That's excellent! Great slot, and my DH will watch it too, I'm sure, as he's a big fan of 24, and also liked Firefly/Serenity a lot. So we can watch it together, yay!

Nata | May 15, 19:33 CET

Buffy started out on Mondays. Good omen?

Madhatter | May 15, 19:35 CET

Possibly inappropriate note: Going to be interviewing Joss and Eliza shortly (hopefully). If you have Q's post here and I'll ask as many as I can. :)



Official summary from the Fox release:

DOLLHOUSE (Mondays, 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT): Joss Whedon, creator of groundbreaking cult favorites “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Firefly,” returns to television and reunites with fellow “Buffy” alumna Eliza Dushku for a thrilling new drama, DOLLHOUSE. ECHO (Dushku) is an “Active,” a member of a highly illegal and underground group who have had their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with any number of new personas. Confined to a secret facility known as the “Dollhouse,” Echo and the other Actives including SIERRA (Dichen Lachman, “Neighbours”) and VICTOR (Enver Gjokaj, “The Unit”) carry out engagements assigned by ADELLE (Olivia Williams, “X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Rushmore”), one of the Dollhouse leaders. The engagements cater to the wealthy, powerful and connected, and require the Actives to immerse themselves in all manner of scenarios – romantic, criminal, uplifting, dangerous, comical and the occasional “pro bono” good deed. After each scenario, Echo, always under the watchful eye of her handler BOYD (Harry Lennix, “Commander in Chief,” 24), returns to the mysterious Dollhouse where her thoughts, feelings and experiences are erased by TOPHER (Fran Kranz, “Welcome to the Captain”), the Dollhouse’s genius programmer. Echo enters the next scenario with no memory of before. Or does she? As the series progresses, FBI Agent PAUL SMITH (Tahmoh Penikett, “Battlestar Galactica”) pieces together clues that lead him closer to the Dollhouse, while Echo stops forgetting, her memories begin to return and she slowly pieces together her mysterious past. DOLLHOUSE revolves around Echo’s blossoming self-awareness and her desire to discover her true identity. But with each new engagement, comes a new memory and increased danger inside and outside the Dollhouse.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Mutant Enemy Inc.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/WRITER/DIRECTOR: Joss Whedon
CAST: Eliza Dushku as Echo, Olivia Williams as Adelle, Tahmoh Penikett as Paul, Fran Kranz as Topher, Dichen Lachman as Sierra, Enver Gjokaj as Victor, Harry Lennix as Boyd

[ edited by jengod on 2008-05-15 16:37 ]

jengod | May 15, 19:36 CET

Would that mean the first Monday in January? If not, is there a way to predict the first airdate?

cheesefan | May 15, 19:48 CET

Well, we know it'll be the 5th, 12th, 19th or 26th ;) I'm going to starta rumo(u)r that its the 12th.

zeitgeist | May 15, 19:52 CET

This is good news! I think Dollhouse can attract a lot of the 24 audience, I hope it manages to do just that. Can't wait for this show!

danielgm86 | May 15, 19:55 CET

Bagsy the 19th.

Saje | May 15, 19:55 CET

12th or 19th for sure ;)

zeitgeist | May 15, 19:56 CET

Should we start a pool?

Being the "glass half-full" type person, I lay my coin on the 12th.

Madhatter | May 15, 20:08 CET

So it's opposite How I Met Your Mother? That's so annoying.

MysticRat | May 15, 20:25 CET

This is awesome, leading in to "24" is great.

However, that American Idol lead-in on Tuesday nights (apparently where "The X-Files 2.0" will go) would be priceless.

Still, great that Fox is showing some confidence in Joss.

bknick | May 15, 20:25 CET

Monday with "24" sounds great. Though the whole schedule seems pretty strong.

But wasn't there also supossed to be some kind of science fiction series by Ronald D. Moore on FOX next season? Don't think I saw that one mentioned.

Virtuality, is the series I meant. Something about holodeck like virtual environment on a spaceship. Might be better for Dollhouse if it isn't around though, since it sounds similar.

[ edited by the Groosalugg on 2008-05-15 17:31 ]

the Groosalugg | May 15, 20:29 CET

I call 26th!

hacksaway | May 15, 20:29 CET

If I remember right, Fox likes to show big premieres on Sunday after the NFL Divisional Playoff game(which Fox usually has the last game). This year, that means Fox will probably have a 4-hour block of 24 on Jan. 11 and 12, thus pushing Dollhouse to the 19th.

crazygolfa | May 15, 20:39 CET

It will be opposite two shows I watch, Chuck and HIMYM. Strangely both shows have Whedonverse alumns. Thank God that I am not living in the US, so that I won't have to choose between either of them.

Donnie | May 15, 20:51 CET

Cool, and I'm also pleased it's not going to go up against Heroes, unless Heroes changes scheduling next season. Looks like Fox is making the first slot on Monday their Whedon-verse stars slot- Bones right now, Sarah Connor Chronicles in the fall, and then Dollhouse in January.

As an aside, what's with changing the timeslot for Bones halfway through the season next year? Annoying.

kishi | May 15, 20:56 CET

I think all the worrying about the networks commitment can be thrown away now. This is one of the few trustworthy cherries of a timeslot FOX can offer, and "Dollhouse" is getting it. This also means weeks of promotion during NFL regular season and playoff broadcasts. The midseason launch is clearly strategic and not just FOX hedging. It's all going to be up to the show and the ratings.

KingofCretins | May 15, 21:15 CET

yikes, hope it's not against heroes.

whiterabbit | May 15, 21:20 CET

yikes, hope it's not against heroes.

If the next season of Heroes is as pointless as this last one was, I won't have to worry about that.

theonetruebix | May 15, 21:24 CET

Unless "Heroes" changes times, it's up against "24" -- the two heavyweights. "Dollhouse" would be up against "Chuck". That's... actually troubling news, since "Chuck" was my favorite new show this year. If I DVR one and watch it after "Heroes", don't they both get the ratings?

KingofCretins | May 15, 21:27 CET

I live in the US and I don't have to choose either. Thank you, HR20-100 dual tuner DVR.

zeitgeist | May 15, 21:27 CET

Thing is, "Sarah Connor Chronicles" will have Mondays at 8 before "Dollhouse". If SCC gets a "back nine" order, does it stay where it is while "Dollhouse" gets another time slot? I am sure there's room for both, but it is intriguing.
I'd forgotten the shows will be up against "How I Met Your Mother", "Chuck" and "Dancing With the Stars". Monday is going to be a tough night ahead, and more people will be glad they can either TiVo or watch the shows on the network websites--and let's hope that becomes the new standard on how popular a show really is.

impalergeneral | May 15, 21:39 CET

Oh wow, I'm surprised "Dollhouse" is taking over the "Terminator: SCC" slot. I suppose it would make sense to have it as a lead-in with the Glau/Whedon/sci-fi dramas connection but I too wonder about the SCC back nine order. Seems like a situation where someone is going to get screwed over- either SCC by not getting a full season, or "Dollhouse" by getting moved if SCC gets those extra episodes :/

[ edited by EvilFirePixie8 on 2008-05-15 18:55 ]

EvilFirePixie8 | May 15, 21:50 CET

Bones on a Friday night is sad.

Simon | May 15, 22:04 CET

Bones moves around all the time -- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, depends on the season. Luckily their fans travel with them. They'll be fine.

cabri | May 15, 22:15 CET

cabri is right. Bones does great wherever they are slotted. It is like Fox has this awesome utility player that can go in and play any position. Baseball fans will understand the reference.

I also wouldn't get to worried about the Terminator/Dollhouse potential conflicts. There is a lot of time between now and January and a lot of things can/will change between now and then.

Fringe may die an ugly death, viewers could become (finally) sick of unscripted shows, Fox comedies may not play midweek, etc.

If Terminator's ratings warrant it (and that is a HUGE if) then it will have a place on the schedule. I can't imagine a scenario where it would mess with Dollhouse's Monday night slot.

TamaraC | May 15, 22:22 CET

I have to confess to being a little mystified by all this. I mean, regardless of the show, what does it matter what day it's on? I have never, in my life, watched a show just because it's on at a time when I'm free, and I have also never not watched a show just because it's on at an inconvenient time. That's what recorders are for, surely. From my point of view this hasn't been significant ever since VCRs were affordable for everyone.

MattK | May 15, 22:23 CET

My television is about to die, so I'll have to invest in a new one with a dvr feature, hopefully. I like "Chuck," but I'll gladly put it off to see "Dollhouse" first. I'm glad it's not up against "Heroes." I still love that series and miss it more than anything else from this season.

Nebula1400 | May 15, 22:31 CET

From my point of view this hasn't been significant ever since VCRs were affordable for everyone.

But from a ratings point of view it is - DVR recordings, downloads etc. aren't seen in the same way or even counted at all in some cases. I never used to care about this stuff either but when you get televisually shat on enough times, you realise that the ratings in the US are extremely important - it's not a matter of missing individual episodes, it's a matter of whether it'll get more than half a season.

It is like Fox has this awesome utility player that can go in and play any position. Baseball fans will understand the reference.

Or for the UK readers, 'Bones' is Owen Hargreaves ;).

Saje | May 15, 22:40 CET

Fox announces Bones scheduled for Fridays every year, but outside of reruns, it's yet to happen. We'll see. The Wednesday slot gives me a conflict with Pushing Daisies too. I have a dvr, but it's not a dual tuner. My favorite shows I like to record and watch live. Plus, it doesn't record in HD. So still got some tough choices to make.

hacksaway | May 15, 22:58 CET

If it's against Heroes that would suck for me.

jnr616 | May 15, 23:17 CET

I think this is a great slot and a great pairing with 24.

Buffyfantic | May 15, 23:17 CET

Wow, how quickly people forget this is FOX.

Countdown to Dollhouse getting the Drive/Firefly treatment...

TaraLivesOn | May 15, 23:26 CET

Wow, how quickly people forget this is FOX.

Countdown to Dollhouse getting the Drive/Firefly treatment...

To quote zeitgeist from another thread today:

<insert rant about Fox Executives all being new here>
<paste Kevin Reilly's development resume here>

In other words, it's not "how quickly people forget this is FOX", it's "how frequently fans don't bother to actually learn what's going on".

[ edited by theonetruebix on 2008-05-15 20:32 ]

theonetruebix | May 15, 23:29 CET

I think this is a great slot and a great pairing with 24.

See, I don't see where this pairing does anything in particular. If Dollhouse aired after 24, then it would get viewer spill-over, with luck. But why would a 24 watcher tune in an hour earlier?

I do think the Monday slot is good though, except for Chuck capturing some viewers who would probably appreciate Dollhouse. And TaraLivesOn, that Monday slot is already a huge improvement over what Firefly got.

[ edited by shambleau on 2008-05-15 20:35 ]

[ edited by shambleau on 2008-05-15 20:35 ]

shambleau | May 15, 23:34 CET

Note the
Glad to see it's not just any ordinary old Joss Whedon creation being planned.

barboo | May 15, 23:41 CET

Yeah, it's about time he pulled out the stops and made something people will be highly anticipating.

Saje | May 15, 23:44 CET

I'm really excited about this. Being a lead in to 24 is awesome and Monday night is a good tv night I think. I can't wait for this show. I really think that Fox is behind it and hopefully it'll be Joss' first major crossover hit.

missmuffet | May 15, 23:47 CET

I'm a little disappointed it's in the 8:00 PM slot rather than the 9:00 PM slot. I imagine now there will be a few more run-ins with Standards & Practises, who will be trying to protect the nation's kiddies from depictions of blood and innuendo. Joss & gang managed to push the limits a bit on Buffy, but it might be harder to do that on a major network.

bigsofty | May 15, 23:56 CET

bigsofty, they don't seem to care about blood and innuendo these days. Only skin and four letter words.

TamaraC | May 16, 00:05 CET

Here down south, "Bones" just started in the biggest open tv chanel (Rede Globo).
The only problem: Time scheduled to something like 4:10 pm :(

Brasilian Chaos Man | May 16, 00:27 CET

I didn't know Rede Globo was showing Bones.

They used to air Angel at 4:00am, which sucked.

danielgm86 | May 16, 00:31 CET

Trailer!!!!

zeitgeist | May 16, 00:43 CET

Oh, sorry it's 4:00 am.
I really sucks in English!
Thanks Daniel.

Brasilian Chaos Man | May 16, 00:45 CET

They could show Bones at night though. In the "Jo Soares" spot they use for Lost and 24.

danielgm86 | May 16, 00:54 CET

Mondays? Got scared there for a minute. Thought I might have to choose between Heroes and Dollhouse (of course, I'd pick Dollhouse in a nanosecond). Dollhouse on Mondays; a great way to start the week.

Supersymmetrical | May 16, 01:09 CET

Monday, a much better choice than something like Friday, lets hope it stays that way.

sportforredneck | May 16, 03:14 CET

So in the US on a Monday night Whedonverse fans will first of all have to choose between watching either Adam Baldwin's Chuck or Summer Glau's Terminator and recording the other and then later have to make the choice between David Fury's 24 and Kristen Bell on Heroes? Then later in the season they are making the night an even harder choice with Dollhouse in the mix? Tough calls. I'm just glad that the UK schedules are a lot easier to work around. If we have a clash of two or more shows we want to see then we have +1 channels and multiple repeats of new episodes over the following week to keep us happy.

And yeah, I know Kristen Bell isn't technically Whedonverse but she almost is. Well, Joss would say so... ;)

RockManic | May 16, 04:34 CET

How do lead-ins work? Aren't lead-ins supposed to dial up the viewing figures of the show behind it? Is there a real advantage to being in front of a popular show?

Either way, it's good to see that the network appareantly has some faith in the show and is giving it a good time-slot. These are good days.

GVH | May 16, 04:48 CET

How am I supposed to watch Adam Baldwin on Chuck if it's on at the same time and I don't have a dual tuner Tivo? Grrr. Too much TV to watch and not enough time to watch it. Here's hoping I don't get sick of watching shows online.

sharky | May 16, 05:03 CET

Well, established shows as lead-ins are supposed to bring in viewers. I don't believe new shows have as high expectations (though they don't want a lead-in to perform so poorly that it hurts the veteran program which follows it, either) But, if a new show airing second shows a noteable drop-off from its lead-in, it can spell doom - iirc, that was one of the problems which Drive encountered. (Albeit, as noted above, under an earlier regime.) So, I think I'm happy that Dollhouse is scheduled as the lead-in; it seems the less pressurized position.

I just hope that by fall 2009 (if it airs then) that it's off Monday nights, as I always watch Monday Night Football. I mean, I'll be taping Dollhouse either way, but I'd prefer to watch it as it airs. (Though either way, I suppose I'd be seeing it before at least some of our international members; so, I should count myself lucky whenever they air it.)

LKW | May 16, 05:46 CET

I'm hoping that Sky One will pick up Dollhouse, LKW. If that is the case then it will mean we are likely to get the episodes within a week of US broadcast, unlike other UK channels that seem to think we don't mind waiting months to see what our American friends saw ages ago. Yeah FX, I'm talking Dexter season 2! ;)

RockManic | May 16, 05:53 CET

Oh, no thanks. Don't know when I'll get to watch if Sky One get it, can't afford the £20 extra per month. Other channels aren't too far behind the US now. Either way I hope the BBC show it as well. They had the first few series of 24 so hopefully they'll notice the pairing.

Leaf | May 16, 17:37 CET

From the networks' points of view, the overlap amongst the target audiences is small,e specialy Dollhouse and HIMYM/Chuck.

Buffans are a brilliant but small subcultural minority.

DaddyCatALSO | May 16, 20:56 CET

Leaf, I don't see you getting your wish for Dollhouse on the Beeb. Even if I'm wrong, you are talking months of waiting, going off the Heroes example. Anything more than a week is unacceptable, as far as I'm concerned.

Thing is that I work online and many of the people I work with are US based and also fans of the same kinda shows that I watch. It's one thing to expect them to keep quiet about the latest episodes of Lost, BSG, Supernatural or whatever for a day or so but I'm not willing to ask them to not mention anything about them for months on end. Besides that, there's no good reason why we should have to wait, in this day and age.

Nope, I'd rather pay whatever it costs for Sky One and see my shows as soon as possible, or in the case of shows like Dexter or Heroes where I have no choice just watch them online. I'll still watch them again when they finally appear on tv and buy the DVDs so nobody loses out and I get to see what I want, when I want. Win-win situation.

RockManic | May 16, 22:24 CET

I agree there is no chance of the BBC getting it first, I was more thinking about after it had aired on a non-terrestrial channel. Not for a first viewing but just so that it can reach a wider audience - articles in the Radio Times, interviews on chat shows and, well, if Heroes can win a BAFTA... ;)

Leaf | May 17, 02:58 CET