Former Doctor Who lead actor (or current, depending on how you measure it) David Tennant did a quick television interview with PBS for the TV Critics Press Tour. He'll be taking over as host of their series Masterpiece Contemporary.
In the interview, he briefly glosses over his experience in Doctor Who (as well as the Harry Potter franchise) and discusses the relative importance of public television between England and America. He also discusses his Lou Reed t-shirt. I think Doctor Who has influenced David Tennant's fashion sense. In his personal television appearances, he always seems to sport a casual jacket similar to that of his former character (albeit over a t-shirt).
Any long-time Who fan is very familiar with the relationship between PBS and Doctor Who, as that was the channel that the program could be found on in the 1970's and 1980's. It's a nice interview. Tennant will be a terrific host for that program. The video follows.
David Tennant's PBS interview
Tennant's Doctor Who hangs on in Dreamland
Before Doctor Who fans say good bye to David Tennant in the BBC's final three specials of 2009, they'll get a little extra colorful bonus Tennant from the Beeb's Red Button service and the Who website.Doctor Who: "Dreamland" is the show's first venture into "3D" CG animation, and that makes for a stylistic representation of the Tennant's tall, skinny Time Lord. Writer Phil Ford (a veteran of both live action Who and Torchwood) takes the The Doctor to a diner in Roswell, New Mexico where all manner of alien shenanigans are going on.
American fans won't get to see the six-part series in its first run, as they're blocked out of video feeds on the BBC's websites. If only there were other websites that showed online video (illegally) posted by fans. Oh, well.
Continue reading Tennant's Doctor Who hangs on in Dreamland
Doctor Who next season spoilers
Filming is underway for season five (called series five in the U.K.) of the adventures of everyone's favorite Time Lord, Doctor Who, and naturally, a few secrets of the next season have already been leaked.For the benefit of those who don't wish to be spoiled, the goodies will be revealed after the jump. The rest of you can go about your business.
Continue reading Doctor Who next season spoilers
David Tennant and RTD give an exit interview
Outgoing Doctor Who producer Russell T. Davies and outgoing Doctor Who star David Tennant gave a 20-minute exit interview on Boing Boing Video (via YouTube). The entire video appears after the jump if you're feeling too lazy to click the link.The interview took place around the San Diego Comic Con and is being done as a promotion for the next Doctor Who special, The Waters of Mars. There are a few spoilers (they do reveal the Master's appearance in the final episodes later this year, but that's pretty common knowledge at this point), but there is a sense of the feelings from the dynamic duo as they leave the franchise.
Continue reading David Tennant and RTD give an exit interview
BBC almost revamps Doctor Who website for new era
With 2010 edging closer and the Russell T. Davies era of Doctor Who coming to an end, the BBC is in the midst of revamping the show's website.With 2009 offering only a few Who specials and turning the series into a sporadic event until it returns full-time in 2010, the BBC has time to revamp the show's image and identity online.
The effectiveness of their efforts so far are debatable as they seem to be looking backward more than forward to the new Matt Smith/11th Doctor era.
For example, the re-engineered Doctor Who website added a blog by Davies in which he discusses the new David Tennant-voiced, 10th Doctor CGI cartoon, Dreamland.
Continue reading BBC almost revamps Doctor Who website for new era
Davies has a map for Torchwood
Earlier this month, we asked you if you wanted a season four of Torchwood. Early responses seemed to say yes, and then we got deluged with people who were fed up with their favorite characters dying and who weren't entirely impressed with the Torchwood: Children of Earth mini-series that was season three. Well, there is going to be a season four, and Torchwood Magazine got the scoop (Dammit! How'd they manage that?). According to the magazine, Torchwood creator and writer Russell T. Davies already has several storylines worked out, and knows what happens to the characters that did survive seasons two and three. He's not sure if it will be another mini-series or a 13-episode season, but he does know what he'd include.
Continue reading Davies has a map for Torchwood
No surprise there ... Doctor Who season five on BBCA
In a victory for nerdy Brit-philes everywhere, BBC America has announced the acquisition of U.S. broadcast rights for the fifth season of Doctor Who starring the 11th Doctor, Matt Smith. This is on the tail of announcing record ratings for the American broadcast of the Doctor Who episode Planet of the Dead and the mini-series Torchwood: Children of Earth.This is all the more reason to curse my cable company for not actually carrying BBC America and having to resort to other means to watch one of my favorite programs of all time. You know when a network tells you to call your cable company to carry your favorite stations? I will personally testify in a court of law that it accomplishes jack squat.
There are no other television stations that could correctly carry Doctor Who in the states. SyFy? Oh please. Their first run with the series was lukewarm at best. The Doctor is home, and I look forward to catching his new adventures however I can.
Not so fast: Davies says Torchwood's fourth season on hold
Reports flooded out of Comic Con International that a fourth season of Torchwood was all but a lock based on its spectacular ratings on both sides of the Atlantic.That would make sense when you consider the third mini-season ("Children of Earth") pulled in north of 6 milllion viewers a night in the U.K. and is now BBC America's all-time highest rated show. Why wouldn't the BBC want to bring it back?
But, in an informal discussion in Los Angeles Wednesday, Russell T. Davies told me the fourth season has not been officially approved, despite previous reports.
Continue reading Not so fast: Davies says Torchwood's fourth season on hold
BBCA and Starz: Lucy Lawless will get naked, and Tennant's last eps - TCA Report
When you're bombarded with one panel after the other, it's sometimes hard to figure out how to group them together. One writer I was sitting with at the BBC America panel, for instance, was blogging each individual panel, and was such a frantic blur of writing and Photoshopping that she developed what can best be described as SCTS (Sudden Carpal Tunnel Syndrome).You gotta do what you gotta do, I guess. Me, I figured that there were three panels that could be put in what I call the "Comic-Con group": Spartacus on Starz, and Doctor Who and Being Human on BBC America. These shows got extensive showcases in San Diego over the weekend, and there wasn't many details revealed in any of these panels that you wouldn't have heard over the din at SDCC. So I'm going to go over the three of them in brief after the jump.
Let me give you a good teaser: If you were on the fence about seeing Spartacus, the prospect of a naked Lucy Lawless may convince you.
Continue reading BBCA and Starz: Lucy Lawless will get naked, and Tennant's last eps - TCA Report
Guinness Book hands out records at Comic-Con
The Guinness Book of World Records folks put a cap on last week's Comic-Con International festivities by handing out official records to several of the convention's most popular TV franchises, including The Simpsons and Doctor Who (right).The Guinness Book recognized Doctor Who as Most Successful Sci-fi TV Show -- as it premiered in 1963 and is now readying its 32nd complete season.
Stargate held that title incorrectly in a previous edittion of the "Book of Records" before Guinness fixed the mistake.
Continue reading Guinness Book hands out records at Comic-Con
Torchwood approved for full fourth season - Comic-Con Report
A Torchwood panel headlined by Russell T. Davies and John Barrowman was the last big event of Comic-Con International this year. While it didn't pack any huge revelations, it did come with good news for fans. The show will return for a full season in 2010.The BBC decided to make the show's third season, "Children of Earth," into a week-long miniseries event. It was a huge ratings success in the U.K. and fared well on BBC American in the U.S. So, the Beeb is giving it a longer run.
Continue reading Torchwood approved for full fourth season - Comic-Con Report
David Tennant: The TV Squad Interview - Comic-Con Report
It's safe to say David Tennant wasn't prepared for what he was running into at Comic-Con International."I've never been to San Diego before, lets alone Comic-Con," Tennant told me in the Scottish accent he hid while playing The Doctor for five years on the BBC's crown jewel, Doctor Who. "The fan response here has been incredible -- just walking to the elevator. I can't imagine what'll be like during the panel (Sunday)."
Tennant is attending Comic-Con with former Who show-runner and Torchwood creator Russell T. Davies to promote the final specials featuring Tennant in the lead role. And, with mere hours to go before Sunday morning's Doctor Who panel (one of the major events of Comic-Con's closing day), he insists that's the only reason he's there -- besides meeting the fans.
"I've heard we're supposed to announce a Doctor Who movie," Tennant explained. "Or, I'm supposed to be playing The Hobbit. But we're just here to promote the specials."
Continue reading David Tennant: The TV Squad Interview - Comic-Con Report
Torchwood: Children of Earth: Day Five (U.S.)
So much for a happy ending.
With Children of Earth's critical success and record UK ratings, I'm certain show creator Russell T. Davies will get the chance to bring Torchwood back to TV next year. But how can he? (Spoilers ahead).
Continue reading Torchwood: Children of Earth: Day Five (U.S.)
A few thoughts on Torchwood going into Day Five
SPOILERS! No griping, all ye who pass here and have not visited episode four on their DVR. Read Mike Moody' s review here. Okay, last chance if you haven't seen episode four already, here we go....
Ianto isn't dead. He just isn't, okay. I know, I know, we saw him succumb to the gas and die in Jack's arms. I know they said their goodbyes, I know Gwen pulled back the sheet and he was all pale and looked not at all well, and he was in the room with all the dead people under the orange sheets. And I saw everyone talking about how they'll miss him in the Torchwood special after the episode. I saw all the same things you did.
I don't know what's going to happen in episode five, but I can't conceive of it involving Ianto actually being dead. He and Jack are too much fun, and their relationship is too different from anything else on television, and it just got started. I don't know what kind of dues ex machine, Alec Guinness on Endor has to happen, but I'll be looking for it.
Continue reading A few thoughts on Torchwood going into Day Five
Torchwood: Children of Earth: Day Four (U.S.)
OK folks, let's pull ourselves together now. Yes, this was Torchwood's darkest hour, but tonight is ass-kicking time, right? Right?
Honestly, I'm not really sure how it's all gonna end, but that's what I'm loving about Children of Earth. The miniseries has kept me guessing from the start, and it's kept me on the edge of my seat all week with damn fine storytelling and some great performances. (Please, Internet, tell me a full season order is in the can for next year!)
Continue reading Torchwood: Children of Earth: Day Four (U.S.)
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. on 'Faces of America' and the Beer Summit
Six Reasons Why '24' Has Jumped the You-Know-What
The Super Bowl Commercials: The Best
