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Old 12-01-2006, 21:25
ClarkF1
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The revamped adventures of BBC Wales' Doctor Who are to be seen by sci-fi fans in America, it has been announced.

The first series of the cult programme starring Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper is to be screened by the American Sci Fi Channel.

The screening deal was confirmed by the US channel and BBC Worldwide Americas on Thursday.

Welcoming the deal, Sci FI Channel's Thomas P Vitale said Doctor Who was a "true sci-fi classic".

The Sci Fi Channel has been granted the first-run rights for the series of Doctor Who written and executive produced by Russell T Davies.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4607966.stm
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Old 13-01-2006, 00:24
DenWatts
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The sci-fi channel really does know how to spend it's budget!

What with making BSG and buying DW, they really are giving their viewers the very best in the genres, imo.

Last edited by DenWatts : 13-01-2006 at 00:56.
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Old 13-01-2006, 06:42
tallorder
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Good news for the American fans and the series in general. Great stuff and on a Friday night prime-time slot, can't be bad. Shame for all those who'd pre-ordered their R1 box-set in the US though, release date slips from Feb 14th to July 4th.

If the sho is popular enough out there, I suppose they might run straight on into series 2!
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Old 13-01-2006, 07:01
anagoge
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SciFi must really be raking in the money currently, they've got some some of the highest profile shows about, what with BSG under their name.
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Old 13-01-2006, 10:05
Black Guardian
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I hope when they get around to showing The Christmas Invasion they appreciate Harriet Jones comment about starting another war.
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Old 13-01-2006, 10:32
Histeria
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Originally Posted by DenWatts
The sci-fi channel really does know how to spend it's budget!

What with making BSG and buying DW, they really are giving their viewers the very best in the genres, imo.
AND they also show Firefly.

I'd like to shake the programmer for that channel by the hand.

Originally Posted by Black Guardian
I hope when they get around to showing The Christmas Invasion they appreciate Harriet Jones comment about starting another war.
I'm, on that note, rather unsure as to how middle America will take to Captain Jack Harkness.
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Old 13-01-2006, 11:38
Grand Dizzy
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I hope they also buy Life on Mars. Sounds like it would be at home on that channel.
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Old 13-01-2006, 13:50
KennyT
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There's two threads running so I'll pose the same question here...

Anyone else think that 9pm is a bit late for DW?

K
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Old 13-01-2006, 14:06
markinwigan
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the last i heard the US sci-fi channel was either considering or in negotiations to continue making "enterprise",series 5 onwards-anyone know the decision/outcome?-good or bad!
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Old 13-01-2006, 14:12
nidave
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Originally Posted by Histeria
AND they also show Firefly.

I'd like to shake the programmer for that channel by the hand.



I'm, on that note, rather unsure as to how middle America will take to Captain Jack Harkness.
I think a taste of thier own medicin would be helpfull, seing how american shows protray british people at times!
A serotypical Yank would be a breath of frsh air!
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Old 13-01-2006, 14:32
chrisfass
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

have you seen the updated website?
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Old 13-01-2006, 14:59
JCR
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Originally Posted by markinwigan
the last i heard the US sci-fi channel was either considering or in negotiations to continue making "enterprise",series 5 onwards-anyone know the decision/outcome?-good or bad!
I think it unlikely- they held off a decision on making more BSG, despite the fact it's they're highest rated programme ever, due to cost concerns, and ST:ENT would cost more to make than BSG.

Enterprise is a dead duck, I'm afraid.
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Old 13-01-2006, 16:03
bigheather
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Originally Posted by chrisfass
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

have you seen the updated website?
They have done themselves proud, again
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Old 13-01-2006, 16:10
KIIS102
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Well done Sci-Fi channel i say, its a great buy. I hope everyone enjoys DW like us in England good luck i say. And Sci-Fi US is just 100 times better then UK version which i cant belive lol. Sci-Fi make excellent shows like BSG/Stargate sg-1/stargate atlantis which are huge hits abroad like in the UK which is great news as it means their future is secure for all the fans .
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Old 13-01-2006, 16:14
ember1
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I'm only hoping the audience will appreciate the Doctor's love for Earth without the "half human" reference, so much "required" in the TVM
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Old 13-01-2006, 16:57
JCR
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Actually I think the half human thing would have been OK had they introduced it in the classic series. This scene was never filmed, but was in the original script for the final ep of survival: (Taken from Doctor Who: the eighties handbook):

"The Master: The planet...?

The Doctor: It isn't there any more. It's ... destroyed.

The Master: How?

The Doctor: It was too old ... too dangerous. And I said we were an explosive combination.

(The Master stares at the Doctor with growing realization)

The Master: Yes, but how did it happen? How did we get back here? Who are you?

(The Doctor looks at him quizzically)

The Master: What are you?

The Doctor: (GRINS) We were at university together. Remember?

(The Master shakes his head)

The Master: You're not a Time Lord!

(The Doctor winces. He doesn't want to get into this)

The Doctor: Well strictly speaking ... that is to say ... well not just a Time Lord. We all have to evolve a bit, as the years go by.

(He looks at the Master, murmurs)

The Doctor: Evolve or become extinct.

The Master: What are you?

(The Doctor graws himself up. He grins wickedly)

The Doctor: Shall we just say I'm multi-talented?"



That may have been kinda cool- the throwaway reference in the TVM was terrible, mind.
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Old 13-01-2006, 17:47
ember1
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"The Master: The planet...?

The Doctor: It isn't there any more. It's ... destroyed.

The Master: How?

The Doctor: It was too old ... too dangerous. And I said we were an explosive combination.

(The Master stares at the Doctor with growing realization)

The Master: Yes, but how did it happen? How did we get back here? Who are you?

(The Doctor looks at him quizzically)

The Master: What are you?

The Doctor: (GRINS) We were at university together. Remember?

(The Master shakes his head)

The Master: You're not a Time Lord!

(The Doctor winces. He doesn't want to get into this)

The Doctor: Well strictly speaking ... that is to say ... well not just a Time Lord. We all have to evolve a bit, as the years go by.

(He looks at the Master, murmurs)

The Doctor: Evolve or become extinct.

The Master: What are you?

(The Doctor graws himself up. He grins wickedly)

The Doctor: Shall we just say I'm multi-talented?"
That's the kind of retrocontinuity plop I expected from the McCoy era

The Doctor's alienness has been emphasised in the past. Making him a hybrid does nothing. It doesn't explain anything about him. Just as it doesn't explain how a a child of a black/white couple will behave.

People love the Doctor for who he is, not what constitutes his DNA.
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Old 13-01-2006, 18:00
DenWatts
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Originally Posted by Histeria
I'm, on that note, rather unsure as to how middle America will take to Captain Jack Harkness.
I'm sure that John Barrowman's American accent went some way towards him getting the part, i.e. it featured in the bigger picture in RTD's plans for the show. Add that to the fact that the episodes are all around the 45 minute mark and I'd say that the US market was a target from the start.

Quite right too!
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Old 13-01-2006, 18:00
Black Guardian
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Originally Posted by JCR
Actually I think the half human thing would have been OK had they introduced it in the classic series. This scene was never filmed, but was in the original script for the final ep of survival: (Taken from Doctor Who: the eighties handbook):

"The Master: The planet...?

The Doctor: It isn't there any more. It's ... destroyed.

The Master: How?

The Doctor: It was too old ... too dangerous. And I said we were an explosive combination.

(The Master stares at the Doctor with growing realization)

The Master: Yes, but how did it happen? How did we get back here? Who are you?

(The Doctor looks at him quizzically)

The Master: What are you?

The Doctor: (GRINS) We were at university together. Remember?

(The Master shakes his head)

The Master: You're not a Time Lord!

(The Doctor winces. He doesn't want to get into this)

The Doctor: Well strictly speaking ... that is to say ... well not just a Time Lord. We all have to evolve a bit, as the years go by.

(He looks at the Master, murmurs)

The Doctor: Evolve or become extinct.

The Master: What are you?

(The Doctor graws himself up. He grins wickedly)

The Doctor: Shall we just say I'm multi-talented?"



That may have been kinda cool- the throwaway reference in the TVM was terrible, mind.
Glad this was never used as it is all a bit wishy washy and doesn't create any air of mystery really.
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Old 13-01-2006, 18:09
ember1
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Indeed - if there's anything that doesn't create an air of mystery it's the deliberate pushing of the Doctor being "mysterious."

Viewers don't want a mystery lead. They want to be a friend and feel that the friendship can be bridged either by the Doctor's outward persona or his companion (or both)
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Old 13-01-2006, 18:44
DenWatts
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Originally Posted by KennyT
There's two threads running so I'll pose the same question here...

Anyone else think that 9pm is a bit late for DW?

K
Maybe the US will air the uncut versions of the episodes, with the scenes which were considered too much to show pre-watershed in the UK restored for the US broadcast?
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Old 13-01-2006, 18:55
JCR
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Originally Posted by DenWatts
Maybe the US will air the uncut versions of the episodes, with the scenes which were considered too much to show pre-watershed in the UK restored for the US broadcast?

I was under the impression the only thing actually cut was captain jack's arse. Steven Moffat stated on galifreyone.com nothing was done to empty child*/doctor dances. Mark Gatliss has said he was asked to tone down unquiet dead, but that was at script stage and nothing extra was filmed. I can't believe dalek was cut, it's nasty enough as it is, and I can't really think of anything else that could be cut from the others.

*Moffat said the bone crunching sound when richard wilson changes was taken out because it sounded silly, not that it was too horrible.
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Old 13-01-2006, 19:41
DenWatts
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Originally Posted by JCR
I was under the impression the only thing actually cut was captain jack's arse. Steven Moffat stated on galifreyone.com nothing was done to empty child*/doctor dances. Mark Gatliss has said he was asked to tone down unquiet dead, but that was at script stage and nothing extra was filmed. I can't believe dalek was cut, it's nasty enough as it is, and I can't really think of anything else that could be cut from the others.

*Moffat said the bone crunching sound when richard wilson changes was taken out because it sounded silly, not that it was too horrible.
Ah right - thanks for that.

And I can live without seeing JB's backside.
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Old 13-01-2006, 23:11
leatha
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And I can live without seeing JB's backside. [/quote]

Well, yeah, but I sort of like seeing it in leather!
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Old 14-01-2006, 01:11
performingmonk
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I think there is a problem with Who being on at 9pm Friday on Sci-fi. The audience is used to seeing deadly serious adult drama like Galactica, and Who is very light-hearted and aimed at a family audience. The Galactica/Stargate audience won't take to it. I thought that's why Sci-fi probably passed on the series initially.

Still, this is great news.
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