=-=-=-=-= Society of the Rusting TARDIS Newsletter (#18, 06/13/95)
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>>> Items of interest to British media fans and Seattle-area residents,
<<<
>>> and whatever else I feel like spewing about. You have been warned.
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Well, the 21st Seattle International Film Festival is history. Look for my
thumbnail reviews in the near future. For the first time in three months,
I
can see free evenings, and even weekends, on the horizon.
Sound bites:
The latest "Dr. Who" news from the Lofficiers: Despite being on
British radio and TV news reports, Eric Idle IS NOT going to be the
new Doctor. The misunderstanding was due to him being at Amblin
recently because of some involvement in "Casper".
BBC Video are considering releasing an extended version of "The
Five
Doctors". Guesses are that this would be the one with 7.5 minutes
of extra (and apparently unnecessary) footage.
A second season of "The All-New Alexei Sayle Show" begins this
Friday
at 9:30pm on BBC2.
Craig Charles was interviewed recently on VH-1, and talked about a
stand-up tour he is putting together, and new Red Dwarf. According
to him, series 7 and 8 are currently being developed, as well as
the
long-awaited Xmas special. There was also mention of a second
"Smeg-Ups" video.
According to the president of Comedy Central (as quoted in USA
Today,
6/7), they are considering airing another AbFab marathon and then
pull the show off completely for a while.
The last four episodes of this season of "Babylon 5" have been
delayed
until October, since the third season is set to start in November.
In an odd twist, those episodes _will_ air in the UK shortly. (And
for those who care, issue 9 of the comic will contain SPOILERS
since
it was written long before this delay.)
It's official: "Animaniacs" spin-off "Pinky and the Brain" will
join
the Warner Brothers Network on September 10th.
This fall CBS will be airing "American Gothic," the story of a
small
town overshadowed by a demonic sheriff. Buford T. Pusser, where
are
you when we need you?
Dow Jones and MacNeil/Lehrer Productions will air a new nightly (at
11 p.m.) news programme, "The National News," next spring on PBS.
Upcoming video releases in the UK include "Star Trek: Voyager"
(yes,
already) and "Earth 2" (June 17th).
The Monster Raving Loony Party has been temporarily saved from
bankruptcy by a bookie who didn't want to see the party go under.
The leader of the party (Screaming Lord Sutch) has lost every
parliamentary election since 1963.
David Letterman's week in England did not go over very well with
the
natives. The BBC has cancelled plans to air "The Late Show" after
reading their own "viewer mail". According to a report, "Viewers
thought it was inane, irrelevant to the British people and a waste
of
licence-payers' money."
Paramount has cancelled "The Jon Stewart Show".
Web page with general info about BBC Radio programmes:
http://www.bbcnc.org.uk/radio/index.html
Local news:
The "Dr. Who" marathon on KBTC on June 10th raised ~$8500, which
was
a bit shy of their $10,000 goal. (According to their calculations,
they need to raise $20,000 each year during "Dr. Who" marathons.)
The Society of the Rusting TARDIS 10th anniversary picnic: August
13th. More details to follow as Ryan makes them available. :-)
"Festival Hong Kong" returns to the Varsity this Thursday, with
Tsui
Hark's "The Lovers" (which I haven't seen) and "Chinese Ghost
Story II" (which I can vouch for). Call 632-3131 for show times.
"Crumb", the documentary about cartoonist Robert Crumb and his
whacked-out family (which won best documentary at the Film
Festival),
will run from June 16 to June 22 at the Varsity. Call 632-3131 for
show times.
Archie McPhee has a Web page: http://www.halcyon.com/mcphee/
I spoke with Tracey Conway recently (you know...from "Almost Live!"
(it's a long story)), and although she has friends who are fans of
British television, sadly it doesn't look like we'll be seeing her
at
a meeting anytime soon. But I'm sending her a FAQ, so who knows?
(And yes, she remembered Kris Sabo and the folks in Baton Rouge.)
Miscellany:
What a great time to be alive. Gennifer Flowers has a Web page:
http://wwwnt.thegroup.net/flowers.htm
Anyone on the list know who "gun-sgt.@prostar.com" is? This person
has tried to subscribe twice, but I can't seem to find an address
that will reach him (or her). The bounce states, "There is no
person
with this name at ProStar Internet Gateway."
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Subject: Emerald City Androgum news
Hi, Jeff. Sorry to have to do this to you, but I need to get some news
out to the Rusties, and we're not going to be there this week! (My class
is having fifth grade graduation that night!) So, could you let
everybody know that there is an Androgums gathering this Saturday in
Renton, we're showing an episode of "Voyagers!", "Battlefield," "Doctor
Who and the Daleks" (the first Peter Cushing movie), and some scenes of
the Androgums at Visions 93, including my propositioning Nicola Bryant.
If anybody wants more info, our phone number is 763-9332, or e-mail us at
tiktok@eskimo.com or tegan@eskimo.com. Thanks, and have a good time
without us!
--Eric "June 28th, no problem!" Gjovaag
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Subject: Blackadder Pilot Episode (something I had not heard of before)
From: rlju100@bay.cc.kcl.ac.uk (Steve Phillips)
Seeing as we're mentioning "Blackadder", I recently saw the pilot episode
to the show, and wrote down a few thoughts.....
There is a little-known "Blackadder" pilot still in existence, made
sometime
before June 1982. It's an early version of "Born To Be King" but with some
changes of cast and characters and minor changes to plot.
Atkinson plays Blackadder somewhere between the series one portrayal and
that of the other series, although rather more towards the latter (although
the strong sarcasm of the latter is missing). If you realise that what
makes the series 2-4 character work *is* the sarcastic/sardonic attitude,
you'll see that the character here is rather weakly drawn and ambiguous.
In
fitting with the harsher, brasher image - gone is the pudding-basin
haircut,
to be replaced by tight curls. Such is the change in the character that
the
idiocy of the head-stuck-in-the-helmet slapstick, whilst fine for the
re-make, is totally out of place here.
The biggest let down by far in this pilot is the actor playing Baldrick.
Tony Robinson may not be regarded as exactly Olivier when it comes to
acting, but having somebody else play the part reveals just how missed he
is. The blonde-haired Philip Fox fails miserably on every level, though,
once again, the character is only thinly sketched in the script so he
cannot
be blamed for all the short-comings.
The other major casting change is the King's part. Instead of Brian
Blessed, John Savalent turns in a more reserved and thoughtful performance
(I was never a fan of Blessed's stock-in-trade "shouting kings" anyhow).
A criticism, which can also be levelled at most of the first series proper,
is that the plot is over-complicated. Indeed, during the performance of
"The Death Of A Scotsman" play, it's quite difficult to work out what is
going on! The production team must have realised this, hence the
re-working
and simplifying of this scene prior to the re-make.
The pilot also suffers from not having the dramatic theme music of the
first
series, although the opening silhouetted castle graphics are quite
effective. The show ends with the Black Adder family crest (inscribed with
the words "Veni, Vidi, Castratavi Illegitimos", which roughly translates as
"Came, Saw, Castrated the Bastards").
Steve
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Subject: "The Great (Dr. Who) Theme Tune Quest"
From: pih@doc.ic.ac.uk (Paul Ian Harman)
THE GREAT THEME TUNE QUEST - May '95 Update
===========================================
Version Name Arranger Album Comments
------------ -------- ----- --------
Original Theme Delia Derbyshire 1,4,8 Start->Late TBaker
Doctor Who Theme Peter Howell 1,4,8 Late TBaker->CBaker
Doctor Who Mark Lambert/Ian Hu 1 Nice new version
Delaware Version Brian Hodgson/ 3 Boingy Boingy!
Paddy Kingsland
Spoons Version Mark Lambert/Ian Hu 1 McCoy plays the
spoons
feat. Sylvester McCoy
Mood Version Mark Ayres 2
Terror Version Dominic Glynn 1,2
Latin Version Keff McCulloch 2 [1]
Panopticon 8 Mark Ayres 2
(Regeneration Mix)
Dimensions in Time CyberTech 5 Aaargh!!!
Orchestral Version Eric Winstone 6 [2]
Fenric Version Mark Ayres 7 Remix of...
Sylvester MCoy Version Keff McCulloch 8
Trial of a Time Lord Dominic Glynn 8
Doctor Who is Gonna Bullamakanka (BBC-454) N/A Has words!
Fix It
Who is the Doctor? Mac Iver N/A Pertwee's Poem
Dance (Dr Who) Mankind on Motor N/A MTR-001 (Mankind on
Motor Records)
Doctor in Distress Ian Levine/Fiachra N/A Not really the
theme...
Trench
(UNCERTAIN) Neil Norman 9
Disco Version (Allegedly) Ron Grainer N/A
Dr Who Geoff Love & Co 10
[1] This is the version used in the " - The Early Years" and
"The Years" videos.
[2] I'm not sure whether or not this passes my canonical test (see below)
Album:
1. The Worlds of Doctor Who
2. Doctor Who - Variations on a Theme
3. 30 Years at the Radiophonic Workshop
4. Classic Music from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop - EarthShock
- The Five Doctors
5. CyberTech
6. "A-Z of British TV Themes", also "The Man from UNCLE"
7. The Curse of Fenric
8. The 25th Anniversary Album (which I _still_ can't find)
9. Greatest Science Fiction Hits II (Neil Norman)
10. Star Wars and Other Space Themes (Super Tunes Ltd.)
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Subject: EXCERPTS FROM THE TeAPOTT MAILING LIST
[If you want the whole thing, get on _her_ mailing list.]
"THERE'S A PENGUIN ON THE TELLY" (TeAPOTT of Baton Rouge)
-A group devoted to the serious watching of anything even remotely British.
*Kristin C. Sabo, current dictator- sabo@rouge.phys.lsu.edu (504)768-7815
kristin_s@deq.state.la.us (504)765-0166
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==>> E-ZINE EXTRACTS <<==
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->TRANSIENT IMAGES:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>From alex@smec.sel.sony.com Fri May 26 12:56:46 1995
Web Site: http://www.cais.com/jpadgett/www/home.html
THE AVENGERS News. NICHOLAS MEYER of STAR TREK movie fame, has closed
a deal to direct WARNER BROTHERS' big-screen adaptation of the British
series THE AVENGERS, which ran on ABC from 1966 to 1969, during the
John Steed and Emma Peel episodes. The film is scheduled to go before
the cameras this Fall. No names have been attached to the project as
of this writing. [Variety (My thanks to FordaT@aol.com)]
A new, modernized version of ROMEO & JULIET will be filmed by BAZ
LLUHRMANN, starring LEONARDO DICAPRIO and NATALIE PORTMAN. They will
use the original SHAKESPEARean lines.
>From alex@smec.sel.sony.com Fri Jun 9 16:35:49 1995
PATRICK STEWART attended a meeting at PARAMOUNT, held the 3rd week of
April, in which the follow-up to GENERATIONS was discussed. The
next film does not have a title, but STEWART reports that the
discussions kept going back to the episode YESTERDAY'S ENTERPRISE from
THE NEXT GENERATION. [Mr. Data's Data #69 dated May 95]
STAR WARS News. GEORGE LUCAS took a break from writing the next three
installments of the STAR WARS saga to give up some information on the
new epics. The first one will be in theaters in 1998, all three will
be budgeted between $50 and $70 million, and he plans to direct at
least one of them, which will be the first time he's directed since
the 1977 original. The new trilogy will be shot back to back "like
a TV series," said LUCAS. [Lifeline Column, USA Today dated 6/1/95]
DOCTOR WHO News. A story meeting on the 2 hour film for FOX was
held on May 23. Producer PHILIP SEGAL and Scriptwriter MATTHEW
JACOBS pitched and outline of the pilot to a FOX executive. It
went very well to the point were they are now beginning script
composition and considering casting ideas. [Mr. Data's Data
#69B dated June 95]
There is word that NBC is interested in reviving FOX's THE ADVENTURES
OF BRISCO COUNTY JR. NBC is requesting 6 new episodes.
* * *
==>> INTERNET SNIPPETS <==
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->VISIONS HITS THE NET:
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>From fergus@areaplg2.corp.mot.com Thu May 25 09:50:44 CDT 1995
We'd like to announce a new web site devoted to the history of our
annual convention devoted to unusual television shows:
http://www.xnet.com/~tardis/visions.html
Previous guests at VISIONS in Chicago IL over the past 5 years have
included actors, writers and directors from:
Doctor Who Red Dwarf Blake's Seven The Avengers
Robin of Sherwood Lovejoy Kung Fu The Legend Continues
Star Trek The Next Generation Mystery Science Theater 3000
Our guest lineup this year is still in development, but we hope
to add guests from more American science fiction shows such as
Babylon 5 and The X-Files, as well as more British comedy shows
such as Blackadder and The Young Ones.
Video & audio tapes from the Visions '94 convention are now available.
Please allow 8 weeks for delivery. If you'd like a list of tapes available
from previous years ('90-93), send me email at fergus@areaplg2.corp.mot.com
or check the Visions a/v web page at http://www.xnet.com/~tardis/av.html
Unless otherwise requested, all video tapes will be done at the LP speed
except for the variety show tapes, which will be done at the standard SP.
Please specify which programs you would like us to put on each tape, up to
the 4-hour maximum. Please order a minimum of $20 worth of programs per
video tape.
Send Check or Money Order to:
or to Visions Videos
HER MAJESTY'S ENTERTAINMENT c/o Lisa Albergo
P.O. Box 1202 4122 W. Cortland
Highland Park, IL 60035-1202 Chicago, IL 60647-5028
1994 VISIONS VIDEO AND AUDIO TAPES
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$5 Section: Video Programs $5 each Audio Programs $8 each or 2-for-$15
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Video Audio
Catalog Catalog
Number Number Program Title
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94-01 401 Visions 94 Opening Ceremonies (25 minutes)
94-02 401 Visions 94 Closing Ceremonies (23 minutes)
94-03 NA Visions 94 Masquerade (42 minutes)
94-04 402 Paul Darrow/Sheelagh Wells, Sunday (29 minutes)
94-05 402 Sheelagh Wells Press Conference (37 minutes)
94-06 403 John Levene Press Conference (30 minutes)
94-06 403 Rob Grant Press Conference (42 minutes)
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$10 Section: Video Programs $10 ea Audio Programs $8 each or 2-for-$15
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Video Audio
94-08 404 Jon Pertwee Press Conference (61 minutes)
94-09 405 Paul Darrow Press Conference (56 minutes)
94-10 406 Robert Llewellyn Press Conference (52 minutes)
94-11 407 Danny John-Jules Press Conference (64 minutes)
94-12 408 Mark Ryan/Phil Rose Press Conference (58 minutes)
94-13 409 Chris Potter Press Conference (55 minutes)
94-14 410 Nicholas Courtney Press Conference (56 minutes)
94-15 411 D. John-Jules/R. Llewellyn/R. Grant, Friday (52
min)
94-16 412 Mark Ryan/Phil Rose, Friday (59 minutes)
94-17 413 Paul Darrow/Sheelagh Wells, Friday (74 minutes)
94-18 414 Phil Rose/M. Ryan/Chris Potter/P. Darrow, Sat (66
min)
94-19 415 Jon Pertwee/Joe Nazzaro, Saturday (58 minutes)
94-20 416 Nicholas Courtney/John Levene, Saturday (53
minutes)
94-21 417 Robert Llewellyn/Danny John-Jules/Rob Grant/J.
Nazzaro
Saturday (53 minutes)
94-22 418 D. John-Jules/R. Llewellyn/R. Grant, Sunday (56
min)
94-23 419 Jon Pertwee/Nicholas Courtney/John Levene, Sun(59
min)
94-24 420 Mark Ryan/Phil Rose, Sunday (58 minutes)
94-25 421 Chris Potter, Sunday (68 minutes)
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$20 Section: Video Programs $20 ea Audio Programs $15 each (on 2 tapes)
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Video Audio
94-26 NA Visions 94 Charity Auction (2 hours, 11 minutes)
94-27 422 Visions 94 Highlights (2 hours)
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$40 Section: Video Programs $40 each (on 2 tapes at SP)
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Video Audio
94-VS NA Visions 94 Variety Show
* * *
DISCLAIMER: Serious, and all-encompassing disclaimers apply. ie- no one is
really responsible for this newsletter. ;)
-> Just another public service announcement from your Cruise Director <-
............................... Kristin C. Sabo -
sabo@rouge.phys.lsu.edu
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Currently planned for the next Rusting Tardis video night (June 14), at
Round Table Pizza, 5111 25th Ave. NE (in Seattle):
Have I Got News For You
Glam Metal Detectives: Episode 3
Murder Most Horrid
Absolutely Fabulous: Season 3, Episode 4
The 10%-ers: "Galaxy Quest 8" (This week's experiment in terror -
from the creators of "Red Dwarf")
[reflects weight before cooking, some settling of contents may occur
during shipping, offer void where prohibited, batteries not included,
your milage may vary, not to be taken internally]
Coming in the near future: more new "Absolutely Fabulous", and new seasons
of
"Goodnight Sweetheart" and "Brittas Empire".
The next Rusting Tardis Social (June 20, 7pm) will be held at Two Dagos
From
Texas, 2600 1st Ave. (in Seattle).
See you on Wednesday.
"They rounded the corner, and saw, in the
flickering
firelight, a sight which chilled the very blood in
their veins. It seemed to coagulate the very
corpuscles in their arteries."
--"Beyond Time", John E. Muller (actually
Robert Lionel Fanthorpe)
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The standard disclaimers apply to everything here except this statement.
To subscribe/unsubscribe to this list, send mail to "onan@eskimo.com".
The Society of the Rusting TARDIS web page - http://www.halcyon.com/sotrt/
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