The Four/Comedy viewing list

As revealed at the recording of our last live episode, Three/Family, here is your homework viewing for episode Four/Comedy!

In the unlikely event that you’ve never seen the Fourth Doctor in action, we suggest viewing the following three stories to get a good idea:

  • The Pyramids of Mars
  • The Talons of Weng-Chiang
  • Warrior’s Gate

That’s only a small sampling of his seven years, but we think it hits the best of all three periods of the Tom Baker era – something we’ll not doubt talk more about in the podcast itself.

You’ll find two more Baker stories (from his “middle period”) in our “Comedy” list – it’s no coincidence we picked this theme for him! We think you’ll have a good laugh with (and occasionally at) these stories:

  • The Romans (William Hartnell, 1964; four episodes)
  • City of Death (Tom Baker, 1979; four episodes)
  • Creature from the Pit (Tom Baker, 1979; four episodes)
  • Paradise Towers (Sylvester McCoy, 1987; four episodes)
  • Love & Monsters (David Tennant, 2006; one episode)

You might also like to watch The Gunfighters (we talked about it quite a bit in episode one), and for bonus points, the explicitly comedic specials like Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death and Time Crash. Plus there’s this handy list of “10 of the funniest Doctor Who moments” from BBC America’s Anglophenia blog.

Have any other stories made you giggle? Share your suggestions in the comments below!

Four/Comedy (live show)

Dashing action hero the Doctor realises he has brought disaster to Earth and faces his fears to defeat the Great One, an immense and powerfully psychic spider. He returns to Earth only to collapse from radiation poisoning in front of his friends, but with the help of a fellow Time Lord manages to stave off death and regenerate. Somewhat traumatised by his regeneration, this new Doctor is by turns manic, brooding and boisterous. His only constant is eccentricity, in dress, speech and habit. Uninterested in the creature comforts and life on Earth of his predecessor, he leaves almost immediately to travel the cosmos, seeking adventure and righting injustice when he finds it.

Splendid Chaps is a year-long celebration of Doctor Who‘s fiftieth anniversary: eleven live performances recorded as podcasts in which your brains will be fed, your funny bones tickled, and your hearts opened (yes, both of them!). Our fourth instalment is part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and fittingly for the Fourth Doctor, is a two-part story! In part one we discuss the Fourth Doctor (“Four”), played by eccentric actor Tom Baker. The Doctor best known to audiences (serving for the longest time, and seeing the classic era through much of it’s most successful period), he’s known for his ridiculously long scarf, bohemian manner, generosity with jelly babies, cavalier attitude to danger and (in the words of Bullamakanka) his “trusty mate K-9”.

The Fourth Doctor is also known for his wit, and so in part two we turn our discussion to “Comedy” in Doctor Who. How many jokes are too many for what is ostensibly a family science fiction adventure show? Does the Doctor always know he’s being funny? When does the humour work best – and when does it fail to work altogether? And what is the funniest moment in Doctor Who?

Hosts Ben McKenzie, John Richards and Petra Elliott are joined for part one by JJJ’s nerd correspondent and host of ABC3’s Steam Punks, Paul Verhoeven, and late night JJJ host and comedian Dave Callan. In part two, our late show, they’re joined by comedian, radio host and co-creator and star of Outland, Adam Richard, plus comedian/actor/lovely UK person Josie Long – she’s been in Skins AND the actual TARDIS! All this plus music, prizes and surprises!

Space: Trades Hall – The New Ballroom, corner of Lygon and Victoria Streets, Melbourne
Time: Part One: Four – April 6, 5:45 PM; Part Two: Comedy – April 13, 10:45 PM
Accessibility: This venue is wheelchair accessible.
Tickets: $22 full price, $18 concession (plus booking fee where applicable)
Bookings: via comedyfestival.com.au, TicketMaster outlets, the Comedy Festival box office, or at the venue (subject to availability)
Please note if you book in person at a TicketMaster outlet, you may need to ask for “Ben McKenzie & John Richards”, as “Splendid Chaps” does not appear in the search terms of their system.
Podcast: not yet available; released 23rd of April, 2013.

Splendid Chaps episode two cast.

Two/Evil

Hosts Ben McKenzie, John Richards and Petra Elliott discuss Patrick Troughton and the nature of “Evil” in the second live Splendid Chaps episode, recorded at 303 in Melbourne on Sunday, February 17, 2013. With special guests Toby Truslove, Dr Djoymi Baker, and Dean Acuri performing a tribute to one of the Second Doctor’s lovely companions.

Splendid Chaps episode two cast.
Dr Djoymi Baker, Toby Truslove, Petra Elliott, Ben McKenzie and John Richards on stage recording Splendid Chaps: Two/Evil at 303 in Northcote, Melbourne. Photo by Robert Young.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:07:13 — 30.9MB)

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To make sure you don’t miss an episode, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or via this Feedburner feed.

Don’t forget you can go into the draw to win a copy of The Reign of Terror by commenting on this episode below! Join in the conversation on Troughton’s era, discuss the way evil works, or just let us know what you thought of this episode; write your comment before March 9 to be in the running, and we’ll announce the winner at the recording of Three/Family on March 10.

The Three/Family viewing list

As revealed at the recording of our last live episode, Two/Evil, here is your homework viewing for episode Three/Family!

If you’re not familiar with the ways of the Third Doctor, we reckon the following three stories will give you a pretty good idea what he’s about:

  • Spearhead From Space
  • Carnival of Monsters
  • Death to the Daleks

There’s lots to choose from, of course, so feel free to watch as much as you can!

For the theme of “Family”, we suggest watching the following:

  • The Rescue (William Hartnell, 1964)
  • The Daemons (Jon Pertwee, 1971)
  • The Keeper of Traken (Tom Baker, 1981)
  • Father’s Day (Christopher Eccleston, 2005)
  • Dinosaurs on a Spaceship (Matt Smith, 2012)

As always, please feel free to share other suggestions in the comments below.

Three/Family (live show)

The traveller known as the Doctor, faced with a crisis too big to handle on his own, contacts his own people, the Time Lords, for help. They answer his call, but put him on trial for breaking their vow of non-interference. His plea that they must use their power to fight the evil in the Universe does not go unheard, but he is exiled – and given a new form into the bargain. This new Doctor is dashing, flamboyant and charming; as handy with his fists as his mind, enamoured with gadgets and obsessed with repairing his disabled TARDIS, he is nonetheless primarily a scientist. Stranded on Earth, he takes up a post with his old friend the Brigadier as scientific advisor to the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, an international military organisation watching out for alien threats – and its not long before such threats begin to appear…

Splendid Chaps is a year-long celebration of Doctor Who‘s fiftieth anniversary: eleven live performances recorded as podcasts in which your brains will be fed, your funny bones tickled, and your hearts opened (yes, both of them!). For our third outing we burst forth in glorious colour and take a big risk: travelling through time and space is out, and battling foes on slightly-in-the-future[ref]It is the policy of Splendid Chaps not to engage in debates about the UNIT dating controversy, but feel free to do so yourselves.[/ref] Earth is in! The Third Doctor (“Three”), played by comedy actor Jon Pertwee, delights in extravagant clothes and fast cars, knows (and is willing to use) Venusian aikido, and matches wits not only with alien menaces, but with politicians, bureaucrats, and even one of his own people: The Master. Despite being stranded on Earth without his previous human friends, the Doctor soon becomes part of the UNIT crew – a surrogate family that leads him to remember his own youth on Gallifrey, and us to choose the theme of “Family” in Doctor Who. Why are there so few families in the early years of the show? What’s with all the distant aunts? How did it change the show when companions’ families started to appear after Rose? And is the TARDIS crew effectively a family of a sort for the Doctor, who seems not to know what happened to his own family?

Hosts Ben McKenzie, John Richards and Petra Elliott are joined by New York Times best-selling author Sean Williams (Evergence, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, The Fixers and many more) and actor/dancer/director Cathy Adamek (Polecats, The Babadook, Cut) plus other guests poached from the Adelaide Fringe Festival!

Space: The Tuxedo Cat – The Yellow Room, 199-200 North Terrace, Adelaide
Time: Sunday, March 10; show starts 2 PM (note that as we will be recording, latecomers will not be admitted until interval)
Accessibility: This venue is wheelchair accessible.
Tickets: All tickets $15 (plus booking fee where applicable)
Bookings: trybooking.com; tickets also sold at the door (subject to availability)
Podcast: not yet available; released 23rd of February, 2013.

Hosts and guests on stage for the recording of Splendid Chaps: One/Authority.

One/Authority

Hosts Ben McKenzie, John Richards and Petra Elliott discuss William Hartnell and the notion of “Authority” in the first live Splendid Chaps episode, recorded at the Bella Union in Melbourne on Sunday, January 13, 2013. With special guests Lee Zachariah, Nerida Haycock and designer of the original Cybermen, Alexandra Tynan. Plus musical guest Geraldine Quinn performs her original song “Dr Who’s Assistant” – specially updated from the original 2007 version!

To make sure you don’t miss an episode, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or via this Feedburner feed.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:47 — 29.3MB)

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The One/Authority (retroactive) viewing list

Hi all! Only a couple of days to go before our first live show episode becomes available – and so we’re getting in just in time to give you a list of viewing for the First Doctor and the theme of Authority, as requested by a few people on our Facebook page. (We’re nothing if not responsive to your suggestions.)

For the First Doctor, we’d suggest the following three stories for a taste:

  • An Unearthly Child (though we won’t mind too much if you skip the last three episodes, aka “Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Cavemen!”)
  • The Time Meddler
  • The War Machines

As an extra post-recording bonus, you may also wish to watch the stories we most talk about: The Aztecs, The Keys of Marinus, The Romans and The Gunfighters. Oh, and special extra credit for watching The Tenth Planet – though if you have a copy of that final episode, please do share it with the world, won’t you?

For the theme of “Authority”, our five picks are:

  • Day Of The Daleks (Jon Pertwee, 1972)
  • Genesis Of The Daleks (Tom Baker, 1975)
  • Snakedance (Peter Davison, 1983)
  • The Waters Of Mars (David Tennant, 2009)
  • The Pandorica Opens (Matt Smith, 2010)

Keeping these lists to just five is killing us, but really, we can’t ask you to watch more than that. Let us know what other stories you think fit the theme in the comments!

The Two/Evil viewing list

One of our audience members at One/Authority asked us if we could provide a viewing list before each podcast, so everyone could watch the stories and episodes we think are relevant. Despite the fact that this makes us the only podcast we’ve ever heard of that comes with homework, we thought this was a great idea, so we’re going to do it!

Before each podcast, as early as possible, we’ll give you a list of three stories or episodes we think form a good introduction to the next Doctor[ref]Before you ask: no, The Next Doctor probably won’t be on the list for Ten.[/ref], and five stories or episodes we think are especially relevant to the upcoming theme.

For the Second Doctor…well, it’s rather depressing. Only six of Troughton’s stories (seven if you count the restored-with-animation Invasion) still exist in complete form, so there’s not much to choose from. Since “The Mighty Trought”[ref]Thanks to Dave Hoskin of Shooting the Poo for that nickname![/ref] is a favourite with both of the chaps, we’d like to recommend you watch all that’s left, but unfortunately not all of the surviving stories are very good, so instead our top three picks are:

  • Tomb of the Cybermen
  • The Mind Robber
  • The Invasion

For extra credit, get through as much of The War Games as you can; yes, it’s far too long, but that’s a lot of Troughton you get to watch, and besides, it’s one of Ben’s favourites.

For the theme of “Evil”, we’ve selected the following stories and episodes:

  • The Mind of Evil (Jon Pertwee, 1971) – note that the colourised DVD release is still pending, so you may have to get hold of the old black and white VHS, the audio version (from Big Finish, with linking narration by Richard Franklin), or read the novelisation.
  • Kinda (Peter Davison, 1982)
  • The Curse of Fenric (Sylvester McCoy, 1989)
  • Boom Town (Christopher Eccleston, 2005)
  • The Beast Below (Matt Smith, 2010)

Two/Evil (live show)

A mysterious old man known only as the Doctor saves the world at the cost of his own life, complaining his old body is “worn out”. His young friends, Ben and Polly, help him back inside his Ship, and are astonished as he literally transforms into a new man. Younger, impish and eccentric, this new Doctor nevertheless has the curiosity and moral compass of his predecessor – not to mention his knack for finding trouble…

Splendid Chaps is a year-long celebration of Doctor Who‘s fiftieth anniversary: eleven live performances recorded as podcasts in which your brains will be fed, your funny bones tickled, and your hearts opened (yes, both of them!). For our second instalment it’s all change, as the producers decide to replace their lead actor – but keep the same character. Well…more or less. The Second Doctor (or “Two”), played by character actor Patrick Troughton, is childish and panicky, yet this might just be a cover for his great intellect and capacity for planning. He now seems to see a motive beyond curiosity for his wandering, explicitly stating on more than one occasion that the evil creatures of the Universe “must be fought” – and so we also take this opportunity to explore the theme of “Evil” in Doctor Who. Is it absolute? Are there cosmic forces of right and wrong? And is the Doctor always on the right side?

Hosts Ben McKenzie, John Richards and Petra Elliott are joined by actor Toby Truslove (Laid, Outland, The Strange Calls) and cinema and television researcher Dr Djoymi Baker. Plus performance guest, cabaret comedian Dean Acuri – performing a song written especially for the show!

Space: 303, 303 High Street, Northcote
Time: Sunday, February 17; bar open from 4 PM, show starts 5 PM (note that as we are recording, latecomers will not be admitted until intermission)
Accessibility: We regret that this venue is not wheelchair accessible.
Tickets: $15 full price, $12 concession (plus booking fee)
Bookings: via TryBooking; tickets also sold at the door (subject to availability)
Podcast: not yet available; released 23rd of February, 2013.

Episode Zero

In the back room of a Northcote cafe, Ben McKenzie and John Richards, accompanied by intrepid sound guy David Ashton, met over coffee (and organic ginger beer) to record a special “Episode Zero” introduction to their new Doctor Who podcast, Splendid Chaps.

What’s it all about? How’s it going to work? Who are these people, anyway? Discover the answers to these questions and many more in this entirely unscripted conversation, paving the way for the anniversary celebrations to come…

To make sure you don’t miss an episode, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or via this Feedburner feed.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:40 — 13.7MB)

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