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Get in touch with technology with Tech Stuff from www.HowStuffWorks.com.

Chris Pollette

Hello again, everyone. Welcome to Tech Stuff. My name is Chris Pollette, and I am an editor here at www.HowStuffWorks.com. Sitting across from me as he always does on these occasions is senior writer, Jonathan Strickland.

Jonathan Strickland

And today we are wibbly-wobbly, tiny-whiny stuff.

Chris Pollette

Nice.

Jonathan Strickland

And we also have a special guest.

Chris Pollette

Yes we do.

Jonathan Strickland

Our special guest is Tracy Wilson who is also here at How Stuff Works. She is a blogger for Fan Stuff among many other duties that she performs here. Tracy, the reason we brought you in here is because we’re going to be talking about “Doctor Who,” the tech in “Doctor Who,” and what “Doctor Who” is about. Since you’re the Fan Stuff aficionado as well as a “Doctor Who” fan, it only made sense to bring you in here.

Tracy Wilson

That’s a very sensible decision on your part.

Jonathan Strickland

Right. We also felt very badly about not bringing you in here when we did “How Light Sabers Work,” so we’re correcting that. All future fictional technology we’ll probably be bringing in Tracy or Chanel, who is our other Fan Stuff blogger.

Tracy Wilson

Would it make you feel less guilty if you knew I haven’t actually listened to that podcast yet?

Jonathan Strickland

Even after I told you to?

Tracy Wilson

Even after you told me to. I know.

Jonathan Strickland

Now I have switched from guilt to anger.

Tracy Wilson

I’m a terrible person. Your listeners can all know now that your boss is a terrible person.

Jonathan Strickland

Let’s talk about “Doctor Who,” shall we?

Chris Pollette

Indeed.

Jonathan Strickland

So this is a series that began across the pond over in jolly old England.

Chris Pollette

Yes, and it’s fairly recent, if you consider the mid-20th century recent.

Jonathan Strickland

Right. 1963 was when it debuted. The original series, really the sensibility of the series has remained more or less the same. The production values have increased over time.

Tracy Wilson

A little bit, yeah.

Jonathan Strickland

We’ve gone from cardboard boxes and rubber suits to some actual special effects, but we’ll get into that.

The story follows the adventures of an alien known only as the Doctor. Now, Tracy, what can you tell us about the Doctor?

Tracy Wilson

Well, the first thing is that his name is, indeed, the Doctor. That’s what he’s known as. Some people like to call him Doctor Who. That’s not really his name.

Jonathan Strickland

No, that’s the title of the show.

Tracy Wilson

That’s the title of the show, yes. It’s more of a running joke. People will say, “I’m the doctor. Doctor Who. Hey.”