Doctor Who: Radio Free Skaro

San Diego Comic Con! Over the years SDCC has become a mecca not only of pop culture, cosplay and general lunacy, but also an important platform by which Doctor Who announces mammoth events like, say…the 50th Anniversary Special Trailer. The crowds went wild in Hall H, and mere moments later, entitled fans worldwide bristled in anger, fury and impotent frustration that they were not included in the fun IMMEDIATELY. What they should have done is focused their…enthusiasm at this week's episode of RFS, which contains not only news from SDCC and elsewhere but also a commentary for The Rings of Akhaten, featuring costumer Mette Hedin and Erik Stadnik of the Doctor Who: The Writer's Room. Now that's value! Enjoy! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

With San Diego Comic Con looming in just a week's time, the news list was filled to bursting with silly plastic dolls, lunch boxes and of course the con itself, which will feature a Sunday session with Steven Moffat, Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman, and Mark Gatiss, as well as the iconic David Bradley who appears as the iconic William Hartnell in the iconic Adventures in Space and Time. But before SDCC comes the BBC Proms, a snippet of which you will hear on this very program! Toss in DVDs, ebooks, telesnaps and more and you've got a veritable gumbo of podcast goodness of #sharknado proportions. But wait, there's more! A "The Bells of Saint John" commentary with which to fill your earholes with mirth, glee and mirth-glee! Listen! Now! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

The Three Who Rule went west to Westercon this week, special guests of the 66th edition of one of the longest running science fiction conventions in the world. Much fun was had, much sun was enjoyed, and all three of the RFS hosts were very active on a variety of panels throughout the weekend. One such panel devoted to the history of Radio Free Skaro is presented in this episode, in which the past seven years of RFS podcasts are recounted, the highs, the lows, from humble beginnings to the recent triumphs of today (what other podcast has had a commentary of Delta and the Bannermen, we ask you?). We hope you enjoy our introspective look at a podcast that we truly do enjoy producing every week to hopefully entertain and distract you from your minor inconveniences. Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

And thus begins the calm before the storm for Radio Free Skaro. One week before the Three Who Rule jet off to Sacramento to participate in Westercon 66, after which weeks of blockbuster episodes from commentaries to Miniscopes will take you all the way to the 50th Anniversary Special, the Three let there hair down, invite a couple friends over, and have a bit of fun and frivolity. First, Kyle Anderson of Nerdist and Doctor Who: The Writers Room fame drops by after far too long to talk about the news of the week in Doctor Who, and Toby Hadoke also drops by to tell everyone how his fabulous Who's Round podcast is coming along, what's in store in the weeks to come, and how can help Toby in his epic quest to gather a production anecdote from every single televised Doctor Who story. So sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy yourself with us! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

It has been one crazy week in the world of Doctor Who, with rumours of scores of missing Doctor Who episodes being found, then not found, then found again, then, finally, all of them declared not missing but destroyer. The end. Is it, though? The wait for a new Doctor will also have to wait awhile, so there is very little in the way of solid news to discuss this week, but that didn’t stop the Three Who Rule! One thing is for sure, though – Radio Free Skaro will be at Westercon 66 in Sacramento in a couple weeks, and the convention organizers Kevin Roche and Andy Tremblay are here to tell you all about it. It’s looking like it might be an interesting summer in this, the 50th anniversary year of Doctor Who! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

The Doctor Who rumour mill was in full blown chaos this week with Twelfth Doctor casting rumours giving way to tales of hoards of missing episodes being recovered. The Two Who Rule (Chris managed to escape the mongering of said rumours) neatly sidestepped harmless (or harmful) speculation by delving into talk of the future of the film industry and 3D TV and its relation to Doctor Who. But Chris returns (and Warren departs) to talk to Neil Perryman, dear friend and author who is writing the upcoming Adventures of the Wife in Space book, based on his hugely successful blog. Listen on! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

Another week and still no new Doctor Who. The long 6-month wait for the 50th Anniversary Special means speculation about the show's future in the form of the next actor (or will it be actress?) to play The Doctor. But it's not all bad as there are always stats to be had, always new Doctor Who merchandise to be discussed and/or mocked and of course talk of DVDs and just how lucky we are as Doctor Who fans to have the Restoration Team. Featured in this jam-packed episode of Radio Free Skaro is an interview with Michael D. Thomas, who as co-editor of Queers Dig Time Lords, talks about the queer segment of Doctor Who fandom and what draws people to our beloved show. Enjoy! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

In an uneventful, post finale, nothing ever happens week, The Three Who Rule….wait, HOLD ON, JUST A SECOND…..Chris isn't on the show this week. Oh, and also, Matt Smith is leaving Doctor Who. Yes, the floppy haired foetus who charmed his way into our hearts in the Eleventh Hour has decided to vacate the TARDIS, but not before the 50th Anniversary and Christmas specials this year. Smith's tenure spanned arguably the greatest period of global mainstream popularity the show has ever seen, and it is likely the search and selection of the next Doctor will garner more than a little attention from both fans and the not-we. Let the speculation, tears, jeers, madness, forum bile and lunacy begin! We also have news, japes, Warren trying and failing to explain Guardians of the Galaxy to Steven, and a winner for our DVD caption contest! Hooray! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

It may be six months until new Doctor Who, but…we've got stats! So, so many stats. Also, Warren gets a lot of facts wrong (as usual), we've invented an exciting new drink called "whiskwee", and for the first time in RFS history, we have a contest to win a DVD box set of Series 7 and The Snowmen! Check our Facebook page on Monday, May 26 for all the details on how you can win these shiny platters of loveliness. But while you wait to pitch wits against your fellow Whovians, listen to the Torchwood panel from last month's Calgary Expo featuring the brilliant bon mots of John Barrowman, Eve Myles and Gareth David-Lloyd and moderated by Steven. Fun was had! Pants were shed! And swears were uttered, so keep the kid lets away (or wear headphones) as we shred the iTunes "explicit" tag into a million tiny pieces. Check out the show notes at http:www.radiofreeskaro.com

Well, the most recent series of Doctor Who has wrapped up, and what a way to do it - a fangasmagoria from Steven Moffat containing notable nods to the past and tantalizing hints of what's to come. "The Name of the Doctor" gave fans what they wanted (and more) in a 50th anniversary story, and it was six months early! But what did the Three Who rule think of this extravaganza? Also discussed in this episode were the now assured future of Doctor Who and the show's return in Series 8, stats, more stats, and the potentially damaging effects of Eurovision. And now, six months to wait until more new Doctor Who...but what else does the BBC have in store before then? Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

Neil Gaiman's sophomore effort is one of the most divisive in the history of new Doctor Who, with some fans adoring his take on the Cybermen and others viewing precocious children and speedy metal men with disdain. But what did the Three Who Rule think? What are Chris's views on the Proper Use of the Pimp Hand? Was Steven his usual cheery self, and did Warren find time to admonish his fellow nerds for overexcitement? Mix in stats, leaked Series 7 DVDs, fake Target book covers, and more, and you've got yourself a veritable jambalaya of Doctor Who conversation for slightly less than an hour! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

Northern England in the Victorian era, monsters, lizards, Sontarans, lame GPS jokes and latched-on kidlet drama all made "The Crimson Horror" a roller coaster ride of emotion for the Three Who Rule. But was it a ride full of thrills and chills or merely a routine trundle through well-worn paths of dramaturgy? Were endless stats enough to send Warren into a fit of apoplectic rage? Do nerds get angry about any and all news about the 50th anniversary special? All these questions will be answered in this exciting episode of Radio Free Skaro! Except the nerdrage, that's one of life's eternal mysteries. Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

For decades, fans of Doctor Who have been wondering and dreaming of what amazing thrills and sights exist within The Doctor's TARDIS. The 50th Anniversary of the programme seems to be an appropriate time to finally peel back the curtain on The Doctor's magical time-space machine, and Stephen Thompson's script, free of crippling 20th century BBC budgets, took us for a ride. But what did the Three Who Rule think? After that, Chris and Steven are joined by Erika and Katrina from Verity! in Calgary, talking about the massive event that is Calgary Expo, which attracted 60,000 fans (and many Doctor Who cosplayers) to southern Alberta this weekend. Enjoy! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

Awoooooo! Scary stuff! That's what this week's instalment of Doctor Who was, as "Hide", a tautly written and directed thriller, enthralled many a fan and viewer. But what did the Three Who Rule think? They were widely split with their opinions of writer Neil Cross's first effort, "The Rings of Akhaten"; will Cross make Chris cross, or will it be smooth sailing for all involved? Also discussed are changing pronunciations of planet names throughout the years (because, yes, Metebelis-gate is casually mentioned in this episode), the title of the Series 7b finale, the return of the Doctor Who Proms, and some exciting action figures coming your way later this year. Awooooo! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

After a wait of almost 40 years, the Ice Warriors have returned to Doctor Who, with at least (and let's be honest, at most) one heavily armoured, lumbering green menace is back to make the lives of an 80's crew of Soviet submariners a soggy, terrifying hell. Mark Gatiss, a Who polymath with some hits and a few misses under his belt, brings the claustrophobic terror with "Cold War," but the real question is, what did the Three Who Rule think of the story? With precious little to discuss besides this episode and stats, stats, stats (and more stats) they expostulated at length, coming perilously close to beating Douglas McKinnon's expertly paced tale's running time with their balderdash and bafflegab. Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

After a rollicking opening to Series 7B last week, we were treated to a new episode in "The Rings of Akhaten" that received almost no love from any of the Three Who Rule. In fact, only one person had something nice to say about it, and you'll never guess who! The episode may have left a bad taste in everyone's mouth, but the return of a full stats report, and a return of our new, impromptu game called "Guess the Stats!", proved to be a splash of minty, mouthwashy goodness! That, and talk of the 50th Anniversary special, Christopher Eccleston, DVD news, and an endless list of Doctor Who t-shirt ideas, makes clear that it's not where you start, but where you finish. Next week: Ice Warriorssss... Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

New Doctor Who! And given such an auspicious occasion, it was no surprise that the Three Who Rule yammered on length about "The Bells of Saint John," and then further prognosticated on the news that David Tennant and Billie Piper will in fact return for the 50th anniversary special. Debate on the proper levels of fanwankiness for the special, speculation on the many hints and tidbits Moffat has seeded throughout his tenure leading up to November 23rd, 2013 and other wishes and dreams for the upcoming season were all grist for the fevered (and possibly insane) minds of the RFS crew. All this and various other tidbits of news, and more importantly, no stats. (Don't worry, stats will be back in full force next week). Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

The upcoming book "JN-T: The Life and Scandalous Times of John Nathan-Turner" is quite possibly the most controversial account of the behind-the-scenes world of Doctor Who ever published, delving into the, at times, seedy side of the life of the long time producer of Doctor Who. It also covers, with astonishing detail, the trials and tribulations that occurred during the making of the programme in the 1980s when the BBC were increasingly trying to kill it. We present an interview with the book's author, Richard Marson, who explains the amount of work that went into researching the biography, as well as discuss his own experiences and opinions on the man who was responsible for Doctor Who for an entire decade. But before that, Chris and Steven yammer about the news of the week, and look forward to new Doctor Who in less than a week's time! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

A wide variety of news leads off the latest episode of Radio Free Skaro, as the Three Who Rule pontificate about the fate of Caroline Skinner, the discovery of early Doctor Who scripts and even a little about the upcoming Series 7B... but wait, there's more! This week saw the release of the Special Edition of The Aztecs, which includes the recently-found third episode of Galaxy 4, and what more fitting way to celebrate its release on home video than for the RFS lads to talk all over it in the form of a commentary. Talk of Lego, the upcoming Calgary Expo, the realization we're on the cusp of the longest unbroken streak of Doctor Who episodes since 2010 - and of course the other news of the week - round out this week's podcast. Enjoy! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

Just as Doctor Who is missing episodes from its archive, the Three Who Rule are missing Chris this week. But instead of providing you with a telesnap reconstruction of Pedantor, we bring to you instead an interview with Richard Molesworth, author of Wiped!, the second edition of which is hitting bookshelves soon. Steven and Richard discuss all there is to talk about regarding missing episodes, including recent discoveries, mystery in Sierra Leone, and what's being done to hopefully find more episodes in the future. Warren and Steven also plough through a news list featuring discussion of conventions, Series 7b news, and outrage at the continued absence of a Bill Filer action figure. Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

After the craziness of last week's Calgary Expo announcement (which crashed the servers at Radio Free Skaro headquarters, aka a rusty shack in Surrey, BC), and two weeks after the wild times of Gallifrey One, the Three Who Rule were finally able to sit back, relax, and take in an episode of Doctor Who. And then talk over it. The episode of choice is "The Snowmen", the 2012 Christmas special that caused much merriment amongst most of the masses. Minus Warren, Chris and Steven find time before hand to discuss the news of the week, including the passing of designer Ray Cusick, responsible for one of the most iconic science fiction designs of all time. He also designed the Daleks. Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

It's only a week after Gallifrey One, but there's no rest for the wicked as we bring you a very special announcement regarding Radio Free Skaro and the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, taking place - surprise, surprise - in Calgary, Alberta from April 26-28! Event coordinator Shane Turgeon from Calgary Expo drops by with all the details including some exciting Doctor Who-related announcements. But wait, there's more! As you may have noticed, the Three Who Rule let the news pass by the wayside during Gallifrey One, but there were so many interesting developments to discuss that a bumper list of news new and old is presented here for you to bring some sense of completion to your lives (but mostly to those of the Three Who Rule). Hooray! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

Another Gallifrey One has come and gone! On this, the fifth and final Radio Free Skaro podcast from Gally, we present to you interviews with Freema Agyeman, director Saul Metzstein (with a cameo from Ben Browder!), Charlie Ross, and the Valeyard himself, Michael Jayston! We also catch up with our friend Ken Deep, eavesdrop on a 24-year "Survival" reunion between Sylvester McCoy and Julian Holloway, and unveil some podcast plans for the months to come. 2013 is shaping up to be an exciting year, and Gallifrey One was a perfect way to kick it off in style! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

Still more Gallifrey! Your august crew scoured the LAX Marriott for Who personages of note, and by golly we found them, in the personages of director Douglas Mackinnon, ex-companion and documentarian Mark Strickson, BBC Radiophonic Workshop guru Dick Mills, writer and all around gent Andrew Smith, and podcast supremos The Oodcast all collide cheek by jowl in this, our penultimate episode from Gallifrey One. Enjoy! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

The Doctor Who classic series DVD range is approaching the end of its run, but not before a few momentous releases hit the shelves around the world in celebration of the programme's 50th anniversary. Who better to discuss what's to come than the very folks who have restored and enhanced Doctor Who in DVD form for the past several years? We present to you the Enlightenment DVD panel from Gallifrey One, with commissioning editor Dan Hall, Restoration Team founder Steve Roberts, documentary producer Ed Stradling, and writer/documentarian Nicholas Pegg. With The Tenth Planet, The Ice Warriors, and many other hotly anticipated releases discussed, this is not a panel to be missed! Also, our friend Luke from TMDWP drops by to tell the Three Who Rule about his experiences at his first ever Gallifrey One! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

RFS Live from Gallifrey One in Los Angeles! Yes, it's time once again for Radio Free Skaro's annual live show at Gallifrey One, the biggest and best Doctor Who convention to grace the shores of Los Angeles and the world entire. Steven, Warren and Chris were delighted and honoured to play host to Sylvester McCoy, Philip Hinchcliffe, Stephen Thorne, Dan Starkey, Neve McIntosh, and Richard Hope. Chip, the Two Minute Time Lord, both acted as audio engineer and delivered a wonderful sermon on the importance and sheer wonder of being a fan in a community of diverse but like-minded friends. Can we just say it one more time? PHILIP HINCHCLIFFE. Thanks to one and all who came to the show in person, and we're delighted to offer this year's live show to our listeners who couldn't make it to L.A.

Gallifrey One is here! THE event on the Doctor Who calendar has finally arrived, and it seems to start earlier every year, as can be heard during this very episode of Radio Free Skaro! Recorded during Lobbycon on the Thursday night, the Three Who Rule are joined by Gallifrey One program director Shaun Lyon, who talks about this year's enormously popular edition of the long running convention, the pitfalls that have occurred during the year that led up to this year's con, and the wonderful triumphs this year and every year that makes Gallifrey One such an amazing experience for Doctor Who fan young and old. Just a taste of the wild weekend to come at Gallifrey One! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

Has it really been a year? Yes, Gallifrey One is imminent, which means it's time for the annual Radio Free Skaro Gally preview show! The Three Who Rule run down what panels they'd like to see (if they weren't so busy bringing you the best coverage of the convention that money would never actually buy), as well as give you a primer of what to expect at the world's greatest Doctor Who convention. But before they get into full con mode, a bumper crop of news happened this past week, including some very interesting DVD releases coming down the pipe, and the beginning of filming for the hotly anticipated "An Adventure In Space and Time". Next stop: Gallifrey One! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

Because of a complicated situation involving Mandrels, Bandrils, the Borad and the Swarm, the Three Who Rule kept it (somewhat) brief this week, focusing on conserving their energies for the onslaught of Gallifrey coverage coming your way in a mere week and change. News included the casting of "An Adventure in Space and Time," the increasingly intruiging dramatization of the early days of Doctor Who, DVD news, analysis of the upcoming insanely detailed (and expensive) David Tennant figure, and a tribute to Bernard Horsfall, a veteran Classic Who actor who left us all too soon this week. But since this is Radio Free Skaro, there was also pointless debate about the Mask of Omega, the overall quality of the Three Doctors, the Two Doctors and other classic stories, and speculation about just what the BBC is holding back (if anything) regarding their celebratory plans for the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. Enjoy this short(er) but sweet(er) episode, which will lighten the weight of your portable listening device! Don't question that last statement, it is SCIENCE.

A shocking amount of news made its way from the wilds of the Internet to the fevered brains and out of the fetid mouths of the Three Who Rule this week, including the infamous "ToyFairGate," where canny spies noted BBC posters announcing….somewhat sparse plans for the anniversary year of Doctor Who. The din of fan outrage was such that it almost drowned out announcements of new action figures, soundtracks, special edition DVDs and other delicious morsels. But controversy and action figure portfolios aside, this week also marks an interview with Paul Scoones, Doctor Who historian and author of "The Comic Strip Companion: 1964-1979" which chronicles decades of Doctor Who comic strips. Scoones is also well known for his deep production knowledge, expressed through the medium of subtitles on Doctor WHo DVDs. Steven spent the better part of an hour delving deep into Scoones work with him, and now we bring that interview to you. And remember, in less than three weeks Radio Free Skaro will open Gallifrey One with our live show, "The Ambassadors of Death!" With a guest lineup of Sylvester McCoy, Philip Hinchcliffe, Bernard Horsfall, Neve McIntosh, Richard Hope and Dan Starkey, it's sure to be ninety minutes of fun, facts and…a return guest appearance from Chip, the Two Minute TIme Lord! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

With Chris and Steven each recuperating from an infection from the Swarm, it was Warren's turn to suffer the effects of an infestation of the Nucleus. While Warren wasn't running on full steam for the news segment, in which news on Gallifrey One was the dominant feature, he does feature in a previously recorded interview with Mike Tucker, the visual effects expert whose work has appeared on both classic and new series Doctor Who. Mike is also a Doctor Who fan and an all around nice guy, which makes this episode of Radio Free Skaro a must listen! Just stay back at least 50 feet from the Three Who Rule when listening... Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

All good things come to an end, and so it must be with the series of interviews Steven conducted at Chicago TARDIS. But we end with none other than Gary Russell, someone who has done so much not only in the world of Doctor Who but also in a myriad of other creative pursuits. From his start as a child actor on the Famous Five to his work as editor of Doctor Who magazine and his years as script editor of the show itself, Russell has seen and done it all. And of course it wouldn't be an episode of RFS without a lot of meandering discussion, news, and a palpable excitement for Gallifrey, which is merely a month away. Hooray! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

Happy New Year! After battling illness and ennui over the past week and a half, the Three Who Rule are back with a bumper episode to launch 2013, the centrepiece of which is an epic interview with Kevin Jon Davies. Davies was the director and producer of "More Than 30 Years In The TARDIS", the BBC's official 30th anniversary celebration for Doctor Who, but his connection to the worlds of Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, and Blake's 7, made for a fascinating chat. Also, your three hosts run down the Christmas time viewing figures, discuss their importance, and also talk about puppies. Six weeks until Gallifrey One! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

NEW WHO! The Three Who Rule were delighted to find a sparkling new Doctor Who story under their Christmas tree in the form of "The Snowmen," a somewhat deceptive name as actual snowmen figure nowhere near as much as disembodied manifestations, the plummy tones of Sir Ian McKellen, the iconic Richard E. Grant, and a puzzle of an enigma known as Clara the barmaid/governess. Throw in a sassy Sontaran, a sensual Silurian and her good lady wife, and a broody, moody, and altogether froody Matt Smith and you've got yourself a Christmas special! And a podcast about said special! Christmas! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

The impending arrival of Christmas Day means two things: excitement for "The Snowmen" is rising to fever pitch, and…Chris is super busy and couldn't be part of this week's proceedings. Steven and Warren made up for his absence by immediately taking the whole business off the rails and discussing the Hobbit's use of 48fps. After much debate and incorrect references to VidFIRE, the duo got back to business and discussed the week's news before seguing into Steven's interviews with both composer and production sound expert Mark Ayres and the voices behind Verity!, a new all-female podcast coming soon to your local internet. Stay tuned on December 26th (known as Boxing Day here in the frozen wilds of Canada and as Wednesday in the US of A) for our review of "The Snowmen"! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

Trailers! Trailers! So many trailers for the Snowmen, the upcoming Doctor Who Xmas special! Well, alright…there were two new trailers. But they are amping up the enthusiasm of the Three Who Rule for this year's Yuletide offering, which is surely a good thing after the slim pickings of 2011's The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe. Another good thing is the interview from Chicago TARDIS with Toby Hadoke, a friend of the show, gentleman actor and all around great fella. Bask in his wisdom and delight in his wit! Immediately! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

A simply colossal list of news items dominated the proceedings on this week's Radio Free Skaro, with much discussion on the snippets of non-spoilery info emerging about "The Snowmen," this year's Doctor Who Xmas Day spectacular. The Three Who Rule also announced not only what their live show at Gallifrey One is called, but also their first guest to open the show and the convention itself! But news was but grist for the main event, an interview from Chicago TARDIS with former Doctor Who script editor Andrew Cartmel. All this AND a pointless discussion about the Hobbit at 48fps? You bet! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

The Three Who Rule were reunited (and it felt so good) with Steven's return from Chicago TARDIS…bearing the gift of an interview with Nick Briggs, Jason Haigh-Ellery, and Paul Spragg, whose sterling work in the dramatic audio arts can be appreciated by all and sundry at www.bigfinish.com. News was sparse this week as we enter the calm before the Christmas Special storm, but numerous puzzling references to Ke$ha, a quite sweary Warren and 15 minutes of nonsensical pre-game banter padded out the proceedings nicely. Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

Chicago TARDIS is the setting for this week's Radio Free Skaro as many hundreds of Doctor Who fans materialized in the Windy City for the Midwest's most popular Doctor Who convention. Steven represented the Three Who Rule at the con, and is joined in this episode by Chip from the Two-Minute Time Lord and Erik from the Doctor Who Book Club Podcast to discuss the convention, as well as the plethora of news that occurred in the world of Doctor Who over the past week - including stats! And to top it all off, Chip and Steven sit down with the TARDIS team of the late 1980s - Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred. Stay tuned to RFS in the coming weeks for even more interviews from Chicago TARDIS! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

The Three Who Rule were joined this week by the incomparable John Williams, Tachyon TV alumnus and author of an upcoming tome about Who legend Malcolm Hulke. Mr. Williams was on hand not to plug his scribbling but to add his mellifluous verbiage to commentary of "The Angels Take Manhattan," the final adventure of Mr. and Mrs. Pond. Add a pinch of praise for sarcastic Sontarans, a dash of derision for evil Snowmen, and a completely arbitrary show title like "Splink," and…well, just take a listen. Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

The Three Who Rule were reduced to Two this week, but Steven and Warren were joined by the inestimable Simon Harries of Tachyon TV fame for a commentary on "The Power of Three," the penultimate story of this half-season. Simon's dry wit counterbalanced Steven's idiot savantism (emphasis on the "idiot") and Warren's outright stupidity to produce a most delicious bit of commentary that we're sure you'll enjoy! But that's not all! Though it nearly is, as the news was sparse this week, with only intrigues and tales of lost (and then found) Neil Gaiman scripts to report to you, our dear, dear listeners. Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

It was a bit of a light week in the world of Doctor Who as the production team secluded themselves in a Cardiff conference room to read through Neil Gaiman's eagerly anticipated second Doctor Who script, so the Three Who Rule devote some of their attention to the nerdplosion that was Disney buying up Lucasfilm. When Neil Perryman of The Adventures With the Wife in Space drops in for the commentary of "A Town Called Mercy", the off topic meanderings continue with praise and scorn heaped upon Farscape, Babylon 5, and some other series not named Doctor Who. Worry not, though, dear listener. There's still plenty of Who talk to validate the name of this podcast, from the astounding news that Gallifrey One is sold out for 2013 to fine performance of one Ben Browder. Enjoy! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

Dinosaurs! On a Spaceship! Matt Smith's enthusiasm aside, does the fluffy lizardfest hold up to the laser-like scrutiny of Steven, Warren, and Luke from The Minute Doctor Who Podcast in this, the second of the "Pond Farewell Tour" commentaries? Were Mitchell and Webb any good as surly robots? Does the Doctor's team of historical oddities (and Rory's dad) make for high adventure and rollicking space-based shenanigans? Are any of these questions even close to addressed in the commentary? Tune in to find out, as well as hear tiny morsels of what could charitably called "news!" Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

With the New! Doctor! Who! countdown clock having more than two months on it, a mandate was declared by the Three Who Rule that now is the time for Season 7A commentaries. NOW. Over the coming weeks their trademark brand of pedantism, whimsy and love for classic rock will undoubtedly distract from the adventures of the Doctor, Amy and Rory playing out before them onscreen, starting this week with Asylum of the Daleks. But wait! Chip, the Two-minute Time Lord, joins our august trio for this episode, allegedly to voice his opinions on Asylum but mostly the keep Steven, Warren and Chris in line. Does he succeed? Tune in to find out! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

The bulk of this week's episode is devoted to "Chicks Unravel Time," edited by Deb Stanish and L.M. Myles, a follow-up by Mad Norwegian Press to the widely praised "Chicks Dig Time Lords." In this book, each writer tackled a different season of Classic Who, with sometimes surprising results! The editors of this weighty tome told Warren and Steven about the creation of the book, the wide range of voices in the book (from pros to first-time writers) and the big difference that a female perspective can have on interpretation of our favorite television program. Oh yes, and some stats were mulled over at some point in the news segment. Last stats until Christmas, thank Omega! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

This week sees the Three Who Rule in rest mode after five weeks of exhilarating new Doctor Who episodes, and before they begin inviting a few of their friends, old and new, to join them for the next few weeks of podcasting whimsy. As such, much waffling occurs as topics veer from Doctor Who (thankfully) to Red Dwarf to Robocop to 1988 (or is it 1987?) and the contemporary career trajectory of a young Alan Rickman. After your three hosts settle down, though, a thorough and indepth discussion takes place regarding the recently departed Ponds and their place in Who history. We do hope you enjoy listening. Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

The Angels Take Manhattan….and, to various degrees, the hearts of Warren, Steven, and Chip the Two Minute Time Lord, who sat in Chris's stead to review the mid-season finale and the departure of Matt Smith's near and dear companions, the Ponds. Weeping Statues of Liberty, questions of style vs. substance and what comes next for the series all reared their silent, menacing stone visages before coming to the really terrifying stuff…stats. Add a rant about thigh-less maxi-busts, high praise for Chicks Unravel Time, Chicago TARDIS, and Gel Guard action dolls and you've got yourselves three nerds talking about Doctor Who for an hour and change! And now another long wait until new Doctor Who stories grace our screens again... Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

The Three Who Rule took almost as long to talk about "The Power of Three" this week as the (admittedly truncated) episode itself took to play out on UK television screens. So what did Steven, Warren and Chris think of the slow invasion of the world by an Ikea fever dream? Did they enjoy the emergence of a new generation of UNIT leadership or the strengthening of emotional bonds between the Doctor, the Ponds, and Pond Sr? Or did they think it was all a load of stapled-on Gallifreyan fairy tales sealed by a bit of wand-waving? You'll just have to listen to find out! Also, don't miss stats, more stats, arguments about the canonical nature of Bill Baggs videos, pedanting, prequeldanting, and more! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

Steven returns this week to the Radio Free Skaro fold after spending the previous week in a Doctor Who-less desolation in the form of the lakes area of Northern Wisconsin. A completely different desolate location (namely, Almeria, Spain) served as the backdrop of Episode Three of Series 7a of Doctor Who, A Town Called Mercy, a sharp-looking homage to the many spaghetti Westerns that were filmed in its environs. The Three Who Rule were surprisingly all on the same page when it comes to how well writer Toby Whithouse, director Saul Metzstein, and the rest of the team brought this episode to being... Also, an unexpected deluge of viewing figures dominates the news list, but is punctuated by the unqualified ratings success of Doctor Who on SPACE in Canada and the gradual realization that what has always been a niche show north of the 49th parallel is becoming part of the mainstream. And, no, we don't know how to deal with that, either. Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com

With Steven quite literally in a Cabin In The Woods, cut off from much of humanity and completely ignorant of "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship," it was up to Warren, Chris and special guest star Chip, the Two-Minute Time Lord, to hash out their feelings about thunder lizards, Egyptian queens and guest stars from the Potterverse. But it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows and puppy dogs and fluffy clouds and unicorns and... wait, where were we again? Oh yeah, Warren was forced to confront that which he hated most, the dreaded stats, and we throw in some discussion about the Welsh BAFTAS, games, Cafe Press and the Hugo Awards and more. Put it all together and you've got yourself an audio program on the internet about a niche topic! Check out the show notes at http://www.radiofreeskaro.com