• Re: What Did You Watch? 2026-07-30 (Thursday)

    From anim8rfsk@anim8rfsk@cox.net to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 1 21:50:24 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <114ks3m$3kgpj$1@dont-email.me>, did Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net deliver unto us this message:

    Yes, indeed it was. "The Ribos Operation" is the first of the Key to
    Time stories.

    Featuring the REAL Romana<tm>! Except no substitutes.

    Nyssa, who needs to finish watching the Key to Time DVDs


    I like both Romanas, personally. I don't really have a preference.


    A friend of mine refers to the second faux Ramona as rCLthe chinless wimprCL
    --
    The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The True Melissa@thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM to rec.arts.tv on Sun Aug 2 07:55:30 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Verily, in article <1876848247.807338900.318751.anim8rfsk- cox.net@news.easynews.com>, did anim8rfsk@cox.net deliver unto us this message:

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <114ks3m$3kgpj$1@dont-email.me>, did


    I like both Romanas, personally. I don't really have a preference.


    A friend of mine refers to the second faux Ramona as ?the chinless wimp?

    What on Earth for? Lalla Ward was a fine Romana.

    She was also a knitwear designer. I own this one:

    https://archive.org/details/bwb_KV-420-412

    She published a few other pattern books as well. I like Jacquard
    knitting in general, so I like her designs.
    --
    The meek shall inherit, we're told,
    But I'm not so easily sold.
    For supposing they should,
    It would do them no good --
    They'd lose it at once to the bold.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From anim8rfsk@anim8rfsk@cox.net to rec.arts.tv on Mon Aug 3 00:03:14 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <1876848247.807338900.318751.anim8rfsk- cox.net@news.easynews.com>, did anim8rfsk@cox.net deliver unto us this message:

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <114ks3m$3kgpj$1@dont-email.me>, did


    I like both Romanas, personally. I don't really have a preference.


    A friend of mine refers to the second faux Ramona as ?the chinless wimp?

    What on Earth for? Lalla Ward was a fine Romana.

    She was also a knitwear designer. I own this one:

    https://archive.org/details/bwb_KV-420-412

    She published a few other pattern books as well. I like Jacquard
    knitting in general, so I like her designs.


    I disagree entirely and wholeheartedly, but I admit that a great deal of it
    is due to the terrible treatment Mary Tamm received.
    --
    The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Nyssa@Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net to rec.arts.tv on Mon Aug 3 09:21:52 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    anim8rfsk wrote:

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <1876848247.807338900.318751.anim8rfsk-
    cox.net@news.easynews.com>, did anim8rfsk@cox.net deliver unto us
    this
    message:

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <114ks3m$3kgpj$1@dont-email.me>, did


    I like both Romanas, personally. I don't really have a preference.


    A friend of mine refers to the second faux Ramona as ?the chinless
    wimp?

    What on Earth for? Lalla Ward was a fine Romana.

    She was also a knitwear designer. I own this one:

    https://archive.org/details/bwb_KV-420-412

    She published a few other pattern books as well. I like Jacquard
    knitting in general, so I like her designs.


    I disagree entirely and wholeheartedly, but I admit that a great deal
    of it
    is due to the terrible treatment Mary Tamm received.


    And the whole bit about Romana being able to decide
    who she looks like after a regeneration poked a hole
    into the previously established idea that Time Lords
    had no control over what they ended up with. That's
    on the writers, but considering what was going on
    behind the scenes (Lalla and Tom Baker being An Item),
    plus the dirt dumped on Mary Tamm as amin mentioned,
    the whole thing stunk.

    The Original Romana had class, but after the regeneration
    the New Romana didn't have the same presence. That's
    on the director and Lalla's interpretation of the
    character. It just didn't work for me.

    As fpr Beastly Knits, they're cute, but not my style.
    I do some intarsia knitting, but usually only for
    socks or Nordic style designs. I once did some dog
    sweaters with intarsia, but that was something special
    for a friend's woofies. When they crossed the Rainbow
    Bridge, my friend donated the sweaters to her local
    no-kill shelter.

    That's enough from me for a Monday morning. :)

    Nyssa, who is facing another hot and humid day of rain
    and thunderboomers

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The True Melissa@thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM to rec.arts.tv on Mon Aug 3 09:46:39 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Verily, in article <114q4oc$1bdte$1@dont-email.me>, did Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net deliver unto us this message:
    And the whole bit about Romana being able to decide
    who she looks like after a regeneration poked a hole
    into the previously established idea that Time Lords
    had no control over what they ended up with.

    Yeah, Douglas Adams thought it would be funny and now we're all stuck
    with it. Something inside the TARDIS appears to have killed Romana, and neither she nor the Doctor seem even slightly fussed about it.


    That's
    on the writers, but considering what was going on
    behind the scenes (Lalla and Tom Baker being An Item),
    plus the dirt dumped on Mary Tamm as amin mentioned,
    the whole thing stunk.

    Well, that's certainly news. The standard story is that Mary Tamm chose
    to leave due to her pregnancy, and she recommended Lalla Ward (a friend)
    as her replacement.

    Ward and Baker did date while they were both working on the show, but
    the standard timeline says that she was hired first.


    The Original Romana had class, but after the regeneration
    the New Romana didn't have the same presence. That's
    on the director and Lalla's interpretation of the
    character. It just didn't work for me.

    That's certainly your prerogative, but I like both Romanas and will
    respond when I see baseless insults.
    --
    The meek shall inherit, we're told,
    But I'm not so easily sold.
    For supposing they should,
    It would do them no good --
    They'd lose it at once to the bold.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Adam H. Kerman@ahk@chinet.com to rec.arts.tv on Mon Aug 3 16:32:04 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Nyssa <Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net> wrote:

    . . .

    And the whole bit about Romana being able to decide
    who she looks like after a regeneration poked a hole
    into the previously established idea that Time Lords
    had no control over what they ended up with. That's
    on the writers, but considering what was going on
    behind the scenes (Lalla and Tom Baker being An Item),
    plus the dirt dumped on Mary Tamm as amin mentioned,
    the whole thing stunk.

    The actors had nothing to do with Tamm not being offered a contract for
    the following season. Just stating the obvious.

    Weren't they already broken up? I thought their on screen chemistry was
    good despite off screen crap.

    The "choose your own face" was a reference to the fact that she had just
    played an unrelated character. Also, no continuity on this show.

    The Original Romana had class, but after the regeneration
    the New Romana didn't have the same presence. That's
    on the director and Lalla's interpretation of the
    character. It just didn't work for me.

    I agree. She could have played a new character.

    . . .
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The True Melissa@thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM to rec.arts.tv on Mon Aug 3 13:58:11 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Verily, in article <114qfq4$1f1p4$2@dont-email.me>, did ahk@chinet.com
    deliver unto us this message:
    Nyssa <Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net> wrote:

    had no control over what they ended up with. That's
    on the writers, but considering what was going on
    behind the scenes (Lalla and Tom Baker being An Item),
    plus the dirt dumped on Mary Tamm as amin mentioned,
    the whole thing stunk.

    The actors had nothing to do with Tamm not being offered a contract for
    the following season. Just stating the obvious.

    Mary Tamm was pregnant. Until fairly recently, pregnant actresses
    usually went on hiatus (or they filmed around it, but that's very
    difficult on an action show).


    Weren't they already broken up? I thought their on screen chemistry
    was good despite off screen crap.

    They married, actually. They were married for only 16 months, but they
    did get through working together without breaking up.

    My understanding is that they didn't start dating until Lalla was
    already on the show as Romana, but I could be wrong there.
    --
    The meek shall inherit, we're told,
    But I'm not so easily sold.
    For supposing they should,
    It would do them no good --
    They'd lose it at once to the bold.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From BTR1701@atropos@mac.com to rec.arts.tv on Mon Aug 3 18:23:19 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On Aug 3, 2026 at 6:21:52 AM PDT, "Nyssa" <Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net> wrote:

    anim8rfsk wrote:

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <1876848247.807338900.318751.anim8rfsk-
    cox.net@news.easynews.com>, did anim8rfsk@cox.net deliver unto us
    this
    message:

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <114ks3m$3kgpj$1@dont-email.me>, did


    I like both Romanas, personally. I don't really have a preference. >>>>>

    A friend of mine refers to the second faux Ramona as ?the chinless
    wimp?

    What on Earth for? Lalla Ward was a fine Romana.

    She was also a knitwear designer. I own this one:

    https://archive.org/details/bwb_KV-420-412

    She published a few other pattern books as well. I like Jacquard
    knitting in general, so I like her designs.


    I disagree entirely and wholeheartedly, but I admit that a great deal
    of it
    is due to the terrible treatment Mary Tamm received.


    And the whole bit about Romana being able to decide
    who she looks like after a regeneration poked a hole
    into the previously established idea that Time Lords
    had no control over what they ended up with.

    Which then begs the question, if they can control how they appear, then how in the bloody hell did we get the mincing, skirt-wearing Ncuti Gatwa?

    I once did some dog sweaters with intarsia, but that was something
    special for a friend's woofies. When they crossed the Rainbow
    Bridge

    I always liked Stephen King's euphemism in his Dark Tower series: the clearing at the end of the path.


    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From anim8rfsk@anim8rfsk@cox.net to rec.arts.tv on Mon Aug 3 11:30:17 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Nyssa <Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net> wrote:
    anim8rfsk wrote:

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <1876848247.807338900.318751.anim8rfsk-
    cox.net@news.easynews.com>, did anim8rfsk@cox.net deliver unto us
    this
    message:

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <114ks3m$3kgpj$1@dont-email.me>, did


    I like both Romanas, personally. I don't really have a preference.


    A friend of mine refers to the second faux Ramona as ?the chinless
    wimp?

    What on Earth for? Lalla Ward was a fine Romana.

    She was also a knitwear designer. I own this one:

    https://archive.org/details/bwb_KV-420-412

    She published a few other pattern books as well. I like Jacquard
    knitting in general, so I like her designs.


    I disagree entirely and wholeheartedly, but I admit that a great deal
    of it
    is due to the terrible treatment Mary Tamm received.


    And the whole bit about Romana being able to decide
    who she looks like after a regeneration poked a hole
    into the previously established idea that Time Lords
    had no control over what they ended up with.

    And she tried on several regenerations for size, all of which were female

    That's
    on the writers, but considering what was going on
    behind the scenes (Lalla and Tom Baker being An Item),
    plus the dirt dumped on Mary Tamm as amin mentioned,
    the whole thing stunk.

    The Original Romana had class, but after the regeneration
    the New Romana didn't have the same presence. That's
    on the director and Lalla's interpretation of the
    character. It just didn't work for me.

    As fpr Beastly Knits, they're cute, but not my style.
    I do some intarsia knitting, but usually only for
    socks or Nordic style designs. I once did some dog
    sweaters with intarsia, but that was something special
    for a friend's woofies. When they crossed the Rainbow
    Bridge, my friend donated the sweaters to her local
    no-kill shelter.

    That's enough from me for a Monday morning. :)

    Nyssa, who is facing another hot and humid day of rain
    and thunderboomers

    No rain here but itrCOs 117-#F.
    --
    The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From anim8rfsk@anim8rfsk@cox.net to rec.arts.tv on Mon Aug 3 11:30:19 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <114q4oc$1bdte$1@dont-email.me>, did Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net deliver unto us this message:
    And the whole bit about Romana being able to decide
    who she looks like after a regeneration poked a hole
    into the previously established idea that Time Lords
    had no control over what they ended up with.

    Yeah, Douglas Adams thought it would be funny and now we're all stuck
    with it. Something inside the TARDIS appears to have killed Romana, and neither she nor the Doctor seem even slightly fussed about it.


    That's
    on the writers, but considering what was going on
    behind the scenes (Lalla and Tom Baker being An Item),
    plus the dirt dumped on Mary Tamm as amin mentioned,
    the whole thing stunk.

    Well, that's certainly news. The standard story is that Mary Tamm chose
    to leave due to her pregnancy, and she recommended Lalla Ward (a friend)
    as her replacement.

    IrCOve seen Tamm interviewed about it. She was not pregnant at the time and
    she was dumped unceremoniously and never told why.


    Ward and Baker did date while they were both working on the show, but
    the standard timeline says that she was hired first.


    The Original Romana had class, but after the regeneration
    the New Romana didn't have the same presence. That's
    on the director and Lalla's interpretation of the
    character. It just didn't work for me.

    That's certainly your prerogative, but I like both Romanas and will
    respond when I see baseless insults.


    --
    The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From anim8rfsk@anim8rfsk@cox.net to rec.arts.tv on Mon Aug 3 11:50:10 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net> wrote:
    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <114q4oc$1bdte$1@dont-email.me>, did
    Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net deliver unto us this message:
    And the whole bit about Romana being able to decide
    who she looks like after a regeneration poked a hole
    into the previously established idea that Time Lords
    had no control over what they ended up with.

    Yeah, Douglas Adams thought it would be funny and now we're all stuck
    with it. Something inside the TARDIS appears to have killed Romana, and
    neither she nor the Doctor seem even slightly fussed about it.


    That's
    on the writers, but considering what was going on
    behind the scenes (Lalla and Tom Baker being An Item),
    plus the dirt dumped on Mary Tamm as amin mentioned,
    the whole thing stunk.

    Well, that's certainly news. The standard story is that Mary Tamm chose
    to leave due to her pregnancy, and she recommended Lalla Ward (a friend)
    as her replacement.

    IrCOve seen Tamm interviewed about it. She was not pregnant at the time and she was dumped unceremoniously and never told why.


    From Wikipedia

    rCLTamm left the programme after only one season because she felt that the character had reverted to the traditional assistant role and could not be developed further.[11][12] In a 2007 interview, she stated that she was
    willing to shoot a regeneration sequence to allow a smooth transition
    between her tenure and that of her eventual successor (Lalla Ward), but was
    not invited to do so.[13] One source states that pregnancy was the reason
    that she was not asked to return, which Tamm denied as a false rumour
    invented by producer John Nathan-Turner.[14][15]rCY

    [14]"MaryTamm Official Website rCo Mary Tamm in Dr Who". MaryTamm.com.
    Archived from the original on 6 January 2010.

    [15]Rawson-Jones, Ben (19 October 2009). "Doctor Who Interview: Mary Tamm". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 July 2012.


    Ward and Baker did date while they were both working on the show, but
    the standard timeline says that she was hired first.


    The Original Romana had class, but after the regeneration
    the New Romana didn't have the same presence. That's
    on the director and Lalla's interpretation of the
    character. It just didn't work for me.

    That's certainly your prerogative, but I like both Romanas and will
    respond when I see baseless insults.





    --
    The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The True Melissa@thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM to rec.arts.tv on Mon Aug 3 14:57:47 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Verily, in article <1727555575.807475536.232150.anim8rfsk- cox.net@news.easynews.com>, did anim8rfsk@cox.net deliver unto us this message:
    ?Tamm left the programme after only one season because she felt that the character had reverted to the traditional assistant role and could not be developed further.[11][12] In a 2007 interview, she stated that she was willing to shoot a regeneration sequence to allow a smooth transition
    between her tenure and that of her eventual successor (Lalla Ward), but was not invited to do so.[13] One source states that pregnancy was the reason that she was not asked to return, which Tamm denied as a false rumour invented by producer John Nathan-Turner.[14][15]?


    That does sound like people were arguing. Then again, when aren't they?
    Just recently, we were all shocked that the cast of Blue Bloods actually
    like each other.
    --
    The meek shall inherit, we're told,
    But I'm not so easily sold.
    For supposing they should,
    It would do them no good --
    They'd lose it at once to the bold.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Nyssa@Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net to rec.arts.tv on Tue Aug 4 12:59:14 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    anim8rfsk wrote:

    Nyssa <Nyssa@LogicalInsight.net> wrote:
    anim8rfsk wrote:

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <1876848247.807338900.318751.anim8rfsk-
    cox.net@news.easynews.com>, did anim8rfsk@cox.net deliver unto us
    this
    message:

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <114ks3m$3kgpj$1@dont-email.me>, did


    I like both Romanas, personally. I don't really have a
    preference.


    A friend of mine refers to the second faux Ramona as ?the
    chinless
    wimp?

    What on Earth for? Lalla Ward was a fine Romana.

    She was also a knitwear designer. I own this one:

    https://archive.org/details/bwb_KV-420-412

    She published a few other pattern books as well. I like Jacquard
    knitting in general, so I like her designs.


    I disagree entirely and wholeheartedly, but I admit that a great
    deal
    of it
    is due to the terrible treatment Mary Tamm received.


    And the whole bit about Romana being able to decide
    who she looks like after a regeneration poked a hole
    into the previously established idea that Time Lords
    had no control over what they ended up with.

    And she tried on several regenerations for size, all of which were
    female

    That's
    on the writers, but considering what was going on
    behind the scenes (Lalla and Tom Baker being An Item),
    plus the dirt dumped on Mary Tamm as amin mentioned,
    the whole thing stunk.

    The Original Romana had class, but after the regeneration
    the New Romana didn't have the same presence. That's
    on the director and Lalla's interpretation of the
    character. It just didn't work for me.

    As fpr Beastly Knits, they're cute, but not my style.
    I do some intarsia knitting, but usually only for
    socks or Nordic style designs. I once did some dog
    sweaters with intarsia, but that was something special
    for a friend's woofies. When they crossed the Rainbow
    Bridge, my friend donated the sweaters to her local
    no-kill shelter.

    That's enough from me for a Monday morning. :)

    Nyssa, who is facing another hot and humid day of rain
    and thunderboomers

    No rain here but itrCOs 117-#F.

    Too bad you can't bottle up that heat and sent it
    to me when I'm shivering this winter. :)

    Or sell the bottles on ebay as foot warmers.

    Nyssa, who has overcast, murky, sticky humidity,
    but the temperature is a lot lower than 117

    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From anim8rfsk@anim8rfsk@cox.net to rec.arts.tv on Tue Aug 4 23:04:00 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:
    Verily, in article <1727555575.807475536.232150.anim8rfsk- cox.net@news.easynews.com>, did anim8rfsk@cox.net deliver unto us this message:
    ?Tamm left the programme after only one season because she felt that the
    character had reverted to the traditional assistant role and could not be
    developed further.[11][12] In a 2007 interview, she stated that she was
    willing to shoot a regeneration sequence to allow a smooth transition
    between her tenure and that of her eventual successor (Lalla Ward), but was >> not invited to do so.[13] One source states that pregnancy was the reason
    that she was not asked to return, which Tamm denied as a false rumour
    invented by producer John Nathan-Turner.[14][15]?


    That does sound like people were arguing. Then again, when aren't they?
    Just recently, we were all shocked that the cast of Blue Bloods actually like each other.


    One thing we can agree on is that no part of the timeline makes sense. When
    the Dr and the second Romana started dating or when the first Romana
    actually got pregnant (she had a daughter in November 1979).
    --
    The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2