Doctor Who Blog

50 Glorious Years: Episode 34 - 1996

Finally in January 1996, the long wait was confirmed to be over - Doctor Who was back! Paul McGann was the 8th Doctor! And it was coming back on BBC1 and, something that is perhaps still hard to believe, network television in the US! Yes, it turned out to be for one-night only on television in May of 1996 (with the filming of the story done for the first and so far only time in Canada - the same country that would be the first to broadcast it), but the TV Movie provided so much more than one tv movie could provide in 90 minutes. Obviously there was now a brand new Doctor for the franchise, for the books, comic strips and in a few years time, the audios. But more than that, it signified that Doctor Who had survived “death” - or as most people call it in television terms, cancellation. The TV Movie burst the bubble of frustration that had existed in fandom after the series had ceased production in 1989. Even though the TV Movie did not do well enough in the US for more Doctor Who tv movies to be made for Fox and Universal, it proved that the show could be a mainstream hit again in the UK - something that should not be taken for granted after the poor ratings the series endured after the 1985 hiatus, and years of BBC brand-damaging its own property. If Doctor Who could come back successfully in the UK once after it’s cancellation, it could happen again. Despite the disappointment that no new tv movies were immediately forthcoming and this would turn out to be the only new proper television story for the show in the 1990’s, the future was definitely brighter after 1996 than it had been in the years before it.

Oh, and Paul McGann rocked as the Doctor.

23 Comments...

Yes Paul McGann was pretty good as “a” Doctor but in my opinion he was not one of “THE” Doctors. Perhaps if he had done more televised adventures my opinion would have changed but I found the movie not all that good. And since there was only 1 movie, and if I was in charge, I would have categorized this with the Peter Cushing movies and declared Christopher Eccleston the 8th Doctor back when the series returned in 2005.

Posted by Doug Grandy  on  10/02  at  01:03 PM

Doug, your comment makes me go, “HUH?!?!” The Peter Cushing movies were not canon. You may not have liked the 1996 movie, but it is 100% canon…regardless of “your” opinion! Additionally, Paul McGann really solidified his role as the Doctor with the Big Finish audios.  I suggest you go and have a listen to some of them. He is an excellent Doctor.
I’m very thankful you weren’t in charge of the show when it returned in 2005.

Posted by Chris Stone  on  10/10  at  12:06 PM

its a matter of time before docto who sweeps USA and then just a few years after that when they decide to ruin it with a US version

Posted by mark  on  01/09  at  09:00 PM

Xoftmade offers shared, business, dedicated <a >web hosting</a>solutions, web development and domain registration services in Pakistan. We offer lowest prices for hosting and website development.

Posted by web hosting in Pakistan  on  03/04  at  04:25 AM

that is very nice blog

Posted by Iceland  on  03/13  at  02:04 PM

The Peter Cushing movies were not canon. You may not have liked the 1996 movie, but it is 100% canon…regardless
I’ve found my answer here canondigcam.blogspot.com/

Posted by yacer  on  04/28  at  12:32 PM

it was great series i m really glad to see an article on this

Posted by q mobile price  on  08/22  at  10:49 AM

cool website thank you .

Posted by قنوات عر  on  09/11  at  03:01 PM

that is very nice blog
dirtv.jimdo.com

Posted by قنوات عر  on  09/11  at  03:02 PM

what a way to present a glorious episode.A real epic..

jack
sgbcglobal.com

Posted by jack marco  on  09/16  at  07:43 AM

Love the series, you can watch them here if you want to Watchseries.at

Posted by Andrew  on  12/07  at  08:57 PM

Is Your Business Already Legally a “Franchise”? As expected, because of the financial, legal and time commitments associated with franchising, business owners frequently look for other methods of expansion that closely approximate the franchise model without failing (knowing or unknowingly) the FTC’s franchise definition test in order to avoid complying with the federal and state requirements for franchising. Further, in the majority of these cases, the owner has in fact, developed and is distributing a “franchise”, all the while incorrectly insisting that their business is NOT a franchise and they are not obligated to comply with franchise distribution law(s). As expected, most are not happy hearing that they are a sitting duck for a franchise law violation(s) and the target of possible criminal and/or civil charges and damages.

Posted by Ralph  on  01/05  at  03:52 PM

Preschool franchise provides information about different types of franchise opportunities available in the market. Here in this article you can get data about Preschool Franchise in Pune and Preschool Franchise in Bangalore in India.

Thanks for your articles..

Posted by aditivarma  on  01/09  at  08:25 AM

wow…awesome article

Posted by jason  on  02/21  at  11:26 PM

Nice about Preschool Franchise article is very help full i need this really, i can watch this series of drama you need to watch click here in the below link
fundramas.com

Posted by ilyas  on  02/28  at  12:58 AM

Thank you again for all the knowledge you distribute,Good post. I was very interested in the article, it’s quite inspiring I should admit. I like visiting you

Posted by Mobile Price in Pakistan  on  04/16  at  05:40 AM

This is a great inspiring article. I am pretty much pleased with your good work. You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next post.

Posted by Nikon Nik  on  04/26  at  12:54 PM

This article about “50 Glorious Years: Episode 34 - 1996” is so easy to understand to the people like me from other native language. This is just another reason why I like your article. I like your style of writing you tell your stories without out sending us to 5 other sites to complete the story. thank you.

Posted by Akilles Sakerhet  on  04/30  at  03:30 AM

Jurassic World cast and crew

Posted by Fast and furious 7 cast  on  06/09  at  01:50 PM

Really glorious episode. It’s understand very easy. thank for share us.
hdfullsmovie.blogspot.com

Posted by Rihdoy  on  07/02  at  06:21 AM

this is all about the film.

Posted by Jurassic World cast and crew  on  07/10  at  02:44 AM

this is really a good movie love this article

Posted by danish  on  07/25  at  10:43 AM

Wow ! such a nice blog i usually read this blog very much and grate content thanku very much for proving this blog to me…........................nice work

Posted by CKMASTROLOGY  on  08/21  at  08:40 AM

Post a comment

Name:

Email:

Location:

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Submit the word you see below:


Recent Stories

Issue 172

After the anniversary : Enlightenment reviews the anniversary celebrations! Plus…

  • Michael Wisher and Philip Hinchcliffe interviewed
  • The recovered Troughton episodes
  • News and reviews

Download this issue

Issue 171

Their Secrets Revealed : The final reviews for Season 2013! Plus, in this last print issue of Enlightenment before the all-digital era begins…

  • Re-evaluating recovered episodes—you know, hypothetically…
  • The Gazetteer of Doom
  • News and reviews

Myth Makers Presents: Golden Years

Gold represents something long-lasting, something untarnished and unaffected by the passage of time. Myth Makers Presents: Golden Years celebrates the timeless elements of Doctor Who that have appealed to the show’s followers for half a century. Celebrating 50 years of Doctor Who with DWIN’s fiction anthology, Myth Makers!

An important message for DWIN members

Enlightenment will be switching to a digital only publication and membership fees will be ending. Find out more about this important change

New Doctor to be Announced LIVE on SPACE this Sunday!

Who will be the next Doctor? Find out LIVE on SPACE this Sunday at 2pm Eastern, 11am Pacific.


Is something broken?

©Doctor Who Information Network (DWIN) 2009