The Doctor Who Franchise

<p> As <I>Doctor Who</I> nears its 50th anniversary it is very much a part of British popular culture and the Doctor has become a British icon. Nevertheless thanks to BBC America and BBC Worldwide's marketing strategy as well as the Doctor's and his companions' recent in-person visits to the U.S. the venerable series is becoming more susceptible to an American influence including the possibility of becoming Americanized. <I>Doctor Who</I> and recent spinoffs <I>Torchwood</I> and <I>The Sarah Jane Adventures</I> offer American audiences very different insights into the Whoniverse and have met with varying degrees of success. Whereas <I>Torchwood</I> became a U.S.-U.K. co-production <I>The Sarah Jane Adventures</I> was largely mismarketed. To complicate matters the interrelationships that keep the <I>Doctor Who</I> franchise alive through radio dramas audiobooks comics novels etc. during hiatuses in television broadcasts may give U.S. and U.K. audiences different understandings of the lead characters--the Doctor Captain Jack Harkness and Sarah Jane Smith. Although the past decade has been an exciting time in the Whoniverse the Doctor--and the franchise--are poised for yet another regeneration.</p>