Doctor D'oh!

Ever wonder what "Doctor Who" would be like in the hands of Matt Groening and the creators of "The Simpsons?"

Thanks to co-worker Pat Skerry for finding this and passing it along...

Passing it along

There is nothing better than sharing something you love with your kids and seeing them enjoy it too.

For Kris, this often comes when we go camping or spend time in the Adirondacks. She tries hard to instill an appreciation of the outdoors in the boys and loves seeing that pay off.

With me it often comes with more geeky pleasures.

Case in point -- last night I took Nolan to see "Raiders of the Lost Ark" at the Palace Theatre in Albany. He had seen the movie before, but I assured him that he had never seen it like this. I told him that there was something magical about sitting in a dark theater and watching the adventure play out on the giant screen. I told him that the picture might be scratchy or the sound not always crystal clear, but it would still be way better that watching a DVD in our basement.

I don't think he understood what I was talking about. But when the movie was over, he told me that I was right. He got it.

Another example -- it was a big weekend for "Doctor Who" fans. The latest (and some might argue greatest) actor to play the main character in the long running British sci-fi show left the series.

One of the things that has kept the show going since 1963 is a clever little plot device that allows different actors to come and go in the role. You see, the Doctor is an alien with the ability to regenerate -- essentially transform into a new body -- when he is dying.

Fans of the show always have a certain fondness for their first Doctor. For me it was Tom Baker, the fourth Doctor. For Nolan and Thomas it has been David Tennant, the 10th Doctor.

When I was a kid I was aware that there had been other actors who had played the Doctor. But still, seeing Tom Baker regenerate into the fifth Doctor blew my mind. And that was the case for my boys. There was much hoopla and hype leading up to Tennant's departure. When the moment of the big transformation finally came, they were literally on the edge of their seats. It was so cool to watch them enjoy that.

There are lots of things we try to pass on. Some things take better than others. It's always a thrill when you find you can share something you love.

New look for 'Who'

When "Doctor Who" begins it's next regular season in 2010, there will be a new Doctor, a new companion, a new creative team behind the scenes -- and a new show logo.

The BBC unveiled the artwork this morning.

With the new logo, it's probably safe to assume there will be a whole new opening title sequence with a another new arrangement of the classic theme song (the current version of which is the ringtone on my phone -- yes, I know I'm a giant geek).

In the meantime, there are three more episodes to go for the current iteration of "Doctor Who." The next is due sometime next month with the final two set for Christmas Day and New Years Day.

The 11th Doctor is in (soon)

The new season (series, whatever) of "Doctor Who" has begun filming and the BBC has released a first glimpse of Matt Smith in costume as the 11th Doctor.

He's apparently going for some sort of Mayberry look. It's hard to say from this angle, but it looks like something has been done about that atrocious haircut he had in his initial press photos earlier this year.

Smith has some big sneakers to fill. David Tennant still has three episodes left to air. The next installment, "The Waters of Mars," comes in November. His final two-parter will air on Christmas Day and New Year's Day (guest starring Timothy Dalton and featuring the return of John Simm as the Master as well several of Tennant's past companions).

Ain't It Cool News says there are rumors Tennant is in line to play Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit."

Decision, decisions

(No I'm not talking about the election)



David Tennant has announced his decision. Now I have to make mine.

After three fantastic years playing the Doctor in "Doctor Who," Tennant announced last night that he'll soon be leaving the show.

He has five more episodes to go -- this year's Christmas special, titled "The Next Doctor," and then four stories that will be spread out over 2009. When the series returns for a full regular season in 2010, someone else will be in the leading role.

Now here's the big question...do I tell Nolan? "Doctor Who" is currently his absolute favorite show. I would imagine that in the United Kingdom, even if you're not a fan you would still have to live under a rock not hear this news. But Nolan would never know if I didn't tell him.

So should I share the great big geek news with him? Or should I let him be surprised (assuming I can keep it a secret until 2010)?

The gang's all here

Allow me to geek out and share some "Doctor Who" joy.

For those of you who watch the show on SciFi, you still have a couple of weeks to go until you see the latest episode from this past weekend, "Turn Left." So I'll try to remain spoiler-free...except to say it was pretty darn cool!

It was one of those episodes that on the surface seems great, until you put some thought into it and you notice some of the glaring plot holes. (And really, aren't most of the episodes like that?) My advice -- don't think too much and just enjoy the ride.

If you can't get past the implausibilities and elements that just don't add up, don't worry. The last 60 seconds will more than make up for it.

Which brings us to the photo above. It was well-publicized that Rose Tyler would reappear this year. She began her three-episode stint in "Turn Left" (not counting a few cameos in earlier episodes). But what's been a rumor until now is that the last two episodes would feature everything but the kitchen sink, with a whole bevy of returning characters. The trailer for next week and the publicity photo seen here verify that this is indeed true.

It should be good stuff!

This and that

My blogging mojo has really been out of whack lately. Here’s a sample of the things I could’ve/should’ve been blogging about recently:

• An update from the Free Stuff Files: I recently scored a free necktie from Christopher's Men's Store. They're running a promotion with the local station that carries Yankee games. They randomly pick an inning before the game and if the score is tied during that inning you can go to the TV station's website to print out a coupon for a free tie. Sure enough, the first time they ran this promotion they wound up giving away dozens and dozens of ties. The deal was good for any tie in the store. I had a $90 tie in my hands at one point, but passed on it because it was kind of ugly. I settled on one worth about $40.
  
  
• I can’t believe Thomas is done with preschool. He’s still such a little pipsqueak. It’s going to be really weird when he gets on that bus for Kindergarten in the fall.
  
  
• Nolan has been playing really good baseball lately. His whole team has come a long way this year. Hard to believe we only have one game left.
  
  
• We’ve really been getting our use out of our Great Escape season passes. We’ve already been up to the park twice with the whole family plus Kris went up one more time with Thomas and his friend Leo. I finally have someone to ride rollercoasters with since Nolan is now big enough. We’re now planning a trip to Six Flags New England (formerly Riverside Amusement Park) since our passes will work there too. Thanks mom and dad Chase!
  
  
• We’ve gotten into the habit of riding our bikes to church every Sunday morning. I really enjoy that.
  
  
• We recently downgraded to regular old basic cable. So far we’re surviving. We’re watching more PBS. Plus the kids are getting by on a steady diet of DVDs from the library and I’ve found Hulu to be a lifesaver. We’re also reading more.
  
  
• Speaking of DVDs for the kids, I continue to educate them in the classics. We recently picked up a 4-DVD set of Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoons at the library. Nolan is now well versed in “moose and squirrel,” as well as “Mr. Peabody and Sherman,” “Fractured Fairy Tales,” “Aesop and Son,” and of course “Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties.”
  
  
• My two little geeks-in-training are also getting hooked on “Doctor Who.” One of the most asked questions when I get home from work is “Dad, can we watch ‘Doctor Who’ tonight?” Thomas has taken to walking around the house pretending to be a Dalek and Nolan has moved beyond the current 10th Doctor and asked to watch some of the classic episodes from the 1970s and 80s that I have on DVD.
  
  
• I’m steadily getting more addicted to Facebook. Several more friends from high school and college have signed on recently. It’s been a great way to keep in touch with people.
  
  
• I’ll leave you with this question – when can we stop referring to years as “two-thousand” and start saying “twenty?” For example, when I see 2010, I want to say “twenty-ten,” but it bugs me to hear people still say “two-thousand ten.” Just a little pet peeve I guess.

The five & dime

Doctor Who fans have something to look forward to. The BBC has finally confirmed a rumor that's been floating around for a while now. Peter Davison, who played the fifth Doctor from 1982-1984, will reprise his role opposite David Tennant's 10th Doctor.

The two Doctors will pair up for a special mini-episode that will air as part of the BBC's annual Children in Need telethon next month. The episode is titled "Time Crash" and will be written by none other than Steven Moffat, who has written some of the very best episodes of the new "Doctor Who" show.

I was a big fan of Davison's Doctor. So it will be cool to see him back.

Meanwhile, the BBC has not confirmed the rumor that Sylvester McCoy will also be popping up as the seventh Doctor. Time will tell.

Back with a bang

Series 3 of "Doctor Who" is set to begin on the BBC on March 31. It should show up on Sci Fi here in the states later this summer.

The BBC released this kind-of-cool promotional pic on the official Doctor Who site today.

Can't wait!

Who Toon

We still have about four months to go until the new series of "Doctor Who" begins on the BBC (about six months until it's on Sci Fi here in the states).

I have a lot of catching up to do in that time. I still haven't watched either of the spin-off shows "Torchwood" or "The Sarah Jane Adventures."

Meanwhile there is this bit of news...the BBC is launching a show geared toward kids called "Totally Doctor Who." It will feature news and the behind the scenes info leading up to Series 3. There will also be a "Doctor Who" cartoon, featuring the voices of David Tennant, new companion Freema Agyeman and a new villain voiced by Anthony Stewart Head.

You can check out the cool title sequence for "Totally Doctor Who" here and read more about the cartoon here.

Holiday week highlights

Christmas Eve: For starters, Nolan was a wise man in the Christmas pageant at church. That was adorable, even though the crown was a little to big for his head. Later on we enjoyed the warm & fuzzy feeling that always comes from knowing the kids are all tucked in and the presents placed under the tree.

Christmas morning: The only thing better than seeing how excited the kids are when they go to bed on Christmas Eve is seeing the look on their faces on Christmas morning. It’s not just one of the best moments of the week—it’s one of the best moments of the year.

“Doctor Who:” The BBC’s hit show is quickly becoming a holiday tradition. The first post-Billie Piper episode, “The Runaway Bride,” was fantastic.

Brooker: I went out for a couple of beers with my old buddy Andy “Brooker” Miller and his fiancée Dori while they were in town for the holiday. It’s always good to catch up with old friends.

The Chicago Rooneys: My brother Tim and his family came to visit. It’s been a few years since they were all here.

Moira: We had a nice holiday visit with Kris’ parents. While there, Kris got to meet up with some of her old high school friends.

That’s pretty much where the fun ends. We’ve all been in various degrees of sickness for the last few days—getting 2007 off to a “great” start.

Oh my!

More great geek news...TrekToday reports George Takei (Mr. Sulu) will appear on "Heroes" as Hiro's father. He's set to make his first appearance in a cliffhanger episode on Jan. 29.

Meanwhile, the same article also reports Christopher Eccleston (aka the Ninth Doctor Who) will also be joining the cast. No word on who he will play or when he'll make his first appearance. Although I can't help bu wonder if he's goingto turn outto be the mysterious super serial killer Sylar.

Who's new

I’m trying to get back into the swing of things here on the blog with a long overdue dose of geek news…

Good news on two fronts for “Doctor Who” fans. First, the BBC and the Sci-Fi Channel have announced that season (series) two of the show will be coming to Sci-Fi in September. The run will include David Tennant’s introduction as the Doctor in last December’s special episode “The Christmas Invasion” and then continue season two’s first regular episode, “New Earth.”

Meanwhile, filming on this year’s Christmas special, “The Runaway Bride,” is complete. Filming began this week on the rest of the third season, which will debut next spring.

The new season will introduce a new companion to the show. An actress named Freema Agyeman will be introduced as medical student Martha Jones. This week they released the first publicity photos of the Doctor and Martha.

'Lifeforms detected...'

“That’s not Cybermen.”
“Oh my God.”

Holy crap! I just got done watching “Army of Ghosts,” part one of the two-part “Doctor Who” season finale. I can honestly tell you the cliffhanger ending brought me to the edge of my seat.

I’ve been a “Doctor Who” fan for more than 25 years. The show has been around more than 40 years. In all that time, this is the episode “Doctor Who” fans have been dreaming of!

The Doctor and Rose return to Earth only to discover that for the past two months what appear to be ghosts have been popping up all over the world. People aren’t freaked out by this. For the most part, their happy to reconnect to lost loved ones.

But is that what these specters really are? The Doctor is not so sure, and his search for answers leads him to the Torchwood Institute. There he learns the ghosts started appearing soon after a mysterious sphere arrived.

Some answers are uncovered when the deadly Cybermen show up. However, the question remains—what’s inside that sphere? The answer will delight “Who” fans everywhere.

I think I’m going to really enjoy next week’s finale, “Doomsday.” If you’re a “Who” fan, don’t wait for this one on the Sci Fi Channel. You’re going to want to BitTorrent this one ASAP (although it would kind of help to catch the earlier two-parter “Rise of the Cybermen”/“The Age of Steel”)!

Catching up

I realize I’ve been really neglecting the blog lately. Here are some of the significant goings on…

• I recorded my demo Friday night, which I will soon send out to people in hopes of landing some voiceover work. The recording session was a great experience. I can’t wait to hear the finished product. I should get the demo in about a month. At that point I’ll make sure to find a spot for it online so you all can hear it.
• The price of gas continues to frustrate everyone. Last Thursday it took $50 to fill the minivan (it would have taken a little more, but I stopped at $50)! Subsequently, we’ve cancelled our planned summer vacation in Maine. Instead we’re going on an extended camping trip in the Adirondacks, a little closer to home.
• Nolan played another game last weekend. Once again I failed to bring the camera. He has two games this weekend. So I’ll try to get some pictures of one of them.
• I’ve been enjoying the new season (ok, “series” if you’re British) of “Doctor Who.” The first episode was fun. The second was better. But this past Saturday’s show, “School Reunion,” was a sheer delight! It was so much fun seeing old characters Sarah Jane Smith and K9 make a welcome comeback. The special effects were the best ever produced for a “Doctor Who” show—and on par with the best of sci fi TV (long gone are the days of guys in cheesy rubber monster suits and really cheap sets). And Anthony Stewart Head made a terrific villain.

As always I’m sure there’s more I’ve forgotten about that has slipped through the cracks. I’ll endeavor to do better.

'I married a geek'

The new “Doctor Who” made its American television debut last week. Even though I downloaded all of the episodes last year, I’ve still been watching them on Sci Fi anyway.

Tonight Kris came down to the basement just in time to catch the last five minutes of one of my favorites, “The Unquiet Dead.” As the TARDIS dematerialized at the end of the show Kris said, “This is stupid.”

“This is good stuff,” I countered.

“You’re such a geek,” she told me.

This is news to anyone? I smiled and said, “I’m amazed I convinced you to marry me.”

What did I do after “Doctor Who” was over? I popped in one of my new “Star Trek Fan Collective: Time Travel” DVDs and watched the classic 1967 episode “Tomorrow Is Yesterday.”

I am such a geek.