Holidaze 1/4/14

Is it my imagination, or does this shadow look like a Christmas-themed Dalek? "O Dalek tree, o Dalek tree, please don't ex-ter-mi-nate me!"

The Day of the Doctor

Today is the day: the 50th anniversary of the airing of the first-ever episode of Doctor Who. The 50th anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor," airs today at the same time in both the U.K. and the U.S. (correct me if I'm wrong, somebody, but I think that's the first time that's happened for an episode of the show itself) and stars Matt Smith as the current Doctor (though he's leaving the role as of this year's Christmas special, to be replaced by Peter Capaldi), David Tennant as his predecessor, John Hurt as a hitherto-unknown Doctor and some Daleks and Zygons and such.

On the Way to Work This Morning 11/22/13

Every Picture Tells a Story 11/22/13

Tonight, the BBC airs An Adventure in Time and Space, a made-for-TV movie about the beginnings of Doctor Who with character actor David Bradley starring as character actor William Hartnell, the first of a long line of actors to play the enigmatic time traveler.

Above: A lovely First Doctor figure given to me by Superbadfriend a few years ago. Below: A Mego-style First Doctor figure from Bif Bang Pow.

Every Picture Tells a Story 11/21/13

If you're a typical American, your first introduction to the TV series Doctor Who came in the late 1970s, when PBS stations across the country started airing episodes featuring the Fourth Doctor, played by Tom Baker. The success of Baker's Doctor in the U.S. played a large part in setting the table for the international success the revived program, which celebrates the show's 50th anniversary this Saturday, enjoys today.

Above: A Fourth Doctor doll from the '70s, manufactured by Mego for British toymaker Denys Fisher. Below: A much more recent Mego-style figure from Bif Bang Pow.

Every Picture Tells a Story 11/20/13

Bow ties? Are cool.

Every Picture Tells a Story 11/19/13

Every Picture Tells a Story 11/18/13

Where I'll Be Tonight

I'll be parked in front of my TV, watching the first of the new batch of Doctor Who episodes featuring Matt Smith as the 11th incarnation of everyone's favorite Time Lord, Jenna-Louise Coleman as his new, gorgeous companion and various alien beasties--including, for the first time in nearly 40 years, the Ice Warriors! *fanboysquee*

"Come Along, Pond..."

New season of Doctor Who starts tomorrow night! Squeeeeeeeee!

Every Picture Tells a Story: 5/4/11

"Why yes, dear boy. Of course you can have a cup of coffee. Of course. Just step inside this police box. Right this way. No need to be alarmed, no need at all. It's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside...the police box, yes, dear boy. It's how I travel through time. And space to boot. You're welcome to travel along with me. Yes, you are. Of course, your life will be placed in endless jeopardy by my boundless curiosity and nosiness...wait...where are you going, dear boy? I thought you wanted a cup of coffee. Hm?"

Doctor Whooooooooo (Old School Edition)

The 3rd Doctor sonic screwdriver Mr. E gave me as an early birthday prezzie last night is indeed coolness. Olivia, however, was not impressed.

We Now Pause Our Regularly Scheduled Easter Celebration...

...to also celebrate the season premiere of Doctor Who on BBC America!

"Doctor Whoooooooo...WhoooooOOOOOOooooooo...."

Every Picture Tells a Story: 2/25/11

Neither Amy Pond nor the Dalek behind her has a cup of coffee for you, I'm afraid. If you're very nice, though, Amy may give you a Kiss-O-Gram...

Every Picture Tells a Story: 2/18/11

It's not that chilly this morning. It is, in fact, unseasonably warm. However, this Dalek would still like you to have this steaming, fresh cup of cof...OK, let's be honest: This Dalek doesn't care whether you want this cup of coffee. or not. He wants to burn your ass to a crisp and piss on the ashes. Still, before all that happens...coffee!

Every Picture Tells a Story: 5/1/10

Are you watching the new season of Doctor Who? You should be.

Every Picture Tells a Story: 4/26/10

What do you do when the power goes out on a windy, rainy Saturday night right in the middle of your weekly viewing of Doctor Who? You light some candles (like I wouldn't have done that anyway) and hope for the best. "The best," in this case, turned out to be three hours--just in time for the rebroadcast of Doctor Who on BBC America. Yay!

Every Picture Tells a Story: 9/6/09

Friday is Bring Your Doctor to Work Day

Doctor Who, that is. (Or, as Superbadfriend would sing in tune with the show's theme, "Doctor Whooooooooooooo...")

Today, the fourth incarnation of the venerable British TV character (as played with curly hair, flowing scarf and wide grin by Tom Baker) graces the top of my workplace cabinet, along with his time machine, the TARDIS, and his faithful robot dog, K-9.

I've always been a sci-fi geek, and when I first ran across Doctor Who late on a weekday afternoon in 1978, which PBS stations across the country had just begun airing, I was hooked straight away, despite the low budgets, crappy special effects and abundant overacting. It was fun. (PBS originally aired the Tom Baker episodes in half-hour installments--same as they had aired on the BBC, but now with introductions by actor Howard DeSilva--but later ran the show on Sunday nights after their British comedy block of Dave Allen at Large and Monty Python in an edited movie format.)

There had been three Doctors before Tom Baker, and there have been several since (counting the remainder of the original series, which ran until 1989, the made-for-TV movie in 1996 and the revived BBC-Wales series that runs to this day on both sides of the Atlantic), but for many Americans, Baker, who played the part for more seasons (seven) than any other actor, simply is Doctor Who.