Lookin' for a hero...

Tom "The Fourth Doctor" Baker

Maybe if the United States of America had cooler superheroes, we'd lose our appetite for demagogues in media and politics.

Consider the following remarks of Tom Baker, who was—to my mind—the greatest Doctor Who of all time, in an interview broadcast on Australian television in the mid-1970s:

ABC Television Australia: Now, with the advent of Superman coming back to the big screen, do you think there’s ever a chance that Doctor Who and Superman may run into each other?

Tom Baker: Well that’s a nice idea, but what would be the point? I mean, Superman wouldn’t be any opposition, would he, because… well…

ABC Television Australia: You both have a sort of similarity with phone boxes, though, don’t you?

Tom Baker: Ah, yes, but that’s the only way. I suppose Superman only uses a phone box because, you know, he’s rather prudish and modest, isn't he, and doesn’t want to take his knickers off in public. But I think compared to the character of Doctor Who, he’s a bit of a bonehead, Superman? I mean, he punches things out, doesn't he?

ABC Television Australia: He certainly does.

Tom Baker: Whereas the character I’m involved with tries to think it out.

Music to my ears. It's high time that someone came up with an American superhero of the caliber of Doctor Who. We ain't got nuthin'.