Doctor Who: My 50th Anniversary Roundup

So I don't know much about per screen sales, and have seen different numbers, a problem common when looking for information on different sites. I try my hardest not to just make up what I think they are saying and will say when I just don't know. What I do know is that after you factor in the 7pm airing on the 23rd, the special had 3.6 million viewers on BBC America. This sure doesn't seem like a high number to me, even though it broke a record for them. I just think we need to work harder at getting more Whovians. It set a Guinness world record for largest simulcast of a drama. Funny little awards they give. The word is that it had a higher per screen amount than even Catching Fire, but one site said per theater, so I'm not sure where the nugget of truth is there. I did see it was the #2 'movie' on Monday in America. All great and it's nice to have validation but puhleeze don't rush into a movie franchise. I'd be perfectly happy if it didn't move in that direction at all.

As far as "The Day of The Doctor" itself, I loved it. From the way it opened to the story to Billie Piper being The Moment/Rose/Bad Wolf. John Hurt was amazing and as predicted stole many scenes. "Am I having a mid-life crisis?", "Timey wimey?!?", "Are you capable of speaking without flapping your hands about?" Doctor gold I tells ya. Yes, the treaty with the Zygons manifested a bit quickly, but right now I love Steven Moffat for bringing back Gallifrey, my one beef with RTD. The little nods here and there to the past were well appreciated. Multiple TARDISES, great battle scenes, a winding storyline, a moving final moment and every Doctor. What more could you want? I'll tell you what more. Tom Baker as the curator, that's what. A very poignant moment for me. It was well worth the wait Tom. Shh.

More great pics I found from the special at the end.

One of the real gems of the 50th week was the movie Mark Gatiss made, "An Adventure In Space and Time." Better than a behind the scenes special, you got to see what it was like working on set in 1963-1966. You see the first ideas and the first designs. You also see behind the man behind the man, and delve a little into what it was like being Doctor Who, and indeed being William Hartnell. It was funny too, a bit sad and quite fun. A little bit delightful in fact. Check it out. Spot the cameos :)

Big Finish, who produce most excellent audiodramas, did a whopper for the 50th. An 8, yes EIGHT, Doctor multi Doctor tale that captured my attention and didn't let go. Read my spoiler free review here on my classic page.

By far my favorite thing besides the actual special was a 30 minute film offered on BBC's red button, which frankly I know nothing about. "The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot" was written and directed by 5th Doctor, Peter Davison. It's the hilarious tale of former Doctors from the 80's trying desperately to be in the 50th special.

The actors poke great fun at themselves as they scramble to be noticed by the likes of Moffat himself. There are cameos from old and new companions and even a star and director from a major Hollywood film franchise a certain Doctor can't help but keep mentioning he's in. Colin Baker trying to get his family to watch his old episodes, Doctors as Daleks and REALLY outing John Barrowman. I'll state again here that this is a perfect companion piece to the 50th special and it would be a shame if it weren't included on the release.

One thing I almost missed out on was the 2 hour show, "Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide" but I'm glad I didn't miss it. It was the most entertaining of all the 'looking back' specials I saw. It had humor and great guests and really did a good job aiming for that ultimate guide title they claimed. If you can find a copy I suggest it, but it didn't air in America.

The single best event was the theater experience. It was probably a combination of actually being in a theater watching Doctor Who on the big screen after watching for over 30 years, it being the 50th anniversary, it being in 3D and being in a room filled with Whovians. It was a day of big feels.


So now what? Exhale first. Relax. The marathons are over. Then it hits me, only 27 days to Christmas. "The Time of The Doctor" is coming. To prepare I have pulled out all the regeneration episodes and then will alternate them with all the Christmas episodes. That's just how I roll. I did finally get the last of the 11 short stories they released. That's the last 50th thing to cross off my list as soon as I read them. It'll be interesting to see what info about Christmas comes out in the next couple of weeks, which reminds me, if you don't like spoilers, don't read my next post.

These are some nice pics I found from "The Day of The Doctor"

A Roundup Of Sorts

It's been a busy time. I finished my monthly article on time and then I got an iPhone, which I've been glued to for over a week. But there is simply no excuse for not having congratulated David Tennant earlier on his Emmy award win. The win came for vocal work on the cartoon "Star Wars The Clone Wars" as Huyang. This doesn't surprise me for David has a very idiosyncratic voice. Congrats, David, on this prestigious honor.




Okay, you already know how I feel about talking about nothing when it comes to the next Doctor. I avoid the speculation because it's an infernal waste of time. So every once in a while, like today. I might bring up the names of the moment, but I'm not going to keep track of it daily. I will probably also avoid posting about what other various people (related AND unrelated to Who) think about the topic, unless it's individually interesting. One other blog even posted a post, longer than some of my reviews, about why they are not talking about it. but I can hardly post after a couple of weeks without at least mentioning it.

The main male name I still see is Dominic Cooper. I recognize his face, but have seen nothing he is in, but I will probably see the Captain America movie. I have no feelings one way or the other because I have nothing to form an opinion about. It makes me laugh because the reports change from day to day. He's interested, he's not interested, he's interested. Ugh, it all really is silly to keep on about until it is announced.

Interestingly, the female name I am now seeing at the top of the list is Sheridan Smith. I will not let our common first name sway me. I know her from Gavin & Stacey, but not from watching it. I think shes quite charming, though, but I'm still one of those that doesn't truly want a female Doctor. An interesting connection here is that Sheridan plays The Doctor's companion Lucie Miller in the Big Finish audio dramas, which are awesome. I haven't listened to any of hers, but if any of you are interested, go to the Doctor Who Big Finish Webpage because these are great productions featuring actors from the show, including the Doctors. If you've never listened to an audio drama, think listening to the tv with your eyes closed, but with dialog to express what is happening and surroundings. Next year they are going to release "The Abandoned" which is the first to be written by a former star of the show. This was penned by former fourth Doctor companion Leela, Louise Jameson.

They announced who will direct the Christmas episode, Matt Smith's last. It will be Jamie Payne, who directed "Hide." Not that I think it will be the same, but I hope you liked "Hide," I sure did, and I know a huge portion of that was the direction. He has also done work on other shows I watched and liked. The Hour, Call the Midwife, Outcasts, and Survivors. With him directing Moffat's words and Matt & Jenna's actions, I am starting to get more excited about that episode.




Another thing happening sounded silly at first but once I looked into it I liked it more. A kickstarter campaign was started, and succeeded, in raising the $33,000 to send a 1 foot scale replica of the TARDIS in the payload of rocket and getting it into low earth orbit. The thing is, it has solar power cells in the windows so the light on top works. Hypothetically, the people in the space station could look out at the right time and see a TARDIS orbiting. It also contains a camera to take shots, like we don't have enough pictures of Earth. The thing that was interesting to me is that if this is successful, they would then like to raise some $300,000 to send up a life sized replica. Just imagine, with the right telescope, on a clear night....