One of the best ways to enjoy fandom is to go to a convention. In additional to programming at regional SF and pop culture conventions there are several very big Dr. Who themed conventions held annually in the USA.
I went to my first one in 1983 and it really made helped since being a Doctor Who fan as a freshman in high school was not easy. It was great meeting other fans and knowing I was not alone. It also was fun!
But now the stigma of being a Whovian is gone and fandom is exploding in the US. As a result there are several great options to gather and meet fans of the shows as well as writers and actors from the series, audios and spinoffs.
Here are some of the big cons in the USA. We will cover additional ones as they come up throughout the year.
Special Note: If you’re in the Chicago area I’ll be at Chicago Comic Con 2011 this weekend presenting a Doctor Who Panel and a Torchwood Panel on Friday.
CHICAGO TARDIS
November 25-27, 2011, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago Tardis is the largest Who gathering in the Midwest. It is located in Lombard, Illinois, just outside of Chicago.
Guests confirmed so far include Peter Davison, Jason Haigh-Ellery, Nicholas Briggs and Beth Chalmers who is the new audio companion to the 7th Doctor. Seventh Doctor writer Ben Aaronvitch (who is also working bringing back Blake’s 7) is also attending.
The con has a big guest list but retains its sense of intimacy, allowing fans to mingle with guests. The programming is always interesting and the staff is very friendly.
For more information visit, www.chicagotardis.com
GALLIFREY ONE’S NETWORK 23
February 17-19,2012
The largest and most grandiose Who convention in the USA. It is simply a juggernaut boasting an impressive list of guests.
This is a monster con with loads of guests from both the classic and new series. Amongst the confirmed guests are William Russell, Maureen O’ Brien, Paul McGann, Louise Jameson, Mary Tamm, Frazer Hines, Richard Franklin, Mark Sheppard and Tony Curran. Director Richard Senior and Camille Coduri who is appearing at her first US convention.
The organizers make the guests feel welcome and go out of their way to accomodate friends when possible.
TIMEGATE
May 25-27, 2012, Atlanta, GA
This is the biggest convention to date in the south. The staff is very friendly and the programming is tilted towards Stargate and Doctor Who. They always manage to find guests who may not be big names or stars but who are always engaging and interesting. The con staff goes out of it’s way to make sure you get your money’s worth. Every year this convention gets bigger and bigger.
Paul Kasey is confirmed for 2012 with other guests TBA.
If you are interested in going to any of these conventions get your tickets and travel arrangements made as early as possible.
TORCHWOOD: MIRACLE DAY
So we are halfway into the new series so far. Although I remain entertained I still am adamant that it is not the Torchwood we all grew to enjoy. This is to be expected somewhat since it is being adapted to American TV.
However I have issues with how the Torchwood regulars are almost in the background now. This is sad.
I was very happy to see Kai Owen getting some work in the last episode. I still think he is greatly underused in the show. It was nice to see Eve Myles and Tom Price work together again and in general I liked the fact that they were in Wales, even for a short time.
I also think it is a shame that some of the new characters are kind of dull and one dimensional. I really hope we get a little more substance as we wind things down.
The other great things about episode five was that Captain Jack got to do some stuff on his own and stretch his legs a bit. he still remains a great character.
I am hopeful that the series will ride a wave of interesting twists and turns as it concludes and delivers on the hype it has generated.
I also am looking forward to guest stars John DeLancie, Nana Visitor and Ernie Hudson as the show continues.
On the future of the show, I would like to see it come back but only if it has a coherent plan for progressing the characters and stories. I also would like to se it be more focused on the things that made it work from the beginning, suspense, aliens and intrigue.
I know it cannot be UK based if it continues on American telly but I can hope we get a return to what made the show fun when it started. I’d like to see them have a real hub again as well.
With RTD working on Cucumber, his new TV series, I am not sure Torchwood will be the same without its heart and soul.
DOCTOR WHO: THE ENCYCLOPEDIA
A new edition of Gary Russell’s Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia is coming out later this year. The book, buffered by additional digital content, offers fans a whopping heap of fun.
Included within will be pictures, an episode guide, artwork and an insightful A-Z guide for all things Doctor Who.
Russell’s book focuses on the new series of Doctor Who taking on each timeline and untimeline that has been presented in the current show. It also will featue the characters, companions and villains that has made the show so important.
BBC & STARZ TEAM UP
ATV Today (http://www.atvtoday.co.uk) is reporting that Britain’s BBC Worldwide has signed a partnership agreement with America’s STARZ to produce and air original programming.
The agreement, which STARZ hopes will place them in the tiers of Showtime and HBO, in programming calls for two dramas to be produced jointly.
Torchwood has not been confirmed as one of these series but speculation is that the show’s return is predicated on the interest and availability of Russell T. Davies.
DAVID TENNANT BOX SET
On October 11th BBC America is releasing the complete run of David Tennant on Doctor Who in one big box set
It’ll be titled The Complete David Tennant Years and will feature twenty six discs. It has some great packaging as well. Shiny!
THREE SPECIALS TO LEAD UP TO AMERICAN PREMIERE!
Before it premieres Let’s Kill Hilter on August 27th, BBC America will tease and tantalize fans with three specials created by the network to lead up to the 2nd half premiere.
These specials will also help bring in new viewers and get them up to speed on waht is going on.
Doctor Who: Best of the Doctor
This special focuses solely on the Doctor and airs on Saturday, August 13th. It will examine what makes him tick and why he acts the way he does. It’ll also try to examine who he really is.
Doctor Who: Best of the Monsters
Bring on the bad guys! This special focuses on the Timelord’s greatest foes and how each one poses a menace to the Universe. This celebration of the sinister features the evil at work in the Universe, from Daleks and Cybermen to The Master and Slitheen.
It airs on Saturday, August 20
Doctor Who: Best of the Companions
Remember that this special will air after the premiere of Let’s Kill Hitler.
It will focus on the intrepid souls who travel in the TARDIS and follow the Doctor into the breach each and every week. As we’ll see, traveling in time and space is really risky!
The first two specials will air on BBC America at 9pm/8pm central time. The final special will air at 10pm/9pm central time.
The specials will feature interviews with a wide variety of guests including writers, directors, actors and celebrity fans of the program.
NEEDCOFFEE.COM TO FEATURE UK INSPIRED PANEL SHOW
The folks at needcoffee.com love panel shows. So much so that they’ve made their own, as a homage to the great panel shows they love and cherish.
Solve This is a panel show all on its on. It’s inspired by UK shows. The pilot episode can be found here, http://www.needcoffee.com/2011/07/29/solve-this-pilot-episode
Next time: A wrap up of Chicago Comic Con and the amazing world of a great band named Chameleon Circuit!
About Rob
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Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Anglotopia was started to get us back to the UK for a trip and it did that in 2009. Now, the goal is for Anglotopia to make our dreams of traveling to the UK whenever we want a reality.
