Doctor Who is an interesting show, both in terms of content and origins. The BBC has posted some of the original documents highlighting the origin of the show and its characters.

Doctor Who wasn't created by an individual. Rather, it was created by committee which included Sydney Newman, who was Head of Drama of the BBC at the time. As a result, the show is owned out-and-out by the BBC and no individual gets any royalties for the fundamental show (although individuals are credited with the creation of certain alien villains, such as the Daleks).

Concepts such as regeneration and Gallifrey were added later by various writers (even the Doctor's nemesis The Master was created by a group of writers for the show's 8th season). It's interesting how the memos between BBC executive describe him as an amnesiac from the future. That concept was obviously abandoned later.

It's a wonderful history lesson and gives some insight into a circumstance where television executives actually create something lasting and meaningful.

According to Scifi Wire, the NBC show Heroes has been given a return date of September 15th of this year. However, the proposed spin-off series titled Heroes: Origins has been canceled before it was even broadcast.

As they have done with many shows, NBC plans to kick off the new season by showing a one-hour clip show. This will be followed by a two-hour season premiere. That's three hours of Heroes in one night. That's enough to cause a brain aneurysm for the more ardent Heroes fans.

Hey, Brigitte here with TV Squad Daily. I'll be covering the TV stories I find interesting each day, Monday through Friday, in this video blog.

Today on TV Squad Daily:

• More charity for the Spice Girls reunion tour, and I feel myself turning on Posh.
• You know that NBC Heroes spinoff you just heard about? Um, nevermind.
  
• Here's what the possible writer's strike would affect first.

The video's embedded below, or you can subscribe to this podcast via our feed. Plus, you can also download the file directly.

Production of one of the more highly anticipated shows on the NBC schedule, Heroes: Origins, has been put on hold. Apparently, due to fears of a pending writers' strike. Or, maybe not.

According to The Hollywood Reporter the Heroes spin-off will not be receiving its six-episode run, which was to begin in April of 2008. While NBC hasn't officially said that the series is canceled producers have not been given a date when it would be put on the schedule. During the network upfronts held last May it was mentioned that Origins would be spelling its older sibling during a late-season hiatus.

The Heroes Comic-Con panel was jam-packed - so jam-packed that I almost didn't make it in despite getting in line three hours before it kicked-off. Fortunately, I squeaked in for the last 2/3 of the event - just in time to catch the announcement that none other than Kevin Smith would write and direct the first episode of Heroes: Origins, the mid-season replacement spin-off that will feature six episodes introducing six new characters. Viewers will decide which character joins the full-time Heroes cast. Each Origins episode will be directed by a different auteur. We'll be getting more announcements about the talent line-up for Origins in the coming months.

NBC had a special event on the set of Heroes today to announce that they're going global ... literally. The cast and creators will be traveling to at least seven major cities to promote the first season of the show in places it hasn't premiered yet. Although according to Tim Kring it's been watched (sometimes illegally, *gasp*) worldwide over the internet. Cities confirmed so far are: Toyko, Hong Kong, Singapore, Munich, Paris, London, and New York. We're fairly sure they've heard of it in New York City, call us crazy.

Nissan will be sponsoring the tour, which will also be going green in an effort to "reduce the carbon footprint," Kring said, although he wasn't quite sure how, since jets and cars eat are on the forefront of global polluting. Maybe they can bike around Europe? That'd be a nice special feature on next season's DVD. Greg Grunberg, who plays the mind-reading Matt Parkman, said he was visiting Paris with his wife recently, and the show hasn't even premiered on the air there. However, he had people coming up to him left and right who recognized him from seeing the show on their computers. Sacrebleu!