Recently in Writing for Television Category

I came across the whole " 'Doctor Who' is a kid's show" argument again this week. Personally, I thought Warren Ellis was more supportive of the show than he recently indicated on his own forum boards. But by placing the kid show label on Doctor Who, he perpetuated a pop culture myth that really has had its day.

“Personally, I think DOCTOR WHO is a kid's show, and I watch it with my daughter. If I didn't have a daughter, I doubt I'd be watching it. Not being a kid and all.”

Warren’s argument seems to be that if a show is enjoyed by children as well as adults, it is a kid’s show. If he had merely said that he wasn’t that interested in the show and probably wouldn’t watch it without his daughter, it would be a different argument. But clearly he relates his disinterest to an identification of the show as purely kids stuff.

Riayn, in her blog ‘Dancing with Architecture’, recently posted about children’s books that stand the test of time. Which novels and characters are still going to be published thirty or forty years from now? Will our children still be reading the same books we grew up with? This post got me thinking about quality children’s writing, in books, films and television, meaning you may see a few posts on this broad subject over the next few weeks.

Well, if that title got you reading, you probably already have an opinion on the winner. I know I’m inviting a ton of backslaps as well as twice as much hate mail for suggesting this.

But, as Series Four of Doctor Who premieres in the UK tonight, I thought it only right to devote today’s post to…

The Final Undisputable Reason Why Doctor Who is Better Than Star Trek

Writers Watch Doctor Who - Computer Programmers Watch Star Trek

Resorting to wild generalisations? Moi? Well, let’s look at the evidence.

There are a number of writers that go giddy of the good Doctor. Neil Gaiman recently talked about his excitement at having lunch with Who writer Steven Moffatt.

Let’s just get one thing straight – Aaron Sorkin is a god amongst scriptwriters.

If you disagree, then this post isn’t for you, ‘cause you obviously lack taste and I don’t think I want to be seen with you any more in case it rubs off…

To me, The West Wing is a masterclass in scriptwriting. I’m not saying it’s the best show on telly – that honour has to go to the stupendous Doctor Who – but watching an episode of The West Wing is like mainlining scene structure and dialogue.