I Am A TV Junkie

Video -- Hugh Laurie Covers Leadbelly's You Don't Know My Mind in Paris

Those of you who saw Hugh on The Graham Norton Show this past week in the US and two weeks ago in the UK also know that he just released a blues record that he recorded in New Orleans.

It's not available in the US. At least that's what Amazon says. If I'm wrong get back to me. You can pick it up from Amazon UK, however, and with no worries b/c CDs don't have region codes like visual media.

Watch Hugh perform from Paris at a gig that happened right after the Norton appearance in this clip (LINK) courtesy YouTube user frenchbluesygirl.

Watch Hugh talk to Graham Norton at this link.

Watch Hugh talk about making this album in a promo clip that includes recording studio footage at this link.

Oh, and on House's penultimate episode of the season the crazy SOB is gonna try to perform surgery on himself. I don't think that's gonna go over very well. See three preview clips of tonight's episode which are posted after the jump.

Once again, for the record, I prefer the funny British Hugh Laurie. This musical British Hugh Laurie comes in a solid second.

Video -- Today Show's Meredith Vieira Shoots Her Doctor Who Cameo

And ... battles Cybermen too, if you click over the jump you can see that web-only extra.

If you wanna consider that and other things you might see in these two clips spoilers, well you're just gonna have to tell River Song so she can get all up in my grill about it.

Haven't even seen this yet (I live in the pacific time zone) but I'm posting for you because I'm a mensch.

Where's My Non-Spoilery Doctor Who First Episode Post?

It's nowhere. I didn't get a screener this year. Got one last year. What did I do?

What. Did. I. Do? You know, besides devote 261 posts at this blog to the show and its cast members over the years. Besides lay out a blueprint for BBC Worldwide to take the show back from the haphazard way it was being syndicated and make it the center of the BBC America schedule. Besides post the countdown widget in my primary advertising spot on the site?

What. Did. I. Do?

I dunno. Whatev. Watch it tonight at 9 eastern on, you know, that channel that doesn't send me screeners. 

Video -- Jennifer Hudson Gets Her BAFTA Award Four Years Later from Graham Norton

JHud (which is what I call her because I'm so street) won the BAFTA Award for Dreamgirls in 2007 but she didn't get to the awards and then there was problems apparently with shipping her award.

I think some big British queen stole it and is still prancing around his flat lipsynching And I Am Telling You over and over and thanking the academy while wearing something shiny (think of something Bob Mackie, not a studded leather jockstrap).

Anyhow, Graham Norton found this out and had a surprise waiting for Jennifer on this BBC One chat show, and you can watch what happens after the jump. Panelists include k.d. lang and Bill Bailey. This episode airs in the UK tonight and here in the States on May 11.

May 11? We usually get Graham on a one week delay here in the States. We also usually don't get a full hour, just whatever they can squeeze into the 45 minutes after the 1:15 premiere airing of Doctor Who or whatever sci fi show runs before it on Saturdays.

I would appreciate being able to watch ALL of Doctor Who and ALL of Graham. And I'm not the only one.

Can't BBC America do something about this?

Watch the JHud clip after the jumperoo.

Clip Bonanza: Doctor Who Insider Previews the New Series

Yes it's still Doctor Who week (until the moment Saturday that the first new episode starts) so I have more Doctor Who content, naturally.

Today, just in case you've missed one of them, all the behind the scenes clips from Doctor Who Insider. For those of you outside the States this is what BBC America does with the stuff from Doctor Who Confidential, which doesn't air in the US like it does in England right after the episode on BBC Three.

So, have at it, they're all posted after the jump, including the clip released today about the companions in this new series.

Video -- BBC America Sets Premiere Dates for Outcasts & Bedlam

Short version? Outcasts starts on June 18. Bedlam starts on October 8.

The long version is after the jump. The long version includes clips that I promise will be non-spoilery.

Doctor Who's Sarah Jane Smith, Elisabeth Sladen, Dies at 63

Now this is unexpected and sad. My first report of Elisabeth Sladen's death came from Tom Wilson at Simply Television and I was very hopeful this was yet another Internet hoax because you know how often that happens anymore.

Apparently Sladen had been quietly battling cancer for quite some time.

For those of you who like me weren't raised on the show, Sladen's Sarah Jane was the companion of choice for fans of classic Doctor Who. From the Guardian:

Sladen first starred as Sarah Jane opposite Jon Pertwee. The pair worked together for three seasons, before Pertwee left the show in 1974.

She then became the assistant for Tom Baker. When the show relaunched, she appeared in an episode alongside modern-day Doctor Who David Tennant.

In a 2006 interview with the BBC ahead of rejoining Doctor Who, she spoke of her love for the programme, saying: "I think it has lovely layers and I'd defend the programme to anyone.

"I'm very emotionally part of that programme and I think a lot of the people who worked on it are. You used to love going to work every day."

Sladen of course went from the School Reunion episode of the show to her own series, The Sarah Jane Adventures, which ran on CBBC, the British pubcasters children's channel and on The SciFi Channel here in the States before that channel's name change to Syfy.

From BBC Radio news today there's these words from the man who brought Sladen back to active Doctor Who duty, Russell T. Davies, at this link.

The text of the press release from the BBC  is posted after the jump, following a great clip from the episode of Doctor Who Confidential where the cast of the show talks about Elisabeth's return and their memories of her tenures with Doctors 3 and 4.

Video -- Matt Smith on New Season of Doctor Who; Filmic Scale, Filmic Ambition

And Doctor Who week continues with today's clip from the Doctor himself, Matt Smith, speaking enthusiastically about the upcoming seven episodes that will make up the first part of this split season of the big BBC and BBC America hit.

Watch it below.

And these shows won't be your only opportunity to see the stars of Doctor Who this year ... not only do we have Smith's 2010 Christopher Isherwood film from the BBC to see on PBS Masterpiece later this year (no specific airdate yet) but Karen Gillan will be playing model Jean Shrimpton in a new BBC telefilm that will shoot in New York for broadcast later this year in the UK ... and then hopefully a US outlet will pick it up.

One can hope, right?

Finally, a Doctor Who clip from an unlikely source, my hilarious online pals The Fine Bros., who are presenting 47 years of show history in six minutes and 10 seconds. You'll love it, it's after the jump.

Video -- Doctor Who's Karen Gillan on Amy's Vulnerability and How it Informs the New Series

It's Doctor Who week and I'm finally feeling like it's TV Christmas. I'm decorating my Tardis, I'm replacing the batteries in my personal massager sonic screwdriver, I've called my Judoon friends and reminded them not to break up my party when it gets outta hand but to rush over should those damned Sontarans try to take things over, which they always do, frickin' potato headed imperialists!

The amount of press and promotion of this series is unprecedented here in the States, with New York being treated to a rash of promo screenings, many with our big four cast members (Smith, Gillan, Darvill, Kingston) in tow for Q & A sessions.

Wanna see excerpts from one of these Q & As? Part one here. Two here. Three here.

There is also a video prequel to this season's first episode, and if you haven't seen it yet it's at the BBC America show site at this link.

Includes this image ...

... which we can all agree is obviously Richard Nixon. Honestly he is the last public figure I thought I'd ever see in a Doctor Who episode, but maybe it will reframe Watergate for a new generation (though I doubt it).

As Saturday approaches I'll share all manner of Doctor Who news and clips, and today, after the jump, I have Karen Gillan talking about some changes in Amy, some revelations that inform her choices and the new series at hand.

And come back all week for more. Saturday at 9 eastern is quickly approaching.

Updated w/ Video -- Right Now! Doctor Who DVD Signing at Barnes & Noble NYC

This photo just tweeted by the Anglophenia blog at BBCAmerica.com (site) (Twitter account). They're following Matt, Karen and Lottery Winner Arthur Darvill around New York as they get the buzz going for the series six premiere set for April 23 and promote the sale of the series five DVD set which you can buy by clicking the icon right here.

 

Karen's set for a guest shot on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson which will tape during this trip but won't air until the 22nd, the Friday before.

No word on where Matt might show up. I hear Arthur will show up to the opening of an envelope so look for him with your daily mail delivery.

More as the trip continues. Anglophenia is promising video, check the Twitter link above for that to happen. Or just read the blog, it's THE place to go for this kind of thing.

And I don't really dislike Arthur Darvill. But I'm certainly not running for fan club president.

UPDATE: Watch them talk to you by clicking this link. Karen talks about the upcoming BBC Four film where she places Jean Shrimpton, who many of you might know of because she's mentioned in an episode of AbFab (and unfortunately I can't find a clip to support that).

Video -- Doctor Who Panel from WonderCon w/ Neil Gaiman, Mark Sheppard, Toby Haynes

 

And it's hosted by Chris Hardwick, your friendly neighborhood Nerdist and friend of Craig.

BTW, Gaiman's episode comes with this series, as does the appearance by Sheppard (who has guested in every big scifi hour by now). Toby Haynes, who directed the Christmas special also directs the US shot episodes set for this year.

The audio's kinda spotty but there's none of that jiggly camcorder that you usually find in YouTube clips like this. And this, btw, comes from YouTube user NathanT, who did a nice job with it.

Video -- Straight from WonderCon, Doctor Who S6 Behind the Scenes

You love the clips? I bring the clips. Enjoy.

Video -- What? A Tardis in the White House?

Do my eyes deceive me or is that a tardis in the Oval Office?

Another NEW Doctor Who series 6 trailer from BBC America. Keep 'em coming until April 23, guys! You can see it by clicking right here.

Video -- Some Will Call This the Most Disturbing Image From the New Doctor Who Trailer

You know how some people are about clowns, right?

Watch it by clicking this link right here, it'll pop up right here on the page. Premiere date is April 23, both here and in the UK.

Video -- (Mild) Spoilers! Doctor Who's Series Six American Odyssey Starts April 23

Ah, I just love remembering to use graphics that I downloaded for no reason, it makes me feel better about the time I waste clicking around geek sites like Chris Hardwick's Nerdist.com, which is where I found this early last month.

Click on it so that you can see a large version and actually read the thing.

So, 35 days or so from now the Doctor, Amy, Rory and various and sundry nogoodniks of human, alien and machine kind come back for another 13-episode run on BBC One and BBC America, on the same night, April 23rd.

Nogoodniks for series six include Nazis, musketeers and what looks in the series trailer (after the jump) to be an actual classic inverted teardrop-shaped head E.T-like alien. In a suit. Though it also might be a Dalek hybrid, like in series three's Daleks in Manhattan. Can't quite tell to be honest, there's some fog and haze obscuring said creature.

Regarding Daleks in series six, those in the know say they won't appear, which frankly shocks me. They gotta keep selling those toys, after all. But I hate the fracking things with their plungers and of course the globes of dalekanium with look like they were put there "for her pleasure."

(That's right, I said it. Waiting for the Dalek vibrator, until then I'm sure some hacks to that Dalek USB Hub that Underground Toys makes could do the trick if you want to "create your own sexy adventure.")

Still better than Cybermen and certainly less Rube Goldbergian in design than that ridonkulous cyberconversion unit that you see in the first series of Torchwood, it's just stupifying to see these cranks and whirling blades and ... well, it just doesn't quite fit into a 21st century Doctor Who.

There will be Cybermats, those little things that look like the scrubbing bubbles in those household cleaner commercials. I guess at one time they were part of the cyber-race, but they look like (above right) Cyberman's Cyberpet.

More, including lotsa relevant clips, after the jump. One of them is a series five blooper clip, you know you love that stuff.

Video -- Doctor Who Red Nose Day 2011 Mini-Episode from BBC One

In two parts, after the jump. Go! Watch! While you do that I'm prepping a big pre-season Doctor Who post, look for that tomorrow.

Video -- First 5 Minutes of UK Being Human S3 Premiere

Fascinating that BBC America is starting up the third series of the UK Being Human in the middle of the US version's first season run. I thought there would be conditions set in the format licensing deal that would prevent them from airing at the same time.

Certainly awareness for the series, either one, is at its highest in the US right now thanks to all the promo Syfy has done to promote their version.

Our Boston-set series is certainly very compelling and for the most part the performances are as impressive here as they were for the BBC version. If anything (and I'm being picky) I would say I prefer Russell Tovey to Sam Huntington but then you have to give Sam survivor points for still having a career after ABC's Cavemen two years ago so maybe it's a wash.

And I love Sinead Keenan, maybe because I'm so reminded of Billie Piper from the first series of Doctor Who. She has that combination of sexy and plucky and smart that I enjoy.

The episodes ahead for the UK show will bring us a whole new crew of players per the promos BBC America is running. The key casting, though, was UK telly star Robson Green (Wire In The Blood) as the leader of a pack of wolves that figure heavily in this series' episodes.

Check out the first five minutes of Saturday's episode (9 pm eastern). It's after the jump.

I Lied! One More Valentine's Day Mention from the Whoniverse

The kind folks at BBC America (who could send a screener every now and then, just sayin') wanted me to extend their Valentine's Day wishes to you.

The Daleks, however, will totally kill you.

EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!

Guys, Like It Rough? -- Six Nations Rugby on BBC America Starts Feb. 5

I might have mentioned (a few million times) my recent infatuation with rugby. Fast, packed with action and even a bit brutal, it's played without the armor you see on our pro football players, played without helmets so you can see what the players look like, and played hard by big guys with great bodies who play both offense and defense (think tops and bottoms if it makes you more comfortable), sweat, play in the rain and the cold ...

So, are you in yet? Huh?

How about this? The only male professional athlete in the world who is out of the closet is a rugby player, Gareth Thomas (image right). No, he's not playing, but I'm sure he'll be rooting for the team from his native Wales. And if he's in the San Diego area he's welcome to stop by and watch with me.

(Man,  I love a broken nose and a thick neck. Damn! Not the only reason I watch, but it's a strong contender for lead position.)

Starting Sunday, BBC America brings you RBS Six Nations Rugby from locations all over Europe. The national teams of England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy square off in a a total of 15 matches between Feb. 4 and March 19. BBC America brings us five of those, starting with last year's champion France vs. Scotland.

You can see the full BBC America schedule here and the full Six Nations schedule from the official site at this link.

I know what you're thinking. "Joe, I'm a guy who doesn't usually watch sports. What's in it for me?"

To that I usually answer, "Have you ever seen what happens inside the scrum?" No? It's like a Saturday night crowd at your favorite club except everyone is REALLY HANDSY!!

Okay, it's not quite like this (click here for details on this above, which was an ad the French tourism board created, those cheeky Frogs), but it's still good. More than that, though, it's a fast moving game that's very physical played by guys with almost no protection, without helmets so you can see the pain and joy on their faces, same guys play offense and defense so it's grueling ... have I sold it yet?

How about this? Hot rugby playing bears that you might have seen totally shaved in a charity calendar naked will sweat and grunt and you'll love it. Like Sean Lamont from Wales (this link NSFW).

After the jump, some instructional video, and maybe one other, because your know those charity calendars also do DVDs. And this first clip after the jump? Also very NSFW and not for you kids.

Click here to access BBC America's Rugby 101 page, which will give you newbies some idea of how the game's played. And click this link for the network's stash of interview clips with players and coaches.

In Case You Missed It Video -- Doctor Who at the National Television Awards

Unfortunately the show did not win Favorite TV Drama and Matt Smith came up empty, too. Check out the winners from last week's award show at this link.

Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor ... Dinosaur!!!

And geek Romeo and geek Juliet are still up a tree? Seriously? That's some crazy wormhole-appearing, dinosaur traveling, cast disappearing British sci-fi show, huh?

So, if you're either absolutely crazy or the American version of Ty Davies you've been camped out in front of the tube for a couple days already watching EVERY SINGLE EPISODE SINCE 2005 of Doctor Who back to back, including the 2009 specials and a 90-minute version of Planet of the Dead (Kylie is NOT my favorite companion).

Since you're already there and probably sticking fast to whatever furniture you're sitting on why not stick around of the series four premiere of Primeval, the best show about prehistoric beasts sliding through wormholes to wreak havoc on British citizens since, well, since series three of Primeval, which happened so long ago now that I really don't quite remember much more than Abby and Conor (seen in the image above) getting caught up that tree with nasty creatures snapping at their naughty bits, possibly before those naughty bits snap at each other.

And btw, can that happen this series? Can poor ol' geeky guy Conor get some? Because it's been, it seems, a long long time. I don't even think Caroline from the second series came across, did she? Wasn't she just a tease?

Other new cast members were discussed in a previous post, this link.

There are prequel webisodes to get you up to speed as well, linked below, just click 'em and the clips should run right here:

One     Two     Three     Four     Five

The clips are another way of introducing yourself to the new cast members, have at it.

Video -- Preview Primeval Series 4: Connor, Abby, Becker & New Characters

We're actually within striking distance of the fourth series of Primeval. Finally. It's been a while.

As you know, the last time we saw these people who battle a secret war against the creatures that show up in London and environs through glisten-y wormholes, young lovers Connor and Abby were up a tree.

No, seriously, they were actually up a tree. With nasty creatures nipping at their heels.

What to expect for the new series (and possibly series five, I believe both were shot concurrently)? New characters, including one played by Alexander Siddig (Deep Space Nine, 24), a role for Irish actor Ciarán McMenamin (TV and film roles that US audiences just don't have access to), and Ruth Kearney as a new administrator named Jess Parker that has a crush on Captain Becker.

In addition to the newbies, Becker and Lester return (the Bens; Miller and Mansfield) and maybe, finally, a geek gets the girl moment for Connor (Andrew Lee Potts) and Abby (Hannah Spearrit, now with more bleached blonde hair -- extensions? -- check the image to the left).

Though it's been slow in coming there's more information about the new series coming in. Outlets to check for said news? Simply Television has interviews with cast members, Facebook has a group called Primeval ARCadians where I found the second image in this post, and of course there's the Primeval wiki at Wikia.com.

I have no US airdates currently, I'm assuming that the show wil air here on BBC America (as BBC Worldwide was a major player in the late renewal for the series) but I have no additional info.

Preview clip introduced by Potts is posted after the jump. Have at it.

First Look Video -- Primeval Series Four Set to Premiere in 2011

Props to my Twitter buddy @PottsFanatic for the heads up on this.

After much delay and budgetary and financing woes (thanks, ITV) Primeval comes back to TV screens in 2011. On what channel and when? I have no frakkin' idea, thank you. Though I'm pretty sure that the financial participation of BBC Worldwide guarantees an initial BBC America run, I could be horribly wrong.

Andrew Lee Potts introduces this clip (just click this link to see it) and thanks you for still being interested after all this time.

Personally I would have liked to see them find a way to bring back Nick Cutter (Douglas Henshall) but apparently that didn't happen.

More as we get closer or when I get more info.

Like The Simpsons? Like Doctor Who? Then You'll Like This

See this? It's cool, right? Wanna see more? Click this! Or this!

All 11 doctors above are from Andy Davies at Deviantart (this link). Let's thank Rob Buckley for posting about this today by visiting his blog and while you're there get involved in the Sitting Tennants contest. I played this week, see my entry by clicking here.

The rest of the Simpsonized Doctors and cast are hand drawn by Dean Fraser, and many of your fave villians and companions are represented, though I don't immediately see a Rose Tyler.

Dean, I'm formally requesting a Rose Tyler and a Martha Jones. And a Sarah Jane, you know, for the kids.

You are a talented guy.

The Doctor (Yes, THAT Doctor), Now Immortal (because no one thought they'd get to 12?)

Yeah, I guess it's because no one ever thought they'd get to 12, and since they're at 11 something needed to be done.

Some backstory here ... I was not even aware that the story goes that a Time Lord has only 11 regenerations in him (or her ... you never know who Doctor #12 might be). Apparently this has been the case since the show debuted.

But in an episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures set to air at the end of the month on CBBC (their kids channel) Matt Smith will guest as The Doctor and very offhandedly mention that Time Lords can't die.

Guardian UK:

Fans of the show have been expecting an official moving of the goalposts for some time, but it was anticipated as part of the Christmas special, rather than in an after-school slot on the CBBC channel.

Back in 1976, 12 regenerations must have felt like a safely distant number to pluck from the ether. Now, however, with Smith playing the character in his 11th incarnation, circumventing the rule has begun to feel rather urgent. As JK Rowling hinted last week, once a hero has conquered the world, it is hard to put him away for good: we may also see an extension to the seven-book Harry Potter franchise, despite its very final ending and Nineteen Years Later epilogue.

And with the Doctor Who brand constantly expanding (including spin-offs that range from lunchboxes to the Doctor Who Live show currently on a 25-date, nine-city tour) it was hardly likely that the BBC was going to call time on the series.

So, no limit on regenerations now. Though I wonder if they'll have a Doctor #13. Wouldn't that be bad luck? Or maybe #13 is a Bizarro Doctor (you know, like Bizarro Superman), an evil Doctor that, you know, tears Amy's pantyhose and plays ring and run on River Song.

Or worse. Much worse.

BTW, about this Doctor Who live show? I have an illustrative clip for you, click this. The tour is UK only, obviously.

And, finally, I just took a look at WhoNA.com looking for the 11 Doctors action figure set pictured at the top of the page and I can't find it there, it also might be UK only, at least for now. If you know more, hit me up in the comment section.

Who's Coming To America? No, No, No ... Who's Coming to America!

The first two episodes of series 6 of Doctor Who will be set AND shot in the US. Doc, Amy, Rory and River Song (Alex Kingston) will come to the US for a two-parter.

Yes, this has never happen before and it's very exciting news ... until you find out some of the story is based in the Utah desert. Reasons I don't like this? 1) It's the Utah desert, why would I go there? 2) It's Utah, I might get stampeded by gay-hating fundamentalist Mormons and their multiple sister wives. 3) If you're gonna shoot in the US and you're not shooting in Cardiff-By-The-Sea, CA you're missing out on some ironic symmetry AND ... living five miles from there I could stalk the production.

Then again, they could be shooting somewhere else and saying it's the Utah desert.

You might remember that in series one, Doctor #9 (not #8, thanks commenter) Christopher Eccleston and Rose (Billie Piper) were in Utah where American rich boy Henry Van Statten (image left) has a Dalek in his basement.

(Frickin' Daleks with their plunger thing and moving like zombies. Hate Daleks, not in a fanboy way but in a "the sixties are over" way.)

Eventually the story, set in the 1960s, takes them all the way to the White House. Is there a casting notice for either Presidents Kennedy or Johnson? Or (gasp) Richard Nixon?

Press release after the jump. I just hope we get to see a nehru jacket or two. And some big hair.

Not on Matt, his hair is big enough. 60s hair? All backcombed and teased, Amy should definited have some big hair.

Video -- Catching Up With BBC America's Being Human

I'm behind on True Blood (Sunday's episode) and The Gates (the same), but I did spend some time with vampires, werewolves and a couple of ghosts this past weekend while playing catch up with the BBC Three series from Toby Whithouse, its second series running currently on BBC America.

You know the deal ... a vampire (John Mitchell), a werewolf (George Sands) and a ghost (Annie Sawyer, you can see them all above) live in a crappy flat in Bristol and try not to let their fangs or their teeth or their sudden invisibility get in the way of getting on with it, it being their attempts at ... Being Human.

(I like that they live in a crappy flat, btw. In fact, it's one of the rare shows where the people -- people? -- live somewhere realistic..)

With varying degrees of success, of course. Mitchell and George have crappy NHS jobs to go with their crappy flat, mopping up at a local hospital while Annie, because she hadn't mastered certain parts of the human charade (ghosty problems like not being able to eat or drink or accidentally disappearing) stayed home making tea and coffee that she couldn't even drink and figuring out that her pre-death BF Owen was a sonovabitch.

Owen freaked out when confronted by the three and went to the police with his info, info that quickly gained him entry to a local mental institution. But his story also tipped off an enemy of the otherworld, a man named Kemp. We'll get to him after the jump.

This season started with George's girlfriend Nina, also a hospital worker, living with the trio after the big first series finale where George transformed and killed the local leader of the vampires, Herrick.

(I miss Herrick, he was nasty and fun and a great villian. Watch this interview clip with the producers of the show talking about losing Herrick at this link. And, you UK viewers, NO SPOILERS please.)

Something else happened during Herrick's demise, though. During his transformation, George scratched Nina while trying to push her out of harm's way and gave her "the curse."

Which is where we picked up the opening episode of the series, with Nina dealing with her new circumstance, George not yet knowing what he did, Mitchell trying to keep the local vamps in check (filling the power vacuum George created when he killed Herrick) and Annie gaining control of her "presence," so to speak.

More after the jumperoo.

Clip Bonanza -- Okay I'll Say It ... I Prefer Rusty's Doctor Who

Let them condemnation begin.

Tonight's the first of the final three Doctor Who episodes of this fifth (or 31st or even first, depending on your view) series and only after last week's Van Gogh episode (and btw, here in the States we say "Van Go" though the alternate pronunciation does remind us all of Tony Roberts in Annie Hall) have I finally settled in with the new series.

And I thought it was about Matt Smith. But it's not, and I know I'm gonna get all kinds of shit for this but it's Moffat's doing.

It turns out I prefer my Doctor Who in the Russell T. Davies style. You know, all whimsical and flourishy and sentimental and with more lyrical music choices and, yes, that big David Tennant performance at the middle of it, sure, but most of it has to do with Rusty and his take on the show, which is certainly different than the Steve Moffat approach. In fact, I imagine that in a Moffat-led crew that David Tennant performance would have been a bit smaller and without as much flourish.

It's not that I haven't enjoyed the episodes this year. Well, actually I wasn't so hot for Vampires of Venice, which is strange considering how much I enjoy Toby Whithouse's other work (Being Human, returning here in the US in less than a month).

The episode that airs tonight here, The Lodger, is actually a bit of a throwback to series four in tone, with the Doctor out of his element and a nice little love story at the center of it, featuring a very subdued and lovely performance from James Corden (Gavin & Stacey). Watch him introduce his character by clicking this link.

So enjoy that and of course the final two as they air (some very nice work that I won't expound on because, as River Song would say, "Spoilers!"). These final three episodes are much more to my liking than most of this fifth or 31st or first series.

Watch a preview of tonight's episode by clicking this. Some Q & A with the author of the Van Gogh episode, Richard Curtis (Love, Actually) at this link.

Video -- Why You Should Give UK Reality Series The Choir A Chance Tonight on BBC America

Why? Because my email pal Scott Matthewman who works for TheStage.co.uk tells me the show, which premieres tonight at 10 eastern on BBCA, rather inspiring, and as someone who spent a lot of time standing on risers in front of crowds of people I can tell you that there's nothing in the world quite like standing up with a group and singing.

Okay maybe that's just me. No, it's not. Other people have shared similar thoughts with me.

I didn't get a screener from BBC America so I can't report firsthand, but I trust Linda Holmes at the NPR Monkey See blog, who said about the show and about the NY Times review of the show:

(O)ne of the things I think is terribly sad is that the New York Times review of the show, which will probably be the most widely read, misses its point entirely. I don't mean to pick a fight, but apparently, Gina Bellafante takes the position that the reason the kids are shown is to emphasize how bad they are and how big Malone's job is.

This is absolutely, positively not the case. The entire point of the show is that you do not have to be a great singer, or a potential solo singer, to love singing in a choir. It pains me in particular that she singles out the "Tainted Love" auditioner, claiming that's played as a bad audition, when it simply isn't. Malone's immediate reaction to that kid is that she's wonderful, because she snaps her fingers and dances, and her audacious attitude is like catnip. Of course some of them are bad, but he mostly sees them as untrained.

This is the show's position (and Malone's): To like choral singing, and to get a lot out of it, you basically need to be able to carry a tune (accompanied, not a cappella), learn a part, and work hard. You do not have to be someone people would pay to hear in a club. Entirely contrary to the claims in the NYT review that the show goes to great lengths to demonstrate how bad everyone is and how uphill Malone's battle is, it actually goes to great lengths to demonstrate how many undiscovered singers there are in the school. Not potential recipients of record contracts, but people who are ripe to receive joy from singing and to produce lovely music who, because of the decline of school music programs, are not currently doing it.

I don't think NYT Gina ever sang in a choir. I could be wrong, but I don't think so. And you can hear what Malone has to say about the show to BBC America by clicking this link.

More after the jump.

Donald Glover Will Apparently Not Be Spiderman. Unfortunately. It'll Be ...

... this guy.

No, I didn't know him, either. His name is Andrew Garfield and you can tell he's British from the big ol' crop of hair up there on top of his dome, just like Matt Smith!

And, because he's British he'll cost almost nothing and won't make noise on the set when they suspend him from some rig with dental floss, just like Matt Smith!

Speaking of Doctor Who, of course he did a couple of eps of the show, he played Frank in the two-part Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks in series three.

He's also in the upcoming Sony Pictures Facebook movie. 

More details on the casting from TheWrap.com when you click here.

I still would have preferred Donald Glover.

Video -- Peep Show Star David Mitchell Speaks to America From His Soapbox

You know him, you love him, you can't think of Robert Webb without thinking of him. But, he does this one thing alone (well, more than one thing I'm sure but I'm not counting personal grooming and other ... stuff).

David does this series of clips for The Guardian UK and then they're also uploaded to YouTube and you can see all of them by clicking this link or see the most recent one, a treatiste on how we Yanks abuse the Queen's English. Click this to see that one.

Yeah yeah, I could care less. Or couldn't I?

Series four of Peep Show continues on BBC America Wednesday nights at 9 eastern.

Watch a short excerpt from this past week's ep by clicking here.

I'm Back Monday With All New ... Stuff! Playing With the New Pup This Weekend

And some of my new stuff is pictured above.

Sorry I've been lame about posting the last couple days. I've been busy with her. Her name's Sandy and she's a year old and very active.

Got her at the Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas. They are wonderful and you should consider a rescue dog, always.

She needs to be fixed, that happens on Wednesday at RCHS, as I wouldn't want Bob Barker pissed at me. Also it's the right thing to do.

I love her. Loved her instantly. Her adjustment period was about ... 30 minutes.

We watch our first episode of Doctor Who together tonight on BBC America. Don't know if she'll actually watch but she seemed very interested in Cesar Millan yesterday (seriously, she was transfixed).

Back Monday and I'll write about all the pilot pickups I'm excited about.

Preview Clip -- @AdamLambert on BBC One's Ross Show Re: Kissing His Bandmate

As much as I dislike Jonathan Ross he's still the leading talker on BBC One (at least for a while longer, he's done at the end of this series) he gets the big guests and if you wanna see them that's where you have to look.

This Friday he has Adam Lambert as the Idol runner-up tours Europe promoting his debut album.

And, in the clip you can see by clicking here, he talks about the American Music Awards performance where he kissed that guy in his band and sent ABC into quite the tizzy along with repressed America.

Jake Gyllenhaal is also on the show. Adam must have loved that green room that night. I'm guessing it's time for Jake to start promoting Prince of Persia and fortunately that long straggly hair is gone.

Bonus clip, Jake tasting his first pickled onion thanks to Wossy at this link.

The episode airs this Friday on BBC America.

Video -- Graham Norton and His Cartoon Version With @JLo Re: #Bennifer & #DoctorWho's Karen Gillian

If you're a big Doctor Who fan you might remember hearing about what happened a couple weeks ago on BBC  One when the channel ran an animated "bug" (you know, the show promos that populate the bottom fourth of the screen) for Graham's Over The Rainbow theatrical competition show before the end credits while Doctor Who was running the preview for the conclusion of The Time of Angels, the episode that we'll see next week.

(Wow, run on sentence much? Sorry.)

Six thousand complaints to the BBC switchboard, allegedly. Yes, we fans of the Doc and his new pal Amy are pretty vocal people.

So, from Den of Geek I give you the BBC apology:

It reads: "We apologise for the timing of Saturday night's trail."

It does not, you'll notice, read: "We apologise for the timing of Saturday night's trail, and also agree to stop promoting other shows before the credits have rolled on the one that you happen to be watching."

It also missed out: "In hindsight, we understand that we are the BBC, and thus one of the advantages people expect of us when paying their licence fee is for our programmes to be advert-free."

Okay, D of G is not buying it. To those of us in the States it's no biggie, we're used to losing up to half the screen toward the end of some of our shows, right TBS? (And I don't like it, but I deal with it.)

Of course BBC channels are viewer supported via the TV license fee. And viewers get pissy about promos, which they think of as commercials. And here we don't, so much.

Graham made light of it in this clip with a little bit more help from the BBC graphics department. After that I'm serving up a clip of Jennifer discussing the heady Bennifer days (this clip) and Karen talking about the Amy Pond audition process (this clip).

Since it migrated up a notch from BBC Two, Graham's show is better than ever. It's not everyone who can manage to relax Jennifer Lopez enough to get her to talk about previous relationships. It also takes a host with skills to get three celebrities on a couch to interact in an entertaining way.

If it were this kind of show, I would welcome a chat show on a Thursday or Friday night in the US on a major network. Yes, The Marriage Ref is also a show with three celebrity panelist and a host, but I don't care about Jerry Seinfeld and friends (or even Madonna or Gwyneth Paltrow) riffing semi-humorous on strangers' marriages.

And I can't imagine that you do, either. 

Graham has Kevin Bacon and Brooke Shields next week. Saturday's at 10 eastern right after Doctor Who on BBC America.

Why You Should Be Watching BBC America's That Mitchell & Webb Look

Why? Because of sketches like this one that you can watch by clicking right here.

Another reason? It's part of BBC America's hour of the British comedy duo (and the Mac v. PC guys in the UK) that starts with the legendary Channel 4 comedy Peep Show (also in it's third season here) making a full hour of smarter and funnier stuff than you'll get on most US shows.

And, though you only have two more weeks to watch them on BBC America there's plenty of content at their On Demand channel and at iTunes and all over the web to keep you laughing until we have new episodes here in the States.

The shows air Wednesdays starting at 9. Some of you might need your closed captioning, it's totally worth it.

Stupid Frickin' Candy-Coated New Daleks -- (something something something bullshit)

So.

New Daleks.

New Colors.

New stuff for BBC to license to Character Options to make into toys so that they can send them overseas to Who NA in Indiana and then I can call and buy said brand frickin' new candy-coated Daleks.

(Not really candy coated, just candy colored, but still.)

Well, it's not gonna happen. Because a) I'm an adult, and b) They are bullshit.

Freakin' plunger and electric mixer armed nobby- sided trash bins from space lookin' like they're bringin' a strain of interplanetary venereal warts to the metal-clad of the universe.

It's a fuckin' plunger! 

They promised us no more Daleks, remember? Only thing more juvenile than them is that damned cyber converter unit with it's spinning comedy blades and pokey things and a whole other level of bullshit.

And ... what's with Steve Moffat's fascination with the Blitz, anyway? Third hour of the show he's devoted to it, you realize. Oh, and didn't they talk about Albert Finney as Churchill?

Okay, I'm done now.

Fox: "#Torchwood? No, Thanks." Now Can We Get a S4 From @BBCOne?

And the internet goes crazy with the news, most of it a wipe of the brow and a "whew" from fans of the show.

Hibberd re Torchwood at Fox:

Fox has decided not to pursue a U.S. version of the UK cult hit. The network was developing a stateside version of the "Doctor Who" spinoff, a prospect which divided fans.

(snip)

As to that last part, BBC Worldwide executive vp of programming and production Jane Tranter reiterated that a U.S. version was still making progress.

"It's very much ongoing and very much alive," Tranter said.

Well okay. I think the show would have been significantly corrupted by a US network anyway, though I was willing, of course, to put up with it if the show was set in Cardiff ... Cardiff-By-The-Sea, that is, a community not far from where I'm sitting right now.

I get that BBC Worldwide wanted a format sale to the US and all the money that entails, but I'm very happy having the show done by BBC Cymru (Wales) in Cardiff-not-by-the-sea, Wales with plenty of Action Gwen (you don't like Gwen? Why, she's amazing!) and Jack screwing anything that moves.

BTW, a quick look at Eve's IMDB page notes nothing new, though sometimes these British actors' pages don't get updated with alacrity.

Yeah, alacrity. 

In any event, can we please now get about the commissioning of series four? Please?

Because I think Jack and Alonso Frame (pictured above left) are finished drinking now and might like a good shag.

And if not, why not? Didn't the big UK and US numbers for Children of Earth mean anything?

I'll keep you updated.

My #WorldsCollide -- #Doctor11 #MattSmith on Cover of UK @GayTimesMag

Well look at that! My note to The Advocate and Out Magazines ... time to get your Doctor on (and not just swoon over Barrowman)! Matt Smith is not only on the cover, there's a big feature inside the pages of Gay Times, too.

And 'd give you a taste, but apparently Gay Times doesn't want you to read for free, they want you to actually go to a store and buy their magazine ... can you imagine?

(Actually, that's possibly the only way magazines can stay in business ... but my suggestion to them is to give you at least a little more than this page at GT provides.)

But ... talk about worlds colliding ... Doctor Who, a gay publication and the UK all in one fell swoop? I'm kvelling!

Watch the first nine minutes of tonight's premiere of series five by clicking here. And don't forget there's also a new series of The Graham Norton Show immediately after at a special time, 10:10 eastern. His guests include Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, Pixie Lott and Christina Ricci. Watch a clip at this link.

See, my worlds collide even on the BBC America program grid!

Spoilery #DoctorWho Goodness from Our NYC Friends

That shock of brown hair next to the Asian guy is Matt Smith. The guy on the other side and behind  the Asian guy, with the arrow pointing at him, is Toby at Inner Toob, one of my favorite blogs.

Read what he had to say about the Paley Center NYC event at this link. There are clips, too, but beware, they can be spoilery.

What I don't get? They (Smith, Moffat, Gillan) were in NYC and didn't do Regis & Kelly? Or even that horrible Fox 5 morning show that I see clips from on The Soup? Really?

That's a shame.

Thanks Toby O'b, BCnU, too!

#DoctorWho Fans, Our Wibbly-Wobbly Timey-Wimey Show is in Great Hands

The Doctor Who episode that opens the program's fifth series borrows a gimmick from another of the show's episodes from series two called The Girl in the Fireplace. Said gimmick gives our Doctor, now in his 11th incarnation thanks to one Matt Smith, an instant backstory with his new companion, Amy Pond (Karen Gillan).

And it works. And don't blame Steve Moffat too much for the theft, he's stealing from a great Doctor Who writer ... named Steve Moffat.

What I have to say to devout fans of the show is this ... there is nothing to worry about, the Doctor and TARDIS are in fine hands, impressive hands, might I even say perfect hands at this point in the show's regenesis.

And I'll say more things, things that might be a little spoilery, after the jump. Trying not to give away anything major, just enough to light up your sonic screwdriver.

(And speaking of sonic screwdrivers, there's a new one of them, too, pictured here to the right with the old one, and scheduled to be picked up by your TV Junkie this summer at Comic-con).

Updated: David Mitchell, Robert Webb, @BBCAmerica, Tonight, 9 Eastern!

UPDATED AGAIN: Okay, so I posted this a day early, shoot me! Gave you plenty of time to get ready, no reason not to watch.

UPDATE: Okay, first of all the jackhammer didn't work (see below). I'm now looking for North San Diego County rock removal companies (Ugh!). Second, I share a clip from this new series of That Mitchell and Webb look (click this link) which should cinch your making an appointment with yourself to see this show (the sketch, a post-acopalyptic game show called Remain Indoors, brilliant stuff). I would give you a Peep Show clip, but Channel 4 is notorious for not letting embed codes be attached to their YouTube content. Just click over and search the show title.

In case I don't get back here today (I'm renting a jackhammer to pulverize huge rocks in the front yard ... butch, huh?) make sure you're watching BBC America tonight for the premieres of two shows, the US premiere of the third seasons both of Peep Show.

Don't know these shows? You should, and now you will.

More at the BBC America pages for the shows (PS ) (TM&WL). There are clips, watch them.

Gotta get to Home Depot now, back possibly later (unless there are injuries, I'm kinda lame at this outdoor stuff).

Are These Exclusive Images of #DoctorWho Actor Tom Hopper (Jeff)? No, But He's Naked!

Yeah, he's all wet, too. Didn't mention that? My bad.

Brits saw Tom Hopper play Amy's childhood friend Jeff Saturday night in the Doctor Who series five premiere, but they probably know him already from a bunch of TV appearances there, including Casualty, Kingdom (the Stephen Fry series from ITV) and they'll see him upcoming in the World War II British film Grace and Danger.

If you click over the jumperoo just below, you can see a whole lot more of him.

And a very well placed headshot. And that's all I'm saying.

The Doctor Who premiere goes live in the US at BBC America on April 17, but in the meantime you can see a lot more of Hopper by clicking here, and as previously noted, after the jump.

Ironically It's #JonathanRoss That's the C*nt, Can't Wait for His BBC Show to End

Yet one more of my continuing series of posts where I wonder aloud how Jonathan Ross became a star in the UK ...

Digital Spy:

The TV host was performing at the Channel 4 Comedy Gala when he asked the 20,000-strong crowd to scream the c-word.

Ross stated that he wanted to "break the record for the most people saying c**t at the same time". When the audience obliged he joked: "I'm used to having that shouted at me."

Gee, I wonder why? Couldn't be that you're an unsufferable bore that has no idea what's funny, could it?

What's most amusing to me about Ross is that the one thing he has been involved in that got him in the most trouble, that Russell Brand thing involving Andrew Sachs from Faulty Towers on the radio, is the only thing he's ever been even near that I though was funny.

He's an adversarial interviewer, a lousy comic and tries too hard to appeal to the kids.

Ugh. Can't wait for his BBC contract to expire so he can disappear from my TV. I hope BBC America gets smart (again) and pulls Spooks/MI-5 back from PBS and runs the entire series in Wossy's place. Do me two solids at once, please.

Previously, I suggested they pull Doctor Who back from Syfy. That worked out really well for them. Time to do the same with Spooks, and call it Spooks, because we get that it's not about ghosts.

Thanks. And, if the HD channel could show up on my Time Warner system, thank you, I'd appreciate that, too. Gotta see that new tardis in HD, after all.

New Clip -- Paley Center NYC Hosts #DoctorWho Scribe Moffat, Stars Smith, Gillan on April 12

Image above is 11-year-old Steve Moffat reading a Doctor Who novel. Isn't that just the sweetest thing?

Details, from the Paley Center website:

A new era of the legendary BAFTA-winning series, Doctor Who, begins April 17 on BBC America. The iconic series, television's longest-running science fiction program, follows the adventures of the Doctor, the mysterious traveler who, with his human companions, journeys throughout all of time and space, facing a variety of foes and righting wrongs. This latest series from BAFTA-winning writer Steven Moffat sees Matt Smith's debut as the new, Eleventh incarnation of the famous Time Lord alongside a new travelling companion, the enigmatic Amy Pond (Karen Gillan). Together they explore sixteenth century Venice, France during the 1890s, and the United Kingdom in the far future, now an entire nation floating in space. The Paley Center is delighted to welcome Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, and executive producer and lifelong Who-fan Steven Moffat for a screening of the premiere episode and to discuss the newly rebooted series.  

In association with BBC America.

Tickets are complimentary courtesy of BBC America, but are very limited, and you must make a reservation.

Members can reserve tickets beginning April 1 at noon.

General Public may reserve beginning April 5 at noon. 

Hey, how enigmatic is Amy Pond, anyway? What is it that we don't yet know about her? I do know one thing, she met the Doctor before our series five action starts. What else makes her enigmatic? Dunno. Yet.

Why am I never on the correct coast for stuff like this?

Okay, who's going to this, who will take pics, who will record the thing and when will you send me links so I can share? Lemme know, you know how to find me.

About that new clip, it was shown on CBBC (the kid's BBC channel) just today, I believe, and thanks to someone at YouTube you can watch it by clicking here.

Remember, US Premiere date is April 17, BBC America. Click to their Doctor Who site here.

Video -- #DoctorWho Chief Steve Moffat and His "Mr. Smith" Talk Tardis

The tardis as an extension of the Doctor, explained by the new showrunner and his Doctor.

Click here for that.

Seventeen days till the US premiere of the 11th Doctor. Excited?

Clip Bonanza -- A New #DoctorWho Clip From @BBCAmerica (and #MattSmith & #KarenGillan interviews, and more)

New clips? You betcha. Only four weeks away in the US, a week from this Sunday (Easter) in the UK.

Here's the new clip, click THIS!

Here's a little bit of on-set footage (LINK) taken by a fan and posted on YouTube with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and guest Tony Curran (Lugo Elson from season eight of 24) who is playing Vincent Van Gogh in the Richard Curtis-penned episode (which btw is episode 10).

BBC Worldwide has put together a new subchannel called Doctor Who New Series, and you can click over to that via this link.

Our YouTube pals the Vortexguyz934 has put together their own lovely li'l trailer using a lot of the existing trailer footage, they always do such a nice job (LINK).

Karen Gillan (Amy Pond) talked to BBC News about her new job before a Cardiff screening of the premiere, viewable by clicking here.

Same deal with Matt Smith, your new Doctor (LINK).

New showrunner Steve Moffat (Coupling, Sherlock Holmes -- which will be a PBS event here in the States) gets the same treatment, only in print, at this link.

April 17, BBC America. Get your swag on ahead of time at WhoNA, at this link.

As a huge David Tennant fan I am slightly trepidatious but totally excited, too.

Hey, did you know Tennant was a voice in the upcoming How to Train Your Dragon with Gerry Butler and Craig Ferguson?

Have there ever been more Scottish voices in one animated film? I doubt it.

Hey, is this enough video for you? Tell me if you want more and I'll get more. Yes, we are once again on Doctor Who patrol, and it feels great.

Too Much, The Magic Bus -- BBC #DoctorWho Doc #11 and Companion on Who Tour

(I got really lucky with that headline, huh?)

BBC News has details this AM on the Doctor Who bus tour. Bus tour? Yes, one can do such things in the UK, it's ... smaller (but also wonderful, not that I know, although I'm still waiting for the Wales tourism office to lavish me with an all-expenses paid journey to the land of BBC Cymru).

Tour stops will be in Belfast, Inverness, Sunderland, Salford and Matt Smith's native Northampton.

(No word on whether the Salford stop will include a meet 'n' greet with Moz, Nicki, Cartoon Head and the gang on Ideal, though I'm sure that would be very trippy for them. Aw, who am I kidding ... they probably would all chalk it up to whatever chemicals they did the night before.)

Each city will host a screening of the first episode of series five with Matt Smith and Karen Gillan for local children and their very fortunate parents.

(Damn, I forgot to have children.)

The best, most complete details come, as usual, from the Doctor Who News Page, and you should have that bookmarked already. You don't? Do it now, click here and get it done. There you'll find info on more preview screenings ... in the UK ... so apparently you won't see me there.

New Doctor Who US Premiere Date is April 17

Press release:

BBC AMERICA announced today that the new era of the BBC’s iconic BAFTA-winning drama, Doctor Who, will make its U.S. premiere on Saturday, April 17, 2010, soon after the UK broadcast.

Doctor Who, BBC AMERICA’s highest rated series ever, continues its tradition of rebooting with new lead actors and creative team.  Matt Smith debuts as the new, Eleventh incarnation of the famous Time Lord alongside a new travelling companion, the enigmatic Amy Pond (Karen Gillan).

“Britain has a tradition of reinventing its iconic characters, like James Bond and Sherlock Holmes - and Doctor Who. In introducing the Eleventh Doctor, writer Steven Moffat is opening the show to a whole new audience, while serving fans with an exciting mix of inter galactic, time travelling adventures. We can't wait to meet his new Doctor!" comments Richard De Croce, Senior Vice President Programming, BBC AMERICA.

BAFTA-winning writer Steven Moffat, creator of some of the most frightening and award-winning Doctor Who episodes to date, takes over as lead writer and executive producer.  Writers for the new series include Richard Curtis (The Boat that Rocked, Love Actually), Chris Chibnall (Law & Order UK, Torchwood), Toby Whithouse (Being Human, Torchwood), Mark Gatiss (The League of Gentlemen, Sherlock) and Simon Nye (Men Behaving Badly, Hardware).

Guest stars include SAG Award winner Alex Kingston (ER, Flash Forward), Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo (The Secret Life of Bees, Hotel Rwanda) and Tony Curran (24).

Travelling both through time and space, the new series has the mysterious Doctor and Amy Pond together exploring sixteenth century Venice, France during the 1890s and the United Kingdom in the far future, now an entire nation floating in space. The first three episodes of the 13-episode series have been confirmed as The Eleventh Hour, written by Steven Moffat, The Beast Below, also by Moffat and Victory of the Daleks by Mark Gatiss.

Moffat’s work includes the hit comedy Coupling, the critically-acclaimed thriller Jekyll, the new BBC series Sherlock and along with Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, the screenplay for The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn - which is being directed by Steven Spielberg.

Piers Wenger (Ashes to Ashes) and Beth Willis (Ashes to Ashes) are the executive producers. It is a BBC Wales production for BBC ONE and distributed by BBC Worldwide. 

Video -- Revealed! Why I Hate Daleks

It's the plunger.

I'm sorry if I've offended your Classic Doctor Who sensibilities, but it is indeed the plunger.

For the record, I also find the cyberconverter ridonkulous with it's spinning blades and probing and sticking devices.

Despite my protestations the Daleks are back for series five for sure, not sure about the Cybermen.

It just reeks of old Who. There was a reason I didn't watch old Who, I know it existed (it ran after Monty Python on public TV when I was young) but it looked like something someone made in their backyard with plumbing supplies and Halloween costumes.

Hey, maybe Steve Moffat can find a way to make each of them more relevant. Maybe the recent auction of Who props cleared out all the old Dalek guard and they're creating new ones, maybe without a plunger.

No, I'm not banking on that happening. Too many legacy fans would erupt in protest.

More on the aforementioned auction at this link and video at this link featuring John Barrowman from the BBC's The One Show. He also backtracks on previous Torchwood statements but says he wants to do a US version if it's made.

Video Top 5 -- #BAFTA Arrivals Edition (Special Thanks to ITN), Tonight at 8 Eastern on #BBCAmerica

It's BAFTA day, gang. BBC America has the ceremony for you tonight at 8 eastern, 5 pacific. I have my DVR set, do you?

What I really like about the BAFTA awards particularly on BBC America is that they tighten up the proceedings for US airing, at least it seems like they do. We love our award shows but they can get a little tedious, yes? 

Watch some of the arrivals from ITN's YouTube account ...

• Lee Daniels, Director, Precious 

• Carey Mulligan, Actress, An Education 

• Tom Ford, Director, A Single Man


• Christoph Waltz, Actor, Inglorious Basterds 


• The aforementioned Prince William