Dear Friends: If dreams can come true, so can nightmares - and our worst is about to realized.
| Open Letter | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Dear Friends: If dreams can come true, so can nightmares - and our worst is about to be realized. |
| From: | Jean Airey and Gail Bennett (North American Time Festivals, Inc.) |
| Addressed To: | Doctor Who fans |
| Date(s): | between March and June 1985 |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom: | Doctor Who |
| Topic: | Impeding end of the classic-era Doctor Who; shortened story arcs and episodes |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Dear Friends: If dreams can come true, so can nightmares - and our worst is about to be realized. is a 1985 open letter by Jean Airey and Gail Bennett, two fans who included "North American Time Festivals, Inc." after their names.
The topic was the shortened season of new episodes, and a rumor regarding the eventual cancellation, of Doctor Who.
Some Topics Discussed
- The BBC messing with future episodes of Doctor Who, including story flow and number of episodes, which, according to the authors themselves, are a "huge travesty" to them
- Rumors regarding John Nathen-Turner being eventually picked as the show's next producer/showrunner
- Employing scare tactics that could also majorly spoil Blake's 7 fans
- Demands for a complete "back-to-basics" revival of the show
- Embracing the term "hysterical fans" if it means they get what they want
- Other notable shows not getting enough fan and production staff appreciation as Doctor Who
The Letter
Dear Friends: If dreams can come true, so can nightmares — and our worst is about to be realized. Since Feb. 27 [1985] the BBC has been promising us that DR. WHO would return to the air in 18 months. What they have not promised is that it would CONTINUE on the air after that delayed 23rd season.
Sources inside the BBC have now relayed to us a horrifying rumor: sure, the Doctor will be back — but for 20 episodes (the shortest in his history), and then...
Remember BLAKE’S SEVEN? For those of you unaware, it was a very popular BBC science fiction hit which recently ran for three years before being pulled. The fans raised such a howl that the program was reinstated — for ONE season, the conclusion of which insured no return was possible: the entire cast was slaughtered. Use your imagination for a moment. And don't imagine the BBC WOULDN'T do this to us and to our Doctor, because this ENTIRE TRAVESTY until now has been unthinkable!
It is also rumored that they are trying to remove JNT (John Nathan-Turner) from his position as Producer before the abbreviated season even goes into production. And if you're also thinking that's impossible, keep in mind that JNT would never allow a BLAKE'S SEVEN ending for our Doctor. The BBC would have to plant a puppet in his place to accomplish this.
If we lose JNT, we lose the best friend DOCTOR WHO fans have. It is a nightmare — and we must move quickly and en masse if we are to have a prayer of preventing it.
(We need to let the BBC) know that this is more than just another television show to be jerked around by their bureaucracy. We care about DR. WHO and the people who have put so much into it. We want DR. WHO back: untampered with, on time, for its complete run of no less than 26 episodes per season, AND for ANOTHER 22 YEARS! If you love our Doctor — any you must, or you would not have read this far, you must help him. Help us. Write to the BBC. BURY them in letters!!
They're over there laughing at us — amused at our hysteria. According to Michael Grade: "...just a few hysterical fanatics." Show them what a "few hysterical fanatics" can do and destroy the nightmare — before it destroys our Doctor.
The people to write to are: Michael Grade, BBC Controller of Programming, White City, London, W12; Stuart Young, Chairman, BBC, Portland Place, London, W1A 1AA; and Alisdair Milne, Director General, BBC; Portland Place, London W1A, 1AA.
Write "personal" or "private" on the letter. Remember that you can't use "D" stamps on overseas mail — there has to be a cash amount on the stamp. Overseas mail should be sent AIRMAIL at 44 cents a half oz.
Be sure to write a NICE, POLITE, KEEP-IT-ON-THE-AIR type letter. Don't demand or threaten. Let them know we support the Doctor and BBC licensed merchandise.