The adventures of 'Doctor Who' and his people, in this galaxy and beyond
Steven Moffat and Julie Gardner came to Southern California for Comic-Con late last month. "The jet lag is really quite appalling when you come on such a short trip," Gardner said.
They appeared on a panel about "Doctor Who," the phenomenally popular and influential British science fiction series that is a cult hit here. She is the BBC's controller of drama commissioning and the outgoing executive producer of "Doctor Who.” Moffat, the show's incoming head writer and an executive producer, fell asleep at dinner -- twice.
They said they didn't meet with U.S. TV representatives while here. In 2003, Moffat exported his UK show "Coupling" to NBC -- but the American edition fared poorly. So was he avoiding anyone in L.A.?
"I had teas with [NBC Entertainment co-chairman] Ben Silverman a month after that!" he said. "We're all still friends -- just slagging each other off. It's just television."
Right after their trip, the Sci Fi Channel broadcast the fourth season finale of "Doctor Who." That finale did something wild. Just like a grandmother's birthday, it reeled back in all its children.
Characters from the show's two BBC spinoffs, "Torchwood" and "The Sarah Jane Adventures," as well as a bevy of Doctor's assistants (including the beloved Billie Piper as Rose Tyler), all pitched in to help the Doctor (well, 2 1/2 Doctors, really! Long story!) save the universe from certain doom. (Times critic Robert Lloyd reviewed it here.)
"It created a tremendous buzz when it was shown in Britain," Moffat said. "That was Russell" -- outgoing head writer and executive producer Russell T. Davies -- "saying, 'What would happen if I press every button at once?' "
In the age of networks becoming brand builders, it was also a wily marketing opportunity. "I think creatively what Russell's achieved across those three shows is a coherence, actually," Gardner said. "An editorial link between the shows, which feels organic. You start with 'Sarah Jane,' for a younger audience, into the slightly older-skewing 'Torchwood.' "
So will these satellites collide with their flagship again and more? "It's not something we're going to start doing every week," Moffat said. "We'll think of something else!"
But sometimes children need help. "Torchwood," which airs here on BBC America, is returning for a third season at the BBC -- but in the reduced form of a five-part miniseries to be, most likely, broadcast in a single week. (Filming begins shortly.)
