What? Why "Who"?
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Sam_Vimes
MajorHoy
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What? Why "Who"?
Maybe this has been answered before, but if Doctor Who is a Time Lord, how come his name isn't "Doctor When"? (I'm not trying to be clever / funny, just sort of wondering if that has ever come up in an episode or something.)
MajorHoy- Posts : 2735
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
MajorHoy wrote:Maybe this has been answered before, but if Doctor Who is a Time Lord, how come his name isn't "Doctor When"? (I'm not trying to be clever / funny, just sort of wondering if that has ever come up in an episode or something.)
His name actually isn't Doctor Who. His name is "The Doctor" (or that's the name he took, anyway). "Doctor Who?" is the question people sometimes ask when he says he's "The Doctor". Personally, I HATE that this showed is called that, it's pretty dumb if you ask me.
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
But the fact that it's a question is the point! What else would it be called?Mbast1 wrote:MajorHoy wrote:Maybe this has been answered before, but if Doctor Who is a Time Lord, how come his name isn't "Doctor When"? (I'm not trying to be clever / funny, just sort of wondering if that has ever come up in an episode or something.)
His name actually isn't Doctor Who. His name is "The Doctor" (or that's the name he took, anyway). "Doctor Who?" is the question people sometimes ask when he says he's "The Doctor". Personally, I HATE that this showed is called that, it's pretty dumb if you ask me.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
"Doctor Time", maybe...?
I don't know, I like that it's called Doctor Who. I'd probably work harder on an alternate name if I didn't.
I don't know, I like that it's called Doctor Who. I'd probably work harder on an alternate name if I didn't.
Sam_Vimes- Posts : 428
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
What annoys me is when an actor, either the one currently in the role or a previous one, is asked about being "Doctor Who."
This is like William Shatner or Patrick Stewart being asked about being cast as "Star Trek."
And the person being asked doesn't correct the person asking the question!
It's even worse when the mistake is made by a BBC interviewer. Others may have the excuse of not being that familiar with the program, but how can a BBC interviewer not know? Don't they get any background information before hand?
This is like William Shatner or Patrick Stewart being asked about being cast as "Star Trek."
And the person being asked doesn't correct the person asking the question!
It's even worse when the mistake is made by a BBC interviewer. Others may have the excuse of not being that familiar with the program, but how can a BBC interviewer not know? Don't they get any background information before hand?
karatattoo- Posts : 141
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
I think interviewers frequently use it as a kind of shorthand: it's simply easier to ask "what's it like playing Doctor Who" than "what's it like playing the Doctor in Doctor Who". After all, not everyone watching is going to be familiar with the series.karatattoo wrote:What annoys me is when an actor, either the one currently in the role or a previous one, is asked about being "Doctor Who."
This is like William Shatner or Patrick Stewart being asked about being cast as "Star Trek."
And the person being asked doesn't correct the person asking the question!
It's even worse when the mistake is made by a BBC interviewer. Others may have the excuse of not being that familiar with the program, but how can a BBC interviewer not know? Don't they get any background information before hand?
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
tony ingram wrote:But the fact that it's a question is the point! What else would it be called?
What point, though? In terms of the title, it just doesn't make sense. It's accepted, I think, simply because it's old, but it doesn't make sense. "Doctor Who" MIGHT make sense if you had a roomful of Doctors and you needed another name to help you ID which one this was, but that's not the case. It's not asked as if it were asking who he "really" is, it's asked because people expect an answer like "Doctor Johnson". They're looking for a name, and that's what this is from. That there's a question as to who he really is doesn't have anything to do with the title, since that's not the question the characters are asking.
As to a better title "The Doctor" would have been fine.
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
karatattoo wrote:What annoys me is when an actor, either the one currently in the role or a previous one, is asked about being "Doctor Who."
This is like William Shatner or Patrick Stewart being asked about being cast as "Star Trek."
I'm not too big on most journalists. I have an undergraduate degree in journalism, and so I "sort-of" follow this, and most of them are idiots. They ask dumb questions because they can't be bothered to have a working knowledge of the thing under discussion too often.
Although, at this point his name might as well be "Doctor Who", simply because that's how many people know him.
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
It's not really as memorable though, is it?Mbast1 wrote:tony ingram wrote:But the fact that it's a question is the point! What else would it be called?
What point, though? In terms of the title, it just doesn't make sense. It's accepted, I think, simply because it's old, but it doesn't make sense. "Doctor Who" MIGHT make sense if you had a roomful of Doctors and you needed another name to help you ID which one this was, but that's not the case. It's not asked as if it were asking who he "really" is, it's asked because people expect an answer like "Doctor Johnson". They're looking for a name, and that's what this is from. That there's a question as to who he really is doesn't have anything to do with the title, since that's not the question the characters are asking.
As to a better title "The Doctor" would have been fine.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
[quote="tony ingram"]
No, I admit that. I'm sure something better could have been created. I don't know why the title bothers me when I think about it, it just seems odd. And somewhat goofy.
Mbast1 wrote:It's not really as memorable though, is it?tony ingram wrote:As to a better title "The Doctor" would have been fine.
No, I admit that. I'm sure something better could have been created. I don't know why the title bothers me when I think about it, it just seems odd. And somewhat goofy.
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
I always thought that was part of its charm...Mbast1 wrote:tony ingram wrote:Mbast1 wrote:It's not really as memorable though, is it?tony ingram wrote:As to a better title "The Doctor" would have been fine.
No, I admit that. I'm sure something better could have been created. I don't know why the title bothers me when I think about it, it just seems odd. And somewhat goofy.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
tony ingram wrote:I always thought that was part of its charm...
A big part of it, I think, is that I'm not really a long-time fan. I don't actually really like the pre-1996 DW, try as I might to like it. I think it's interesting, and has a lot of material to play to, but the shows just don't work for me.
(I think we've talked about this before, and I don't know why I don't like it. I LOVE The Tomorrow People, and it's worse in terms of acting, special effects and anything else I can think of that might be why the old DW doesn't work for me.)
So, for me this is just something I think is illogical and goofy. 99% of the time I don't think about it, and don't much care, just that when someone brings it up I remember that I think it's not good.
Anyway...
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
Not even Tom Baker?Mbast1 wrote:tony ingram wrote:I always thought that was part of its charm...
A big part of it, I think, is that I'm not really a long-time fan. I don't actually really like the pre-1996 DW, try as I might to like it. I think it's interesting, and has a lot of material to play to, but the shows just don't work for me.
(I think we've talked about this before, and I don't know why I don't like it. I LOVE The Tomorrow People, and it's worse in terms of acting, special effects and anything else I can think of that might be why the old DW doesn't work for me.)
So, for me this is just something I think is illogical and goofy. 99% of the time I don't think about it, and don't much care, just that when someone brings it up I remember that I think it's not good.
Anyway...
I thought everybody loved Tom Baker...
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
tony ingram wrote:Not even Tom Baker?
I thought everybody loved Tom Baker...
Well, sure I like Tom Baker. I like them all (Doctors, that is), but for some reason I can't seem to get through an entire episode. I have no clue why.
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
Not even a Robert Holmes or Douglas Adams episode? Have you tried beer?Mbast1 wrote:tony ingram wrote:Not even Tom Baker?
I thought everybody loved Tom Baker...
Well, sure I like Tom Baker. I like them all (Doctors, that is), but for some reason I can't seem to get through an entire episode. I have no clue why.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
tony ingram wrote:Not even a Robert Holmes or Douglas Adams episode? Have you tried beer? Â
I'm not sure I knew that Douglas Adams had written one. I'll have to see if I can find one and try again.
I don't drink. So, that's no help.
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
Adams was script editor towards the end of Tom Baker's time, and wrote the stories City of Death (which is consistently regarded as one of the best Doctor Who stories ever), The Pirate Planet (which isn't, though it's not bad), and Shada (which was never completed because the technicians union went on strike). Elements of Shada and City of Death (read: virtually the entire plot of one and half of the other) were later reused by Adams when writing Dirk gently's Holistic Detective Agency. If you don't enjoy City of Death, there's probably no hope for you.Mbast1 wrote:tony ingram wrote:Not even a Robert Holmes or Douglas Adams episode? Have you tried beer? Â
I'm not sure I knew that Douglas Adams had written one. I'll have to see if I can find one and try again.
I don't drink. So, that's no help.
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
tony ingram wrote:If you don't enjoy City of Death, there's probably no hope for you.
Gee, thanks...
I looked up some of this after reading what you wrote. I'm going to see if I can find City of Death to watch asap.
I knew about Shada, somewhat, but what I "knew" was apparently wrong. In that what I'd read said Adams had been commissioned to write Shada, and that it was never produced. I didn't know how involved he was. So thanks!
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
Sorry. Longtime Who fans tend to be somewhat evangelical about it. Telling a middle aged Who fan who's been watching since the 70s that you don't think it's very good tends to get roughly the same reaction as if you'd said you'd heard his granddad was a Nazi and his mother serviced sailors. ÂMbast1 wrote:tony ingram wrote:If you don't enjoy City of Death, there's probably no hope for you.
Gee, thanks...
It was partly produced, just never completed. The segment that was completed is actually out on DVD, with linking narration provided by Tom Baker.
I looked up some of this after reading what you wrote. I'm going to see if I can find City of Death to watch asap.
I knew about Shada, somewhat, but what I "knew" was apparently wrong. In that what I'd read said Adams had been commissioned to write Shada, and that it was never produced. I didn't know how involved he was. So thanks!
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
tony ingram wrote:Sorry. Longtime Who fans tend to be somewhat evangelical about it. Telling a middle aged Who fan who's been watching since the 70s that you don't think it's very good tends to get roughly the same reaction as if you'd said you'd heard his granddad was a Nazi and his mother serviced sailors. Â
I found that it's on Netflix, and I watched the first episode last night. It wasn't bad at all, I think I'll be able to finish this one. We'll see how much I like it, I guess. Thanks for the tip!
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
I await your verdict with some trepidation.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
I've never liked anything Douglas Adams wrote.
I though his humor was silly. I also think he was the worst script editor Doctor Who ever had.
I though his humor was silly. I also think he was the worst script editor Doctor Who ever had.
karatattoo- Posts : 141
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
karatattoo wrote:I've never liked anything Douglas Adams wrote.
I though his humor was silly. I also think he was the worst script editor Doctor Who ever had.
tony ingram- Admin
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Also, I've never watched Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
I heard some of the radio version (on cassette) when I was at college.
I didn't like it.
I heard some of the radio version (on cassette) when I was at college.
I didn't like it.
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
karatattoo wrote:Also, I've never watched Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
I heard some of the radio version (on cassette) when I was at college.
I didn't like it.
I don't think I've ever actually met anyone before who has disliked Hitch Hikers.
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
tony ingram wrote:I don't think I've ever actually met anyone before who has disliked Hitch Hikers.
I think I may be unique.
BTW, I saw saw THHGTTU movie either.
karatattoo- Posts : 141
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
You didn't miss much. It was a travesty.karatattoo wrote:tony ingram wrote:I don't think I've ever actually met anyone before who has disliked Hitch Hikers.
I think I may be unique.
BTW, I saw saw THHGTTU movie either.
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
tony ingram wrote:I don't think I've ever actually met anyone before who has disliked Hitch Hikers.
I used to work with a guy who hated it. And Red Dwarf. Was a huge science fiction fan, but couldn't stand anything comedic in it. It was odd. I have a theory as to why, but just a theory.
karatattoo wrote:I heard some of the radio version (on cassette) when I was at college.
I actually own the entire radio series on cassette. Was a gift. And I love it.
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
tony ingram wrote:You didn't miss much. It was a travesty.
I might be one of the few fans I know who enjoyed it. It was definitely different, but that's ok. Also, I read that Adams himself wrote the first draft, added in the love-interest parts, because he thought you couldn't sell a movie without that thing in it.
Plus, it has Martin Freeman.
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
I like him, but I really can't see anyone but Simon Jones as Arthur (I believe Adams basically wrote the part for him). And I hated what they did to Marvin!Mbast1 wrote:tony ingram wrote:You didn't miss much. It was a travesty.
I might be one of the few fans I know who enjoyed it. It was definitely different, but that's ok. Also, I read that Adams himself wrote the first draft, added in the love-interest parts, because he thought you couldn't sell a movie without that thing in it.
Plus, it has Martin Freeman.
A bit OT, but did you ever see Nigel Kneale's short lived SF comedy Kinvig?
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
tony ingram wrote:I like him, but I really can't see anyone but Simon Jones as Arthur (I believe Adams basically wrote the part for him). And I hated what they did to Marvin!
I admit I wasn't into Marvin the way the movie did it, but I still enjoyed it. And I LOVE the tv shows, I do, I just also enjoyed the movie. Different take. As David Lynch's 1984 Dune movie is one of my favorite movies ever, but the SciFi miniseries, along with Children of Dune, are good, too. Just different.
tony ingram wrote:A bit OT, but did you ever see Nigel Kneale's short lived SF comedy Kinvig?
Nope, but I just found it on Youtube. So I'll check it out. Thanks!
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
It's a bit of an oddity, but I'm rather fond of it. Its first and only airing on TV (as far as I know) was directly after Hitch Hikers' BBC2 debut, but on rival channel LWT.
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
So do Peter Jackson's Hobbit movies, but that doesn't make them good movies.Mbast1 wrote:Plus, it has Martin Freeman.
Lucy Ingram- Posts : 2447
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Re: What? Why "Who"?
Lucy McGough wrote:So do Peter Jackson's Hobbit movies, but that doesn't make them good movies.
I like them!
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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I've never seen them.
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