March 24 2008
Will Fox give Dollhouse a chance?
TV Guide's Matt Roush gives his answer.
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CowboyCliche | March 24, 09:29 CET
Simon | March 24, 09:43 CET
gossi | March 24, 09:51 CET
'Nuff said.
TDBrown | March 24, 10:02 CET
Perseo | March 24, 10:12 CET
Chelleatrix | March 24, 10:27 CET
My understanding was that they didn't give 'Firefly' much of a chance either (pre-empting it, showing them out of order etc.) and there's a consensus that the show was on somebody's shit-list and was deliberately killed.
Re: 'Dollhouse', obviously we'll have to wait and see. I'd speculate that the seven episode commitment may mean they'll give it at least that long to find its feet without much interference (and also indicates a certain level of trust in Joss and keenness to work with him). The proof is in the pudding though, as always, we'll only really find out when
we hold them over a volcanoit premieres to 4.2 million ;).(pretty sure that shot's from 'Tru Calling', that looks like a lab coats she's wearing)
Saje | March 24, 11:07 CET
Roush: "If the show is as good as the buzz is over the pilot script..."
OneTeV | March 24, 11:51 CET
HitokiriParagon | March 24, 12:09 CET
I have some hope for the show. I must say I am very curious to see how many people will tune in purely because of "Created by Joss Whedon." If that were all I knew about the show that would be enough to make me watch.
I'm hoping Fox's expectations are more akin to "cult hit" rather than "breakout hit," because I think it's more like to achieve the latter. I'll be pleased with them as long as they give it a chance and lend it their support, even if it doesn't have an enormous debut.
Still-Orbiting | March 24, 12:10 CET
I too doubt that Fox are concerned about how pretty the fans are. I'm guessing that 'fox' as an overall entity feel confident they've done a good job of hedging their bets. Whatever happens, in terms of ratings or number of episodes aired, they can be confident of recouping a lot of money from the sale of 7 episodes on DVD.
This could mean they'll push the show or be extra lazy. Fingers crossed for the former - but I'm trying not to speculate to avoid some kind of jinx effect.
purplehazel | March 24, 12:11 CET
There is one possibility that no one seems to be stating. That Dollhouse is genuinely not a very good show.
Yes I heard it, and yes I laughed. I know it's going to be awesome!
Vortigun | March 24, 12:26 CET
"Everyone's makin' a fuss!"
That's sort of what this reminds me of -- dealing with Patience. But, you gotta do the job. Would I feel better if this was on NBC and getting paired with "Heroes" or something? Uh, yeah. But I don't think that FOX is certain to just throw it away. They've got a built-in fanbase, they've got positive buzz, they have a recognizable star, and, most importantly, the show sounds good, it makes sense without a detailed explanation. That more than anything hurt "Firefly" -- it took a big leap to "get" the setting and the story.
KingofCretins | March 24, 12:59 CET
Fox has done OK by "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" so far, including lots of promotion and letting them work the pre-sold premise step by step, so I have high hopes for a "Dollhouse" fair trial next fall.
doghouse | March 24, 14:46 CET
While I really hope and pray that dollhouse is a success and stays on the air for many years - my gut tells me not to get my hopes up. Fool me once, shame on FOX. Fool me twice....or even three or four times...shame on me.
And I certainly hope that photo is not from the show because I am not loving her hair.
missmuffet | March 24, 15:07 CET
KingofCretins | March 24, 15:15 CET
I'm not saying they respect us. I'm just saying we're a huge pain in their collective heinies.
You know, no other network annoys me more than Fox. Beyond the whole Firefly thing, I'm not over the Wonderfalls thing. I watch FF all the time, and force friends to watch it. I've lent out Wonderfalls, but it's really too painful for me to watch. Of course, the fact that I dream every once in a while about more Buffy episodes tells you that I don't let go well even after seven seasons, so don't go by me.
However, I'm strangely optimistic on this one.
[ edited by Chelleatrix on 2008-03-24 15:33 ]
Chelleatrix | March 24, 15:31 CET
Judging from Serenity's box office, not that many...
jam2 | March 24, 15:45 CET
KingofCretins | March 24, 15:53 CET
I won't give a show a chance just because of who created it. If the premise sounds good to me, I'll watch it.
I didn't see Serenity in theaters because I was under the impression one had to have seen the series first. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
leiasky | March 24, 15:54 CET
KingofCretins | March 24, 16:01 CET
Joins the line.
crazygolfa | March 24, 16:11 CET
Roush: "If the show is as good as the buzz is over the pilot script..."
This is the first I've seen. *warm fuzzy*
dreamlogic | March 24, 16:15 CET
But, I second your 'frak', crazygolfa, and respect the stoicism with which you move forward. Nuts, indeed.
KingofCretins | March 24, 16:19 CET
Its more networks in general, the folks in charge at Fox now are not the same folks that were at Fox before. These folks actually like good shows - one or more of them kept FNL on the air over at NBC, if I recall correctly.
zeitgeist | March 24, 16:24 CET
Leaf | March 24, 16:52 CET
Kevin Reilly is the dude you're thinking of. He developed at ton of quality shows for NBC and was patient with them. Plus, he used to run FX and developed an all-time great show in The Shield. So, that's a great sign for Dollhouse. Friday Night Lights was getting 6,000,000 viewers on Wednesday nights back in its first season and he still renewed it. But, it obviously had huge critical acclaim and it won a Peabody Award. Seems like the low end that Dollhouse would have to meet for anything more than one season, given Fox's history, would be 8,000,000+ viewers and a big 18-49 audience. At this point, that's a cult hit on a network.
I was skeptical about whether Joss-style shows could succeed on a network. But, Pushing Daisies did well enough to get a second season. They actually advertised that show pretty well, though. So, hopefully Fox can follow suit. Their promo department has been awful, though. The House promos are and were laughably bad, but people still watch.
Though, actually, no one watched House through the first six or seven episodes. American Idol is the best tool Fox has had to launch shows, but they continue to air House after it. That show has an established audience. They should use American Idol as a launching pad for their new shows. If you deliver 40,000,000 people (or whatever it pulls) to a new show and it fails, chances are, it wouldn't succeed anywhere. But, if it retains even half that audience, then you tell people to follow it to Mondays or Thursdays or wherever you want to air it... Seems logical.
[ edited by The Sandy Llama on 2008-03-24 17:34 ]
The Sandy Llama | March 24, 17:24 CET
zeitgeist | March 24, 17:33 CET
Besides that, what was the last major hit for Fox? House? I'd say they need to be looking in all directions for something to call their own new hit show. 24 and American Idol won't be around forever.
TheHunter | March 24, 17:36 CET
Fox proved without a shadow of a doubt that they can promote a genre show and bring in huge numbers for a premiere with Terminator. If they do the same with Dollhouse, no Joss Whedon fan has anything to complain about.
TamaraC | March 24, 17:48 CET
I don't think it's impossible for Dollhouse to capture an audience. Shows like Lost and Heroes managed it, although I think Heroes did have an advantage in that the plot wasn't too complicated and it was quite similar to X-Men which most people would be familiar with. But I don't think there's any doubt that Lost managed to create a huge buzz and get a lot of attention despite a very unusual and complicated plot. I think that the advertising and media coverage it recieved contributed hugely to its early success, so it would be nice to see Dollhouse get the same treatment. It certainly has the potential to become a big success like Lost did, but also be killed off like Firefly.
Razor | March 24, 17:55 CET
yo-saff-bridge | March 24, 18:12 CET
On the power of the fanbase... I hope that, in addition to Fox thinking "Hm, we could make heaps of money selling these 7 episodes," they'll also consider "we could make heaps x 7 on the box sets of its long and illustrious run!"
swanjun | March 24, 18:17 CET
At least 6345 according to current count - plus my friend Susan who's not a member, so 6346. But some of those are overseas - do Fox shows open at the same time in those markets?
barboo | March 24, 18:34 CET
I was curious whether anyone thought it would be a good idea to put Dollhouse and T:TSCC on the same night? From what I've seen mentioned, Terminator's Cameron may play on some of the themes that Dollhouse is built on. That would be a recipe for disaster. Am I the only one that thinks this is a dangerous possibility? Don't get me wrong, I love both Summer & Joss, but if they're competing for the same ideas, Fox might decide to
killback-burner one in order to keep the other. Thoughts on this?korkster | March 24, 18:38 CET
TamaraC | March 24, 18:43 CET
Which makes me sad.
If the FANS can't give it a chance - why would Fox?
[ edited by BrownCoat_Tabz on 2008-03-24 19:33 ]
BrownCoat_Tabz | March 24, 19:32 CET
crazygolfa | March 24, 19:35 CET
Probably the same group who so "yeah okay, but what about a Serenity sequel?" every time a new Joss project is announced.
theonetruebix | March 24, 19:38 CET
TamaraC | March 24, 19:39 CET
Don't get me wrong, I love my Buffy, my Firefly, and my Angel... but those are stories I know like old friends, and, instead of going on new adventures... we usually sit around talking about the good 'ol times. The comics have proven to be a good venue for that. Take a look at Season 8 and compare the old to new faces. The old wins, doesn't it? In Angel:ATF, although we have new monsters and new problems, we, more or less, have the same old gang to face these problems. Even Betta George is an old face from Lynch's previous work. And Serenity: Better Days happens before Serenity (the movie) which, in my mind, makes it past events that we haven't heard of... similar to stories your good 'ol friends tell regarding you that you forgot for some reason (repression, drunkenness, mistaken identity, etc...).
I know it's been a while since we've had new stories, new faces, but it saddens me that more people aren't looking forward to this change. Not the people on Whedonesque. I'm merely responding to BrownCoat_Tabz comment.
korkster | March 24, 19:45 CET
BTW, what's ETA mean?
korkster | March 24, 19:47 CET
Normally in this context it means "Edited To Add". In the outside world, "Estimated Time of Arrival". ;)
theonetruebix | March 24, 19:54 CET
gossi | March 24, 20:13 CET
Have to say, haven't seen much of that in the places I lurk.
That maybe but I wouldn't regard them as Joss fans per se. Just Buffy fans. Or Firefly fans. The people who follow Joss wherever he goes have always been in the minority.
Simon | March 24, 20:14 CET
But I've got good feelings in my tummy that if Joss is giving Fox a second chance, then he must be confident that something has changed. And therefore I am confident. Sorta.
Is it too early to send Save Our Show postcards and dollhouse miniatures?
brynmars | March 24, 20:15 CET
If you want, we could boycott all other "possibles" for Fox's line-up, sent tiny dolls with Eliza's face glued to them, and order a plane to fly above the studios announcing our love for Joss. Just so, you know, they get the message that we mean business.
korkster | March 24, 20:21 CET
I know many people who wouldn't watch Firefly 'cos it didn't have vampires in it. People are stupid.
gossi | March 24, 20:24 CET
Yeah because starting out antagonistically will go over like gangbusters. ;)
theonetruebix | March 24, 20:24 CET
embers | March 24, 20:28 CET
How about we sit back and see how the pilot goes before we press the panic button? I'll admit that sometimes that is leaving things a little too late *cough*Drive*cough* but I think this time we might be looking at a very different situation. For whatever reason I have confidence that Dollhouse will run a good long time.
TheHunter | March 24, 20:30 CET
korkster | March 24, 20:32 CET
And in the awesome ;) As a sidenote, Fox the channel isn't necessarily going to make the money off of DVDs, while 20th Century Fox Productions likely will. Just a reminder that production studio and airing channel don't get the same cut of different parts of the pie so the decisions may not fall where we think they will.
zeitgeist | March 24, 20:36 CET
Tim Minear's own site indicates he will indeed be working on Dollhouse. I certainly enjoy his work but, like you, I fear The Minear Effect.
skeeler | March 24, 20:41 CET
korkster | March 24, 20:49 CET
It's not a Tim flaw or a Joss flaw. They deliver quality TV, and sadly we live in a world where people don't always place quality high on their list of things to digest.
gossi | March 24, 21:12 CET
Honestly, if it wasn't for Joss, I don't know whether I would have watched FIREFLY. If you only look at the concept, "Firefly" doesn't have anything that sounds appealing to me, but since I loved Joss I needed to at least give it a chance. Then I watched it and although I didn't like it instantly, I enjoyed the characters enough so that I didn't sell my DVD right away and then I liked it. People judge way to early about things of which they don't have any idea what it is like.
I for example have friends who don't like "Buffy" and "Angel", but I forced them to watch "Serenity" with me and then they read "from the creator of BUFFY" on the DVD cover and didn't give it a chance anymore, so that I had to take the DVD out and replace it with something else, because they said "it's so boring". So I hope FOX won't even promote it with "from the creator of BUFFY".
Donnie | March 24, 21:30 CET
No worries korkster. It's March; it's spring training for everyone.
KingofCretins | March 24, 21:45 CET
zeitgeist | March 24, 22:27 CET
Thanks gossi.
The problem is that Whedon shows take the first 6 or so episodes to build the foundation for the series. The really great episodes are only great because of being set up by earlier episodes. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people looking for the instant gratification.
(With all this talk about Dollhouse, I'm getting this mental picture of a technician humming "Comfortably Numb" while mind-wiping the Dolls.)
OneTeV | March 24, 22:33 CET
Master.
Asm.
korkster | March 24, 23:01 CET
It's going to be fine, damnit, and I'll keep saying so until I'm proven wrong. Or run out of Prozac.
Oh, by the way, hi. I'm new.
Winther | March 24, 23:20 CET
TamaraC | March 24, 23:24 CET
Also, I just checked - it looks like Dollhouse is due to be shown in the upfronts (May 15th). So that should be the first glimpse we get of filmed stuffage. I suspect they'll also talk about airdate then.
[ edited by gossi on 2008-03-24 23:39 ]
gossi | March 24, 23:38 CET
(okay, I guess I need to cut back on the meds)
embers | March 24, 23:46 CET
That's plenty of time to identify with the characters, flesh them out a bit, and for fans to really sink their teeth into the show. I know I'll never stop wondering what happened at the end of Tru... it had definately reached its stride when they were cancelled. *grumbles
korkster | March 25, 00:06 CET
Small gripe. But gentle t.v. wakes up my inner Harlan Ellison. Appealing package? I care not, when I can have "BSG" and "The Wire" and "Dollhouse."
Boy, I'm good at the whole unprovoked ad hominem attack thing. Yay internets.
aimstomisbehave | March 25, 00:59 CET
TamaraC | March 25, 01:04 CET
korkster | March 25, 01:05 CET
TamaraC | March 25, 01:40 CET
randomfire | March 25, 02:55 CET
Pumps | March 26, 00:14 CET