Dewey Defeats Truman: Doctor Who style

[23skidoo]

Back in the late 1940s, one US newspaper notoriously jumped the gun on the federal election results, declaring challenger Thomas Dewey the winner over incumbent Harry Truman. One of the most famous photos in 20th century politics is of the Truman holding up the incorrect headline with a grin at his victory rally.

While it's not quite as big a faux pas, I couldn't help but think of that screw up when I came across this 2008 archived page from the Canadian version of TV Guide (which up here has been rendered only a website - the magazine was killed a few years back):

"Doctor Who Casts First Black Lead"
http://tvguide.ca/TVNews/Articles/081127_first_black_doctor_who_AD

This is, of course, a report on Paterson Joseph being a shoo-in according to every source imaginable... except of course the BBC and Steven Moffat who by this time had already cast Matt Smith (and, frankly, I've yet to read anything to suggest Joseph was ever in the running - but feel free to correct me). This report was also run in UK newspapers as well, of course, but to me it's Exhibit A whenever someone cites a report claiming "sources close to XYZ" say anything.

What are your favorite "Dewey Defeats Truman" moments in Doctor Who coverage? Let's try not to include the usual tabloids in this because, well, so often they've just made stuff up or reported rumor as fact. But that thing with Joseph was run in a number of reputable places. (I recall something similar happened when major newspapers swore up and down that some Czech actor whose name I can't remember had been cast as Bond, only for Daniel Craig to come out of nowhere.)

Alex

PS. I I really have to wonder where TV Guide Canada gets its information. I just found this news item reporting on the August 27 return of Series 6, with the claim that it wasn't scheduled to return for another 2 months. I've been following Who news religiously and I've never encountered anything to suggest the show was ever supposed to come back in October. September, yes.

http://tvguide.ca/tvnews/articles/110725_who_returns_early_gd.htm

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

The article does say "rumored", so not quite as big of a goof.

 

[Iamnotspock]

There was a similar thing with Who in 2005, when (I think) The Daily Mail (spit!!) ran a story about Bill Nighy being cast as the ninth Doctor just a few hours before the official announcement of Christopher Eccleston's casting.

 

[Starkers]

In fairness there were a lot of people hinting at Paterson Joseph, to the extent that I believe there was some semi-officially sanctioned disinformation--heck I can even remember one of his Survivors' co-stars "supposedly" letting the cat out of the bag during an interview.

I hope one day we do get to know who did audition for the role. But frankly even as a long time Joseph supporter I'm very happy with the 11th Doctor we got.

 

[Iamnotspock]

In fairness there were a lot of people hinting at Paterson Joseph, to the extent that I believe there was some semi-officially sanctioned disinformation--heck I can even remember one of his Survivors' co-stars "supposedly" letting the cat out of the bag during an interview.

I hope one day we do get to know who did audition for the role. But frankly even as a long time Joseph supporter I'm very happy with the 11th Doctor we got.

I have to say that while I like Paterson Joseph, I've never been able to see the Doctor in him at all.

 

[Starkers]

Have you ever seen him in Neverwhere? That was where I basically saw the Doctor in him.

 

[Atticus]

In fairness there were a lot of people hinting at Paterson Joseph, to the extent that I believe there was some semi-officially sanctioned disinformation--heck I can even remember one of his Survivors' co-stars "supposedly" letting the cat out of the bag during an interview.

I'm not certain Joseph himself didn't think he was in the running for it - I saw an interview with him shortly after Matt was announced where he seemed extremely disappointed not to have got the role.

 

[Cutter John]

I figured it was all rumor and speculation anyway. Isn't that what happens whenever its time to choose a new Doctor?
But I had to have to hand it to Moffat and RTD. They did a great job of keeping it a secret. I had no idea what to expect when they presented Matt in that little short introductory Special.

Have you ever seen him in Neverwhere? That was where I basically saw the Doctor in him.

I'd never heard of him, but this clip certainly sold me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHpYWy89yVU&feature=related

Maybe he'll still be available for Twelve.

 

[Starkers]

Or the Master

Dang that's made me want to watch Neverwhere again!!

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I could see him as the Doctor. Is that his real accent, though?

 

[Starkers]

Not sure, I think it is but, much like Tennant he isn't restricted to his natural accent.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

This one sounds a bit fake, though. Like something from 250 years ago. I just wanted to double check.

 

[The Badger]

I'm going from my memories of this, and it's a few years ago, so this may not be entirely accurate.

Back when new Who had been announced, but before anyone had been cast, the BBC teletext service Ceefax ran an interview with RTD. One of the subjects raised was his opinion that nowadays the traditional 'screaming girly' type of companion wouldn't appeal to modern viewers, familiar with the more active heroines of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. The interview was titled something like 'Davis wants 'Buffy' type companion for Who.'

A couple of days later ITV's teletext service reported the same. It may well have been cribbed from the BBC report. The headline was 'RTD wants 'Buffy' for Doctor Who'.

Channel Four followed, but their story seemed to based on a serious misunderstanding of the ITV report. Hence the headline 'Sarah Michelle Geller to play the Doctor!'

 

[OmahaStar]

This one sounds a bit fake, though. Like something from 250 years ago. I just wanted to double check.

Might want to check with Bonz. She was younger then ...

 

[Starkers]

This one sounds a bit fake, though. Like something from 250 years ago. I just wanted to double check.

Well given the character he was playing that's likely, certainly the kind of thing that wouldn't go amiss with a 900 year old Timelord though.

 

[Sindatur]

I really enjoyed Patterson's character in Survivors, and could definitely see him as The Doctor.