Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Kopic's Doctor Who & Torchwood News

Kopic's Doctor Who & Torchwood News

"Torchwood" Looking a Little Less "Who" - JustPressPlay

Posted: 24 May 2011 02:38 PM PDT


JustPressPlay
"Torchwood" Looking a Little Less "Who"
JustPressPlay
Producers Russell T. Davies and Jane Espenson insist that they're not severing these characters from their roots just for new audiences, and we know that the amazing FX wizard Greg Nicotero has cooked up some creature effects for the show. ...

and more »

Karen discusses huge Series 6 twist, Amy's future

Posted: 24 May 2011 11:18 AM PDT

The sixth series of Doctor Who kicked off on Prime in New Zealand last week, and Karen Gillan recently spoke to the New Zealand Herald about what's in store for Amy in her latest adventures. While most of the interview is about the US based two-part series opener ("We've got Nixon, how cool is that?"), she [...]

Matt Smith Promises Next 'Doctor Who' Episode Will be a 'Whopper' - Anglophenia (blog)

Posted: 24 May 2011 10:07 AM PDT


Anglophenia (blog)
Matt Smith Promises Next 'Doctor Who' Episode Will be a 'Whopper'
Anglophenia (blog)
Looking very dashing on the set of The BBC's The One Show earlier today (May 24), Matt Smith confessed that, just like the rest of us loyal Whovians, he parks himself in front of a TV each and every Saturday night to watch Doctor Who. ...

Alex Kingston on ‘The Graham Norton Show'

Posted: 24 May 2011 09:59 AM PDT

Alex Kingston will be a guest on The Graham Norton Show on Friday! The River Song actress will be talking all things Doctor Who ahead of her character's return in next week's anticipated spring finale, A Good Man Goes to War. Tune in from 10:35pm on BBC One this Friday, 27th May, to catch her interview! Please [...]

In London, Stalking the New - New York Times

Posted: 24 May 2011 09:45 AM PDT


New York Times
In London, Stalking the New
New York Times
The rush for them rivals the one for orchestra seats for the new West End production of "Much Ado About Nothing," with a cast led by the television stars Catherine Tate and David Tennant, or for a private tour of the "Pioneers of the Downtown Scene" ...

The Doctor's Jacket - re-worn

Posted: 24 May 2011 09:38 AM PDT

After the controversy raised by Scottish media last weekend over the commercial sale of replicas of the Doctor's coat, Canada's premier news agency Postmedia investigated further from the perspective of the country where replica producer AbbyShot Clothiers are based.

BBC Worldwide spokesperson Emma Finlay clarified that AbbyShot approached them with the proposal:
... as rights-holder, we obviously don't dictate to our licensees where they make their products or other aspects of the product's manufacture (but that we) insist that they meet our ethical sourcing criteria, prohibiting products made from unregulated, sweatshop labour.
The agency also confirmed that the adapted jacket worn by Matt Smith for the current series was not a Chinese replica as intimated in the earlier reports, but was actually tailored into a warmer version for the actor by a Saville Row shop - though using a substitute for true Harris Tweed. The replica being produced by AbbyShot is a wool-acrylic blend based on that design.

Last year, AbbyShot received a Canadian SME Innovator of the Year award from Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters. The company specialises in making screen-accurate representations of popular iconic clothing seen on television and in movies.

News links: Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald

Related Articles: The Doctor's Jacket (22 May 2011)


The Doctor Who News Page

Trailer Talk: Vampire Remake 'Fright Night' Preview Thrills - Big Hollywood

Posted: 24 May 2011 08:39 AM PDT


Trailer Talk: Vampire Remake 'Fright Night' Preview Thrills
Big Hollywood
I like David Tennant from Cassanova and Doctor Who, but he's become a bit too much… and he's got some pretty big shoes to fill considering he's got Roddy McDowell's role. I truly hate that they remade yet another of my favorite flicks. ...

Knock-off Doctor Who Harris Tweed has Scots up in arms - National Post (blog)

Posted: 24 May 2011 08:31 AM PDT


Knock-off Doctor Who Harris Tweed has Scots up in arms
National Post (blog)
In 2009, the makers of genuine Harris Tweed jackets celebrated the announcement by Doctor Who producers that Matt Smith — the latest of 11 British actors since 1963 to play the wildly popular planet-hopping "Time Lord" — would make a 1960s-style ...

and more »

Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal - Calgary Herald

Posted: 24 May 2011 08:16 AM PDT


Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal
Calgary Herald
In 2009, the makers of genuine Harris Tweed jackets celebrated the announcement by Doctor Who producers that Matt Smith — the latest of 11 British actors since 1963 to play the hugely popular, planet-hopping Time Lord — would make a 1960s-style twilled ...

and more »

Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal - Calgary Herald

Posted: 24 May 2011 08:15 AM PDT


Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal
Calgary Herald
In 2009, the makers of genuine Harris Tweed jackets celebrated the announcement by Doctor Who producers that Matt Smith — the latest of 11 British actors since 1963 to play the hugely popular, planet-hopping Time Lord — would make a 1960s-style twilled ...

and more »

Will STARZ new "Torchwood: Miracle Day" represent at San Diego Comic-Con? - Examiner.com

Posted: 24 May 2011 08:07 AM PDT


Will STARZ new "Torchwood: Miracle Day" represent at San Diego Comic-Con?
Examiner.com
The new series, premiering on STARZ on July 8 at 10pm ET/PT, features Torchwood alumni John Barrowman, Eve Myles, and Kai Owen and new headliners, Mekhi Phifer, Alexa Havins and Bill Pullman. Special guest starring actors in the cult sensation include: ...

and more »

Watch a brand new clip from ‘The Almost People'

Posted: 24 May 2011 08:03 AM PDT

Matt Smith appeared on The One Show earlier tonight, and during his interview a new clip from Saturday's episode, The Almost People, was shown, which the official site has now uploaded! Although it's only short, it's still very humourous, and shows the Doctor getting to know his doppelganger. Unsurprisingly, they get on well! During his interview, [...]

The Rebel Flesh Reaction Roundup!

Posted: 24 May 2011 07:54 AM PDT

Overnight figures for The Rebel Flesh were encouraging, but once again seem likely to be be the subject of considerable revision when time-shifted but non-iPlayer viewings are taken into account, it seems,with SFX reporting that the episode drew an audience of 5.7 million on the night, which equals an audience share of 29%, again, almost a third of people watching TV at that point.

Following our exhaustive and Neil Gaiman-endorsed roundup for The Doctor's Wife last week, the Kasterborous news team have, uhh, teamed-up to bring you a collection of the most pertinent observations from around the web concerning The Rebel Flesh.

So to start, it's over to Andy Reynolds…

Difficult situations call for daring, affirmative responses, dedicated and to the point so it comes as no surprise that the Doctor is rubbish at them. Afirmative? Well yes, he's certainly does stand up and be counted but 'to the point' he practicaly dances round it with childish glee.

So it's something of a surprise that we don't get the manic dance in The Rebel Flesh. Flickfilosopher has noted his unusually subdued response to Amy's direct questioning about the Gangers and the northern factor-stery :

"Whatever the Doctor knows about the Flesh, it is somehow connected to the big Everything that's Going On… except it can't be, because this Doctor is supposed to not know about the fact that he will arrange to be in front of the person in the spacesuit in 200 years of his subjective time so that he can be shot dead. Unless… could this Doctor already be a Flesh replica?

Could this Doctor have been a Flesh replica throughout his entire regeneration?

Has the Doctor been playing a really long game?"

Looking far ahead into the future too was Assignment X's review (only rather impatiently):

"For those keeping score with this year's story arc, we have another pregnancy test (how many times is the Doctor going to run the same inconclusive scan so the audience can be reminded on a weekly basis of the Big Mystery?) and another inexplicable fleeting appearance by the Eye Patch Lady (Frances Barber). I'm finding myself not caring all that much about these sledgehammer techniques; let's just get on with adventures, please."

Next, over to Mez Burdett, who has an overview of the episode from Buzz Focus:

"It's hard to review the first of a two-part episode when most of it was mainly setup. Unlike the one-two punch of the Doctor Who Season Six premiere, The Rebel Flesh takes its time to introduce the guest starring characters The Doctor (Matt Smith), Amy (Karen Gillan), and Rory (Arthur Darvill) come into contact with, and put the wheels of the plot in motion. We get a sense of what's going on but the real story doesn't happen until the last act. Don't get me wrong. It's not a bad thing. After all, we now have TWO DOCTORS!"

Big Shiny Robot summed up what made this opening episode worthy of being a two parter and also has ideas about future plot developments:

"Another great thing about this episode in particular is that it's a slow burn that definitely merits a second part. We're introduced to the concepts, given a great set up, The Doctor comes in and does his thing, and everything is about to wrapped up in a nice bow and everyone's happy, and then… well. My only hope is that the next episode doesn't devolve into an US vs. THEM all out war. This show has done that before, and it isn't really one of its strong suits. The final scene, however makes me hope for the best. .. This episode also makes one wonder if the existence of easily created beings that look, act, and feel exactly the same as their counterparts gives the writers an "out" for the events of the season's first episode. I'm kind of hoping that it's much more elaborate than that though."

Doctor Who: The Rebel Flesh

Elsewhere, Monsters & Critics point out the (for once) strong use of Rory as he starts to come out of his nervous shell in this episode:

"Rory, since he's a nurse, really can be touched by the distress of others, and he grows attached to one of the Gangers who needs his protection…this is a good development because it gives every member of the "Who" Crew his or her own role and personality. That's important now that there are three people travelling in the TARDIS instead of the usual duo. Rory needs a reason for being there, and this is a good one."

And also points out:

"I was fascinated that the one thing that both the Gangers and the Originals had in common is the ease in which they both want to go to war with each other. Maybe there isn't all that much different between the two groups after all."

Yes, perhaps…

Finally, I've got some reaction from some of the larger sites, such as Digital Spy and SFX.

To begin, however, let's pay a visit to so-called "Doctor Who expert" Gavin Fuller. A word of warning before we go on: knowing a lot about a particular subject doesn't make you an expert. Expertise comes from understanding, something that Mr Fuller clearly does not do when it comes to modern Doctor Who.

In the paltry 259 word review (which we assume he was paid for) Fuller was surprisingly on the money, which clearly betrays his ineptitude for reviewing modern Doctor Who. Sadly, his opinions are only constructive when there are echoes of the classic series.

Matthew Graham's script enabled intriguing meditations on the nature of life and what it is to be human to arise from this absorbing, atmospheric drama. Matt Smith was at his most professorial here, giving a more restrained performance which chimed in with the feel of the episode and in his caring for the existence of the doppelgangers showing the regard for the sanctity of life that we come to expect from the Doctor.

Elsewhere, some agreement has to be given to IGN's summary of the story's setting. Everyone find monastries creepy, after all…

The setting also allowed for a refreshing spin on the conventionally budget-strapped Who environment; sure, it was yet another pipe-strewn corridor-fest, but by housing it within a beautifully evocative Monastery against a futuristic solar tsunami backdrop, there was a refreshing and creative juxtaposition between the original story idea and the production values-restricted execution.

Meanwhile, Digital Spy's Morgan Jeffrey clearly doesn't have, or indeed know, any young children.

After an impressive preceding 45 minutes, it's a pity that this episode ends on a damp squib of a cliffhanger. The main problem with the Ganger-Doctor reveal is that it's too clearly telegraphed throughout the episode. Savvy viewers might guess what's going to happen as soon as The Doctor first touches the flesh ten minutes in, but with the twist being obviously signposted at least twice more before episode's end ("Trust me"), it's hard to believe that any viewer wouldn't see this 'shock' ending coming a mile off.

For the record, Mr Jeffrey, my young nieces were absolutely dumbstruck by the GangerDoctor, not to mention horrified by his appearance; I'd call that a "shock", wouldn't you?

Over at SFX, the review is pretty simplistic, preferring as is their want to head for cheap gags rather than actual, you know, dissection of the episode. Still, at least they managed to offer this insightful observation:

Meanwhile, the fact that the gangers have all the memories of the "parent" means they're not just mindless (though they are occasionally faceless) clones , and raises intriguing moral questions about whether they have as much right to exist as the originals, or how you might cope with the idea that there are suddenly two of you. You certainly won't have encountered quandaries like these earlier this evening on Don't Scare The Hare.

A nice new source that was introduced to us this week is Hobo Trashcan, where you will find a very good review of The Rebel Flesh. Here's a snippet:

The one part of this episode that I did think worked was the Rory-Jennifer storyline. For one thing, I love that Rory dying every week has now become a joke on the show. It was fun hearing him acknowledge that fact this week. But beyond that, this storyline was a fascinating way to shake up the Rory-Amy dynamic on the show.

However, if you do click that link, take some time to mull over the section titled "Wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff", where you'll find some interesting thoughts about Amy Pond and the cause of everything that is a bit bizarre in Doctor Who right now.

Alex Kingston on The Graham Norton Show this Friday

Posted: 24 May 2011 07:08 AM PDT

The Graham Norton Show Alex Kingston will be a guest on The Graham Norton Show this Friday (27th May) at 10:35pm on BBC One. Other guests on the show are Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Rob Lowe.

Following transmission, the show will available in the UK on the BBC iPlayer for the next seven days.

We will update this post with preview clips on Friday afternoon.


The Doctor Who News Page

Smith on The One Show (Update)

Posted: 24 May 2011 07:01 AM PDT

Update: If you missed it earlier, here are the Matt Smith segments from The One Show.

Don't forget to tune into The One Show tonight as Matt Smith will be one of the guests. Not only that but a new clip from The Almost Pe Read more ...


Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal - GlobalNews.ca

Posted: 24 May 2011 06:56 AM PDT


Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal
GlobalNews.ca
A Canadian clothing company has found itself at the centre of an intergalactic uproar after landing a BBC licensing deal to supply replica wool jackets modelled on the one worn by British television sci-fi hero Doctor Who. ...

and more »

Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal - Windsor Star

Posted: 24 May 2011 06:49 AM PDT


Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal
Windsor Star
A Canadian clothing company has found itself at the centre of an intergalactic uproar after landing a BBC licensing deal to supply replica wool jackets modelled on the one worn by British television sci-fi hero Doctor Who. ...

Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal - Canada.com

Posted: 24 May 2011 06:47 AM PDT


Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal
Canada.com
A Canadian clothing company has found itself at the centre of an intergalactic uproar after landing a BBC licensing deal to supply replica wool jackets modelled on the one worn by British television sci-fi hero Doctor Who. ...

Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal - StarPhoenix

Posted: 24 May 2011 06:47 AM PDT


Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal
StarPhoenix
A Canadian clothing company has found itself at the centre of an intergalactic uproar after landing a BBC licensing deal to supply replica wool jackets modelled on the one worn by British television sci-fi hero Doctor Who. ...

Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal - Montreal Gazette

Posted: 24 May 2011 06:45 AM PDT


Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal
Montreal Gazette
A Canadian clothing company has found itself at the centre of an intergalactic uproar after landing a BBC licensing deal to supply replica wool jackets modelled on the one worn by British television sci-fi hero Doctor Who. ...

Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal - The Province

Posted: 24 May 2011 06:42 AM PDT


Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal
The Province
A Canadian clothing company has found itself at the centre of an intergalactic uproar after landing a BBC licensing deal to supply replica wool jackets modelled on the one worn by British television sci-fi hero Doctor Who. ...

Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal - Edmonton Journal

Posted: 24 May 2011 06:41 AM PDT


Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal
Edmonton Journal
A Canadian clothing company has found itself at the centre of an intergalactic uproar after landing a BBC licensing deal to supply replica wool jackets modelled on the one worn by British television sci-fi hero Doctor Who. ...

Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal - Calgary Herald

Posted: 24 May 2011 06:41 AM PDT


Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal
Calgary Herald
A Canadian clothing company has found itself at the centre of an intergalactic uproar after landing a BBC licensing deal to supply replica wool jackets modelled on the one worn by British television sci-fi hero Doctor Who. ...

Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal - Vancouver Sun

Posted: 24 May 2011 06:38 AM PDT


Scots uproar follows Canadian company's Dr. Who deal
Vancouver Sun
In 2009, the makers of genuine Harris Tweed jackets celebrated the announcement by Doctor Who producers that Matt Smith — the latest of 11 British actors since 1963 to play the hugely popular, planet-hopping "Time Lord" — would make a 1960s-style ...

and more »

'Torchwood: Miracle Day' Official Trailer - StarsEntertainment.com

Posted: 24 May 2011 05:52 AM PDT


StarsEntertainment.com
'Torchwood: Miracle Day' Official Trailer
StarsEntertainment.com
As Rex keeps asking "What is Torchwood?," he's drawn into a world of adventure, and a threat to change what it means to be human, forever. The series stars John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper, Kai Owen as Rhys Williams, ...

and more »

You're Two Doctors?

Posted: 24 May 2011 05:48 AM PDT

Doctor Who star Matt Smith appeared on BBC One's The One Show this evening to discuss the current series and the clonetastic current story, The Rebel Flesh/The Almost People.

You can still catch Matt on the show if you're based in the UK by visiting BBC iPlayer.

The following clip appeared on the show and features Matt Smith as the Doctor, Matt Smith as the GangerDoctor and Karen Gillan as Amy Pond…

(By the way, rather than go for the obvious play on a 1984 Doctor Who title, we opted instead for a reference to Fawlty Towers; congratulations if you got it!)

'Torchwood: Miracle Day': 5 things we learned from the official trailer - Zap2it.com (blog)

Posted: 24 May 2011 05:35 AM PDT


Zap2it.com (blog)
'Torchwood: Miracle Day': 5 things we learned from the official trailer
Zap2it.com (blog)
It also sheds light on a few questions about the whole "everybody in the world becomes immortal" premise and how some of the new cast -- Mekhi Phifer, Bill Pullman, Lauren Ambrose among them -- will fit in with "Torchwood" originals John Barrowman and ...

and more »

The One Show / The Almost People Publicity

Posted: 24 May 2011 05:35 AM PDT

One ShowMatt Smith appeared on the The One Show this evening, where he chatted about finding football more nerve-wracking than the BAFTAs, his stunt work in Doctor Who, and of course next week's The Almost People - as much as could be revealed at any rate - during which he also described the Doctor as the "cleverest and vainest man in the world, sadly". The item was accompanied by a previously unseen clip from Saturday's episode.

When asked if he's carrying on in the role, Matt answered he would be for the foreseeable future, and on next season: "I hope so! If not then I'm panicking!". A short Q&A session occured at the end, in which Matt said Day of the Moon was his favourite episode (so far!), the Silence were the scariest monster, and the Silence/Weeping Angels as his favourite (host Matt Baker also commented on how he'd been lambasted by fans for calling the character "Doctor Who" when soliciting for the questions Twitter earlier in the day!).

The programme is available to watch in the UK on the BBC iplayer for the next seven days.

 :
The BBC have now the made the clip available to watch online:

Preview Clip from The One Show, BBC, via BBC Website




 
Related Articles: Matt Smith guests on The One Show (24 May 2011); Next Time: The Almost People (21 May 2011)


The Doctor Who News Page

Torchwood: Miracle Day is the Show We've Been Waiting For - TV.com (blog)

Posted: 24 May 2011 05:13 AM PDT


Torchwood: Miracle Day is the Show We've Been Waiting For
TV.com (blog)
TV, because Starz has Torchwood: Miracle Day. The newest trailer for the program has hit the Web, and believe me when I say, "This could be good!" People getting impaled? Lethal injection? Welsh ladies? Sign me up!

Clip: Double Doctor

Posted: 24 May 2011 05:00 AM PDT

On The One Show, during an interview with Matt Smith, they showed a hilarious new clip from The Almost People featuring the Doctor and the ganger Doctor enjoying each other's company. See it in the video below.

Matt Smith segment coming soon.Read more ...


Watch: Action-packed new footage from 'Torchwood: Miracle Day' - HitFix

Posted: 24 May 2011 04:40 AM PDT


Watch: Action-packed new footage from 'Torchwood: Miracle Day'
HitFix
The new series in the long-running franchise spun off from "Doctor Who" features "Torchwood" vets John Barrowman, Eve Myles, and Kai Owen, plus new faces Mekhi Phifer ("ER"), Alexa Havins ("All My Children") and Bill Pullman ("Independence Day"). ...

and more »

Watch Now: Official Trailer For 'Torchwood: Miracle Day' - Geeks of Doom

Posted: 24 May 2011 04:25 AM PDT


Watch Now: Official Trailer For 'Torchwood: Miracle Day'
Geeks of Doom
Upon viewing, it really doesn't feel like a TV series, it feels like a movie event of some kind, which is credit to showrunner Russell T. Davies and the BBC/Starz crew. And who can't be excited about hearing the line "Hi, I'm Captain Jack Harkness. ...

and more »

TORCHWOOD: MIRACLE DAY Trailer Explodes With Action & Effects - The Daily BLAM

Posted: 24 May 2011 04:11 AM PDT


TORCHWOOD: MIRACLE DAY Trailer Explodes With Action & Effects
The Daily BLAM
The new series, premiering on STARZ on July 8 at 10pm ET/PT, features Torchwood alumni John Barrowman, Eve Myles, and Kai Owen and new headliners, Mekhi Phifer, Alexa Havins and Bill Pullman. "Torchwood: Miracle Day" begins with a day ...

and more »

10 Greatest Superhero Dogs! - io9

Posted: 24 May 2011 04:03 AM PDT


10 Greatest Superhero Dogs!
io9
K-9, Doctor Who's robot companion not only shows up on the TARDIS, he was also on The Sarah Jane Adventures. He starred in his own series of books, sans The Doctor, and even has his own TV show in Australia. In his eponymous show, K-9 travels to 2050 ...

Watch This: 'Torchwood: Miracle Day' Trailer - Ology

Posted: 24 May 2011 03:50 AM PDT


Watch This: 'Torchwood: Miracle Day' Trailer
Ology
The mix of sci-fi, action and black comedy from genius creator Russell T. Davies (he also headed up Doctor Who-- Torchwood is a spinoff of the classic series) is positively Whedon-esque. By "Americanized" I mean "more explosions and sh*t. ...

and more »

Trailer Watch: Torchwood Fans Rejoice! Starz Debuts Spin-Off Series Miracle ... - Indie Wire (blog)

Posted: 24 May 2011 03:46 AM PDT


Trailer Watch: Torchwood Fans Rejoice! Starz Debuts Spin-Off Series Miracle ...
Indie Wire (blog)
Starz has a new ten-episode spin-off series premiering July 8: Torchwood: Miracle Day, produced by BBC Worldwide. The BBC launched Torchwood back in 2006. Its stars John Barrowman, Eve Myles, and Kai Owen now join new headliners Mekhi Phifer, ...

and more »

Some Comics Previews and Phoenix Comicon

Posted: 24 May 2011 03:39 AM PDT

I'm very excited to have my first work published at Vertigo tomorrow, as part of the Strange Adventures anthology, which also features friends such as Lauren Beukes and Jeff Lemire. You can see a couple of preview pages from my story here, and check out samples from the rest of the issue here.

And speaking of previews, also out tomorrow is Action Comics #901, the start of 'Reign of the Doomsdays', which you can check out the first four pages of here.

Icelandic volcanic dust clouds permitting, tomorrow I'll be flying to the Phoenix Comicon, which sounds a great deal of fun. Here's my schedule:

Sci-Fi Authors & Social Media: Authors today spend a lot of time online conversing with fans about their work and everything under the sun. How do they keep social media from taking over their lives, while making their online presence a good experience for them and their fans? Panelists: Cherie Priest, Jack Mangan, John Scalzi, Paul Cornell, Sam Sykes.
When: Fri, 10:30-11:30AM (Room 122 Sci Fi)

Paul Cornell Spotlight: Join writer-guest Paul Cornell for a freewheeling chat on all his various works, including his Doctor Who (and other British television work), DC, Marvel and Boom! Comics work, and his award-nominated original fiction. Panelists: Paul Cornell.
When: Fri, 3:00-4:00PM (Room 122 Sci Fi)

Just a Minute With Paul Cornell and Friends: Join Paul Cornell and special guests for a fun round of the British radio game show Just a Minute. Panelists: Paul Cornell and others.
When: Fri, 6:00-7:00PM (Room 121)

Getting Inside the Criminal Mind: Whether it's a horror story, comic or fantasy epic, you need to have a good antagonist for your hero. From serial killers to super villains, our panelists take a look at what goes into the creation of a good bad guy. Panelists: Jeffrey J. Mariotte, Paul Cornell, Weston Ochse.
When: Sat, 12:00-1:00PM (Room 124A Sci Fi)

The Pages According to the Writer: How does a writer go from a blank page to published words? Learn from Tom Hutchison, Eric M. Esquivel, Michael Kessler and Paul Cornell how to transform ideas into comic books. Panelists: Eric M Esquivel,Michael Kessler,Paul Cornell,Tom Hutchison.
When: Sat, 1:30-2:30PM (Room 126A Comics)

Talking Comics: DC: Join our comics guests to find out about their recent and current work on DC comics and what they can tell you about what's coming up. Panelists: Dave Beaty, Ethan Van Sciver, Jim Calafiore, Joel Gomez, Paul Cornell, Scott Clark.
When: Sat, 4:30-5:30PM (Room 121)

Cool Things I'm Reading: Well-read authors and bibliophiles discuss what they've been reading of late and recommend new works for you to read as well. Panelists: Cherie Priest, Maryelizabeth Hart, Paul Cornell.
When: Sun, 10:30-11:30AM (Room 122 Sci Fi)

The British Comics Invasion: Join Brits Paul Cornell and Mike McKone for a talk about the British comics industry and a look at British superheroes, such as Captain Britain, Judge Dredd and Knight & Squire. Panelists: Mike McKone,Paul Cornell.
When: Sun, 3:00-4:00PM (Room 125 Comics)

I'll also be helping out with the auction on Saturday night, and I'll be spending a lot of the rest of the time at table #645, so do come over and say hello.

I'm swiftly ploughing through a rewrite on the novel, using up all those notes I made during the last draft of things to add, cut or correct. It's the most satisfying thing I've ever done, but it's immensely tiring. I may well keep on going during the gaps in Phoenix. So if you see me with my netbook at my table, that's what I'm writing.

Wish me luck for the Eagle Awards on Saturday evening. I doubt I'll win Best New Writer up against that amazing field, but those of you who are going to be there, please let me know how it goes. At any rate, I hope to see you soon. Cheerio!

'Torchwood: Miracle Day' trailer: Thrills, chills & dark humor - Chicago Tribune (blog)

Posted: 24 May 2011 03:13 AM PDT


'Torchwood: Miracle Day' trailer: Thrills, chills & dark humor
Chicago Tribune (blog)
The show's original creator, writer/producer Russell T Davies, serves as executive producer along with BBC Worldwide Productions' SVP Julie Gardner, with Davies also serving as show-runner. ¿Torchwood: Miracle Day¿ is produced by BBC Worldwide ...

and more »

Doctor Who Insider - Issue 3

Posted: 24 May 2011 02:58 AM PDT

The third edition of Doctor Who Insider will be available in North America from June 2nd.

In an exclusive interview, Arthur Darvill reveals he wants to write his own episode of Doctor Who, that he was cast for his massive arms, and shares his experience of filming in America.

"I think the balance between the humor and the terror is good because the look of it's just getting better and better, the way it's being shot, the way it's designed, it's just unbelievable

Also in this issue:
  • WASHINGTON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS Actors Mark Sheppard and Stuart Milligan talk exclusively to Doctor Who Insider, sharing their experience of playing FBI Agent, Canton Everett Delaware III and President Richard Nixon in The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon.
  • HERE'S TO THE FUTURE
    We track the evolution of mankind in Doctor Who as humanity escapes the confines of planet Earth and reaches for the stars.
  • GOING FOR GOLD
    Insider talks exclusively to Murray Gold who has composed the music for Doctor Who
    since its return to TV in 2005.
  • I WAS… ANAT Anna Barry casts her mind back to 1972 when she played the leader of a band of freedom fighters opposite Third Doctor, Jon Pertwee in Day of the Daleks.
  • NEXUS POINT
    We recall the moment that the Doctor met himself – twice! – for the first time in The 
    Three Doctors    .
  • DATA FILE
    To coincide with the release of Time and the Rani on DVD, Insider takes a look at the 
    Seventh Doctor's battle with his fellow Time Lord, the Rani in his very first adventure.
  • TIME SCOOP Caught in the Time Scoop this issue are the Silurians, those xenophobic reptiles who are 
    sleeping beneath the Earth, waiting to re‐conquer their world.
  • MERCHANDISE
    Previews of the latest Doctor Who merchandise, including Time and the Rani and 
    Frontiers on DVD featuring interviews with Wanda Ventham who plays Faroon in Time 
    and the Rani and Lesley Dunlop who was Norna in Frontios; we take a look at The BBC 
    Radio Episodes collection of Doctor Who audio dramas; and author Una McCormack
    guides us through the writing of her mysterious new Doctor Who novel, The Way 
    Through the Wood
  • FAN ZONE A selection of photographs of fans and their incredible creations taken at the 2011 Gallifrey One convention in Los Angeles. 
PLUS! The latest official news and a giant, double‐sided poster of Rory Pond and Time 
and the Rani!

Some subscribers in the UK received their copy of the magazine just after Issue 2 was published; editor John Ainsworth noted that this had been a mistake in distribution.



The Doctor Who News Page

Doctor Who's Day Roundup: Matthew Graham Shares His 'Rebel Flesh' Secrets - Anglophenia (blog)

Posted: 24 May 2011 02:19 AM PDT


Anglophenia (blog)
Doctor Who's Day Roundup: Matthew Graham Shares His 'Rebel Flesh' Secrets
Anglophenia (blog)
And he explained to SFX that the inspiration for the story came from Steven Moffat telling him what not to do, as is sometimes the way of things with creative thought: "he said... 'I think it should be something to do with avatars that rebel. ...

Doctor WHOse Line is it Anyway?

Posted: 24 May 2011 01:39 AM PDT

Did you know that the Orlando Fringe Festival is taking place right now?  I sure didn't, but perhaps if you live in Orlando, Florida, you're very well aware that it's happening.

So why not go check out the Whovian improv show taking place as part of the festival this weekend?  Combining the names of two of TV's all-time great shows, Doctor WHOse Line is it Anyway? showcases the talent of what is apparently a large cast in a "cramped" venue (getting the TARDIS bigger-on-the-inside vibe, then).  Each instance of the show is an original fan-picked and fan-made story that has never been told before and will never be told again; just like in Whose Line is it Anyway, character traits and villains are selected by the audience.

Here's the Orlando Sentinel's Tod Caviness giving an account of what happened the day he saw the performance:

"In the show I saw, it was the Weeping Angels, a race of statue-like beings who can only move when they're unseen – a gimmick that's perfect improv fodder.  (Adam Scharf made good use of his status as the only member of the cast who had not seen the show when he described the Angels as 'the opposite of Medusa.')"

See?  See that?  That there is what you call "funny"!

To sum it up, it's a half-hour-long completely-made-up sketch about Doctor Who, with one cast member who hasn't even seen the show, for only $5.  Who wouldn't want to see that?!  If you're in Orlando, go, go, GO!

Oh, you probably want times and locations… There are three shows left; one this Friday at 10:20 PM, one on Saturday at 5:20 PM, and one on Sunday at 1:40 PM.  The festival itself runs until Monday.  For more information visit the Orlando Fringe website.

Doctor Watson Joins Big Finish Day

Posted: 24 May 2011 01:31 AM PDT

Richard Earl has joined the guest list for Big Finish Day, the one-day convention on June 11 being organized by Tenth Planet Events.

Richard is perhaps best known to listeners for playing Doctor Watson in our Sherlock Holmes audios, but he has also appeared in many of our Doctor Who stories including Paradise 5, City of Spires and lots more.

Other guests on the day include Colin Baker, Sophie Aldred, Katy Manning, Miles Richardson, Lisa Bowerman, Nicholas Briggs and dozens more! Tickets can be pre-ordered here.

Smith on The One Show - Doctor Who TV (blog)

Posted: 24 May 2011 01:29 AM PDT


Doctor Who TV (blog)
Smith on The One Show
Doctor Who TV (blog)
Don't forget to tune into The One Show tonight as Matt Smith will be one of the guests. Not only that but a new clip from The Almost People will be shown. He'll be talking about playing the Doctor and what's in-store for the Time Lord as we head ...

Bee Gees star looks for Paisley pattern in his family tree - The Paisley Daily Express

Posted: 24 May 2011 01:03 AM PDT


Bee Gees star looks for Paisley pattern in his family tree
The Paisley Daily Express
Back in 2006, former Doctor Who actor David Tennant discovered that his great-grandfather, Archie McLeod, had been a footballer who played for Irish club Derry City and remains their record scorer to this day.

Watch: Mekhi Phifer in the American 'Torchwood' Series Teaser - Indie Wire (blog)

Posted: 24 May 2011 12:24 AM PDT


Watch: Mekhi Phifer in the American 'Torchwood' Series Teaser
Indie Wire (blog)
Fans of the British sci-fi series Doctor Who and its spinoff Torchwood are facing the news of the pending American "remake" of the latter with mixed feelings (I know I am). I watched the teaser for the series this morning, and I must say it doesn't ...

If Christopher Eccleston Can't Make A Good Beatles Film, Can Liam Gallagher? - Anglophenia (blog)

Posted: 24 May 2011 12:06 AM PDT


Anglophenia (blog)
If Christopher Eccleston Can't Make A Good Beatles Film, Can Liam Gallagher?
Anglophenia (blog)
I love the Beatles, I love Christopher Eccleston, I love the BBC, and yet you put them all together and something falls out. They've got all of the facial mannerisms and none of the charm, John is clearly a much older man than the other three, ...

and more »

Cover and synopsis for ‘The Eye of the Jungle' CD

Posted: 24 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT

AudioGO have sent us the cover and plot details for the forthcoming Doctor Who audiobook, 'The Eye of the Jungle'. In the exclusive audio adventure, written by Darren Jones, the Doctor, Amy and Rory find themselves embroiled in an adventure in the Amazon Rainforest in the early 1800s. A pioneering naturalist wants to capture [...]

Faith in the Doctor

Posted: 23 May 2011 11:51 PM PDT

Having recently subjected myself to the Smallville finale, a cathartic exercise to ensure that it was actually finishing, it struck me that despite the overwhelming influx of American TV to these shores we need not feel that British television is automatically inferior.

GeekDad, a column on the widely-read Wired.com, recently addressed this very point with regard to sci-fi. They saw daylight between the two offerings, with the big budget glitz of the Yanks taking on the indie-vibe sophistication of the Brits.

Doctor Who was, of course, the given. And with the form of the current series, perhaps minus the recent Pirates of the Caribbean episode, it has every right to be taken for granted as the unwavering flagship British offering.

The juxtaposition struck a particularly fresh chord for me as I eagerly sat down to The Doctor's Wife, having earlier stoically braved the Smallville finale. Which for me can be summarised as the following:

"I've been pushing those away that believe in me…so how can I bring myself to believe in myself?

"But if you believe in me, then perhaps I can believe in myself too, especially if I believe that you believe in me.

"In fact, if you believe that I believe that you believe in me, and I believe that you actually believe it, then perhaps I CAN believe that I have belief in myself!

Yes! I can't believe it!"

Unbelievable.

It was 90% build-up. Bad build up. Guff, in fact. The insecurities of the most sensationally-powerful person on Earth were being played out over and over. Then over again from another angle. Then one last time because there were still a few minutes left to fill.

Allow me to summarise the strength of the writing; the bad guy was brought back from the dead (again) at the last minute and – oh – was randomly administered a nerve-agent that in seconds gave him…complete amnesia.

Just ready in time to start duelling the freshly-minted Man of Steel. Able to leap tall buildings in a single frown.

It's an outright testament to Batman's cunning that he didn't appear in one episode of Smallville.

One could argue that after ten seasons it's hard to keep the writing fresh. But then one considers that Doctor Who has been on the go, on and off, since 1963.

Oh sure, it was never immune to bad writing. Frankly RTD made me cringe with his cheerful mangling of sci-fi tenants, free-wheeling arcs ("bad wolf" – he seriously knew what he was doing there?) and shameless deus ex machinas like firestones and Donna abruptly turning into a Time Lord. (The bandwagon for More Ginger Time Lords starts here by the way).

But Davies isn't running things now, instead the show is written by someone with a grasp of the genre. And, particularly now that Stargate Universe was senselessly cancelled, Doctor Who, Blighty's Finest, is surely right up there with the best of sci-fi?

Doctor Who – The Almost People - spoilers and picture gallery - Unreality TV

Posted: 23 May 2011 11:21 PM PDT


Doctor Who – The Almost People - spoilers and picture gallery
Unreality TV
Can the Doctor convince the terrified factory workers to embrace their own humanity and work together with their Gangers to overcome a monster of their own making? Jennifer is played by Sarah Smart, the Doctor by Matt Smith, Amy by Karen Gillan and ...

Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 247 - 'The Rebel Flesh' Reviewed

Posted: 23 May 2011 09:56 PM PDT

Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 247
Running Time: 1:55:17

We review Doctor Who: The Rebel Flesh live over the net with live listener feedback (Perry G, Kobo747, Mark G., Darth Skeptical, TARDISGirl).

Hosted by Louis Trapani ( @LouisTrapani ), Dave Cooper ( @daveac ), and Taras Hnatyshyn ( @tarashnat )

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