'Grey's' Isn't Going Anywhere
'Red Widow' Gets The Axe
EDITION: U.S.
fran kranz
Pilot Recasts: Five Best Friends That Never Were
by Chris Harnick, posted May 21st 2010 11:42AM
In a bizarre alternate reality, your favorite TV character may have been played by somebody else. Recasting is a fact of life for shows, most of it happens during the time between the pilot episode is shot and the series goes to air. Fran Kranz (pictured, left), known for his role on Joss Whedon's 'Dollhouse,' has been removed from NBC's new series 'Friends With Benefits.' Kranz appears quite extensively in the promotional trailer from NBC, but tweeted about being fired. Ian Reed Kesler was also given the boot from the Ryan Hansen-fronted 'Friends With Benefits.' Other exiled stars from this year's pilot season include Joely Richardson
In honor -- or mourning -- of the recasts that will take place from now until the fall 2010 season officially kicks off, here's a look back at best friends that never were.
Dollhouse: Belle Chose
by Jason Hughes, posted Oct 10th 2009 3:55AM
(S02E03) It looks like the production schedule had this one slated to be the second episode of the season, rather than the third. It was a little odd how much time was spent in showing Ballard getting used to the complete process in turning a Doll into an Active. I kept thinking, "He was fine with last week's mommy engagement?" Knowing that this was intended to be the first episode after he took on the role as her Handler makes more sense.
It also means FOX is screwing around with Whedon's intended schedule on his show ... again! I can't understand how network executives think narrative flow between episodes means nothing. Do they think that fans are so stupid we can't follow a thread between episodes, nor will we notice when things are out of whack?
This would probably have worked better as a second episode anyway, because it got a little more into the technology behind the Dollhouse, as well as how it can go wrong.
Dollhouse: Can Actives really earn their freedom?
by Mike Moody, posted Oct 6th 2009 3:05PM
Suppose you were the head of a real-life Dollhouse that wiped volunteers' personalities, downloaded new ones into their brains, and rented them out to the super rich and privileged. Would you let your Dolls walk away, no strings attached, after they've honored their contract? Yeah, me neither.
The last episode of Joss Whedon's Dollhouse, "Instinct," featured the newly liberated November/Madeline (Miracle Laurie) returning to the Dollhouse to undergo a "diagnostic." According to Adelle, the procedure is necessary to make sure Topher's tech didn't permanently blow a fuse inside Madeline's pretty head. Madeline was understandably cautious when Adelle came to visit her and prod her into getting the check-up. "I have this irrational fear that if I say the wrong thing, men in suits are going to throw me in a black van and take me away," she said.
Can you blame her?
Dollhouse: Instinct
by Jason Hughes, posted Oct 3rd 2009 12:55AM
(S02E02) So, um, what happened? Dollhouse came back last week and posted its lowest ratings to date. It's a shame, because the show continues to find its footing. What was impressive this time was that the episode was compelling and dramatic, and it had virtually nothing to do with the overall story-arc for the series.
Just like some of the best episodes of The X-Files were "monster-of-the-week" installments, this "imprint-of-the-week" chapter was simply brilliant. It explored the full capabilities of the Dollhouse technology, where we got our first hint that Topher's genius can sometimes push him to doing things he shouldn't. At least not without testing. It's this character flaw that led to his failures in "Epitaph One."
Dollhouse: Epitaph One
by Jason Hughes, posted Jul 26th 2009 3:02PM
(S01E13) This episode of Dollhouse never actually aired on Fox, and in fact, it's not going to. I'm not sure why, though, because I thought it was fantastic. Yes, it was a dramatic departure from what had gone before, but despite its unique presentation, it offered some amazing insight into the world of Whedon's Dollhouse, and its future.
"Epitaph One" will be available on the Dollhouse: Season One DVD, available July 28, 2009. It was also screened this past weekend at Comic-Con. Even though I wasn't there, I did manage to get my hands on it, so join me, if you will, for a very spoilery look at the true season finale of Dollhouse.
More Dollhouse casting announced
by Bob Sassone, posted Apr 17th 2008 3:20PM
Joss Whedon's Dollhouse is becoming the "it" show, the show everyone is looking forward to and talking about (unless, of course, you didn't like Buffy The Vampire Slayer or Firefly). We've already told you that Eliza Dushku was signed to star in the show and that Battlestar Galactica's Tahmoh Penikett had joined her (along with Dichen Lachman, Enver Gjokaj, and Fran Kranz from Welcome to the Captain, which I doubt will be back on CBS next season), and now comes word about other cast additions that will thrill fans of a show about a vampire (no, not this one).
CBS Monday news: Captain, Christine get new premiere date
by Jason Hughes, posted Dec 14th 2007 2:25PM
Now that the fall shows are drying up, those midseason replacements are becoming more and more essential. Zap2It tells us CBS has shifted the premieres of The Captain and The New Adventures of Old Christine from January 28 to February 4 (so as to not compete with the State of the Union Address). And furthermore, The Captain has been redubbed Welcome to the Captain.
In this new series, Fran Kranz plays a young man who moves into a legendary Hollywood apartment complex. His new neighbors are played by the likes of Raquel Welch, Jeffrey Tambor, Chris Klein and more. Which I guess means it's a show about a bunch of wacky neighbors, as opposed to the requisite one.
TV Squad Hot Topics
Most Popular Articles
From Our Partners
- 'Doctor Who' Season 7 Finale Recap: The Tomb of the Doctor
- Summer Cookout: Recipes from Our Favorite Cooking Shows
- From Kelly to Candice: Ranking the 'American Idol' Winners
- 'The Vampire Diaries' Rankings: Who Was the Baddest Character in Season 4?
- 'American Idol': Ranking the Winners' Coronation Songs
- More From BuddyTV
- 'Saturday Night Live' season finale: Ben Affleck and Kanye West win an otherwise forgettable 'SNL'
- 'Saturday Night Live': Amy Poehler is the best at everything, even 'Weekend Update'
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2013: Ann and Nancy Wilson bring the Heart
- 'American Idol' runner-up Kree Harrison to make her Grand Ole Opry debut on June 4
- Mariah Carey did not lip-sync on 'American Idol,' according to her rep
- More From Zap2it
- Ben Affleck Hosts Saturday Night Live: What Were the Best and Worst Sketches?
- Finale Ratings: Versus 2012, Shark Tank Surges, Nikita Is Steady and Undercover Boss Drops
- What to Watch This Weekend: The Doctor Is Out, Ben Affleck on SNL, Simpsons Finale and More
- Exclusive First Look: The Goodwin Games Cast Takes Part in a Violent Beatdown!
- TVLine's Performer of the Week: Nikita's Maggie Q
- More From TVLine
