Gurning is Cool
Michael_Eve
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This is supposed to be light -hearted, by the way!
The first time I heard the word "gurning" connected to Doctor Who was a radio show with Armanda Ianucci broadcast just after the show came back in 2005 in which he referred to "Christopher Eccleston gurning every week in Doctor Who." Not sure what he meant, but there are a few moments early on in 'End of the World" which could fit the bill. The word has cropped up in a derogatory manner quite often since. Well, I think it's a fine tradition and the word should be reclaimed without it's negative connotations. To start the ball rolling, here are a few of my favourite "gurns" in Doctor Who;
William Hartnell being transmatted in 'The Dalek Masterplan'. (Peter Purves and Jean Marsh join in, but don't quite reach Billy's standard.)
Patrick Troughton at the end of 'The War Games'. Some serious facing-pulling as we say farewell to the Second Doctor.
Jon Pertwee: Quite a few moments to choose from, but the tentacle attack at the end of 'Spearhead from Space' takes some beating, IMO.
Tom and Peter...none spring to mind at present, but Colin...there's a fair amount in TTOATL's last two episodes.
Sylvestor...some serious face-pulling in 'Battlefield' and 'Ghostlight'...but saved his best gurn 'til last as he regenerates into Paul McGann, who therefore starts his brief TV tenure gurning.
Chris I'm mentioned. David Tennant? The one that springs to mind is his "soothsayer" impression to Donna in 'Fires of Pompeii'. (I remember in DWC he actually asked the director if he wanted his 'Old Man Steptoe' face in that scene.)
Matt...I'd probably go for the moments after he'd been poisoned in 'Let's Kill Hitler'.
So as I said...a fine tradition. I love them all. Any more favourite face-pulling moments welcomed.
The first time I heard the word "gurning" connected to Doctor Who was a radio show with Armanda Ianucci broadcast just after the show came back in 2005 in which he referred to "Christopher Eccleston gurning every week in Doctor Who." Not sure what he meant, but there are a few moments early on in 'End of the World" which could fit the bill. The word has cropped up in a derogatory manner quite often since. Well, I think it's a fine tradition and the word should be reclaimed without it's negative connotations. To start the ball rolling, here are a few of my favourite "gurns" in Doctor Who;
William Hartnell being transmatted in 'The Dalek Masterplan'. (Peter Purves and Jean Marsh join in, but don't quite reach Billy's standard.)
Patrick Troughton at the end of 'The War Games'. Some serious facing-pulling as we say farewell to the Second Doctor.
Jon Pertwee: Quite a few moments to choose from, but the tentacle attack at the end of 'Spearhead from Space' takes some beating, IMO.
Tom and Peter...none spring to mind at present, but Colin...there's a fair amount in TTOATL's last two episodes.
Sylvestor...some serious face-pulling in 'Battlefield' and 'Ghostlight'...but saved his best gurn 'til last as he regenerates into Paul McGann, who therefore starts his brief TV tenure gurning.
Chris I'm mentioned. David Tennant? The one that springs to mind is his "soothsayer" impression to Donna in 'Fires of Pompeii'. (I remember in DWC he actually asked the director if he wanted his 'Old Man Steptoe' face in that scene.)
Matt...I'd probably go for the moments after he'd been poisoned in 'Let's Kill Hitler'.
So as I said...a fine tradition. I love them all. Any more favourite face-pulling moments welcomed.
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Comments
A 'Gurn' is "...a distorted facial expression, and a verb to describe the action."
I wonded about those: were they assisted, whether by wires or by computer?
Pertwee seemed to also have comedy 'cross eyes' when he was in the throws of an attack too!
I think Matt and David both gurned a lot (Matt's face was as flexible as an olympic gymnast's legs;)). However, all the classic Doctors gurned (apart from Peter Davison, or I haven't watched enough of his episodes).
Aw, shucks. Red-faced. (That might have more to do with a disastrous visit to the Inn last night, mind. )
Quite suprised it's popped up again. (There's a story; ;'Resurrection of the Gurn'.) As regards TEDR's point, think there might've been *some* computer-enhancing of the regeneration gurn, but not much in Slyvester's case. (love him.)
As for Sir Peter D, nope, still can't think of an outstanding gurn in his tenure. Anybody?
I think Tom gurned a bit during the Xoanon encounter.
This is probably the worst instance of gurning in the entire history of the show!!
I guess it seemed like a good idea at the time.
For consistent gurning though I'd have to go with Tennant. There were at least five gurns per episode.
gurn |gərn|
verb [ intrans. ] chiefly Brit.
make a grotesque face : [as n. ] ( gurning) gurning is one of the fair's most popular competitions.
This is not gurning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prV8OKo04Fc