This past Saturday, the BBC show Doctor Who celebrated its’ 50th Anniversary by airing a 50th Anniversary special in a global simulcast. Not only was the special broadcasted on televisions worldwide, it also saw a limited theatrical release in 3D. A British show originally written for children, Doctor Who has developed a worldwide cult following. The story of the travels of an alien Time Lord called the Doctor and his companions has captured the attention of children and adults alike.
Although many local fans anticipated that the special would be screened at the newer AMC Theater at Aviation Plaza in Linden as part of the simulcast, the larger AMC Loews at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth was ultimately chosen to show select screenings yesterday. The nearby NY simulcast tickets sold out within hours, with many locals unwilling to miss the action on the day of. Tickets for Monday’s additional screenings in Elizabeth remained available for those fans willing to wait for the experience.
Fans, who affectionately call themselves “Whovians”, took over the AMC Loew’s Theater in force on the evening of the broadcast. Many came dressed in cosplay as their favorite characters from the show. Doctor’s one through eleven were present en masse and none of the more recent companions were missing. Many fans were outfitted with props procured from last months New York Comic Con. The mood was one of elation and endured throughout the afternoon. The special was followed by a booming round of applause and whistling.
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The turnout for the simulcast was fantastic, with over half a million tickets sold. The special was broadcast across 94 countries on six continents and in more than 1500 theaters worldwide. The special also enjoyed the distinction of setting a new world record for the largest ever simulcast of a TV Drama in the world.
