TCA 2013: All About "Doctor Who" and a Low-Key HBO - Ed Martin

Beverly Hills CA BBC America at the Summer Television Critics Association gathering yesterday continued the 50th Anniversary of quotDoctor WhoquotFarewell Matt Smith Combo Tour that began last week with a massive session in the cavernous Hall H at the San Diego ComicCon The network opened the second day of this tour with two quotWhoquotrelated panels and hosted a party featuring the current cast last night at the ritzy Soho House in West HollywoodAll this attention to quotDoctor Whoquot is certainly justified The franchise which has continued through a variety of different television series movies and specials in England and the United States since the Sixties will mark its 50th anniversary in November quotDoctor Whoquot premiered on November 23 1963 the day after the assassination of President John F Kennedy That will be the same month that Matt Smith who has played the Doctor for four seasons will leave the show in a special episode marking the 50th anniversaryEpisodes that revolve around the arrivals and departures of actors portraying the Doctor who regenerates and takes on a new appearance from time to time are always events on their own but this one will be something special In addition to marking Smith39s exit it will feature the return to the show of David Tennant the actor who portrayed the Doctor before Smith and it will herald the twelfth and last regeneration for the character who according to quotWhoquot mythology can only undergo these transformations 12 times In other words the actor who steps into the role after Smith will have to be the last unless the writers alter the rocksolid mythology that has been in place and honored by everyone involved with the franchise since it began in 1963BBC America also offered a panel for quotAn Adventure in Space and Timequot a madefortelevision movie about the creation of the first quotDoctor Whoquot series at the BBC way back in 1963 It will premiere in November David Bradley stars as William Hartnell the first actor to portray the Doctor Bradley was the center of a seismic Twitter blowup just a few weeks ago when Lord Walder Frey the sinister character he portrays on HBO39s quotGame of Thronesquot orchestrated the instantly infamous red wedding massacre that resulted in the grisly deaths of two main characters Richard Madden the actor who portrayed the doomed Robb Stark one of the red wedding victims was at the party with a friend a happy circumstance that excited critics as much as the opportunity to have a final chat with Matt SmithSmith has been the first of the Doctors to truly experience the full effect of the franchise39s power at ComicCon In fact last weekend during his third appearance there he had to walk around the San Diego Convention Center wearing a Bart Simpson mask to avoid being recognized and mobbed quotNowadays you know with all the cosplay dressing up in costumes and all that 39Doctor Who39 has a real presence therequot Smith reflected quotIt39s like the closest you39ll ever get to being a rock starquotBBC America whose TCA panels and parties have in recent years been among the most eagerly anticipated by critics and journalists rounded out its morning with sessions for two other noteworthy series quotAtlantisquot a fantasydrama set in ancient times that reimagines Greek myths and legends and quotBroadchurchquot a gripping mystery that centers on the shocking murder of a young boy in a quiet seaside town The latter has won numerous awards in England and it is certain to be one of the most talked about television programs of the year once it makes its debut next month on BBCALater in the day HBO offered a series of sessions that were rather low key by the network39s usual TCA standards That is to say with the exception of sports legend Mike Tyson and director Spike Lee amp8211 on hand to promote quotMike Tyson Undisputed Truthquot a film of his oneman Broadway show amp8211 and Larry David a TCA regular over the years for the HBO comedy series quotCurb Your Enthusiasmquot who came by this time to take questions about his upcoming madeforHBO movie quotClear Historyquot amp8211 it was a relatively quiet afternoon for the paycable giant The other programs HBO promoted were quotMuhammad Ali39s Greatest Fightquot a movie about Ali39s historic Supreme Court battle when he declared himself a conscientious objector after being drafted into the Vietnam War starring Christopher Plummer the upcoming Stephen Merchant comedy series quotHello Ladiesquot about an awkward British web designer who relocates to Los Angeles and quotSeduced and Abandonedquot a movie filmed by and starring Alec Baldwin and James Toback as they navigated the 2012 Cannes Film Festival looking for financing for a film projectIf you are receiving this report you are a registered member to Jack Myers Media Business Network or are receiving it as part of a registered corporate membership As a member Jack responds personally to your emails requests and comments He is available 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TCA 2013: All About "Doctor Who" and a Low-Key HBO - Ed Martin

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