The intruder – a man with a rubber Max Headroom mask – would speak this time, though the signal would be highly distorted. Whereas the first invasion lasted a mere 25 seconds, this one would carry on for close to one and a half minutes. Tom Baker, the 4th Doctor, surrounded by Daleks. In the middle of a scene, an intrusion forced its way onto the airwaves. This episode featured fourth Doctor Tom Baker – Whovians reading this would hardly need me to tell them that – their knowledge tends towards the encyclopaedic). From time to time The Doctor dies, and is reincarnated, with a new actor taking the lead.
The channel was in the midst of Doctor Who’s Horror of Fang Rock serial (to the uninitiated, Doctor Who is a Sci-Fi show from the UK featuring a time travelling alien called The Doctor. The second incident occurred at 11.15pm on PBS affiliate WTTW (channel 11). This would be the first of two bizarre incidents on Chicago television that night. “ Well, if you’re wondering what’s happened – so am I” Back to a rather shocked Roen, in the studio… Before the intruder could say anything, one of the technicians at WGN TV wrestled control back from the hijackers, changing uplink frequencies. Bobbing up and down for joy, the figure stood in front of a sheet of corrugated iron, which rotated back and forth behind him. In place of the hulking footballers, a man in a suit, wearing a familiar mask to trick or treaters that year. As select footage played from the game, the signal suddenly cut out – replaced by a bizarre, distorted pirate signal. The city’s sports fans are tuned into WGN TV’s Nine O’clock News as Dan Roen discuses the latest round in the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions rivalry – (I’m told the two American Football teams have been at war with one another since 1930, having met 183 times at time of writing… on this day the Bears won 30 – 10). The time, a very specific 9.14pm on 22 nd November 1987. This week’s tale is set in the Windy City – Chicago, Illinois.