As most of the nerd-world no doubt already knows, the next Doctor Who is going Matt Smith. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this choice–a few minutes watching the video at the link show him to have that “young and old at once” quality the producers praise him for–but let’s face facts: this our 11th slim, white, male doctor. 11th. The closest we’ve had toward some sort of variety has been Troughton and McCoy’s height and Eccelston’s accent. That is to say, not very much at all.

While it’s clearly too much to ask for anyone other than a skinny pale man to helm the TARDIS, I feel that the producers missed out on a real opportunity here. Granted, Smith may be the second coming of Tom Baker, but I still can’t help but feel jealous of the alternate worlds where the 11th Doctor is not Smith but the rumored front runner, Patterson Joseph.

Or for that matter, Lenny Henry, who has had Doctor experience:
That should count for something.

My personal choice, however, has always been and always will be Emma Thompson.

But if our Doctor must be pasty and penis-bearing, can we at least get a change of pace? I mean, I know the Doctor is the ultimate nerd, but do would it kill the producers to play against type? I mean, how awesome would a Jason Statham be in the role?

“I reversed the polarity of the neutron flow, then I kicked the bastards in the face. Standard Time Lord Procedure.”