May 06, 2012

Calgary Expo - 2012: TNG, 2013: Doctor Who? (Updated)

Last weekend’s 2012 Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, by all accounts, was the biggest SF fandom event ever held in Alberta. Thanks to the 1-2-3-4 punch of the entire original cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, comic book icon Stan Lee, the definitive Batman, Adam West, and the twins from Harry Potter thrown in for good measure, the event attracted so many people the fire marshal ended up shutting down admissions on the Saturday.

Indeed the show had lots to offer fans. Except, maybe, fans of Doctor Who and Torchwood. One issue I’ve had since I started going to the Expo is that every year they bring in a wide range of stars from Trek, comics, the world of anime, but virtually nothing Who-related.

This year was actually better than most from a Who-franchise perspective, though you had to be paying attention. James Marsters (Capt. John Hart on Torchwood) was a big draw this year. Dave Prowse (the Minotaur in the Pertwee-era story “The Time Monster”) made good on a promise to return after health issues forced him to cancel last year. A surprise guest to the TNG 25th anniversary reunion was John de Lancie (Allen Shapiro in Miracle Day), who also snuck into a panel for fans of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic for which he does voices (the image above is taken from one of the many YouTube videos of this event). But as far as I could tell virtually no attention was paid to any of these guys’ work on the franchise. But then none of these folks became known because of their work on Doctor Who. The people who were and are strongly associated with the franchise—the Tom & Colin Bakers, the John Barrowmans, the Nicola Bryants, the Billie Pipers—we’ve never seen any of them at the Calgary Expo.

This year, the Expo had a goldmine by bringing in the cast of TNG to mark its 25th anniversary. The hope now is as the planners turn to 2013 they will now look at the next anniversary: the 50th birthday of Doctor Who. Imagine if they score a coup for Canada and bring in Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann? Imagine the chaos if they managed to book David Tennant or Matt Smith (the latter’s doing the convention circuit in the UK so you never know; we’ll take as read that Christopher Eccleston doesn’t do conventions). The recent Gallifrey One convention in L.A. brought in the likes of William Russell from the UK to share stories - surely they could bring him to Calgary as well. Russell T Davies would be a huge draw, able to not only talk about his triple play of Doctor Who series but also to discuss his other work like Queer as Folk. John Barrowman is apparently a hoot at conventions, and by the time next April rolls around could be a big star on US TV if his new series Gilded Lilys goes anywhere.

By bringing in the entire cast of TNG (not a cheap proposition), the Calgary Expo announced that it’s in the big leagues. Surely they can bring in a Doctor or two, or a few companions, or a behind the scenes person like Nick Briggs. It would be a great venue for Steven Moffat to unveil a 50th anniversary announcement of some sort (recognizing that the series was in part created by a Canadian, Sydney Newman), or host the world debut of an episode if Series 7 is still airing. If they don’t bring in at least a few Doctor Who alumni (past or present) next year, it will be a golden opportunity lost for fans in this part of the world.

Postscript: As if we need more reason to get Doctor Who to Calgary, Mayor Naheed Nenshi reveals his love of the series - especially the Target novelisations - in a newly released magazine marking the Calgary Public Library’s 100th anniversary. Download it here (link via the CPL’s Twitter feed): Calgary Public Library: The 100.

Posted by Alex on Sunday, May 6 at 4:47 pm

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May 01, 2012

YouTubing It #31

Oh dear me, (blows some cobwebs off the blog). Sorry. I’ve been sick for over a month, and had a book launched, the DWIN website was sick for a while too (it’s now better, thanks to our webmistress Christine) and… who knows what else happened to everyone else.

Anyway, let’s get back into the blog posting mood with this fantastic piece which brilliantly edits together the different Doctors to the tune of U2’s “One”...

I’m not the biggest fan of music videos with Doctor Who clips, but when it’s done well I have no complaints. And I have no complaints here. The editing is unbelievably clever, and you come away from it with a real sense that it’s adventures in the life of the same man, no matter the body. One to remember for the 50th anniversary for sure.

Posted by Graeme on Tuesday, May 1 at 6:42 am

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April 23, 2012

I love The Myth Makers

An unheralded story in the Doctor Who canon, but my heavens is it good. No episodes exist in the archives (other than a couple of off-screen clips) but the soundtrack is available on CD from the BBC. If you haven’t heard it, give it a listen. Its basically Doctor Who doing Blackadder nearly twenty years before Blackadder did. Even to the point that the comedy is replaced at the end with tragedy as Blackadder seasons were wont to do. The story also made for one of the best Target novelizations, written by the script writer Donald Cotton nearly twenty years later, although much of the witty dialogue from the script is not contained in the novelization which utilizes first-person narration from a character who has no dialogue in the televised version.

For all the new series fans out there wanting to grab a lost slice of the Hartnell era…...check it out!

Posted by Luca on Monday, April 23 at 7:25 pm

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April 08, 2012

Start spreading the news

Filming for the first episode featuring Jenna-Louise Coleman as the mysterious, companion (who’s name has yet to be announced) will happen as early as May, even though the episode is not expected to air until December. Prior to that filming will take place on a foreign location for the second time in just the first half of the next season, as the production team returns once again to the United States, this time New York. This will actually be the very first time that the series has done principal photography on the east side of North America (Vancouver and Utah having been the main locations used previously), and, personally speaking, is the Doctor Who story that will be filmed geographically-speaking closest to where I reside. Perhaps later in the season the BBC could try to capitalize not just on the succes of the show in the US, but look a little further north where the show is actually more popular on a per capita basis…...come on Moffat, you can do it!

Posted by Luca on Sunday, April 8 at 7:18 pm

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March 22, 2012

New Girl In Town

read more....

Posted by Deborah on Thursday, March 22 at 8:55 am

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March 07, 2012

New Enlightenment Issue out!

It’s that time again. Issue 165 of Enlightenment is now on its way to subscribers and available to order, and here’s a taste of what you can expect. (Sadly, the news of Philip Madoc’s death broke too late to be included in the issue, but Ben Hakala’s retrospective of The Power of Kroll features what, in retrospect, proves to be a fitting tribute to the talented actor.)

read more....

Posted by Cameron on Wednesday, March 7 at 2:45 pm

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March 05, 2012

A Farewell to Philip Madoc

It’s always sad when one of the great actors whose performances we have enjoyed in Doctor Who numerous times over years passes away, but always a bit sadder still if one has had the pleasure of having met the actor in question. This is certainly the case for me with Philip Madoc, who appeared in four Doctor Who television stories, one Doctor Who movie and two Doctor Who audios during a distinguised career which saw him appear in countless British tv series and films, including genre favourites such as Survivors, UFO, Space: 1999 and The Avengers as well as comedy favourites such as Dad’s Army. For most readers of this blog, it is his Doctor Who television appearances - as Eelek in The Krotons, the War Lord in The War Games, Solon in The Brain of Morbius and Fenner in The Power of Kroll which fans will remember most and cherish. His first entry into the world of Doctor Who was way back in the 1966 Peter Cushing film, Daleks: Invasion of Earth 2150 A.D. as Brockley (the smuggler character based on “Ashton” from the orginal tv version of the story, The Dalek Invasion of Earth and his final two appearances would be in the audio medium, opposite Sylvester McCoy as the 7th Doctor and Geoffrey Beevers as the Master in Master in 2003 and then a couple years later opposite Colin Baker in Return of the Krotons which brought his canonical Doctor Who appearances full circle. 

I had the pleasure of meeting Philip Madoc at a convention in Wales in 2005 and he proved the old adage that actors who often play the nastiest villains on the screen are some of the nicest people in person. He was full of interesting anecdotes and tales (many of the best of which were not-Who related) and always seemed to have a smile on his face. I can remember his grin when I approached him for an autograph to let him know I had recently seen him in an old episode of Survivors, he was quite pleased that the fans knew of his work in programmes and films other than just Doctor Who.

Philip Madoc passed away at the age of 77 today, after a short illness. Farewell Philip, and rest in peace.

Posted by Luca on Monday, March 5 at 3:47 pm

(2) Comments

February 28, 2012

Starting up again!

Here’s some news we never get tired of reporting on the Doctor Who blog - the commencement of filming on yet another season of Doctor Who! For those who have become fans of the show when the new series started, trust me - this is something that a Doctor Who fan did not take for granted during the 1990’s and the early 2000’s! Everybody looks happy to be back, and I for one will miss Amy and Rory when they do leave.

Posted by Luca on Tuesday, February 28 at 3:22 pm

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February 18, 2012

Ten Observations on Day One at Gallifrey

I’m sitting in the lobby at the LAX Marriott where, mere hours before, hundreds of Doctor Who fans were assembled for the unofficial gathering known as “Lobbycon”—AKA the time where you drink and hang out with other fans and argue the merits of A Good Man Goes To War…

I had to miss out on that last night—I had back problems that sent me to bed early!—but I intend to be there tonight and report on it then.

I was, however, around for Day One of Gallifrey, so here’s some random observations in no particular order:

1) Friday is the “off” day for Gallifrey, ie. the day when fewer people are present. It was packed.

2) In the opening ceremonies, William Russell got a longer round of applause than Paul McGann. Respect.

3) Paul McGann explained what the deal was with that “alternate”, unofficial costume he debuted at con in New Zealand. As I suggested at the time, he was sick of the same limited amount of photos of his Doctor from 15 years ago on the covers of Big Finish audios and, with the help of some fans and the people at WETA, designed his own new costume. He tried to arrange with the BBC to use the costume in promotional materials using his Doctor, but found his requests fell on deaf ears.

4) There was much effort to come up with a collective noun of Amy Ponds, given the sheer number of Amy cosplayers. Suggestions included “A Lake of Ponds”, “A River of Ponds”, “A Nuisance of Ponds”, “An annoyance of Ponds” and others.

5) Best costume of the day: someone dressed as Sarah Jane in her Nerva space station outfit from The Ark in Space.

6) Biggest sign we’re through the looking glass based on a visit to the Dealer’s Room: There’s now an Image of the Fendahl action figure playset.

7) Funniest, but oddest, opening speech: Torchwood: Miracle Day actor Danielle Favilli, who apparently offered to cook for every convention guest because he’s Italian…

8) A friend of mine was in the lineup for Starbucks in the lobby when she discovered the person behind her in line was Paul McGann. It’s that sort of a con.

9) The panel discussions continue to have a high quality of discussion on all things Who.

10) The most bizarre moment still remains to be passing by someone you think is a Jackie Tyler cosplayer and realizing, actually, it’s Camille Coduri...

Posted by Graeme on Saturday, February 18 at 2:55 am

(2) Comments

February 17, 2012

Gally Day One

Gallifrey One technically begins today, over the years the lead time has become increasingly short with attendees now arriving on Thursday, Wednesday and, even in some cases on Tuesday.  Those coming from any distance use the excuse of easing into the inevitable jet lag but the real reason is it’s just too much fun to stay away.  While today held a full spate of programming including Kaffeeklatsches (informal get togethers with writers, producers, artists, etc), interviews and discussion panels, the real show began Wednesday night as fans from across the globe congregated in the lobby of the Los Angeles Marriott .

Even if you can’t be here in person there are any number of podcasters producing daily podcasts including Canada’s own Radio Free Skaro who opened today’s programming with interviews with Camille Coduri, Barnaby Edwards, Toby Haynes, Simon Fisher-Becker and Gary Russell as well as a stirring ode to Gally by Chip from the Two-Minute Time Lord Podcast.
So while Graeme and I will do our best to keep you up to date with some of the more amusing happenings please check out Radiofreeskaro.com and download the their daily episodes for fantastic interviews and commentary on the convention.

Meanwhile I’m going to try to get a picture of Graeme by the 1996 Television Movie Console.  Because I know you all want to see that!

Posted by Deborah on Friday, February 17 at 2:12 pm

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