Virgin launches web based sci fi drama, ‘Dr Hoo’
Virgin have created their own online sci-fi drama, Dr Hoo. Yes, I know what it sounds like.
Dr. Hoo follows a manic depressive form Wales who has a multi-personality disorder. His name is David Raymond Hugh but he prefers to pronounce his surname as ‘Hoo’. Hoo is an ecologically conscious vegetarian on a mission to save himself and the world. He is helped by Zara, his sexy sidekick who just might be a figment of his imagination.
Everything unfolds inside Hoo’s garage in Borehamwood on the outskirts of central London…at least until (and if) they ever get out, so the blurb on the Virgin website goes.
Dr Hoo is played by Ian Hart who many will recognize as Professor Quirinus Quirrell from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Zara is played by Elaine Cassidy who you will be able to see in CBS’s upcoming television horror series, Harper’s Island. She was also in The Lost World amongst others.
Ian Hart & Elaine Cassidy star in Virgin's 'Dr. Hoo'
The series has no relation to Doctor Who, although in what might be a humorous twist of fate, the name of its writer/creator/director is Stephen Lord. Yes, I’m referring to his surname of course. I’m sure in conversation it’s going to get mighty confusing though.
Whilst Dr. Hoo has been released as an online web drama, it is only available within the UK. International fans can only wonder what it’s about. But if you are an international kind of person, don’t worry, even UK fans who have watched it are still wondering what it’s about. It is odd to say the least.
I’m not really quite sure of the thinking behind releasing an online series and limiting the audience to only a local region. It’s like being given an ocean liner and sticking it in a pond. Ok that’s a very loose analogy but you get the drift. The internet is a worldwide market. Online series such as Virgin’s Dr. Hoo and Joss Whedon’s Dr. Horrible, just to name two, should be aiming to capitalize on this truth, just as Brett Register has with his ‘Star Trek meets The Office‘ sci fi comedy The Crew. The Crew is one online series that doesn’t try to constrain itself to a regional market and as a result is already becoming immensely popular around the world.
It’s not rocket science. A series open to a world-wide market is going to do significantly better than one that isn’t. In fact, I’d go as far as to say constraining your web series is like releasing a movie in one country whilst all the other potential customers located in different countries resort to downloading it from torrent sites. By the time you release it internationally, the damage is already done. I fail to see why this needs to be a problem with web-based series. It’s another case of letting financial based protectionary-thinking retard your real capacity to reap financial reward.
If you’re in the UK, check out Dr. Hoo. If you’re not, stick with The Crew.
jason: 
Paul: 
Coijo e tal: 
VinceC: 
beth: 
sasss: 
March 6th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Par for the course — I’m outside the UK, so no access to the webisodes. So, I gather Richard Burgi’s in this, playing some (presumably nefarious) personage known as The Shadow? Any details available? Ta!
March 7th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Yes, Burgi is The Shadow. Can’t tell you much more than that, but he does make an appearance in the Doctor Hoo Music Video that’s floating around, look for him:
March 8th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Thanks, Darren –
Definitely one of the more unusual roles, judging from the “Darth Shadow” routine with Agent Smart choking while — presumably — being spectrally throttled. (That, or he got ahold of some stale biccies…)