More shows like Doctor Who??

I'm amazed there aren't more shows like Doctor Who. The closest I can think of is the amazing Rick and Morty, but that's animation.

Why haven't more shows "borrowed" the "go anywhere, anywhen and have an adventure" format?

 

Cost? It makes it hard to reuse sets.

 

So? I haven't watched Rick and Morty yet (it's on my long list to watch) but animation isn't some kind of crutch. Futurama is my third favorite science-fiction show (after Doctor Who and Farscape) without some kind of qualifier such as "it's animation."

 

But the format allows them to revisit the same locations again and again, and again and again and again if need be.

It wasn't intended as a knock on animation (Rick and Morty is one of my fave shows ever). They're different mediums. I'm interested in a live-action Doctor Who-esque show.

 

There's quite a few time travel series.
Legends of Tomorrow is probably the closest on the air.
I miss Crime Traveller.

 

Not really (original Tomorrow People was close sometimes). A lot of shows, particularly British TV SF, are like a Who story used as a permanent setting though (and Doomwatch is very like one of the ideas proposed during the original development of Who, The Troubleshooters - not to be confused with the later BBC oil drama).

 

But, if they're visiting the same spots over and over again, what's the point of being able to travel anywhere and anywhen?

 

I guess to a certain extent Sliders kinda fits the pattern. I guess from a production point of view the cost element is a factor, but also Dr Who is so iconic there's maybe a fear of your show being tagged as a Who knockoff (not that I think this would stop the US doing so, I love Elementary, and realistically I've come to realise it's doing something very different from Sherlock, but you can see how, initially, it seemed like a straight lift)

 

Gravel quarries. Also tinfoil.

 

Yep, that's literally the synopsis for Legends.

 

And on occasion bubble wrap.

 

Yeah, the good ol' days.

 

In terms of format, Legends Of Tomorrow. In terms of BBC style, Blake's 7. In terms of tone and mission, Quantum Leap.

 

While we're on the subject, why is there so little British sci-fi? Most sci-fi shows seem to be made in Canada. Is there not enough money for it, or is it like when everyone was rejecting Babylon 5 saying that it couldn't compete with Star Trek?

 

There's all kinds of British sci-fi out there. Where do you want to begin?

 

Ones I've seen: Doctor Who, Torchwood, Red Dwarf, Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy, Blakes 7, Primeval.

Lots more listed here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:British_science_fiction_television_programmes

 

Don't forget the bubble wrap!

I think Doctor Was able to get away with the format because no one expected it to look fantastic. And they had technical people who excelled at making the most out of extremely limited resources.

 

I should have said modern ones. I know there've been plenty in the past. It just seems like Doctor Who is all there is right now.

 

Don't forget all of the wobbly sets!

Black Mirror originated on Channel Four before its recent migration to Netflix

 

I think they call them "wibbley" now , or at least they did during Matt Smith's run.