Doctor Who nominations in 2011 Hugo AwardsBookmark and Share

Monday, 25 April 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Following a long tradition, Doctor Who is once again been nominated for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form in the annual Hugo Awards. This year sees A Christmas Carol (written by Steven Moffat), The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang (also by Moffat), and Vincent and the Doctor (Richard Curtis) vying for the award, up against The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan and **** Me, Ray Bradbury by Rachel Bloom.

Since its return in 2005, Doctor Who has only been beaten once in this category: Steven Moffat was successful for the first three years with The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances (2006), The Girl in the Fireplace (2007) and Blink (2008); 2009 was the 'gap' year with Moffat's Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead and Russell T Davies's Turn Left losing out to Joss Whedon's Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog; last year saw Davies and Phil Ford win the award with The Waters of Mars.

Also nominated for an award in the Best Related Work section is the book Chicks Digs Time Lords, A Celebration of Doctor Who by the Women Who Love It, published by Mad Norwegian Press. In the book a host of award-winning female novelists, academics and actresses come together to celebrate the phenomenon that is Doctor Who, discuss their inventive involvement with the show’s fandom and examine why they adore the series.

This year's award winners will be revealed on Saturday 20th August at Renovation, the 69th World Science Fiction convention taking place at Reno, Nevada over that weekend.




FILTER: - Steven Moffat - Awards/Nominations

Impossible Astronaut - Overnight RatingsBookmark and Share

Sunday, 24 April 2011 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who: The Impossible Astronaut was watched by 6.5 million viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures.

The programme which has a share of 37% of the total audience, was the highest rated show on BBC One for the day, a remarkable achievement given the early timeslot and the excellent bank holiday weather across the UK. It was more than two million viewers ahead of the next programme on BBC One, Casualty.

Overall it was the second highest rated programme on all TV with Britain's Got Talent on ITV1 taking the top slot with 9.5 million watching. Against Doctor Who, March of the Dinosaurs had an average audience of just 1.3 million watching.

To show what a draw Doctor Who is, the programme preceding it had just 1.9 million watching. The BBC One audience jumped from 2.2 to 6.0 million as Doctor Who began, with the audience growing throughout the programme and an average of 7 million watching the final fifteen minutes. At the end of the show, over half of the viewers left BBC One, with the channel seeing its audience plunge from 7.0 million to 3.2 million.

Of the 6.5million viewers watching Doctor Who, 0.76 million watched on BBC HD.

On BBC Three, Doctor Who Confidential had 0.55 million viewers, with an additional 40,000 watching on BBC HD.

On CBBC 0.71 million tuned in for the tribute to Elisabeth Sladen, My Sarah Jane, a 4.1% share of the total audience.

Doctor Who is currently the 13th highest rated show for the week. Final figures, including those who recorded the show and watched it later, will be released next week.




FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 6/32

The Impossible Astronaut: Press ReactionBookmark and Share

Sunday, 24 April 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
A roundup of some of the comments in the press for the premiere of The Impossible Astronaut. Please note that as these are reviews, spoilers may be present.


United Kingdom

Gavin Fuller writes in the Telegraph:
Moffat clearly loves the way Doctor who can play around with concepts of time, and this episode was one which dealt in a mature manner with this, aided by some fizzing dialogue as the episode progressed; this was quite a wordy episode which concentrated more on atmosphere than pace and visual thrills.

Matt Smith still arguably needs to find the right balance between serious and humour. The latter occasionally jarred in such a deeply layered episode as this. I don’t quite see why Amy had an urgent need in the middle of a warehouse to tell him about her pregnancy, unless the Silence’s instructions to her previously in the episode were responsible in some way (tricky though as she’d surely forgotten them after leaving the rest room?).

This minor quibble aside, this was a cracking start to the first part of the 2011 series, with the shocking ending of Amy seemingly shooting a girl making one keen wait for the conclusion next week to see how it all resolves itself.
However, Robert Colvile, was less impressed:
The central problem, however, is that while the Nixon references were wonderful (who knew the Doctor was to blame for Watergate?) and the jokes sparkling, many of the elements felt not just frenzied, but familiar. It’s one thing to refer to previous episodes, but Moffat recycled a host of tropes and tricks from his own work on the series ... It could be, given Moffat’s stellar record on both Doctor Who and Sherlock, that this was entirely deliberate, and will pay off later. But stir in the brain-melting time-travel paradoxes and multitude of dangling plot threads, and this felt like a writer stirring everything into the pot, and damn the need for exposition. The result was an episode that rewarded the dedicated fan but could leave the younger or casual viewer baffled.

Similarly Dan Martin of the Guardian enthuses:
Hello sweeties! And welcome back. There's really nowhere else to begin than with that death scene. Sudden and brutal and unexpected even though, on thinking about it for even a minute, it was really quite obvious who was going to die. But the cremation on the boat and Amy's numb horror ramps things up to a series-finale level of intensity from the off – and it doesn't let up for the duration of this staggeringly confident series opener. There's little time to even breathe as the episode then switches into an Oval Office comedy of manners, morphs into gothic horror and finally flings you to the ground with its cinematic cliffhanger.
However, Andrew Anthony of the Observer observed:
The key to great fantasy is that it conforms to its own reality. It doesn't matter if there are three-headed dogs, pink seas and everyone worships Dermot O'Leary, as long as it's all logical in that particular universe. The problem with Doctor Who is that logic long ago collapsed like a neutron star and there is no reality, but instead an ever-more frenzied effort to cover up the absence of what, back in this universe, we still refer to as a coherent plot.

... Most of the script was taken up with characters repeatedly saying things such as "Who's he?", "What's he doing?" and "Who are you?" It was like watching TV with one of those people – some of whom I share a house with – who keep asking you what's going on, except that on this occasion they were on the TV itself.

Kevin O'Sullivan of the Mirror was similarly disappointed:
SATURDAY night, BBC1... and Doctor Who storms back with the first of a two-part ­adventure called The Impossible Astronaut. As in impossible to understand. ... this ball of all-round confusion was no way to start a series. But I’m guessing the second instalment will end with the sonic screwdriver guy saving the world with seconds to spare. Again.

Dan Golder of SFX said:
So what we have here is a clever, ingenious plot, packed with standout set-pieces and boasting a feast of quotably funny lines. It feels darker, it feels slightly more adult, and it feels like a show willing to take risks. The direction and lighting are outstanding – especially in the underground scenes, which are edgy as hell. But there are some niggles.

At times it’s undeniably a little talky. There is an awful lot of information – a lot of it important, series-spanning information – and meaningfully salient character points shovelled into the mix, and this leads to a bit of story-telling drag occasionally. ... In fact, a lot of vital info suffers slightly by being delivered like a stand-up comedian going for a gags-per-hour record. Okay, we don’t want a return to the days when every piece of information was spoon-fed to us, but conversely, if something’s important then it shouldn’t be treated like a throwaway line. There’s a difference between watching something with your brain in gear, and having to hang on every single word, making notes.

But none of this cancels out the fact that “The Impossible Astronaut” is unique, exquisitely acted, beautifully shot and quite unlike anything else you’ll see on TV. Doctor Who’s back but you can’t help thinking – with delicious anticipation – that this year, things are going to be very different.

Simon Brew of Den of Geek:
... One final element I want to praise, and that's the setting, and how director, Toby Haynes, made the most of it. The last time Doctor Who tackled America, it was the troubled Daleks In Manhattan, notorious for British actors attempting to do American accents. By shifting the location shoot to the US, Haynes has some glorious scenery to stage his shots in, and he really doesn't disappoint. This is, at times, wonderfully cinematic Who (backed by a terrific Murray Gold score), and hopefully, such ambitious location shoots will be back on the agenda again in due course.

The Impossible Astronaut was, in all, a triumphant return for Doctor Who, bubbling with confidence and throwing down story strands that hint at an engrossing series. I could quibble about the fact that I struggled to always hear what The Silence had to say, if I was being really picky. But I don't want to be. This was glorious television, all the more remarkable for being a 48-year-old show that's still, time after time, finding interesting stories to tell.


United States

Rick Marshall of MTV:
Steven Moffat and the "Doctor Who" crew offer up yet another great episode with Toby Haynes behind the camera — though the episode's big cliffhanger will likely cause more than a few fans' heads to explode. Much like they did in "A Christmas Carol," the cast and creative team show a knack for playing with the wibbly-wobbily nature of time and keeping things moving at a pace that prevents you from pondering the criss-crossed timelines The Doctor leaves in his wake.

Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times:
One year in, Matt Smith is screwed into this role good and tight. Like many a mythological figure, his Doctor is an ancient child, an unstable mix of authority and impulsiveness. "I'm being extremely clever up here, and there's no one to stand around looking impressed," he says irritably, his three friends having gone off to discuss something he can't be allowed to know. "What's the point of having you all?"

What "Doctor Who" gives us, that so much science fiction does not nowadays with its pathological analysis of heroism, are romantic mad adventurers, not without their moments of doubt and pain but having a good time in between: The series conducts its serious business with a good deal of comedy. (These opening episodes are very funny, even by local standards.) That's not to say the darkness doesn't get in, within and without them; indeed, stories have gone repeatedly to the brink of nothingness — the extermination of the Earth, the unweaving of reality.

Matthew Milam of Chicago Now wasn't so impressed:
A few minutes into it, under the pen of current executive producer Steven Moffat, I came to realize one thing. The people behind the scenes of Doctor Who are beginning to run out of energy. As a result, they have run out of ideas. .... Doctor Who used to be a show that was fun. A show that never took itself seriously and a show that had the sense to cast good actors in the role who could take the most typical of science fiction plots and give them a new life. ... I cry because no one, including the actors, seem to be fighting for the show anymore. I cry because I believe I have officially come to the close conclusion that Doctor Who needs to retire again. Perhaps, I dare say it, forever. ... The reason I say cancel Doctor Who is not because I am a spiteful arse. I have written some good reviews for Doctor Who on Blogcritics. The problem is that good episodes of Doctor Who are far and few between. Even in the classic series that was an issue, but at least it felt like there was some attempt at making the characters connect with you. Maybe, just maybe, the BBC in now seeing this as a cash cow don't feel the need to develop strong stories, or even cast good actors for the show.




FILTER: - Series 6/32 - Press

My Sarah Jane: A Tribute to Elisabeth SladenBookmark and Share

Saturday, 23 April 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Tonight, the CBBC channel broadcast a special programme in tribute to Elisabeth Sladen, who died this week, aged 63.

The show featured memories of the actress from her co-stars on The Sarah Jane Adventures, Daniel Anthony, Anjli Mohindra and Tommy Knight, the two recent Doctors she worked with, David Tennant and Matt Smith, and series creator Russell T Davies, plus contributions from Katy Manning, John Barrowman and Barney Harwood. A variety of clips from throughout her 38-year association with Doctor Who appeared in the programme, including a montage at the end set the song She (as sung by Elvis Costello for the film Notting Hill).


The tribute programme is available to watch in the United Kingdom via the BBC iplayer until next Saturday (30th April).


My Sarah Jane: A Tribute to Elisabeth Sladen, BBC, via BBC iplayer (may not play outside the United Kingdom)

Update: The programme was watched by 707,000 viewers when broadcast, representing some 4.1% of the audience.




FILTER: - Specials - Sarah Jane - Elisabeth Sladen

Trailer: Day of the MoonBookmark and Share

Saturday, 23 April 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC have released the trailer for the next episode of Doctor Who, Day of the Moon, which will be broadcast next Saturday at 6:00pm on BBC1.


Day of the Moon Trailer, BBC, via YouTube

The Doctor is locked in the perfect prison while Amy, Rory and River Song are being hunted down across America by the FBI, as the time-travelling adventure series continues.

With the help of new friend and FBI-insider Canton Everett Delaware the Third, our heroes are reunited to share their discoveries, if not their memories. The world is occupied by an alien force that controls humanity through post-hypnotic suggestion, and no one can be trusted.

Aided by President Nixon and Neil Armstrong's foot, the Doctor must mount a revolution to drive out the enemy and rescue the missing little girl. No one knows why they took her. Or why they have kidnapped Amy Pond...

 




FILTER: - Series 6/32

Character optionsBookmark and Share

Saturday, 23 April 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
With media interest in the imminent return of Doctor Who running high, it is perhaps unsurprising that some of the popular characters from previous series were discussed, looking at the possibility of their return in the future.

John Barrowman, aka Captain Jack Harkness

Speaking to The Gothamist, series head writer Steven Moffat talked about his views on the return of older characters, including Captain Jack:
There's no rule against that. People talk as if somewhere there's been some schism. There isn't an intentional line at all. I do think there's a danger, if you're always harkening back.

Jack - who I wrote in the show - I'd love to have him back. I was thinking he should really be here recently but he's busy (filming Torchwood: Miracle Day).
 

John Simm, aka The Master

Speaking to Life of Wylie, John Simm wouldn't rule out a return to Doctor Who as the Master, if the production team asked:
I’m sure I could but no-one’s mentioned it. Steven Moffat is a brilliant writer and it would be nice to see what he does with The Master. Maybe they’d want him to regenerate into somebody much younger. Somebody from Skins or something like that. Or a woman. And what would be wrong with that?

They can do whatever they want with The Master. You’re at their mercy. But I’d seriously consider it if they asked me. I’d love to have a go at Matt Smith because I think he’s really great.
 

James Corden, aka Craig Owens

Speaking to Shortlist, producer Marcus Wilson commented on the potential of James Corden as a series regular:
What’s lovely about Doctor Who is that people want to guest star in it. We set out the story commissions for this series and we knew that we wanted to do a sequel to The Lodger. James said, "Tell me when, I’ll be there." We thought that his episode would be a one-off, but it did so well that everyone was keen to do another. Now he’s pitching to us for a trilogy.
 




FILTER: - People - Miracle Day (Series 4)

"Today" on WhoBookmark and Share

Saturday, 23 April 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
American broadcaster NBC has announced that its morning news show Today will meet Doctor Who on 6th May! Forming part of an initiative to broadcast from places all around the world, the show's presenter Meredith Vieira will visit the set of the show in the United Kingdom, and will also feature in a cameo in an upcoming episode. It has yet to be revealed whether she will be appearing in her role as Today presenter or in some other capacity.

Vieira's appearance follows a tradition of cameos in the series, which include Barbara Windsor in Army of Ghosts, Sharon Osbourne, Anne Widdecombe and band McFly in The Sound of Drums, Richard Dawkins and Paul O'Grady in The Stolen Earth, and Patrick Moore in The Eleventh Hour, plus the vocal talents of Anne Robinson, Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine portraying their robotic counterparts in Bad Wolf.

The first four series of Doctor Who regularly featured American news reports by Trinity Wells (played by Lachele Carl) from fictional network AMNN.

Media Links: UPI






FILTER: - People - Series 6/32

"Silence Will Fall" tonight...Bookmark and Share

Saturday, 23 April 2011 - Reported by Josiah Rowe


The Impossible Astronaut, the first episode of Doctor Who's sixth series (or thirty-second season, if you prefer) will air tonight at 6:00pm BST on BBC One in the UK, at 9:00pm Eastern (6:00 Pacific) on BBC America in the USA, and at 8:00pm Eastern (5:00pm Pacific) on SPACE in Canada. US viewers will also be able to purchase episodes from iTunes or Amazon Instant Video.

After the episode airs, viewers in the UK will be able to view My Sarah Jane: A Tribute to Elisabeth Sladen on the CBBC channel. Doctor Who Confidential will follow on BBC Three at 7:00pm.

Finally, to tease the final hours before the debut of The Impossible Astronaut, the BBC's Doctor Who website has posted some potentially spoilerrific photos from the episode, as well as this enigmatic video under a link to "The Silence":


"Are real", BBC, via BBC website


"Silence Will Fall Tonight", BBC, via BBC Website





FILTER: - Canada - USA - UK - Series 6/32 - Broadcasting

Big Finish goes "Fourth"!Bookmark and Share

Friday, 22 April 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Big Finish have revealed that Tom Baker's debut adventure with them as the Fourth Doctor got underway today, with the actor performing alongside Louise Jameson, who reprises her role as Leela. Recording commenced at 10:00am this morning, with the photo depicting the duo enjoying the sunny Good Friday morning beforehand.

The first series of six episodes will be available to buy on CD and via download from January 2012, and may be pre-ordered from Big Finish.


The news was first announced last month, with Big Finish clarifying that these adventures are independent to and will not clash with the successful BBC Audio adventures (with Tom Baker teamed with Richard Franklin as Mike Yates).

The actor commented:
In my twilight years, I am looking forward to a tremendous Big Finish and the sooner the better.
Louise Jameson added:
I'm delighted at the possibility of working with Tom again. I've always rated him as a brilliant and unique actor with the most marvellous voice, Big Finish must be over the moon that he has agreed to re-visiting the sci-fi world.

Producer David Richardson has also revealed that the adventures will utilise the 'gothic' wooden console room from Season 14!





FILTER: - Tom Baker - Big Finish

Fans pay tribute to Elisabeth SladenBookmark and Share

Friday, 22 April 2011 - Reported by Marcus
With the sad news of the death of Elisabeth Sladen still raw in many people's minds and so difficult to comprehend, many fans around the world have been making their own tributes to a woman who was such a central part of so many childhoods.

British folk singer Talis Kimberley has recorded her own tribute, Goodnight Sarah Jane, available as a download from her website. Kimberley says "this is my tribute to the actor Lis Sladen. Along with many other people I was desparately saddened to hear of her death; her portrayal of Sarah-Jane Smith was an inspiration during two periods of my life."

Other tracks released include Companion by Parralox and What's the Story Sarah Jane by New Magnet.

The tribute page in Gallifrey Base now stands at over 2000 posts and a special thread has been setup where fans can post their own artwork. Meanwhile a whole new generation of fans have been expressing their sense of loss on the BBC's Newsround page, which has had its biggest response ever to a story covered on the site. Some of the messages from children are read out by the co-stars of The Sarah Jane Adventures, Tommy Knight and Daniel Anthony, who are mourning the loss of the woman they called their "Mother Hen, ...always smiling, always laughing".

Many fans have made their own tribute videos which can be found on YouTube. Dork Tower, the online comic, has also produced its own cartoon in tribute.

A group of fans have launched a JustGiving site raising money for the charity Cancer Research UK, in memory of the actress. To date over £3000 has been raised. Other fans have been donating to the Lymphoedema Support Network, which was understood to be a charity the actress supported. A JustGiving site has been set up to buy an imaginary pint to toast Sarah Jane.

The BBC's programme in memory of Elisabeth Sladen, My Sarah Jane, which contains contributions from many of those who worked with her, can be seen in the UK on CBBC at 6.45pm Saturday, directly after Doctor Who finishes on BBC One.


News links: Obituary, Doctors pay tribute, Elisabeth Sladen Tributes, Press Roundup




FILTER: - People - Obituary - Press - Elisabeth Sladen