Well well - Doctor Who! I am a big time Doctor Who fan and was an officer in the now defunct Doctor Who Club called "United Whovians of Tucson" for many years. Additionally, I have actually attended Doctor Who conventions in California on occassion.
As cat said, The doctor (no, his name is not "who") - is a timelord from a planet called Gallifrey. The original actor, William Hartnell had to retire (he was very elderly) and the series was a HUGE success in England (during the 60's) so to keep the show going, they developed a trait called "regeneration" wherein the doctor turns into someone else every few hundred years. The series ran for many years and ended in the early 1990's. A US tv movie was made in 2000 where the doctor came to earth for the turn of the century and saved earth.
Basically the doctor travels with from one to three "companions" who are usually earth people (but not always) that he picks up from here and there. He has a soft spot for earthlings. He dashes around and saves the universe - he is actually somewhat mysterious. He is the Lord High President of Gallifrey, his own planet.
The new series is very slick and fun - updated, with a young and charismatic doctor - it is quite popular both in the UK and here, as well as in Australia. I like it a lot, but prefer the older, corny ones - but I am older myself, so that is probably why!
Try an episode - you might like it!
The main character is known at The Doctor. He's part of a race called the "Timelords". He can't die, he just like becomes "reborn" and which is when a new actor takes his place. Which is why there are like 15 different doctors. He solves disturbances in time. Since he's a Time Lord he knows when something shouldn't be there or should be there but is not and he fixes it so that history plays out like it should.
-nod nod-
