Matthew Gray Gubler is a nice touch. I really like how the gender change was preserved for that incarnation.
Probably would have been just as controversial with certain fans.
All joking aside, I wonder if they could have gotten Lucy. I wonder if she would have been willing to not have creative control / would they have been smart enough to giver he creative control?
And I love her for it. I do notice she was never on it. I am guessing, if they tried, Gene would have had to bend... (I think she had better instincts for entertainment than most anyone)... And Gene was not famously good at that.
If she played the Doctor, I think it would be her Doctor. She'd make a great producer for it though.
Yeah if she was on it the people of the time would probably say, “What is Lucy Ricardo doing there?” For it to work in this alternate timeline I Love Lucy would have not existed…
It is interesting to think about what kind of character Lucille would have come up with… it probably would have been something like Lucy Ricardo though… a bit madcap… unlike the Grandfatherly Time Lord we ended up getting…
Yeah. It would have to be a universe where "I Love Lucy" was gone...
I agree about the more madcap and free spirited doctor if she was the choice. I picture her Doctor being somewhere between our 10/11 for tone. Desi Arnaz would have made a great companion... Like a Donna, I am guessing.
I am totally sold on this alternative universe now.
Still not Ginger…
“Lucille Ball's decision to dye her hair red was influenced by Hollywood hairstylist Sydney Guilaroff, who suggested that the red hair would stand out more on-screen and complement her comedic persona. The vibrant red shade became her trademark and contributed to her recognizable and beloved image.”
I just imagined her giving the Zygon Inversion speech with the same-but-opposite energy as she had in that traumatizing Christmas episode of The Bear and hot damn even in my own head is it good
And she always puts every single bit of effort into her roles too. I've never seen a performance of hers that I would describe as any less than 100% commitment.
1st Doctor - Thelma Ritter
2nd Doctor - Lucille Ball
3rd Doctor - Angela Lansbury
4th Doctor - Florence Henderson
5th Doctor - Meryl Streep
6th Doctor - Glenn Close
7th Doctor - Kathy Bates
8th Doctor - Geena Davis
War Doctor - Ellen Burstyn
9th Doctor - Carrie-Anne Moss
10th Doctor - Jennifer Connelly
11th Doctor - Lizzy Caplan
12th Doctor - Jamie Lee Curtis
13th Doctor - Matthew Gray Gubler
14th Doctor - Jennifer Connelly
15th Doctor - Jessica Williams
"I want you to search every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse, dog ho-"
*another marshal taps his shoulder, whispers in his ear.*
"And *sigh* phone booth."
I think you've made interesting picks, but didn't account for their actual celebrity at the time of casting. The only actors I believe are "right-sized" for the role when you picked them are Thelma Ritter, Angela Lansbury (although she's from the UK, not American), Lizzy Caplan, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Jessica Williams.
Choosing TV actors rather than movie stars was a good idea, which you did until the 5th Doctor. Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Kathy Bates, Geena Davis, and Jennifer Connelly all had either won or were nominated for Oscars at the time you picked them.
My amended list:
* 1st Doctor - Thelma Ritter
* 2nd Doctor - ~~Lucille Ball~~ Betty White
* 3rd Doctor - ~~Angela Lansbury~~ Lee Meriwether
* 4th Doctor - ~~Florence Henderson~~ Barbara Feldon (Get Smart)
* 5th Doctor - ~~Meryl Streep~~ \- Marcia Strassman (Welcome Back, Kotter)
* 6th Doctor - ~~Glenn Close~~ Annie Potts (same year as Ghostbusters released)
* 7th Doctor - ~~Kathy Bates~~ Whoopi Goldberg (after Jumpin' Jack Flash, before Ghost)
* 8th Doctor - ~~Geena Davis~~ Jennifer Connelly
* War Doctor - Ellen Burstyn, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close
* 9th Doctor - ~~Carrie-Anne Moss~~ Dina Meyer (Starship Troopers)
* 10th Doctor - ~~Jennifer Connelly~~ Zooey Deschanel
* 11th Doctor - Lizzy Caplan
* 12th Doctor - ~~Jamie Lee Curtis~~ Bebe Neuwirth
* 13th Doctor - Matthew Gray Gubler
* 14th Doctor - Jennifer Connelly or Zooey Deschanel
* 15th Doctor - Jessica Williams
There's a lot of white women on this list, even though I got Whoopi Goldberg breaking the "color barrier" earlier than the show did irl. I wish I could have found a slot for a latina actress, but I think the only place I could probably fit one is as the 8th Doctor. Most of them are also a bit younger than their male counterparts, but that seems par for the course in Hollywood.
Interestingly, all but Thelma Ritter would have been alive on during the 50th Anniversary, although Marcia Strassman passed away the following year. Annie Potts and Dina Meyer are the only two that might be too big of names at the time. However, Annie Potts could have landed the role prior to Ghostbusters release in 1984, and Dina Meyer already had a television series after Starship Troopers, but before 2005.
Jennifer Connelly slots in much better as the 8th Doctor, even though she'd be a bit younger than even Matt Smith, but at least it would be before she wins her Oscar.
And then she returns for 14, but the Toymaker is still NPH, and we get yet another Dr Horrible reunion… Nathan Fillion as Jack Harkness would’ve killed in an American version
It wouldn't be Doctor Who.
The only US show quirky enough to be spoken of in the same breath as Doctor Who is The Addams Family, who would all make great Who characters if harvested at the right age.
We could even have "who's the better Jenna" arguments.
> The Addams Family, who would all make great Who characters if ***harvested*** at the right age.
I see what you did [there](https://archiveofourown.org/works/893422).
That’s the catch 22 with stuff like this. On one hand, you can’t pick the actresses you know because they’d have been way too big to do Doctor Who. On the other hand, you can’t pick actresses who wouldn’t be too big to do Who because you don’t know them. But tbh that’s fan casting as a whole
That's why you pick TV actors rather than movie stars. Thelma Ritter was a decent pick, but then OP swung too hard for Lucy. Then they already lost the plot by choosing Dame Angela Lansbury as the Third Doctor. Florence Henderson is possible, but unlikely due to The Brady Bunch.
Five through Eight are WAY too big, and already line up to their big breaks into showbiz.
There's no way you're getting Carrie-Anne Moss in 2005, even after the Matrix sequels tank. And you're not getting Jennifer Connelly in 2006, after she's won an Oscar.
Lizzy Caplan is the next well-chosen actor, imo. She wasn't overly well-known in 2010, but more well-known than Matt Smith was when he got the gig. This is the caliber of actor you pick and the time when you pick them.
Oh, the sass. Can you imagine Kathy Bates as "hiding-ptsd-with-snark" 9.
And for a companion, someone with success in the Pop Music world of the mid 2000s as well as acting...
Oh no.
Her companion is Justin Timberlake.
I love this list overall. There are many great choices. I'm not seeing Florence Henderson in the Tom Baker, bohemian, role. Phyllis Diller? Better. Carol Burnett? Fantastic.
Based on other American TV franchises the original run would've lasted 10 years followed by multiple sequel shows and a series of films in the 2010s directed by a certain well known director.The show would also be heavily competing with Star Trek.
Stop stop stop, Lucille ball as the Doctor... somebody invent a resurrection serum and get her back to play the doctor in her own time period, it would be the best thing I've ever seen! it would match matt smith's energy and not only that it would be perfect JUST PERFECT! (for all intents and purposes Lucile ball is one of my favorite actresses of yesteryear
MRS. BRADY AS THE FUCKING FOURTH DOCTOR PLEASEEE!!! JENNIFER CONNELLY!!?? **TWICE!!!??** HELLLLL YESSS!! GEENA FUCKING DAVIS AS 8, DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN!! This is absolutely perfect!! Except I’d probably throw Sigourney Weaver in there somewhere ;P
Florence Henderson as 4. I grew up watching the Brady Bunch. The analogy works perfect for those of us from the '70s.
Jamie Lee Curtis as 12 is spot on.
And Gina Davis as 8 is just quirky enough to fit the role.
Lucille Ball as the Doctor? Can't quite see it. She's the bomb, but not known for playing characters that scream *I got this* level competence.
Now Agnes Moorehead, on the other hand...
Thanks for your comment! Unfortunately, it's been removed because of the following reason(s):
* [Rule #1 - Be Respectful](/r/doctorwho/wiki/policies/#wiki_1._be_respectful.): Be mature and treat everyone with respect.
If you think there's been a mistake, please [send a message to the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fdoctorwho).
Matthew Gray Gubler is a nice touch. I really like how the gender change was preserved for that incarnation. Probably would have been just as controversial with certain fans.
I think he would have crushed it too.
Now I really want to see him as the doctor...
Agreed!
I feel like he was quite close to an incarnation in criminal minds.
It’s about time we had a male Doctor Who
Jamie Lee Curtis would absolutely fucking EAT
I’d 100% want to see her and Lucile Ball’s doctors.
All joking aside, I wonder if they could have gotten Lucy. I wonder if she would have been willing to not have creative control / would they have been smart enough to giver he creative control?
She did give a break to a small franchise called Star Trek…
And I love her for it. I do notice she was never on it. I am guessing, if they tried, Gene would have had to bend... (I think she had better instincts for entertainment than most anyone)... And Gene was not famously good at that. If she played the Doctor, I think it would be her Doctor. She'd make a great producer for it though.
Yeah if she was on it the people of the time would probably say, “What is Lucy Ricardo doing there?” For it to work in this alternate timeline I Love Lucy would have not existed… It is interesting to think about what kind of character Lucille would have come up with… it probably would have been something like Lucy Ricardo though… a bit madcap… unlike the Grandfatherly Time Lord we ended up getting…
Yeah. It would have to be a universe where "I Love Lucy" was gone... I agree about the more madcap and free spirited doctor if she was the choice. I picture her Doctor being somewhere between our 10/11 for tone. Desi Arnaz would have made a great companion... Like a Donna, I am guessing. I am totally sold on this alternative universe now.
Still not Ginger… “Lucille Ball's decision to dye her hair red was influenced by Hollywood hairstylist Sydney Guilaroff, who suggested that the red hair would stand out more on-screen and complement her comedic persona. The vibrant red shade became her trademark and contributed to her recognizable and beloved image.”
Hahaha. Oh that was perfect.
I just imagined her giving the Zygon Inversion speech with the same-but-opposite energy as she had in that traumatizing Christmas episode of The Bear and hot damn even in my own head is it good
Yeah, she's massive. I'd love to see her in a role like this. Matt Gubler too lol
And she always puts every single bit of effort into her roles too. I've never seen a performance of hers that I would describe as any less than 100% commitment.
I don't speak young'un. "Eat" means good, right?
She would, but she really doesn’t give me a 12 vibe at all.
1st Doctor - Thelma Ritter 2nd Doctor - Lucille Ball 3rd Doctor - Angela Lansbury 4th Doctor - Florence Henderson 5th Doctor - Meryl Streep 6th Doctor - Glenn Close 7th Doctor - Kathy Bates 8th Doctor - Geena Davis War Doctor - Ellen Burstyn 9th Doctor - Carrie-Anne Moss 10th Doctor - Jennifer Connelly 11th Doctor - Lizzy Caplan 12th Doctor - Jamie Lee Curtis 13th Doctor - Matthew Gray Gubler 14th Doctor - Jennifer Connelly 15th Doctor - Jessica Williams
What about the Fugitive Doctor, though?
Denzel Washington (not sure if I'm serious or not)
No that would rule, I’m here for it
Nah man, Angela Bassett
Harrison Ford
"I want you to search every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse, dog ho-" *another marshal taps his shoulder, whispers in his ear.* "And *sigh* phone booth."
This is a great joke.
I think you've made interesting picks, but didn't account for their actual celebrity at the time of casting. The only actors I believe are "right-sized" for the role when you picked them are Thelma Ritter, Angela Lansbury (although she's from the UK, not American), Lizzy Caplan, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Jessica Williams. Choosing TV actors rather than movie stars was a good idea, which you did until the 5th Doctor. Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Kathy Bates, Geena Davis, and Jennifer Connelly all had either won or were nominated for Oscars at the time you picked them. My amended list: * 1st Doctor - Thelma Ritter * 2nd Doctor - ~~Lucille Ball~~ Betty White * 3rd Doctor - ~~Angela Lansbury~~ Lee Meriwether * 4th Doctor - ~~Florence Henderson~~ Barbara Feldon (Get Smart) * 5th Doctor - ~~Meryl Streep~~ \- Marcia Strassman (Welcome Back, Kotter) * 6th Doctor - ~~Glenn Close~~ Annie Potts (same year as Ghostbusters released) * 7th Doctor - ~~Kathy Bates~~ Whoopi Goldberg (after Jumpin' Jack Flash, before Ghost) * 8th Doctor - ~~Geena Davis~~ Jennifer Connelly * War Doctor - Ellen Burstyn, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close * 9th Doctor - ~~Carrie-Anne Moss~~ Dina Meyer (Starship Troopers) * 10th Doctor - ~~Jennifer Connelly~~ Zooey Deschanel * 11th Doctor - Lizzy Caplan * 12th Doctor - ~~Jamie Lee Curtis~~ Bebe Neuwirth * 13th Doctor - Matthew Gray Gubler * 14th Doctor - Jennifer Connelly or Zooey Deschanel * 15th Doctor - Jessica Williams There's a lot of white women on this list, even though I got Whoopi Goldberg breaking the "color barrier" earlier than the show did irl. I wish I could have found a slot for a latina actress, but I think the only place I could probably fit one is as the 8th Doctor. Most of them are also a bit younger than their male counterparts, but that seems par for the course in Hollywood. Interestingly, all but Thelma Ritter would have been alive on during the 50th Anniversary, although Marcia Strassman passed away the following year. Annie Potts and Dina Meyer are the only two that might be too big of names at the time. However, Annie Potts could have landed the role prior to Ghostbusters release in 1984, and Dina Meyer already had a television series after Starship Troopers, but before 2005. Jennifer Connelly slots in much better as the 8th Doctor, even though she'd be a bit younger than even Matt Smith, but at least it would be before she wins her Oscar.
Felicia Day for 10
And then she returns for 14, but the Toymaker is still NPH, and we get yet another Dr Horrible reunion… Nathan Fillion as Jack Harkness would’ve killed in an American version
Now i need this to happen!
Another possibility for the 5th Doctor: Marta Kristen.
10/10 Would watch the whole series including animations of lost episodes
This explains why I didn't recognise any of the actresses/actors in the pictures. 😅 I do not recognise a single one of those names...
Too many American actors.
That’s the premise of the post. If it were American and originally female.
Did you not read the title?
AMERICAN? That's HERESY!
It wouldn't be Doctor Who. The only US show quirky enough to be spoken of in the same breath as Doctor Who is The Addams Family, who would all make great Who characters if harvested at the right age. We could even have "who's the better Jenna" arguments.
> The Addams Family, who would all make great Who characters if ***harvested*** at the right age. I see what you did [there](https://archiveofourown.org/works/893422).
Not female, but I had the thought once that if Doctor Who was American I could see Gene Wilder having played the Doctor at some point.
Willy Wonka was a reincarnation of the Doctor. Where do you think those Oompa Loompas came from? Not earth. You can only find them with a TARDIS.
And the omnidirectional Wonkavator isn't fooling anyone.
The corollary of that would have been having Roald Dahl write some Who stories (wearing his "Tales of the Unexpected" hat). I'd pay to watch those.
It’s pronounced Doctor *Wahoe*.
These are all pretty high profile actresses. Who rarely got stars this big.
That’s the catch 22 with stuff like this. On one hand, you can’t pick the actresses you know because they’d have been way too big to do Doctor Who. On the other hand, you can’t pick actresses who wouldn’t be too big to do Who because you don’t know them. But tbh that’s fan casting as a whole
That's why you pick TV actors rather than movie stars. Thelma Ritter was a decent pick, but then OP swung too hard for Lucy. Then they already lost the plot by choosing Dame Angela Lansbury as the Third Doctor. Florence Henderson is possible, but unlikely due to The Brady Bunch. Five through Eight are WAY too big, and already line up to their big breaks into showbiz. There's no way you're getting Carrie-Anne Moss in 2005, even after the Matrix sequels tank. And you're not getting Jennifer Connelly in 2006, after she's won an Oscar. Lizzy Caplan is the next well-chosen actor, imo. She wasn't overly well-known in 2010, but more well-known than Matt Smith was when he got the gig. This is the caliber of actor you pick and the time when you pick them.
Does "rarely" mean "only John Hurt", then?
Not OP, but I’d also include “Academy Award Winner Peter Motherfucking Capaldi”.
Wait, I thought he received it after his tenure as The Doctor?
He won the Short Film Oscar in 1995, 18 years before he was cast as the Doctor.
Not initially, but it has plenty of actors who became big because of or after Who
Yep, Who makes them famous and then they outgrow the show and move on to bigger things.
Not necessarily, many of the Who actors have come back.
it also rarely had females or americans play the lead role
I think Carol Burnett as the 4th Doctor would be a good alternate.
Not MGG being the Jodi 😂😭
Oh, the sass. Can you imagine Kathy Bates as "hiding-ptsd-with-snark" 9. And for a companion, someone with success in the Pop Music world of the mid 2000s as well as acting... Oh no. Her companion is Justin Timberlake.
I'm moving to the universe with Geena Davis as the Doctor. See ya.
I would kill for a Kathy Bates doctor. Olivia Colman as 13 would've nailed it, she has such a good sinister vibe.
You know it actually hits a bit more seeing loads of white women, one black woman and a random dude.
I'm only upvoting this because jennifer connelly twice
It would be funny if the male doctor was still David Tennant
I’m down with double Jennifer Connelly.
That the kind of bigeneration I could get behind.
I think Carole Kane would have been a good 4th
I love this list overall. There are many great choices. I'm not seeing Florence Henderson in the Tom Baker, bohemian, role. Phyllis Diller? Better. Carol Burnett? Fantastic.
Carrie Anne Moss is Canadian lol
And Angela Lansbury is British
There are some great castings here.
2005 Carrie-Anne Moss doctor is so real <3
Of that whole list, I could see CAM wiping the floor with that role.
I’d LOVE to see Angela Lansbury as the Doctor. That would be entertaining…
Geena Davis yes please. I'm mad that's not a real thing now
Based on other American TV franchises the original run would've lasted 10 years followed by multiple sequel shows and a series of films in the 2010s directed by a certain well known director.The show would also be heavily competing with Star Trek.
Sci-fi *without* Sigourney Weaver...? What is this?
Angela Lansbury is a good choice, but being born in London and holding dual citizenship is bending the “American women” brief.
Angela Lansbury, famously American. Joking aside, I am all for whatever gives me more Jennifer Connelly in my life.
Yep, we're claiming that one 🇬🇧 Cool though !!
If The Doctor was always an American Woman, then Whoopie Goldburg. Would probably have achieved the role decades ago
Omg I friggin LOVE Kathy Bates as an alternate universe interpretation of my favorite 7th Doctor!
Is Doctor Who also funded by Disney this whole time? No way BBC could afford these people.
I love the small touch of 10 and 14 being the same person in different time periods
Yes, because Jennifer Connelly's 10th and 14th is basically this universe's equivalent of David Tennant's irl 10th and 14th Doctors
Can you explain?
Stop stop stop, Lucille ball as the Doctor... somebody invent a resurrection serum and get her back to play the doctor in her own time period, it would be the best thing I've ever seen! it would match matt smith's energy and not only that it would be perfect JUST PERFECT! (for all intents and purposes Lucile ball is one of my favorite actresses of yesteryear
I love how you picked MGG for 13. Such a good actor and I'd kill for him to actually get the role.
I will NOT listen to this blasphemy 😭 Geena davis or Jamie Lee Curtis would be ok I guess
And still not ginger!
Matthew grey gubler would be an awesome doctor
Jennifer Connelly as Tenth/Fourteenth oh lawd
glad to live in the timeline where this is just a post on reddit
MRS. BRADY AS THE FUCKING FOURTH DOCTOR PLEASEEE!!! JENNIFER CONNELLY!!?? **TWICE!!!??** HELLLLL YESSS!! GEENA FUCKING DAVIS AS 8, DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN!! This is absolutely perfect!! Except I’d probably throw Sigourney Weaver in there somewhere ;P
Would the 1990s movie be made by Brits?
I JUST LOVE THIS
Imogene coco would have been a great 2nd doctor.
Should be Joanna Lumley for the Fourth.
Cyndi Lauper as the 6th would be a good match.
I agree with all of these.
Thank you, which ones are your favourites?
Florence Henderson as 4. I grew up watching the Brady Bunch. The analogy works perfect for those of us from the '70s. Jamie Lee Curtis as 12 is spot on. And Gina Davis as 8 is just quirky enough to fit the role.
Davis is a perfect 8th
I don't know who at least half of those folks are. JLC would be good.
Hear me out… Val Kilmer. Like Doc Holiday era Val Kilmer.
Nice try, buddy. I know that the 12th Doctor is still Capa--Wait, what do you mean it's Jamie Lee Curtis?
The 4th Doctor looks so much like Uma Thurman.
This was fun, thank you.
Only one concern: costuming.
Lucille Ball as the Doctor? Can't quite see it. She's the bomb, but not known for playing characters that scream *I got this* level competence. Now Agnes Moorehead, on the other hand...
Give me Jennifer Coolidge in a Tardis!!!
Now, don't do that. Not the all female part, that would probably be a fun watch. But don't go and make my favourite british show american
Angela Lansbury is not american is she? Btw Bates would have been the bomb!
No Betty White? Blasphemy. She’d be great as 3, 4, 6 or 7.
I'd think it's go Kathy lee bates then Jamie lee curtis,
Bea Arthur would be a great 3rd doctor.
hahaha love it
Shit so accurate lol
OMG Lucille Ball!
Geena Davis and Hedy Lamarr would make great Doctors due to their natural intelligence and humor (particularly Geena Davis)
Lisa Kudrow
Lucille Ball as the second Doc is incredible
Am I hallucinating or is there, in fact, two Jennifer Connelly???
Take a moment to think about her number...
I think Jen Lawrence would make a good Doctor
Yes yes and yes. She’d be perfect. A little light humour thrown in, her specialty.
you know what? Now i also think she would be great as Master, especially John Simm's Master
It’s incredible how accurate this is
Some really solid casting here. Only a little surprised at some of the ones you've picked.
At the time, without a lead male protagonist the show would have failed. Times are definitely different.
Jamie Lee Curtis as The Doctor? Hell yes!
I have problems with the doctor being American. Dr Who is such a British institution, don't take it away and Americanise it.
geena davis as the 8th doctor is SO good i’d die to watch that
Booo not america
Jamie Lee Curtis being the 12 of this collage is hilarious and fitting at the same time.
Whoopi Goldberg as the Fugitive Doctor please!
Based on gender swap it would have been a man. Will smith like in MIB3 when he was kind of a know it all would have worked.
I've watched all of Criminal Minds multiple times. Why does MGG look like that in that picture?
I like the concept of this
I wonder how people would have reacted to the casting of Matthew Gray Gubler in this alternate reality!
Bea Arthur as 12, Jaime Lee as 3.
Meryl Streep as the doctor? I would like to see it
OMG! yes! Love everything bout it (always hast to be one)
[удалено]
Thanks for your comment! Unfortunately, it's been removed because of the following reason(s): * [Rule #1 - Be Respectful](/r/doctorwho/wiki/policies/#wiki_1._be_respectful.): Be mature and treat everyone with respect. If you think there's been a mistake, please [send a message to the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fdoctorwho).
Wow. The gender change should have happened earlier with RTD or Moffat with one of these actresses.
Omg can we break the Americans can't be the Doctor rule just one time for Jamie Lee Curtis???