Rough night for everyone... except FOX.

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My apologies as well--Torchwood sucks so badly (like the wretched Dr. Who remake that spawned it) that I've never been able to watch it for more than a few minutes.

I really shouldn't do this, but I'll bite: Why no respect for the new Doctor Who? Not everything can be The Wire. Your phrasing implies that you prefer the original Doctor Who, but IMO the modernized version is surprisingly faithful and holds onto the original's continuity and unique eccentricities. The new version had some glitches in the beginning, but I think it's progressed nicely. My only criticisms would be that the plots are a little too simplistic at times, and the writers feel compelled to inject too many elements of romance and/or sexual attraction at times, but I think that latter aspect are easily ignored.

Perhaps your complaint is the obvious level of Whedon influence on the whole project?

IMO Torchwood's first season was definitely a lame, derivative failure, but so far, the second season is a major improvement.

I shouldn't be surprised though. I also noticed that you don't like AMC's Breaking Bad.

I admire high critical standards but even Pauline Kael might find you a little... exclusive.

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I really shouldn't do this, but I'll bite:

I just noticed your response, many days late, but I'll bite back.

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Why no respect for the new Doctor Who?

Well, I definitely didn't expect it to be The Wire.

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Not everything can be The Wire.

Now that it's over, NOTHING can be The Wire.

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Your phrasing implies that you prefer the original Doctor Who,

Your phrasing implies you know that's a completely different show from the new Dr. Who.

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but IMO the modernized version is surprisingly faithful and holds onto the original's continuity and unique eccentricities.

Okay. IMO, it doesn't do anything of the kind. It's actually a continuation of the abysmal TV movie with McGann, right down to the idiotic notion of making The Doctor half-human. You keep expecting Dr. McCoy to show up and remind him of this.

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The new version had some glitches in the beginning, but I think it's progressed nicely.

Every time I tune in, I wince at the dialogue and the acting. It's just awful awful television, and I'd think that if I'd never seen the original.

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My only criticisms would be that the plots are a little too simplistic at times, and the writers feel compelled to inject too many elements of romance and/or sexual attraction at times, but I think that latter aspect are easily ignored.

For most Americans, the show itself is easily ignored, judging by the ratings it gets on the SciFi Channel.

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Perhaps your complaint is the obvious level of Whedon influence on the whole project?

Yeah, but I liked Buffy the Vampire Slayer (first five seasons) and Angel (here and there), and I think the real problem is that the people making the new Who just don't understand or like the original. Of course they'll say otherwise in interviews.

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IMO Torchwood's first season was definitely a lame, derivative failure, but so far, the second season is a major improvement.

The ratings in Britain don't seem to have improved any.

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I shouldn't be surprised though. I also noticed that you don't like AMC's Breaking Bad.

Right. Us fans of The Wire are known for our resistance to grim subject material, unpleasant characters, and complex storylines.

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I admire high critical standards but even Pauline Kael might find you a little... exclusive.

I find her a bit undemanding, myself.

Honestly, I love me some good junk. As long as it admits that it's junk. And as long as it doesn't screw up some of my favorite junk from the past. The Doctor isn't half-human, and is not THE LAST TIME LORD. Gallifrey has not been destroyed. The last Doctor was Sylvester McCoy. Exclusive? That's 26 years right there.

The current pathetic rehash won't last a third as long.

Your standards aren't too low--they're too uninformed. You don't know the difference between good and bad junk. I pity you.

Normally you're well-informed, but in this case, I am very surprised that you think there's anything in the new Doctor Who to imply that the Doctor is considered half-human. They have not stated or implied any such thing. Otherwise it would've been mentioned in "Human Nature"/"The Family of Blood."

They jettisoned everything from the nonsensical TV movie, as far as I can determine. The plots are simplistic but at least they make sense, unlike in the TV movie.

And why wouldn't you like the idea of Gallifrey being destroyed (off-screen)? The Time Lords were boring as a whole, except temporarily in "The Deadly Assassin" where they were depicted as a corrupt, atrophying society.

I don't see how the new incarnation of the show "screws up" anything from the first 26 years except the Doctor's age. Which Eccleston and Tennant episodes did you watch, anyway?

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The current pathetic rehash won't last a third as long.

So, it gets roughly an average 40 share in the UK, with more than 10% of the population watching (not counting streaming and DVD), and it won't last?

We will see.

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Normally you're well-informed,

Thanks. I don't know what you're normally like, but I'm sure you have your good points.

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but in this case, I am very surprised that you think there's anything in the new Doctor Who to imply that the Doctor is considered half-human.

It was introduced in the TV movie, which the series is a direct sequel of. Davies has specifically cited that movie as something he thought was utterly wonderful, and wanted to follow up on.

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They have not stated or implied any such thing. Otherwise it would've been mentioned in "Human Nature"/"The Family of Blood."

Well, I've discussed the show with a number of people who love it, and they all seem to think the matter is settled, and he's now half-human. I'm glad you're so properly aghast at what an idiotic idea this would be that you're basically in denial about it. That certainly speaks well for you.

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They jettisoned everything from the nonsensical TV movie, as far as I can determine.

Oh you poor sap. Davies loves that movie, and has said so in public. And where do you think all the lovey-dovey stuff with the companions came from?

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The plots are simplistic but at least they make sense, unlike in the TV movie.

Which Davies adores.

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And why wouldn't you like the idea of Gallifrey being destroyed (off-screen)? The Time Lords were boring as a whole, except temporarily in "The Deadly Assassin" where they were depicted as a corrupt, atrophying society.

A satire of the British House of Lords, in case you were too dense to catch it.

I'm sorry, it just doesn't work to have The Doctor be THE LAST TIME LORD. It's just too florid and fatuous for words.

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So, it gets roughly an average 40 share in the UK, with more than 10% of the population watching (not counting streaming and DVD), and it won't last?

Well, if even the Time Lords can be canceled.....

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Davies has specifically cited that movie as something he thought was utterly wonderful, and wanted to follow up on.

Citation please?

I run across a lot of mentions that producer Phil Collinson has said that the Doctor is NOT half-human, but I can't find a solid reference point.

If Davies loved the "half-human" concept so much, I think he would've used it by now, but it has remained ignored. Thank heavens.

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And where do you think all the lovey-dovey stuff with the companions came from?

IMO that would've been incorporated even if the TVM had never existed. Everyone who works in TV these days seems to be under the delusion that you have to incorporate romance and/or unrequited longing and/or sex into every single frickin' show in existence in order to attract viewers, particularly female viewers (an awfully sexist assumption IMO). I can barely think of a current comedy or drama without significant romantic or "shippy" or sexual aspects, whereas plenty of shows in the '70s and '80s ignored romance etc. So, it's not a function of the TVM; it's a societal shift among TV writers and producers.

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It's just too florid and fatuous for words.

Hahahaha. I like your use of "florid and fatuous." And I can see why you would think that. But I think the concept, though perhaps overly dramatic, worked really well across a number of episodes, particularly "Dalek." Eccleston might not have been interested in joining the show if not for that story arc.

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A satire of the British House of Lords, in case you were too dense to catch it.

Wow, I had completely forgotten about that.

So you liked "The Deadly Assassin"? That certainly speaks well for you.