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Neil Gaiman To Pen
Episode Of DOCTOR WHO??

Dr Who needs COMPLETELY REVISED by A G	May 28th, 2008 12:50:32 PM
It needs to be edgy and compelling like American dramas such as Lost and to a much lesser extent Heroes. Right now Dr Who is complete and utter SHIT.
A G is, of course, a fool by palimpsest	May 28th, 2008 12:56:14 PM
though entitled to his/her opinion, of course. Though they might have noticed that's exactly what's happened with the announcement of new showrunner Steven Moffatt. The Gaiman news is interesting - presumably this'll be for Series 5 which will broadcast in 2010 (2009 will be four feature-length specials which are already written, I understand). Writing wishlist for Who? Kim Newman, China Mieville, Michael Marshall Smith, Iain Banks...
Actually sat through an episode by Phil Connors	May 28th, 2008 01:00:18 PM
Too weird, even for sci fi geeks.
Don't Get Your Hopes Up by DKT	May 28th, 2008 01:06:17 PM
Gaiman is a fan of the new Dr. Who, but he's been approached to write for the show before, and he's turned it down. Also, I believe he's working on at least two movie scripts right now (or potentially working on them -- he's very hush hush that way). So don't get your hopes up. Not that I wouldn't love to be wrong.
mmmmnnnnn by Darkocity	May 28th, 2008 01:07:24 PM

Michael Marshall Smith seconded! by supertoyslast	May 28th, 2008 01:13:17 PM
That would be my dream writer for Doctor Who, along with Gaiman. Others would include Ultaviolet's Joe Ahearne writing an episode (he's already directed some), Jed Mercurio and Daragh Carville (check out his Radio 3 play 'Regenerations'). I don't think Gaiman has been approached to write before. But it has been reported that he recently had a long dinner meeting with Moffat.
Gaiman's been asked, but that's it as far as we know. by SpyGuy	May 28th, 2008 01:14:27 PM
It would be interesting to see an episode from Gaiman, although Shakespeare's probably out after "The Shakespeare Code." I'm also encouraged that Robert Shearman, who wrote "Dalek," may be coming back now that RTD's out. I have to say, though, the writer I really want to see is Warren Ellis. Ellis comes up with some brilliant concepts when he's not indulging in fetishism and pandering to his Suicide Girls minions.
Herc - any reason you didn't link to this trailer? by supertoyslast	May 28th, 2008 01:19:11 PM
http://tinyurl.com/6acm7v I guess plenty of people, including myself, must have sent this link for the mid-series trailer to Herc. For anyone unaware, Doctor Who was not broadcast in the UK this week. largely because of the Eurovision Song Contest. Hence the lack of reviews this week. But the BBC broadcast this extended trailer instead.
No, I'm not a fool. by A G	May 28th, 2008 01:20:07 PM
Dr Who is just a silly kid's fantasy show. It is sci-fi in the same kind of way Biker Mice From Mars is Sci-Fi. The show is dreadful.
Hope then by Darkocity	May 28th, 2008 01:22:55 PM
that Gaiman won't turn it down under the regime of Davies, under the fear that what he delivers will be thouroughly hacked to bits and Russell-ised. Really looking forward to what they do now, only hope this also means a natural abandonment of that overpriced, cheap, crap, phoney looking integrated cgi. Heres remembering Neverwhere.
Why does Dr. Who still exist? by Trazadone	May 28th, 2008 01:32:30 PM
I mean, didn't people realize that it's terrible long ago? I've never been able to get through an episode.
I read that Indiana Jones book by Trazadone	May 28th, 2008 01:34:06 PM
It's terrific.
Have you heard about ower Nai-el? by This_talkback_is_on_CRAZYPILLS	May 28th, 2008 01:38:25 PM
E's a Gai Man Nauw! --Catherine Tate
A G, I hack at you with my axe by Shut the Fuck up Donny	May 28th, 2008 01:39:08 PM
yet you regenerate! I do no fire or acid damage to counter the effect! What am I to do, as you are a Troll! Heh.. ANYWAYS, you are right that it's supposed to be kid-friendly, especially the episodes from way back when. Dreadful, though? Fans may admit some of the new episodes are sometimes contrived and silly, but if you truly think the show is dreadful, then generations of people keeping the show on for around 50 years must all be beneath you.
A G by MartinX	May 28th, 2008 01:40:02 PM
I disagree. Tongue-in-cheek cheesiness and a hint of derangement is, and always has been, a big part of the Dr Who DNA. Without it it simply wouldn't be Dr Who. It would be like making a PG-13 Die Hard or Terminator. Futile. There's plenty of other shows that do Lost and Heroes style edginess, like , um, Lost and Heroes. I guess Torchwood is kind of an attempt at taking a more serious approach to the same universe. Being a bit silly is part of the Who charm, re-tooling it after, what, 6 trillion years of history would be wrong headed. Maybe they could just revive Quantum Leap instead, that's the same sort of thing.
That would be FUCKING AWESOME by Killah_Mate	May 28th, 2008 01:40:44 PM
Pay attention here: I've read Neil's online journal, and he so thoroughly neither confirms nor denies this (even posted a direct question from a fan the other day and then proceeded to completely ignore it in the answer to the question!) that I think it's for real. He's actually doing it. Which, as I've mentioned before, wouldn't be a bad thing at all. palimpsest made a fine list of authors up there near the top, but I don't think many of them have experience writing for the screen (certainly not as much as Gaiman does). Warren Ellis, on the other hand, I could see writing an episode - especially since I've seen the Global Frequency pilot, and know for a fact that he knows what he's doing.
General Hospital has been on for decades too by Trazadone	May 28th, 2008 01:41:06 PM
Longevity does not equal quality.
From what I've seen of recent episodes of Who... by TroutMaskReplicant	May 28th, 2008 01:42:35 PM
It needs a few more minutes to develop the plot and a little more writing finesse. There was something incredibly patient about the older episodes, although that might just have been because they hadn't enough content to fill their time with...
And while we're on the subject... by palimpsest	May 28th, 2008 01:47:25 PM
...there's an unproduced/unfinished Stephen Fry WHO script in RTD's hot little hands. WHO's such a cultural touchstone in the UK that pretty much any UK TV writer/genre-associated author would love a crack at an episode. Jasper Fforde, Ken McLeod, Ashley Pharaoh, Clive Barker, Jeff Noon...
If they got Warren Ellis to pen Dr Who then by Darkocity	May 28th, 2008 01:49:17 PM
i reckon we would definitly get something like an angry-god, nietzsche battlestar galactica cum The Authority type Who! With the Dr injecting drugs or saltwater into his nutsack. Now that would be something.
if it's good enough for Douglas Adams by oisin5199	May 28th, 2008 02:05:48 PM
then I'm sure Neil will work well. For those of you don't know, Douglas Adams, author of Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, cut his teeth working on Doctor Who scripts. I'd love to see a Neil Gaiman Doctor Who. It'd be both fun and creepy. Hell, Neil even looks like the son of Tom Baker. But I'd REALLY love to see an Alan Moore Doctor Who, though maybe he's better suited to Torchwood. Because you know if he wrote it, it'd be all sorts of fucked up and British.
New season... by Shoegeezer	May 28th, 2008 02:09:43 PM
has been pretty dreadful, some good bits but no out and out classics yet - it usually manages 3 or 4 such eps per season. Big and small screen adaptations of Gaiman's work haven't exactly filled me with excitment at this news. Sure MOffat can whip him into shape.
Warren Ellis Doctor? by Strange Interlude	May 28th, 2008 02:11:27 PM
Darkocity, maybe it's just me, but the Chris Eccleston Doctor always felt like a standard irascible-but-goodhearted Warren Ellis protagonist, ripped-from-trendy-Internet-si tes expository dialogue and all. Seriously, take your basic Spider Jerusalem model, swap out the Hunter S. Thompson quirks for some of Ford Prefect's, and you basically have the 9th Doctor.
A G is entitled to his opinion. . . . by desslok	May 28th, 2008 02:37:46 PM
no matter how wrong it may be.
Good news if it happens. by Yeti	May 28th, 2008 02:37:48 PM
Like his writing style.
RTD is a comic book fan by EyeofPolyphemus	May 28th, 2008 02:42:33 PM
I am surprised RTD did not do this sort of thing himself. Neil Gaiman, Warren Ellis, Chris claremont, grant Morrison. maybe even Alan Moore. I am sure they all grew up watching the Doctor and are familiar with the mythos. I would not mind seeing Ricky Gervais pen an episode, either, if we are bringing in some nontraditional writers for WHO.
this is good news by Mr_X	May 28th, 2008 02:45:28 PM
really. some better quality writing and it will up thew shows kudos
I thought a gay man was already writing Dr. Who by Zardoz	May 28th, 2008 02:47:10 PM
Not that there's anything wrong with that!
A G by kwisatzhaderach	May 28th, 2008 02:52:42 PM
Stop talking out of your ass fool.
Oh fantastic!!! by Lloydywho	May 28th, 2008 02:54:55 PM
Gaiman writing an episode would be awesome! Dr Who is sci fi, it is British sci fi quintesentially British. It is not always dark and edgy like some of its American counter parts but it is still sci fi none the less. Dr Who has shaped the face of sci fi over the years and many of todays writers cite Dr Who as an influence on them. So please if you don't like Dr Who then why waste your time posting on a Dr Who talkback.
Really SI? by Darkocity	May 28th, 2008 02:54:57 PM
Actually that is a good point. But i'm not so...kind of...convinced. Maybe in the sense of the characters quickwitted - expository dialougue in itself, but certainly not in relation to the world or reality or events that the Dr inhabits and interacts with in comparison; and thats the crucial difference. Hell, Buffy could also be a Warren Ellis protagonist in that sense. But neither could be Jerusalem!; compare his sense of twisted-smart-arsed justice and authoratative dissent to Chris Eccs doc. But anything that points to Warren Ellis being suited to New Who is all good i reckon
You have to love the twats that post how much they hate the show by SpyGuy	May 28th, 2008 02:56:31 PM
The world's longest-running science-fiction series, despite being extremely popular in the U.K. since its return in 2005, apparently sucks because A G or Trazadone don't like it. Well, okay then. Thanks for letting us know, guys. I honestly don't know what we were thinking by enjoying the show until you chimed in.
Could Moore do Who? by Darkocity	May 28th, 2008 02:58:40 PM
Would fate actually allow it to happen? Allow him to see something developed outside the gn/comics medium not completely screwed!?
very cool... by DigitalBeachWar	May 28th, 2008 02:59:28 PM
Gaiman is great!
Bite me, A G by DeadPanWalking	May 28th, 2008 03:04:22 PM
It certainly "doesn't need revised." It's not the same sort of show as Lost. Anyway, you'll get your wish for better overall episodes since Steven Moffet is taking over showrunning next series. Also, you're talking about revising the number one scripted show in Great Britain, which would be the same as some sabertoothed Englishman suggesting that Lost be revised with more cheeky humor.
Can I get a by manicart1	May 28th, 2008 03:09:07 PM
FUCK YEAH!
Actually I'm hoping Moffat IS revising it. by Kizeesh	May 28th, 2008 03:44:24 PM
After it was camped up to 99% after Billie Piper left, it needs to be re-grounded. Had Eccleston stayed for another series, I think the new Who would have been a much more serious series. badum-ching
DOCTOR WHO is better then your show. by UMAGA	May 28th, 2008 03:46:48 PM
So deal with it fuckers.
utter tat and underac by hesky75	May 28th, 2008 04:15:25 PM

Don't understand the hate... by lostbat	May 28th, 2008 04:15:46 PM
Until now Dr Who is overall just fine. We don't need a revision.The style is at it should be, thats whats makes it so appealing. RTD should get some credit for that. Tennant is maybe the best doctor we ever had or will have. We just need better scripts and yes the current companion was/is a big mistake......
utter tat and under achieving !! by hesky75	May 28th, 2008 04:18:40 PM
at the moment..... the potential of this show has not been scratched, this could be and epic series with huge story arcs and actors that have the potential to do "great things" but as it is at the moment..... it sucks ass
Is there any news on Gaiman's by Rufferto	May 28th, 2008 04:18:57 PM
Death movie? Or would that actually be Cool News?
no secret...gaiman mentioned this on his blog awhile back by bacci40	May 28th, 2008 04:26:41 PM
who they need to get is ellis...totally fuck up the series
Gaiman NEVER said he was writing Who by DKT	May 28th, 2008 04:33:40 PM
Only than he'd been asked. As for Death, yeah, he's doing it. Guillermo del Toro is producing it. "When" is the operative question, but I'd imagine it will be sometime after his new novel comes out.
Alan Moore... by DrManhattan	May 28th, 2008 04:39:10 PM
... cut his comic writing teeth on Dr Who weekly for Marvel UK, so it would be nice to see him come full circle and script a tv episode. That being said he holds a notorious disdain for the limitations television and film impose on storytelling, and was known to have an unhappy experience whilst scripting the unmade Fashion Beast for Malcolm McClaren.
"Have you ever thought what it's like to be wanderers in the Fou by richiejohnston	May 28th, 2008 04:45:00 PM
A G: Doctor Who gets watched by far more people than Heroes or Lost in the UK. And it would lose its family audience if it tried to be more like them. DKT: Keep your hopes up. Neil Gaiman has been writing more and more about Doctor Who in his journal of late. Wonder why? Trazadone: See "Blink". Report back. oisin5199/Darkocity: Alan Moore has written for the Doctor Who comic... More to come in next week's LITG.
Gaiman? Meh. by the grev	May 28th, 2008 05:00:27 PM
Oi! You lot! I wouldn't get your hopes up too high. Gaiman may be a bit of a whiz (an overrated one in my opinion)when it comes to comics, but so far his few forays into tv haven't been much cop. Neverwhere was on the whole a pile of fairly amateurish wank with a villain that stuck out a mile - but it still took 6 laborious episodes for the villain to be unmasked. Pants.
btw...has anyone seen the portrait by bacci40	May 28th, 2008 05:04:24 PM
that gaiman keeps of himself in the attic that ages instead of him...fucker looks the same after 20 years...i hate him
DKT...ya, my bad by bacci40	May 28th, 2008 05:06:49 PM
he said he had been asked...but he never posted that he said no...and he just finished his last novel...and maddie is a big fan...and im just gonna keep on ramblin...and i want ellis to be the new show runner on heroes
Killah Mate - Warren Ellis by SirFlibble	May 28th, 2008 05:39:02 PM
Would not be suited to Dr Who, he's much more Torchwood. Although I'm not sure how original his traditional British bastard in a black suit who chain smokes and swears would work...
No I'm not a troll and I used to watch Dr Who by A G	May 28th, 2008 06:22:05 PM
but it is incredibly bad nowadays and that simply cannot be denied. I understand the quirky campness that underlines certain aspects of the Who mythology but it doesn't explain the completely terrible CGI or the gobsmackingly unexciting villians which are rolled out week after week and in the case of the more established enemies (Daleks, Cybermen) DECADE AFTER DECADE. It's a called a CHEAP RETREAD which is why it needs completely revised. Everything, EVERYTHING that happens from show to show is amateurish and rushed. Oh look GIANT WASPS ! Hey all these weird ghosts are walking around..NO WAIT ITS JUST THE CYBERMEN AGAIN. FUCKING HELL.
i dont think people hate who mr_saxon!! by hesky75	May 28th, 2008 06:24:21 PM
more the plank's that are in control of it..... there have been some great episodes since the re-launch but those are becoming less and less, David tenant is a great dr but i think he turns in the odd bum episode recently just doesnt look as into it as he was, and he seems to be using one expression a lot too !!!! Dr who is ace as a concept i just wish someone else with more scope and not trying out to sell out to 12 year olds aka george lucas .... would have a crack ??
and what with all the ... by hesky75	May 28th, 2008 06:32:23 PM
crap music in the new episodes too !? epic theme not used enough
Charles Stross or Ian McDonald for Who by EvilWizardGlick	May 28th, 2008 06:39:29 PM
Hell that should toss in a bit of the old Sci-fi in the series.
Robert Rankin or Jasper Fforde for an episode. by EvilWizardGlick	May 28th, 2008 06:41:48 PM
The Doctor in Brentford, how cool is that? Why isn't there a Brentford mini-series?) The Doctor teaming with Thursday Next for a Bookworld episode, way cool. Harkens back to Troughton and his "master".
the grev by raw_bean	May 28th, 2008 06:42:02 PM
Gaiman's Babylon 5 episode was pretty darn good.
Here's the show's biggest problem by performingmonkey	May 28th, 2008 06:46:07 PM
Well, it's its biggest problem and yet one of its best strengths. They cram way too much into one 45 minute episode and so in the end they can't create enough character development, tension and drama. Somehow they managed it in season 1 and parts of 2 and 3 but now I'm wishing each episode was a 2-part story so at least it could have some impact.
actually A G's got a point by Maniaq	May 28th, 2008 07:11:32 PM
Not that I agree with the direction he suggests, but all the rejoicing with the news that RTD is leaving suggests that WE ALL agree New Who desperately needs revising! ...and we hope Moffat will be doing just that - but I'm sorry G, nobody wants to see it look anything like the shows you suggest. Having said that, I do miss the longer story arcs of the old shows - what's the longest we've got from RTD? Three episodes? Where are the seven or eight episode stories that had enough plot and character development to actually elicit the kind of respect and admiration that brings fans to the new show - and makes them sit through RTD's pathetic attempts with little more than a glimmer of hope something good might occasionally shine through?? If rumours are true that Gaiman was previously approached to write and turned it down, I hope the news that RTD is out might change his position and he might actually accept this time - at this point ANYONE who isn't Davies has got to be an improvement in the writing dept!
This would be interesting if... by Funketeer	May 28th, 2008 09:25:53 PM
Neil Gaiman had done anything of note since Sandman but if it weren't for that book, which was great, no one would care about his other works. Also, Dr. Who sucks.
good gawd... by lynxpro	May 28th, 2008 09:41:18 PM
I hope he doesn't pen an episode as bad as his Mirrormask lest the RTD apologists demand that that chap return and write every episode from then on. Beowolf was decent though.
2 American writers who need to be asked... by lynxpro	May 28th, 2008 09:49:21 PM
and both of these American writers are big Doctor Who fans... Peter David and JMS. And both know scifi.
hell... by lynxpro	May 28th, 2008 09:51:23 PM
...most of the writers on Supernatural could write excellent Doctor Who as long as the showrunner (Moffat) could interject and "British up" the scripts. The RTD crew had a general UK only policy towards the franchise which is fine and dandy but nationality should be a secondary concern to the actual quality. Thank goodness for Steven Moffat and Paul Cornell.
You'd think they'd appreciate the variety... by BurnHollywood	May 28th, 2008 10:46:22 PM
Does EVERY Goddamn show got to be a dead-serious, technobabble mindfuck? BSG, Heroes and Lost have their place, but so does Who, which at least has a sense of how silly the genre is in general. And NOBODY bitching about the current show's CGI has any business on this TB...true Whovians remember when Gallifrey was attacked by a rod of plastic curtains being jiggled off-camera by a BBC stagehand. And that was a GOOD episode!
WHY NEIL IS DOING THIS SHOW: by DOGSOUP	May 28th, 2008 11:13:57 PM
Maddy LOVES Doctor Who.
Dr. Who Critics are Morons by ChicagoRonin	May 28th, 2008 11:55:03 PM
That's an overgeneralization, but that's the sense I get from reading these talkbacks: That the people who dislike the series are incapable of making intelligent, thoughtful criticisms. They range from juvenile reductive comments like "It sucks," to making pompous condescending statements like "You can't deny that it sucks." IMHO: Overall, I enjoy the new show. I do agree that I miss the multi-episode of the format of the old show, and under RTD's direction, there does seem to be an overabundance of smug attitude, inappropriate goofiness, and a lack of solid science fiction plots. On the flipside, new Doctor Who has yielded several episodes that I think are standout television fantasy/science fiction (Specifically, "Blink," "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances," "Father's Day" and "Human Nature/The Family of Blood."). I thought all of those individual episodes were superbly written, ingenious, original, full of interesting characters and clever plot twists. No, they are in no way like the writing or style of shows like "BSG," "Farscape," "Lost," or "Heroes," and that's just fine by me. I love all those other shows, but the last thing I want from watching one show is that it be a clone of another (even if a good clone).
Not really a Gaiman fan myself, BUT... by Big Dumb Ape	May 29th, 2008 12:10:35 AM
Personally, I never got into SANDMAN (basically his real claim to comics fame) and his other works have always left me even colder. On the flip side, if you told me Alan Moore was writing an episode, then I'd be totally stoked. But hey, to each his own... All in all though, I would agree on one thing: if Moffat is now going to think more "outside the box" in terms of who'll he'll approach about writing some episodes of the show...to vary the "voice" of things more...then more power to him. As he takes over as showrunner from RTD, that's certainly a VERY positive sign right from the start.
New Who spends too much time on Earth. by Dingbatty	May 29th, 2008 02:33:01 AM
The idea that was eye-opening and staggering to me, when I first saw an imported episode on PBS in the 80's, was the concept of travelling through the history of an extra-terrestrial planet. Had never thought of that, until then.
Coltrane? by Lost Jarv	May 29th, 2008 03:53:47 AM
Can't believe I never thought of that. What a good idea. I sort of agree about it needing toughening up, but despise Lost and the season of Heroes currently airing in the UK is the worst thing on television at the moment (yes- even worse than Torchwood).
Season arc on WHO... by palimpsest	May 29th, 2008 05:29:58 AM
...odd comments on that from A G who's not been paying attention. The four series of the revived WHO are coming together into one long story. The arc was seeded in the first episode of the revival. Of course, if you want the full-on fanwankery on this, pop over to digitalspy or outpost gallifrey, where the forums are slick with anticipation...
Gaiman Agenda... by Johnny Wishbone	May 29th, 2008 07:02:51 AM
Meh.
The big problem with WHO by A G	May 29th, 2008 07:09:24 AM
Is that it has the influence of the BBC written all over it. Most Americans don't understand that BBC1 produces the WORST of national television in the UK. It's terrestrial rivals iTV and Channel 4 make genuinely great television shows and the BBC just cannot compete. If Channel 4 invested its time and money into a Sci-Fi show that represented the channel's ethos then we would probably be looking at the best sci-fi show on British television. WHO needs to MOVE.
ITV does NOT make great Television by Lost Jarv	May 29th, 2008 07:25:00 AM
Channel soap. Name 1 great ITV programme made in the last 5 years. I dare you. BBC on the other hand has had a plethora of great comedy, a couple of cracking dramas and Who. Channel 4 used to, and used to buy great television but next week the summer long misery of Big Brother starts. Don't make out Terristrial TV in the UK is good it isn't. And a personal bugbear of mine. I hate paying the License fee. But I hate paying it even more now because the BBC ALWAYS has 5 minutes of advertisements between programmes. I don't give a fuck if they are trailers for other BBC productions/ Radio- they should not be allowed to do it.
Lost Jarv by A G	May 29th, 2008 07:42:55 AM
You clearly have never watched any of the (Non-Comedy/Sci-Fi) one off and mini series dramas that ITV produced. They easily stand toe to toe with American productions.
Yes I have. by Lost Jarv	May 29th, 2008 07:53:29 AM
Name them- from the last 5 years. For every one you do I can either tell you why it is shit or give you a high class BBC one. I will give ITV props for getting Dexter though. That was a very, very pleasant surprise.
I think though, that we'll have to agree to differ by Lost Jarv	May 29th, 2008 08:03:27 AM
on ITV as I fucking can't stand Lost and don't know why. And the new series of Heroes is officially the worst thing on Television until Big Brother starts.
Sandman? Meh. by the grev	May 29th, 2008 08:03:49 AM
Neil Gaiman's never been as good as he's cracked up to be. The Sandman only gained any attention at all because it's lead character looked like a goth, so goths the world over (me included!) flocked to buy it. At the end of the day the Sandman is seriously overrated, and Gaiman's been sitting on his laurels ever since. Anyone who tells me he's a better writer than Alan Moore, Warren Ellis, Ed Brubaker, Grant Morrison (when he's not being deliberately obtuse) or Mike Mignola is cracked in the head!
Sandman letter page by the grev	May 29th, 2008 08:08:57 AM
Also the Sandman letters page was the worst letters page of any comic ever published ever - fact! It was full of letters by 15 year old 'Gothic Punk Rockers' writing appalling sub byronesque poetry about the sandman - it was so bad it made even Neil Gaiman's writing look good.
Yes Please! by darquelyte	May 29th, 2008 09:41:47 AM
That episode would be a keeper!
What is the Big Problem with Who? by DarfurOnTheRocks	May 29th, 2008 10:31:20 AM
I am sorry, I know that there are issues regarding Who. But that said, the relaunch has to be considered a success. I am tired of so-called fans that want to make Who into something that it NEVER WAS.
Doctor Who IS British though.... by DarfurOnTheRocks	May 29th, 2008 10:34:59 AM
It does not need to be Americanized to be edgy. I understand that there are elements which are lost to non-British fans..... Deal with it. It is not as if American culture is the sole standard for all that is good...
Burn Hollywood by Darkocity	May 29th, 2008 11:01:28 AM
Really no one has any business cos they don't like lazy, half-arsed, seriously overpriced crap effects in Dr Who!? Actually true Whovians probably remember when it wasnt throwing its budget away on shit-amounting technology just because its industry savvy; and wasnt trying its hand at being a poor mans buffy; and focusing on the true things that made it Who. I'm pretty sure Who was never about being a franchise; or pandering to contemporary tastes, which im sorry, but to me the over reliance on cgi is doing. Those old effects & monsters were terrible in their own way too, but you get the impression theres some real effort or love that went into them in relation to the budget; and they werent treated with the seriousness of a hipster postmodern-arse-fest. All i get from the cgi (apart from some episodes) is a spunking waste! This coming from a guy who tries to be as compassionate and open minded as possible cos hes knows hes sure as hell never writing or making anything. And also CR, critics of new Who are not morons; not all of them anyway; they just want a great concept and potential; and something sorry but distinctly british, kind of reduced to something like...Charmed...but with some genuinly good ideas and episodes thrown in to string you along. Jeez...didnt know i cared that much till now...but i kind of feel sick when i pop into WHSmith, Woolworths etc, and see sodding daleks, david tennant, the sonic screw driver, giant daleks alongside Transformers, Star Wars & Bratz merch.
Dr Who = Biggest British Sci Fi Franchise Ever Created By A Cana by mdf2	May 29th, 2008 11:11:36 AM
Or Canadian RESIDENT I guess. Seriously. Sidney Newman was born in Toronto, and worked for the Canadian National Film Board. Far as I'm concerned, he joins fellow Canadian and Rambo creator (he wrote the novel 'First Blood') David Morrell as the one of the great Canadian contributors to the pop culture of another country. That said, Who IS British through and through. It would not be what it is if the BBC didn't pick up the ball the CBC dropped and ran with it. Not to mention, even as a Canadian, hearing the Dr's home planet pronounced as 'Gallifr- EH!' would start to grate after a while.
Edits by mdf2	May 29th, 2008 11:13:37 AM
That should be 'Canadian' in the subject heading and 'as one of...' rather than 'as the one of...' Damn.
All That, And I Forgot by mdf2	May 29th, 2008 11:17:47 AM
As a Gaiman fan, I'd be tuning in to see an episode penned by him. I started with Tom Baker episodes on TV Ontario, but have been out of the loop for far too long. I liked 'Neverwhere', but 'Mirrormask' was a huge disappointment. Neat Dave McKean visuals, but the story was so by-the-numbers. And, as someone who thinks Kim Newman is an unjustly overlooked here in North America, I'd watch anything he wrote too.
Haven't read much Neil by tylermo	May 29th, 2008 11:21:17 AM
so I can't speak on the matter. Has to be better than RTD's worst ep's, at least. As for Moffat making significant changes, seems like I read a link on Gallifreyone.com that his run would probably still be very much in the vein of RTD, as far as the flavor of the show is concerned. Admittedly, any writing, or selection of writers will be better. That said, I hope that he'll get rid of some of the modern sitcomsy, dramedy feel of the new Who. Fingers crossed that he'll be the guy who can give me the modern bridge between the old Who and the new program. Less pop culture references, and social issues all the damned time.
A G, Trazadone, Brunomac... by BiggusDickus	May 29th, 2008 11:29:05 AM
Each to his own, fellas. I just happen to think you're wrong. Doctor Who, when firing on all cylinders, is about as good as family sci-fi gets. Sure, there's been some duff episodes since the relaunch. Some downright howlers, too, but when it works, it really works. Shame you guys dismiss it out of hand, you're missing some quality entertainment. As for Gaiman, well that news just warms the cockles, don't it? Great writer and will no doubt add a sprinkle of magic to the episode(s) he writes. On a seperate note, Gaiman's 'Coraline' movie. Does anyone have an update on this?
Subject: Subject: by Subculture	May 29th, 2008 12:13:01 PM
Gaiman writing an episode of Dr Who would be pretty frigging great. I'd love to see the kind of fucked up goodness that Garth Ennis would add if he was ever to write an episode of Dr Who. Granted, it certainly wouldn't be for kids.
bacci40, Good Call by DKT	May 29th, 2008 12:30:48 PM
If I was a big enough writer to be courted by a show my daughter and I loved to write an episode, it would be tough to turn down. You're right, there's no better motivation for him to do it.
American & Hollywood Writers by alanmoore	May 29th, 2008 01:52:59 PM
Just for a lark, they ought to contact some big-name American and/or Hollywood (which would mean British as well) writers of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, and have them pen a few episodes. For instance, I'd love to see what Stephen King would do with Dr. Who, or what Terry Gilliam would do. (Then again, King is probably too busy waxing philosophical about baseball, and Gilliam is probably too busy directing some movie that's underfunded and is plagued by the Munchausen Syndrome.) Just a thought.
Addendum to "American & Hollywood..." by alanmoore	May 29th, 2008 01:56:27 PM
And come on, admit it ... Wouldn't you like to see what Guillermo Del Toro would do if given a shot to both write AND direct an episode or series of episodes?
alanmoore... by BiggusDickus	May 29th, 2008 02:32:07 PM
The Michael Bay episode would have every monster that's ever been in the programme having a big fight. Verhoeven's episode would be a darkly satirical dig at Britain with lots of tits and gore. Greengrass's episode would have everyone honking their dinners up as the TARDIS jerked around the screen, Tarantino's episode would suddenly and for no apparent reason veer off into Blake's 7 or Space 1999, Speilberg's one would be very well crafted and entertaining until the last two minutes, when an utterly implausible and saccharine-sweet ending would totally ruin the previous thirty-nine minutes and the Brett Ratner episode would simply copy what everyone else did. Shame old Russ Meyer's carked it - his one would've been a great excuse to bring Peri back. I'd be steering well clear of the Rob Zombie episode, though...
Trazadone - Doctor Who is the fucking bollocks by Steve Rogers	May 30th, 2008 03:35:06 AM
It's massive in the UK and around the world because it is an excellent series. If you can't even sit through 'Blink' or the 'Human Nature/Family of Blood' two-parter then you are a lost, soulless man.
Good One BiggusDickus... by alanmoore	May 30th, 2008 05:15:10 AM
But let us not forget the Tim Burton episode or the Chris Carter episode, or the Richard Kelley episode. In the first, everyone and everything will be dour and gothic, with whimsical touches that make little sense. In the second, Dr. Who and his Companion are suddenly replaced by two new characters who we care little to nothing about. And in the third, nothing in the episode makes any sense at all until the last five minutes, when it all falls into place. But by that time we've been hammered so heavily with theme and premise that we can't even see straight. It'll go on to become a cult favorite for no apparent reason, and will feature a giant bunny rabbit.
Addendum... by alanmoore	May 30th, 2008 05:18:55 AM
But still, I would be genuinely interested in seeing what King would do. He seems to have gotten good at writing for television.
A G is RIGHT by Mr Gorilla	May 30th, 2008 08:04:35 AM
Dr Who is a KIDS' SHOW. The shows it's often unfavourably compared to - Lost, Battlestar Galactica, Firefly - aren't. There's nothing wrong with adults enjoying kids' fiction - look at the generations who adored Lewis Carroll, or the many grown-ups who read J K Rowling today. But, you know, call a spade a spade. YOU ARE WATCHING A KIDS' SHOW! And it's a very successful kids' show, one that children seem to adore. [Though personally... ugh. I really can't bear it. Horrible acting. Over-dependence on (bad) effects. And lack of ANY interesting relationships - c'mon RTD, at least you could have learnt THAT from the brilliant Joss Whedon.]
A G - you don't know what you're on about by Steve Rogers	May 30th, 2008 08:21:42 AM
ITV produces nothing but wank. Britain's Got Talent and I'm A Celebrity are it's mainstays. You do not know what you are talking about. Channel 4 produces good stuff, but the Beeb is right up there with it. Nearly all the big successful dramas out of England in the last 5-10 years are BBC ones. And to say is Who is "incredibly bad nowadays and that simply cannot be denied" - you sad berk. I think you'll find that a LOT of people DO deny it; on this very Talkback for one. Go away and watch Blink and Human Nature/The Family of Blood, and the last ten minutes of Utopia. Tennant is fantastic and Who is superb.
AG, you're a goober by alanmoore	May 30th, 2008 03:17:33 PM
You're entitled to your opinion, and so am I, and this is it: Number one, Doctor Who is made for both children and adults. So in other words, it is -- most of the time -- a family oriented show. True, BSG and LOST are not family shows, but it IS fair to compare Dr. Who to them on the artistic level, which includes the storytelling level. Its cheesiness may not be your cup of tea, but to me, it's more the "Hudson Hawk" kind of cheesiness, which I personally find enjoyable. Now, Number Two, Doctor Who has lived on television for forty years. Take that in a moment ... FORTY YEARS. It has been through ten actors, several different writer-director-supervisors, and various different incarnations. Now, you can say that it's the worst thing on TV if you want. But series don't live that long without a following. And so, if you're going to say with an empirical tone that it indefatigably sucks balls, then as I said, you're entitled to your opinion ... But you've got millions of fans to argue with and convince ... And that includes a few previous generations.
A G: Why do people insist on crapping on Doctor Who.. by Avon	May 31st, 2008 10:50:37 AM
..and RTD? As if there are no redeeming features to the show. It is not SHIT to be a family show aimed at 8-80 year olds. &%$! off, get some perspective and watch Battlestar Gallactica or Lost for the same old shit each day but more 'adult' fun. Speaking of which, Lost had one high quality season, the first one. Since then, it's totally been losing the plot. Doctor Who has gone the opposite. Lost needs complete revising nevermind 'Who'.
Neil Gaiman? PAH! by spud mcspud	May 31st, 2008 02:47:16 PM
Last thing we need is a pale-and-wan melancholic wannabe Victorian vampire-type fucking emo dude playing the Doctor. Which is pretty much Gaiman's staple lead character. The only thing Gaiman would be good at in Who would be to write ALL the episodes for the lost Paul McGann 8th Doctor season, because if that Doctor wasn't trying to be the fucking Sandman I don't know what is. With the exception of STARDUST (which may be due to Jane Goldman's take on Gaiman's novel) and CORALINE, and the DEATH graphic novels that were passable, I've pretty much hated everything he ever wrote. Pompous emo bollocks.
alanmoore by spud mcspud	May 31st, 2008 02:49:19 PM
Re HUDSON HAWK - I got your back. Top quality cheese, and I'd write them ten sequels if there was a chance that one would be made. Ditto for anything made by the legendary Kurt Russell / John Carpenter combo. Fucking golden.
Mr Gorilla: 'family' show not KIDS show. by Avon	May 31st, 2008 03:57:00 PM
Actually a family show, which is different. A kids show is something on at 2 or 3pm on CBBC. It's very patronising to all of the viewers who are not kids (which is most of the viewing audience). And it's a very successful family show: 13mil+ at Xmas and 7-9 mill per week so far this season. Numbers like that mean more than 8 years old's are tuning in. The effects are not bad at all unless you've set your standards too high and want LOTR budget (though some of LOTR is shoddy frankly) Joss Whedon is overrated. Buffy is totally overrated, especially by you. Too much emo bullshit.
rumor by vaterite	Jun 1st, 2008 09:56:28 AM
Way to go rumor-mongering assholes. You got called out on Mr Gaiman's blog: http://journal.neilgaiman.com/

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