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

The Doctor should come back, played by Paul McGann as in my opinion his portrayal was rather good. I'd like to see what he could do with the role given time.
As for the BBC, they still see some life in the show, what with the current crop of repeats on BBC2 and of course the books,videos,audio dramas etc.So why can't they get their act together and produce some more shows?

Money.

The BBC have got pants of money, what about all that cash they've stopped throwing at cricket and Formula One, lets use that.

No, they're using that to develop digital channels that no-one can receive, despite paying a licence fee that entitles them to view BBC broadcasts.

I have several cases of bottled love. *holds out vodka bottle filled with a rainbow!* Monkey Boy and I are trying to get everyone in the universe to try some and pass the bottles around. They never empty, and the more you drink it , the more you want all your friends to try it. We want to spread the love vibe. Please help us out.

Oooh - big bottles of vodka - I'll have a large swig off that if you don't mind.

what made doctor who stand out was he could be anywere any time
he could go from fighting daleks on skaro to ancient rome then of
to fight the cybermen in space again that was the problem for the BBC
no fixed sets the show had to build new set after each new story all of which had to look like somewere new but also look like what had gone before all of which cost money "but they sold it around the world and the videos sold well" yes but they had to pay the actors royalteys so they don't make that much. as for should it come back...
i am in to minds about that on the one hand i would like to see it back ( I have some fond memories of the show) but on the over hand look what has happened with some shows that were brought back (e.g. twilight zone and the tomorrow people) so if it is to return i hope that the storys are good not just the sf/x

They had to get around the cost of the sets once before.
Solution:
Confiscate the TARDIS and exile John Pertwee to earth

Of course that type of UNIT series probably wouldn't work too well now but given reasonable scripts for 6 months to show how many people would watch it would probably then get decent funding.

Guys, guys, guys.

Fundings not a problem - it's the political will to do it. There have been too many broken promises and half-hearted efforts.

The Beeb receives several billion a year from licence fees and is quite prepared to squander it on those things they deem necessary - for instance, the TV Centre foyer is decked out with a dozen or so top-qulaity flat screen tv's - just so that they can show off the pictures to visitors, but of no value to the licence payer. You can't even turn the sound up, and yet they haven't thought about it enough to turn on the subtitling.

The Beeb is plunging a fortune into digital TV - they seem to think it's their responsibility to produce a better service than all their other competitiors, even though it will be available to about seven of the 20 million (or so I guess) licence payers.

They also had three seperate departments setting up web services - BBC, BBC news, and Beeb.com - almost all of which were doing the same as each other. Huge waste of money.

As for the revenue from video sales, I would seriously doubt if any of the actors receive royalties, let alone the people who wrote and produced the programmes. Video wasn't invented until Peter Davison came along, and the commercial possibilities wouldn't have been apparent until McCoy was on his way out. These things aren't automatic, you know - they have to be part of the contract. All of the people involved in D.W would have had contracts to work for the BBC rather than D.W. specifically, apart from the actors whose contracts would have specified the show.

songwriters and artists receive royalties - it's a standard part of the contract. A-list movie stars also have these clauses these days, but they are by no means standard. One of the first to do this was Star Wars - Guinness was given a %age of profits for the first one to tempt him on board and give it a bit of box office credibility, and at some point the other leads were given similar deals, though I don't think they got them for Ep IV.

But back to the point. TV isn't cheap to make, but the Beeb can offset lots of costs against the exisiting staff and facilites. Yes, it costs money to go on location and build sets, but I've already suggested that the new approach should be along the lines of STTNG/DS9, X-Files or B5 - long running political undercurrents threading all the other stories together, more sophisticated and aimed at the now adult original audience. They could have a permanent earth-based or Gallifrey set - it would hardly be crediuble that DW couldn't finally get control of the Tardis after 40 years. And each story arc could last 10 weeks rather than four or five to maximise economy. At the end of the day, if it's well made and properly marketed, the viewers will be there, and the money will pour in from syndication and merchandise.

They can only lose money if they screw it up - like with any TV programme.

Hey Zeb,
As God, you are supposed to spread the love vibe throughout the universe. Monkey Boy has been picking up the slack. How about some help?

Ali, my dear, sincere apologies. I have been rather engaged with divine duties in other parts of the galaxy. I haven't even been able to get the Damogran news up and running.

I shall be over shortly to do that love thang.

Please forgive my impertinence, Lord. I am so impatient. I should just shut my big mouth and enjoy the moment. Sorry, again. You are doing a fabulous job. Humbly yours, Ali.

Damn you all!!!!

THat's not very nice. Behave yourself.

The actors do get payed for the vidios and over seas sales its all because they need the actors say so to sell it over sea and on vidio and for repeats (there are some shows that can not be repeated because some actor will not give there say so)but yes i do think that you are right its not the money they could find it if they wanted to.
But if they do bring it back all you will get from some people is its not as good.I would like to see it back but i think they could do a show set it the same way about the companions or the timelords or even a doctor who anthology show.

Ali*

Quiet tonight Ali?

You're right Timelord - any new DW will have its knockers, but to be honest, when I watch some of the DW repeats I quite often struggle to enjoy it as much as I want to. It's much easier to get drawn in and be part of the story as a kid than as a (supposed) adult. It would be quite wrong of the Beeb (or whoever) to do anything but make a new series with the adult audience as its target. If they try to go for the kids again they have to win over a whole new market, which (considering the competition in kids tv) is easier said than done, and they'll lose the original audience at the same time - whether because of the content or the broadcast times. You can never please everyone, but it's enough to please as many as you can, I reckon.

I say stick with the old ways - low budget, silly looking monsters, a witty yet vulnerable Doctor. And let the Brits do it, for crying out loud. The American production lacked the humor and was too ... American. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Where are Terry Nation and Chris Boucher? (Not to mention Douglas Adams )

Or what about a slightly different show, since some people want the Doctor to come back as a woman. What about a ... ahem .... "Daughter" Who?

Sad to say but terry past away a few years ago douglas is still working on the hhgttg film but chris is about somewere i think he would work on it i think some people would like to see it back no matter what it was like i think it must be a british show it would not work if the us got its hands on it they seem to change to much.