THIS WEEK IN DOCTOR WHO - Fri, 6 Aug 1999

By Benjamin F. Elliott

This Week now has another home on the web. The Wolves Of Fenric http://www.wolvesoffenric.freeserve.co.uk/ have added This Week In Doctor Who to their news pages. All the previous ways of getting the column are unchanged.

In the UK, Channel 4 caught me off guard and aired Dr Who and the Daleks, the Peter Cushing film, on Sunday afternoon from 3:45 to 5:25PM. I knew that Channel 4 had the rights to the Cushing films, and I've been trying to keep track of this station, but I missed this one.

Also in Europe, a Dutch channel called Nederland 1 aired the Paul McGann movie Thursday night at 10:36PM.

Over in America, WYBE Philadelphia gave viewers a very confusing Saturday night. After airing The Seeds of Doom episode 5, they got their tapes mixed up and aired The Invasion of Time episode 6. As of publication time, WYBE's plans regarding how / if they will show the missing episode (Seeds Of Doom 6) were unreported.

By the way, it's August in the United States, and most PBS stations have pledge drives during this month. Be on the lookout for late starting times, pre-emptions, and occasionally a special feature.

It's the last chance for Doctor Who in Pittsburgh on WQED. On Saturday night, from 8PM to 1?AM, Doctor Who and Red Dwarf will team up for Sci-Fi Saturday Night Fever. Exact programming and times are unavailable, but it will definitely include the 1st 3 episodes of Red Dwarf VIII and 2 Dalek stories (don't know if there will be anything else). WQED's contract for these shows runs out on August 7th, the night of the special. Unless sufficient funds come in on that night ($10,000 was the estimate given), this will be the final broadcast ever of either Doctor Who or Red Dwarf on the only PBS station in Pittsburgh. I'm sure they take money from any source, but only credit card payments and cash at the door before 2AM will count towards the $10,000 (some previous pledge drives were marred by people wiggling out after pledging). The phone lines for pledging are 412-621-5808 and 1-800-232-1313. And here's the station's address for those who want to be there in person as the Doctor parties for his life:

WQED / WQEX 13, 16
4802 5th Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

A less drastic pledge drive is occurring in St. Paul, MN. KTCA claims to be very happy with the support for the Doctor and has renewed him into next year. So, they are airing the final 3 episodes of Genesis of the Daleks Saturday night as a pledge special and thank you.

One nice result of pledge drives is that sometimes the Doctor gets a better time slot. Both New Mexico Doctor Who affiliates are beginning the show in prime time (9PM) instead of the usual late night slots this week. And next week, KTEH in California will begin Doctor Who at 9PM as well for its pledge special. It'd be wonderful if the pledge specials got sufficient ratings to move Doctor Who into prime time permanently in those markets, but until that happens, the occasional prime time special is good enough.

Not exactly Who news, but HBO-OLE 2, a Cable station in Central / South America that has aired the Paul McGann movie many times in the last few months, has changed its name to HBO PLUS. The main HBO-OLE, which also aired the movie, is keeping its current name.

Corrections and additions are always welcome at bfelliott@jnpcs.com. And now, the listings:

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The UK:

BBC Choice
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Sat 7:30PM BST Genesis of the Daleks ep 5 of 6
Davros gains a key advantage against the Doctor. The Kaled scientists prepare to confront Davros once and for all. The Thals decide to destroy the Kaled bunker. The Daleks kill some more people just for the heck of it.

UK Gold
http://www.sceneone.co.uk/s1/tv/listings
Late Fri 12:25 to 1:15?AM BST The Rescue movie
Late Fri 1:15? to 2:55AM BST The Romans movie
Sun 8:30 to 11:15AM BST The Armageddon Factor movie
Friday night insomniacs can enjoy not one, but 2 William Hartnell stories. The Rescue picks up after Susan departs the TARDIS. The ship lands on a planet where 2 humans are marooned. Apparently the rest of the crew were slaughtered by the Didoans. But the Doctor remembers the Didoans as a peace loving race. Once that confusion is settled, the Doctor and company take a vacation in 1st Century Italy. Emperor Nero, court intrigue, slavery, death, and fire await them. Sunday morning the VCR can catch the final story of the Key To Time saga. 2 planets engaged in a devastating war. The key to peace is one planet's princess (Lalla Ward in first Who appearance). But when the Doctor learns the truth behind the war, he may be forced to kill her.

UK Gold Classics
http://www.sceneone.co.uk/s1/tv/listings
Sun 6 to 8:45PM BST The Armageddon Factor movie
Same as UK Gold's broadcast, but at a more convenient time for the few who can get this station.

EUROPE / AFRICA:

BBC Prime
http://www.bbcprime.com/
Late Fri 1:05AM CET (not Africa) The Androids of Tara ep 4 of 4
Sat 9:30AM and 6PM CET The Power of Kroll ep 1 of 4
In 'Tara', the 4th Doctor engages Count Grendal in a sword fight. Later, the TARDIS lands on a swamp-like moon. Little green men have been exiled there by humans. Some humans now want to get rid of the green people altogether for drilling purposes. Watch for "Kroll ... Kroll ...", Doctor Who's first attempt at an MTV video.

AUSTRALIA:

UK-TV
http://www.varos.com/drwho/uktv/ and http://www.foxtel.com.au/
Sat 1PM, Sun 2 and 8AM The Twin Dilemma all 4 episodes
Mon 11:30PM Time and the Rani ep 4 of 4
Tue 11:30PM DOCTOR WHO 1996 movie, uncut, no commercials
Wed-Fri 11:30PM 30 Years In The TARDIS 1993 documentary, in 3 parts
The Who-Files on UK-TV. Over the weekend, see the 1st 6th Doctor story, where the Doctor descended into madness. An interesting insight into what's left of a person when all their facades and pretenses are gone. If only your innermost thoughts and desires were left, what would you be like? On Monday, the 7th Doctor tries to confuse the greatest minds of the galaxy to keep them from discovering how to make Loyhargill. On Tuesday, stay up late to see what happened on a chilly New Years Eve in San Francisco when two aliens dropped by. The last part of the week is a bit of a mystery. At the moment, either the 50 or 90 minute version of 30 Years In The TARDIS is scheduled to air across 3 nights.

CANADA / UNITED STATES:

SPACE: The Imagination Station
http://www.hwcn.org/~an933/spacedw.htm and
http://www.spacecast.com/
Sat 7:30AM EDT The Romans: Inferno ep 4 of 4
Sun-Fri 7:30AM EDT The Web Planet eps 1-6 of 6 (The Web Planet, The Zarbi, Escape To Danger, Crater Of Needles, Invasion, The Centre)
On Saturday, the TARDIS crew try to reunite at Nero's palace on the night when it burned to ashes. The rest of the week goes to The Web Planet, a mysterious place where the normal laws of physics mean nothing. Once a garden paradise, the planet is now being destroyed by a monstrous creature that has taken control of the TARDIS.

MPBC Maine 10, 10, 12, 13, 26
http://www.mpbc.org/
Off air this week. Returns next week.

NHPTV New Hampshire 11, 49, 52
http://nhptv.org/
Sun 3PM EDT The Three Doctors eps 2 and 3 of 4
The Brigadier's third worst nightmare occurs - the 2nd Doctor is back! Then his second worst nightmare occurs - aliens take control of UNIT HQ! His worst nightmare occurs when the Doctor's efforts to neutralize these creatures goes horribly wrong. The Brigadier travels in the TARDIS for the first time in this story.

WQED / WQEX 13, 16 Pittsburgh, PA
http://www.wqed.org/
http://www.tvquest.com/ zip 15201
Sat 8PM-1AM SCI-FI SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER!
Pledge marathon with Doctor Who and Red Dwarf features. $10,000 needed to keep Doctor Who on the air in Pittsburgh. Credit card charges and cash at the station count towards the $10,000 - checks in the mail do not.

WYBE 35 Philadelphia, PA
http://www.wybe.org/
??Sat 11PM EDT The Masque of Mandragora eps 1 and 2 of 4
These are the episodes scheduled to air tonight. If WYBE attempts to air The Seeds of Doom 6 tonight, these episodes may air at a later time or be delayed to another night.

» it was confirmed that it was The Seeds of Doom: Part Six and The Masque of Mandragora: Part One shown this week in the end.

MPT Maryland 22, 28, 31, 36, 62, 67
http://www.mpt.org/
Late Fri Midnight, Late Sat 12:30AM EDT Death to the Daleks movie version
Pledge programs may delay start time.
The TARDIS suffers a power outage and lands on a planet that holds the cure to a space plague that could wipe out humanity. Unfortunately, any ship that lands on the planet loses all power, and can never take off again. Fortunately for everyone, the Daleks show up to save the day?!?

WUFT 5 Gainesville, FL
http://www.wuft.org/
Still on hiatus, with no word on future Who plans. Contact info@wuft.org to express support for the Doctor's speedy return.

WUSF 16 Tampa, FL
http://www.wusftv.usf.edu/gateway.htm
Sat 11:55PM EDT Warriors of the Deep ep 2 of 4
Time approximate. Pledge night. The Silurians and Sea Devils attempt to invade the base. The Eastern Bloc saboteurs make their move.

WCET 48 Cincinnati, OH
http://www.wcet.org/
Sat 11:45PM EDT Frontier In Space eps 3 and 4 of 6
Late start - pledge drives. An old enemy poses as a police officer and offers to take the Doctor and Jo off of Earth's hands.

WYIN 56 Gary, IN (Chicago, IL)
http://www.wyin.org/
Sat 10PM CDT Revenge of the Cybermen ep 3 of 4 (actually Part Four)
Sat 10:30PM CDT The Making Of Doctor Who documentary
The Cybermen take control of Nerva Beacon. Later, see a classic Who documentary, evidently a thank you by WYIN, as they appear to be airing it without a pledge drive.

KTCA 2 St. Paul, MN
http://www.ktca.org/
Sat 10:15PM-12:15AM CDT Genesis of the Daleks eps 4-6 of 6
Pledge special. As a thank you to Minnesota fans and to try to convince the fans to send more money, KTCA airs the last 3 episodes of Genesis on the same night.

IPTV Iowa 11, 12, 21, 24, 27, 32, 32, 36
http://www.sffn.com/ and
http://www.iptv.org/
Fri 11:04PM CDT The Time Monster eps 4 and 5 of 6
The Master freezes time at Cambridge, then travels back 2,500 years to manipulate the destiny of Atlantis. Jo hurts her tail bone.

PPTV North Dakota 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 13, 19
http://www.pptv.org/
Fri 10:30PM CDT (9:30PM MDT) Masque Of Mandragora ep 1 of 4
Prairie Public TV is skipping over The Seeds of Doom for some reason, and going to this story. In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Meanwhile, in Italy, an evil force that took a joy ride in the TARDIS (no, the force wasn't Sarah) begins a reign of terror.

KBDI / K32EO 12, 32 Denver / Colorado Springs, CO
http://www.tvquest.com/ zip 80205
No Who. Pledge specials.

KNME 5 Albuquerque, NM
http://www.knmetv.org/
Sat 9-11:30PM MDT The Deadly Assassin movie (more likely The Face of Evil)
Special prime time broadcast. The 4th Doctor returns to Gallifrey to prevent the murder of the President. The only story where all the characters are Time Lords.

KRWG 22 Las Cruces, NM (El Paso, TX)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~krwgtv/
Sat 9-11PM MDT The Brain of Morbius movie
Special prime time broadcast. The Doctor and Sarah land on Karn, home of a sisterhood on ill terms with Gallifrey. There they encounter Solon, a respected mad scientist, and Condo, his one- armed man.

KSPS 7 Spokane, WA
http://www.ksps.org/
http://www.tvquest.com/ zip 99223
No Who. Pledge specials.

KBTC / KCKA 28, 15 Tacoma / Centralia, WA
http://www.tvquest.com/ zip 98405
Sat 7PM PDT The Dæmons eps 1-2 of 5
Tonight on BBC 3 - Our regular broadcast of 'Spinach Is Our Friend' will not air this week. Instead, we will have live coverage of the archaeological dig at Devil's End. Professor Horner will be on hand as his crew excavates the Devil's End hump, sealed from public display for as long as anyone can remember. A wonderous find, a terrible disaster, or some boring bones and trinkets. We will be there to find out.

KTEH 54 San Jose, CA
http://www.kteh.org/
Sun 11:26PM-1:56AM PDT The Invasion of Time all 6 eps
Late start - pledge drives. The 4th Doctor returns to Gallifrey and decides to become President. He then betrays everyone he cares about, and throws his planet into chaos. Has the Doctor turned evil, lost his mind, or developed a cunning plan to make sure that the Time Lords will want nothing to do with him ever again.

BBC America
http://www.bbcamerica.com/
Sat 5PM, Sun 8AM EDT Revenge of the Cybermen movie, part 2 of 2
The Cybermen control Nerva Beacon, and plan to use the humans to destroy Voga as revenge for its role in the Cyber Wars. The ultimate weapon against the Cybermen - gold - is put into practice for the first time in this story.

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That's it for this week. Until next week, take care.