I Am A TV Junkie

Video -- For Fans of The Office Unfamiliar with Catherine Tate ...

... I have a compendium of stuff for you the day after it is reported that Tate, Ray Romano and James Spader will guest on the season finale of the show.

That woman at the top of the post is Catherine Tate.

This woman is also Catherine Tate. Watch her in a clip by clicking this.

This woman is also Tate. Clip at this link (featuring former British PM Tony Blair).

And this man, who you can watch at this link.

More after the jump.

Video -- Catherine Tate Tonight On Friday Night With Jonathan Ross

In this clip (LINK) Tate talks about the rumors that she would be the next Doctor, the first female Doctor in the history of Doctor Who.

And for all of you who have rebutted my remarks about Tate's alleged cosmetic surgery just sit down tonight and watch this and tell me she hasn't had a little somethin' somethin' done. It's not a vast difference but it does work for her, she looks very refreshed.

Tonight at a new time on BBC America, 10 pm eastern. That places him directly against Leno, wonder if Jay will wanna take over Wossy's show next year, too. Wouldn't surprise me eventually if Jay took that job of that woman on my GPS, too.

And James Earl Jones' CNN gig. And Kiefer Sutherland's car commercial work.

Oh what the hell, why not make Jay the new Doctor Who as well?

Musical guest is Pixie Lott, who's big in England, check her out by clicking here. She reminds me of a young Billie Piper.

Okay, All Right, I'll Write About the Doctor Who Finale (and show you the trailer for series five)

And because you've all seen it by now, beware for spoilers.

In fact, if you haven't seen it yet you should just stop reading this now (and go watch it and then come right back here, natch).

And, to help you do that, I'm putting the rest of this post after the jump.

Ood Sigma -- "I Think Your Song Must End Soon, Doctor"

I'm starting to get teary already!

Watch this clip and remember that all songs end sooner or later.

Doctor Who -- It's The End Of Time But It Sure Doesn't Feel Like It

I just knew this was going to happen. It's like the boy that cried Bad Wolf, dontcha think?

We've had a Parting of the Ways, it's been Doomsday, we've seen The Last of The Time Lords and traveled to Journey's End.

And now it's The End of Time.

So you'll excuse me if I'm hesitant to believe it's really gonna end.

Time, that is.

In fact I know it won't end, because we're getting a new Doctor and new companion this coming year, hopefully beginning in April or May, and he's younger with floppier hair and has another pretty li'l thing running after him making the odd stirring revelation.

(Because you don't screw around with a winning format.)

Okay, I didn't love part one of the two-part The End of Time and I'm hopeful that part two will redeem the pair. Still, it was better TV than most of the genre shows on American television can muster these days (like Dollhouse, for example, which I've been catching up with lately or FlashForward, which is on the cusp of revealing itself to be a sham -- sorry, David Goyer).

My big problem with the episode seen here in the States last night (just a day after the UK premiere, which in itself is a TV milestone; thank you Garth Ancier, outgoing chairman of BBC Worldwide) and all of these specials aired since David Tennant announced his departure from the show at the October 2008 British National Television Awards (LINK) is the lack of a steady companion.

Without that relationship at its core, Doctor Who is simply not the show it is otherwise.

More, including clips (trailer for the second hour) after the jump.

Best Graham Norton BBC Panel Ever -- 50 Cent, Catherine Tate, Jimmy Carr

 

I just can't wait to see Fiddy and Catherine Tate sitting together on The Graham Norton Show  this Saturday night at 10 Eastern.

Who would have ever thought you'd see Doctor Who's Donna/Nan/Lauren Cooper/Aga Saga Woman and more (see this link) sitting next to former Jamaica, Queens drug kingpin now rapper/actor/water baron Fiddy.

Jimmy Carr's another story ... I hear his whole persona is just a front for major gangsterism.

Kidding, of course.

Watch a clip here (hover, babies, hover over the filmstrip link, or click if you're aggressive) and watch it. Graham is my second favorite talk show on the air.

Can you guess my fave?

From BBC America, Your Illustrated Doctor Who Schedule for the Remainder of 2009

First, The Waters of Mars -- I've seen it (I'm sneaky that way, don't worry BBCA, I'll watch it again and again on your air and buy the DVD, and hell I promote the hell outta the show so you should have no qualms with your TV Junkie) and it's a thriller in the vein of the series four episode Midnight.

And you'll love it on Saturday Dec. 19 at 9 pm.

Hover your mouse here for the trailer thanks to coolest blog plug-in ever, Apture. And another clip here.

 

Next, The End of Time, Part I (getting closer to regeneration) -- You can see the first three minutes and twenty-one seconds of it right here (hover, boys and girls, get that mouse hovering over the little graphic). The Ood return, they've been sounding the alarm for a while now, since series four episode three in fact.

More after the jumperoo.

Doctor Who News from Cardiff -- Tate, Cribbins Spotted Shooting Xmas Special With DT

DT= Oh, do I have to tell you? C'mon, get with it!

Oh, and obviously this isn't a photo from the Christmas Special above, it's from series four.

WalesOnline.co.uk:

Catherine Tate – whose character Donna Noble was written out of the last series – was with David Tennant and Bernard Cribbins in a quiet cul-de-sac in Cyncoed filming what is believed to be the Christmas special.

Tennant, 37, will face a do-or-die drama during the seasonal special and go through the process of regeneration – a change in physical form that sees the Doctor transform into his next incarnation, who will be played by 11th Doctor Matt Smith.

Yesterday’s drizzle failed to dampen the stars’ spirits, with 80-year-old Cribbins, who plays Donna’s grandad, seen sporting a pair of festive antlers after cameras started to roll.

You know how I love Donna Noble (she's mentioned in my banner, she's the temp from Chiswick) and Bernie Cribbins is just so spot on, and that scene at the end of series four with him and the Doctor still makes me cry when I see it.

Also, David Tennant's site (DT, natch) has a lot more pics from filming, click this link to see the gallery. While you're at David's site, why not support one of the many charities he works with, because karma is a good thing to collect.

Of course, Planet of the Dead, the special with Michelle Ryan and that double-decker bus that made news and Dubai (yuck) premieres this Saturday at 6:45 pm on BBC One.

Still no US dates for the specials.

I know, it pisses me off, too.

More Doctor Who News -- Billie, Freema, Donna On Board For Tennant's Finale

Yes, they are all on board, and, according to the Coventry Telegraph, their inside source says, "Anything can happen in Doctor Who. His assistants are always recurring and Donna is no exception. When you're a Time Lord you can go back to any point in history and meet whoever you want."

It's in a story about Tate getting a co-starring role in the Jack Black Gulliver's Travels, which I wrote about here.

So, all that talk about Billie never coming back? That wasn't true. I think the Matt Smith call reported on the other day from every point on the Internet was actually a back-door attempt to get her in, and it worked.

So, all that talk about the Doctor Who crew being all aggro about Freema moving over to ITV's Law & Order UK was just a story, huh?

So, Donna can come back without her brain exploding into a million pieces or melting down and pouring out her ears. Lovely.

Oh, and my fave Bernard Cribbins (above right) comes back as Donna's grandfather, love this guy. And John Simm, too. The Master returns.

This is the episode with the regeneration. From proper Doctor to Intern Who.

Yeah, yeah, I know, I should wait and see. But sheesh, do I hate that hair.

Some Doctor/Rose/Donna moments from Journey's End and series four , in a fanvid after the jump.

Doctor Who's Catherine Tate in the New Jack Black Gulliver's Travels

The Press Association via Rob Buckley at his blog The Medium is Not Enough:

The comic actress - best known for The Catherine Tate Show - has been cast in a new adaptation of Gulliver's Travels and said she "can't believe it", reports The Sun.

"It's a big, kick-off Hollywood film," said the 40-year-old.

Catherine, who looks set to play the Queen of Lilliput, will be in good company as funnyman Jack Black is playing Lemuel Gulliver.

Emily Blunt, last seen in The Young Victoria, is also thought to have bagged a part in the comedy, although it's not known who she will play.

She is seen above with her agent.

Kidding, that's a Judoon from series four of Doctor Who.

Currently scheduled for release in 2010. James Corden from the BBC's Gavin & Stacey and HIMYM's Jason Segel (he's on this blog a lot these days, you would think he was paying me) co-star.

As readers of this blog know, I adore this woman. All the best to her on her first Hollywood film. She was previously seen in UK films including Starter of Ten with James McAvoy and in 2007 starred in Warner Bros. Mrs. Ratcliffe's Revolution.

I'm finding a great Catherine Tate clip from YouTube to throw after the jump, because it's just too good to pass up.

Got one, and it's brand spankin' new. Tate and David Walliams and Matt Lucas from Little Britain do a Carol Beer sketch for BBC's Red Nose Day Comic Relief event.

While you're clicking around, go give Comic Relief UK some of your hard earned cash, at this link.

2 Clips -- Bad Doctor, Bad Donna (Truly Evil Edition)

Great clip from YouTube user VortexGuyz934. Could you imagine?

Right after the clip ends, Donna turns to the Doctor and says, "But am I bovvered?"

LINK

Series four of Doctor Who continues tonight on BBC America (or on your DVD player) with one of my favorite eps from this go-round, Planet of the Ood.

Only for those of you who have already seen the episode (though I can't enforce, obviously) the Song of the Ood in a clip after the jump.

Doctor Who Series Four Begins Tonight on BBC America, Graham Follows with Tennant, Tate Interviews

Sure, if you're a big big fan of the show you've seen series four already. But there are so many people out there who haven't discovered the wonderfulness that is series four of Doctor Who, and this is a very good opportunity to jump in.

I must demand that you start discovering tonight on BBC America a 9 eastern, 6 pacific, with reruns throughout the evening and then tomorrow as well, I believe.

If you've never seen one, set your DVR.

Have kids? Set your DVR.

Love Brits and all things British? Set your DVR.

You're a Kylie Minogue fan? Set your DVR.

(Even if you're not, not the best companion performance ever, but nothing to ruin the episode.)

The current skein starts with the 2007 Christmas special featuring Kylie working on "The Titanic" as waitress Astrid (not Astird, fans of The Office) when the Doctor happens along, and of course adventure ensues.

When it's over, Graham Norton has a special abbreviated episode with his interviews with series four stars Catherine Tate and David Tennant at 10:30 eastern, 7:30 pacific.

For mega-Who fans, the evening can start at 7 eastern, 4 pacific, with a replay of the two-part series three finale episodes The Sound of Drums and Last of the Time Lords.

Two clips after the jump. The BBC trailer for the Christmas Special and a clip of Norton with Tate.

Also, note that Catherine Tate's sketch comedy series is rerunning currently on BBC America as well. You can catch one next on Tuesday at 9:40 eastern. Yes, that's really 9:40. Nine Four Oh.

And, upcoming at BBC Two, Einstein and Eddington, a movie starring Tennant (pictured right in costume) and Andy Serkis as the famous inventor with Tennant playing Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington, the English astrophysicist.

Video -- Shocking! David Tennant Announces He's Leaving Doctor Who at Nat'l TV Awards

Click here for the BBC announcement and David discussing his decision.

I am sad.

But, I look forward to the next incarnation.

We will collect the reactions tomorrow in Around the Horn.

Right now I'm gonna watch Journey's End again.

And thank you Stu Arnott for the quickness of your delivery on this.

After the jump, watch the National TV Awards segment where they go to the Globe Theatre live during the ceremony to give David his award and he announces that he's leaving after the four 2009 specials.

Video -- Is Catherine Tate in Los Angeles? Screen Testing For the Next Liam Neeson Movie?

I have to use question marks because this news comes from those geniuses at The Sun.

(You know what? That's unfair. It's not an issue of their intelligence, it's that they come up with some ridiculous scenarios for Doctor Who cast members and the show that often so don't pass the smell test that I need a Renuzit Solid to breathe.)

The Doctor Who actress, 40, is in Los Angeles to screen test for the project featuring the Schindler’s List star, 56.

And while in Tinseltown, she is meeting telly execs about a US version of her BBC sketch show, which featured characters like Lauren with her catchphrase “Am I bovvered?”

The move follows the success of fellow comics David Walliams and Matt Lucas with Little Britain USA.

So, whaddaya think? I would love to see Catherine Tate do some more of her sketch show, but I'm completely happy with that show being produced for the BBC, shot in London and sent here. I don't need her to reframe her humor with a US mindset.

It's one of the small issues I have with Matt and David's US version of their show, I'm very happy with Carol Beer and Andy and Lou staying where they are, thank you, and engaging with people from their neighborhood. In fact, moving those characters to the US in my opinion have weakened the laughs.

There's also a slight change in format. In the UK, for example, a character sketch would be cut into two or three segments, with the last joke in each section being such an outrageous punchline that you can do nothing else but move on to another scenario.

Well, whatev. This may all be moot. After all it's The Sun.

I'm gonna find you a Catherine Tate sketch and post it after the jump, because she's a riot.

It's the Nan sketch from the 2007 Christmas Special, you'll recognize Mathew Horne from Gavin & Stacey.

And about this movie ... I'm looking at Neeson's IMDB page and he has two things pending, the remake of The Red Circle, which has almost no women in the cast, and the Lincoln movie that Spielberg is doing based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's biography with a script by Tony Kushner.

Sally Field is already cast as Mary Todd Lincoln.

Some Doctor Who Morning News -- TV Choice Awards, Freema's New Role, Zeta-Jones?

What the hell am I writing about Catherine Zeta-Jones for?

I'll tell you why. NO, I'll let the Sun tell you why (read at your own peril):

Doctor Who creator Russell T Davies is desperate for Welsh beauty Catherine Zeta Jones to star in a film version of the BBC1 hit.

The award-winning writer, 45, said he would love Catherine, 38, to be David Tennant’s sidekick on the big screen. He added: “Being from Wales myself, I’d love to have Catherine Zeta Jones as a companion for the Doctor.”

But he insisted no one could replace David Tennant, 37, as the Time Lord.

He said: “To have anyone else would be inconceivable.”

How to interest Zeta-Jones in the role? Tell her the tardis is real and could actually take her back in time so that she could be sleeping with a man more age appropriate.

Speaking of appropriate, the get-up illustrated above would certainly not be appropriate for the Planet of the Ood now, would it.

After the jump, a doppelganger for the Swansea beauty (but not THE Swansea beauty, in my world that's Eve Myles) in a clip from the Channel 4 UK series Star Stories, which is running right now on BBC America.

But first ...

The Press Association (UK):

Doctor Who and EastEnders were the big winners at a TV awards ceremony.

David Tennant, 37, won Best Actor for the second consecutive year for his role as the Time Lord. And Catherine Tate, 40, picked up Best Actress for her turn as the Doctor's companion Donna Noble and the BBC One sci-fi show itself was named Best Loved Drama for the third year.

EastEnders beat its ITV rivals Coronation Street and Emmerdale to Best Soap at the TVQuick and TVChoice awards, hosted by comedian and actor Ben Miller.

Kinda like their People's Choice Awards, I guess.

And, finally, about a departing member of the Whoniverse, finally the official announcement on casting for Law & Order: UK, featuring the lovely Freema Agyeman from the Daily Mirror:

Doctor Who beauty Freema Agyeman is to head a British cast for ITV's remake of hit US crime show Law & Order.

Former Corrie star Bradley Walsh and Battlestar Galactica's Jamie Bamber are also on board.

Freema is to play "hardworking, strong-willed" prosecutor Alesha Phillips in the 13-part first series, which starts filming later this month.

So it's official. I'll miss Martha Jones, but this is a huge opportunity for her (and for Jamie Bamber) and I'll try to check her out on that show.

Clip after the jump.

UK Sun Report: Catherine Tate to Return to Doctor Who (And John Simm, And Bernie Cribbins!!!)

The Sun:

A show source said: “Fans will be delighted to see Catherine back. She was one of the wackiest companions of all time and she brought heaps of humour.

“And it’s great to have John back — he and David Tennant have a real nemesis chemistry.”

The last episode of this year’s BBC1 series saw the Doctor wipe Donna’s memory and return her to her family.

But our source said: “Anything can happen in Doctor Who. His assistants are always recurring and Donna is no exception. When you’re a Time Lord you can go back to any point in history and meet whoever you want.”

Now, that's quite the turn of events, if true. I always like to get verification from the BBC Press Office before I commit to really believing anything in the Sun.

I've been a big fan of Bernie Cribbins, who the Sun says will return as Donna's grandfather, but the mention of Simm really does surprise me. I was under the impression that John Simm was on his way to a big film career.

He should be, not that I won't love seeing him once again as The Master but I was thinking that his international acclaim in the lead of the original Life on Mars would catapult him into movie stardom.

And I hope it still will.

Now, we've also heard that one or maybe two of these Specials for next season will be shot in the United States. Nothing more on that today, but I'm keeping my eyes on the Jane Tranter story (the BBC exec who may be moving to the US with a dedicated production unit) and how that and this news gels.

In other words, I'm on top of the sitch, and anything that comes down? Count on me to get it to you ASAP.

Are You a Doctor Who Fan Who Saw David Tennant at Catherine Tate's Play Thursday Night?

If you were one of the people who made a big to do over Tennant popping in to see Under the Blue Sky, the play Tate is doing in the West End, I want you to never ever go to the theatre again.

What you did was unseemly and inappropriate.

People pay perfectly good money to go to the theatre, and even in the West End, Doctor Who is not the be all and end all of all things.

You ruined people's evenings of theatre. Not cool.

So just stop it, and stop stalking the guy, okay? He's not really the Doctor, you know. He's not even a Doctor.

See those people in the picture above? They are radio interviewers (Trevor and Zena), not Doctor Who cast members, yet another indication to you that it's not cool to make a big deal about your Doctor Who characters in the middle of a play. These are actual human beings who work for a living making entertainment.

And while I'm at it, they've asked you nicely not to bring Star Trek: TNG and Doctor Who items to Stratford to be signed, please comply.

It's a TV show!

Are we done here then? Okay, we move on.

Donna Noble, Not Just a Temp From Chiswick

On an almost related note, did you notice how many ads BBC Video bought for the Doctor Who series 1, 2 and 3 box sets? Nice move, BBC Video marketing department!

And by the way, to all those people who were the target of my wrath re RTD and all the online dissing, once again ... Yeah, get over yourselves. This is a great, great ep.

The only thing wrong with this episode is that you look back on that montage sequence at the end of series three (Last of the Time Lords) when Martha walked across all the continents building support for the Doctor and realize that could have been a whole episode and a good one.

From Wikipedia:

For a whole year, Martha had crossed the globe, telling the human race about the Doctor, and instructing everyone to think of the Doctor at the same time the Master plans to launch his fleet. Crucially combined with the Master's own Archangel satellite network — which the Doctor has had an entire year to get in tune with — this has the effect of charging the Doctor with the combined psychic energy of the people of Earth. Now renewed with powerful psychokinetic abilities, the Doctor restores his youthful physiognomy and ends the Master's control. As the Master cowers, the Doctor says the words the Master was afraid to hear: "I forgive you".

You remember now, it all happen in a blink of an eye (no, not THAT blink of an eye).

[Speaking of which, did you see that part of the Doctor Who sweep of the big awards at Canada's Constellation Awards was, surprisingly, Carey Mulligan, above, the highly regarded Sally Sparrow. How cool is that? Steve Moffat should bring her back in series five. Is there a Facebook group for that? There is a Sally Sparrow Appreciation Society, but it's rather quiet on the page, not much activity.]

More after the jump.

Catherine Tate, James Nesbitt on Graham Norton Tonight (BBC America), But ...

... but you gotta know this before you tune in.

This episode of Graham was recorded between eps 12 and 13 of the current series of Doctor Who, and of course in the States we've just seen episode 10 (Midnight) last night. So, for you people who are on the US sked, there just possibly might be spoilers.

And I think spoilers actually DO spoil your enjoyment of the show. If you feel that way too (and have been avoiding the UK press to steer clear of such, record this episode and watch it later.

Or, screw it, watch it now, and damn it all, whatever you need to do.

Nesbitt denies any offer to play the eleventh Doctor, btw. Well, of course he does.

Catherine Tate has been a great great companion for the Doctor. Now, go worship at her electronic shrine. Tonight at 7 and 10 and then again at some ungodly hour in the middle of the night.

A short clip after the jump.

Left Turn: The Most Dramatic Doctor- Lite

I never allow myself to get in on the same-day Doctor Who writing for too many reasons, but since I'm here avoiiding the excessive Southern California heat anyway, I thought I'd share,

Certainly this is the most dramatic Doctor-Lite episode, those shot without the Doctor and usually, but not in this case the companion as well -- there was a Donna-lite episode previous to this called Midnight -- it's all Catherine Tate and Billie Piper and sets up the final two-parter that will cap this series.

In fact, in terms of drama I would place it in a category with the Martha story in the final two eps of series three. There's a very epic quality to the narrative, and definitely backed up by production and performances. You're gonna like it, it does not disappoint. I was shocked when the episode was seemingly over so quickly.

The Noble family gets the focus, Donna's life choices in particular. You might also call the episode Donna Noble, This Could Have Been Your Life, or something to the effect.

Meanwhile, Rose keeps popping back from her parallel universe, refuses to give her name and is all business and no ceremony. I particularly like the Doctor-esque moment where she refuses the salute of an British military special ops person.

No Martha, as rumored, but I do have something vague to tell you about next week and the series (as in season) finale ... if they have or are exploring aliens races and planets inside the mind of Russell T. Davies, you will see them very very soon. The crossovers are mindblowing.

And you know how much I loooooove it when worlds collide!!!!

Very excited. RTD is going out like a lion.

UPDATE: I just learned the very reasonable biologist and author of The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins will be guesting in the fourth series finale. And also Paul O'Grady, who apparently is an openly gay British comic and drag comic (his alter ego is named Lily Savage), see this Wikipedia link for more on him.

Piper, Tate, Myles All Up For UK TV Choice Awards

You might just call them the women of Russell Davies (though Billie's nom is for Secret Diary of a Call Girl -- and later today I have something tasty for you about the show).

Hat tip to the website Tardis and Torchwood Treasures for this.

I have to say that if I was voting, I would be choosing between Catherine Tate and Eve Myles. Eve was soooooo good in the Torchwood series two finale, all taking charge and that, and you can't deny that Catherine Tate is the best actress that has seen the inside of the Tardis since the show returned. Don't get me wrong, fans, I love Freema and Billie (and let's not even discuss Kylie, who was, uh, okay), but Catherine Tate's Donna Noble is tops in the dramatic department.

So, for me, it's either Myles or Tate, and you can see all the nominees at this link.

(Sorry, that link hasn't worked all day. I think their website might have crashed under all the crowds coming there to vote.)

I have Eve and Catherine in clips after the jump.

Speaking of Billie and Secret Diary, all the news about that these days is about how she's gonna shoot series two during her pregnancy and series three just weeks after delivering. And seriously, she's gonna need to be looking hot if she's gonna put that rubber dress (see pic above) from episode six (?) back on.

I've been clipping out Secret Diary enough, so I'm not gonna post one for Billie. You can watch her entire first season of the show starting June 16 on Showtime in the US.

And, btw, Sho.com has built out their site for the show, and you can snoop around there by clicking this link (okay, Carolyn?).

Oh, and something about the male nominees (including Tennant and Barrowman, later on.

OMWWTWFG!!! (Oh My Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey F-ing --) ... Oh, Just Watch the Clip Who Fans!

So much better (in my humble -- humble? -- opinion) than a new ep of Gossip Girl.

John, thanks for sending this link.

From his email: "The look on the Doc's face when he knows Rose will be back (is) so sweet."

It's after the jump.

SciFi Redeems Itself With Better Editing on Doctor Who

Above please find a marble monument to the new household gods for a certain family that got out of Pompeii just as the volcano was erupting. I gotta believe that this slab of marble will come to play somehow in future episodes. Will Rose run into this monument and will it give her another clue about getting back to the Doctor? Only time will tell.

So, the edit crew at SciFi did a better job, or the just happened to not edit out my favorite scene. Obviously they had to edit something, since Fires of Pompeii ran for 48:14 on BBC One and SciFi has only about 42 minutes or so for actual show in any hour. Partners in Crime, the first ep of the new series, was a bit longer. Maybe that's why the edits were so egregious.

Unlike some (John A. wasn't so fond of The Shakespeare Code from series three) I like the historical episodes, and I like that they are usually the second episode. First of all, it's good for the kids, anything we do to help them to relate to the past is a good thing. Also, it always gives the Doctor the opportunity to lay out the whole deal regarding fixed moments in time, not that it stops Donna from complaining.

Then again, when is Donna not complaining about something? It's funny now, by episode eight of this series it might not be anymore. We'll see.

A preview of the next one, Planet of the Ood (it's really good), after the jump.

It's "Excerpts From Doctor Who" Night on SciFi

Hey, I wouldn't be calling it that if the butchers that live in the editing suites at SciFi had any idea of what they're doing to the Donna Noble story arc.

Let's see, maybe this week they'll just cut all references to volcanoes. That would be quite the trick considering the ep is called The Fires of Pompeii. But like I said last week, if you just consider these airings on SciFi to be the Cliffs Notes version you can have an okay time watching.

Alright, maybe last week was an aberration. Maybe the cuts will be a bit more artistic. And, maybe monkeys will start flying out of my butt.

And as much as I would love to be invited to the channel's Comic-Con party this year, I'm not gonna sit here and tell you that you're seeing the show as the producers intended.

The thing is, RTD and crew have taken such care in Donna's story arc that it really pissses me when they, for example, cut most of the scene between Catherine Tate and Bernard Cribbins (grandfather) early in the episode. These are the moments that make you care about Donna and set you up for the rest of the series.

My Favorite Exchange From Tonight's Doctor Who Episode

Donna: That Martha must have done you good.

Doctor: Actually, she did, yeah. (Pause) She fancied me.

Donna: Mad Martha that one. Blind Martha. Charity Martha!

Tonight at 9 on SciFi, right before an all new BSG.

Here's One Monster-Sized Doctor Who Post for Today

I need to tell you up front that I have seen Partners in Crime and The Fires of Pompeii, and the first thing I have to say is not a word at all, it is just this.

That's right, it happens at the end of the first episode. In all her forlorn-ness. Look at the expression. She is lost without the Doctor. Oh, Rose, I can help, so can all those kids hiding behind the couch, just reach out to us, please.

By now, you probably all also know that she walks away from the police line and just disappears. But I have a sense she'll be back.

Okay, having said that, but also not wanting to spoil anything that might not have been leaked yet (even people who didn't care knew about the return of Rose), I have to say that I'm very much enjoying Catherine Tate working with Tennant so much that I have no problems with her not looking as good running as Billie or Freema. Freema looked extra good while sprinting.

I loved the scene with Donna and her grandfather, played by Bernard Cribbins. You see it in the theatrical trailer for series four but it is set much differently when you see it in the show. It's sweet, loving, and it shows off Tate's range. She's gonna be able to handle all the aspects of being a companion to the Doctor I am sure.

The second episode of the series is shot at the legendary Italian film studio Cinecitta. If you get a chance to see the episode of Doctor Who Confidential that accompanies that ep, you'll learn a bit about the studio and all the legendary films that have been shot there. Honestly, I haven't seen all of ep two, I had stuff to do so important that I actually had to walk away from the screen, which is sad.

After the jump, some odds and ends, and some gay stuff from David Tennant gets picked up and run with by TheSpoof.com.

Video -- Finally, Doctor Who Series Four Theatrical Trailer, Hi-Res

Thank you very much, TimanFanVids, for posting this.

I have been waiting for a decent version of this to pop up somewhere, and yesterday was the day. Apparently, BBC One is running it on air now.

Now, as a thank you, anyone interested should click over to the TimanFanVids page at YouTube (link above), go watch some of the clips, and then thank that person for bringing you just a little bit of series four before the April premiere (still no official dates, read on for more.).

It seems to me that the lack of info is intended, dontcha think? I can't imagine why, however. It's certainly not the way the US TV nets do things, they would promo the damn thing to death.

The Doctor Who News Page is touting an April 5 premiere right after David Tennant and Catherine Tate show up on Jonathan Ross BBC One Friday night show on the 4th.

Although I'm sure the torrents of doom will be sizzling in the days after, I'm gonna suggest that you US viewers just wait and see the show on your big TV box thingy that you have all your furniture pointed toward because it's just a more comfortable experience and you'll have a better time. And it's not like you have to wait forever, it's just gonna be a few days at most.

Clip after the jump.

Doctor Who News: #11 Robert Carlyle? Scripts Leaked to the Press? And, Torchwood Scoop

Word this AM from my pal John in Ireland and the website Den of Geek about who the tenth Doctor may transform into.

DenOfGeek.com:

The latest name to be linked with the keys to the Tardis is Robert Carlyle, the very same Robert Carlyle from The Full Monty, Trainspotting and that Bond film that he was an unthreatening villain in.

In an interview given to the Radio Times, the actor – who, to be fair, we think would make a fine Doctor – denied that anyone had even spoken to him about becoming Doctor Who. He did go on to say, however, that were someone to approach him about the role, that it’s the kind of thing he’d possibly do.

In other Doctor Who news, a couple of scripts for the upcoming fourth series – due to start broadcasting in April – have been leaked to The Sun. We won’t be reproducing any spoilers here, but the BBC isn’t believed to be best pleased.

Who am I to tell you you can't spoil some of the story if you so choose. If you want, click here and read what The Sun has to say, but know that they have often been wrong in the past.

A recent Carlyle interview with the Guardian is at this link.

More after the jump.

Confirmed! Doctor Who Series Four Premieres in April

And where did you read it first? That's right, it was...

... right here!

And to paraphrase Liz Lemon from 30 Rock (one of my favorite quotes at Facebook), "Yeah, suck it, I do read every email that comes in." And you know why, because you never know what you might find out.

Click over to my post of January 17 at this link.

Also, SciFi has picked up rights to series one of The Sarah Jane Adventures, the spin-off starring former companion Elisabeth Sladen, her friend K9 and a cast of young actors (see above right).

A special still from series four and a clip after the jump.