NOT YOUR FATHER'S... II: NOT YOUR FATHER'S WHO?

The name of the new assistant of the Doctor in Doctor Who has been revealed (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8073734.stm): Scottish actress Karen Gillan, aged 21, will be alongside the 11th Doctor Matt Smith (26), in the fifth series of the modern Doctor Who, helmed by the great Steven Moffat.

Well, without any kind of disrespect to Ms Gillan, it's obvious now that the targeted demographics of the new series is clearly younger than those of previous years. In this era of "reboot mania" and triumphant "bold, beautiful, young and restless" vampire/human love stories, we cannot get rid of the impression that, after all, old fans of 20th century franchises can always view their DVDs (don't even mention VHS) in the common room of their nursing home.

We trust "the Moff" enough to believe that Doctor Who will not get the CW treatment. Matt Smith is able to deliver a dashing Doctor and we've not seen enough of Karen Gillan to have an opinion. But the pressure on the production team and on the newcomers will now be higher than ever. Remember what happened when the Beeb tried to mix Skins with Spooks. Try to remember...

Update: Read the interesting reactions on Digital Spy (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a157535/the-doctors-new-companion-thoughts.html). One reader, Jerry, asks if the BBC is trying to create their version of Edward and Bella from Twilight. Twilight, again...

NOT YOUR FATHER'S STAR TREK

Frank Collins offers us a great review of the Star Trek movie directed by J.J. Abrams, on his Cathode Ray Tube blog(http://cathoderaytube.blogspot.com/2009/05/star-trek-imax-manchester.html). A blog I absolutely adore and I would have a lot of difficulties to deny it as... Well, you'll see (thanks again for that, Frank).

Personally, I've been a little puzzled - to say the least - by some declarations of Abrams (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/a155165/jj-abrams-trek-felt-camp-and-silly.html or http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/a147927/abrams-new-star-trek-not-for-trekkies.html) or by the "This is not your father's Star Trek". But as the man is responsible of what I consider one of the best action thrillers ever, Mission Impossible III (the most faithful to the 1966 television series), my vote will be of confidence - I've not seen the new Trek yet.

The choice to introduce the franchise to a new and younger audience with the highest respect to the original movies seems to pay at the box office, according to the analysis of Nikki Finke in Deadline Hollywood Daily (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/weekend-prediction-star-trek-65m/) - read Nikki for the updates. Now we can imagine that rival studios will greenlight similar projects: a reboot of Lost In Space with a RSC actor as Doctor Smith, a Forbidden Planet remake with the cast of Chuck (tagline: "It's not your grandfather's Forbidden Planet"), Andromeda - The Movie, or 007 could go to space... er, no, already done. Someday a lemming will fly.

As I'm a father and as I appreciate Star Trek, please allow me to mention my 2005 interview of Mr Nicholas Meyer, author of the two best movies of the Trek franchise (http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2008/05/nicholas-meyer.html). But the only reboot my daughter can consider at the moment is the new Noddy series.