This Week In Doctor Who - March 19, 2003
(posted 19th Mar 2003, 12:11pm - TWIDW post #0148)

THIS WEEK IN DOCTOR WHO - March 19, 2003
by Benjamin F. Elliott
Vol 6, No 12
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thisweekindoctorwho
thisweekindoctorwho-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

As of this writing, a war to remove Saddam Hussein from Iraq is imminent. TV programming (especially in the USA) will be heavily disrupted for days when the war begins, with lesser disruptions thereafter. UK Gold and BBC Kids, due to the thematic structure of the channels, will likely continue their regular programming. The US public TV stations are more likely to air regular programming than major network stations would be, but pre-emptions for special programming may still occur. If I become aware of stations moving Doctor Who broadcasts, I will send out a supplement Saturday morning US Time with any known changes.

BTW, thanks to the many readers who informed me about late schedule changes on New Hampshire Public TV and KERA Dallas. New Hampshire Public TV aired part 9 of Trial Of A Time Lord twice on March 8, so they scheduled a special airing of part 10 late March 15th at 12:30AM. KERA never noted it on its website, but the Doctor Who story Castrovalva aired Saturday March 15th from 10:30PM to 12:30AM as a pledge special. Doctor Who has been airing on that station late Friday nights at 12:30AM. I have gotten remarks from readers who found out about these special broadcasts in time because you told me about them.

Slipback, the 1985 radio story with Colin Baker as the 6th Doctor, will make its first appearance in This Week In Doctor Who since the column began in 1998. On 29 and 30 March, BBC Radio 7 http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/ will air a 2 part version of Slipback in the Science Fiction timeslot. Slipback originally aired as 6 10 minute episodes. Part 1 will air at 6PM and Midnight UK Time on 29 March, while Part 2 will air at 6PM and Midnight UK Time on 30 March. BBC Radio 7 can be heard on digital radios and TVs in the UK, while the rest of the world can listen in RealAudio on the BBC's website. Warning - the UK and much of Europe switches to Daylight Savings Time on 30 March, and much of the Southern Hemisphere switches from Daylight to Standard Time. The US and Canada don't switch till 6 April. If you want to listen to Slipback and you are not in a part of the world that switches to Daylight Savings Time on 30 March, you'll have to pay attention to the time change to make sure you know when to tune in for part 2.

While I try to keep the column up to date, I do sometimes miss late changes to schedules. If you see TWIDW's information getting out of synch with what your local station is actually airing, let me know ASAP.

Additions and corrections are welcome at thisweekindoctorwho-owner@yahoogroups.com , bfelliott@... , bfelliott3 on AOL IM, or thebfe on Yahoo Messenger. And now, the listings:

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RADIO/INTERNET:

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Fri 7PM EST InterstellarTransmissions
http://www.interstellartransmissions.com
WWNN AM1470 Pompano Beach/Boca Raton, FL (Miami/West Palm Beach, FL)
http://www.wnnhealthtalkradio.com
Joey Reynolds' weekly radio show for sci-fi news and interviews, which can be heard online worldwide. Doctor Who news usually discussed during the show. This week - Majel Barrett Roddenberry. WWNN does not have a news department, so this program should remain on the schedule no matter what.

Business Talk Radio Network http://www.businesstalkradio.net/
Late Sun/Early Mon 2-6AM EST (11PM-3AM PST, 7-11AM GMT, 6-10PM AEDT ) Sci-Fi Overdrive
http://www.scifioverdrive.com/ station list on the scifioverdrive website
http://www.businesstalkradio.net/weekday_host/Archives/sfo.shtml - archives in MP3 format
Live audio link at Business Talk website - requires Windows Media Player.
National version of Interstellar Transmissions, though probably easiest to hear in timezones outside the USA. This week - Buddy Nelson, French Stewart (Inspector Gadget 2), Kathryn Leigh Scott from Dark Shadows, and the Majel Barrett Roddenberry interview from Interstellar Transmissions. Business Talk Radio is unlikely to disrupt its regular programming lineup in the event of a shooting war, though individual stations might.

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TV:

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UK:

UK Gold http://www.onthebox.com/partner/otb
http://www.telewest.co.uk/flextech/ukgold.htm
Late Fri 1:20-3:55AM, Sat 6:30-9AM GMT The Sea Devils movie
The Master's prison is an island that has attracted the attention of mysterious creatures who sink oil rigs. The 3rd Doctor and Jo must help the Navy stop a not-quite-alien invasion.
Late Sat 12:25-3AM, Sun 6:30-9AM GMT The Mutants movie
The 3rd Doctor is sent on a mission by the Time Lords to deliver a box to a radical on a world threatened with extinction. A colonial overlord with a weapon of mass restruction plans to make Solos uninhabitable for its natives, but prime real estate for Earth.

UK Gold + 1
Late Fri 2:20-4:55AM GMT The Sea Devils movie
Late Sat 1:25-4AM GMT The Mutants movie

Homechoice http://www.homechoice.co.uk
Video On Demand. Now playing:
Robot all 4 pts
The Ark In Space all 4 pts
The Sontaran Experiment both pts

CANADA/USA:

BBC Kids http://www.bbckids.ca
Weeknights 2 episodes Midnight + 4AM EST (9PM + 1AM PST)
Saturday/Sunday complete stories Midnight + 3:30AM EST (9PM + 12:30AM PST)
Wed Underworld pts 3+4 of 4
The quest for the future of the Minyan civilization comes to an end.
Thu The Invasion of Time pts 1+2 of 6
Fri The Invasion of Time pts 3+4 of 6
The 4th Doctor becomes President of Gallifrey, flaunting tradition and sending the galactic order into chaos. Why has the ultimate maverick decided to make a power play for ultimate power? Should Leela help the Doctor, or fight him as the greatest enemy the galaxy has ever known?
Sat Destiny of the Daleks all 4 pts
The 4th Doctor and a newly regenerated Romana learn that the Daleks have returned to their home planet of Skaro. What are they looking for? What could scare the Daleks - besides the Doctor, of course.
Sun City of Death all 4 pts
A vacation in Paris leads the Doctor and Romana into a web of theft, deceit, death, and time travel. Julian Glover guest stars in the Doctor Who story that got the highest firstrun ratings for the series in its entire run.
Mon The Invasion of Time pts 5+6 of 6
Andred finds himself falling into slight attraction with Leela as the invasion continues. What profiteth a man if he save the whole universe yet lose his soul?
Tue The Ribos Operation pts 1+2 of 4
A shady character that calls himself a Guardian hires the 4th Doctor, K9, and a Time Lord acolyte to find the segments of a Key that is reported to be able to restore order in the universe. First on the list of places to search for the Key segments is Ribos.

Channel numbers in brackets ( ) indicate a digital station that is not on the air. Low power stations do not currently have digital assignments.

NHPTV New Hampshire http://www.nhptv.org
analog 11,49,52
digital 57,48,(49) - not on digital schedule yet
Boston Dish Local 8781,11
Sat 11PM EST The Trial Of A Time Lord pts 11+12 of 14 (Terror Of The Vervoids pts 3+4)
Multiple conspirators battle the 6th Doctor and themselves in hopes of taking control of the Hyperion III and using it for their own various evil ends. But none of them are prepared for a hidden menace which wants to kill them all. The plant creatures are on the move.

WCNY/W59AU Syracuse/Utica, NY http://www.wcny.org
analog 24,59
digital 25-1
Pre-empted by pledge drive. Returns March 30.

WSKG Binghamton, NY http://www.wskg.com
analog 46
digital (42) - under construction
Sat 11:30PM EST Pyramids of Mars pt 1 of 4
An Egyptologist opens a tomb which unleashes a being of utter evil and destruction.

WQED/WQEX Pittsburgh, PA http://www.wqed.org
analog 13,16
digital 38-1,(26)
Pittsburgh DirecTV Local 13,947
Pittsburgh Dish Local 8136,13
Pre-empted by pledge drive. Returns March 29.

WYBE Philadelphia, PA http://www.wybe.org
analog 35
digital (34) - coming 2003
Philadelphia DirecTV Local 35,909
Philadelphia Dish Local 8162,35
Sat 11PM EST The Creature from the Pit pts 2+3 of 4
The 4th Doctor, stuck in a pit with an Astrologer and a large green being, tries to figure out what Lady Adrasta's big secret is. Hint - it's probably large and green.

MPT Maryland http://www.mpt.org
analog 22,67,28,31,62,36
digital 42,(29),(62),(44),(28),(56) - simulcast of analog begins in 2003
DC/Hagerstown & Baltimore DirecTV Local 22,980
Late Sat Mid EST Terminus movie
Under orders from the Black Guardian, Turlough causes the TARDIS to break apart. In search of safety, Nyssa finds herself on a leper ship, where her odds of survival are very low. And the 5th Doctor's investigations lead him to a secret as old as the Universe.

WCET Cincinnati, OH http://www.wcet.org
analog 48
digital 34-1
Cincinnati DirecTV Local 48,909
Cincinnati Dish Local 8356,48
Sat 11PM EST The Caves of Androzani pts 1+2 of 4
The 5th Doctor and Peri run afoul of drug smugglers, a corrupt army, a political power play, and the love a disfigured half-crazed zealot on a mission of revenge. That's a lot of people to annoy in a very short period of time.

WILL Urbana, IL http://www.will.uiuc.edu
analog 12
digital (33) - under construction
Sat 11:40PM CST The Armageddon Factor pt 1 of 6
The 4th Doctor, Romana, and K9 arrive on a radioactive world in search of the 6th segment of the Key To Time. There's a war going on, which could make the search harder. Plus - the Doctor's not the only one in search of the Key.

IPTV Iowa http://www.sffn.com http://www.iptv.org
analog 11,12,21,24,27,32,32,36,36
digital 50-1,(45),(25),(18),(28),(33),(35),(35),(34)
Des Moines Dish Local 9116,11
Omaha, NE Dish Local 9146,32
Cedar Rapids Dish Local 9161,12
Sat 11:35PM CST The Ark In Space pts 3+4 of 4
Noah finds himself turning into the Swarm Leader of the Wirrn, as they plot to take control of the Ark and use the sleeping humans as a food supply.

KERA/K44FI Dallas/Wichita Falls, TX http://www.kera.org
analog 13,44
digital 14-1
Dallas DirecTV Local 13,889
Dallas Dish Local 8406,13
Pre-empted by pledge drive. Next airdate TBA.

KBDI/K32EO Denver/Colorado Springs, CO http://www.kbdi.org
analog 12,32
digital (38) - under construction
Denver DirecTV Local 12,910
Denver Dish Local 8211,12
No Friday episodes this week.
Sat 11PM MST Delta and the Bannermen pts 1+2 of 3
The 7th Doctor and Mel win spots on a tour group vacation to Disneyland in 1959. Diverted off course to Wales, the Doctor and Mel find themselves drawn to a passenger with precious cargo. Meanwhile, a mercenary army is also on its way to Wales, with designs of their own on the cargo ...

KUED/KUES Salt Lake City/Richfield, UT http://www.kued.org
analog 7,19
digital 42-1,(19)
Salt Lake City DirecTV Local 7,982
Salt Lake City Dish Local 8536,7
Sat 11:30PM MST Meglos pt 1 of 4
Stories are airing in production order. I know you saw Adric last week, but he hasn't arrived yet. A superintelligent cactus decides to impersonate the 4th Doctor to carry out a mission of evil. But how to stop the real Doctor from getting involved?

KBTC/KCKA/K65BU 28,15,65 Tacoma/Centralia/Gray's River, WA
http://www.kbtc.org
analog 28,15,65
digital (27),(19) - under construction
Seattle DirecTV Local 12,910
Seattle Dish Local 8620,28
Sat 7PM, Late Sat 12:30AM PST Paradise Towers pts 1+2 of 4

Society has broken down at Paradise Towers. The parents are gone. The children are gangs. The police are insane. The grannies are overly desirous of attention and company. And a basement terror lurks with plans to kill them one by one. The 7th Doctor and Mel must save the Towers from its own phobias and neurocies.

KTEH/KCAH San Jose/Watsonville, CA http://www.kteh.org
analog 54,25
digital (50),(58) - under construction
San Francisco DirecTV Local 54,903
Salinas Dish Local 9190,25
San Francisco Dish Local 8234,54 - not available to subscribers
Due to situations largely beyond their control, Doctor Who is on hiatus on KTEH/KCAH. Doctor Who will return ASAP.

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Thanks for reading. Until next week, take care.

Doctor Who is a BBC Trademark. Copyright 2003.