On Saturday, July 19th, 2014, the Coliseum of Comics played host to Paul McGann, the actor who played the eighth Doctor Who. The Doctor’s Orlando visit was also made possible by a local Doctor Who themed convention, Hurricane Who, which featured a one day convention in the area on Sunday, July 20, 2014, with Paul McGann as its headlining convention guest.
Paul McGann’s visit was also made special by the presence of a life size Tardis, which was supplied by another local Orlando comic shop and Hurricane Who supporter, the Comic Connection, where the Tardis rests on a regular day to day basis.
The Saturday crowd at the Coliseum of Comics patiently stood in the long line, while composing their excitement to meet the delightfully charming, witty and very accommodating English-born McGann. His many adoring fans who came out to see the Doctor were, like myself; so very grateful to him for being what every fan always wishes an actor they meet to be, one hell of a nice guy!
He gave everyone a very special few minutes, had something nice to say and talk about with each and every fan, was so very generous and genuinely seemed appreciative of those who came out just to meet him! He even stayed a few extra minutes after everyone had finished waiting in line for his youngest fan of the day who just wanted to say hi to one of his favorite Doctors!
By the time it became my turn to be in front of the broadly smiling Doctor, he gave me a firm handshake and asked how I was before chatting a bit as if there was no one waiting behind. Ever grateful for his warmth, I then slid my photo in front of him to be personalized and was pleasantly surprised to see that he good heartedly approved and thought my request to be funny, quite novel and unique. So with the Doctor’s approval, he signed my photo with a smile and willingness that made the fan-boy in me smile with glee.
The good Doctor then looked up at me and smiled as he handed my newly prized possession and asked, “Shall we take a photo?” Giving my camera to and thanking one of his two very pretty assistants, I turned to him and before posing for the photo I asked, “Where you always a fan of Doctor Who before becoming the Doctor yourself?”
He looked at me with a smile and look of recognition that only another fan would recognize as he said, “Oh absolutely!” before putting his arm around me for the pending photo, and continuing on, “Every day after school when I was a kid, I would come home and watch Doctor Who. But then again,” he paused as he looked at me with a devilish grin before continuing, “there were only three channels so . . .” and before he could finish his thought I chimed in right along with him knowing what he was going to say, “everyone was a fan!” we both said as we laughed and posed for our photo together.
I then thanked him and as he shook my hand, he said how nice it was to meet me and then turned to the next Whovian in line eagerly waiting to meet him, and it really seemed as if he just as genuinely thankful to meet each of us that day, as we were to meet him. And as I turned away after having met one of the nicest Time Lords a Sci-Fi reporter could meet, I read the words he was so willing to write for me on his Doctor Who photo,
“Tye shall be excused from work as needed . . .
The Doctor”
Written By: Tye Bourdony
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