TARDIS draws who's who of 'Dr. Who'
- Publication: Chicago Sun-Times
- Date: 1985-11-29
- Author: Lynn Voedisch
- Page: Weekend Plus, p. 3
- Language: English
TARDIS draws who's who of 'Dr. Who'
There's nothing worse than a downbeat convention. You know the scenario: The office crew jets to Cleveland, sits around a sterile hotel conference room and stares at plummeting sales-figure charts. Then everyone drinks too many kamikazes and goes home with a hangover.
Well, up until recently it looked as if that's how things would be shaping up for TARDIS 22, the "Doctor Who Event of 1985" set for today through Sunday at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, Wacker and Michigan. So I planned an out-of-town vacation.
During the past year, I've been hearing rumors that "Doctor Who," an English science-fiction TV cult classic, had been axed by the British Broadcasting Co. Horror-stricken, I spent many a month coming to grips with the realization that the installments I devour at 11 p.m. Sundays on WTTW-TV (Channel 11) might come to an abrupt end.
I should have known not to worry. In true Doctor fashion, the day has been saved. Yes, there had been a production hiatus in England this season. If you can decipher the jolly reports in the British press, this travesty had something to do with redirecting funds toward dramatic production. But now, come spring, the Beeb will revive the 22-year-old series.
Are my fellow fans of the time-traveling Doctor exultant?
"Well, there's still an anxiousness among 'Doctor Who' fans," said Norman Rubenstein, president and chief executive officer of Spirit of Light, the company that is producing this weekend's TARDIS 22 convention. "The BBC hasn't commented further on whether the series will continue to be made beyond the next season."
Let the nervous Nellies fret, I say. If the Beeb has brought back the genial Doctor, that's the best sign anyone can expect from a network.
So, TARDIS 22 should be one of those rare confabs of joy and delight. It certainly has a great lineup. Celebrity speakers will include three of the actors who have played the lovable Time Lord: Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee and current star Colin Baker. A whole bevy of Doctor's companions will be on hand, including Nicola Bryant (Peri), Janet Fielding (Tegan), Louise Jameson (Leela) and Lalla Ward (Romana).
Events will include a celebrity cabaret (where the stars will showcase little-known singing and/ or dancing talents), question-and-answer sessions, video screenings, a costume contest, trivia contest, dealers' room and a slide show. Spirit of Light also will screen previews of "Blakes 7," another British sci-fi series that will flicker on TV screens via Channel 11 sometime next year.
In another first in the "Doctor Who" world, Ostrander Productions will schedule a staged reading of a new "Doctor Who" play called "The Inheritors of Time." The play is scheduled to hit the boards May 14 at the Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge. It will star Roger Mueller, the first American to play the Doc.
For all this fun and frolic, sci-fi devotees will have to fork over $40 for a three-day pass, $30 for two days or $25 for one. But hey, we're celebrating Viewers Victorious here! You probably will need a time machine to find the next time this happens in history.
Caption: Colin Baker, star of TV's "Dr. Who," will appear at the TARDIS 22 show this weekend.
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.: Voedisch, Lynn (1985-11-29). TARDIS draws who's who of 'Dr. Who'. Chicago Sun-Times p. Weekend Plus, p. 3.
- MLA 7th ed.: Voedisch, Lynn. "TARDIS draws who's who of 'Dr. Who'." Chicago Sun-Times [add city] 1985-11-29, Weekend Plus, p. 3. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Voedisch, Lynn. "TARDIS draws who's who of 'Dr. Who'." Chicago Sun-Times, edition, sec., 1985-11-29
- Turabian: Voedisch, Lynn. "TARDIS draws who's who of 'Dr. Who'." Chicago Sun-Times, 1985-11-29, section, Weekend Plus, p. 3 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=TARDIS draws who's who of 'Dr. Who' | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/TARDIS_draws_who%27s_who_of_%27Dr._Who%27 | work=Chicago Sun-Times | pages=Weekend Plus, p. 3 | date=1985-11-29 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=31 August 2024 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=TARDIS draws who's who of 'Dr. Who' | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/TARDIS_draws_who%27s_who_of_%27Dr._Who%27 | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=31 August 2024}}</ref>