Doctor Who

Author: Sydney Newman

A series that has run seemingly forever. It's the story of a time-lord, the Doctor, and his magic box, the TARDIS. He can travel through time and space, and brings with him chaos, and compassion, not to mention companions who are yearning for all the adventures the Doctor can show them. So many elements of Doctor Who have permeated science fiction, like Tom Baker's super-long scarf, David Tennant's suit and Converse combo, or Matt Smith's love of Fezzes. They've all drawn in fans from the UK, US, and around the world. At one point, more than 50 countries were running Doctor Who weekly, and some places would even run whole story arcs as movies in theatres! The show has changed endlessly, from new Doctor to Doctor, dozens of companions and friends like the robot dog K-9, it has re-invented itself over the decades. Even with a near 20 absence, it was never far from television, and so many writers and filmmakers were influenced by the series. I guess that explains why it's been on the air since the Johnson Administration! Why it's on the list: No other series has sustained such a high quality for such a long time. Tastes in science fiction have changed, and those changes are often brought about by Doctor Who.