This Week In Doctor Who - November 27th, 1998

And a Happy Thanksgiving to all of you at home or at the Visions convention!
THIS WEEK IN DOCTOR WHO - November 27th, 1998

Well, in the US the turkeys can breathe a sigh of relief. Thanksgiving is past. We've given thanks to God for protecting us for the past year, and we've eaten all the food. Now we face the stage of realizing that we need to go on diets, with Christmas just a few short weeks away! Obviously, it's time to focus on the quality escapism that is Doctor Who. Much of fandom has taken this to the point of having a convention this weekend in Chicago where they will devote most of their time to this beloved series. For the rest of us in the states (and around the world) who lacked the time and / or money to join them, we at least have this silly column. So do they, but I doubt it's at the top of their minds right now (much as I wish it was).

There's not much news this week (yet). Doctor Who turned 35 on Monday. UK Gold will not discontinue its Friday late night broadcasts, but cycle back to the Hartnell stories next week. This is WTBU's final week of broadcasting Doctor Who, and they're finishing with Black Orchid. I would have continued it one more week to show Earthshock to surprise the casual viewers, but that's just my idea. Pledge season is beginning in the US, so starting and ending times for programs are more random than usual.

The biggest news of the week should come out in the next day or two. The person negotiating for a US National Feed of Doctor Who for PBS stations hoped to have an official announcement in time for the Visions convention. If a successful deal was made, expect dozens of stations not currently airing the series to pick it up. When / if it happens, this column will list all known stations airing the feed and the various broadcast times.

As always, I like feedback. Please send any corrections, comments, and additions. And now, on to the schedules ...

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The UK:

UK Gold - satellite / cable channel
Late Friday from 12:25 to 2:40AM - .The War Games - movie version, part 2 of 2
Sunday from 8:25 to 11:10AM - Frontier In Space - movie version
The weekend begins with the conclusion of the final story completely filmed in Black and White. (An Unearthly Child airs next week.) The 2nd Doctor finds himself unable to undo the mess caused by the games, and may be forced to call in his own people for help. Sunday's broadcast features the 3rd Doctor and Jo getting caught up in an attempt to start a war between Earth and Draconia. Roger Delgado's final performance as The Master.

Mainland Europe:

BBC Prime - satellite / cable channel
Late Friday at 1:05AM, Saturday at 9:55AM - The Invisible Enemy - episode 2 of 4
Saturday at 6PM - The Invisible Enemy - episode 3 of 4
You may have heard of an effort to make another K9 spinoff series. In the event this happens, fan will want to have seen these two episodes, the first with K9 appearing. The clever computer must help the 4th Doctor and Leela track down the being that has invaded the Doctor's mind.

Australia:

FOXTEL's UK-TV - cable channel
Saturday at 1PM, Sunday at 2 and 8AM - The Five Doctors
Monday through Wednesday at 11:30PM - Genesis of the Daleks - episodes 4 to 6 of 6
Thursday and Friday at 11:30PM - Destiny of the Daleks - episodes 1 to 2 of 4
The Who-Files continue, with the 20th Anniversary story, the Dalek origin story, and Destiny of the Daleks all featured in the same week. This looks like the most extensive 'Whitman's Sampler' style approach to the series since the Lionheart PBS package of 1989-90. I just hope it doesn't end the same way.

Canada:

SPACE: The Imagination Station
Sunday at 8AM EST (no rerun) - The Web Planet: Escape to Danger - episode 3 of 6
Monday and Tuesday at 7:30AM - Planet of Giants - episodes 2 and 3 of 3 (Dangerous Journey, Crisis)
Wednesday through Friday at 7:30AM - The Dalek Invasion of Earth - episodes 1 to 3 of 6 (World's End, The Daleks, Day Of Reckoning)
Fun and frolic with the 1st Doctor. Sunday morning he tries to outwit the Animus, a being that has taken over Vortis. Monday and Tuesday the Doctor and his miniaturized crew discover a plot to bring a dangerous insecticide onto the world market. Of course, only being an inch tall makes getting help rather difficult. Episode 3 was filmed as two complete episodes, then condensed into one for some reason before broadcast. The cut material was destroyed. The rest of the week features the Doctor and company battling the Daleks on 22nd Century Earth.

The USA:

Maine Public Broadcasting - channels 10, 10, 12, 13, 26, 39
Saturday at 9PM - Revenge of the Cybermen - episodes 1 and 2 of 4
The 4th Doctor, Sarah, and Harry return to Nerva some millenia before the TARDIS is due. While they're waiting, they encounter a space plague that has placed the station under quarantine. But is it a plague, or something nastier? And what does this have to do with the Cybermen? Due to pledge specials (including a Doctor Who one), this station will not air the conclusion until December 19th.

New Hampshire Public Televison - channels 11, 12, 15, 49, 52
Friday at 10PM - Spearhead From Space - episodes 3 and 4 of 4
A plot to take over the world using plastic is uncovered. The Nestene begin to arrive. Features the famous scene involving window dummies that shocked many viewers in 1970.

WQED / WQEX Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - channels 13, 16
Saturday at 10:30PM - Revenge of the Cybermen - episode 1 of 4
Similar to Maine's listing, but only episode 1 will air. Might have the DaSilva introduction, which I doubt Maine has.

Maryland Public Television - channels 22, 28, 31, 36, 62, 67
Friday and Saturday at Midnight - The Romans - movie version
The TARDIS falls off a cliff. One month later, the 1st Doctor, Ian, Barbara, and Vicki are enjoying ancient Italy. But mistaken identities and slave traders threaten to interrupt their holiday. The first comedic historical story. About 95 minutes or so.

WUFT Gainesville, Florida - channel 5
Saturday at 5PM - Frontios - movie version
The TARDIS reaches the outer limits of where it is allowed to travel in Time and Space. Time Lords are not allowed to interfere here for any reason. Of course, if the TARDIS is forced to land and you can't really leave, I guess you can make an exception. The famous TARDIS hat stand gets an action sequence! About 90 minutes.

WUSF Tampa, Florida - channel 16
Saturday at 11:30PM - Earthshock - episode 1 of 4
Earth. 26th Century. A survey team has disappeared from a series of caves. Alien activity is suspected. Aliens located. 4 people, one with 2 hearts. They have a blue box that resembles something out of antiquity. They are to be presumed hostile. Be prepared to kill.

WXEL West Palm Beach, Florida - channel 42
Sunday at 2PM - Terror of the Autons - all 4 recolored episodes
Sunday at ?PM - The Dæmons - all 5 recolored episodes
From 2 to 7PM, WXEL airs two restored Pertwee stories and some pledge drives. Remember, if you can watch this channel, that WXEL has not agreed to resume airing the series on a regular basis. They want to see how the pledge drive goes. If the marathon earns lots of pledge money and if WXEL actually receives the money, then they might consider resuming the series. But, whatever happens, Doctor Who will have at least one more afternoon in the South Florida sun.

WCET Cincinnati, Ohio - channel 48
Saturday at 11PM - Return To Devil's End - documentary
Saturday at 11:58PM - I Was A Doctor Who Monster! - documentary
Two Doctor Who related documentaries. First, the cast of The Daemons returns to the site of the production and reminisces. Then, actors recount their experiences portraying the series' famous monsters. Oddly, one listing claims that Sylvester McCoy played a monster in a story before he became the Doctor, but the special hasn't aired in my area, so I can't confirm that. It should be done by 1AM.

WFWA Fort Wayne, Indiana - channel 39 - Doctor Who absent from schedule

WTBU Indianapolis, Indiana - channel 69
Sunday at 6PM - Black Orchid - movie version
The 5th Doctor, Adric, Tegan, and Nyssa arrive in 1925 England. The Doctor proves to be an excellent cricketer, but not so good at providing a believable alibi when someone is murdered. 50 minutes. Final scheduled WTBU Doctor Who broadcast.

Louisiana Public Broadcasting - channels 13, 18, 24, 24, 25, 27
Saturday at 10PM - Carnival Of Monsters - episodes 3 and 4 of 4
The 3rd Doctor tries to rescue Jo from the Scope. The Scope begins to break down, giving one of the blue headed aliens an idea for taking over control of his planet.

Iowa Public Television - channels 11, 12, 27, 32
Friday at 11:05PM - Inferno - episodes 6 and 7 of 7
Episode 6 goes beyond the limits of most science fiction. Not many TV shows feature the destruction of the Earth. This is actually the second time it's happened in Doctor Who (see The Ark), but it's still a very rare trick to try.

Prairie Public Television of North Dakota - channels 2, 3, 4, 6, 13
Friday at 10:30PM - Robot - episode 4 of 4
The SRS plan to set off the nuclear weapons fail, but a new threat emerges when the Robot decides humanity is no longer worthy to survive.

KBDI Denver, Colorado - channel 12
Friday at 11PM - Frontier In Space - episodes 5 and 6 of 6
No Saturday broadcast. (The song will resume in a future column.)
The 3rd Doctor and Jo go back and forth across the galaxy trying to stop a war between Earth and Draconia. The Master reveals the truth about why he wants to start the war. The story ends on a cliffhanger.

KSPS Spokane, Washington - channel 7
Saturday at 10:30PM - The Invisible Enemy - movie version
You're a microscopic life form searching the galaxy for a suitable host to use for breeding and expanding your empire. Imagine you find a brilliant host with plenty of intellect, much mobility, and knowledge about traveling in time. I think you'd be deliriously happy. About 90 minutes.

KBTC / KCKA Tacoma, Washington - channels 28, 15
Saturday at 7PM and 12:30AM, (No Monday broadcasts) - Remembrance of the Daleks - episodes 1 and 2 of 4
The 7th Doctor and Ace arrive in London in 1963, just in time to meet a Dalek invasion. But the Daleks are being somewhat more subtle this time, like they want to get something without being noticed. And there appears to be two Dalek factions. No Monday broadcasts due to pledge programming.

KRCB Rohnert Park, California - channel 22 - Doctor Who not on schedule

KTEH San Jose, California - channel 54
Sunday at 9:03PM - The Five Doctors Special Edition
Sunday at 11:25PM - The Trial Of A Time Lord - Terror Of The Vervoids -all 4 episodes
Late Sunday at 1:05AM - I Was A Doctor Who Monster! - a mythmakers special
KTEH celebrates the Doctor's 35th birthday with a night of television that has been humorously titled "The Seven Doctors". The first 5 all show up in one form or another for the special 1995 re- edit of the 20th Anniversary story. The regular broadcast (Trial Of Time Lord) has the 6th Doctor. And the 7th Doctor hosts or is somehow involved in the Doctor Who Monster special. Pledge drives may affect the start and end times.

BBC America - cable / Dish Network Top 100 Package Channel 135
Saturday at 5PM EST, Sunday at 2PM - The Ark In Space - movie version, part 1 of 2
The 4th Doctor, Sarah, and Harry land on a space station in the distant future, where the survivors of humanity are in deep hibernation. But a creature has entered the Ark, interested in making sure that the survivors never wake up.

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Benjamin F. Elliott

This Week In Doctor Who is written by Benjamin F. Elliott.
Doctor Who is a registered trademark of the BBC. Copyright 1998.