Statement regarding Doctor Who seasons

[Theta Sigma]

Depending on which Doctor Who fan you ask, the 2007 season of Doctor Who is either season 3 (since its relaunch in 2005) or season 29 (as a continuation of the count from the 26 seasons of the original series.

I however do not think of the 2007 season as either season3 or season 29. I think of it as season 33.

This is because of Eighth Doctor Paul McGann and Big Finish Productions.

I will now go back to 1996 when Paul McGann made his debut as the Doctor with the TV movie. The TV movie was meant to be a backdoor pilot for a new TV series (the original having ended in 1989). Without going into too much details about it, the TV movie failed to lead to a new TV series. The TV movie was the only time that Paul McGann appeared as the Doctor on television but it was not the last time that he performed as the Doctor.

In 1999 Big Finish Productions got the licence from the BBC to produce original Doctor Who audios. Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy came on board to reprise their respective Doctors from the TV series. However it did not escape anyone's attention to get Paul McGann to play the Doctor for the first time since the TV movie and McGann eventually agree to do so.

Since the TV movie at that time was the Doctor's last television adventure, the new McGann audios were treated as the continuing adventures of the Doctor Who mythos unlike the Davison, Baker and McCoy audios which are missing adventures.

Between 2001 and the arrival (in the UK) of the current TV series on Match 26 2006, Big Finish released four Paul McGann audio seasons. Big Finish promoted these seasons as seasons 27 to 30 respectively.

I decided to incorporate the four Paul McGann audio seasons into my method of counting Doctor Who seasons.

My rationale is that four audio seasons is better than no television seasons for Paul McGann.

This is why from my method of counting seasons is why I think of the 2007 season as season 33.

I have decided to refer to the seasons of the current series based on my method of counting seasons which I have just explained.

With the season that I have called season 33, I do not want to call it season 3 or season 29 plus I am getting tired of mentioning the year that a season was broadcast in.

I like to ask fellow members to bear with me on how I count seasons and if there is confusion on which season of the current series I am referring to just minus 30 from the number that I use. So for season 33, 33 minus 30 is Season 3 for many of you.

Hope this is clear.

 

[Majestic]

Thank you for letting us in on your filing system Theta Sigma. I will sticky this topic so it doesn't get lost in the Doctor Who section.

 

[Theta Sigma]

Thanks Majestic, much appreciate it.

 

[Paulhanselluk]

Depending on which Doctor Who fan you ask, the 2007 season of Doctor Who is either season 3 (since its relaunch in 2005) or season 29 (as a continuation of the count from the 26 seasons of the original series.

I however do not think of the 2007 season as either season3 or season 29. I think of it as season 33.

This is because of Eighth Doctor Paul McGann and Big Finish Productions.

I will now go back to 1996 when Paul McGann made his debut as the Doctor with the TV movie. The TV movie was meant to be a backdoor pilot for a new TV series (the original having ended in 1989). Without going into too much details about it, the TV movie failed to lead to a new TV series. The TV movie was the only time that Paul McGann appeared as the Doctor on television but it was not the last time that he performed as the Doctor.

In 1999 Big Finish Productions got the licence from the BBC to produce original Doctor Who audios. Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy came on board to reprise their respective Doctors from the TV series. However it did not escape anyone's attention to get Paul McGann to play the Doctor for the first time since the TV movie and McGann eventually agree to do so.

Since the TV movie at that time was the Doctor's last television adventure, the new McGann audios were treated as the continuing adventures of the Doctor Who mythos unlike the Davison, Baker and McCoy audios which are missing adventures.

Between 2001 and the arrival (in the UK) of the current TV series on Match 26 2006, Big Finish released four Paul McGann audio seasons. Big Finish promoted these seasons as seasons 27 to 30 respectively.

I decided to incorporate the four Paul McGann audio seasons into my method of counting Doctor Who seasons.

My rationale is that four audio seasons is better than no television seasons for Paul McGann.

This is why from my method of counting seasons is why I think of the 2007 season as season 33.

I have decided to refer to the seasons of the current series based on my method of counting seasons which I have just explained.

With the season that I have called season 33, I do not want to call it season 3 or season 29 plus I am getting tired of mentioning the year that a season was broadcast in.

I like to ask fellow members to bear with me on how I count seasons and if there is confusion on which season of the current series I am referring to just minus 30 from the number that I use. So for season 33, 33 minus 30 is Season 3 for many of you.

Hope this is clear.

I didnt know that, thanks.

 

[phase5]

I like to ask fellow members to bear with me on how I count seasons and if there is confusion on which season of the current series I am referring to just minus 30 from the number that I use. So for season 33, 33 minus 30 is Season 3 for many of you. Hope this is clear.

Surely this approach just creates confusion.

During its first 6 years the show was produced virtually continuously, with only short breaks in production, these eventually became the delineation points for the first six "seasons".

The american concept of "seasons" as being a certain number of episodes produced for broadcast during a certain ratings period wasn't used in Doctor Who until "season 7" when Jon Pertwee became the 3rd Doctor. Twenty five episodes were made and broadcast in the first 6 months of 1970. (In the UK).

This approach continued until the show was finally cancelled in 1989. (After nearly being axed in 1985). By then of course an average "season" was down to 14 x 25 min episodes, (24.5 mins to be exact), from an average of about 25 per season.

When the revamped DOCTOR WHO was launched in 2005, the BBC decided to name each production run of episodes a "SERIES" rather than a "Season"; one assumes to separate the new show from the old show.

While some fans choose to call Series 1, 2 & 3 of the new show Seasons 27, 28 & 29; (a straight continuation on from the old show), the simplist, best approach is to use the official naming system the BBC uses. They own the show after all. And it's very easy:

1963 to 1989: Seasons 01 to 26.
1996 "Doctor Who: the Movie". (as per the DVD release).
2005 to 2007: Series 01 to 03.

DVDs of the original run of the show don't indicate the "season" they come from, they list the original broadcast date on the back, with "The Xxxxx Xxxx Years 19xx-19xx" on the front.

DVDs from the new show are clearly marked Series 1, 2 or 3.

As for the BIG FINNISH audio productions, while authorized by the BBC, they are audio adventures only and completely seperate from the televised adventures.

And if one chooses to include the audio adventures of a specific actor as part of the televised adventures, surely by definition one would also have to include ALL the audio adventures for ALL the actors who played the Doctor and did audio adventures for BIG FINISH. And where would that leave us?

Why not just use the system the BBC uses instead of having everyone accomodate this "one off" approach?
Doesn't seem like much to ask.

And what if we all came up with our own systems?

 

[Majestic]

I allow Theta Sigma to use this system as he has been a strong supporter of this site by keeping us all up to date.

He has been with us from the beginning almost and has remain active and has helped made this site what it is. So far as as Doctor Who on MSFC is concerned, if TS wants to use his system then by all means he can and I will support it.

 

[phase5]

I allow Theta Sigma to use this system as he has been a strong supporter of this site by keeping us all up to date.

By all means allow hime to use his system, I just think when discussing a show on a forum open to the owrld we should all use the same system. The official one the BBC uses.

He has been with us from the beginning almost and has remain active and has helped made this site what it is. So far as as Doctor Who on MSFC is concerned, if TS wants to use his system then by all means he can and I will support it.

Are you saying that the other 91 member of this forum have to adhere to his naming system? We have to accomodate him instead of everyone just using the official system?

Well, could you at least rename this thread "Theta Zigma's Theory On Doctor Who Season Delineation" or somesuch. As it stands now it looks like "official policy" of the site. Is it the official policy of the site?

 

[CrazyFrog1903]

Are you saying that the other 91 member of this forum have to adhere to his naming system? We have to accomodate him instead of everyone just using the official system?

Well, could you at least rename this thread "Theta Zigma's Theory On Doctor Who Season Delineation" or somesuch. As it stands now it looks like "official policy" of the site. Is it the official policy of the site?

Phase5, other members are expected to respect that anyone member is allowed to have thier own opinion. This is an open thread. That means people are allowed to put what they think. Within the limits of it being a family site. He explained the system he is using. That is good enough for me. I can atleast understand where he is coming from on his system. All you have to do is understand where someone is coming from and base your post on what you think. Just make sure it is appropriate for a family site and not disrespectful. I, myself, enjoy seeing people's opinions from all over the world.

 

[Majestic]

Phase5, CrazyFrog is correct. Theta has made the thread to let us know how he will be referring to the seasons of Doctor Who. It doesn't mean everyone has to use it, its just he wanted to let us know what it all meant.

I don't see what all the huff and puff is about. Be respectful to him and let him use his system. If you have a problem with it, well he isn't asking you nor anyone else to use it so there shouldn't be any problem.

 

[Syf]

This is an Administrative General note to ALL:
Let me step in here for a moment. Please read this following statement before we have an incident that forces me to perform an Administrative action!

Theta Sigma has his way of seeing things, and so does everyone else. Theta Sigma Does hold the title here on MSFC as our Official Doctor Who Informant. This purely means that we, the Staff, do except his reviews and support them. We are not saying that everyone has to agree with them. We welcome all people to post their own view if they are willing. Just one thing, this will not turn into flaming match. We DO expect every single one of our members to be respectful toward each other. If I see flames coming from anyone, They will see what a BAN looks like. So far, the rules have not been broken. So this is just a friendly reminder. But this is getting very close.

 

[Theta Sigma]

Thanks Majestic, CrazyFrog and Syf for your support.

 

[Syf]

You are welcome. We stand by our good members. You were given a title, and people should respect that regaurdless if they don't agree with the sentiment.