Doctor Who: Gallifrey Public Radio

Take 30 sci-fi, fantasy, gaming and tech enthusiasts, give them 4+ days away from all responsibility, and release them in the desert. No, it isn’t a new, dorky season of Survivor, but it is Geekation 2014, the nerd-meetup event in Las Vegas where laughs were had, drinks were consumed, dollars were spent, and in the thick of it all, we recorded a live podcast about the upcoming Season 8 of Doctor Who, and discussed the facts and fantasies behind the […]

As many of you know, GPR were among quite a few podcast of the Gonna Geek Network that made it to Geekation this year. Since it is such a rare thing for all of us to be in the same time zone, let alone the same hotel suite, we took the opportunity to do a podcast all together, recapping some of the highlights of the “Poindexter Party” up to that point. Your Contributors: Jay: Gallifrey Public Radio and the Starling Tribune […]

The Sixth Doctor walks into a building, and they have build an extension just to house his ego. If it were a tangible thing, the Sixth’s sense of self-importance could be seen from space. After his regeneration on Androzani Minor, the TARDIS had to increase her internal space by 37% just to fit his hubris. His brashness is a viable replacement for sandpaper. His bravado can infuriate a Vulcan. He’s one of the most infuriating and irascible Time Lords this side of the High […]

From the mad uncle to the benevolent teacher, we arrive at Peter Davison and his signature portrayal of the Fifth Doctor. Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of him amidst everyone he brought on board the TARDIS and took on as temporary allies, but he never failed to set himself firmly in our memories with his charm, his enthusiasm, and his, um, well, his choices in fashionable vegetation. Episodes reviewed: Castrovalva Resurrection of the Daleks Caves of Androzani Link Dump: […]

What’s the point of being grown up, if you can’t be childish once in a while? We ask that very question this week, as we continue our look back at some stand out stories from each Doctor’s era. In this episode, it is finally time for us to revel in the vast body of work from the man whose name would become synonymous with Doctor Who for decades to follow: the incomparable Tom Baker. Care for a jelly baby? Link […]

This week we take another step into our personal selections for exemplary episodes of each of the individuals fortunate enough to portray the Doctor, and become part of the half-century legacy that draws us all together as Whovians. Patrick Troughton took the mantle from the pioneer, William Hartnell in October 1966. His first full television story was The Power of the Daleks, but it strikes us as the greatest pity that a great percentage of his stories and episodes are among the lost material that BBC archivists were unable to retain. Nonetheless, Troughton is credited with bringing a new life to the program from 1966 to 1969, combining strong presence, affability, and a degree of comedic timing and humor that bordered on professional clowning -- and has been quoted by Matt Smith as his personal inspiration. We adore the space hobo, and only hope that the years to come will provide some sort of discovery of that supposedly “lost” material.

A curmudgeon of a grandfather living with his granddaughter, in a weather-beaten blue box in a London junkyard? Sounds like a great start to show we expect to run for 50-plus years! Greenlight that project, pow-pow-pow! This week we are kicking off our own take on the “Doctors Revisited” retrospective with a focus on the first Doctor; William Hartnell. While the BBC America series did an exceptional job of compiling interviews and summary information about each Doctor’s tenure, each installment ended with what we were led to believe was Moffat’s own choice for the exemplary episode for that actor (or at least, from his tee-up each month). We may not always agree with that choice, and so we’ll be making our own opinions on the stand-out episodes: The Daleks, and The Tenth Planet. Link Dump: Keeley Hawes to star in Series 8 as a new villain CUUSOO reports (shocker!) that Doctor Who LEGO sets are approved for official review Gatiss on Capaldi’s new Doctor: Wonderful, Dangerous, and a Side of Crazy SteeMo on the new series: Doomed Dialogue Sounds Great in a Scottish Accent The Doctors Revisited 1-4 on DVD The Doctors Revisited 5-8 on DVD The Doctors Revisited 9-11 on DVD Geekation 2014

We all know the sound, the shape, the color. When we spend so much time following the wild adventures of a madman in a blue box, it's only fitting that the box itself becomes as near and dear to our paired Gallifreyan hearts. The TARDIS is one of the most recognizable and desirable "items" in the Whoniverse. There isn't anything about her that you can't help but love. But is it even acceptable to categorize the TT Capsule, Type 40, Mark III an "item" at all? An object, a means of transport, some inanimate thing to be possessed, or coveted? This week, at long last, we take a look into what makes the beloved and iconic TARDIS so incredible. A vehicle, a home, and perhaps the Doctor's truest and longest Companion -- is there any way to categorize her succinctly? We explore the technology that goes into the most advanced space- and time-craft in the universe, and what comes of one of the most interesting characters to share adventures with the Doctor. LINK DUMP: Series 8 writers added to the line up Capaldi sells his London home for 1.2mil Book Recommendation: The Vault Note: A huge thanks once again to the GelaSkins team for being (in addition to Torontonian hep-cats) so great about hooking us up with gorgeous custom Whovian hard-cases for our smartphones. The next time we de-materialize near the Needle, the first round is on us. Cheers!

We've all got that one weird uncle that no one really understands, but you can't help but love. The Doctor has an unabashed love for all humankind, but there are a select few that can claim a closer relationship with him. We examine the kinship the Doctor shares with these special companions and friends that have found a place in his hearts. Agree or disagree? Did we overlook a key figure from the Whoniverse? Comment below, we want to know! Our "Family Album" of Discussion: 1st & Susan Foreman 2nd & Victoria 4th & Sarah Jane 4th & Leela 5th & Adric 7th & Ace 10th & Jenny (?) 11th & the Ponds 11th & Clara Here’s all Keir has to say to defend that this is more a sibling relationship than friendship. Because really -- who else would do this? Link Dump: Philip Morris and the Quest for the Lost Episodes Titan Comics covers revealed The picture Jay was horribly trying to describe Doctor Who LEGO projects on the horizon? Kickass phone cases/skins at Gelaskins

Have you ever had the experience of having someone you admire and respect unexpectedly refer to you as a friend? That moment of elation and humility, finding that you are someone they feel close to, and can rely on? Now imagine getting that accolade -- from the Doctor. This week we look at those individuals lucky enough to have the rebel Time Lord name them as friend. Sure, he's had numerous companions and countless acquaintances, but in this segment, we're looking beyond those relationships, and discussing those individuals who serve as far more than a "traveling buddy" for The Doctor. The Near-and-Dear Friends 2nd/3rd/4th & The Brigadier 3rd/4th & Sarah Jane 4th & Romana I/II 9th/10th & Jack Harkness 9th/10th & Rose 10th & Donna 11th & Craig Owens Link Dump The rumor mill rumbles back to life: Is “Marco Polo” the next lost episode to be revealed? If Doctor Who were made by Americans New character “Danny Pink” introduced for Series 8 Capaldi makes BBC appearance in costume The Mirror being stupid again. Is Capaldi only planned to star in one series?

We've all had that one crazy teacher who was so in love with their subject, you would show up to class just to see how overboard they might go. Imagine if they could back that enthusiasm up with personal experience related to that subject. Beyond that, consider the impact if they take you with them on regular field trips, to witness for yourself why they love it so much. This week we look at all the times the Doctor has played the role of teacher, professor and/or mentor to his companions, to random people he has just met, and to us as viewers. Join us on the first part in an arc where we take a closer look at the different roles the Doctor fills in our lives. LINK DUMP: Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi 'will battle with Daleks' in first series in the role Matt Smith to make ‘a long-distance phone call from the dead’ in Doctor Who cameo Meta Awesomocity: Sylvester McCoy to appear in Community’s ‘Inspector Spacetime’ Spoof Matt Smith sends personal video message to 4 year old fan Matt’s video (in case the one above won’t play)

Steven Moffat is an evil genius. No one can truly deny that. From the stolidly creepy Empty Child, to the genuinely terrifying Weeping Angels, to the all too forgettable Silents (get it?), he has a hotline to our childhood fears and he makes regular calls. He is also adept at bringing forth the tears, a la "Angels Take Manhattan", or killing Rory, again and again. The man in unquestionable a brilliant writer. But how does he stack up as a showrunner? There is some serious "Moffat Hate" out there, but is that simply a very vocal minority? Does his freedom and lack of supervision lead to a lack of control? We explore these and many other aspects of the man, the myth, the Moff. Blogger criticism: Give up DW to focus on Sherlock? “Moffat's run on the series has been fraught with criticism which has hampered his Doctor, from convoluted stories (the Christmas special) and lazy solutions to plot holes (jumping into other time streams) to his never-ending series of puzzling quotes about women on the show.” Hypable: Too many weak points in the plot? “When events can be explained away by a giant reset button (Season 5), a robot filled with tiny people (Season 6), or a quick jump into someone else's timestream (Season 7), it allows writers to go off the rails without planning any real way to reign things back in. It is a problem often faced by fantasy and science-fiction stories, and is one that has undermined the success of Moffat's era of "Doctor Who." In "Sherlock," it is crucial that the showrunner(s) know the end game before they plan out the problem. The constraints of real life mean that the story is more organized, planned out, and better executed. Moffat is unable to rely on a quick fix to tie up his complicated story lines -- he must know the answer before he begins. And undoubtedly, Mark Gatiss plays a crucial role in creating a balance between the outlandish and the (somewhat) realistic.” WhatCulture: Reasons why the Moffat era beats the RTD era “I often find it baffling how shockingly overrated the Russell T Davies era of Doctor Who actually is, especially when you consider the people that praise his run so much seem to hate Steven Moffat’s so much. It’s baffling how hypocritical this is considering how much more guilty Russell’s era actually was of the very things people complain about in Moffat’s era.” “Correct” (Classic) Doctor Portrayal Companions better themselves Never pulls death-defying endings out of nowhere No over-importance for the sole sake of drama More substance over style Consequences when it matters WhatCulture: In Defense of Moffat “You can criticise River for being used too much and for being too central to the plot, but one thing that’s undeniable is that she’s the strongest female character seen on Doctor Who for a quite a while. Also, there are a few occasional implications that she’s bisexual. So think on that while you accuse Moffat of misogyny and homophobia.” Moffat's Writing Credits in Doctor Who The Angels Take Manhattan Asylum of the Daleks The Beast Below The Bells of Saint John The Big Bang Blink A Christmas Carol The Curse of Fatal Death The Day of the Doctor Day of the Moon The Doctor Dances The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe The Eleventh Hour The Empty Child Flesh and Stone Forest of the Dead The Girl in the Fireplace A Good Man Goes to War The Great Detective The Impossible Astronaut The Last Day Let's Kill Hitler The Name of the Doctor The Night of the Doctor The Pandorica Opens Silence in the Library The Snowmen (Time Crash) The Time of Angels The Time of the Doctor The Wedding of River Song Link Dump: Who director Christopher Barry passes away at age 88

A theme park filled with dinosaurs, a virus that can reanimate dead tissue, the ability to stream "Honey Boo Boo" to your cell phone. There are plenty of times to ask, "Has technology gone too far?" We often have a similar dilemma in the Doctor Who fandom. We have to ask, "How can technology go this far?" The Doctor is truly brilliant, and it makes sense that his tools would be equally brilliant. But how much brilliance are we willing to accept, and at what rate of embellishment? There can be no doubt how much DW fans love the sonic screwdriver, but is it being used in the way we would prefer? A tool in his hands, but to writers, perhaps a crutch? We take a look at the history of the sonic and many of its uses, as well as the development of a real life sonic screwdriver. Link Dump: British scientists develop their own sonic screwdriver (with video!) Den of Geek: A short history of the sonic screwdriver Daily KOS: History of the sonic screwdriver http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Sonic_screwdriver http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Sonic_screwdriver_-_list_of_appearances 10 most ridiculous uses of the Sonic Screwdriver (VIDEO) The best use of the sonic screwdriver yet: turning an obnoxious Catherine Tate into a Rose Tyler action figure NEWS: Series 8 will be darker according to director Ben Wheatly BBC corrects itself over the Doctor's new boots Capaldi interview verifies a more "Classic Who" feel for the new series

Have you watched kids television lately? I mean, really sat down, and paid attention to the shows kids enjoy watching? The vast majority of them are horrible beyond description. So you would think that introducing them to something as awesome as Doctor Who would be a slam dunk, right? Right? So many kids can be seriously resistant to anything that's not animated, and other programming may have some questionable (at best) content, so this time around, we we offer some pointers to help you in-Doctor-nate the little geeks-in-training in your life. Our (non-comprehensive) list: The Girl in the Fireplace Love and Monsters Partners in Crime The Eleventh Hour The Doctor’s Wife Closing Time Dinosaurs on a Spaceship The Sarah Jane Adventures (spin-off series) Listener Suggestions: Doctor Who: Legacy game for android and iOS - Bert Vincent and the Doctor - @jmlucha The Doctor, The Widow, and the Wardrobe - @HollandPark Link Dump: Capaldi costume revealed (the day before public filming in Cardiff begins) New pics of Capaldi and Coleman on set BBC Blogs: 5 Interpretations of the new Doctor’s costume Extremely detailed photo analysts identify and price out Capaldi’s costume Doctor Who award news: 2 National Television Awards! Matt Smith’s message to fans at the NTAs Doctor Who award news: BBC Audio Drama Award for Big Finish The eerie Capaldi/Pertwee Similarity

It has been a long, sometimes painful journey. But this week we wrap up our silver linings arc with the introduction of the Sixth Doctor in "The Twin Dilemma" and the brain draining, face sucking fun of "The Idiot's Lantern." Make sure to head over to Geekation2014.com and register if you're planning on coming. We'll be recording a live episode of GPR from Las Vegas. You won't want to miss it. Link Dump: Titan Comics and BBC to create a series of 10th/11th/12th Doctor stories Roger Lloyd-Pack who played John Lumic passed away Tom Baker turned 80 on the 20th John Hurt turned 74 on the 22nd Phil Ford (Waters of Mars) writing 2nd episode of new Who season Verity Lambert bio to be published Geekation2014 Registration is HERE!