The Digital Footprints of the Cast of Sherlock

What is PeekScore?: PeekScore is a rank from 1 to 10, assigned to every person. The higher someone’s score, the “more important” they are on the web. In calculating your PeekScore and updating it often, PeekYou takes into account your known presence and activity on the Internet, including but not limited to; your blogging, participation in social networks, the number of your friends, followers, or readers, the amount of web content you create, and your prominence in the news. For first time visitors a more in-depth explanation of what the PeekScore is, and how to increase your own, can be found by clicking through here.

In 2010, PBS aired – as part of its Masterpiece anthology series – a BBC produced, contemporary re-imagining of Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved Sherlock Holmes stories, straightforwardly entitled Sherlock. The series, which consisted of three 90 minute episodes, was a massive hit in the U.K. (where it originally aired on BBC One), and managed to find a respectable audience for itself in the U.S. as well.

British TV screens were treated to a second run of three 90 minute episodes back in January of this year, but the program finally makes its highly anticipated return to American screens on May 2.

Being the PeekScore blog, we decided to mark the occasion not with a critique, nor a bunch of hacky jokes declaring “elementary…” and babbling about deerstalker hats, but with a rundown of the show’s relatively small recurring cast, throwing the series’ co-Executive Producer – who himself is a household name in the U.K. – on the list for good measure (the program’s other Executive Producer is also in the cast, so he was on the list already). We’re comparing no aspect of their careers nor fame apart from their various impacts here in cyberspace, as quantified on our PeekScore scale (an explanation of which can be found above, or more in depth by clicking through here).

Have you seen Sherlock? What did you think? Are there any other TV shows – British, or otherwise – you’d like to see us profile on the PeekScore blog? Let us know in the comments.

Rank Picture Name Role PeekScore
1

Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock Holmes 8.45 / 10.00
2

Martin Freeman John Watson 8.27 / 10.00
3

Steven Moffat Co-prodcer & Writer 8.11 / 10.00
4

Andrew Scott Jim Moriarty 8.10 / 10.00
5

Mark Gatiss Mycroft Holmes / Co-producer & Writer 8.05 / 10.00
6

Rupert Graves Inspector Lestrade 8.03 / 10.00
7

Loo Brealey Molly Hooper 7.96 / 10.00
8

Lara Pulver Irene Adler 7.55 / 10.00
9

Una Stubbs Mrs. Hudson 7.30 / 10.00

The Digital Footprints of the Cast (and Head Writers) of Doctor Who: 2005-Present

What is PeekScore?: PeekScore is a rank from 1 to 10, assigned to every person. The higher someone’s score, the “more important” they are on the web. In calculating your PeekScore and updating it often, PeekYou takes into account your known presence and activity on the Internet, including but not limited to; your blogging, participation in social networks, the number of your friends, followers, or readers, the amount of web content you create, and your prominence in the news.

In 2005, long-running British television institution Doctor Who was brought back to small screens the world over after a 16 year absence from regular broadcast (and after nine years since a one-off telemovie). Although in its initial 26 year run (from 1963 – 1989) the program clearly proved enduring – and, for a time, came to be regarded as something of a beloved cultural given in the UK (while also garnering a devoted cult following around the globe) – this 21st century version wound up being a critically lauded, award winning, commercial smash the likes of which the original had never even aspired to be.

After a stunning cliffhanger ushering in a nearly three-month mid-season break this past June, the revived Doctor Who returns to American and British screens on August 27 to bring us the second half of its sixth season (a rapturous, spoiler-free review of this mid-season premiere can be found here). In honor of this event, sure to have British schoolkids, and American anglophile nerds and art school girls giddy with anticipation, we’ve decided that a look at the cast’s digital footprints (as quantified by their PeekScores, natch) was in order.

Fans will already know that the principal cast is quite small. But, over the past six years, a number of regular cast members have come and and gone – including three different actors in the title role* – as well as a handful of crucial, recurring guest actors. In addition, the show has been in the hands of two different head-writers/executive producers (or, showrunners) who – in the UK, and among fans everywhere – are nearly as famous and beloved as any of the cast. So, to create the most robust of PeekScore assessments, we’ve decided to throw the whole lot of them in there and let the virtual chips fall where they may.

Our list is topped by Torchwood star John Barrowman who, both on that program and Doctor Who, plays Captain Jack Harkness. Barrowman, a social networker and avid web user, is followed by Doctor Who‘s former lead, David Tennant (who played The Doctor from ’06-’09). Tennant, who has no social networking presence at all, is as high as he is on the list by sheer force of celebrity, and the accompanying media visibility.

Are you a fan of Doctor Who? Who’s your favorite Doctor, either since the revival or prior (you’ve got 11 from which to choose)? Is there another cult program for which you’d like to see us do a list? Let us know in the comments.

*If confused or actually curious, click here for an explanation of what that’s all about.

Rank Picture Name Role PeekScore
1

John Barrowman Captain Jack Harkness 9.01 / 10.00
2

David Tennant The (Tenth) Doctor 8.82 / 10.00
3

Billie Piper Rose Tyler 8.25 / 10.00
4

Russell T. Davies Showrunner – 2005-2009 8.24 / 10.00
5

Steven Moffat Showrunner – 2010-Present 8.22 / 10.00
6

Matt Smith The (Eleventh) Doctor 8.09 / 10.00
7

Noel Clarke Mickey Smith 8.06 / 10.00
8

Karen Gillan Amy Pond 7.97 / 10.00
9

Christopher Eccleston The (Ninth) Doctor 7.52 / 10.00
10

Arthur Darvill Rory Williams 7.30 / 10.00
11

John Simm The Master 7.23 / 10.00
12

Catherine Tate Donna Noble 7.10 / 10.00
13

Alex Kingston River Song 7.08 / 10.00
14

Bernard Cribbins Wilfred Mott 6.60 / 10.00
15

Freema Agyeman Martha Jones 6.55 / 10.00
16

Camille Coduri Jackie Tyler 5.98 / 10.00

The Digital Footprints of American Nightly News’ Most Recognizable Faces

What is PeekScore?: PeekScore is a rank from 1 to 10, assigned to every person. The higher someone’s score, the “more important” they are on the web. In calculating your PeekScore and updating it often, PeekYou takes into account your known presence and activity on the Internet, including but not limited to; your blogging, participation in social networks, the number of your friends, followers, or readers, the amount of web content you create, and your prominence in the news.

Some are proper news anchors, and others are commentators with a decided editorial slant. Some have recently left their jobs, and others have only just begun theirs. What unifies the names on this list is that they all belong to people who would spring to most Americans’ minds immediately when talk turns to “nightly news” (well, contemporary – as of June 2011 – nightly news, in any event).

The gentleman topping our list – at 77 years of age, and comfortably outside the prime demographic for such activities – is not an avid social networker. A very recent, and very high profile departure from his longstanding anchor seat is likely what nudged him to first place. Ms. Couric, in second place, in addition to grabbing headlines lately due to her own departure from her anchor seat, is a rather net savvy sort; having in fact tweeted no more than 3 hours prior to our typing this very entry.

Is there a television news source we overlooked, or a nightly host/anchor you’d have preferred to see included? Let us know in the comments.

Rank Picture Name Bio PeekScore
1

Jim Lehrer The, as of very recently, departed anchor (and co-originator) of PBS Newshour. 9.16 / 10
2

Katie Couric The very recently departed anchor of CBS Evening News. 9.15 / 10
3

Anderson Cooper Host of Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN. 9.00 / 10
4

Bill O’Reilly Host of Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor. 8.52 / 10
5

Scott Pelley The brand new anchor of CBS Evening News. 8.15 / 10
6

Diane Sawyer The anchor of ABC World News. 8.12 / 10
7

Rachel Maddow The host of MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show. 8.10 / 10
8

Brian Williams The anchor of NBC Nightly News. 8.01 / 10
9

Matt Frei The soon to be departing anchor of BBC World News America 7.01/ 10