Happy Independence Day, America!
Doctor Who
- And the new companion is… Catherine Tate. Seriously. I'm not fibbing
Film
- David Oyelowo, Idris Elba, Colin Salmon, Winston Ntshona and John Kani are all in The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Journalism
- Alan Johnston's been freed
British TV
- Keeley Hawes is the new John Simm for Life on Mars sequel Ashes to Ashes
- The Beeb says the viewing public wants it to innovate
- Michael Grade says TV shouldn't treat the viewing public with 'casual contempt'
- Oh yeah? Well, ITV are copycats, says the Beeb [free registration required]
US TV
- The networks are keeping their options open for a number of pilots
- Nathan Fillion and Dana Delany are joining Desperate Housewives
- Dominic Keating (the English guy off Enterprise) is to play an Irish mobster hero on Heroes. Dianna Agron is to be a cheerleader
- Possible BSG spoilers
Updates and related entries
June 21, 2008: Happy third birthday, The Medium Is Not Enough
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July 4, 2007 | Reply
Catherine Tate.
I didn't believe it when I heard because it sounds like the kind of waffle a fan with no imagination would come up with. Or a tabloid journo. But it's true. Blimey. As a one off, fine. As a regular, she's too old to make a good identification figure for the kiddies, too ginger to work as tottie and Donna Noble was nothing but a comedy foil in her previous appearance. A good foil, but I can't see that being sustained over an entire series.
Ah well, at least CSI was good.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
Not exactly wild about the casting of CT. I'll reserve judgement as best as I can.
Agree about CSI though. Bloody ToBe though...
July 4, 2007 | Reply
Well, Martha is coming back after a few episodes so I imagine that they picked Tate for all those reasons. i.e. So she wouldn't be alternative totty for the Doctor and even Marie would be welcoming Martha back with open arms at the appointed hour.
Actually, I kind of like the idea. Sort of 1st Doctor and Barbara for the PSP generation.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
Worst. Decision. Ever. Personally, I don't understand the thinking eitehr?¢‚Ǩ‚ÄùWho's doing fine from a rating's standpoint, and if they wanted someone from a previous episode, surely Sally Sparrow (who was actually good AND not horribly annoying) would have fitted the bill? Perhaps the rumours that RTD was going to kill the show and leave were true. Expect Paris Hilton and Joe Pasquale to also be named as companions this week.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
Re: Catherine Tate; I'm trying to be reasonable, rational, unbiased and accepting of this...but WHAAAAT? NOOOOO! THEY CAN'T!
...ahem. Sorry. Not a massive fan.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
Thing is, she's quite popular with Joe Public. Her show's popular. Runaway Bride was popular. My wife - who is not a Who fan but a casual viewer and whom I use for market research as per Leslie Ash in The Happy Apple - thought it was good news. She likes Tate, and liked Tate in Runaway Bride. She liked the idea of a non-stick insect companion who's not trying to be the ideal woman.
Dramatically, I can also see what they're doing: building up the Doctor post-Rose as this alien figure who doesn't consort with ladies that frequently and who really just likes companionship - Rose being special and an aberration. It'll also give Martha someone to squabble and be friends with, which will probably appeal to younger kids, too.
We're fans. He has our hearts and minds already. He's after everyone else now. Tate is a weapon of war, my friends.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
At least she'll only do one series!
July 4, 2007 | Reply
Er, what? OK. I don't really know what I think of that, I need to watch Runaway Bride again. And pay particular attention to all of her friends and family in that, as I suppose we'll be seeing them all again too.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
Oh no! Ex-RSC and West End actress joins the TARDIS! It'll be a complete and utter fucking disaster, you mark my words...
In reality, Tate's a very good dramatic actress. In the scenes in The Runaway Bride where the script allowed that to come through, it was clear that she and Tennant can work very well together. A full series of 13 episodes won't have the broad comedy aspect that Russell wrote into a Christmas Day special episode, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the character of Donna develops over a three month period on screen.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
I do, actually, have to kind of agree. I like Tate, although I really hate her BBC2 show. And Donna was actually quite likeable by the end of Runaway Bride. We might get some adult emotions from the companion for a change, too.
See, I'm an optimist really.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
I don't think Martha will be back for more than a few episodes. I think there is a bucket of PR spin in the 'she's back next year, we like her really' press release.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
But if this is Tennant's last season, and if both Martha and Donna don't continue past the end of series 4, that means we start the next series with a new companion and a new Doctor. Big problem. I reckon Martha will stay for the start of series 5 then bugger off again.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
It was easy to be optimistic about Tate when you knew it was just a one-off; and while I thought she did alright in TRB, I'm not sure how that will translate into series regular.
It's an odd choice, age-wise.
And she looks like the back end of a bus.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
The more people complain about what Catherine Tate looks like the more enthusiastic I am about her as companion. We may have David Tennant now but the Doctor hasn't exactly been a looker in the past. That doesn't matter, seeing as it's actually about the *character*. If you can't cope with one less than beautiful companion then that is a bit sad.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
Poor lass. I think she looks quite nice, myself.
Marie: didn't you have a go at Steven Moffat a while back for being "very ugly"?
July 4, 2007 | Reply
You got to love RTD, he is a born troublenaker :)
I like it a lot. People complaining that they don't like her character at TRB - immature, not engaged with the world, shrill - they miss an important point about Doctor Who: at the heart of the programme, it's the premise that people can get better, can change their life and they often do because of the Doctor's example. If Donna hasn't changed for the better, it's not the character who has failed, it's the Doctor. She will be different and on top of that, I liked her instinct, her tenderness and her insight.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
Good choice, I reckon. I thought she was good during the Christmas special once she'd calmed down, and she's starting from a point of (basically) full knowledge, so we don't have to have the 'bigger on the inside' conversation for the fourth time. She won't fawn over the Doctor, and being that bit older, she'll pull him up on things. Maybe the choice is a bit of a cop out, but it gets a (at least tentative) thumbs up from me.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
I agree with Marie and Anna, this could be a total winner. Don't forget we all doubted Billie would be good when she came back for the re-launch and now if I see one more 'Rose was the best ever, ever ever' website I'll shout!
I think Catherine could be an excellent choice.. I can't remember if she finally did get married but this totally fits in with the Dr and companion thing... something a bit different, maybe more drama (hopefully not so much comedy!)
The only thing I don't agree with is all these comments about Gingers! OI!
*ahem*
July 4, 2007 | Reply
Well, it's not her looks that'll necessarily kill it for me. Those estuarial tones strangling their way out of the TV speakers on a weekly basis are far more of a concern.
That said, since the early days of the show, it has been a traditionally accepted part of the role of companion to not risk cracking mirrors; those that could tended not to be sole companion. And there's the added thing of age: exactly to what demographic is she expected to appeal? There were Rose wannabes out there. Who wants to be a Donna Noble?
July 4, 2007 | Reply
Oh god, I don't mean to turn this into a big argument, but again, some of the Doctors have been old too, and that didn't seem to matter. Demographic? Good characters are worth watching, bad characters aren't, full stop. If you don't like Donna that's fine, but her being old / ugly isn't a good enough reason in my opinion. If this is breaking the companion-must-first-and-foremost-be-eye-candy rule, then I'm all for it. Surely it's healthy for girls to aspire to being a character whose worth is not entirely tied up in their youth and beauty?
As for Steven Moffat, you had one little opportunity to put up a picture of David Tennant, which you *never* do...
July 4, 2007 | Reply
I apologise. I'm a very bad man.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
I actually find Catherine Tate quite attractive. Am I going to hell?
July 4, 2007 | Reply
Only if it bovvers you.
July 4, 2007 | Reply
I just watched The Runaway Bride again and I'm feeling very cheerful about the return of Donna now. She slaps the Doctor twice. I don't think we need to worry about her being wet...
...which reminds me...
...Whatever happened to the famous Martha swimming pool scene? Did I miss it?
July 4, 2007 | Reply
The Martha swimming scene was taken out at script stage. Never filmed.
July 5, 2007 | Reply
some of the Doctors have been old too, and that didn't seem to matter
Tell you what, Marie, we'll get a raddled old tramp in instead of Tennant. And Rob can post pictures of him every week. 'Cause, you know, the Doctor's appearance has no bearing on your liking of the show, does it?
July 5, 2007 | Reply
Been there, done that ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Sylvester McCoy
July 5, 2007 | Reply
Yeah. And what a howler of a casting choice that was.
July 5, 2007 | Reply
He was the only one prepared to work for a meal or spare change.
July 5, 2007 | Reply
Actually my top choice for the next Doctor would be Bill Bailey, and it certainly isn't my hormones speaking. But while DT is the Doc yes let's look at him, and I have never complained about the foxiness of Billie or Freema - but please, let's not make it the only casting criterion.