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From: mom@sfmag.UUCP (M.Modig)
Newsgroups: net.tv.drwho
Subject: Re: Do we want to keep the current stars?
Message-ID: <759@sfmag.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 1-Nov-85 09:31:59 EST
Article-I.D.: sfmag.759
Posted: Fri Nov  1 09:31:59 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Nov-85 07:54:51 EST
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> (*FLAME ON*): J N-T is probably the best producer Doctor Who has had. If
> it wasn't for J N-T, Doctor Who might still be stuck in the rut of slap
> stick comedy. J N-T brought the level of Doctor Who up from a childrens
> show to a show worthy of Sci-Fi. Not only is he a great producer, but he is
> a great person too. Do you think Graham Williams or Pennant Roberts would
> come to a small-time convention just for the sake of the fans? Probably not.

I don't agree. J N-T has overstayed his welcome as far as I'm
concerned.  He provided a nice change of direction when he first
took over, even though it seems he was partly responsible for Tom
Baker's decision to leave.  He gave more attention to good stories,
writing, and continuity.  The last season and a half (what I've seen
of it) seems to represent a marked slippage from J N-T's earlier
standards.  The writing is much weaker-- it's becoming formula more
than anything else.  Continuity has suffered some, and a lot of
gratuitous violence has crept in.

> 
> One of the reasons why the show went on hiatus was because of money. Do
> you think a cheapskate like Grade would spend a bunch of money on a show
> he doesn't like. This is the guy that cancelled Star Trek, and didn't 
> even cost the BBC anything to produce!!!
> 

Money was probably part of the reason, but I think politics also has
a lot to do with it.  The show has become somewhat of an
embarrassment for the BBC, due to the constant harassment of
pressure groups like the group headed by Mrs. Mary Whitehouse.  The
people doing the show haven't really helped their own cause too
much, judging from what I've seen of the first Colin Baker season.
There was also talk of the show being used as a political football
to help the BBC get the TV license rate increase they wanted. 
Personally, I'm convinced that Mr. Grade simply doesn't like the show--
he's decided he wants to get rid of it come hell or high water.  The
rest is just smokescreen.

At the moment, there's not much we can do except keep writing the
BBC (I think they're tired of hearing from me by now, but at least I've
given them a break and quit phoning them up to state my views-- too
expensive).  We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Mark Modig
ihnp4!sfmag!mom