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‘Doctor Who Live’ special burns up TV ratings, social media

Peter Capaldi will take over the title role in the long-running sci-fi series "Doctor Who" in December.
Peter Capaldi will take over the title role in the long-running sci-fi series “Doctor Who” in December.
(Dominic Lipinski / Associated Press)
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This just goes to show that if you give “Doctor Who” fans something they want to see, they’ll come out for it, even on a Sunday afternoon in August.

BBC America’s “Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor” -- a 2 p.m. special formally introducing Scottish actor Peter Capaldi as the next star of the perennial sci-fi series -- was the No. 1 telecast Sunday across social media (not including sports).

It didn’t do too badly in the TV ratings, either. “Doctor Who Live” scored 895,000 total viewers, according to Nielsen. That’s a pretty extraordinary number for a non-sports program in early August, when many viewers are squeezing in summer vacations while they still can. Also consider the fact that “Doctor Who” is a cultish British sci-fi series that millions of Americans have never even seen.

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Capaldi will assume the role in December, replacing Matt Smith.

Did you catch the special? What do you think of Capaldi taking over?

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Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT

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