Matt Smith has been named the 11th Doctor and he’s as old as I am. That’s just…weird.
The official announcement finally came after months of internet rumors. There was speculation we could see our first female or African American Doctor but instead we get another tall, skinny guy with crazy brown hair. That’s really my only issue with the choice, I wish they had gone with someone physically different from David Tennant. At least get a red head in the role!
Last time there was a switch in Doctors, from Christopher Eccleston to Tennant, it was a surprise. This time I’d venture to say, it’s one of the most publicized announcements since Heath Ledger was named the Joker. Not only that but Smith is a relative unknown actor. His Imdb profile lists only seven roles to date and rather ironically he’s the 11th Matt Smith on Imdb. Coincidentally, three of those seven roles were alongside Doctor Who veteran Billie Piper in Secret Diary of a Call Girl, The Ruby in the Smoke and it’s counterpart, The Shadow in the North.
BBC did an interview with our new Time Lord on Doctor Who Confidential over the weekend. The UK version of their site doesn’t allow you to watch the video in the US but it has been uploaded to YouTube for your enjoyment.
I’m a wait and see kind of gal. I’m not going to make any judgments (except that one I already made above) until I see Smith in action. Steven Moffat, who is of course replacing Russell T. Davies as writer/executive producer, will also be under the microscope at first but definitely not as much as this poor guy is gonna be for the next year or so.
What do you think of the news? What’s your first impression of the new Doctor? The next question that begs to be answered: Who will/should be the Doctor’s new companion? I nominate myself. I’m certainly old enough! :)
You can also view and discuss this article at my blog, TheNerdyBird.com.
January 6th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Haha, and people thought Eccleston was emo! Look at this dude!
It’s all in the hair, I tell you. (PS: I liked Eccleston)
That’s interesting that you brought up Heath Ledger. A lot of people, myself included, were very incredulous about Ledger’s ability—but we were all proven wrong, weren’t we? The more we saw of him, even leading up to the movie, the more confident we all became that he was going to knock our socks off.
And now I think my socks are orbiting Saturn.
So my point is, I totally agree that we’re just all going to have to wait and see how the new Doctor performs.
January 6th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Seriously! The hair is wild! Haha.
January 6th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
What conditioner does that boy use?
January 6th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
REALLY upset about this.
It was OUTSTANDING with Christopher Eccleston. It was GREAT with David Tennant.
This guy doesn’t look at ALL appropriate for the role… it seems like as bad a casting call as the lead they’ve chosen for the new Stargate: Universe coming up. Yes, yes, I’ll wait and see… but I can’t fathom how he’s going to pull off the same intense look/attitude as those two did.
And more importantly, who is going to be his female companion? Billie was awesome, but I’m happy watching her get nekkid on her new show (shhh), and Martha was soooooooooo pretty and fun to watch. The crazy, unattractive redhead that was there last season really turned me off- only Tennant saved the show… My hope is they bring his “daughter” from one of the episodes last year back- I’d watch anything SHE’S in. *drool*
Still, /audible sigh
All of my shows are either getting canceled (Eli Stone?!? Stargate: Atlantis?!?), ending (Battlestar?!?), or being messed up (Dr. Who!?). Not to mention several that didn’t get brought back. I’m just annoyed at the state of TV right now- they keep moving further and further away from the idea of having a great show and keeping it on the air for 7-10 years with the SAME cast. 2-3 years is NOT long enough for a show, and 5 is barely past the commitment point!
I’m going to have a melt down when Lost is over, though. TV will never be the same after that point.
January 6th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I know! I’m going to cry when Lost ends, too!
January 6th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I can see the next Doctor Who Confidential now…”What hair products do you use?” Haha.
It is very sad that Tennant is leaving at all. I can’t imagine why you would leave such a popular role.
Someone mentioned on my blog that they thought the girl from “Blink,” Sally Sparrow, would make a great companion. I thought so too.
TV is just so different from where it was 10 or 15 years ago. I remember in the summer being able to watch reruns of my favorite shows. Now there’s midseason replacements and all that.
Please, let us not talk of Lost. I will also cry.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:26 am
We’re all going to have to mope together! Lol!