This Week In Doctor Who - March 24, 2004
(posted 24th Mar 2004, 12:24pm - TWIDW post #0216)

THIS WEEK IN DOCTOR WHO - March 24, 2004
by Benjamin F. Elliott
Vol 7, No 12
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thisweekindoctorwho
thisweekindoctorwho-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Christopher Eccleston is The Doctor!

For six months, Doctor Who fandom has engaged in rampant speculation
over who would be cast as the Doctor in the upcoming revival of the
show. This past weekend the speculation ended. Recently nominated
for a BAFTA for his work in the miniseries "The Second Coming"
(written by Russell T. Davies - who is the primary writer for the
new Doctor Who series), Chris Eccleston will be the ninth official
TV Doctor. It is expected that there will be no onscreen
regeneration from Paul McGann, the 8th Doctor in the 1996 TV Movie.
Filming will begin this spring with the 13 episode first series
premiering sometime in 2005. Full details on Eccleston's casting can
be found at the homes of the usual suspects: Outpost Gallifrey
http://www.gallifreyone.com and the BBC's Doctor Who homepage
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho .

Reaction to Chris Eccleston's casting among online fandom has been
nearly universally positive. It also looks like a good choice in the
eyes of the British public (who are the most important arbiters of
the show's success - if they don't watch it won't last long). For
people like myself who'd never heard of Mr. Eccleston, we're just
glad that an actor is cast and that those who know him think he's a
good choice. If you want to see samples of his work before the new
series begins, look for these movies and TV shows:
Let Him Have It (1991)
Cracker (UK version) - co-star in first 2 seasons
Shallow Grave (1994)
Our Friends In The North (1996)
Hillsborough (1997)
Elizabeth (1998)
Clocking Off (2000)
Gone In Sixty Seconds (2000)
The Others (2001)
Flesh and Blood (2002)
Othello (2002)
24 Hour Party People (2002)
28 Days Later (2002)
The Second Coming (2003)
and probably other stuff

American Who will be focusing on the casting of Christopher
Eccleston on their March 29 broadcast - see American Who further
down in this column for details.

Now that an actor is cast and filming will begin soon, I'm starting
to tweak the column to try to make it more useful for the fans the
new series brings in. I'm adding a section for the new series with
the vital statistics and noting the networks that will air the
series (as we learn who they are). The section formerly called TV
will now be The Original Series. In addition to giving the episode
titles, I will now include the series number and what episodes they
were in that particular series (what those of us in America would
call seasons), as well as the name of the actor playing the Doctor.
I may make a few more tweaks as I go along - feedback is always
appreciated.

WCNY 24 Syracuse, NY appears to have discontinued Doctor Who. It is no longer on the schedule, replaced by other programming. One less US outlet for the original series. If anyone knows that WCNY will be returning Doctor Who to the lineup, please get in touch.

Australian newspapers reported this week that Day of the Daleks will not air on ABC due to the Dalek/Terry Nation estate contract renewal talks with the BBC. It is expected that no further Dalek stories will appear on ABC until a new contract is agreed upon. Contracts vary by country, so a story that is ok to air in one place may be unable to air in another place.

The "UK" suite of channels in the UK were rebranded on Monday 8 March. Most of the channels whose names began with UK had the prefix changed to UKTV. So instead of UK Gold and UK Gold + 1, we have UKTV Gold and UKTV Gold + 1. Oooookay .....................

Australian viewers can see "Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150A.D." again
several times in May on the Showtime Greats channel
http://www.showtimeaustralia.com . This is the 4:3 transfer that ran
on the Encore channel last year which has been rebranded as
Showtime. Times listed are:
Tuesday 4 May - 4:10PM
Saturday 8 May - 8:45PM
Wednesday 12 May - 7:05PM
Friday 21 May - 9:25PM
Monday 24 May - 6:00PM
All these airings, and no appearances of Dr. Who and the Daleks.

Many people in the Northern Hemisphere will be changing their clocks
this weekend to go from Standard Time to Daylight Savings Time. Many
people in the Southern Hemisphere will be changing their clocks this
weekend to go from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time. These
changes will occur late Saturday night/early Sunday morning. If you
live in the US or Canada, most of you won't go to Daylight Savings
Time until next weekend. Pay attention to the time changes if they
could affect something you plan to watch/listen to. Definitely pay
attention if you plan to listen to the American Who program covering
Chris Eccleston, as the time changes could trip you up.

Corrections and updates are always welcome at thisweekindoctorwho-
owner@yahoogroups.com , bfelliott@... , TWIDW on AOL IM ,
and thebfe on Yahoo Messenger. Here are the listings:

THE NEW SERIES:

Name: Doctor Who
Doctor: Christopher Eccleston
Written by: Russell T. Davies (8 episodes), Steven Moffat ( 2
episodes), Paul Cornell (1 episode), Rob Shearman (1 episode), Mark
Gatiss (1 episode)
Original Aspect Ratio - 16:9
Premieres: 2005 (date TBA)
Total episodes for first series: 13
45 minute episodes

Known Broadcasters:
BBC One (all regions, analogue and digital) - start date TBA

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RADIO/INTERNET:

---

BBCi http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/shalka
The Scream Of The Shalka - Richard E Grant is The Doctor in a fully animated 6 episode story. The Shalka prepare to conquer the Earth from below. Unfortunately for them, the Doctor is back.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/realtime
Real Time - starring Colin Baker and the Cybermen. 6 episode illustrated audio tale. The 6th Doctor and Evelyn Smythe research a temple that has been yanking scientists out of time. The secrets of the temple threaten the future and past of two species. Viewer discretion advised for the illustrations of episodes 4 through 6.

American Who http://www.americanwho.net
Monday 5AM EST (2AM PST, 11AM BST, 8PM AEST)
http://archives.warpradio.com/btr/SciFi/032905.mp3 (link not active
yet)
Airs "live" as hour 4 of Sci-Fi Overdrive (see streaming audio link
under Sci-Fi Overdrive.) Arnold T. Blumberg is the guest on a
special edition examining the casting of Christopher Eccleston as
The Doctor on the new Doctor Who series. The Barry Letts interview
is postponed to the April 12 broadcast. The US will still be
operating on Standard Time. The UK and most of Europe will have
switched to Daylight Savings Time. Australia will have switched from
Daylight to Standard Time. If you have to change your clocks, check
to make sure you're listening at the right time to catch American
Who. Most of the US will go to Daylight Savings Time the next
weekend, mixing online listening up once again.
http://archives.warpradio.com/btr/SciFi/031505.mp3
Charles Martin discusses the recently announced writers for the new
series. Next episode airs as hour 4 of Sci-Fi Overdrive on March 29.
Older programs:
http://archives.warpradio.com/btr/SciFi/030105.mp3
Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon in the 2nd Doctor stories) remembers
Patrick Troughton.
http://archives.warpradio.com/btr/SciFi/021605.mp3
Joey interviews India Fisher (Charley in the Big Finish 8th Doctor
audio dramas), recorded at the 2003 Chicago TARDIS convention.

Sci-Fi Overdrive http://www.scifioverdrive.com
on Business Talk Network http://www.businesstalkradio.net
Late Sunday/Early Monday 2-6AM EST (11PM-3AM PST, 8AM-Noon BST, 5-
9PM AEST)
Live Stream http://www.warpradio.com/popTuner.asp?id=14085
Hour 1 - Sci-Fi News and comment. Hour 2 - Brian Green of Columbia
University discusses String Theory. Hour 3 - Butch Hartman discusses
new TV show Danny Phantom. Hour 4 - American Who - Arnold T.
Blumberg discusses Christopher Eccleston.

THE ORIGINAL SERIES:

UK:

UKTV Gold http://www.ukgold.tv http://www.onthebox.com/partner/otb
Saturday 6-9AM GMT The Seeds of Doom movie
Series 13, Episodes 21 through 26. Doctor: pTomBaker}}. Alien seed pods are discovered in Antarctica. The Doctor fears that, if allowed to germinate, the seeds will conquer the Earth. This is the story of two seeds who try to make it in a world of humans. Meat is back on the menu.
Sunday 7-9AM BST The Masque of Mandragora movie
Series 14, Episodes 1 through 4. Doctor: Tom Baker. The entity Mandragora uses the TARDIS to travel to Earth and engage in a hostile takeover. If successful, human progress ends in the year 1492.

UKTV Gold + 1
Saturday 7-10AM GMT The Seeds of Doom movie
Sunday 8-10AM BST The Masque of Mandragora movie

AUSTRALIA:

ABC http://www.abc.net.au/tv http://www.varos.net/drwho/
Thursday 6:05PM Doctor Who And The Silurians ep 2 of 7
Monday 6:06PM Doctor Who And The Silurians ep 3 of 7
Tuesday 6:04PM Doctor Who And The Silurians ep 4 of 7
Wednesday 6:05PM Doctor Who And The Silurians ep 5 of 7
Series 7, Episodes 6 through 9. Doctor: Jon Pertwee. Black & White version. The Silurians, hibernating for millions of years under rural England, are starting to wake up. Used to being the dominant species on Earth, they find humanity's presence to be a trifle - unsettling. Can the Doctor create peace before tragedy occurs?

CANADA/USA:

BBC Kids http://www.bbckids.ca
7 Days A Week 1 + 3:30AM EST (10PM + 12:30AM PST) - 2 episodes weekdays, full stories weekends)
Wednesday Castrovalva pts 1+2 of 4
Thursday Castrovalva pts 3+4 of 4
Series 19, Episodes 1 through 4. Doctor: Peter Davison. The weekday run jumps back to Davison's first episodes, where regeneration instability leaves the Doctor weakened and the TARDIS crew in danger. The Master continues his efforts to wipe out the Doctor once and for all.
Friday Four To Doomsday pts 1+2 of 4
Series 19, Episodes 5 through 6. Doctor: Peter Davison. A spaceship is winding its way to Earth. When the TARDIS arrives on the ship, they find three aliens on their way with all their luggage in hopes of moving in. Does Earth have room for the Urbankans?
Saturday Terminus all 4 pts
Series 20, Episodes 13 through 16. Doctor: Peter Davison. Sabotage renders the TARDIS uninhabitable. Nyssa, Tegan, Turlough, and the Doctor flee onboard a shuttle bound for Terminus, a station literally in the middle of nowhere. And everywhere.
Sunday Enlightenment all 4 pts
Series 20, Episodes 17 through 20. Doctor: Peter Davison. A space race entangles the TARDIS crew in deceit and debt. One of the racing teams is engaging in murder. Whichever team wins the race may gain the ultimate knowledge. And Turlough must resolve his loyalties once and for all.
Monday Four To Doomsday pts 3+4 of 4
Series 19, Episodes 7 through 8. As the story continues, Monarch and his Urbankans get closer to Earth, while a rift in the TARDIS crew grows deeper.
Tuesday Kinda pts 1+2 of 4
Series 19, Episodes 9 through 10. Doctor: Peter Davison. The Kinda people are kinda peaceful, while scientists exploring the world are kinda aggressive. But the power of Mara may kinda shift the balances.

NHPTV New Hampshire http://www.nhptv.org
analog 11, 49, 52
digital 11-2 (57-2), 49-2 (48-2), 52-2 (49-2)
Boston DirecTV 11,955
Boston Dish 11,8781
Saturday 11PM EST Pyramids of Mars pt 3 of 4
Series 13, Episode 11. Doctor: Tom Baker. Sarah gets a glimpse of life in the year 1980 if Sutekh is not defeated.

**
WCNY Syracuse, NY http://www.wcny.org
analog 24
digital 24-1 (25-1)
Removed from schedule? WCNY will be removed unless/until Doctor Who returns.
**

WYBE Philadelphia, PA http://www.wybe.org
analog 35
digital 35-1 (34-1)
Philadelphia DirecTV 35,909
Philadelphia Dish 35,8162
Saturday 11PM EST The Caves of Androzani pts 1+2 of 4
Series 21, Episodes 19 through 20. Doctor: Peter Davison. The 5th Doctor's final story begins on a barren world which grows a spice that extends life and mudblasts that take life away. The battle for the spectrox places the Doctor and Peri between gun runners, the military, and the insane Sharaz Jek.

MPT Maryland http://www.mpt.org
analog 22, 67, 31, 28, 62, 36
digital 22-2 (42-2), 67-2 (29-2), 31-2 (44-2), 28-2 (56-2), 28, 54
DC/Hagerstown, Baltimore DirecTV 22,980
Baltimore Dish 22,8736
Late Saturday Mid EST The Seeds of Death movie
Series 6, Episodes 23 through 28. Doctor: Pat Troughton. The Ice Warriors conquer the Moon. Alas, humanity ended all space travel and set up all world commerce and transportation to occur via T-Mat, an immediate transit service run from - the Moon. Naturally, you humans bought the cheap version of T-Mat that didn't have any Earth-based over-rides. We at the T-Mat Sales Corporation would like to point out that we offered a version that could be run from Earth, but you purchasers didn't want a version that required ugly D-Cell batteries in its remote control. You humans should call in the first time traveler named the Doctor that you can find to clean up this mess. Your warranty with us expired last week. Your own fault for not buying the deluxe version, if you ask me.

WCET Cincinnati, OH http://cetconnect.org
analog 48
digital 48-2 (34-2)
Cincinnati DirecTV 48,909
Cincinnati Dish 48,8356
Saturday 11PM EST The Curse of Fenric pts 3+4 of 4
Series 26, Episodes 10 through 11. Doctor: Sylvester McCoy. Postponed from last week. Fenric and the 7th Doctor must complete their game of chess. Winner take all. Loser and many more will die.

WILL Urbana, IL http://www.will.uiuc.edu
analog 12
digital 9 - not on air
Champaign Dish 12,7407
Saturday 11:30PM EST Logopolis pt 4 of 4
Series 18, Episode 28. Doctor: Tom Baker. The Doctor and the Master are forced to team up to save the universe from extinction as the CVEs close and galaxies dissolve. The final episode of the 4th Doctor ends dramatically, paving the way for the Peter Davison era, which starts next week on WILL.

IPTV Iowa http://www.sffn.com/ http://www.iptv.org
analog 11, 12, 21, 24, 27, 32, 32, 36, 36
digital 11 (50), 45, 25, 18, 28, 33, 35, 35, 34 - not on air
Des Moines DirecTV 11,474
Des Moines Dish 11,9116
Cedar Rapids Dish 12,9161
Omaha Dish 32,9146
Saturday 11:35PM CST The Stones of Blood pts 1+2 of 4
Series 16, Episodes 13 through 14. Doctor: Tom Baker. Romana finds the 4th segment of the Key To Time quickly, but she is mistaken for a robot, launching a series of mistaken identities and assassination plots.

KBDI Denver, CO http://www.kbdi.org
analog 12
digital 12-1 (38-1)
Denver DirecTV 12,910
Denver Dish 12,8211
Pre-empted for pledge special. Doctor Who returns April 2.

KUED/KUEW-DT/KUES-DT Salt Lake City/St. George/Richfield, UT
http://www.kued.org
analog 7
digital 7-1 (42-1), 18-1 (18-1), 19-1 (19-1)
Salt Lake City DirecTV 7,982
Salt Lake City Dish 7,8536
Saturday 11:30PM MST Arc of Infinity pt 2 of 4
Series 20, Episode 2. Doctor: Peter Davison. The 5th Doctor is called before a tribunal by the Time Lords. A dangerous creature bonded with the Doctor in hopes of crossing over to our universe. The Time Lords believe that the only way to stop the crossing is to execute the Doctor before his identity can be used. Guest starring Colin Baker as the guard Maxil, the only instance to date of an actor playing a different role on the Doctor Who TV series before being cast as The Doctor. Since KUEW-DT 18 is apparently a full power repeater of KUED, it is added to the listings.

KBTC/KCKA Tacoma/Centralia, WA http://www.kbtc.org
analog 28,15
digital 28-1 (27-1), 15-1 (19-1)
Seattle DirecTV 28,910
Seattle Dish 28,8620
Saturday 7PM + 12:30AM PST The Dominators eps 1+2 of 5
Series 6, Episodes 1 through 2. Doctor: Pat Troughton. A peaceful backwater planet is invaded by aliens, and for once the planet isn't Earth. The Dominators want to travel through space and conquer. But first they must fix their ship, by whatever means necessary.

KTEH/KCAH San Jose/Watsonville, CA http://www.kteh.org
analog 54,25
digital 50,58 - not on air
San Francisco DirecTV 54,903
San Francisco Dish 54,8234
Monterey Dish 25,9190
Late Saturday April 3 1:37AM PDT Interview with Patrick Troughton

US Sci-Fi Channel http://www.scifi.com
Late Sunday April 11 - Doctor Who1996 TV Movie
3AM EDT East Feed, 3AM PDT West Feed

Thanks for reading. Until next week, take care.

Doctor Who is a BBC Trademark. Copyright 2004.