The new Syfy miniseries Alice premieres tonight, but there’s much more in Sci-FI TV this week including news on hiatus’ for Fringe, FlashForward and V (and premiere dates for Fox series Past Life and Human Target) plus a U.S. premiere date for Part Two of "The End of Time", the final David Tennant special. Joss Whedon also opens up about the end of Dollhouse (and we have a title for the series finale). All that and more, including the latest television ratings, casting bites, images and videos.
GENRE TV NEWS
Fox Announces January/February Schedule; Fringe Going on 7-Week Hiatus
After the February 4, 2010 episode, "Fringe" will take a seven-week hiatus and won’t return until April, 1st. In the interim, FOX will launch the new supernatural crime drama "Past Life" (which will debut with a two-hour premiere on February 11th and will air weekly at 9:00 p.m.). Meanwhile, the new series "Human Target" will launch on Wednesday, January 20th. The eighth season of "24", featuring new cast member Kattee Sackhoff, will kick off on Sunday, January 17th (it will air regularly in its Monday at 8:00 p.m. time slot). Although fellow Thursday night sci-fi drama "FlashForward" took a hit with its final episode of 2009, "Fringe" took full advantage of the decreased competition ("Grey’s Anatomy", "CSI" and "Supernatural" are all on hiatus) and bounced up to 6.94 million viewers (+18%) and a 2.5 A18-49 rating (+25%). Both were post-season premiere highs. Check out the press release for next Thursday’s episode "Grey Matters" — which features the return of Leonard Nimoy’s character William Bell — below:
DR. WALTER BISHOP’S BRAININESS TAKES ON NEW MEANING AND WILLIAM BELL RETURNS ON AN ALL-NEW “FRINGE” THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, ON FOX
A Fringe investigation is triggered when a patient at a mental institution undergoes an impromptu brain surgery that unexpectedly leaves his brain exposed. Despite the unthinkable circumstances, the patient’s condition and sanity miraculously improves before the Fringe team arrives. While Agent Dunham and Peter scan surveillance tapes (and Walter enjoys his pudding), Olivia recognizes a familiar face as Thomas Jerome Newton (guest star Sebastian Roche), the leader of the “shape-shifters.” As similar cases stack up, the Fringe team heads back to the lab to determine exactly how patients are being cured. Walter’s brains are put to the test and William Bell (guest star Leonard Nimoy) resurfaces in the all-new “Grey Matters” episode of FRINGE airing Thursday, Dec. 10 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Episode 10 – "Grey Matters" [FOX]
One more image here
Promo for "Grey Matters" [YouTube Link]
Zap2It interview with Joshua Jackson (Peter) [YouTube Link]
FlashForward And V Going On Hiatus Until March 2010
ABC has announced that both "V" and "FlashForward" will be going on hiatus until March 2010 (March 4th for "FlashForward" and March 30th for "V"). ABC always planned for "V" to go on an extended hiatus after its four-episode "pod", but a delay for "FlashForward" (which is struggling mightily in the ratings) is a big surprise. "FlashForward" debuted with a solid 12.47 million viewers and a 4.0 A18-49 rating, but it has been down-hill since then. Last week’s episode hit new series lows of 7.07 million viewers and a 2.1 A18-49 rating. Those declines resulted in ABC instituting a six-day hiatus. The reason for the delay?
"They want to maintain the high quality of the show, and this gives the writers the opportunity to do so."
It may be worth noting that the final episode before hiatus actually leaked online before its ABC airing (it was on hiatus during Thanksgiving weekend, but aired as scheduled in Australia). "V" has also experienced a decline in viewership, but its fourth episode was stable at 9.30 million viewers and a 3.1 A18-49 rating (the show premiered with 14.30 million viewers and a 5.2 A18-49 rating).
Interview with Dominic Monaghan (Simon) [via SpoilerTV]
Australian promo for episode 11 – "Buddha In The Ruins" [YouTube Link]
TV Guide interview with Morris Chestnut (Ryan) [YouTube Link]
TV Guide interview with Morena Baccarin (Anna) [YouTube Link]
Syfy’s Alice Miniseries Debuts Tonight
Alice debuts tonight (Sunday, December 6th) on Syfy from 9:00-11:00 p.m. SCI FI Wire has an article about some of the changes made to bring a futuristic tinge to the story (it takes place 150 years after the original):
"The look of the film, we’ve got this kind of exciting, funky twist to the look, but retro modern," Willing continued. "The first thing that tickled my fancy was the idea of imagining Wonderland as it is today, 150 years on from the original. [Alice’s Adventures] in Wonderland was written 150 years ago, and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be delicious to imagine that world, in the way that we have evolved, also changed? How would it be today? Perhaps we’d have similar characters, but wouldn’t they be different? And wouldn’t they have similar quests?’"
Characters from the Carroll’s original classic also take on a modern approach:
"I’ve never seen a jabberwock done before," Willing said. "There was a film by Terry Gilliam, but that was years ago and it only had fleeting glimpses of the actual jabberwock in that film. Now technology has caught up with me and we were able to produce this amazing creature with a long neck and a goofy face, that was both funny and terrifying at the same time, which I think is what the jabberwock is all about. [It] looked astonishingly like the [John] Tenniel drawings from the original."
The Alice miniseries concludes tomorrow night (Monday, December 6th) from 9:00-11:00 p.m.
Caterina Scorsone (Alice), Matt Frewer (White Knight) and Andrew Lee Potts (Hatter) [SCI FI Wire]
Behind the scenes [SCI FI Wire]
SCI FI Wire interview with Caterina Scorsone (Alice) [SCI FI Wire]
Watch another interview with Kathy Bates (The Queen of Hearts) at SCI FI Wire
Eric Kripke Talks Supernatural
"Supernatural" creator/executive producer Eric Kripke spoke with USA Today about what they have in store for the rest of the show’s season and revealed that God will definitely be making an appearance during the season, probably in the finale:
“One of the storylines this season is about searching for God, and we want to answer that in our own way.” He says that that’s a tough casting call and chuckles at the suggestion of Christopher Walken maybe playing his Big Man Upstairs. “We’re just trying to figure out God’s motivation, and I tell you, that’s a weird place to be when you’re like, ‘So what’s God’s feeling in this scene?’ We’re talking about what should He be like as a character and what should His world view be. It’s like, when God talks, people listen. Whatever message He delivers, it’s going to be the message of the show.”
With regards to the 100th episode, Kripke told EW that the episode will be large on mythology and will prominently feature the character Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles): "We’re aiming for it to be a big mythology episode," revealed creator/executive producer Eric Kripke, adding that, "The Archangel Michael plays a very large part as we explore his relationship with Dean." Check out an interview with Misha Collins (who plays Castiel) at AOL. Meanwhile, The CW has officially released titles for episodes 11-16:
- 5×11 – "Sam, Interrupted
- 5×12 – "Swap Meat"
- 5×13 – "Back to the Future II"
- 5×14 – "My Bloody Valentine"
- 5×15 – "Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid"
- 5×16 – "Your Whole Life Flashes Before Your Eyes"
"Supernatural" airs Thursday’s at 9:00 p.m. on The CW, but is on hiatus until January 21, 2010.
BBC America Announces Premiere Date for Final David Tennant Doctor Who
Special
BBC America has officially announced that "Doctor Who: The End of Time, Part Two" will air on BBC America on Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 9:00 p.m. (Part One will air on December 26, 2009). The BBC airdates (December 25th and January 1st at 7:30 p.m., respectively) were already announced. If you’re waiting for the video release, BBC will release "The Waters of Mars" and "The End of Time, Part One and Part Two" on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, February 2, 2010. Runtimes hav also been confirmed (59:42 for part one and 72:47 for part two). A 5-disc set, "Doctor Who: Specials Collection", which includes "The Next Doctor", "Planet of the Dead", "The Waters of Mars", "The End of Time, Part One and Part Two" and a 16-page booklet with an introduction written by David Tennant, hits stores the same day. Check out an interview with out-going Doctor David Tennant at CraveOnline. Here are the official synopses:
Part One:
It’s the Tenth Doctor’s final journey – but his psychotic nemesis the Master has been reborn, on Christmas Eve. With both determined to cheat death, the battle ranges from the wastelands of London to the mysterious Immortality Gate, while the alien Ood warn of an even greater danger approaching, as a terrible shadow falls across the entire Universe.
Part Two:
The Doctor faces the end of his life as the Master’s plans hurtle out of control. With the sound of drums growing louder, and an ancient trap closing around the Earth, the Doctor and Wilf must fight alone. But sacrifices must be made, and the deadly prophecy warns: "He will knock four times."
And finally, cast lists for the final specials have been released and are posted below (possible spoilers)
Part One:
David Tennant (The Doctor)
Bernard Cribbons (Wilfred Mott)
John Barrowman (Captain Jack)
Brian Cox (The Elder of the Ood)
Timothy Dalton (The Narrator)
Lachele Carl (Trinity Wells)
Jessica Hynes (Verity Newman)
David Harewood (Joshua Naismith)
Jacqueline King (Sylvia Noble)
Alexandra Moen (Lucy Saxon)
Sylvia Seymour (Miss Trefusis)
Catherine Tate (Donna Noble)
Russell Tovey (Midshipman Frame)
John Simm (The Master)
Jimmy Vee (Monster)
June Whitfield (Minnie Hopper)
Paul Kasey (Ood Sigma)
Silas Carson (Ood voice)Additions for Part Two:
Roger Bailey (Time Lord)
Teresa Banham (Governor)
Brid Brennan (Visionary)
Camille Caduri (Jackie Tyler)
Tommy Knight (Luke Smith)
Billie Piper (Rose Tyler)
Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith)
Matt Smith (The Doctor)
Penelope Wilton (Harriet Jones)
Closing out with more casting news, Richard Curtis revealed in an interview with Bullz-Eye that Tony Curran will play the part of Vincent Van Gogh in an upcoming episode for season five:
"Well, we’ve got a brilliant guy playing Vincent van Gogh – which is who it’s about – who you should look up on YouTube. He’s a guy called Tony Curran, who really could not look more like. He’s a wonderful actor who was in this brilliant movie called Red Road that came out, a rather serious movie. But he’s going to be great. I’ve had a lot of fun. We start to shoot in about a month."
Joss Whedon Talks Dollhouse + Series Finale (featuring Alicia Day) Gets A Title
Joss Whedon talked about his frustrations with Fox over their handling of his soon-to-conclude sci-fi series "Dollhouse" in an extensive interview with Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune. Here are some excerpts:
"The problems that the show encountered weren’t standalone versus mythology [episodes]," Whedon said. "Basically, the show didn’t really get off the ground because the network pretty much wanted to back away from the concept five minutes after they bought it. And then ultimately, the show itself is also kind of odd and difficult to market. I actually think they did a good job, but it’s just not a slam-dunk concept."
…
"When you’re dealing with fantasies, particularly sexual ones, you’re going off the reservation," Whedon said. "You’re not going to be doing things that are perfectly correct. It’s supposed to be about the sides of us that we don’t want people to see…. The idea of sexuality was a big part of the show when it started and when that fell out, when the show turned into a thriller every week, it took something out of it that was kind of basic to what we were trying to do."
"We got the espionage that the network wants, but it’s the questions about identity that we want," he noted. "There are other things about the show that never came back, and I didn’t really realize it until the second season — [there were] things that we were ultimately sort of dancing around…. We always found ourselves sort of moving away from what had been part of the original spark of the show and that ultimately just makes it really hard to write these stories."
The entire interview is a very good read, so be sure to check out the rest of it here. In other news, Ryan tweeted that the series finale — scheduled to air on January 22, 2010 — has a working title of "Epitaph Two: The Return" (written by Maurissa Tancharoen, Jed Whedon and Andrew Chambliss) and will feature Felicia Day’s character. Check out press releases for episodes seven and eight: "Meet Jane Doe (Part 1 of 2)" / "A Love Supreme (Part 2 of 2)" and episodes nine and 10: "Stop-Loss" / "The Attic". "Dollhouse" airs Friday night’s from 8:00-10:00 p.m. on Fox.
Episodes seven and eight – "Meet Jane Doe" / "A Love Supreme" [FOX]
More images: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
NEW IMAGES
Battlestar Galactica
Not that Team Edward [HijiNKS Ensue — Shirt is available to purchase here]
Caprica
Evolution of a Cylon [QuantumMechanix via SCI FI Wire]
Doctor Who
The two-part "The End Of Time" [Den of Geek]
Heroes
Set images [more at The ODI: here and here]
Smallville
The Dark Archer (Steve Bacic) from episode 10 – "Disciple" [KryptonSite]
Hawkman (Michael Shanks), Doctor Fate (Brent Stait) and Stargirl (Britt Irvin) from "Smallville: Absolute Justice" [EW]
Screen grabs from "Absolute Justice" [more at Forces of Geek]
CASTING BITES
- Theo Alexander and Grant Bowler have landed roles on the hit HBO vampire drama "True Blood". Alexander will play Talbot, an "intensely beautiful" vampire and boyfriend of the vampire king of Mississippi Russell Edgington (Denis O’Hare). Bowler will play Coot, a werewolf and ringleader of a biker gang… [THR]
- …Meanwhile, check out a casting call for episode two "Beautifully Broken". Two of the roles are listed as recurring, with another as potentially recurring. [SpoilerTV]
- Producers of "Dollhouse" have begun casting for the series finale. One character we’ll be meeting is a new Active named Romeo who is described as a "good looking bruiser with tats, a shaved head and an ‘intimidating’ persona."… [E! Online]
- …Meanwhile, Adam Godley has been cast as Clyde, a "genius who holds secrets to the dollhouse." The role is listed as potentially recurring (but keep in mind there are only seven episodes left in the series). [EW]
- Check out two casting calls for the 13th episode of "FlashForward". Only one role is listed as being potentially recurring… [SpoilerTV & SpoilerTV]
- …And a casting call for the 14th episode of the ABC series features four characters, two of which may be recurring. [SpoilerTV]
- Robert Englund said that there is a possibility he will make a cameo in ABC’s "V". Englund played the Visitor Willie in the original series. [HeyUGuys]
- Producers are looking for two characters — both guest stars — to appear in "Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid", the upcoming 14th episode of The CW series "Supernatural". [SpoilerTV]
- Producers of "Chuck" are looking to cast two roles for episode 12 – "Chuck vs. the American Hero". [SpoilerTV]
- In addition to appearances by JSA already announced, "Smallville" executive producer Brian Peterson says "we will see glimpses of" several other Justice Society members in "Smallville: Absolute Justice". [EW]
- Rebecca Mader (Charlotte) will be back on "Lost" for its sixth and final season… [@CarltonCuse]
- …And check out a casting call for episode 10 looking for three roles. [DarkUFO]
- Jasmine Guy, who played Bonnie’s grandmother on "The Vampire Diaries", says she’ll be back on the show. [EW]
NEW VIDEOS
Caprica
Featurette: "Friends or Rivals?" [Syfy]
Chuck
Behind the scenes season three preview [YouTube Link]
Season three promo: "Chuck Checklist" [via ChuckTV.net]
Doctor Who
Christmas promo [Blogtor Who]
Doctor Who: Dreamland
Interview with David Tennant [YouTube Link]
TV trailer [YouTube Link]
Heroes
Zap2It interview with Masi Oka (Hiro) [Zap2It]
Lost
Season six promo [YouTube Link]
CUATRO (Spanish TV Network) promo for season six [YouTube Link]
Newsweek interview with Ian Somerhalder (Boone) [Newsweek]
Slingers
Sizzle reel from potential show [via io9]
TV BITES
- Warrior Angel is indeed going to be a love interest for Chloe on "Smallville", but executive producer Brian Petersen teases: "There’s a wink behind it," before promising that Chloe will have a real relationship this year and we’ll find out with you in the 11th episode "Warrior"… [EW]
- …And those hoping for more episodes of "Smallville" may be in store for some great news. The CW is reportedly interested in picking the show up for a 10th season. [EW]
- The 12th episode of "Chuck" — formerly the penultimate episode of the season before NBC ordered an additional six episodes — will be called "Chuck vs. the American Hero"… [ChuckTV.net]
- …And speaking of those extra set of episodes, co-creator Chris Fedak says that they decided to tell more story instead of telling their current outline more slowly. Also, the character Julia (Anna Wu) will be absent during the first 13 episodes, but may show up in the final six (her absence at the Buy More will be explained early in the season). [EW]
- Just a reminder: the ABC comedy "Better Off Ted" premieres its second season this Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. The season premiere is titled "Love Blurts". [ABC]
- Here are the titles for episodes 16 and 17 of "Heroes": "The Art of Deception" and "The Wall". [HeroSite]
- John Barrowman (Captain Jack) confirmed that "Torchwood" will be back for a 13-episode season. [Blogtor Who]
- Syfy has ordered 13 episodes of "Haven", a new series based on Stephen King’s "The Colorado Kid" which is about a town for cursed people in exile. "The Dead Zone" producer Scott Shepherd is the show runner and will serve as executive producer with Lloyd Segan and Shawn Piller. Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn will write the pilot. The show is expected to air sometime in 2010. [SCI FI Wire]
- MGM will release the first nine episodes of Stargate Universe on DVD and Blu-ray early next year. Stargate Universe – SGU: Season 1.0 will be released on February 9, 2010.[High Def Digest]
- Check out some set reports for the upcoming sixth and final season of "Lost": E! Online, DarkUFO and Hawaii Blog (& here).
- "Stargate" / "Stargate Atlantis" fan? Got $70,000 laying around to throw down on a home theater? Then this is for you. [Electronic House—click to see more images]
SCI FI TV RATINGS (Based on final national numbers unless otherwise noted) [@TravisYanan]
Monday
"Heroes" continues to chug along with sub-par numbers. Last week’s episode drew 5.39 million viewers (+4%) and a 2.3 A18-49 rating (n/c).
Thursday
As noted above, "FlashForward" hit a series low last week with 7.07 million viewers (-11%) and a 2.1 A18-49 rating (-13%), while "Fringe" took advantage of decreased competition and posted post-season premiere highs of 6.94 million (+18%) viewers and a 2.5 A18-49 rating (+25%).
Friday [Dec. 4th episode numbers are based on preliminary fast affiliate data]
"Ghost Whisperer" returned flat from its one-week hiatus with 8.23 million viewers (-2%) and a 1.9 A18-49 rating (-5%). "Medium" took a slightly bigger hit among total viewers with 6.96 million viewers (-11%), but was steady in A18-49 rating with a 1.8 (-5%). The first set of back-to-back episodes of "Dollhouse" didn’t do so great on Fox. The 8:00 p.m. episode drew 2.17 million viewers (+4%%) and a 0.8 A18-49 rating (n/c), while the second episode drew 1.94 million viewers (-11%) and a 0.8 A18-49 rating (n/c). The overall average — 2.05 million viewers and a 0.8 A18-49 rating — was flat from the pre-hiatus episode "Belonging" on Oct. 23rd (2.09 million viewers and a 0.8 A18-49 rating). In fact, the show didn’t do all that much better than the 8:00 p.m. "Smallville" repeat on The CW (1.82 million viewers and a 0.8 A18-49 rating).
Select Sci-Fi/Fantasy shows on cable and syndication [SGU and Sanctuary numbers are for the November 20th episodes. Both shows were off during Thanksgiving week and numbers for Friday night’s (12/4/2009) episodes won’t be known until next week]
"Stargate Universe" 1.89 million (+5%), 0.8 A18-49 rating (+14%). Worth noting: the series heads into hiatus up 16 and 14 percent, respectively, from its series low (1.63 million viewers and a 0.7 A18-49 rating recorded by episode seven "Earth"). The positive ratings news didn’t extend to "Sanctuary", however, which fell to new season lows of 1.44 million viewers (-13%) and a 0.5 A18-49 rating (-17%).
"Ghost Hunters" came back from its one-week hiatus this past Wednesday and scored 2.44 million viewers (-6%) and a 1.1 A18-49 rating (n/c). But lead-out "Ghost Hunters Academy" hit a new series low of 1.63 million viewers (-14%) and a 0.7 A18-49 rating (-13% / tying a series low). Oddly enough, the week prior (Nov. 25th) the series rebounded to near-season highs of 1.89 million viewers (+11%) and a 0.8 A18-49 rating (+14%) without lead-in support from an original episode of "Ghost Hunters". Note: "Ghost Hunters Academy" premiered on November 11th with 2.07 million viewers and a 0.9 A18-49 rating.
In syndication, the third episode of season two’s "Legend of the Seeker" drew 2.50 million viewers, bouncing up 12% from episode two (2.24 million) and nearly on-par with the average audience of the second season premiere (2.58 million viewers). [TV by the Numbers]
CHART (11/16/2009 to 11/22/2009)
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CHART (11/23/2009 to 11/29/2009)
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Follow Russ on his blog: Your Entertainment Now and on Twitter: Twitter.com/YourEntNow.
Supernatural: Misha Collins plays “Castiel” not “Michael”….
FIRST!!!!!!! GO Brazil!!!!
These numbers worry me. Is SF/F once again losing its grip on TV?
1. Oops. Fixed.
Hope Stargate’s numbers improve. I’d hate to see it canceled. So far, it has a lot more intrigue and complexity than the first two Stargate series. The storytelling is fantastic.
Ever since The Waters of Mars aired three weeks ago, and Tennant’s departure is coming closer, the amount of people who have said to me: “That new guy will be rubbish!” is mind boggling. Some have even swore of Doctor Who come New Years’ Day, when Matt comes in, they will leave. Some seem to have passed judgement on Matt without ever even seeing him in action. Well, there was that video of the first episode of S5 where he shouts very loudly, but, hey-ho, the Doctor will be in post Regenerative doldrums. And Karen Gillan’s skirt was very very short. And people that Zoe Saldana ha d a bad time of it…
Anyway, I think Matt Smith will be bloody marvelous.
Bleak looking for sci-fi on tv. . . They will proberbly cancel everything and replace it with reality tv. Bleak I tell you!!!
I just can’t get excited about Dr. Crap. I mean Who.
#8
Just because DW isn’t your cup to tea, doesn’t mean you have to be rude. It is the longest running SF show in history and has more fans than Trek worldwide. Show at least some respect for the show, whether you like it or not. It has accomplished a great deal.
Oh and people who say they’re leaving when Matt comes in…they’re all talk. They’ll be back. Who always takes a bit to get to know the new Doctor. I for one can’t wait! I have a lot of faith in Smith and Moffatt!
CE
Why should Dr. Who get a free pass around here?
It is physically impossible to watch that BBC promo with the reindeer and not be in a better mood. :)
@6: What else can you expect from teh interwebz, right?
@10: And on that note, why should you?
#10 Because its bloody good!
#10
Agreed. Frankly, Dr. Who hasn’t graduated from the Schlock and Camp School of Science Fiction. I’ve tried to give it its chance, but it’s just dreadful in terms of dramatic storytelling (that and its spinoff children).
I’m not quite sure what ‘Slingers’ is but it looks awesome! :D
12 Lol, yeah, right.
@12: And because a mediocre episode of Doctor Who is a million times more engaging and fun than 95% of Berman-ized Trek…
Whoa ! Hawkman on Smallville. Gotta see that.
Wow, I hope sci-fi can remain viable on TV. I love Heroes, Flash Forward, Fringe and V-
13: Then you haven’t watched “Torchwood: Children of Time.” That’s some of the best SF ever televised, and it’s right up there with the original Prisoner in terms of its adult thematic content. And it packs an emotional wallop.
I can understand why Doctor Who may not be your cup of tea, since it’s aimed at a family audience, and it incorporates a lot more fantasy elements than most US audiences are accustomed to. And even though most of the specials this year have been borderline unwatchable, there is a reason why the series prior to this year has won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation for an unprecedented *three* years in a row. (And it’s not just because of the brilliance of Stephen Moffat, either.)
16. Lol, are we still arguing about Berman? Let me guess, you thought JJ’s Trek was bad too. But, you like Dr. Who? Uh yeah, dial again, pal.
stop bitching about Berman era Trek
There is a lot of great stuff in TNG, DS9, VOY and ENT
Doctor Who has a bunch of fans who are so scarred by its 15-year absence that they essentially now stand in a room with their eyes shut, hands over their ears screaming ‘IT’S GOOD! IT’S GOOD!’
They are also hilariously blinkered, claiming that the storytelling in the show (and that of the spin-offs) the music and the FX are superior to anything made anywhere else in the world. I remember about four episodes into the first season of nu-Who a guy saying that Joss Whedon wasn’t ‘fit to lick Russell T Davies” boots! Who says British snobbery is dead?! God help you if you disagree with them too!
I thought the most recent Torchwood was better than had gone before (not saying much!), but was still a typical Russell T Davies ‘homage’/rip-off – this time of Nigel Kneale’s The Quatermass Conclusion and Arthur C Clarke’s Childhood’s End.
But nu-Who, SJA and TouchWood (as people nickname it) are still desperate wannabes. If they weren’t made in the UK, they’d have been laughed off the air within a fortnight!
Compared with nu-Who, Berman Trek is an Oxford don and nu-Who a chav on a street corner!
Looks like we will be getting lots of cameos from past Who characters. Wierd though, River Song recognised Tennant and I saw pictures of Alex Kingston on location in the Radio Times and yet she doesn’t appear in the cast list? Does that mean she will be in the next series?
Dr.Who is just a good FUN show! Yep,this years specials included. But that’s just an opinion and everyone has one of THOSE! LOL! But then again…..I like Trek as well. And for just leaving Who when Matt comes in…….well,do whatever you like. I’ll give him a few episodes and see how it goes. Of course,it’s always like this when they get a new Doc,lol! And I don’t care that Tennant leaves as everyone knows it’s part of the whole Who thing. Have FUN y’all! J-R!
Some people just don’t get Dr Who, and thats ok, but thats no reason to hate it. Besides…its British, and as we know the vast majority of Americans just don’t get British humour, or indeed anything outside of their idiocentric world…some Americans that is.
Either way, Dr Who is fantastic, absolutely and unconditionally, and I agree better then a lot of those dull Trek episodes…or FILLERs! Star Trek, was always 85% filler, Dr Who is 100% thriller!
And I rest my case!
Nice to see “Legend of the Seeker” drawing more viewers than “Dollhouse.”
I don’t think we’ll be seeing too much more of Mr. Whedon on TV at this rate.
Regardless of whether or not someone personally finds something to their taste, it never ceases to amaze me; this tendency to accuse those that disagree of somehow *pretending* to like it. I mean, what’s that about?
Besides, in the case of Doctor Who, it’s easily disprovable. The show is watched by a wide demographic who never even WATCHED the old show, never mind are fanatically loyal to it and desperate for new Who at any price. Hell, the AI ratings actually show that the general public like most new episodes MORE than the fans do!
To be honest, it’s about as credible as someone who dislikes the 2009 Star Trek movie claiming it only SEEMS like a popular movie with the public because hardcore fans are loudly pretending to like it out of desperation.
28. Nuallain
That’s because the new show is aimed at the same sort of zombies who think chatty dross like Strictly, Big Brother or The X Factor are great TV. In the modern UK there are easily ten million morons who will watch something that dumbed down. And it says a lot for the modern Who fan movement that they enjoy camp, barrel-scraping, fart-joke laden garbage. Nu-Who has plumbed depths of crassness oven Old Who managed to avoid.
The worst thing with nu-Who is that occasionally it promises to be so much greater than it usually is. Hell, Blink’s understated appeal comes from the fact that it wasn’t some OTT, glossy camp melodrama and had a plot that actually hung together.
I’m hopeful that Moffat’s era can undo the sheer disrespect Davies had for the source material.
april 1st?
toaster was cute
home theatres work best for trek not gate.
Oh right. So, fans of Doctor Who only pretend to like it; and people outside of the old fandom who like it are all idtiots.
I thin kit’s important to remember that there’s no such thing as *objective* quality. You don’t like Davies Era Doctor Who? That’s perfectly fine. But to say that people who like things you don’t are somehow deficient for liking it is hugely intolerant and, frankly, pretty inexplicable on a Trek site … when Trek fans have been the victims of so much derision over the years just for liking something some others don’t.
As for Moffat,I’ll refer you the man’s very own words on views, like Dom’s, of him as ‘saving them’ from the ‘camp, crass’ Davies Era.
STEVEN MOFFAT:”It makes no sense, especially when you look at what I was praised for by these vocal fans. They’d say “It will be great when Moffat takes over because then there won’t be so much romance, there won’t be all that soapy stuff, there won’t be all this comedy, and there won’t be overuse of the sonic screwdriver”. But I do all those things, even more than Russell does! And I’ve got the record for gay jokes. I’ve got the gayest joke of all time in Doctor Who – I’ve got the “beard” joke about the Master. So, I mean, f*** off. I’m worse than he is for most of that!”
Oooh! Check it out folks! Enter the wrath of the scorned Who fan! See what I mean? They’re the most intolerant bunch of bigots out there! They’re about as palatable as New Labour spin doctors and twice as nasty. Watch out! The ex-Outpost Gallifrey bully-boys will be over shortly to destroy me! They’re even nastier than the bunch who attack Ron Moore’s Galactica! I don’t know whether to be scared or turned on! :p
‘So, fans of Doctor Who only pretend to like it; and people outside of the old fandom who like it are all idtiots.’
No, they just like crap and have no standards. Where did I use the word ‘pretend’ Mr Nuallain? Can’t cope with someone loathing your grotty little show can you?
‘But to say that people who like things you don’t are somehow deficient for liking it is hugely intolerant and, frankly, pretty inexplicable on a Trek site … when Trek fans have been the victims of so much derision over the years just for liking something some others don’t.’
So why are you here if you think that of Trek fans? Star Trek, even as a joke, has always commanded more respect than Doctor Who. Even the great David Whitaker described Star Trek as the best science fiction series made!
I detest Russell T Davies’ work because it is ill-plotted, self-indulgent crap, aimed squarely at the sort of people who like trash TV. I simply think Moffat’s a better writer. Most modern Who writers have lacked the chops to be truly good TV writers. They endlessly indulge in their own preachy politics at the expense of good allegory and think soap opera is good drama.
And I noticed, when quoting Moffat, you had to put in the remark about the gay references: nu-Who fans love to accuse RTD’s detractors of homophobia. I don’t care who RTD sleeps with. Pity he does and has to go on about in every show he makes. RTD has actually made the gay community seem boring!
‘So, I mean, f*** off.’
Yeah, up yours too, pal!
WOW! Well good thing I like it all then…..Trek(yes,even the crap episodes),Who(yes,the crap ones there too),V(old AND new),Star Wars,Galactica,Fringe,Being Human,Thunderbirds,Chuck,Lost in Space……anything goes,really. I’ll try anything ONCE and if I like it……then of course I’ll keep watching. But I won’t tell people what to like and not…..everyone can like whatever they want,it’s good for one person and just utter crap for someone else. I’m just happy everyone has different tastes when it comes to their fave tv show or movie,and there’s really no right or wrong here,lol! Have FUN y’all! J-R!
Ah, yes. Saying that everyone likes different things and that’s perfectly okay is an attack. “Bigotry” in fact (!?) But calling people who like different things from you ‘crap’ and ‘zombies’, ‘blinkered’ and ‘wannabes’ is perfectly reasonable debate, seemingly.
And you seem rather confused about your opinion of Moffat anyway. HE likes Davies’ writing. Or doesn’t he could as one of the blinkered crap wannabe zombies for daring to disagree with you about what makes good TV? And your ‘up yours too, pal’ to him seems rather harsh too, for someone who declares himself a fan of his.
34. Nuallain
‘And your ‘up yours too, pal’ to him seems rather harsh too, for someone who declares himself a fan of his.’
The next in the Who fanatic’s canon of abuse – the smug: ‘I’ll take something you said and twist it in order to make a sneery remark’ reaction.
Why do you think I made the ‘Up yours!’ remark? Your reactions and remarks are so predictable! I knew full well you’d say the above! Methinks you’ve been schooled too long in the Jon Blum school of smug!
I’m not a Moffat fan, FYI, I simply think he’s a better writer than Davies and I also know that anyone who is about to take over a show is unlikely to slag of his predecessor in the press!
Quite honestly, I’m fed up to the back teeth of arrogant Doctor Who fans who swagger around every film and TV forum claiming it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, that Murray Gold and that geezer from Touch Wood are greater composers than Williams, Goldsmith, Hermann, Mozart and Wagner put together, that nu-Who’s (frequently dire) storytelling is greater than any American show’s and demanding that Who get some sort of special treatment for having been on a long time! Actually, they’re snobs who look down on American TV when even Stargate Universe (yawn!) is streets ahead of anything put out in the UK!
A lot of people think nu-Who is awful. Indeed, over 45 million people in the UK don’t tune in to watch it every week.
You Who Fans are more bitter than Joss Whedon fans.
Why do the Sci-Fi TV wrapups always have screwed-up formatting? This time, right before the Fringe preview clip, all of the text goes smaller, center justified and the white background disappears. Maybe it’s just me, because I don’t see any other comments about it – but it’s consistent every week and none of the other pages have this problem. What’s up with that?
I can’t wait for Torchwood to come back!!!
#35. Talking what you said at face value is ‘smug’? You quoted Moffat discussing views like yours and replied ‘Up yours’. Your deep layers of irony are obviously too deep for this poor zombie. But at least you can now admit your core problem is the fact that people are *gasp* discussing together about how they like something you don’t (the TEMERITY).
And, oddly enough, Moffat has already responded to claims like yours he pretends to like Davies’ work for public consumption:
STEVEN MOFFAT: “Russell’s not the boss of me. My WIFE’s the boss of me.
“Oh for goodness sake! Don’t want to, like, boast or nuffink, but I’ve got a fairly decent career going on here. Don’t actually NEED to go sucking up, you know.
“Every opinion I’ve expressed about Russell is one I honestly hold – and since they’re hardly untypical opinions, from an industry which regularly celebrates his talents, and since I have no financial or professional need to say other than I feel, why do you need to go any lengths to account for them?”
#36. Now THAT hurts.
38. Nuallain: ‘Talking what you said at face value is ’smug’? You quoted Moffat discussing views like yours and replied ‘Up yours’. Your deep layers of irony are obviously too deep for this poor zombie.’
And the smugness goes on. You’re not impressing me. I knew full well that the ‘Go f*** yourself’ was included because you were too timid to say it to me outright for daring to criticise your holy grail of a show (cue choir boy voice and golden glitter vomiting from the Time Lord’s mouth!)
‘But at least you can now admit your core problem is the fact that people are *gasp* discussing together about how they like something you don’t (the TEMERITY).’
No, it’s the instant reaction of people like yourself who jump on anyone the moment they mention not liking Doctor Who that I have a problem with. Your little fad means something to you, but like Helen-A you demand we all feel the same!
‘And, oddly enough, Moffat has already responded to claims like yours he pretends to like Davies’ work for public consumption’
I didn’t say he was pretending; I said that he had a sensible enough head on his shoulders that he’d not want to piss anyone off. I’m sure you’ve read Lawrence Miles’s extremely funny remarks about Moffat being scared to offend anyone!
36. Enteprrise
I prefer Guiness! But you’re so right. That’s why I walked away from the snakepit that is Doctor Who fandom!
The words “hiatus” and “Sci-Fi TV series” seem to go hand in hand these days. Boy, the major networks really know how to destroy any momentum these shows might be building.
“Why do the Sci-Fi TV wrapups always have screwed-up formatting? ”
Are you using Firefox 3.0x? I was getting the same problem until I upgraded to 3.5. IE doesn’t have the issue. I think there’s something funky in those video embed tags.
I had no idea that was Morena Baccarin in “V”! Man a hair cut sure can make a difference! She still looks stunning, though! And I still miss Firefly!
I thoroughly enjoyed the new Star Trek film (as well as Remastered TOS), the new Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who, Torchwood, AND the short-lived Terminator series, so clearly… I’m utterly lacking in taste and sophistication.
Oh, and I’m looking forward to Avatar, too. I obviously don’t know any better.
Please tell me which franchises and filmmakers I’m supposed to hate so I can be a “real” SF fan. Thank you.
In an age where most sci-fi must be all serious, and grim, and gritty, and dark, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera…
Doctor Who is…
Wait for it…
Fun.
Just that one simple little word. An 45 minute escape from all the dreary stuff in life, Doctor Who is pure escapism, and, in my humble opinion, makes it the best show on television. Like the lady said:
RIVER SONG: The Doctor. In the TARDIS. Next stop… Everywhere.
The height of light-hearted UK sci-fi is the two one-eyed aliens in “Life of Brian.” If I ever laugh that hard again, I’ll die.
22.
I beg to differ. I never watched the old show except maybe once or twice as a kid. And all I remembered were that there were peppershaker robots called Daleks.
It took me awhile to like the new show (at first I thought it was agonizignly cheesy) but by the end of the first season I was, very reluctantly, a fan. By now I’m a very diehard fan.
The stories aren’t always good – but they often are. And the characters are just fun to watch, really.
I don’t know, but the “new” Dr. Who is actually a highly watchable and enjoyable show compared to the “old,” which was painful, IMO.
@20: Oh, God, no. I adored the new movie — primarily because of the sense of fun it brought back to Trek (#45 said it better than I could).
@25: No filler? I don’t know, I distincly remember more than a few plots involving the Doc getting caught, escaping, getting caught by the other guys, escaping again, etc…. :)
@48: Some of it’s pretty creaky, I know, but check out “City of Death”. It was written by Douglas Adams and the dialogue is just grand.
Dom: I know it’s the internet and all, but ease up before you blow a gasket. Did new Doctor Who run over your dog while pouring sugar in your gas tank or something?
48.
Not sure if you’re addressing me or not but my point was that I like the new Who and never really watched the old one so the point that only old fans like new Who isn’t really valid.