Message-ID: <538@topaz.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 6-Feb-85 17:50:50 EST
Article-I.D.: topaz.538
Posted: Wed Feb  6 17:50:50 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 9-Feb-85 05:01:43 EST
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From: andy_leslie%perch.DEC@decwrl.ARPA  (Don Quixote    ^    )

>From: ihlpg!jcgowl@topaz (r. gowland)
>Subject: Re: Whoites vs Trekies
>Date: 1 Feb 85 16:09:37 GMT
> 
>Part of the reason why the Dr. Who show doesn't seem to have such a
>big following in the UK is that it is made for and aimed at children
>in the age-group from 5 to 12. It is broadcast in prime childrens'
>viewing timeslots, usually 5pm Saturday with sometimes repeats at
>6pm on a Monday. It is acknowledged by many that the programme is
>for kids, but loved by adults. I *like* (as opposed to *love*) it,
>but prefer Star Trek which comes at us in 50 minutes complete
>programmes. Dr. Who (as Richard Jeffreys probably pointed out) is
>shown over 4, 5 or 6 weeks at 25 minutes per episode.  ihlpg!jcgowl
>Roger R. Gowland at Indian Hill (temporarily)


	Tom Baker was interviewed on the BBC at a US convention and what he 
said (more or less) was that the Brits don't quite go over the top in the way 
that American fans do. He also said he failed to understand the fuss, pretty 
ordinairy part really, but at least it got him free US trips.

The conventionite, be (s)he 'Trekkie' or 'Whoite' is quintissentially american 
and the antics at these confirm many Brits fears about american sanity :-)
 
Over the years Dr Who has been shown in several formats. For many years this 
was Saturday night at some time between 5 and 6:30 pm, episode lengths varying 
from 20 to 45 minutes. Longest story in terms of episodes was probably 'Daleks 
invade the earth' which was screened in the mid-sixties and lasted about 13 
episodes. (Forgive an old memory if thats inexact)

A couple of years ago the format  became twice-weekly on weekday evenings at 
7:00 pm, length about 25 mins. Questions were asked in Parliament ( I kid you 
not ) about this shift in the schedules, eventually the furore died down on a 
promise of a resumption of normal timing. 

This year, Dr Who stories consist of 2 * 45 min episodes and it is back to 
Saturday evenings at 5pm-ish. The writing is much better than of late but the 
models of spaceports and suchlike are still in the 1950's papier mache' style.

(As well as the above, there have been compilations, whole stories told in 1 
hour 'specials', put in to the summer schedules)

It may well have been the original intention to appeal to children of 10 and 
under, but children under 100 seem to like it instead. 

I have watched every episode since 1962, either in serial or 
'special' mode. I would like to comment on the 'plots' debate. Dr Who plots 
have varied wildly over the years from the inane to the insane, from good to 
superlative. Some of the best stuff I have seen for ages is in the current 
series. But several mainstays of the series have been changing. The Tardis has 
regained its chameleon ability, although screwed up ( a church organ in a 
scrap yard [?!] ) and the Doctor has actually gotten in a fight and beaten up 
a human opponent. He is far more agressive than days of yor. He has killed 
Cybermen and friendly characters have been killed. In recent times the worst 
that would have happened is that they would have caught a cold (with the 
notable exception of Adric).

	Indeed, I think that had all the old mainstays been left intact, Dr 
Who would have drifted into a shadow of its former self and been canned in 
short time.

	As to Star Trek, well, its very nice for a 17 year old series, still 
pretty much a macho-man yarn, some stories stick in the mind ( remember the 
demented singing of "I'll take you home again, Kathleen" over the ships tannoy 
episode?), others stick in the Mudd. 

It is important to remember that Star Trek suffered far fewer constraints than 
Dr Who ( the hero was allowed romance, for one ). AND IT FINISHED. It is 
always easier to forgive mistakes in the old than in the new.

forgive the rambling...

		Andy (<>^<>) Leslie

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Tue 5-Feb-1985 11:48 (<>^<>) Time - UK CSSC CIC Basingstoke England