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Okay, help me out here re: Dr. Who and the casting situations

Posted by Will Hunting (aka kelly) Jun 2 '13, 07:02

So, each of these guys, Tennant, Eccleston, Smith --- are they playing the same character or are they all different versions of the same character?

If it's the former, why are they only sticking around a few dozen episodes?

If it's the latter, why do the producers feel the need to change it up so frequently, wouldn't that undercut the connection with the audience if you're changing your lead every 3 dozen episodes?

Responses:

reincarnation -- nm - DaneDukeNuuk Jun 2, 09:17
It can work both ways. If you do not like the a Dr, you know it is temporary. -- nm - Spawn Jun 2, 08:54
The character is the same, the actor changes. The Doctor regenerates instead of dying - TWuG Jun 2, 07:05 21
- So....why are these people jumping ship after such short time frames? - Will Hunting Jun 2, 07:08 20
  - part of it is the way British TV works...part of it is how the British acting world just is... - Remlik Jun 2, 07:59 2
    - And over there 3 twelve episode seasons seems to take 5 years. -- nm - Ender Jun 2, 11:58
    - I would also say that the BBC is also really cheap these past ten years when it comes to paying actors.... -- nm - Remlik Jun 2, 08:09
  - that's how the show has always worked. they move on between doctors. -- nm - loosi at home Jun 2, 07:16 1
    - None of the first 4 did less than 100 episodes. - the wrong element, bad guy Jun 2, 10:31
  - Eccleston told the producers before hand that he was only doing 1 season -- nm - amoxy Jun 2, 07:12
  - Because they only have short contracts. And it's a good way to keep the show fresh. -- nm - TWuG Jun 2, 07:11 13
    - I'll disagree on the latter comment for any show. - Will Hunting Jun 2, 07:14 12
      - it works for the show - it really does. - i.b! Jun 2, 12:12
      - Doctor Who has been around a lot longer than this notion of epically long character arcs in TV -- nm - con_carne Jun 2, 10:25 6
        
        But the short tenures of the actors only started in 1984. - the wrong element, bad guy Jun 2, 10:36 5
        
        Yeah, but it seems to me Will is referring to a practice that more or less began with Sopranos and then Lost -- nm - con_carne Jun 2, 10:51 4
        
        No, it's a practice that's pretty much how TV is here. You have a primary character and they stay on the show for years. - Will Hunting Jun 2, 11:19 3
        
        Dr. Who isn't a cable show in the UK -- nm - con_carne Jun 2, 12:04
        
        The primary *character* has been on the show for 50 years. One of the character conceits is that he can regenerate to beat death. - TWuG Jun 2, 11:36 1
        
        Dr. Who isn't a cable show in the UK -- nm - con_carne Jun 2, 12:04
      - I woudl say there are two kinds of narrative arcs for the character... - Remlik Jun 2, 08:08
      - Well, then it sounds like this show is not for you -- nm - amoxy Jun 2, 07:20
      - 40 episodes takes much longer on the BBC than in the US, so there's that. -- nm - loosi at home Jun 2, 07:18
      - The regeneration plays into the story arcs. -- nm - TWuG Jun 2, 07:16

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Okay, help me out here re: Dr. Who and the casting situations

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