Dr Who: "The Next Doctor" Premieres Saturday

There won’t be a weekly Doctor Who in 2009, but there will be a series of two-hour movies, starring the inimitable David Tennant as The Doctor, but without a consistent Companion. He picks up (and drops) new ones in each movie, including this one, which originally aired in the UK on Chistmas Day. And at that time it was also known that David Tennant would soon be leaving the role, as nine had before him, and someone would be taking his place as the Eleventh Doctor.

Why did it take six full months for the Christmas Special to appear on this side of the on?  Anybody’s guess.  But one of the clever centerpieces of the piece is blown to pieces by this, ah, time slip, so to speak. 

At the time of its original airing, much ink was spread and speculation swirled around David Morrisey, a well-respect British actor who appears to be a (slightly befuddled ) future regeneration of The Doctor who has lost his way. Would he be the new Doctor?  Was this the much-anticipated, even –dreaded, Regeneration Episode?

We won’t give it away entirely,  but it’s really not much of a secret anymore.  Any Who fan worthy of the name knows what nobody knows on December 25, 2008: this guy here is going to be the next Doctor, not David Morrisey.

And as of June 25, another Tennant-based Who-movie, The Land of the Dead, has already aired (it’s okay, but not as good as The Next Doctor).  And the next, The Waters of Mars, is filming now and will air in the UK in November.  When it will air in the US is anyone's guess.

As for The Next Doctor, you’re in for a rollckin’ good Victorian time, as The Doctor lands in London, 1851 and unravels a mystery that involves watches, memory, murder and the return of the biggest Cyberman you ever saw, not to mention the King – ah, Queen – ah, King? – of the Cybermen.  Great fun … just a little late out of the starting gate.