At 2:50 P.M. EST The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special will be broadcast simultaneously world-wide. If you are a Doctor Who fan, I expect you’ll be watching. There have been plenty of rumors and hints about the story-line and which incarnations of the Doctor will be shown. We know the 10th Doctor (David Tennant) will be featured as well as the 11th Doctor (Matt Smith). Beyond that is anyone’s guess. I discovered Doctor Who when our local PBS station broadcasted it. The episodes starred Tom Baker. I loved his sly wit. I didn’t follow the other Doctors until I stumbled on BBC America a couple years ago and instantly clicked with Matt Smith and his lovely Companion played by the vivacious Karen Gillian (my favorite Companion ever!). I’ve gone back and watched many of the earlier Doctor Who episodes. They have a charm most American SF series lack. After today’s The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special Doctor Who fans can look forward to the Doctor Who Christmas Special which will be bittersweet as Matt Smith gives his last performance as The Doctor.
One wonders how they will resolve the conundrum set up with John Hurt sliding in as one of the Doctors. Peter Capaldi now becomes the 13th Doctor and supposedly his last regeneration. Back during Colin Baker’s reign as the Sixth, he did battle for a whole season with the Valeyard who was revealed by the Master to be the last regeneration of the Doctor out to steal his remaining regenerations. Never understood that. If he could steal Timelord lives, why his own.
Randy, you’re right. A lot needs to be resolved. I’m sure Steven Moffat will find a way out of the 13 regeneration limit.
From today’s posting on Michael Quinion’s invaluable worldwidewords.org:
Doctor Who’s words
In British television, only one character is always referred to just as “The Doctor”. BBC Television is pulling out every stop to hymn the 50th anniversary of the first broadcast of Dr Who in 1963. Lexicographically speaking, the series is not especially productive, with only four words in the Oxford English Dictionary: Tardis, Dalek and Cyberman, plus the first use of The Matrix in the sense of cyberspace, from a Dr Who novelisation of 1976. We also have Whovian for a fan and Whoniverse, a blend of Who and universe, for the fictional setting of the series, including its offshoots. Tardis (an acronym, as any aficionado will at once be able to tell you, of Time And Relative Dimension In Space) is the only one which has taken on meanings beyond Dr Who itself, such as a structure which seems bigger on the inside than the outside.
Coincidentally, or maybe not, he also explains “Feghoot”.
Art, the longevity of DOCTOR WHO may generate more new words. The changes to the TARDIS over the years are dramatic. One of my favorite DOCTOR WHO episodes was written by Neil Gaiman: THE DOCTOR’S WIFE.
Everybody’s getting into the act. Go to Yahoo.com today and watch the animated TARDIS go across the Yahoo logo and turn into the exclamation point.
And clicking the Google logo gets you a videogame with a Dalek and pick your own Doctor.
I never watched, but the constantly changing stars reminds me of the Menudo phenomena.
I just finished watching the DOCTOR WHO 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL. A surprising ending! Now I can’t wait for the CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!
I’m with you, George. That ending was a total surprise.
We are seeing this in the movie theater tomorrow (Monday) night. Can’t wait!
Carl, Steven Moffatt is super clever at adding plot twists to DOCTOR WHO. You’re going to love this episode!
Karen Gillan (one I only). Of late she has been on the often hilarious NTSF: SD: SUV::, having essentially replaced Rebecca Romijn, who left to do KING & MAXWELL.
http://video.adultswim.com/ntsfsdsuv/