Doctor Who: “Eddie Izzard cast as the 12th Doctor…”

Posted on June 3, 2013

Finally, someone older and sheer comic genius is chosen for the iconic lead role of England’s long-running scifi hit series, Doctor Who. Unfortunately, Steven Moffat and the gang at the Beeb had a hard time keeping it under wraps (or, as Alex Kingston would say, Spoilers!). It was leaked yesterday, and the regeneration script is dynamite! For a while such names as Paterson Joseph, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Simon Amstell, Benedict Cumberbatch, Russell Brand, Chiwetel Eliojor, and Jenna Louise Coleman were among the hopefuls tossed out there.

Matt Smith, who has played the role of the 11th Doctor for 4 years, will step down this Christmas and hand the TARDIS keys to 51 year old Eddie Izzard (best known for his comedic roles). Apparently, Izzard has wanted to play the Time Lord ever since the show was relaunched back in 2005; Tom Baker even hinted that Izzard would be perfect for the role. Moffat, however, is uncertain about his own future with the show — there are rumors flying around that the BBC is looking for fresh blood in the production department, and Mark Gatiss or Toby Whithouse would be good successors — and he may only stay on for one season of shooting for the Izzard incarnation before moving on. Doctor Who resumes production next year, and the 12th Doctor returns to television screens in Fall 2014.

Lawrence Dagstine: “Christmas Time 2009…”

Posted on December 11, 2009

For the 2009 holiday season, I decided to update my blog homepage and fill my fans and followers in on some of my gifts and achievements of the last twelve months, along with what to look out for and what will be under the x-mas tree this yuletide season (for the little one). Regardless of the last year-and-a-half of dying markets and a bad genre economy, 2009 still managed to be my best year in the “earning” department, where I doubt I will ever be able to rival 2007 in the quantity and material department. Some of these achievements range from smaller press and semi-pro fiction acceptances, minor proofreading, non-fiction writing and essays, resumes, my first official short story collection being released, my first Kindle title being released, making over 2000 friends and followers on Facebook, and just a lot revolving around the written word and The Spirit of Christmas.

Isn’t that a beautiful Christmas tree? The lights flash blue and white. Progress-wise, this year I had very little time to blog/plug but got a lot of acceptances (some straight through 2011), let go of a lot of reprints, wrote 26 BRAND NEW short stories, wrote 8 BRAND NEW novelettes, wrote four unfinished novellas between 15,000 and 30,000 words in length — which I may make available on my blog to read next year. I mean, why let good stories go to waste. Or maybe I will get around to editing and finishing those novellas. I have future eBooks & Kindle titles on the horizon. I realized that, money-wise, it doesn’t pay to release a second short story collection. I can earn more individually. I was shortlisted a couple of times by some decent pubs, made second readings, almost made it into 4 professional level magazines/venues. And that’s just the fiction department. Oh yeah, did I mention the steampunk and satire offers?

Below you will find pictures of just half of this year’s gifts. It’s mainly a Cybermen-themed Christmas this year, with David Tennant regenerating into Matt Smith and all. And my son is now a Dr. Who fan and absolutely adores The Cybermen (he’s scared of the Daleks). Oddly enough, he’s also more a Christopher Eccleston fan. One of the items I searched the UK high and low for was The Cybermen Age of Steel 4-figure collection. Collect them all, open up the packages, and you can build a fifth figure. The Cyber Controller. I also picked up The Next Doctor on DVD and ordered a Cyber Leader Voice-Changing Helmet to seal the deal.

Some of the other gifts, which are already wrapped, consist of model kits with glues and paints from my old man, though they say ages 8+ and 12+ on the packages. So I guess the little one will have to hold on to them until he’s old enough to understand them. Those are made by Revell. There are also Bob the Builder videos. Believe me, Doctor Who wasn’t the only stocking stuffer. There are some other wonderful toys and gifts ranging from Super Mario to Toddler Costumes to Spongebob Squarepants-themed games, and, like last year, play food items. Like “make your own pizza.” The Spongebob game in the picture below is actually Connect Four, but obviously for a slightly younger age group. Then there’s the one last-minute gift I just couldn’t put down. The paint job was so realistic. It reminded me of the Super Powers Action Figures of the 80’s. Remember those? The Justice League of America Boxed Set: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern. These figures are mint and pristine! And who doesn’t love the JLA?

Now that’s a big ass cup of coffee (by the way, that’s made of metal). Just couldn’t resist.

In a reduced and very affordable fashion, I also treated myself to a few early-season gifts. First, notice the non-fiction book above on Pompeii. You got it. It’s research time. Lawrence Dagstine will be coming your way sometime in 2010 with a story set in Pompeii. It could be before Volcano Day, it could be after. It could be Alternate History or not the story you’re expecting. But you know me when it comes to Historical Weird Tales.

Also, I can’t recommend enough WEIRD HISTORY 101 — published by Falls River, and if you’re a B&N member, you might be able to get it reduced now for $4.00 — in hardcover. This tome is sooo awesome. It’s like a mini factbook and reference tool for the writer, and just all around interesting to own. If you’re a writer of historical tales, alternate history, steampunk, or period pieces, trust me and go to Barnes & Nobles and get this book. Doesn’t matter what genre. Author is John Richard Stephens. You won’t find these kind of facts on Google, or between the pages of traditional historical reference books.

And if you look up above, I finally have a new computer desk. Nice to have shelving and a drawer, but still unsure of what to fill it up with yet. Now that the little one has gotten older, the bookcase units pretty much belong to him and his toys. Now that I have a Kindle, most of my print books will be donated. Those I wish to keep will be locked away in storage between two households (yeah, there’s that many). But that desk above is situated in a new corner, it’s my new workspace, and it’s where I’ll pen that Pompeii tale for you Dagstine readers when the time comes.

With that said, I’ll probably only update this blog four more times before the New Year. Stay with me in 2010. We have many adventures to go on together, and much awaits. Won’t you join me? To all my fans and readers…

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Lawrence R. Dagstine

Other New Entries: “About Me”

Doctor Who: “The Regeneration of Matt Smith…”

Posted on October 6, 2009

…Or, rather, David Tennant. But I will get to that in a moment.

Artwork by Neil Cameron

Plot devices and continuity. Like most hit television shows, in any given genre, be it comedy or drama… from Grey’s Anatomy to Ugly Betty to Lost to Star Trek to Stargate to, yes, Doctor Who. New writers must come in and draw a fine line where the old left off, and hopefully fill those new shoes properly. If you were hired to write a hit TV show tomorrow and you were not a fan or somewhat of an expert or historian in that series, somewhat part of the progression of it, I would tell you to get the F out. Good example, Desperate Housewives. I mean, come on, five years later? OK, prequels I can handle. Pip and Jane Baker; you wrote about Colin Baker but you never ever bothered to watch the series and analyze your lead character’s progressions?

I have faith Stephen Moffat will make this new improved Doctor Who work to his advantage, and, most importantly, the audience’s advantage. And don’t be surprised if Russell T. Davies “guest writes” a story every now and then. Like most science fiction shows, the best writers and collaborators must look at the material of seasons past and see how they can improve on that, go one step further. They must include an element within a series that will not only keep the viewer attached but something that approximates the previous seasons and the very heart of what the show represents, especially in terms of approach and sophistication. Good example, historical stories. Anything else nowadays is a waste of time and a quick cancellation.

The Two New Stars of Series Five

: Amy Pond, The 11th Doctor, the New TARDIS

But, once again, I have faith in the soon-arriving Fifth Series Doctor when it comes to his bow-tie donning persona, what I personally consider to be a 21^st century Peter Davison by way of Jon Pertwee and perhaps a bit of suave “academic emo”. Then again, over the next three years—in which Matt Smith was contracted—I could end up wrong. However, I love the new outfit. And I fell in love with Matt Smith when I saw that new TARDIS, the tweed dandy, and the old crotchety boots and rags he was wearing. Yes, sometimes fashion makes a bold statement. The best part: it works for just about all age groups.

When I was growing up, the late Tom Baker and Peter Davison years were my era. My son loves Christopher Eccleston. Who knows, maybe it’s the ears. But he is young. The way I grew up to Davison, is the way my boy will start off “fresh” with Matt Smith. The Eleventh Doctor. Below you will find set photographs littered across the web of Matt Smith in a rather torn-up outfit belonging to a dead David Tennant. Yes, the Tenth Doctor’s garb. Ice cream, anyone? And there’s a surprised Karen Gillan, in standard police uniform, by his side. So one question now remains: what happened in the aftermath of whatever it is that killed Tennant’s character off?

Well, actually, two: How did David Tennant die?

REGEN-NEWS TIP: The Gallifreyan Embassy (Doctor Who Podshock): ttp://networkedblogs.com/p13718949

Official BBC Doctor Who Homepage:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

Doctor Who Series Five Monster Poll:

https://lawrencedagstine.com/2009/03/16/doctor-who-series-five-monsters/

On-Location Film Shoots:

www.bigpicturesphoto.com

Surprise, surprise!

"Can I get you a Firerocket, Amy?"

The 2010 series assures us the return of Alex Kingston (Professor Riversong, who I suspect might be Amy Pond). The new series assures us the return of the Daleks. The 2010 series rumors that Billie Piper and Christopher Eccleston will be back. How the latter, I do not know. Maybe Merlin, maybe CGI dragons. There are rumors of The Sea Devils, Sherlock Holmes, The Yeti, The London Underground (remember The Web of Fear), and possibly Noel Clarke and John Barrowman, too. But until 2010, that’s all they are: rumors.

Matt Smith

Nevertheless, I’d like to take this time to thank David Tennant, Russell T. Davies, and Julie Gardner for fulfilling a dream I had wished come true way back in the 90’s when I was scouring Forbidden Planet, Barnes & Nobles, and Borders for paperbacks like the “The New Adventures” and places like FYE and Sam Goody for VHS Tapes of past stories.