Did anyone watch the Doctor Who nostalgia prog? - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Tabitha · 2nd January 2004, 01:06 PM

A few days ago on BBC2? Very well made I thought, with all of the living Doctors interviewed, and a good selection of their sidekicks.

Brought back lots of fond memories - but interesting that they just glossed over (i.e. ignored) the Paul McGann version and the various recent spoofs.

I am a bit sick of all the holiday season top one hundreds, best-ofs, worst-ofs and all the nostalgia programming, but once in a while something interesting comes out of it all.

ray gower · 2nd January 2004, 03:31 PM

Welcome back, Tab :wave:

Caught enough to decide they all had a jolly good time doing it, even if some of the explosions were a tad close for Sylvester McCoy's comfort

I think the spoofs are ignored because in the main there were other reasons for them (Red Nose, Children in Need etc). They didn't entirely ignore the film though, admitting the film had been made. But everybody in fandom are quietly forgetting it too, so why shouldn't the Beeb?

Tabitha · 4th January 2004, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ray gower
Welcome back, Tab :wave:

Caught enough to decide they all had a jolly good time doing it, even if some of the explosions were a tad close for Sylvester McCoy's comfort

That was hilarious! I was sure that he had some injury to his rear after that, I couldn't believe that he didn't seem to react at all - talk about as cool as a cucumber.

I was impressed that all the people reminiscing were all involved with the show in some way - rather than c-grade British celebrities who could only recall how awful they thought it was. I think Tom Baker really stood out as being the best Doctor, I had totally forgotten about his jelly baby thing.

ray gower · 4th January 2004, 02:19 AM

Think most of the C grade celebs only managed to become B grade celebs because they appeared on Doctor Who. Being the Doctor certainly gave Sylvester McCoy street cred with his kids

Tabitha · 4th January 2004, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ray gower
Think most of the C grade celebs only managed to become B grade celebs because they appeared on Doctor Who.

Yeah there were quite a few surprising faces in the montage of guest stars.

I don't think I have ever seen the very early episodes of Doctor Who - the old black and white episodes looked like they were pretty great, I wonder how they have held up over the years?

ray gower · 4th January 2004, 01:07 PM

*Rose tinted specs on*

Remembering they were children's shows. They were dark, broody and invested with strong stories. The destruction of the church in the first episode came as something of a shock and ranked high with the Daleks as reason to hide behind the settee.

Less rosey:
The sidekicks (especially Jamie) could be even more wooden than the later ones.
Black and White film always tends towards being broody anyhow The old 240 line VHF TV standard hid a lot of naff wobbly scenery.

Overall they were well up with later renditions. Every bit as imaginative.

little smaug · 4th January 2004, 08:55 PM

I only started watching this because my Dad was watching it, but after the first 10 minutes i was hooked!
I just wish i'd been old enough to watch the programme when it was on TV. My favourite bit was, "Drop your weapons, or i'll kill him with this deadly jelly baby!" - i was in absolute hysterics!!! :laugh2:

Tabitha · 5th January 2004, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by little smaug
"Drop your weapons, or i'll kill him with this deadly jelly baby!" - i was in absolute hysterics!!! :laugh2:

Yeah - I was highly amused by that too.

I thought the bits with Jon Pertwee and his favourite piece of dialogue (something about reversing the polarity of the neutron flow?) were pretty funny too.

There's a site here with some clips from the programme:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/drwho.../19/8604.shtml

Dave · 5th January 2004, 01:37 AM

I missed this and no one in my family bothered to video it for me. My son watched it (and he is now a fan) but there was too much talking in it for him. Now it sounds like I missed something special.

As regards the old episodes: they were also filmed live (as all TV at the time was) so full of mistakes and fluffed lines. They were never meant to be repeated.

I saw most of the UK Gold 40th Anniversary weekend programmes. They showed the William Hartnell story 'The Meddling Monk' which was voted as the top (non-Dalek) Hartnell story. It was very slow, made very cheaply and pretty rotten really. But as a kid I was glued to Dr Who on a Saturday teatime.

I don't think it is possible to compare them to anything today.

Tabitha · 5th January 2004, 12:55 PM

I usually don't have too much trouble suspending disbelief when it comes to old telly and movies - if there is a good story hiding in amongst the bad effects and uncomfortable dialogue I can usually deal with it.

I was quite impressed by how good the programme was at not making fun of Doctor Who - there was discussion of the rubbish bits, but there seemed to be a genuine affection for the show, warts and all. I was glad the tone wasn't as derisive as these nostalgia programmes so often are.

I am going to have to keep an eye out for reruns, and try to get in at the beginning of an arc - I find it difficult to jump into an episode of Dr Who in the middle, I never have any idea what's going on.

Did anyone notice the clips of the liquorice allsorts creature? What on earth were they thinking when they came up with that one?

ray gower · 5th January 2004, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tabitha
Did anyone notice the clips of the liquorice allsorts creature? What on earth were they thinking when they came up with that one?

That was regarded as one of the best Doctor Who adventures!

I didn't look at Bertie Bassett quite the same way for a while afterwards.

They managed to use Michelin Man in a story too!

Lorien1 · 7th January 2004, 01:45 AM

Watched it,good looking back on the programme.Colin.<*>.

2nd January 2004, 01:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tabitha Save Angel! Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 3,638	Did anyone watch the Doctor Who nostalgia prog? A few days ago on BBC2? Very well made I thought, with all of the living Doctors interviewed, and a good selection of their sidekicks. Brought back lots of fond memories - but interesting that they just glossed over (i.e. ignored) the Paul McGann version and the various recent spoofs. I am a bit sick of all the holiday season top one hundreds, best-ofs, worst-ofs and all the nostalgia programming, but once in a while something interesting comes out of it all.

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2nd January 2004, 03:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
ray gower Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 3,606	Welcome back, Tab :wave: Caught enough to decide they all had a jolly good time doing it, even if some of the explosions were a tad close for Sylvester McCoy's comfort I think the spoofs are ignored because in the main there were other reasons for them (Red Nose, Children in Need etc). They didn't entirely ignore the film though, admitting the film had been made. But everybody in fandom are quietly forgetting it too, so why shouldn't the Beeb?

4th January 2004, 02:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
ray gower Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 3,606	Think most of the C grade celebs only managed to become B grade celebs because they appeared on Doctor Who. Being the Doctor certainly gave Sylvester McCoy street cred with his kids

4th January 2004, 01:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
ray gower Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 3,606	Rose tinted specs on Remembering they were children's shows. They were dark, broody and invested with strong stories. The destruction of the church in the first episode came as something of a shock and ranked high with the Daleks as reason to hide behind the settee. Less rosey: The sidekicks (especially Jamie) could be even more wooden than the later ones. Black and White film always tends towards being broody anyhow The old 240 line VHF TV standard hid a lot of naff wobbly scenery. Overall they were well up with later renditions. Every bit as imaginative.

4th January 2004, 08:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
little smaug Fire and Brimstone Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,343	I only started watching this because my Dad was watching it, but after the first 10 minutes i was hooked! I just wish i'd been old enough to watch the programme when it was on TV. My favourite bit was, "Drop your weapons, or i'll kill him with this deadly jelly baby!" - i was in absolute hysterics!!! :laugh2:

5th January 2004, 01:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
Dave Wherever I Am, I'm There Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,852	I missed this and no one in my family bothered to video it for me. My son watched it (and he is now a fan) but there was too much talking in it for him. Now it sounds like I missed something special. As regards the old episodes: they were also filmed live (as all TV at the time was) so full of mistakes and fluffed lines. They were never meant to be repeated. I saw most of the UK Gold 40th Anniversary weekend programmes. They showed the William Hartnell story 'The Meddling Monk' which was voted as the top (non-Dalek) Hartnell story. It was very slow, made very cheaply and pretty rotten really. But as a kid I was glued to Dr Who on a Saturday teatime. I don't think it is possible to compare them to anything today.

5th January 2004, 12:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
Tabitha Save Angel! Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 3,638	I usually don't have too much trouble suspending disbelief when it comes to old telly and movies - if there is a good story hiding in amongst the bad effects and uncomfortable dialogue I can usually deal with it. I was quite impressed by how good the programme was at not making fun of Doctor Who - there was discussion of the rubbish bits, but there seemed to be a genuine affection for the show, warts and all. I was glad the tone wasn't as derisive as these nostalgia programmes so often are. I am going to have to keep an eye out for reruns, and try to get in at the beginning of an arc - I find it difficult to jump into an episode of Dr Who in the middle, I never have any idea what's going on. Did anyone notice the clips of the liquorice allsorts creature? What on earth were they thinking when they came up with that one?

7th January 2004, 01:45 AM	#12 (permalink)
Lorien1 Faith Manages Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 204	Watched it,good looking back on the programme.Colin.<*>.