBC America. I don't know if they are unedited.
Currently the Doctor, brilliantly portrayed by David Tennant is accompanied by the headstrong Donna Noble played by comedian Catherine Tate. Past companions since the relaunch have been the Doctors lost love and fan favorite Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) and Martha Jones. (Freema Agyeman - possibly the most beautiful woman in Sci-Fi today) A recent episode also introduced the Doctors cloned daughter Jenny played by the 5th Doctor, Peter Davisons daughter Georgia Moffett. She took off to save the universe, so I'm hoping we'll see more of her.
So to summerize:
Time travel, dashing heroes, beautiful companions, humor, tragedy, fear, lots of running, the longest sci-fi pedigree ever! They finally showed us how the Daleks climb stairs. What more can you want?



Before you go, check out this clip from Comic Relief where Catherine Tates character Lauren meets her new english teacher.

3 comments:

timelord said...

Standing ovation and riotous applause!
"I laughed, I cried, it was better than Cats!!"
Thank you.

Noah said...

I think Dr. F and I might be the only ones who know the reference in the title of this post!

timelord said...

Hard to find KLF classic. If you find the album it includes the EXTREME NOISE TERROR version of 3am Eternal.
I realize I have not gotten over my boyhood crush on Elizabeth Sladen.
More Sarah Jane!!