Mr. Who?
- Publication: The Town Talk
- Date: 1996-05-11
- Author: Len P. Feldman
- Page: 5
- Language: English
Fox adapts sci-fi series for new TV movie
Who is Paul McGann? "I am Who," states McGann, who, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, stars in the two-hour Fox movie "Dr. Who."
It is the much-anticipated feature-length adaptation of the longest-running science-fiction television series in history. It even holds a place in the "Guinness Book of World Records."
Beginning in 1963 on British television, this legendary series about a half-human renegade time lord from the planet Gallifrey has, to date, aired in over 80 countries and has a worldwide audience of over 110 million. This film marks the series' 695th installment.
It's a big responsibility to take on a character of such legendary proportions.
"It's like being James Bond," says McGann. "It's a kick, but it can be a little bit daunting. But then, you just have to relax and do your own thing."
The series' longevity has always hinged on two points. The first, McGann agrees, is its universal humanistic appeal.
"Although the dramatic landscape is science fiction — the energy of the guy, the way he thinks and gets out of scrapes, is due to his partial humanity. We as an earthling audience have that identification where we say, 'Yeah, I can be that guy.' I think that explains the appeal to the kids who watched then and the big kids who are watching it now."
The second reason the series has survived is the ingenious creative device that the writers dreamed up when the first Dr. Who, William Hartnell, decided not to continue with the series (due to health problems).
"They came up with this wonderful idea, " explains the film's executive producer, Philip Segal, who, according to McGann, is the world's biggest "Dr. Who" fan. "Dr. Who has 13 lives. And we'll regenerate him into a new character. Well, it actually worked and it became part of the method of the show."
Since then, Dr. Who has been played by seven British actors who, because Dr. Who's personality conveniently changes with each reincarnation, all have their own personal take on the role. Sylvester McCoy, the last Dr. Who, appears in the beginning of the new film to pass the baton and regenerate into Dr. Who's eighth reincarnation, Liverpool native and good friend Paul McGann.
The regeneration scene was McGann's favorite.
"It was fairly hysterical," laughs McGann. "I'm used to seeing the fellow across a pub table. Suddenly he's on some slab in a morgue and he morphs into me. That's a buzz. You're naked except for a shroud and a toe tag. You have to stay perfectly still while they shoot it. Sylvester and I are big gigglers, so that was a stern test."
In order to regenerate themselves, time lords have a bypass respiratory system and two hearts. McGann is quite happy with one.
"Maybe if it increased one's passion quotient commensurately," he ponders. "But then again, it probably just double the grief."
It's a nifty concept, this living practically forever and traveling through time.
"I don't know about the living forever bit," says McGann. "I'd just get tired. And If I could travel in time I don't think I would go forward necessarily. I'm too scared. But I wouldn't mind seeing my dad. I'd go back about 15 years when my dad and I used run together." McGann's father suffered a fatal heart attack.
While it's true nobody lives forever, the "Dr. Who" series seems unstoppable. But what happens when the good doctor reaches his 13th life?
"You can bet your life that there'll be some quirk of fate that will let him go on for another 13."
McGann goes on to make a rather grandiose analogy:
"In the Vatican, there's room for only four more portraits of Popes. Obviously, when the time comes they'll just build an annex. And in the 'Dr. Who' exhibition in London there's only so much room for so many Dr. Whos. But then you can really overthink these things."
Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org
- APA 6th ed.: Feldman, Len P. (1996-05-11). Mr. Who?. The Town Talk p. 5.
- MLA 7th ed.: Feldman, Len P.. "Mr. Who?." The Town Talk [add city] 1996-05-11, 5. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Feldman, Len P.. "Mr. Who?." The Town Talk, edition, sec., 1996-05-11
- Turabian: Feldman, Len P.. "Mr. Who?." The Town Talk, 1996-05-11, section, 5 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Mr. Who? | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Mr._Who%3F | work=The Town Talk | pages=5 | date=1996-05-11 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=21 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Mr. Who? | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Mr._Who%3F | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=21 March 2025}}</ref>
