Who's Dr. Who?
- Publication: The WMHT Program Guide
- Date: Aug. 1982
- Author:
- Page: 12
- Language: English
Two hearts and a body temperature of 60°
A whimsical 750-year-old chap in a multi-colored scarf who works out of an English police box that is really a time machine has turned several million Americans into fanatic followers of the British science fiction hero, "Dr. Who." Born with two hearts and a body temperature of 60°, the astounding Dr. Who has been shuttling through time and space for 18 years sorting out galactic problems and vanquishing monsters to the delight of loyal followers in more than thirty countries.
Letters and phone calls to WMHT in the months since its local premiere prove that it is steadily gaining popularity in the area. What accounts for its appeal?
It is a high-camp series that puts more stock in acting and story line than in flashy special effects, and it gives its viewers credit for being intelligent. As one local fan expressed it, "Dr. Who wins battles with wit and words, not fists." The Doctor only resorts to violence (and even when he does it's usually harmless or ineffective) when wit, reason, logic and "jelly babies" cannot disarm his foes. He has a genuine concern for the wellbeing of all life forms and desires the preservation of the cosmological order and the saving of civilizations from extinction.
A pacifist renegade Time Lord, Dr. Who travels through the universe battling a broad spectrum of enemies including Daleks, Cyberman robots, man-eating Krynoid vegetables, his arch-foe The Master, and other sordid creatures.
No task is too formidable for his sharp wit or sonic screwdriver, even if it is wrestling with the breakdown of his temperamental and sometimes unreliable Tardis spacecraft which frequently jumps the time track or jams its "fast return switch."
The Tardis (Time and Relative Dimensions in Space) appears on the outside to be a British police box, but is, on the inside, at least larger than a football field. To his more initiated fans, this phenomenon is known as dimensional transcendentalism.
Nor is the Doctor himself infallible. Part of his appeal is his problem-solving capacity when things go wrong, making do with bits and pieces of electronic gadgetry that just happens to be around.
"Who-ites" delight in the scientific mumbo jumbo exchanged by the doctor, his trusted K9 (a computerized dog with an IQ of more than 300), and an assortment of female companions ranging from helpless screamers to independent Time Ladies.
Much of the appeal of the series lies in the personality of British actor Tom Baker, the fourth actor to play the role and the longest-serving Doctor to date. Sporting a floppy Edwardian coat and a fedora pushed down over his mop-like curls, Baker portrays Dr. Who as a slightly off-beat member of the elite Time Lord race of intergalactic scholars who unfailingly triumphs over evil. A master of understatement and tongue-in-cheek humor, Baker breathes life, wit, and warmth into the character, giving Dr. Who a capacity for self-criticism and an ability to laugh at himself.
A 48-year old Liverpool actor and one-time monk, Baker's career was launched when Sir Laurence Olivier asked him to join his National Theatre of England. He played a variety of roles, the most memorable being the Prince of Morocco in "The Merchant of Venice." His success in this "notably eye-rolling part" led to his first film and a part of a similarly eyerolling nature-that of Rasputin in "Nicholas and Alexandra." Since then he has worked in many films including "Canterbury Tales," "Sinbad's Golden Voyage," "The Vault of Horror," "Luther and the Mutation," and "Dear Parents." In between films, Baker has played leading roles at the Bristol Old Vic, the Hampstead Theatre Club and the Shaw Theatre, and has appeared in a number of TV productions.
If you have not yet met the delightful Doctor from Gallifrey (his home planet), why not tune in for a sample of what has been described as the "best science-fiction series ever." You, too, might soon be a "who-ite."
DR. WHO GET-TOGETHER
Dr. Who fans are invited to gather at the WMHT studios Sunday, August 22 at 5:30 p.m. to meet other "who-ites," enjoy light refreshments and watch the Dr. Who movie, "Terror of the Zygons." Studio space is limited to the first 125 who call in reservations to 356-1700, ext. 289. In light of the numerous requests for a Dr. Who fan club, the gathering will give "who-ites" an opportunity to discuss formation of such an independent club. If so, WMHT will provide a list of potential members so if you are unable to attend and wish to be on such a list, send a postcard to "Dr. Who," WMHT, Box 17, Schenectady, New York 12301.
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.: (Aug. 1982). Who's Dr. Who?. The WMHT Program Guide p. 12.
- MLA 7th ed.: "Who's Dr. Who?." The WMHT Program Guide [add city] Aug. 1982, 12. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: "Who's Dr. Who?." The WMHT Program Guide, edition, sec., Aug. 1982
- Turabian: "Who's Dr. Who?." The WMHT Program Guide, Aug. 1982, section, 12 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Who's Dr. Who? | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Who%27s_Dr._Who%3F | work=The WMHT Program Guide | pages=12 | date=Aug. 1982 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=14 October 2026 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Who's Dr. Who? | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Who%27s_Dr._Who%3F | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=14 October 2026}}</ref>
