I absolutely love Doctor Who! It is probably my all time favorite show... Sometime in the late 80's, when I was about 7, my family discovered Dr Who on PBS and it became a Saturday night ritual up through whenever they stopped running it (1993?). In any case, during those years, I saw all the way through the William Hartnell years, bits and pieces of Patrick Troughton years (never saw enough of him to form an opinion...
Saw through the Tom Baker years at least twice which are obviously classic and then a couple times through the Peter Davison years (as a kid, he was my personal favorite). I have to admit, Colin Baker wasn't my favorite - though that may be more attributable to problems at the BBC than to Colin himself. I'm weird and actually enjoyed Sylvestor McCoy as the doctor, and thought Ace was a good companion.
I don't know how good of an idea it was to have me watching Doctor Who every week between the ages of 7 and 12, but that is what happened. In 1996, I enjoyed the movie and hoped that meant it was coming back...
Even though I had to wait a long time, at least I got Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Angel from 1997 to 2004.
Well, needless to say, ever since Doctor Who came back, I have found it infectious and have been hooked. It simultaneously brings back warm memories of childhood and yet is so much more now than it was then. I really appreciated the somber atmosphere of Christopher Eccleston and wish that he had stayed as the Doctor for longer. That being said, the David Tennant years were absolutely the best for the entire show and when the classic is taken along with the new, he is the best Doctor of them all. Nevertheless, Matt Smith made a very good Doctor - and I am looking forward to seeing how Peter Capaldi does...
Best show ever!
(also a fan of the Torchwood spinoff)