Doctor Who is a cult phenomenon here in the US. If you've heard of it at all, it's likely in relation to crazy convention-going sci-fi fanatics who flinch at the sun and smell of elderberries. And yet it's one of the most popular television programs in Britain, where watching it is as much a part of pop culture as something like "Lost" or "The West Wing" is here and it is considered a show for the whole family to enjoy together.
The years and years and years of history can be intimidating to the new viewer -- it started in 1965 and has been going strong ever since. Even in the 15 year hiatus without new TV episodes, the story lived on in books and audio dramas (audio dramas! Radio plays! I love Britain!) and a TV movie. But don't despair -- the 2005 revival was conceived to be accessible to new audiences and it seems likely that the new season beginning in April 2010 under the new direction of showrunner Steven Moffat will be similarly kind to newbies.
So without further ado, a brief introduction to the Doctor.
