50 years ago today, "Dr. Who" first aired.

At 2:50 our time, they ran a salute; "The Day of the Doctor" in which Doctors 10 and 11 work together with John Hurt (as the Doctor regeneration he doesn't talk about).

It was EPIC and will be re-run on BBC America at 7:00 PM (EST)

Anybody else here seen it?

Yup.

I really liked it, too. Won't give any spoilers, but it was awesome.

I watched it twice

John Hurt is now on my list of favorites.

Cracking bit of telly!
A little sneaky peek at the next doctor as well.
If you don't know of Peter Capaldi, the next doctor, look at
him here..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MSScBIopM8
Contains industrial language, but shows him as a compelling
character actor.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25076912

One thing that dawns on me, if John Hurt is in fact a "legitimate Doctor," then Peter Capaldi would be the "13th" (i.e., the last) regeneration of the Doctor. When he leaves, it's going to take some massive re-write to get another Doctor there.

(I'm kinda hoping for a female Doctor the next time around.)

I suspect that's one reason they had to bring the Time Lords back. It's already been established in the older series' that the Time Lords can bestow a further cycle of regenerations.

-OR-

It just dawned on me that there is a female clone of the Doctor running around. They could shift the series over to her.
(The half-human clone grown from the Doctor's severed hand is stuck in the parallel dimention with Rose.)

Saw it, yes. Wonderful.

Gonna giggle, or gossip spoilers... No

there's a short prequel aired a few days earlier that adds to the event.

for the fans... A question: only thirteen?

In the classic series, it's established that Time Lords are allowed 12 regenerations, assuming the Time Lord has a life before the first regeneration, there would be 13 lives. This was downplayed in the reboot. I'm not certain if it's still "canon."

Moffat has confirmed that it is still canon. However, in the classic series the Time Lord council was able to grant the Master another cycle of regenerations as a reward for helping the Doctor once. Since they have this ability it is my belief that this was the reason they needed to save Gallifrey. My prediction is that he will be granted more regenerations as a reward for saving the planet and ending the Time War, once he finds the planet.

There's a Sarah Jane episode that addresses the regeneration count question.
RTD also comments about the number in context in an interview. Myth to text?
Also he is the president of the high council, so if it's a policy matter ...

Anyway - about this story, why only thirteen?

I don't understand your question.

Moffat has confirmed that it's still set in stone at 12 regenerations. The standard notion is that the line in Sarah Jane Chronicles was said as a joke.

I watched it and loved every minute of it. It was truely great

Let's presume for a moment that the show will be around for a while. Why not fifty or more?

Also if you recall Ms Pond did give away several regenerations back in Berlin after asking her mother if he was worth it.

The cannon or not on the high number was addressed by RTD. Tragic for fiction to take on dogmatism - but at least it's a safe place to see the effect in action.

All I know is what I've heard Moffat say as the guy currently running the show. He said that rules are important in sci-fi and this is one he won't break because he thinks purists would have his head on a stick. He also said that the he found the solution to the regeneration problem whilst watching classic Who and it will be addressed very soon. The only one I know of in classic Who that got more regenerations was The Master, who got them from the Time Lord Council when his expired. So if Moffat is to be believed then I think that's why they're bringing back Gallifrey. But rule #1 is that Moffat lies, so who knows? Moffat.

Here's the full RTD interview for context on that one:
http://www.sfx.co.uk/2010/10/26/intervie......es-line/