Synopses & Reviews
Airing the day after JFK's assassination, the first episode, andquot;An Unearthly Child,andquot; humbly launched one of the entertainment worldandrsquo;s first super-brands. We begin with a look at the programming of the day and the original pitch documents for this family show before delving into the Daleks, which almost didn't make the cut. After three years, 1st Doctor William Hartnell left, prompting the BBC to recast their hit rather than ending it, giving us the first andquot;regenerationandquot; and making television history. We follow the succession of doctorsandmdash;including 3rd Doctor Jon Pertwee, exiled to Earth with his Moriarty in The Masterandmdash;and see how the program reflected the feminism of the 1970s while gaining mainstream popularity with 4th Doctor Tom Baker ... until declining support from the BBC led to cancelation. Yet millions worldwide continued to enjoy the Whoniverse in syndication, novels, audio dramas, comics and Doctor Who Magazine. A new age dawned in 2005 with 9th Doctor Christopher Eccleston and a serious special effects budget. 10th Doctor David Tennant helped rocket the series back to international popularity and a new era of spinoffs. With Matt Smith as 11th doctor, the show has become a success here in America, where it was long considered just a cult classic. Featuring discussions of the show's concepts and characters and interviews and insights from producers, writers, and actors from across the years; current and former editors and writers of Doctor Who Magazine; and the titular heroes themselves, here is a rich, behind-the-camera investigation into the dazzling multiverse of Doctor Who.
Review
“The world would be a poorer place without Doctor Who.” —Steven Spielberg
Review
andldquo;The world would be a poorer place without Doctor Who.andrdquo; andmdash;Steven Spielberg
Synopsis
Premiering the day after the JFK assassination, Doctor Who humbly launched one of the entertainment world's first super-brands. We begin with a look at TV programming of the day and the original pitch documents before delving into the Daleks, which almost didn't make the cut but inspired many monsters to follow. After three years, First Doctor William Hartnell left, prompting the BBC to recast their hit rather than end it, giving us the first regeneration and making TV history. We follow the succession of Doctors--including Third Doctor Jon Pertwee, exiled to Earth and targeted by the Master--and see how the program reflected the feminism of the 1970s while gaining mainstream popularity with Fourth Doctor Tom Baker . . . until declining support from the BBC eventually led to cancelation. Fan outcry saved the series only for it to suffer a repeat cancelation. Yet many continued to enjoy the Whoniverse in syndication, novels, audio dramas, and Doctor Who Magazine. Paul McGann impressed many as the Eighth Doctor in a 1996 TV movie, but it failed to reignite the series. A new age dawned in 2005 with Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston and a serious special effects budget before Tenth Doctor David Tennant helped rocket the series to international popularity and a new era of spinoffs. With Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith, the show became a bona fide success here in America. Following the program's fiftieth anniversary, Whovians will meet the Twelfth Doctor, ushering in yet another era for the unstoppable Time Lord.Featuring discussions of concepts and characters, with insights from producers, writers, and actors from across the years, here is a rich, behind-the-camera investigation into the dazzling multiverse of Doctor Who.
Synopsis
A New York Times bestseller
Synopsis
Premiering the day after the JFK assassination, Doctor Who humbly launched one of the entertainment worldand#8217;s first super-brands. We begin with a look at TV programming of the day and the original pitch documents before delving into the Daleks, which almost didnand#8217;t make the cut but inspired many monsters to follow. After three years, First Doctor William Hartnell left, prompting the BBC to recast their hit rather than end it, giving us the first and#8220;regenerationand#8221; and making TV history. We follow the succession of Doctorsand#8212;including Third Doctor Jon Pertwee, exiled to Earth and targeted by the Masterand#8212;and see how the program reflected the feminism of the 1970s while gaining mainstream popularity with Fourth Doctor Tom Baker . . . until declining support from the BBC eventually led to cancelation. Fan outcry saved the series only for it to suffer a repeat cancelation. Yet many continued to enjoy the Whoniverse in syndication, novels, audio dramas, and Doctor Who Magazine. Paul McGann impressed many as the Eighth Doctor in a 1996 TV movie, but it failed to reignite the series.
and#160;A new age dawned in 2005 with Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston and a serious special effects budget before Tenth Doctor David Tennant helped rocket the series to international popularity and a new era of spinoffs. With Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith, the show became a bona fide success here in America. Following the programand#8217;s fiftieth anniversary, Whovians will meet the Twelfth Doctor, ushering in yet another era for the unstoppable Time Lord.
Featuring discussions of concepts and characters, with insights from producers, writers, and actors from across the years, here is a rich, behind-the-camera investigation into the dazzling multiverse of Doctor Who.
and#160;
About the Author
Alan Kistler cohosts the Crazy Sexy Geeks podcast. Recognized as a comic book historian by CNN, he has written for MTV.com, Wired.com, and ComicBookResources.com and has spoken at the Paley Center for Media on Star Trek and vampire fiction and at Geek Girl Con on women in science fiction. He divides his time between Los Angeles and New York City. Visit him on Twitter @SizzlerKistler or at AlanKistler.com.