Ben Paddon

Tag: Doctor Who

  • Let’s Review: Doctor Who Season 11

    I’ve had a lot of time to think on this season of Doctor Who. In many ways, it’s been the season I’ve looked forward to the most in the entire modern run of the show. Despite my reservations about Chibnall at a showrunner, despite the cynical tone of his previous contributions to the series and the uneven tone of Torchwood, I was buoyed by the prospect of change. After all, Steven Moffat’s first season as showrunner gave us what was the best season of the revival until Capaldi’s second season five years later. Doctor Who is a show built on change – that’s one of the reasons it has endured for as long as it has. If one is to love this show, one must embrace change.

    However, not all change is good change, and while Whittaker’s turn as the Doctor absolutely sizzles, the writing and tone of the season have not. Let’s review, shall we?

    Potential spoilers, obviously. (more…)

  • My Full SD Who Con Schedule

    I am once again a guest at SD Who Con, San Diego’s only Doctor Who convention, happening this weekend at the Handlery Hotel in San Diego. While I’m not MCing this year – that honor goes to San Diego based voice actor Marc Biagi – the con is nevertheless putting me to work at a lot of panels and events. In fact I may well be doing more things this year than I did in either of the years I served as MC!

    Can’t make it to SD Who Con? Don’t worry, I’ll be back in LA in time for Look Who’s Talking, the Doctor Who aftershow at Geeky Teas!

    My full schedule is as follows:

    Friday

    6pm – All Ages Pub Quiz
    How does your knowledge of Doctor Who trivia stack up against other fans? Come and find out. Maybe your brain is so bursting with Doctor Who factoids you’ll win gloating privileges for the rest of the con!

    Saturday

    11am – In Defense Of
    Join us for a late morning gaming event requiring volunteers to defend their position on an audience suggested Doctor Who subject! Appropriate for all ages.

    1pm – The IntelleXual Podcast – LIVE from SD Who Con
    Hosts David and Whitney of San Diego podcast, The IntelleXual, will interview a selection of special guests as they record a LIVE podcast with audience participation!

    2pm – How to Make a DW Fan Film With a Life Size Dalek
    Remember Dalek Gary? For the first time since completing the series, join director and co-writer Michelle Osorio and me, as well as some of the cast and crew, as we talk about the process of making the film and shooting with a real, full-size Dalek!

    3pm – Cosplay Contest
    I’ll be judging the cosplay contest for reasons that continue to elude me.

    7pm – In Defense Of – Adults Only Edition
    Join us for an ”ADULTS ONLY” version of this hilarious game requiring volunteers to defend their position on an audience suggested Doctor Who subject. A winner will be chosen!

    8pm – Saturday Night Dance Party “Doc Hop”
    I’m returning as one of the entertainers for SD Who Con’s actual Saturday night dance. I’ll be doing ten minutes of standup. You lucky dogs.

    Sunday

    10am – Tabletop RPGs for Beginners
    You’ve been watching Critical Role, you’ve listened to every episode of The Adventure Zone, and you’re ready to jump into the world of tabletop RPGs yourself. Join Ben Paddon – GM for the  Doctor Who RPG show The Game of Rassilon – along with Lynne Marie Martens and ‘Saving Throw’ regular Mac Beauvais as they talk you through how to get started on your own RPG adventure, as well as answering your questions about everything tabletop!

    11am – Cosplayer Theater Games
    SD Who Con presents an hour of wacky improvisational games led by our invited cosplayers in character.

    1pm – The Game of Rassilon: The Doctor Who Roleplaying Game LIVE!
    For the third SD Who Con in a row, British comedian Ben Paddon brings a motley crew of incredibly funny people to play the Doctor Who Roleplaying Game: It’s Dungeons & Dragons, but a little more timey-wimey! What misadventure will the Doctor and his (or her!) companions find themselves in this time, and how will they get out? It all depends on the dice…

  • Announcing LOOK WHO’S TALKING, a Live Doctor Who After-Show at Geeky Teas

    Los Angeles based Doctor Who fans, I have something exciting for you! Starting October 7th and running through to December 9th, I’ll be hosting Look Who’s Talking, a live Doctor Who after-show, every Sunday at Geeky Teas. Each week I’ll be joined by special guests as we discuss the newest episode, what we liked, what we didn’t, and what we think of the season so far.

    Admission for the show is $5 at the door. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm.

    Not only that, but preceding each show is a complimentary screening of the newest episode at 6pm! This can be attended by ANYBODY free of charge – no ticket required, no purchase necessary!

    Geeky Tea is located at 2220 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA, 91506.

    For more details, check out the Facebook event.

  • The Game of Rassilon – The Doctor Who RPG at Gallifrey One!

    It’s on the Gallifrey One website, so I guess I can announce this now: I’ll be GMing a game of Cubicle 7‘s Doctor Who Roleplaying Game for an audience with a crew of very funny people. We’ll be playing a 90-minute session with one goal: Make you lot laugh. Oh, and save the universe, I suppose.

    More details, including the full list of who’s playing, once the full Gally schedule has been revealed. In the meantime, here’s what they’ve said in their latest site update:

    Plus as a special treat this year: “The Game of Rassilon”… it’s Dungeons & Dragons but a little more timey-wimey, and we’ve gathered four very funny people to play the game for your amusement! What misadventure will the Doctor and his (or her!) companions find themselves in this time, and how will they get out? It all depends on the dice…

    Gallifrey One takes place at the LAX Marriott Hotel from February 17th-19th. Tickets have already sold out.

  • Panellin’ It Up at Gallifrey One

    Last year I was in a panel at Gallifey One, the largest Doctor Who convention in the US. This year, I’m participating in two panels. Given this rate of growth, within a decade I will be participating in five-hundred-and-twelve panels. Which seems reasonable.

    Gallifrey One runs from February 14th-16th this year at the LAX Marriott Hotel, and this year includes guests Colin Baker, Paul McGann, Billie Piper and Arthur Darvill. Yeah, I know. Blimey. Shame tickets have already sold out, eh?

    Here are the details for the panels I’m appearing in.

    Sex and the Single Time Lord – Friday, 10:30pm, Program E

    Though it wasn’t about the Doctor when he wrote it, Douglas Adams may have put it best.  ”What is he, man or mouse?  Is he interested in nothing more than tea and the wider issues of life?  Has he no spirit?  Has he no passion?  Does he not, to put it in a nutshell, f—?”  A late-night discussion topic about how the Doctor gets on without copping off.

    Appearing with Bridget Bowes, Rod Hedrick, and Eric Hoffman.

    —-

    The Non-Violent Solution – Saturday, 2:00pm, Program D

    We live in a world of violent video games, slasher movies and car chases on television… and yet, somehow, Doctor Who endures.  He’s never cruel or cowardly, and he never raises a weapon to solve a problem.  What is the appeal of a character who lives boldly and espouses virtue above all things?

    Appearing with Kyle Anderson, Lindsay Mayers and Kathy Sullivan.

    More information about the convention as well as a full schedule of the weekend’s events can be found at GallifreyOne.com.

  • Gallifrey One Panel – “The Next Doctor”

    If you’re in the LA area for the Doctor Who convention Gallifrey One, I’ll be there all weekend dressed (hopefully) as the Eleventh Doctor. Hooray! I’m also participating on a panel called “The Next Doctor”. From the Gallifrey One website:

    We all know it’s coming… some day, whether next year or a few down the road, Matt Smith is going to leave the show. So, who would be the best actor to take his place? Should it be another youngster, or is an older actor worth looking at? What sorts of companions would be a bonus for these actors? And, let’s just face the question: should it, in fact, be a woman? What does the future of Doctor Who really hold?

    This panel takes place in the Program D room on Sunday from 11:30am-12:30pm, and it should be a blast. See you there!

    Oh, and this weekend we’re shooting a top secret Dalek Gary project. Don’t tell anybody!

  • My Complete GMX Schedule

    I’ll be in Nashville, TN from Friday to Sunday attending the Geek Media Expo. Here’s my complete schedule:

    Portal Party 2.0
    Friday, October 26th ▪ 8:00pm – 9:30pm, Palomino + Quarter Horse + Mustang rooms
    Last year, we both said a lot of things that you’re going to regret. But I think we can put our differences behind us. For science. You monster. Why don’t you just keep testing with GLaDOS? Ellen McLain, voice of GLaDOS from the Portal series returns to berate Portal players just trying to survive, and maybe cake? Better gaming, better decorations, better batteries, and an awesome hangout for Portal enthusiasts.

    Web Comics 101
    Saturday, October 27th ▪ 7:00pm – 8:00pm, Arabian Room
    Learn the ins and outs of the webcomic business with a Q&A from the industry pros. Featuring Ben Paddon, Scott Sava, Brian Patterson and Ethan Nicolle.

    PortsCenter – A One-Hour Look at Video Game Ports
    Sunday, October 28th ▪ 12:00pm – 1:00pm, Franklin Room
    British writer and geek humorist Ben Paddon talks about unique video game ports; games that have been converted for different systems. A blend of stand-up comedy and PowerPoint presentation.

    One Brit, Many Doctors
    Sunday, October 28th ▪ 1:00pm – 2:00pm, Quarter Horse Room
    Doctor Who discussion with British expatriate and geek humorist Ben Paddon. What qualifies Ben to speak with authority on this topic? He has the right accent.

    Please note that this schedule is entirely subject to change based on factors such as GMX shifting things around, or me dying. See you in Nashville!

  • Doctor Who: Flixlash

    It’s the BBC’s most popular show, but BBC Worldwide has no idea how to handle it.

    There’s no doubt about it – Doctor Who‘s popularity has soared since its move to BBC America in 2009. The network has been pushing and promoting the show with vigor, giving it the star treatment and prime-time advertising that SyFy never afforded it. They’ve been pushing the show on social networks – the official Doctor Who Tumblr page is a little annoying at times but there’s no doubt they have a winning social media strategy. BBC America are amazing and are undoubtedly one of the key reasons for the show’s current popularity here in the States.

    BBC Worldwide, on the other hand, appears to be staffed by incompetent morons who don’t really seem to understand what they’re sitting on.

    The international sales arm of the BBC are the cause of a number of issues for the show – just speak to anyone working for a company licensed to make Doctor Who merchandise – but nowhere is this more apparent than the show’s, frankly, appalling presence on Netflix. Since the show was added to Netflix in 2008 it has consistently been mishandled, mislabeled and mismanaged, and nobody at BBC Worldwide seems to have any interest in remedying any of the problems viewers may encounter when watching the show.

    Let’s list those problems now, shall we? (more…)