This Week in Doctor Who - October 23, 1998

BBC Choice will air a Doctor Who week, not a night!

It was a fairly quiet week until Wednesday. I was planning to say how the tension was rising and how people were eagerly waiting for news. Then, of course, news came ...

During a random check of Shannon Patrick Sullivan's news page (http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sps/whonews.html) I found that BBC Choice had announced their Doctor Who week plans for November 22nd through 27th. This news originated in Doctor Who Magazine's Gallifrey Guardian section. A selection of episodes will air, with linking narration by Sylvester McCoy. They announced everything but start times. Here's the plan:

Sunday the 22nd:
An Unearthly Child - episode 1; Genesis of the Daleks - episode 1; The Tomb of the Cybermen - episodes 1, 2, and 3; the 1996 Movie (edited British version).

Monday the 23rd (the anniversary day):
Genesis of the Daleks - episode 2; The Tomb of the Cybermen - episode 4

Tuesday the 24th:
Genesis of the Daleks - episode 3; The Dæmons - episode 5; a 5 minute documentary on the colour restoration of The Daemons

Wednesday the 25th:
Genesis of the Daleks - episode 4; The Caves of Androzani - episode 4

Thursday the 26th:
Genesis of the Daleks - episode 5; The Trial Of A Time Lord - episode 14

Friday the 27th:
Genesis of the Daleks - episode 6; EITHER Remembrance of the Daleks - episode 4 OR The Curse of Fenric - episode 4

It is being reported that UK Gold plans to move its Saturday morning Whocast to Friday nights beginning November 6th. November may also be the final month for this run of episodes. The Sunday broadcasts are unaffected.

Remember to check the listings for any time changes for episodes on the station you receive. BBC Prime has made a minor time change. BBC America is giving a bonus broadcast this week. Etc, etc.

Also, it has come to my attention that some people (particularly viewers in Europe, Australia, and Americans watching Friday broadcasts) may be having trouble getting this column in time for their needs. Remember: if you have access to online newsgroups, you can find "This Week In Doctor Who" on the news:rec.arts.drwho newsgroup from around Noon London Time on Fridays. If you can't access newsgroups, you can go to http://www.dejanews.com/ and do a search for "This Week In Doctor Who". They should have it within an hour or two of the newsgroup getting it. Personally, I have found Dejanews to be extremely user unfriendly, so if you can access the newsgroup or your current source gets the information out in time for you, I wouldn't change.

As always, any corrections, additions, or comments can be sent to my e-mail address.

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The UK:

UK Gold - Satellite / Cable Channel
Saturday from 9:30AM to 12:05PM - The Mind Robber - movie version
Sunday from 8:55AM to 11:50PM - The Sea Devils - movie version
Saturday's story features the 2nd Doctor, Jamie, and Zoe. Their efforts to escape a lava flow land them in a realm of deadly unreality. One of the most offbeat and surrealistic stories ever, if not the most. However, the 5 episodes were ludicrously short, so I have to wonder how UK Gold plans to fill that much time. Sunday's feature to tape while you're at Church is a bit of a naval jaunt. The 3rd Doctor and Jo visit the Master in prison. While there, they learn of the mysterious sinking of ships nearby. This story features a scene from The Clangers, a famous children's show in Britain that is virtually unheard of in North America. It looks interesting, though.

Mainland Europe:

BBC Prime - Satellite / Cable Channel
Saturday at 1:05AM CET and *9:55AM* - Horror of Fang Rock - episode 1 of 4
Saturday at 6PM CET - Horror of Fang Rock - episode 2 of 4
Savvy viewers in Central Europe can watch the 1st half of this classic Tom Baker story Saturday. The 4th Doctor and Leela wind up at a lighthouse on an island with a mysterious fog. A ship crashes nearby. Then people begin to die. Will the Doctor find out what is terrorizing the lighthouse in time? NOTE the 9:55AM starting time for one of the morning broadcasts, instead of the 10AM of recent months.

Australia:

FOXTEL's UK-TV - Cable Channel
Saturday at 1PM, Sunday at 2AM and 8AM - The War Games - episodes 6 through 10 of 10
Monday through Thursday at 11:30PM - The Three Doctors - episodes 1 to 4 of 4
Friday at 11:30PM - The Deadly Assassin - episode 1 of 4
continues its run of selected stories under the "Who-Files" umbrella title. Weekend viewers can enjoy the second half of the final 2nd Doctor story. The Doctor may have the ability to stop the killing, but even he cannot fully deal with the situation, forcing him to contemplate bringing in his own people. The Three Doctors concerns a force in an anti-matter realm crippling Gallifrey's power source and searching for the Doctor. If the force is not defeated, the Doctors may be trapped forever, and Gallifreyan civilization may collapse. And in part one of The Deadly Assassin, the 4th Doctor receives a distress call from Gallifrey. If the Doctor does not hurry, the President of the Time Lords may be assassinated.

Canada:

SPACE: The Imagination Station - Specialty Cable Channel
Sunday at 8AM EST, Monday at 3:30AM - The Romans: All Roads Lead to Rome - episode 2 of 4
Monday through Friday at 7:30AM EST - The Daleks - episodes 2 through 6 of 7 (The Survivors, The Escape, The Ambush, The Expedition, The Ordeal)
In the weekend story, Ian and Barbara are sold off as slaves, while the 1st Doctor and Vicki head off to Rome, completely oblivious to Ian and Barbara's danger. In the weekday episodes, the 1st Doctor encounters the Daleks for the first time. What do these bizarre aliens want? Are they good, or evil?

The USA:

Maine Public Broadcasting - channels 10, 10, 12, 13, 26, 39
Saturday at 9PM - The Ark In Space - episodes 3 and 4 of 4
When Noah turns into a Wirrn, the 4th Doctor, Sarah, Harry, and the Nerva command crew are faced with an invasion. If the Wirrn succeed, the human race will cease to exist!

New Hampshire Public Television - channels 11, 15, 48, 49, 52
Friday at 10PM - The War Games - episodes 5 and 6 of 10
The 2nd Doctor and Zoe try to learn the secrets of the aliens at their base. Jamie and the Resistance leaders decide to steal a SIDRAT and attack the base, with chilling consequences!

WQED / WQEX Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - channels 13, 16
Saturday at 10:30PM - Genesis of the Daleks - episode 3 of 6
Sarah is a prisoner of the Thals. The 4th Doctor and Harry get help from a surprise source and set off to rescue her. The Kaleds are betrayed.

Maryland Public Televison - channels 22, 28, 31, 36, 62, 67
Late Friday at 1AM and Saturday at Midnight - The Aztecs - movie version
The 1st Doctor, Ian, Barbara, and Susan land in an Aztec tomb. When they emerge, Barbara is hailed as the great Yetaxa. Will she alter the course of history to save the Aztecs from extinction, even in the face of the Doctor's objections? And the Doctor gets engaged. 95 minutes. NOTE the special late starting time on Friday night.

WUFT Gainesville, Florida - channel 5
Saturday at 5PM - Terminus - movie version
The TARDIS links with a leper ship heading for the center of the universe. Turlough's half- hearted attempts to kill the Doctor lead to tragedy after tragedy. Nyssa contracts Lazar's Disease. 90-95 minutes.

WUSF Tampa, Florida - channel 16
Saturday at 11:30PM - The Visitation - episode 1 of 4
The 5th Doctor finally gets the TARDIS to Heathrow Airport. Unfortunately, he has arrived in the 17th Century, instead of the 20th.

WCET Cincinnati, Ohio - channel 48
Saturday at 11PM - Survival - movie format
Endgame. The 7th Doctor and Ace go to Perivale. All Ace's old friends are disappearing. And a black cat is disturbingly interested in Ace. In case you haven't seen it yet, I'll let the identity of the villain be a surprise. You'll feel like it was obvious, but you won't guess it if you haven't seen or heard of the story. The final TV serial, which concluded on December 6th, 1989. 68 minutes.

WFWA Fort Wayne, Indiana - channel 39
Saturday at Midnight - State of Decay - movie format
An ancient Time Lord enemy sleeps on a little known planet in E-Space. Apart from living off the blood of the inhabitants, it is relatively peaceful. But if it ever wakes, the universe is in danger. Obviously, the 4th Doctor, Romana 2, K9 2, and stowaway Adric show up and have to deal with this being. About 90 minutes.

WTBU Indianapolis, Indiana - channel 69
Sunday at 6PM - Logopolis - movie format
The final 4th Doctor story. The Doctor decides to measure the TARDIS. Unfortunately, the Master decides to take fatal advantage of his newfound mobility. So, if you plan to take the highway to Heathrow airport sometime in 1981, stay far away from police boxes! 92 minutes.

Louisiana Public Broadcasting - channels 13, 18, 24, 24, 25, 27
Saturday at 10PM - The Time Monster - episodes 3 and 4 of 6
The Master summons Kronos, the Time Monster, in his quest to control the crystal of Atlantis. Also features the famous battle of wits between the Master and Seargeant Benton.

Iowa Public Broadcasting - channels 11, 12, 27, 32
Friday at 11:05PM - The Ambassadors of Death - episodes 3 and 4 of 7
The astronauts are kidnapped. But the kidnappers are unprepared to deal with them. It seems that they thrive on radiation, and their touch is fatal. By any chance, did the wrong people come down? Black and White episodes. (The only color copy of any nature is not usable with current technology.)

KBDI Denver, Colorado - channel 12
Friday at 11PM - Carnival Of Monsters - episodes 1 and 2 of 4
Saturday at 10PM - Carnival Of Monsters - episodes 3 and 4 of 4
Between the repeat and the new broadcast, KBDIers can see the whole Carnival Of Monsters story. A machine called the Scope has the ability to keep various beings in a miniaturized environment. When the TARDIS somehow winds up in its grasp, things begin to fall apart.

KSPS Spokane, Washington - channel 7
Saturday at 10:30PM Pacific Time - The Deadly Assassin - movie format
For millenia, the Time Lords have lived lives of peace and tranquility. In the first 22 minutes, that tranquility will end forever. The Master has come home! About 90 minutes.

KBTC / KCKA Tacoma, Washington - channels 28, 15
Saturday at 7PM and 12:30AM - Paradise Towers - episodes 1 and 2 of 4
Monday at 7:30PM and 12:30AM - Paradise Towers - episodes 1 and 2 of 4
Mel is insistent that the 7th Doctor take her to Paradise Towers for a vacation. She will live to regret it, unless certain people have their dinner on time!

KRCB Rhonert Park, California - channel 22
Saturday at 11PM - The Caves of Androzani - episode 2 of 4
If the 5th Doctor and Peri have just been executed, why are they prisoners of Saraz Jek? And if they've survived, why are they getting dangerously ill?

KTEH San Jose, California - channel 54
Sunday at 11PM - MarkOfTheRani - 4 episode version
The 6th Doctor and Peri try to visit a botanical garden, but wind up in a village where Luddites are getting dangerously active. And a scarecrow is waving at the Doctor.

BBC America - Cable Channel
Saturday at 5PM and 1AM Eastern Time - Genesis of the Daleks - movie format, part 3 of 3
Sunday at 1 (or 2) PM Eastern Time - Genesis of the Daleks - movie format, part 3 of 3
The 4th Doctor must recover a devastating tape that gives Davros the ability to make the Daleks invincible. More importantly, will the Doctor destroy the Daleks forever? BBC America airs commercials and cuts scenes, so be advised. They are scheduling an extra late night broadcast to deal with the change from Daylight to Standard time. On Sunday, the official BBC America listings place the broadcast at 1PM, while other listings have it at the 2PM time they have used lately.

As always, thanks for reading. Come back next week as the countdown to Doctor Who's anniversary begins in earnest.

Benjamin F. Elliott

is produced every Friday by Benjamin F. Elliott
(Doctor Who Alliance US / Canada edition edited by Shaun Lyon).
Doctor Who is a registered trademark of the BBC.
Copyright 1998