Geek alert! Geek alert!

I have been on a big “Doctor Who” kick lately. Production on the new series started this summer, so I’ve been searching around online now and then looking for pictures or tidbits of news on the show. Have you seen the new Doctor yet? The Web site Outpost Gallifrey has posted pictures that are apparently of Christopher Eccleston in costume. He looks less like the Doctor and more like Angel. Gone is the colorful, eccentric wardrobe in lieu of a leather coat and a dark shirt and pants. Is this a modernized Doctor Who for the 21^st century, aiming for a more mainstream audience?

I’ve also come to enjoy some of the “webcasts” on the BBC’s official site. I just got done watching the animated version of “Shada,” the Douglas Adams story that was never finished back in 1979. The story was obviously written for Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor, but this one is done with Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor from the 1996 TV Movie. Although there is no Baker, this version does bring back Lalla Ward as Roman II (who is now president of Gallifrey) and John Leeson as the voice K-9.

You should also check out “Scream of the Shalka.” This story has the best quality animation on the site. It features Richard E. Grant as the Doctor. Production on this animated adventure began before the new TV series was announced. At the time, Grant’s cartoon Doctor was supposed to be the official Ninth Doctor. However, the new series and the casting of Eccleston have rendered Grant’s Doctor irrelevant. That’s too bad. I like Grant and I would like to learn more about his Doctor and what makes him tick. The story begins with his Doctor already established, but it’s hinted that since the last time we saw the Doctor some major events have taken place that have had a profound impact on the character. He seems much more tortured than before. But the nature of those events is never revealed. That would have come in future stories. The story also features Sir Derek Jacobi (“Dead Again”) as the Doctor’s sole traveling companion at the outset of the story – an android version of the Master! Or is it the Master’s sprit inhabiting a mechanical body? Either way he apparently can’t leave the TARDIS, but why not? And why is he now working with the Doctor? Unfortunately, these are all questions we’ll now never get the answers to. But the story is still worth watching. Also, listen for a cool new remix of the classic theme music.

The BBC site also has a Cybermen story featuring Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor called “Real Time.” I haven’t gotten around to watching this one yet. There was another one with Sylvester McCoy’s Seventh Doctor (and Sophie Aldred as Ace) called “Death Comes to Time.” Unfortunately this one was pulled from the site for some sort of legal reason before I could get a chance to watch it.

Anyway, there is still no word on when or if the new TV series will air in the United States. Lets hope we don’t have to wait too long.