What is the greatest science fiction franchise in the history of television?  That is the kind of question that will incite fisticuffs at comic book stores across the globe!  (And by “fisticuffs” I mean a heated night of HeroClix.)  Nothing annoys a fan more than when you attack his obsession.  A superlative like “greatest sci fi show ever” is asking for trouble.  Well trouble, here I am!

First off, all you Battlestar Galactica fans just settle down.  It’s a great franchise, but not on par with what I’m contemplating.  When you’re talking about television franchise, there are only two possible candidates: Star Trek and Doctor Who.

I encourage you to read the following in the voice of the NFL Films voice over guy.

Tale of the Tape:

Star Trek

• born 1966
• 6 series (OG, Animated, TNG, DS9, Voyager, Enterprise)
• 30 combined seasons
• 726 episodes
• over 530 hours of TV
• 11 big screen Hollywood movies

Doctor Who

• born 1963
• 30 seasons
• 3 spin-offs (K-9, Torchwood, Sarah Jane Adventures)
• 756 episodes
• over 350 hours of TV ( not including spin-offs)
• 27 missing episodes
• 11 Doctors

It is impossible to deny the impressive body of work on both sides.  My conservative estimate, with say a 16 hour viewing day, is that it would take you in the neighborhood of 55 days to watch all of both.  Throw in specials and movies, you’ve got a two month sociology project.  Even with it’s missing episodes, Who still outpaces Trek by 3 and that lead is expanding faster than a Tholian Web.  Winner: Doctor Who

Expanded Universe:

This is where you can really see the impact of a franchise.  How many products can it make money off of?  I love the line of Who toys available today, especially the Face of Boe, but Trek is bested only by Star Wars in the sheer volume of toys and props produced.  Books is another area where both franchises offer various products, but again, Trek has literally thousands of titles available.  Toss in cookie jars, ornaments, stuffed animals, wine, and even lottery tickets, Trek is a marketing juggernaut.  Winner: Star Trek

Fans:

Nothing defines a franchise like it’s loyal legion of devoted followers.  Trekkies are the absolute most devoted of them all!  (And no, I won’t call you Trekkers.  It’s Trekkie because that is what Roddenberry called you.  When the creator of your universe dubs you something, you stick with it!!)  From conventions to costuming to obsessive nitpicking of facts, no fan is like the Trekkie.  They learn Klingon, the language.  They form bands.  They even made 2 documentaries just about them!  What do you call a Who fan?  A Who-head?  Winner: Star Trek

Cast:

Listen David Tennant, you’re genius.  I will buy you a beer at any pub of your choosing any day of any year.  Tom Baker, you’re awesome and the list goes on, but this is a slam dunk.  Star Trek‘s casts are legendary; household names and icons.  Captain Picard just got knighted for heaven’s sake!  Winner: Star Trek

Villains:

Star Trek is famous for its large collection of aliens and bad guys.  We’re all aware of the greatness of Khan.  We know the Klingons, the Cardassians, and the biggest Trek-verse badass, The Borg.  Who offers up a number of equally interesting villains like the Sontarans, the Autons, Cybermen, The Master, and the Who-verse big bad, Daleks.  I’d sure love to see a Borg cube take on a couple pissed off Daleks someday.  “Assimilate!”  “No, exterminate!!”  One will make me part of their hive while the other will just kill me.  Hmmm…  Winner: Doctor Who

Data or K-9:

Uh….. draw?

Vehicles:

At one spaceship, the good Doctor might seem outclassed in this category.  But that one ship is the TARDIS and it is amazing.  Time travel capable, chameleon function (even though broken), bigger on the inside, and a cool “whooshing” noise whenever it appears.  Some of the Trek ships are beautiful, but when it comes down to it, I’d rather have a TARDIS than a shuttlecraft.  Winner: Doctor Who

Where They Stand Today:

J.J. Abrams has woken Trek out of the coma Enterprise put it in with a big screen reboot of the original crew.  It is a wonderful movie and might lead to Trek‘s return to TV in the next decade with a whole new generation of fans.  But it’s not on now.  Doctor Who is a TV behemoth  as we speak.  Coming off a huge 10th Doctor send off, it is gearing up for a new season as is spin-off Torchwood.  Winner: Doctor Who

Who is the overall winner?  We are.  What, you think I’m taking sides on this one?  No way!  I am a Trekkie and I love Star Trek.  But I also love Doctor Who, one of the greatest characters ever conceived.  The shows share so much and have survived so long they are equally superb.  Trek has had a bigger global impact for sure; more successful in more areas and more recognizable, but don’t count our favorite Galifreyan out yet.  Doctor Who‘s relaunch in 2005 has boosted him into more homes than ever before, sparking new interest in the series overall.  Winner: draw!!