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Joss Whedon promises that Dollhouse is about to get better

by Bob Sassone, posted Mar 16th 2009 12:35PM

DollhouseWell, what else would you expect him to say?

Dollhouse had a lot of buzz when it was announced, and then some of the buzz faded when FOX announced that it was putting the show on Friday nights, a graveyard for a lot of TV shows (though not as much of a graveyard as Saturday nights, I guess). Then the show premiered to mixed reviews and so-so ratings. The ratings still aren't that blockbuster. And now, creator Joss Whedon promises that the next couple of episodes are going to show more of the vision that he has had for the show from the start (before FOX got involved and told him how they wanted the opening episodes to be).

The episodes are titled "Man on the Street" and "Needs," and will air this Friday and April 3. Whedon tells TV Guide that these eps "represent a much stronger vision of what I consider the show to be." He says the episodes are "pretty intense."

Maybe they are, maybe they aren't, but it does seem like a bit of salesmanship on Whedon's part. But that's OK, I expect a creator to stick up for his show. I just wonder if it's too late.

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Picviewer

It's going to get better with this weeks episode right up against the 2hr BSG series finale. That'll be the excuse once the overnights are in, book it.

March 17 2009 at 7:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Vichus Smith

That is the worst thing anyone could say about a TV show "eventually it gets better"

Well, screw that. Dollhouse is just fine now. It's not on the level of Buffy, Angel, Firefly, or anything he's written, but It's compelling enough to bring me back, and I'll watch it until it's not on TV anymore. (well, I watch it on hulu)

March 16 2009 at 8:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bill Thompson

Let's see..."FOX got involved and told [Joss] how they wanted the opening episodes to be." AND the original pilot didn't air AS the pilot. So apparently, Fox has learned NOTHING from Firefly. Just let Joss be Joss, and everything'll be all right...if the network suits don't pull the rug out from under him. Again.

March 16 2009 at 6:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Bill Thompson's comment
GerryofNorVA

I keep hearing all this "let Joss be Joss" stuff and blaming the network back to Firefly. What about Joss' responsibility for being able to negotiate ?! He's a big boy, why doesn't HE insist on showing HIS series the way HE wants ?! Is he such a newbie still that he continues to let this happen to his projects ?! I don't hear this happening to JJ Abrams or Lindelof/Cuse or any other legend-in-their-own-mind types. Stop blaming Fox and man-up Joss and his fanboys.

March 16 2009 at 8:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
CDB

Wow, if it were only that easy. If you don't work in Hollywood its easy for you to say.

If you did work in Hollywood, you would understand exactly why that is impossible.

http://makeasitcom.com

March 17 2009 at 9:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Fran

I think that it is pretty good now.

March 16 2009 at 5:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MDD

Is anyone else tired of this defeatist attitude towards new shows... comments like "I just wonder if it's too late."
aren't helpful.. Let's give stuff a chance before we write them off.. no wonder people either wait for DVD's or download stuff...

March 16 2009 at 4:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
divineparasite

I've enjoyed even the so called "Network-approved" episodes. The one where she was being hunted by that guy was a good episode, and the cult episode was good as well. So even these so called "network forced" episodes weren't so bad. I say its worth the effort. Joss has got the ingredients he just needs to be in charge of the how they go together. Hopefully that time has come. Will it be a whole other show? Probobly not, but Whedon knows where he's going with it, doesn't he deserve to oppurtunity to prove you naysayer wrong?

March 16 2009 at 3:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Daune Calovini

I am still baffled about the unaired pilot. I didn't know about it and was confused about why a few of the story lines already seemed "in progress," in the beginning. Then, I learned the original pilot didn't air. We got to see episode 2 (after the Alpha scourge, how the FBI guy gets the case). That seems counterproductive to me. If you're going to tell me a linear story, let me start at the beginning of the line!

That said, I've seen three episodes, and I've liked it much more after each one. I'm sad it lacks the humor of previous Whedon shows, though.

March 16 2009 at 2:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Daune Calovini's comment
Mathew

You didn't miss anything in the unaired pilot. You can find the script online, and it was basically episodes 2 to 5 without the "engagements". Alpha's escape was never in it. It covered the "flocking" of Echo and Sierra, most of Ballard's investigation so far, and Victor's unveilling.

When Fox stepped in two things happened:

1) A standalone episode was written to take place before the pilot (this was the first episode aired).

2) The decision was taken to scrap the pilot altogether and the mythology content from it was then spread over a series of otherwise standalone engagement focused episodes (episodes 2 to 5).

March 17 2009 at 11:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
J.

Maybe things will pick up in season 2? Yeah, that's the ticket.

March 16 2009 at 2:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Carissa

I must go on record again to say that starting the show with six sub-par episodes in this atmosphere where a show can barely make it 15 minutes with low numbers without cancellation IS CRAZY. I just think it's too late to get the viewers. (Just as I think the timing of the Sarah-centric episodes of TSCC before Dollhouse was a shame after placing it on a new night.)

Networks are hardly forgiving, even when they have themselves to blame. I don't want to get attached now, as I don't believe it stands a chance. I was perfectly happy this week realizing it wasn't doing it for me. If I watch next week, and love it, what are the chances I'll be destroyed? It's not like my viewing makes a bit of difference on ratings (I WAS a Tivo viewer when I still had it...it was nice to know I counted).

March 16 2009 at 1:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Carissa's comment
j0phus

I think it is dangerous too, in this environment, but this show has a lot of sex appeal which gives it some security. I don't know what the ratings are, but Joss has a reputation, this show has a lot of sexual shit in it, and a lot of action.

This is my opinion about the show: I think it has a good set up and is a character based show, and they are taking the time to do it right. We are still in the first act where everything is being established. We are getting to know who the characters are, what the company is doing, and where the antagonism is coming from. It is important stuff, if you are going to write a character show.

Look at all the people they have introduced and the motives behind them. It is a lot of people which translates into potential for a lot of really really good drama. I'm all for it. The show has been getting better week by week, and to me that is better than being on a roller-coaster of bad then good and bad episodes.

Hopefully the Joss has an understand with the suits, which I feel pretty confident that he does.

March 16 2009 at 8:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Klo

So we get an episode that is supposedly going to be really good and then they take a three week break? That doesn't seem like a good way to build momentum with viewers.

March 16 2009 at 1:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Klo's comment
Klo

Make that a two week break. Still a dumb move to me.

March 16 2009 at 1:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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