There was a reason I ruled out fantasy characters in the OP. But I think you’re right that Harry and Hermione and so forth would not be gob smacked by the Doctor, nor he by them. Hell, the Tenth Doctor felt magic and super-science and poetry were different forms of the same thing.
“It’s bigger on the inside? Um. Wow? No, really; that’s great. It’s just that, well, we have a guy who can build a television set out of dried seaweed and two coconuts.”
I’m sure Timothy Leary would feel right at home. Same goes for the late Hunter S. Thompson.
Yeah, but she’d likely stop whatever technobabble explanation with, “No no, I’m good, does this thing have a place I can plug my charger?” Whereas the others would want to understand the babble.
Now that makes me want to see Rev. Jim of Taxi meet the Doctor.
Or Exidor of Mork & Mindy. He’d just take it in stride.
The cast from MASH:
Hawkeye: “Oh really? You can go back in time? How about back to when this hellpit wasn’t worth fighting over and countless lives wouldn’t have to be wasted?”
BJ: “Uh-huh, whatever you say pal, let’s just get this nice jacket on you…”
Potter: “Horsefeathers! Of all the colossal bird-brained tall tales I’ve heard for getting out of here, this takes the cake and the whole wedding party to boot!”
Houlihan: “You pilot this marvelous machine all over space and time? That is so masculine and virile! Make babies with me NOW!”
Winchester: “Oh my, been partaking of the local Meoruhju a bit exceedingly, haven’t we? Don’t worry my friend, the delirium tremens will eventually subside and the flitting magic blue boxes will leave you alone, ha ha.”
Klinger: “You can go back in time? Oh bless you, great Seraphim of Allah! Here! Take today’s newspaper stock section and show it to me the year before I got drafted. I’ll take it from there!”
Father Mulcahey: “Why, this is truly a miracle of God! Unless of course, you are engaging me in some complex stratagem of jocularity to make me look the fool!”
Again, a real person but -------- Patton. With his belief in past lives and all, it would be interesting as Hell for him to meet a Time Lord.
Neal Caffrey from White Collar would want his own psychic paper and sonic screwdriver and would attempt to pick the Doctor’s pocket to get them. (Wouldn’t be surprised if the Doctor’s pocket was booby trapped.) My husband, (Andy L) says Mozzie would believe in him immediately, and would also want psychic paper. We both agree that psychic paper wouldn’t work on either of them.
I would imagine that Frankenstein’s Monster (Boris Karloff edition) would have a really, really bad reaction. The Doctor might end up with a skull-crushing headache.
The Lady Fuchsia from Mervyn Peake’s Titus Groan and Gormenghastwould be extremely enthusiastic.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking, Pinky?”
The A-Team (80’s version.) B.A. would deem the Doctor a “crazy fool”. The Doctor might agree with him, depending on the Doctor. Murdock would like him a lot, and there is no doubt in my mind that he could fly the TARDIS. Face would hit on the companion.
My husband (Andy L) says that Mr. Rogers (he of the Neighborhood) would be very nice to him. Probably even the Daleks would like Mr. Rogers.
Slight hijack: What if Barney were a Dalek instead of a dinosaur? The same thing, but less creepy. “I love you. You love me OR YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED!”
I’m wondering how Hannibal Lecter would react to a real-live time machine. Would he want to go back and change anything? And Hannibal would be far too intelligent to try and steal it, while the Doctor would see what he is right away.
The Andy Griffith Show: Barney Fife: “An alien invasion? We’ve got to nip it in the bud, Andy!”
Aunt Bea would give the Doctor some pie. Opie would love exploring the TARDIS. And Otis wouldn’t be surprised by anything he saw…unless he was, and went on the wagon.
Reddington from The Blacklist: Have you tried the fugu? It is to DIE for. Literally. Fugu contains lethal amounts of a poison known as tetrodotoxin, which is 1200 times deadlier than cyanide, and there is no known antidote. It requires at least three years of rigorous training to prepare this dish so it can be consumed without dire consequence. By the way, your companion is in safe hands. Very charming young lady. She tried to convince us she was actually you. Such an amusing stratagem. She’ll be returned to you once you have taken me back in time to a certain event that occurred 26 years ago…
Based on material from the novel Hannibal, he does want very much to somehow alter time and prevent the death of his sister Mischa. Harris mentions sheets of paper covered with mathematical formulas. It is only after he gives up on this being possible, apparently, that he goes with trying to make Clarice Starling into a replacement Mischa.
Chandler: Could this inside BE any bigger?
Oh, hey, the 1970s called. They want their… oh actually, they’re on the line now?
The novel’s version, OTOH, would be tickled pink the Doctor wants to be friends with him (since no one else in the world does).
Wait, AIUI, in the Whoniverse there is no way to change the past – except for one super-secret Gadget of Rassillon the Time Lords have got, which also erases all records and memory of the alteration (so who knows whether it even works or not?).