Oooh, how about opinions/background on this kid who is the new Doc? Just as I was starting to get excited about Paterson Joseph, too
Matt Smith, then. The BBC has got you covered:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7807996.stm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxZPTtmPc58 Available in torrent form from the ever-reliable Mad Martha as well (and without the widescreen UK TV getting squished in the YouTube box).
I'm wondering if Tennant, Tranter and Moffat didn't decide to put the word out early and on its own. Deliberate or not, I think it's excellent PR. We didn't need to know 10's leaving yet. He won't even be gone for over a year. But you've gotta start shooting this summer. Then Russell had planned to do some headfucking with the Doctor-or-is-he? Christmas episode. If David says he's leaving and that he didn't get fired and isn't unhappy with the show before that, then when you get to Christmas you might be saying "well who IS 11 then???" You might even be dying to know. I certainly was, and, most fortunately, I was already able to mourn 10. That's what I mean about the PR. The end of 10 is its own thing. If it had been a simultaneous handoff announcement I think I'd be pretty agitated, but in this way I can't blame whoever was gonna show up for 10 leaving. I didn't get a stepmother foisted on me. Granted, he's got a bit of a bullseye on him anyway, but me myself am not bothered. Given how goddamnously popular 10 has been I think it would've been disastrous to do a quick swap like that.
Meanwhile I've been furrowing my brow and sometimes wincing over the speculative hires, and I've found that I'm really glad that the so-last-minute-only-people-at-DWF*-knew-about-it longshot came in. Given my contrary nature I would've been miffed if one of the mong favorites had been named. Now, Messrs. Nesbitt, Ejiofor and Joseph are all fine and capable actors I'm sure, but it still woulda bugged me that "great...you chattering assholes got what you wanted" (see also: Anakin Skywalker, another nearly no-win casting problem, and no I don't hate either of those two young men) (See also: how I start simultaneously angrily twitching and disgustedly sighing whenever someone wish-casts Angelina Jolie in a comic book movie. I don't hate her either but LEAVE IT OUT!) Plus it DID really bug me that Paterson Joseph was on Satellite 5. That would undoubtedly require much sillier bullshitting than explaining how Freema and Eve turned back up. And so...POOF! This weirdo shows up yesterday, giving me a look at how my nephew's un-partable hair will probably look in the future and generally looking and acting strange. The pictures didn't sell me but his interview did. "Okay....this kid's interesting and I kinda like 'im. Damn, I wish I could see what he's gonna do already!!" And just like that it's almost like I've gotta "get through" four more episodes of 10 to see what Moff and Smith have for me. *Russell T. Davies voice and hands* Brilllliant!
I said "almost". I still expect Russell and David to knock me on my ass over the next year, and I'm prepared to be even more patient than I'll have to be if it means I can have another peek into RIver Song's life (and on both counts I say "FUCKIN A, YOU BETTER!!!"). But I'm excited. Plus, I just noticed that in "Time Crash" last year, Moff wrote his own 11 defense via 10 talking to 5 long before he needed it (and contrary to his own opinions at the time about wanting an older guy). Wibbly wobbly...
*That's "Doctor Who Forum", a place that can make the calmest person become King Arthur and shout "Jaysus CHRIST!" and require a visit to Angry Who Fan with no delay.
I'm confused - I keep hearing that 11 will be on in 2010 - and that 10 is leaving after Season 4, but does that mean that there will be no new episodes in 2009? Say it ain't so!
Or will they just have the four or so "specials"... and in any event, I don't see how they can progress the River Song storyline with 11 - after all, she remarked to 10 how young he looked etc etc, and goddamit 11 is a young one!
Posted by: Stella | January 05, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Yes, between Easter and the start of Series 5 there'll be four hour-long specials, the last two being a two-parter. Neither Russell nor Steven are saying now, of course, but I do hope they'll get River in before the end, maybe even a flash-forward or something. After all, Moff was laying down some serious canon there and River recognized 10's face. I must know more!!
Posted by: Jay Nagy | January 05, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Somehow I didn't get that attached to River, I mean, with all that implied backstory I just figured of course they'll get to her. I want a better resolution for Donna, personally, I thought she got the worst ending of all of the companions, and to me she was one of the most interesting (I am sick of seeing everyone mooning over the Doctor - boooring). I can't wait for the specials!
Posted by: Anne (in Reno) | January 05, 2009 at 12:00 PM
I knew you'd have something about this.
But here's another question (For I crave content on this blog)
Where did the whole "Braaaaiinns" thing start with zombies? It's not in any Romero but it's somehow linked to the whole zombie culture.
Posted by: Optimus Rhyme | January 05, 2009 at 12:21 PM
I am starting to agree with Optimus, more content!
I'd like to know if Eccleston's fears of being typecast ever came true for any of the other Doctors - I know it didn't for Peter Davidson, at least, because he will forever be Tristan Farnon to me. But I don't really know if that's true for any of the other Doctors. Were Eccleston's fears unfounded?
Posted by: Anne (in Reno) | January 06, 2009 at 02:47 PM
It seems that it wasn't as simple as "I don't wanna be typecast. Bye!" Dig through the clippings here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Eccleston
They've got a lot of good bitchy sources on what happened and what *might've* happened and it's still all a bit murky. I'm glad that Christopher liked the role itself though.
Posted by: Jay Nagy | January 07, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Now that Obama has been elected in America, do you think there is a chance a black Doctor Who will be cast?
Posted by: Cindy | January 08, 2009 at 08:09 AM
Well, Paterson Joseph and Chiwetel Ejiofor were on the rumor/wishlist for a long time, with Joseph being a favorite/"very probable" (though how would one know the actual likelihood?). New executive producer Piers Wenger said that while that would've been big publicity and gotten them brownie points they just chose who they thought was best, plus I think they know it'd look a bit token if it happened right now too, so it'd be a dubious move to do it deliberately. I think the UK would have a bit less of a hangup of casting a black actor at any point though, and black Time Lords have been seen before on Gallifrey both recently and in the past.
Posted by: Jay | January 08, 2009 at 09:35 AM
Sorry, I haven't forgotten to answer Optimus's question.
Posted by: Jay | January 08, 2009 at 10:04 AM