# Doctor Who Series 4 in the USA and Sarah Jane Adventures on Sci Fi Channel. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2008, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000 "2008-03-28T01:44:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/1 "2008-03-28T01:44:58Z")
Just a heads up, the series will premier in April. 04/18/2008 08:30 PM DOCTOR WHO - SEASON 4 VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED 04/11/2008 07:30 PM SARAH JANE ADVENTURES, THE INVASION OF THE BANE (XMAS) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/2 "2008-03-28T10:16:57Z")
I only saw one episode, but the Sarah Jane Adventures are very much aimed at children and have children as protagonists. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/3 "2008-03-28T11:55:17Z")
_The Sarah Jane Adventures_ is aimed at kids, but the main characters are the best part of it. The guest starring roles played by adults are the downfall, they play it way over the top, but the kids are excellent. Series 4 of _Doctor Who_ starts in the UK on April 5th, so it’s only a couple of weeks difference between UK and US screenings. ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/4 "2008-03-28T11:57:32Z")
I haven’t been paying attention, but has season 4 beyond the Christmas episode started yet in England? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/5 "2008-03-28T12:17:59Z")
It starts next weekend. If SciFi winds up airing them two weeks after the UK broadcast that will be very impressive. I’m not patient enough to wait for it, but I’ll still find it impressive. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/6 "2008-03-28T12:48:49Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] I only saw one episode, but the Sarah Jane Adventures are very much aimed at children and have children as protagonists. [/QUOTE] I watch “Doctor Who” with my kids, that is what makes it so much more fun for me. If they like the new show, I will be DVR’ing it. I would probably watch it with them. Jim ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/7 "2008-03-28T15:21:40Z")
The Sarah Jane Adventures are definitely adult-watchable, even though the target audience is children. In fact the stories are much more in the vein of old-school Doctor Who. I believe (or maybe it’s wishful thinking) that it was picked upfor a 2nd season. The Invasion of the Bane was the pilot; not the first episode of the 1st season. In a similar fashion, Voyage of the Damned (Dr. Who) was the Christmas 2007 special and technically not part of Season 4 (though it’ll wind up on the Season 4 boxset). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/8 "2008-03-28T15:26:34Z")
[QUOTE=BwanaBob] The Sarah Jane Adventures are definitely adult-watchable, even though the target audience is children. In fact the stories are much more in the vein of old-school Doctor Who. I believe (or maybe it’s wishful thinking) that it was picked upfor a 2nd season. The Invasion of the Bane was the pilot; not the first episode of the 1st season. In a similar fashion, Voyage of the Damned (Dr. Who) was the Christmas 2007 special and technically not part of Season 4 (though it’ll wind up on the Season 4 boxset). [/QUOTE] How often is K9 on the show? An older Doctor Who fan was asking me. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/9 "2008-03-28T16:16:00Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] How often is K9 on the show? An older Doctor Who fan was asking me. [/QUOTE] Hardly at all – he has a cameo in the pilot, and then turns up again in the series 1 finale. The reason for this is that he has his own series in development, which will apparently air some time in the summer. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/10 "2008-03-28T17:52:15Z")
[QUOTE=WotNot] The reason for this is that he has his own series in development, which will apparently air some time in the summer. [/QUOTE] You’re kidding me??? Are we so short of barrels that we need to scrape this one to the point where we’re eating wood shavings? ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/11 "2008-03-28T19:13:50Z")
The BBC have now started to show “teasers” for Season 5 over here. As regards dates, all it says is “coming soon” ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/12 "2008-03-28T20:16:11Z")
[QUOTE=Rayne Man] The BBC have now started to show “teasers” for Season 5 over here. As regards dates, all it says is “coming soon” [/QUOTE] I hope not! We won’t be getting Series 5 until 2010 – can’t say I call that “soon”. 😃 Series **4** is confirmed for Saturday 5th of April, at the earlier time of 6.20pm. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/13 "2008-03-28T20:32:53Z")
[QUOTE=WotNot] I hope not! We won’t be getting Series 5 until 2010 – can’t say I call that “soon”. 😃 Series **4** is confirmed for Saturday 5th of April, at the earlier time of 6.20pm. [/QUOTE] My mistake. When “Series 4” was mentioned above, I assumed it was about the last series shown in the UK. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/14 "2008-03-28T20:53:19Z")
Just out of curiousity, it’s always been my understanding that Doctor Who was a children’s show but what makes it specifically “for kids”? At least any more “for kids” than any other light sci-fi fantasy show? ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/15 "2008-03-28T21:31:16Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Just out of curiousity, it’s always been my understanding that Doctor Who was a children’s show but what makes it specifically “for kids”? The original Dr. Who was obviously aimed at kids, with a grandfatherly Doctor, his teenage daughter, and two teachers for companions. They ran around getting into educational adventures, starting with cave men. I guess that, having started out as a kids’ show, it just kept on being one. The protagonists became more adult, but all the villains were still kiddie villain types (i.e., pure bad guys). The new series is much more nuanced, even if it’s often self-contradictory, depending on who’s writing. I don’t have a clue as to its overall demographics. My SWAG is that it attracts a much more adult audience, with “Torchwood” attracting a sexually active adult audience, and that “Sarah” is meant to recapture the children. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/16 "2008-03-29T00:07:39Z")
In _Doctor Who The Inside Story_ official book about the making of the new series, they will often talk about the show as being aimed at kids, but they’re also aware that their audience includes the fans of the original series who watched it when they were kids, and are now all in their 30s and 40s. There’s a missing generation in the middle who also watch, but I expect they’re a minority. Anyway, it’s still designed with kids in mind, but not aimed at them exclusively. Whereas _Sarah Jane Adventures_ is specifically aimed at kids. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2008, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/17 "2008-03-29T08:29:27Z")
It’s not strictly accurate to call it a children’s programme. It was devised from the beginning in 1963 as a _family_ show, and while its appeal to kids was obviously important, one of the main points of the original plan was to retain the adult male audience from the Saturday afternoon sports show that preceded it, as a lead-in to the light entertainment shows following. It succeeded exactly as hoped, attracting a broad-based family audience across all demographics and acting as the foundation for the BBC’s Saturday night line-up for years. What’s remarkable about the new series is that it’s not only a huge ratings success, but it’s captured exactly the same family audience as the original series: all ages, all income groups, and – unusually for TV drama – an equal male/female split. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/18 "2008-03-29T19:32:20Z")
Anyone in the US get to see the “campfire trailer”? The Beeb won’t let us Yanks watch it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/19 "2008-03-30T00:54:24Z")
[QUOTE=Nonsuch] Anyone in the US get to see the “campfire trailer”? The Beeb won’t let us Yanks watch it. ☹ [/QUOTE] It’s been over two hundred years but we FINALLY get our own back on your lousy rebels - bwah ha ha ha ha! That’s what you get for trying to get rid of your true masters, thought you’d got away with it didn’t you? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000/20 "2008-03-30T02:25:43Z")
[QUOTE=Nonsuch] Anyone in the US get to see the “campfire trailer”? The Beeb won’t let us Yanks watch it. ☹ [/QUOTE] Did you mean [this one](http://video.google.com/url?docid=-7644236561540067197&esrc=sr2&ev=v&len=40&q=campfire%2Btrailer%2BDoctor%2BWho&srcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dleo3WSJZ0IM&vidurl=%2Fvideoplay%3Fdocid%3D-7644236561540067197%26q%3Dcampfire%2Btrailer%2BDoctor%2BWho%26total%3D8%26start%3D0%26num%3D50%26so%3D0%26type%3Dsearch%26plindex%3D1&usg=AL29H22jWKQJ-VsuEEW6X06UpDscwxUjxA)? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-who-series-4-in-the-usa-and-sarah-jane-adventures-on-sci-fi-channel/443000.md?page=2)