British science fiction's 'Dr. Who' is subject of ETV special
- Publication: The Index-Journal
- Date: 1983-11-23
- Author:
- Page: 5
- Language: English
On November 23, 1963, the first program of a series that was to become a science fiction classic was broadcast on British television channel BBC-1. The series was called Dr. Who, and 20 years later — despite cast and plot changes — it is still a favorite for millions of viewers.
As part of the 20th birthday celebration for Dr. Who, S.C. ETV will join stations throughout the U.S. in broadcasting a special ninety-minute program which reunites most of the actors and actresses who have appeared on the series during its lengthy history. Dr. Who will be broadcast on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 9 p.m. on ETV Ch. 7, 14, 16, 23, 27, 29, 30, 33, 35, 49.
Created by Sidney Newman and Donald Wilson, the original Dr. Who series consists of 30-minute, cliffhanger-type episodes. The title character is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey two travels through time and space righting wrongs. Dr. Who has two hearts and a body temperature of 60 degrees F. More amazing still, he has the ability to regenerate his cells whenever he's on the brink of death, but each time this happens he changes into a totally different person. Since the actor who plays Dr. Who has changed a number of times in 20 years, this device has been a handy one for the series.
The Dr. Who special will include five versions of the good doctor, all the way from the crotchety old man played by Richard Hurndall beginning in 1963 to the current doctor, a young and friendly version played by Peter Davison. Members of the supporting cast — which has evolved from two schoolteachers and a teen-aged girl to an airline stewardess and a male student from a private school — will also be featured. The plot involves timescoops and temporal voids, exotic foes in a game of Rassilon, where the loser dies instantly.
The object of all this, according to the series' American distributor, Lionheart Television International, is an unprecedented birthday celebration. "We're shooting for the Guinness Book of World Records for the biggest party ever — with over seven million U.S. fans singing 'Happy Birthday' to our hero," says Lionheart president Wynn Nathan.
Spelling correction: Sydney Newman
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- APA 6th ed.: (1983-11-23). British science fiction's 'Dr. Who' is subject of ETV special. The Index-Journal p. 5.
- MLA 7th ed.: "British science fiction's 'Dr. Who' is subject of ETV special." The Index-Journal [add city] 1983-11-23, 5. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: "British science fiction's 'Dr. Who' is subject of ETV special." The Index-Journal, edition, sec., 1983-11-23
- Turabian: "British science fiction's 'Dr. Who' is subject of ETV special." The Index-Journal, 1983-11-23, section, 5 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=British science fiction's 'Dr. Who' is subject of ETV special | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/British_science_fiction%27s_%27Dr._Who%27_is_subject_of_ETV_special | work=The Index-Journal | pages=5 | date=1983-11-23 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=22 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=British science fiction's 'Dr. Who' is subject of ETV special | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/British_science_fiction%27s_%27Dr._Who%27_is_subject_of_ETV_special | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=22 March 2025}}</ref>
