Whopla

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• Publication: In the Public Eye (North Dakota)
• Date: Dec. 1988
• Author:
• Page: 10
• Language: English

Prairie Public TV's Kasterborus Club newsletter

WHAT IF?

WHAT IF DOCTOR WHO'S PRODUCERS AIM FOR A MUCH YOUNGER TARGET AUDIENCE ON PBS? THEY MIGHT FORCE THE DOCTOR TO REGENERATE INTO.

THE COOKIE MONSTER?

T IS FOR TARDIS! THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME

WO!

TARDIS TARDIS TARDIS STARTS WITH T!

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Is There A Doctor In The House?

Doctor Who is a British science fiction serial. In the United States, the serialized segments are run back-to-back as a full movie feature. The star of the program is not "Doctor Who',' but simply, "the Doctor',' since the Doctor's real name is totally unpronounceable to earthlings.

When the program began in 1963 on BBC, the Doctor was played by the late William Hartnell. Since then the show has gone through seven different Doctors via regeneration—an ingenious device to avert disaster upon the loss of the series' major star.

Tom Baker, who took on the role of Doctor number four, has taken the characteristics of each of the previous Doctors and developed an enjoyable blend. Baker's Doctor is a brilliant, curious, eccentric who is dedicated to helping others. At 6 feet, 3 inches tall, garbed in frock coat, floppy hat and his 17-foot-long striped scarf, he is a favorite among tele-whovians.

To come to understand the series and to begin to appreciate it, let alone become interested in it, you must watch several episodes and become familiar with the characters. And even then, it's not believable. But it's fun. As Tom Baker himself said, "You can't take the idea of a man wandering around space and time in an old police call box, armed with nothing but a scarf and an electric dog seriously, can you?"

Caption: Arthur and Lucia Johnson, two 'timelords' from Lakeville, MN, fumed a few heads at the convention with their authentic-looking period clothing.

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Have Tardis, Will Travel

Last September PPTV was invited to participate in the Red River Science Fiction and Fantasy Club's convention. Kay and Steve packed up the Tardis, some previews of Tom Baker episodes and transported to the Moorhead, MN, Regency Inn.

Tele-whovians from throughout the viewing area were in attendance and several became new members. One highlight of the convention was the opportunity to see so many fans in costume. PPTV offered a prize to the person with the best Doctor Who costume.

The other highlight was the opportunity to meet so many Who supporters in person and to put a face with the names that come in over the phone during pledge drives. Thanks to everyone who helps keep the Doctor on the air on PPTV.

Caption: Laurie Smith, a PPTV member from Winnipeg, captured the spirit of Tom Baker and won the costume contest.

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Tom Baker Is Back

We're pleased to have the Tom Baker series back on Prairie Public TV. Baker's Doctor Who seems to be the favorite of all the Doctors to date, and especially in PPTV's area.

Baker played the part of the Doctor longer than anyone—a total of seven years in the weekly series. His Doctor has a certain childlike quality, a genuine curiosity about everything and anything. In spite of being more than 750 years old, the Doctor is constantly surprised by the things he observes.

Tom Baker has been referred to as "teeth and curls" and it is also said that he looks like a fugitive from the Marx Brothers roaming around the Galaxy. In practice, the Doctor's space ship, the Tardis, is temperamental and unreliable, although the Doctor himself is infallible. Part of his appeal is his problem-solving capacity when things go wrong. If you haven't caught the Doctor before, tune in Friday nights at 10:00 pm and give him a try. Fans in thirty-nine countries say he's the best! See if you agree.

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.: (Dec. 1988). Whopla. In the Public Eye (North Dakota) p. 10.
• MLA 7th ed.: "Whopla." In the Public Eye (North Dakota) [add city] Dec. 1988, 10. Print.
• Chicago 15th ed.: "Whopla." In the Public Eye (North Dakota), edition, sec., Dec. 1988
• Turabian: "Whopla." In the Public Eye (North Dakota), Dec. 1988, section, 10 edition.
• Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Whopla | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Whopla | work=In the Public Eye (North Dakota) | pages=10 | date=Dec. 1988 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=10 May 2025 }}</ref>
• Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Whopla | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Whopla | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=10 May 2025}}</ref>