BBC America to Run Doctor Who Uncut

When you watch something like Doctor Who on BBC One you don't get the ads that we get over here in the foreign market. By getting it over here full of Extenze Ads, you miss out on some of the show so it can fit into the time slot.

Garth Ancier, president of BBC America, announced Wednesday that BBC America will air unedited versions of Doctor Who and other series. The shows will still have commercials: They'll just exceed an hour all told. However, this is only during the premiere airing.

Ancier said in a press conference at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Pasadena, CA:

"In order to keep the storylines intact on most of these shows now, on the premiere airing we don't do any cutting at all. We just take the entire show, and we run over off the clock. That's what we've been doing, and that's what we're going to do for Doctor Who going forward. The audience seems to be following it, and that way we're not screwing up someone's vision, what they're trying to do, or screwing up story points."

Exiting Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies is happy about this decision and said that Tennant's last episode as The Doctor will push things even further.

"Actually, our very last episode, coming at Christmas, David's very last episode, is one hour and 15 minutes long,"

That means that "The End of Time" will get a 90 minute block of time (possibly 2 hrs)

Expect BBC America airings to debut closer to BBC U.K. airings, too. Contractually, BBC America has to run after the U.K., but with schedules locked in in advance, they are able to schedule close enough to get the Christmas special around Christmas or New Year's Day.

The Return of River Song?

As reported earlier, Doctor Who started filming for the new series with new Doctor Matt Smith on Monday and some photos have been released that are putting Whovians and other geeks alike into a frenzy.

Yes, as you can see that is new Doctor Matt Smith with Alex Kingston who played Professor River Song in the 4th series of Doctor Who with David Tennant's version of the Doctor in the fantastic two part episode story, "Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead", written by new show runner Stephen Moffat. She was a companion to the Doctor at an undisclosed future point in the Doctor's life. A companion so trusted that the Doctor told her his real name.

The BBC has confirmed that Alex Kingston has returned to Doctor Who, but who she will be playing and how the character will fit in the Doctor's life has yet to be revealed. It would seem that she will be back for a 2 episode stint.

New Doctor Costume Unveiled.

The answer is finally here. Well, I'm not sure how much of a question it was, but the costume that 11th Doctor Matt Smith will be wearing has been revealed. The Time Lord's new outfit consists of a tweed jacket, bow tie, rolled up pants and black boots.

New episodes of Doctor Who begin filming in Cardiff on Monday with episodes airing in spring of 2010.

The Doctor will also have a new companion, Amy Pond, played by Karen Gillan who meets him in the first episode.

Matt Smith has been quoted as saying:

"I feel very privileged and proud to be part of this iconic show. The scripts are brilliant - I'm excited about the future and all the brilliant adventures I get to go on as the Doctor."

Smith is taking over for current Doctor, David Tennant, who's final episode as The Doctor airs on New Year's Day.

Cobra Commander FAIL

There are times when you go back and watch old episodes of shows that you used to love, and they just don't add up anymore. Like old episodes of ThunderCats. You sit and wonder you ever sat through this.

But when you hear that they are making your childhood into a feature film you get excited. A update. A new take on something you loved. Then something like Transformers comes out and your expectations are thrown in the toilet. Michael Bay has made a mockery of something you grew up with.

Then the word comes down the pipeline that a G.I. Joe live action feature is in the works, and Bay is nowhere near. You get excited. Your faith restored. Stephen Sommers directing? Well god damn, I loved The Mummy. This is going to be great.

Then that picture to the left is released. Yes. Not only is Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing Cobra Commander, but THAT is what he looks like. Everything falls apart.

I guess the point of this blog. This rant, this rambling is, leave the past where it's at. Leave well enough alone. Let me have my memories as they are. Stop shoving crap down my throat and trying to pass it off as cool and hip. For shame Hollywood. For shame.

and people wonder why I watch so much BBC...