The more this sort of thing happens, the more it loses its value. Every indication we've seen so far, from Fox's seven episode commitment, Kevin O'Reilly's resume, direct quotes from Joss, everything, suggests they fully support Dollhouse and will give it everything they can.
The best thing we can do is watch it when it airs and tell our friends, while avoiding going overboard with the crazy.

zz9 | June 11, 00:48 CET

Forgive me for commenting without clicking in the source link, but I will not support such campaign by giving it more traffic.

Numfar PTB | June 11, 00:54 CET

Actually since its conception it's become more of a "Hype Dollhouse" rather than "Save Dollhouse" campaign. I have less problems with fan efforts to promote a show rather than fans trying to pre-emptively save it.

I think the Hype Dollhouse campaign is unnecesary but it's not as annoying as fans flailing their arms around going "wahhh save the show before it airs".

Simon | June 11, 00:57 CET

"Joss Whedon groupies are pre-emptively organizing a campaign to save the actor's new show, even though it doesn't debut until 2009. We talk to one of the Groupies-in-Chief."

Joss Whedon - actor? Did I miss a memo?

GreatMuppetyOdin | June 11, 00:59 CET

Well he has cameoed in his shows (well according to IMDB) and he was hilarious in Veronica Mars.

Simon | June 11, 01:02 CET

I totally read that as "canoed in his shows". Which i'd also watch.

Saje | June 11, 01:05 CET

I think the most insightful bit of that interview is the last few seconds, in which the co-host says she's not sure if she wants to watch the show if it's just going to be ripped away from her.

Save-the-show campaigns have their place. But with something new that's already getting support from the studio and media, the last thing we should be doing is planting in anyone's head the idea that this could be another Firefly/Wonderfalls/Jericho.

If they're already trying to re-spin it as a fan-based marketing drive, that's great. But the "save Dollhouse" branding is already out there, as indicated by the title of this segment, so they'll need to fight against that as they rebrand their campaign.

RayHill | June 11, 01:05 CET

RayHill I completely agree. It's extremely unfortunate and potentially damaging that the mainstream media and the blogosphere latched onto the initial Save Dollhouse campaign. These days little acorns can turn out to be bloody great trees crashing down on our heads.

Simon | June 11, 01:09 CET

I'm not too keen on fan movements for things that don't exist yet. I think people should give something a chance to impress them before deciding whether it's worth their support.

This just looks insincere. (And I'm far from convinced that fan campaigns make a lick of difference anyway. Serenity only became a movie because Joss persevered with it.)

daylight | June 11, 01:12 CET

These days little acorns can turn out to be bloody great trees crashing down on our heads.

With frightened birds nesting in them who crap on us along the way.

Too much?

theonetruebix | June 11, 01:19 CET

And rabid squirrels, don't forget the rabid squirrels.

These days little acorns can turn out to be bloody great trees crashing down on our heads.

Can't help but think we contribute to the tree too. We're like the Baby Bio of the internet ;).

(after all, Whedonesque is a sort of one stop shop for Joss news, s'even been called his blog more than a few times so it undoubtedly helps spread the word of stuff like 'Save Dollhouse' - even the "poo-poo" thread might've attracted attention. Quick, everyone get paranoid ... annnnd relax)

Saje | June 11, 01:21 CET

There is also a sidebar in this weeks Entertainment Weekly - although I don't think it's available online - thank goodness.

Znachki | June 11, 01:25 CET

I listened to it and I don't see what's so awful. Okay, well that's because it's on the radio, but I didn't *hear* anything so awful either. The interviewee emphasized that the campaign was to hype the show, not "save" it, and also that he felt that the network is showing every sign of supporting the series.

Anyone who's already in the Whedon camp is not going to be turned off by the broadcast. People who don't know anything about Whedon may think it's a bit silly, but they'll have forgotten the main context by January, and when the show starts airing they may think "Dollhouse, I heard something about it on NPR, maybe I should check it out."

'Course the groupie did lose points over the "Has any show ever been saved by a fan campaign?" question. Hellooo...original Star Trek. Nerds these days, no knowledge of history.

barboo | June 11, 01:43 CET

Yeah, it wasn't what I expected to hear after reading the comments early on here. Still seems really misguided to me, and the cohost at the end was a bit off, but many radio hosts are.

Sunfire | June 11, 01:58 CET

Ugh, part of me wishes I'd deleted the link from here. I'm sure that's how Wired caught on to it. Although the link from here got them to shift towards a "hype" rather than a "save" angle, so who knows... (that was the "getting paranoid" and the "relaxing" all in one post ;))

It should've probably been mentioned that Angel was cancelled after five good years. The tone for the whole thing was groan-inducing.

zeitgeist | June 11, 02:06 CET

Baby Bio and weed killer. That's multi-faceted ;).

Saje | June 11, 02:08 CET

So, it wasn't just me that felt slightly embarrassed by the fandom's attempt to save a show that hasn't even had one complete episode made yet? It's nice that they are changing tactics, but I agree that it's going to be hard to shake of the "Save Dollhouse" label now.

[ edited by Aviva on 2008-06-11 09:35 ]

Aviva | June 11, 10:42 CET

Znachki, here is the EW link...which asks if this is a case of a "super-fandom gone a tad super-crazy?"

And I think it is, sad to say. *rustle* Why do leaves and twigs keep falling on my head? *rustle, rustle--looks up* Aaaand, the ruddy great big tree. It hurts!

See, this is the kind of stuff that makes people convinced we are insane, instead of just thinking it in the back of their minds about those people who watch those shows about those vampires, heaven, and a bug.

Save Dollhouse. Huh. Is anyone else reminded of the "Save Ferris" stickers? Frye? Frye? (Something -d-o-o- fandom. Voo-doo fandom.)

BandofBuggered | June 11, 11:36 CET

Wait, we're not supposed to be crazy? Did I join the wrong fandom??

korkster | June 11, 20:48 CET

I don't think Star Trek was revived by a fan campaign.

daylight | June 12, 14:41 CET

NBC was close to cancelling ST:TOS during its second season but a letter writing campaign brought it back for a third year (after which it was indeed cancelled). It returning in film form was probably as much to do with its success in syndication than any fan action though (that said, it's also true that knowing there were fans out there probably made it an easier sell).

Saje | June 12, 15:34 CET

So, fan action seems to bring about a partial extra season above and beyond what a show might have had :).

zeitgeist | June 12, 16:08 CET