BBC Studios
With Thanksgiving falling on Thursday this week in some decades the pickings for new TV series premieres is pretty slim. 2013 had the bulk of the premieres and all were on cable networks. November is traditionally a ratings ‘sweeps’ month, so in addition to series that made their debuts in the Fall, the networks generally trot out special events and holiday programming. NBC capitalized on this in 1983 with a three-night mini-series showcasing a very popular political figure. 1963, however, had the biggest series debut — in the UK — with a sci-fi series that has become beloved and still airs new episodes to this day even though the title character has seen fourteen actors take on the role! Read on to learn more and tell us if your favorites are celebrating this week!
1953
- No new series premiered this week in 1953.
1963
- November 23 – Doctor Who (BBC, 26 Seasons/ BBC1, 13 Seasons, 871 episodes to date, 30 specials)
As of the new season in 2024, fourteen actors will have played The Doctor. Jodie Whittaker was the first female doctor in 2017. The series is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running science fiction TV series in the world, and the most successful sci-fi series of all time. The original run of the series ended in 1989 and was rebooted in 2005. The show’s spin-offs include Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, K9, and Class. The series premiere on the BBC was delayed by 80 seconds because of bulletins concerning the assassination of John F. Kennedy the day before. The series was intended to be a family program, educational in nature using time travel to explore scientific ideas and famous moments in history. The first script introducing the Daleks was rejected as the show had a strict ‘no bug-eyed aliens’ policy but it was all they had ready to go. The Daleks have become the series most popular monsters and were responsible for the BBC’s first merchandising boom. An attempt to relaunch the series with a US TV movie in 1996 was a success in the UK but not in the US. The 2005 reboot was a direct continuation of the original series and the TV movie. A special 3D episode was produced for the 50th anniversary in 2013, which also received a limited theatrical release. 97 of the 253 episodes from the first six seasons are not held in the BBC archives due to the practice of destroying or wiping videotapes for reuse. No 1960s episodes exist on the original videotape; all are film transfers. Some missing episodes were returned to the archives from other countries. Early videotaped records made by home viewers have also been retrieved, as well as excepts on film that were used on other series. Audio versions of lost episodes exist from home viewers who recorded the show. Photographs taken during production have been used in fan reconstructions, which the BBC has tolerated as long as they weren’t sold for profit. One of the most sought-after episodes is Part 4 of the final William Hartnell serial in which the First Doctor transforms into the Second. The only segment that exists is the transformation scene as a film clip was presented on the children’s series Blue Peter. The BBC has approved efforts to restore as many episodes as possible from the extant material. Some missing footage has been animated and included with the existing episodes.
1973
- No new series premiered this week in 1973.
1983
Alan Landsburg Productions
- November 20 – Kennedy (NBC, THree-part mini-series)
Kennedy was sold to 50 countries, with 27 of them broadcasting the series simultaneously. The mini-series earned three Golden Globe nominations and four BAFTA nominations, winning for Best Drama Series or Serial and Best Make Up.
1993
- November 23 – How to Boil Water (Food Network, Seven seasons, 170 episodes)
How to Boil Water was one of the first shows on Food Network and was originally hosted by Emeril Lagasse. The show helped grow Lagasse’s popularity and he eventually left the show for his own series, Essence of Emeril. The series had five hosts during its run.
2003
- No new series premiered this week in 2003.
2013
Anima Sola Productions
- November 24 – Getting On (HBO, Three seasons, 18 episodes)
- November 24 – Ja’mie: Private School Girl (HBO, One season, 6 episodes)
- November 24 – Breaking the Faith (TLC, One season, 7 episodes)
- November 25 – Generation Cryo (MTV, One season, 6 episodes)
Getting On was based on the British series of the same name. The main cast included Laurie Metcalf, Alex Borstein, Niecy Nash and Mel Rodriguez. Ja’mie: Private School Girl originally premiered on ABC1 in Australia on October 23, 2013.
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