K-9 and Company: A Girl's Best Friend (1981) (TV)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

John Black

Writer:

Terence Dudley (writer)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Plot:

Spin-off from "Doctor Who" which, despite good ratings, didn't get past the pilot stage. One time companion...

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Doctor Who | Spin Off | Number In Title | Character Name In Title

Cast

Elisabeth Sladen	...	Sarah Jane Smith
John Leeson	...	K-9 (voice)
Bill Fraser	...	Commander Bill Pollock
Ian Sears	...	Brendan Richards
Colin Jeavons	...	George Tracey
Sean Chapman	...	Peter Tracey
Mary Wimbush	...	Aunt Lavinia Smith
Linda Polan	...	Juno Baker
Gillian Martell	...	Lilly Gregson
Neville Barber	...	Howard Baker
John Quarmby	...	Henry Tobias
Nigel Gregory	...	Sergeant Vince Wilson
Stephen Oxley	...	P.C. Carter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sally Ann Wright	...	Coven Member

Also Known As:

K-9 and Company (UK) (video box title)

Runtime:

UK:50 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG (video release)

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Had a series been developed, it was planned to reveal (probably around the end of the first season) that K-9 had in fact been sent by The Master.

Quotes:

Brendan Richards: Who is the Doctor?
K-9: Affirmative.

Movie Connections:

Spin off from "Doctor Who" (1963)

Spinoffs rarely succeed

Spin-offs rarely get anywhere, and "K-9 and Company" is no exception. Now that I have the videotape, I've seen this. I liked it; it's very true to the spirit of "Doctor Who," with a touch of "The Avengers" thrown in. I always was a fan of both K-9 and Sarah Jane Smith; the chance to see them together was simply irresistable.

This takes the tried-and-true "Doctor Who" formula of a mysterious cult with supernatural powers terrorizing the local populace -- "Image of the Fendahl," "Masque of Mandragora," and "Stones of Blood" all toyed with this.

This one takes a more detective-like approach, and benefits well from it.

Unfortunately, I think this pilot was doomed by its opening sequence. The theme song will make you want to beat your head against the wall, because anything else is prefereable to listening to the theme. "K-9. K-9. K-9." That's the lyrics. I think this failed pilot works quite well to support my thesis that unpopular or failed spin-offs generally have really stupid theme songs, while the original show has some terribly memorable and catchy thing.