This Week in Doctor WhoThis Week in Doctor Who

This Week in Doctor Who: Print Archive


Friday 17th November 2000



THIS WEEK IN DOCTOR WHO - Fri, 17 Nov 2000
by Benjamin F. Elliott
Another new Who station, Prime TV renews Doctor Who, WCET airing Who Night this weekend, Doctor Who in Canada, and the first of the Howard DaSilva adaptations.
Welcome to the weekly guide to all known Doctor Who broadcasts on TV and Radio throughout the world. This week's edition is a tad longer than usual, thanks to there being more to discuss. So, let's get started.
USA - KERA 13 in Dallas, TX is going to air Doctor Who for the first time in years, starting Saturday, December 2nd. KERA will air the episode versions of the Jon Pertwee stories, beginning with Spearhead From Space. Welcome aboard. (Note to Al Gore - this looks like an advantage for George Bush. If you want to get back in the Presidential race, get a Tennessee station to add Doctor Who pronto.)
NEW ZEALAND - Well, New Zealand Doctor Who fans, Prime TV has done it. Renewal time came up, and they are ordering 142 more episodes of the program, from The Time Monster through Image of the Fendahl. This is certainly good news. One of the episodes will be episode 1 of Invasion of the Dinosaurs, which has never aired before in New Zealand. That one would air early in 2001.
CANADA - Back in March, SPACE discontinued Doctor Who, leaving most Canadian Who fans with no source of episodes on TV. This situation is not yet rectified. However, SPACE still has rerun rights to the 1966 movie Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 A.D., an adaptation of The Dalek Invasion of Earth starring Peter Cushing. The movie has now been scheduled to air on SPACE on 3833-Saturday, November 25th at 2PM EST (3:30PM Newfoundland Time, 11AM PST). For one day at least, the Doctor will be back.
USA - Nationwide Who Night begins its airings outside Pittsburgh this weekend. WCET in Cincinnati is starting Doctor Who in prime time for once to get the whole special in, which hopefully will be reflected in high pledge totals for their efforts. Most of the airings will be in December, with at least one March broadcast, and maybe stuff in between, particularly if it gets rerun a lot based on success. Sylvester McCoy and the movie version of Remembrance of the Daleks are the stars of the evening. TJ Lubinsky hosts.

Here's the current list of airdates:
  1. WCET Cincinnati, OH - Sat, November 18th 9:30PM-12:30AM EST, reruns Sat, December 2nd PM-AM EST
  2. KBTC/KCKA/K65BU Tacoma/Centralia/Gray's River, WA - Sat, December 2nd 6-9PM PST, 12:30-3:30AM PST
  3. MPT Maryland - Sat, December 2nd 11PM-2AM EST
  4. NHPTV New Hampshire - Sun, December 10th 3-6PM EST
  5. IPTV Iowa - March 2001 (tentative)
  6. WYIN Gary, IN (Chicago, IL) - ???
  7. KBDI/K32EO Denver/Colorado Springs, CO - ???
  8. WQED/WQEX Pittsburgh, PA - Sat, October 21st 10PM-1AM EDT - already aired


The pledge items available in the Nationwide Who Night are:
$40 - Short Trips & Side Steps - book
$90 - The Curse Of Fatal Death - video
$120 - Edge Of Destruction/Pilot/Missing Years/Underwater Menace 3 two video set
$120 - The Chase/Remembrance Of The Daleks two video set
$250 - The Galaxy Collection (Time And The Rani, Paradise Towers, Dragonfire, Ghostlight) - set of four discontinued videos individually signed by Sylvester McCoy.
Before anyone asks, it is reported on the Doctor Who News Page at Outpost Gallifrey that the EdgeOfDestruction double pack is going to be fixed after all, and the corrected tapes are expected to be back on the market in Early December, which should be in time to fulfill pledge orders.
This Week would like to give a warm welcome to Howard DaSilva, who has agreed to do the introductions for the Tom Baker episodes on new Who affiliate WILL Urbana, IL beginning this weekend. While he has been dead for the last 16 years, he still intends to do a good job. Special thanks to TJ Lubinsky, who is supplying the transcripts of DaSilva's narrations.
http://www.scififactoftheday.com/ is planning to feature Doctor Who facts next week, and wanted the word passed around. If anyone knows any particularly unusual (but true) Who facts, you can visit the site and let the person running it know.
In the corrections department:
  1. WQED pre-empted Doctor Who last week, instead of airing episodes 3+4 of The Invasion of Time.
  2. KBTC aired The Hand Of Fear eps 3+4 last week, not The Deadly Assassin eps 1+2.
  3. The Interstellar Transmissions Radio Program on WPBR 1340AM in West Palm Beach, FL is not premiering this weekend as indicated in the previous column. Stay tuned for the actual premiere date.
Note: Next week's column will be sent out on Wednesday, November 22nd, for the convenience of US readership. With the American Thanksgiving day on November 23rd, many of the column's readers will be at home with their families and/or at sci-fi conventions over the weekend. The Wednesday publication should let more people read that edition. This Week will return to Friday publication in two weeks, on December 1st.
Additions and corrections are welcome at bfelliott@earthlink.net , bfelliott@gallifreyone.com , or bfelliott3 on AOL IM. Remember - I'm not psychic. If I don't know about an error, I can't fix it, and the error will continue. And now, the listings:


Radio:


BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/
Realplayer stream
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/realplayer/index_fm.html
(check station before airtime to make sure your equipment is compatible)
Dead Ringers ep 301
Fri 6:30PM GMT (1:30PM EST, 10:30AM PST, Sat 7:30AM AEDT);
Sat 12:30PM GMT (7:30AM EST, 4:30AM PST, Late Sat 1:30AM AEDT)

Another season of the British comedy show impersonating current and former celebrities, with a near unbroken record of including funny Doctor Who segments. All episodes will air at these time slots, so if your edition of TWIDW doesn't update in time to keep track, write these times down for the next 6 weeks.


TV:


UK:
UK Gold
http://www.sceneone.co.uk/s1/tv/listings
Sun 8:10-11AM GMT The Time Monster movie
Pretending to be a university professor, the Master engages in experiments with the nature of time hoping to track down a crystal of great power. Meanwhile, the Doctor plans to shut down the Master's antics once and for all. In the battle against evil, is there a point where revenge goes too far?

UK Gold 2
http://www.sceneone.co.uk/s1/tv/listings
Sun 6-8:50PM GMT The Time Monster movie
Time-shifted from UK Gold.
EUROPE/AFRICA/ASIA:
BBC Prime
http://www.bbcprime.com/
Sat 3:30PM CET Kinda ep 1 of 4
(Friday episode pre-empted by Children In Need marathon.)
Sun 11:30AM, Late Thu 12:30AM CET Kinda ep 2 of 4
Tegan's mind is invaded by a snakelike being with designs on the Kinda world. But first, it intends to have fun torturing an Australian.
AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND:
UKTV Australia
http://www.varos.com/drwho/uktv/
Sun 7AM, Late Sun 1AM AEDT Invasion/Invasion Of The Dinosaurs all 6 eps
Episode 1 in Black & White. The Doctor and Sarah return to London to find it abandoned. Dinosaurs are appearing and disappearing at random. And the culprits include someone everyone knows.
Mon-Thu 11:30PM AEDT Death to the Daleks eps 1 - 4 of 4
The TARDIS' power is drained by a sentient city on a barren world, where humans and Daleks race to find the cure for a space plague.
Fri 11:30PM AEDT The Monster of Peladon ep 1 of 6
50 years after his first visit, the Doctor returns to Peladon to see how everyone is getting along since his help. Alas, things did not go as intended.
PrimeTV New Zealand
http://www.tetrap.com/drwho/nzdwfc/
http://www.primetv.co.nz/
Sun 6:30PM The Dæmons ep 5 of 5
Last rerun in 1993. Colour-restored from a US TV recording. The Doctor's plan to thwart Azal depends on his equipment getting safely through the heat barrier before Azal is ready to either hand over his power or destroy the Earth.
Mon-Thu 6:30PM TheDayOfTheDaleks eps 1 - 4 of 4
Last rerun in 1993. Guerillas from the 22nd Century try to kill a diplomat on the eve of a peace conference, drawing the interest of the Doctor. What is about to happen, and why must an innocent die to restore the future? After this story in 1993, Doctor Who was taken off the air in New Zealand. Apart from one documentary the following week and showings of the Paul McGann movie in New Zealand in 1996 and 1999, Doctor Who was not televised again until PrimeTV purchased the show this year.
Fri 6:30PM The Curse of Peladon ep 1 of 4
ONLY previous NZ airing in 1985. The Time Lords interrupt the Doctor and Jo's evening plans to aid the mountain planet of Peladon, which is being considered for approval into the Galactic Federation. The Doctor and Jo represent Earth, while delegates from Alpha Centauri, Arcturus, and the Ice Warriors are also present.
USA:
BBC America
http://www.bbcamerica.com/
Mon-Thu 8AM EST/5AM PST; reruns following weekday 5AM EST/2AM PST
(Friday rerun pre-empted by special programming) - 2 episodes daily
Mon/Tue Revenge of the Cybermen eps 3+4 of 4

The Nerva story arc ends as the Doctor, Sarah, and Harry work to defeat a plot by the Cybermen to blow up Voga, the planet of gold.
Tue-Wed/Wed-Thu Robot eps 1 - 4 of 4
Newly regenerated, the 4th Doctor is called upon to help U*N*I*T figure out who is stealing secret military plans and equipment. Personally, I thought the Viking outfit could have worked well for him.
Thu only The Ark In Space eps 1+2 of 4
Before you reheat the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, celebrate Doctor Who's 37th anniversary by seeing the first portion of the Nerva story arc. The TARDIS arrives on a space station where the survivors of humanity sleep waiting for a message that is not coming.
NHPTV New Hampshire 11,49,52
http://nhptv.org/
Sun 3PM EST The Talons of Weng-Chiang eps 5+6 of 6
Magnus Greel prepares to return to the 51st Century, blissfully unaware that this will result in both his death and widescale destruction in the 19th Century.
WQED/WQEX 13,16 Pittsburgh, PA
http://www.wqed.org/
Sat 11:30PM EST The Invasion of Time eps 3+4 of 6
Will episode 3 of The Invasion Of Time finally air? Tune in and find out.
WYBE 35 Philadelphia, PA
http://www.wybe.org/
Sat 11PM EST The Visitation eps 3+4 of 4
The 5th Doctor loses an "old friend". In the TARDIS, Nyssa works on a weapon to deal with the aliens.
MPT Maryland 22,28,31,36,62,67
http://www.mpt.org/
Sat 11:30PM EST The Two Doctors 2 hrs, 15 min movie
The story that should air before this one - Mark Of The Rani - airs next week, due to an error 15 years ago when the stories were first distributed in America. The 2nd Doctor and Jamie's mission to stop a series of dangerous time experiments is interrupted by an attack on a space station. Ripples from this event alert the 6th Doctor, who rushes to find out whether he survived the battle. Viewer advisory - the TV listings indicate this story will be 2 hours or 2 hours, 5 minutes long. They are mistaken. As I understand it, that is another error from 1985 which has never been fixed.
WUSF 16 Tampa, FL
http://www.wusftv.usf.edu/gateway.htm
Sat 11:30PM EST Time and the Rani ep 1 of 4
A sudden regeneration leaves the new 7th Doctor ill-equipped when he comes face to face with that old vixen - the Rani. The Rani needs the Doctor's help on a problem, though she does not need his memory.
» this was confirmed to actually have been Paradise Towers: Part One
WCET 48 Cincinnati, OH
http://www.wcet.org/
Sat 9:30PM-12:30AM EST Nationwide Doctor Who Night 3 hours
Sylvester McCoy joined TJ Lubinsky at WQED in October to host this 3 hour pledge event. Remembrance of the Daleks movie version is the featured story. Periodic cut-out points will allow WCET to have their own pledge people live on-air should they so choose. Keep an eye out for Syl's manic stunts, notably with the big white sporks.
WYIN 56 Gary, IN (Chicago, IL)
http://www.wyin.org/
Sat 10PM CST Underworld ep 1 of 4 or Inferno ep 2 of 7
Hmm. The info on this station has gotten sketchy again. Either they are suddenly airing a Jon Pertwee story, or they are continuing through Tom Baker's era. I wonder which episode will actually air.
*NEW STATION*
WILL 12 Urbana, IL
http://www.will.uiuc.edu/
Sat 11:20PM CST Robot ep 1 of 4
"DOCTOR WHO'S FACE IS TRANSFORMED AS HIS FRIENDS WATCH.. INSTANT PLASTIC SURGERY.. THE TIME LORD ON THE BRINK OF DEATH IS SELF- INDUCING A COMPLETE PHYSICAL METAMORPHOSIS.... RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A DISTANT PLANET..WHERE HE WAS EXPOSED TO DEADLY RADIOACTIVITY.. DR. WHO ENTERS INTO HIS FOURTH INCARNATION.. THUS SAVING HIS OWN LIFE, BUT HIS NEW PERSONALITY IS ERRATIC AND STILL IN TRANSITION.. SO THE BRIGADIER HAS NO ALTERNATIVE, BUT TO PLACE HIM IN THE CARE OF A MERE EARTH DOCTOR..... STILL DISORIENTED..THE DOCTOR SLIP OUT OF THE INFIRMARY ...HE MUST GET BACK TO THE TARDIS - THE TIME LORDS KEY TO THE UNIVERSE AND TO ETERNITY.. THOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE AN ORDINARY POLICE CALL BOX, INSIDE IS THE COMPLICATED INSTRUMENT PANEL OF TIME AND SPACE TRAVEL.. ALLOWING THE DOCTOR TO SWITCH REALITIES WITH THE FLICK OF A DIAL...." - adapted from Howard DaSilva's narration in 1978.
*NEW STATION*
TPT 2 St. Paul, MN
http://www.tpt.org/
Sat 11:30PM, Sun 5:30AM CST Image of the Fendahl ep 4 of 4
Prof. Fendelman finally realizes the dangers of the Fendahl skeleton. The Doctor, Leela, Jack Tyler, and Martha Tyler race to prevent the transformation of the Fendahl being.
IPTV Iowa 11,12,21,24,27,32,32,36
http://www.sffn.com/
http://www.iptv.org/
Fri 11:05PM CST The Armageddon Factor eps 1+2 of 6
See KBDI for story details.
PPTV North Dakota 2,3,4,6,9,13,19
http://www.pptv.org/
Fri 10:30PM CST (9:30PM MST) The Ribos Operation ep 2 of 4
Garron and Unstoffe's efforts to defraud the Graff Vynda-K are fouled up by the arrival of a tall man with a scarf, his charming companion, and Romanadvoratrelundar, as the Key To Time season continues.
***COMING DECEMBER 2nd***
KERA 13 Dallas, TX
http://www.kera.org/
Saturday evening Jon Pertwee episodes
***COMING DECEMBER 2nd***
KBDI/K32EO 12,32 Denver/Colorado Springs, CO
http://www.kbdi.org/
Late Fri 12:30AM MST The Armageddon Factor eps 1+2 of 6
Sat 10PM MST The Armageddon Factor eps 3+4 of 6

The tracer leads the Doctor and Romana to Atrios, a world in the middle of a devastating war with Zeos, a neighboring world. The final segment of the Key is hidden somewhere in the middle of the warzone. Unlike with the other segments, someone knows what the Doctor is looking for, and is setting him up for a fall.
KUED 7 Salt Lake City, UT
http://www.kued.org/
Sat 11PM, Late Sat 12:30AM MST The Seeds of Doom ep 6 of 6
In the episode that was supposed to see the end of U*N*I*T, Major Beresford is preparing to launch a missile strike against the Krynoid. All well and good. Unfortunately, the Krynoid may already be ready to give birth to offspring by then, and the Doctor is trapped by it.
KBTC/KCKA/K65BU 28,15,65 Tacoma/Centralia/Gray's River, WA
http://www.kbtc.org/
Sat 7PM, Late Sat 12:30AM PST The Deadly Assassin eps 1+2 of 4
Back on Gallifrey, the Doctor races to stop a plan to murder the retiring President of the Time Lords. Just as a cackling robed skeleton wants.
KTEH 54 San Jose, CA
http://www.kteh.org/
Sun 11PM PST The Happiness Patrol all 3 eps
The economy is booming. Unemployment is at an all-time low. The streets are clean. Everyone is happy, or they better be if they don't want to suffer. But enough about the Clinton era of prosperity - we were supposed to be talking about The Happiness Patrol.
Late Sun 12:17AM PST KTEH Interviews Sylvester McCoy (1988)


Thanks for reading. Until next week, take care.