h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Traveller in Time reading lips
"Do you think she looks tired?

Curiousity killed the cat. . . . . . "

I don't think there's really that much for the series, either. From the script books and various other interviews, more episodes seem to have under-ran and needed scenes adding. You know what geeks are like though: Must-see-ervything-filmed-even-if-tiny-useless-snippet.

Then I'm sure you're as excited by the prospect of the 'Beginning' DVD, out at the end of this month. As well as the first 13 episodes of the very first series (1963-4), there's a whole deleted *episode*

(Actualy their first attempt at the very first episode, which was judged to be too ropey and they remade it. It's since been renamed the 'Pilot' episode)

That'll be the one with the incredibly noisy Tardis 'hum' that drowns out 90% of the dialogue inside the control room, then?

Seen that. Very funny.

Though I have to say a 'series by series' approach to releasing old Who is much more sensible than the present spotty approach. Is this a new strategy Jim, or just a one off? (Though it'll be a bit threadbare when it gets to the Troughton years

Indeed I am looking forward to it. You should've heard my other half's reaction when I bought the Lost in Time DVD:
'It's a whole set of... bits?'
'Yes'
'No actual full stories then?'
'No'
'Right. Do I have to watch it?'
'No'
'Good.'

That's the one, Blues. It's on the 10 000BC/Edge of Destruction VHS release.

Wouldn't know. The one I saw was on a very unlabelled cassette, a first generation copy from the BBC master which had 'accidentally' left the archives for a day and then fallen into a vcr and copied.

Naughty things these cassettes. They can have all sorts of adventures if you take your eye off them for just a minute.

The Beginning was a planned VHS release years ago, but this time it's on DVD and makes sense to group all thsoe episodes together. As far as I udnerstand it, there may be other box sets planned, grouping connected stories together,but it's single releases as standard.

Having said that, I wouldn't be too surprised if Seasons 23 and 24 got a box-set each at some point, simply because 23 is the trial season - difficult to split - and 24 has such a bad reputation that it might make sense to add value to it as a box than risk single releases (even though I personally like those stories).

That could backfire though, Jims- you could get a lot of fans thinking '£60 for Ken Dodd and Richard Briers? Blow that!"

23 as a boxed set makes sense though, although Key to Time wasn't. Mind you, that would be a pretty big box for VHS. Doctor Who lags behind other shows in terms of grouping seasons together...

Key to Time was only released in the States though. If the Beginning is anything to go by, the likelihood is that when Key to Time comes around it'll have individual Amoray cases so that the obsessives can ditch the slipcase and make sure the spines all match on their shelves.

I'd be surprised if it was £60 for those releases anyway - the Beginning box isn't is it? But for your money you also get Kate O'Mara, that bloke off of Porridge and her off of Rocky Horror

<>

Who and which story? I haven't really watched any of that season since before I saw Rocky Horror.

Just as a matter of interest what is Beginnings priced at? Later series of 24-30 episodes a season shouldn't be more than 4 discs a set (barring extras), so somewhere in the £45 a season wouldn't be unreasonable, as at £60 it still would be cheaper than individual dvds of single stories...

I believe the RRP is just under £30.

And Patricia Quinn (Magenta in Rocky Horror) played Belazs in 'Dragonfire'. She was the lead female officer who reported to the big baddie.

I meant that Key to Time wasn't a box set in this country Jims, not that it was a bad idea. I was just comparing the two umbrella seasons.

Blues- supposed to be £30, BBC shop is flogging it for £20.

And so doubtless, will Play...

We might be talking at crossed purposes, Kerr. The Key to Time came out in separate releases on VHS in the UK, but was released in both a box and single releases in the USA.

As it's not on the schedule for a long time yet (based on current info), I've got no idea whethr they'd go for a staggered single disc release, box set or all-at-once single discs release strategy. All academic at the moment. But I would imagine it'd be quite pricey if it were single releases...

query to those who know.
i am aware back in the hartnell era an episode consisted of several parts. Exactly how many FULL episodes are going to be on this dvd please? the chapter/episode listing isn't very helpful. it makes it look like 1 or 2 full episodes. and are any of the full episodes Dalek ones?

thanking you very much.

>But I would imagine it'd be quite pricey if it were single releases...<

But probably cheaper than the present £120 for six single releases which it will cost at the present schedulng rate. Whilst I appreciate you have to show some loyalty to your employers, Jim, I think they need to take a long hard look at how they deal with stuff like this, because compared to the pricing a release of David Attenbrough, or Quatermass, or even The Nightmare Man I'd suggest the BBC have been milking Who for everything it's worth, and maybe just a little bit more.

All of the stories appearing on the DVD are complete.

The Pilot is one episode (obviously)
An Unearthly Child/100,000BC is four episodes.
The Daleks/The Mutants (depending on how much of a pedant you are) is seven episodes.
The Edge of Destruction is two episodes.

Each episode is approximately 25 minutes long.