Anyway who cares! The popular is always considered lo-brow and not really to be taken seriously.
Lets be honest David Mitchell is like Stephen Fry mini me, and i like him
Lets be honest David Mitchell is like Stephen Fry mini me, and i like him
Is Dr Who a children's programme?
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If it was a children's show, it would air on CBBC instead of BBC1 and the production caption would say CBBC instead of BBC Cymru Wales.
Originally Posted by tingramretro:
“It has never been made by the childrens department, always by the drama department, therefore it is a family sci-fi drama, not a childrens show.”
“It has never been made by the childrens department, always by the drama department, therefore it is a family sci-fi drama, not a childrens show.”
But at the time of the show's inception in 1963, the children's department was controlled by the drama department :P
Originally Posted by emby2:
“Secondly, the show has always been show in a 'family' slot, apart from the davison era. If it was a children's show, surely it would be in the same vicinity of sja in the schedules?”
“Secondly, the show has always been show in a 'family' slot, apart from the davison era. If it was a children's show, surely it would be in the same vicinity of sja in the schedules?”
The Sylvester McCoy years were at 7:35 on weekday nights, even later than the Davison era.
Also, much of the Tom Baker era was around 6:30 on Saturdays.
Originally Posted by Eaglestriker:
“Now, I wasn't around in the old days, but surely only William Hartnell fits that bill? David grew up with Tom Baker and Peter Davison, and apparently used to dress up in an anorak wearing a stick of grass (like Five's celery).”
“Now, I wasn't around in the old days, but surely only William Hartnell fits that bill? David grew up with Tom Baker and Peter Davison, and apparently used to dress up in an anorak wearing a stick of grass (like Five's celery).”
Watch Colin Baker's portrayal and then try and repeat that!
Originally Posted by dvirgo:
“and even Michael Grade who killed the original series”
“and even Michael Grade who killed the original series”
No he didn't. Watch the "Endgame" documentary on the Survival DVD.
I'd call it a family programme, to me there's a considerable difference between it and SJA, which obviously is a children's program (but I still watch that). All, of course, imo.
Originally Posted by AidanLunn:
“Watch Colin Baker's portrayal and then try and repeat that!”
“Watch Colin Baker's portrayal and then try and repeat that!”
I've only seen Colin Baker in two stories (Mark of the Rani & Attack of the Cybermen) and whilst he was grumpy at times, he was still very compassionate and likeable IIRC.
So, okay, I'll repeat that. Now, I wasn't around in the old days, but surely only William Hartnell fits that bill?
And I'll add a bit more just to clarify.
Now, I wasn't around in the old days, but surely only William Hartnell fits that bill, at his earliest?
Yay, I repeated it twice!
Originally Posted by Eaglestriker:
“I've only seen Colin Baker in two stories (Mark of the Rani & Attack of the Cybermen) and whilst he was grumpy at times, he was still very compassionate and likeable IIRC.
So, okay, I'll repeat that. Now, I wasn't around in the old days, but surely only William Hartnell fits that bill?
And I'll add a bit more just to clarify.
Now, I wasn't around in the old days, but surely only William Hartnell fits that bill, at his earliest?
Yay, I repeated it twice!”
“I've only seen Colin Baker in two stories (Mark of the Rani & Attack of the Cybermen) and whilst he was grumpy at times, he was still very compassionate and likeable IIRC.
So, okay, I'll repeat that. Now, I wasn't around in the old days, but surely only William Hartnell fits that bill?
And I'll add a bit more just to clarify.
Now, I wasn't around in the old days, but surely only William Hartnell fits that bill, at his earliest?
Yay, I repeated it twice!
”
Good taste in music and good taste in Doctors
Pah. Slagging off Doctor Who in the media is merely an in-vogue past-time for bitchy luvvies who are annoyed that it's getting lots of attention while whatever they're doing isn't. Consider all the childrens' shows that have ever been on TV. You don't see many of them winning BAFTAs and Hugos, or attracting talent like Peter Capaldi, Derek Jacobi, Penelope Wilton, Simon Callow, Carey Mulligan, Michael Gambon and John Simm, to name but a few. They don't pack the kind of punch you get from Waters of Mars, Blink, Father's Day, Pyramids of Mars or Inferno. Certain people should try watching a few episodes of Doctor Who before they dismiss it so lightly. Although I'd personally warn them off anything from seasons 25 and 26.
Last edited by Simon Foston : 11-09-2010 at 17:07
Last edited by Simon Foston : 11-09-2010 at 17:07
Originally Posted by Simon Foston:
“Pah. Slagging off Doctor Who in the media is merely an in-vogue past-time for bitchy luvvies who are annoyed that it's getting lots of attention while whatever they're doing isn't. Consider all the childrens' shows that have ever been on TV. You don't see many of them winning BAFTAs and Hugos, or attracting talent like Peter Capaldi, Derek Jacobi, Penelope Wilton, Simon Callow, Carey Mulligan, Michael Gambon and John Simm, to name but a few. They don't pack the kind of punch you get from Waters of Mars, Blink, Father's Day, Pyramids of Mars or Inferno. Certain people should try watching a few episodes of Doctor Who before they dismiss it so lightly. Although I'd personally warn them off anything from seasons 25 and 26.”
“Pah. Slagging off Doctor Who in the media is merely an in-vogue past-time for bitchy luvvies who are annoyed that it's getting lots of attention while whatever they're doing isn't. Consider all the childrens' shows that have ever been on TV. You don't see many of them winning BAFTAs and Hugos, or attracting talent like Peter Capaldi, Derek Jacobi, Penelope Wilton, Simon Callow, Carey Mulligan, Michael Gambon and John Simm, to name but a few. They don't pack the kind of punch you get from Waters of Mars, Blink, Father's Day, Pyramids of Mars or Inferno. Certain people should try watching a few episodes of Doctor Who before they dismiss it so lightly. Although I'd personally warn them off anything from seasons 25 and 26.”
What was wrong with season 26? That was a terrific season!
I've always seen it as a family show, not just for kiddies. I watched it with my dad in when I was a toddler in the sixties.
My GRANNY even used to watch it! She often used to say "I wish I had a Blue Box to bugger off into!" Bless her.
Even to this day, at the prime age of 50, I actually watch Sarah Jane on CBBC if there's nowt on! Now that IS classed as Childrens TV.
PS: I also love MI High!
My GRANNY even used to watch it! She often used to say "I wish I had a Blue Box to bugger off into!"
Bless her.Even to this day, at the prime age of 50, I actually watch Sarah Jane on CBBC if there's nowt on! Now that IS classed as Childrens TV.
PS: I also love MI High!
Originally Posted by Face Of Jack:
“I've always seen it as a family show, not just for kiddies. I watched it with my dad in when I was a toddler in the sixties.
My GRANNY even used to watch it! She often used to say "I wish I had a Blue Box to bugger off into!" Bless her.
Even to this day, at the prime age of 50, I actually watch Sarah Jane on CBBC if there's nowt on! Now that IS classed as Childrens TV.
PS: I also love MI High!”
“I've always seen it as a family show, not just for kiddies. I watched it with my dad in when I was a toddler in the sixties.
My GRANNY even used to watch it! She often used to say "I wish I had a Blue Box to bugger off into!"
Bless her.Even to this day, at the prime age of 50, I actually watch Sarah Jane on CBBC if there's nowt on! Now that IS classed as Childrens TV.
PS: I also love MI High!
”
Oddly, I started get into Tracey Beaker because it preceeded SJA and I didn't want to accidentally miss the beginning of the episodes...I used to watch DW with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins...this may well have been because I needed baby-sitting at the time and they'd been forewarned that if they let me watch it I'd behave for the rest of the night
Also oddly: it became a REAL family show during Leela's time in the TARDIS when for some reason my Dad became an avid fan and never missed an episode
Originally Posted by Eaglestriker:
“I've only seen Colin Baker in two stories (Mark of the Rani & Attack of the Cybermen) and whilst he was grumpy at times, he was still very compassionate and likeable IIRC.
So, okay, I'll repeat that. Now, I wasn't around in the old days, but surely only William Hartnell fits that bill?
And I'll add a bit more just to clarify.
Now, I wasn't around in the old days, but surely only William Hartnell fits that bill, at his earliest?
Yay, I repeated it twice!”
“I've only seen Colin Baker in two stories (Mark of the Rani & Attack of the Cybermen) and whilst he was grumpy at times, he was still very compassionate and likeable IIRC.
So, okay, I'll repeat that. Now, I wasn't around in the old days, but surely only William Hartnell fits that bill?
And I'll add a bit more just to clarify.
Now, I wasn't around in the old days, but surely only William Hartnell fits that bill, at his earliest?
Yay, I repeated it twice!
”
Compared to other Doctors, his portrayal was quite brutal and arrogant. And he made Peri moan and whinge more than she did with Davison.
Originally Posted by tingramretro:
“What was wrong with season 26? That was a terrific season!”
“What was wrong with season 26? That was a terrific season!
”
Sorry, but I have a completely different opinion. Without going into too much detail I feel that in 1988-89 Doctor Who became less a children's or family show and more one aimed at a narrow clique of fans and people who read 2000AD and Alan Moore. But that's just my opinion.
Doctor Who is a family show. The emotions created, the intensity of certain scenes, and the passion weaved through out and fed to the viewers is far too great for it not to be a family show - there's so much in the show that it simply is too powerful not to be a family show. It covers all realms for everybody, not just areas for children. While certain episodes might play to a typical child fear, other episodes do not are focus on the whole family. It is definitely not a children's show x
Sydney Newman definitely intended it as a kids show, the point of the historicals was so children could learn.
Originally Posted by Simon Foston:
“Sorry, but I have a completely different opinion. Without going into too much detail I feel that in 1988-89 Doctor Who became less a children's or family show and more one aimed at a narrow clique of fans and people who read 2000AD and Alan Moore. But that's just my opinion.”
“Sorry, but I have a completely different opinion. Without going into too much detail I feel that in 1988-89 Doctor Who became less a children's or family show and more one aimed at a narrow clique of fans and people who read 2000AD and Alan Moore. But that's just my opinion.”
Who cares if it did? The result was a number of very good stories, that's what matters. Anyway, I see precious little connection between McCoy's last seasons (or any Doctor Who) and anything Alan Moore has ever written.
Originally Posted by tingramretro:
“Who cares if it did? The result was a number of very good stories, that's what matters.”
“Who cares if it did? The result was a number of very good stories, that's what matters.”
I suspect that what mattered for the BBC executives was whether many people wanted to watch those stories, given that Doctor Who has always been scheduled early in the evenings on BBC1, and not late at night on BBC2. Personally, I watched all of season 26 because I'm a Doctor Who fan, not because I liked the stories very much. I thought they were contrived, pretentious, frequently incomprehensible and in general, the product of novice writers and a novice script editor trying desperately hard to show off how smart and 'right on' they were. I find it interesting that neither Andrew Cartmel nor any of the other season 26 writers (with the possible exception of Rona Munro) have ever really done very much since. But that's just me.
Quote:
“Anyway, I see precious little connection between McCoy's last seasons (or any Doctor Who) and anything Alan Moore has ever written.”
“Anyway, I see precious little connection between McCoy's last seasons (or any Doctor Who) and anything Alan Moore has ever written.”
You do know that Andrew Cartmel was quite keen on the idea of getting Alan Moore to write an episode or two? (http://nzdwfc.tetrap.com/archive/tsv...cartmel.html#5)
Originally Posted by tingramretro:
“Who cares if it did? The result was a number of very good stories, that's what matters.”
“Who cares if it did? The result was a number of very good stories, that's what matters.”
I suspect what mattered to the BBC executives was how many people wanted to watch the programme, given that they were broadcasting it early in the evenings on BBC1, not around 9pm on BBC2. Personally, I watched all of the season 26 episodes because I'm a Doctor Who fan, not because I liked them very much, I thought they were pretentious, contrived, frequently incomprehensible and in general, the product of a novice script editor and novice writers trying desperately hard to show off how clever and 'right on' they were. I also think it's interesting that neither Andrew Cartmel nor his proteges have really done very much TV writing since 1989. But that's just me. If you enjoyed them, great. Everyone has different tastes.
Quote:
“Anyway, I see precious little connection between McCoy's last seasons (or any Doctor Who) and anything Alan Moore has ever written.”
“Anyway, I see precious little connection between McCoy's last seasons (or any Doctor Who) and anything Alan Moore has ever written.”
You do know that Andrew Cartmel was pretty keen on getting Alan Moore to write a story or two? (http://nzdwfc.tetrap.com/archive/tsv...cartmel.html#5)
Moore would never have gone for it-he has no interest in Doctor Who, or indeed in television from what I hear. He wrote a number of very good Who related comic strips, but had little interest in the source material.
Originally Posted by JCR:
“Sydney Newman definitely intended it as a kids show, the point of the historicals was so children could learn.”
“Sydney Newman definitely intended it as a kids show, the point of the historicals was so children could learn.”
That's why they had a science teacher and a history teacher as two of the first three companions, and the other stories were science based too. The daleks proved so popular though that they ended up focusing on fantasy over fact, the historicals were dropped. The second season onwards was definitely not meant only for kids.
The idea that DW is a children's show implies that some how this means it's lower quality tv. This is absolutely wrong, children's tv is the most difficult to create. Oliver Postgates TV shows were brilliantly original and had wonderul tales is that somehow lower in quality. There are very few shows like DW around with the depth of writing and still be constantly changing and evolving.
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