Doctor Who Origins
Doctor Who origins for me is something I will like to know. The picture on this post is the opening scene of the very first serial of the program. The historical value of the Unearthly Child is immense. Doctor Who is such an conic television show that it is now 52 years old. With the 10th season just around the corner, it continues to be a great show and will as long as the BBC decides to produce it.
Developing and brainstorming about new television shows is not my cup of tea and therefore what I read about it is really all Greek to me. What I want to do is try my best to put my spin on this to make it interesting to my readers.
Every television has beginning, so Doctor Who is not any different. At the time that Doctor Who comes about, Eric Maschwitz chooses to survey the people of the United Kingdom to see how feasible a new science fiction program will be.(1) Now, I don’t think that this is the way the networks here in the USA choose new programs. But I can see where doing this sort of thing will benefit a network in providing the best television for their viewers. This of course may not even be the practice of the BBC overall, but for this program it is.
The actual preparation for all this is something which takes time. The people involved must find a way to gather the necessary information. Once they gather this information they can implement what they find. Alice Frick along with Donald Bull are ask to prepare a report by gauging the BBC viewers. I feel the feedback they receive is positive, because they are ask to do a follow up report. Now, if the first report is positive the second one should find out more specific things about what the viewers will want.(2) The reports are good and Frick makes out her follow up report. From there she takes it back to the team at BBC consisting of Donald Wilson, Maschwitz, and Donald Baverstock. In this report she recommends that time travel be part of the program.(3)
After this follow up report is given, the gears begin to turn. The BBC really or it seems like they jump on the recommendation. This all begins in March of 1962 and from what I gauge they want this to take place for 1963. Trying to begin a new show takes lots research. The BBC does all this in order to reach a new audience. They desire to have an educational program for middles age children. From all I can see and gather using a time travelling character is a wonderful way to this. Therefore, the BBC does exactly that.
The idea of a mysterious character is settled on and then having a time machine that is larger on the inside than the outside. Then they come up with the name TARDIS. Every idea the use is great and comes into being. Wanting the TARDIS to change shape with its surroundings is scrapped after the budget is not enough to allow that.(4) These ideas are great and as a result of their greatness the program continues today.
I love the intro and theme music for the show. It is as iconic as Doctor Who itself. They could not have chosen a better theme for the show. The idea of a time travelling being who is very mysterious makes it very entertaining. As a result of the mystery, there is so much they can do with the character. Over the years, they have give some background information, but never to much. Therefore it continues to be a great show.
Doctor Who origins are very interesting. There are many people involved in the beginning and thanks to those original people. Because of their work, we have a great science fiction program which has lastd longer than any television program in history.
