Doctor Condemned, Ratings Extolled
Seems that Christmas entertainment is not without its controversy even in an officially Christian country like the UK.
On the heels of the massive ratings success of this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special, "Voyage of the Damned," which garnered a 50% share of the total British TV audience (increasing to 55% at its peak), an obscure group with way too much un-Christ-like anger (think the UK equivalent of crazy Bill Dohonue’s Catholic League) has complained about the portrayal of the Doctor as a savior figure as "completely inappropriate." Why this complaint wasn’t lodged at the end of Series Three (see photo) is beyond me.
In addition, Millvina Dean, the last living survivor of the Titanic disaster, criticized the episode sight-unseen, saying "I think it is disrespectful to make entertainment of such a tragedy." No word on whether she made the same complaint to James Cameron a few years back.
Ms. Dean hadn't seen the show. I don't want to become a living spoiler, so I won't say why she didn't have to get distressed… but she didn't. Not at all.It was a great episode, perfect for folks who hadn't caught up on the show.
Or to Douglas Adams, who wrote a computer game called "Starship Titanic" a few years back…
I'm willing to bet Ms. Dean did not actively criticize the episode, I will put money on the fact that she didn't even know it existed until some eager young reporter called her (probably out a slumber) and clued her in.
Let's interview some barbers for their opinions about Sweeney Todd. Or better yet, the Bugs Bunny version of the Barber of Seville.
… if They're offended by THAT, wait till they get a load of my new Musical: 'Shipman's Women' …