4. Everyone Is Important
"Doctor Who" was born in an age of optimism. I'm not suggesting that people were naive only that they were thrilled with the possibilities. Technology was developing rapidly and we were increasing our knowledge of the places and people outside of our own personal circles through mass communication. It was a time of fervent exploration we were literally expanding our horizons by venturing into space. "Doctor Who" shared this sense of wonder from the very beginning and celebrates it still. The show is a worldwide phenomenon now simulcasting its 50th anniversary episode in over 75 countries. Yet we do well to remember its humble beginnings. Sydney Newman had an idea. Verity Lambert turned that idea into a production. Waris Hussein shaped that production into a coherent visual story. William Hartnell brought that story to life. Every person on that first production team, every actor, every fan built on that original premise and helped shape it in some way. And now "Doctor Who" is no longer the sole provenance of the people who actually make the program. The Doctor has escaped the confines of the studio to take on a life of his own. His adventures continue through books, audio dramas, fan fiction and fan art. Fan contributions to the mythos are often denigrated. Yet to do so is to dishonor the legacy of "Doctor Who" and its founders. Especially when you consider that the current series is being made by self-professed fans of what went before.