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Possibly the high point of Doctor Who in the 1980s was Peter Davison’s swan song to the series, 1984’s outstandingly suspenseful Caves Of Androzani. Combining Shakespearean plot twists with modern day political intrigue and violence, Caves is one of those Doctor Who stories you can show to anybody with no shame. It’s often been pointed out as the jewel in the crown of the late John Nathan-Turner’s reign as the show’s producer, and looking at it again in newly-restored form on DVD, I think that’s a justifiable claim. (more…)

Reigning champion Dawn Lagarto is nine months pregnant, and has survived two “tours” of The Contenders, a government reality TV show where the contestants complete for the ultimate prize: their lives. Now, if Dawn can survive her third “tour”, she can retire as champion. For this round, they have returned to her hometown of Newbury, Connecticut, where she must face five new contestants - all willing to kill to survive. (more…)

Flashback to the summer of 1990. Iraq was gearing up for an invasion of Kuwait. Madonna was vogue-ing her way to the top of the music charts. Arsenio Hall was taking prime time by storm as a talk show host. And all I cared about was whether Jean-Luc Picard would survive the season premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

I wasn’t alone. Thanks to The Best Of Both Worlds, the riveting third season finale that found Picard transformed into a Borg, Star Trek: The Next Generation suddenly became the coolest thing on television in 1990. (more…)