Since Doctor Who found new life in 2005, Russell T. Davies has served as both executive producer and head writer of the series. Davies had announced that he would be stepping down from the position, and today, we learned the not-so-surprising news that occasional Doctor Who writer and creator of Coupling, Steven Moffat, will be taking over.
This is definitely a step in the right direction for the series, as Moffat's previous contributions to the show have been some of the greatest highlights. For example, that chilling episode "Blink" (the one that made it impossible for me to walk through a sculpture garden without looking over my shoulder every two seconds) was his masterpiece.
(S02E13) Well, despite some ups and downs throughout the season, to say that this second run went out with a bang, both literally and emotionally, would be an understatement. Definitely, this ranks as one of the best episodes of the series so far and so amazingly surpasses the first season finale in every way. Where that was a silly overblown giant monster romp, this one existed on a much more intimate level within the lives of our cast of characters.
The cast and crew spent all season really fleshing out this team for us and making us learn to love and care for each of them; all of it leading to this stunning finale. Now the events herein could really resonate. Now you might be asking why such a generic Torchwood picture for such a key episode? I see it as a tribute. To what? Well, if you've seen the episode, maybe you know what. If not, what the hell are you doing here? Go watch it already.
Okay, maybe that's not the best way to put it. According to White, he has been a hardcore Who fan for most of his life, going as far as spending years and years building a K-9, cyberman and Tardis in addition to collecting figurines. After a lot of troubles with bipolar disorder and alcoholism in his adult years, he found God and ceased his self-destructive ways. Despite claiming that his fandom was the only thing holding him together in his rough times, White is now dumping his Who love and toys, calling it a symbol of the "greatest lie that Satan ever told." He'll be selling his entire collection of goodies, worth an estimated £7000, in magazines and on eBay.
(S02E09) Gwen Cooper finds her career intruding on her home life when she is impregnated by an alien shapeshifting carnivore on her wedding day. And you thought your wedding day had problems.
This was more of a comic-relief episode than any of the season's previous ones. It was a welcome respite from the heavy life-and-death episode about Owen from last week.
On a side note, I'm amazed Owen, since he died and was resurrected, still doesn't have the craving for human flesh that the shapeshifter from this episode had. In all other aspects he's pretty much become a zombie. Maybe that bit happens later.
(S02E08) "You get to live forever. I get to die forever." -Owen comparing his situation to Jack's immortality.
This was a very different Torchwood episode. There were no aliens to battle and no major action sequences. In fact, Team Torchwood was mostly inactive. Instead, we got to take an episode to look deep into the psyche and situation of Dr. Owen Harper. Everything from the music to the way the various scenes were shot lent itself perfectly to the melancholy and hopelessness of the character. Burn Gorman showed tremendous depth in his portrayal of Owen this installment, and it looks like we may finally be looking at some major growth for Owen. Not that he still doesn't have some very serious issues to deal with.
(S02E07) The death of Owen Harper trilogy continued. But does death mean the same thing in the world of Torchwood as it does in our world? Do you really need to ask? Aside from an incredibly hokey introductory sequence in which Jack stormed into the above scene, struck a very theatrical pose and said "Nobody touches him until I return!" before abruptly disappearing again, this was a pretty solid episode. I do have to say that the point of Martha's continuing involvement is escaping me as she didn't really have anything to add to this installment.
(S02E06) "Let's say we were under the same Doctor." Martha Jones explaining to Owen how she knows Jack.
This was probably the most anticipated episode of the season for die-hard Doctor Who fans. It marked the arrival of The Doctor's most recent companion, Martha Jones, for an extended run on the series. As fans of that series know, Jack met up with Martha during his most recent bout with The Doctor on Doctor Who. At the end of that show's fourth season, Martha made the decision to leave The Doctor and stay behind on Earth. As such, it makes perfect sense that she would be available now to appear on the spin-off. And she fit in pretty seamlessly with the gang, even serving to lighten up Jack a lot.
(S02E04) When Gwen first joined Torchwood, she brought with her an element that none of the other team-members had, namely a significant other in Rhys. Since that time she has struggled to keep those two worlds separate, insisting to Rhys that she was still working for the police department and keeping him in the dark as to the otherworldly doings of Torchwood. Seems that would be difficult to maintain, right? Well, Cardiff is only so big so inevitably it would become impossible.
I don't want a lot for Festivus. There is just one thing I need --
Well, by "one thing", I really meant "six TV-related requests", but that's still not asking for much. Please, mysterious Festivus entity, I promise that I've been a good girl and that I have done my absolute best to properly preface all of my spoilerific posts. I also promise to make a much better effort in 2008 to be less creepy to all my favorite TV stars (sorry, Mr. Colbert). Super swear. All I want is...
In a rare move, a US network has picked up a British television program and decided not to make an American version. According to Zap2It.com, Showtime so fell in love with Billie Piper's (Doctor Who's Rose) performance as the titular character Hannah/Belle that they've decided to just bring over the British version of Secret Diary of a Call Girl as is. Based on real-life diaries, the comedy Call Girl features Piper as secretary Hannah by day, call girl Belle by night and proved to be a big hit for the UK's ITV2.
Showtime will air the eight-episode first season in spring or summer of '08. It's no wonder, with the popular (even in the US) Piper attached, that Showtime decided not to make an Americanized version. Well, that and the fact that most of the time when we Americanize a British hit show we destroy it (Absolutely Fabulous, Coupling). Hell, even The Office was a near disaster. Honestly, I don't get it. I guess American studios think we Americans are too dumb to "get" British shows.
What are you going to do? The Office, How I Met Your Mother, and even new shows like Pushing Daisies and Chuck are either out of fresh episodes or quickly running out. Well, you don't need to spend the "strike season" curled up in the corner of your bedroom crying through a pile of TV Guides, remembering the good old days when you didn't already know what was going to happen this week on House.
Television is alive and well, and even growing ... just somewhere else. Want to know what happened to Jack Bauer before Season One of 24? How about Buffy and the Scooby Gang after the series finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer? More and more shows are expanding their horizons by telling prequels, sequels and even in-between-quels in comic books, or graphic novels.
For the past few days, I've been watching VH1's non-stop reruns of their reality show The Pickup Artist, which is just an unmarked white van and fistful of roofies away from being the creepiest show on television. I cannot bring myself to look away, so I watch each episode with my face twisted in an expression that is equal parts horror and malicious amusement. The finale will air tonight and I have already come to accept that I don't have the self-control to avoid watching, despite the fact that every time I tune in, I lose a little more faith in humanity.
I suppose it isn't the fault of the contestants. After all, they're unintentional virgins and their minds are malleable, subject to easy manipulation by anyone who wears eyeliner. That's where the show's host, Mystery, comes in.
I'm sure Whoheads are already aware, but just in case aliens sucked out some of your memory, let me remind you that a brand new season of Doctor Who kicks off this Friday on Sci Fi at 8:00 p.m.
Eureka, a show I highly recommend, comes back for a new season on July 10. It's a show that even people who hate sci fi might enjoy, offering lighter entertainment than say, Battlestar Galactica, but without being too silly or trite.
Also, the second season of Who Wants to Be a Superhero? starts July 26 at 8:00 p.m. You can watch some of the auditions here.
At launch, the service will be PC-only, due to the fact that the BBC has licensed Microsoft DRM technology in order to enforce the 7 day time limit. The BBC plans to offer a Mac version in the future.
Another upcoming features is integration with YouTube, Facebook, and Bebo. You won't be able to watch full episodes through these services, but you'll be able to access clips. And if you live in the UK, you can click through to the BBC's site for full length episodes. It looks like US Doctor Who fans will not be able to use the iPlayer, and will have to wait until episodes are available will still have to wait until the program hits the Sci-Fi channel.
Since Doctor Who found new life in 2005, Russell T. Davies has served as both executive producer and head writer of the series. Davies had announced that he would be stepping down from the position, and today, we learned the not-so-surprising news that occasional Doctor Who writer and creator of Coupling, Steven Moffat, will be taking over.
(S02E13) Well, despite some ups and downs throughout the season, to say that this second run went out with a bang, both literally and emotionally, would be an understatement. Definitely, this ranks as one of the best episodes of the series so far and so amazingly surpasses the first season finale in every way. Where that was a silly overblown giant monster romp, this one existed on a much more intimate level within the lives of our cast of characters.
A fellow named Simon White is 
(S02E09) Gwen Cooper finds her career intruding on her home life when she is impregnated by an alien shapeshifting carnivore on her wedding day. And you thought your wedding day had problems.
(S02E06) "Let's say we were under the same Doctor." Martha Jones explaining to Owen how she knows Jack.
I don't want a lot for Festivus. There is just one thing I need --
In a rare move, a US network has picked up a British television program and decided not to make an American version. 
What are you going to do? The Office, How I Met Your Mother, and even new shows like Pushing Daisies and Chuck are either out of fresh episodes or quickly running out. Well, you don't need to spend the "strike season" curled up in the corner of your bedroom crying through a pile of TV Guides, remembering the good old days when you didn't already know what was going to happen this week on House. 
For the past few days, I've been watching VH1's non-stop reruns of their reality show The Pickup Artist, which is just an unmarked white van and fistful of roofies away from being the creepiest show on television. I cannot bring myself to look away, so I watch each episode with my face twisted in an expression that is equal parts horror and malicious amusement. The finale will air tonight and I have already come to accept that I don't have the self-control to avoid watching, despite the fact that every time I tune in, I lose a little more faith in humanity.
I'm sure Whoheads are already aware, but just in case aliens sucked out some of your memory, let me remind you that a brand new season of Doctor Who kicks off this Friday on Sci Fi at 8:00 p.m. 
The BBC iPlayer is set for a 
Doctor Who panel - Comic-Con Report
NBC's Kings panel - Comic-Con Report
The Dharma Initiative wants you - VIDEO - Comic-Con Report
