Whedonesque : Comments on 17897 : Amy Acker talks about Dollhouse's brief production break.

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October 20 2008

Amy Acker talks about Dollhouse's brief production break. She also talk about how she got cast in the role of Dr. Claire Saunders. She also implies who's writing and directing the season's 5th episode. No spoilers.

Numfar PTB | Dollhouse | 08:51 CET | 32 comments total | tags: amy acker, dollhouse, stephen deknight.

And then he decided to switch it up, and I got lucky.

Riiiiight. The luck of talent, skill, beauty -- and access.

cabri | October 20, 09:41 CET

Yeah, think it was Thomas Jefferson that said (something like) "I'm a great believer in luck - I find the harder I work the luckier I get" ;).

Some nice snippets. And if Amy Acker says not to panic then I don't panic. Whedon Alert Level: Cerise with flecks of lint from that navy blue sock you left in the machine.

The Fox series will explore the goings on at a facility where specially modified humans, referred to as "dolls," are programmed with temporary memories and personalities tailored to different assignments.

Hmm, that's interesting, is that the first we've heard of the actives being altered off the Mk 1 Human model ? Or maybe just the first time we spoiler-phobes have heard it ?

Saje | October 20, 10:54 CET

As a fellow spoilerphobe I'm clueless too, but it sounds to me like the writer is just trying to be a little bit more original than usual. 'Specially modified' could run the gamut from brainwave preparation to electrode-type thingies placement to genetic stew.

cabri | October 20, 11:08 CET

Now, if Joss could but find a part for Alexis!

azhippieinoz | October 20, 11:30 CET

Steven directed ep 4, I think.

[ edited by gossi on 2008-10-20 18:33 ]

gossi | October 20, 11:43 CET

What really grabbed my attention was "Steven DeKnight, directing". DeKnight is at the very top of my favorite writers list on BtS and AtS, but I had to search IMDb for directing credits, for both series.
The only one I found was AtS S4 Inside Out, which he also wrote. One of the better eps in my least favorite AtS season. Better yet, DeKnight is listed on IMDb as "consulting producer" for Dollhouse, something I didn't know.
Not everyone may be thrilled by his participation, but I sure am. (I long ago forgave him for Smallville, in my "an artist has to make a living" place. :)

Shey | October 20, 12:17 CET

Yay, Amy! I'm glad she's going to be in Dollhouse, but I would kind of like to see an older-woman character in a Joss show sometime.

jcs | October 20, 14:40 CET

To Joss,
Please hire Alexis Denisof!
Your fan.

ak24 | October 20, 15:40 CET

What AK24 said.

zz9 | October 20, 15:57 CET

Alexis does need to get more work, as one of the most impressive whedonverse actors. I've been hoping to see him pop up in some quality television work soon.

Having said that, I'm still not convinced that a lot of Whedon alumni need to pop up in Dollhouse. Maybe later, when the show's more established and for a limited time role, but right now with Amy and Eliza, we have enough Whedon alumns in the show already, I'd say, however much I love all of them.

GVH | October 20, 16:23 CET

The last place we've seen Alexis was as Sandy Rivers in How I Met Your Mother, which was a great comedic role for him but I want to see him in something with more range and pathos.

*sigh* I miss Denisof. He's so talented and brings a wonderful subtlety to his roles. I love watching "Lineage" (AtS 5.07) and seeing him switch back from dark, brooding leader to insecure, bumbling Head Boy.

I agree with GVH that the stage is already a bit full of Whedon alums on Dollhouse. Maybe he can make an appearance later on.

Emmie | October 20, 16:58 CET

Steve DeKnight! Steve DeKnight! Steve DeKnight!

No one writes action like Steve DeKnight!

Nolan | October 20, 17:35 CET

And he said, 'I know, I wish there were parts for you and Alexis..."

Alexis!!!!

electricspacegirl | October 20, 18:26 CET

Shey said:

What really grabbed my attention was "Steven DeKnight, directing". DeKnight is at the very top of my favorite writers list on BtS and AtS, but I had to search IMDb for directing credits, for both series.
The only one I found was AtS S4 Inside Out, which he also wrote. One of the better eps in my least favorite AtS season. Better yet, DeKnight is listed on IMDb as "consulting producer" for Dollhouse, something I didn't know.
Not everyone may be thrilled by his participation, but I sure am. (I long ago forgave him for Smallville, in my "an artist has to make a living" place. :)

Steve DeKnight also wrote and directed "Shells" in AtS S5, one of my favorite eps.

cfeuille | October 20, 21:29 CET

Steve is consulting on Dollhouse, writing and occasionally directing when he's allowed out the house. Or into the 'house.

gossi | October 20, 21:30 CET

I'm still not convinced that a lot of Whedon alumni need to pop up in Dollhouse.

Agreed, but guest appearances would be fun... including Neil Patrick Harris as a client.

SteveP | October 20, 21:33 CET

You know, if NPH popped up in Dollhouse early on it would totally take me out of the show. 'cos he's Doogie, Doctor Horrible and Barney already to me.

gossi | October 20, 21:35 CET

I think that would be as bad if not worse, with guest appearances you don't have time to get used to the actor as the character so it'd be pretty distracting IMO.

ETA: as gossi said with his pesky Previous Minute power.

[ edited by Saje on 2008-10-20 21:38 ]

Saje | October 20, 21:36 CET

including Neil Patrick Harris as a client

As himself.

NPH
So, she can be anything?

DEWITT
Anything.

NPH
Can she be a unicorn?

DEWITT
... No.

The One True b!X | October 20, 21:51 CET

Maybe somebody will be filming a new version of Taras Bulba and rent Echo to play the Polish princess and Alexis could play Andrei....

And yes, my mind is a very strange place in which to live; 35% of the time I don't believe it myself.

DaddyCatALSO | October 20, 22:08 CET

OK, I humbly and smilingly submit this revocation of my NPH suggestion to the W'esque powers-that-be.

Eventually it could be fun, but Dollhouse needs to establish its own identity first.

(... which is ironic since the show is somewhat about losing & finding your identity...)

SteveP | October 20, 22:13 CET

I bet Neil Patrick Harris could do a guest star role that didn't make people think of his other characters.

Sunfire | October 20, 22:22 CET

I'll take that bet. For one thing, they'd probably look a lot like him.

Saje | October 20, 22:28 CET

I hear actors are good with voices and faces and stuff. Also pretending.

Sunfire | October 20, 22:35 CET

I like NPH, from interviews he seems a very sensible, decent bloke as well as being a good actor (and singer too as it turns out). But it's not like he's one of those "chameleon" actors that totally disappears into a role, i've never seen him in anything where I didn't immediately know it was him (in fact, I don't recall seeing him in anything where he's done a "voice" either).

In general (though I was kinda kidding above) i've never seen an actor (that I recognise) play a part without thinking, for a few minutes or even just seconds of other characters they've played. I don't mean i'd see NPH and think "Oh, there's Barney", I mean I can't see him without at least realising that he's the guy that plays Barney.

And knowing that he's part of the Whedon "crew" i'll also think about the "ticking a box" aspect, just like when I see Adam Baldwin on 'Bones' or Morena Baccarin on 'Numb3rs' I think "Cool, 'verses colliding" or whatever - there's an element of them being a bigger entity to me than their characters, even though they always do a good job playing whoever they're playing. For me that'd be distracting, particularly if it happened often, YMMV ;).

Saje | October 20, 23:01 CET

theonetruebix made me laugh.

Also, I've seen an actor who I completely forgot was an actor or that I'd seen them in anything ever - Alexis Denisof on stage in All My Sons. He deserves to be on TV.

gossi | October 20, 23:05 CET

I think the best example of a chameleon actor is Gary Oldman. Where as Neil Patrick Harris I always recognize first as Neil Patrick Harris, then the character he's playing. Hmm, now I'm imagining Gary Oldman guest-starring on Dollhouse...

Emmie | October 20, 23:09 CET

When people are acting, I usually forget who they've been before, unless they're not so good or very typecast or one of a few actors I care to follow. I may be extremely gullible in that way.

I'm not arguing for NPH being in the show. I don't think being recognizable should rule him out though, if the role's right. I will concede that someone in a very iconic role, like say Dobber, might not be a good guest star. Bad Horse is like his Han Solo now.

Sunfire | October 20, 23:24 CET

Hmmm... Dobber on Dollhouse + "he'll make you his mare" lyric. I see a storyline in the making. (Can dolls change species?)

BTW, Dobber needs a photo on IMDB.

SteveP | October 21, 00:14 CET

Alexis Denisof would be fun to see as a villain. The opposite of Wesley --smooth, cool and unflappable. And underneath, a cauldron. He has it in him to be a Mr. Perfect.

Pointy | October 21, 05:29 CET

Steve DeKnight also wrote and directed "Shells" in AtS S5, one of my favorite eps.
cfeuille | October 20, 21:29 CET

Good catch, I missed that one. I can't think of anyone from the old ME production/writing/directing crew I'd rather see associated with Dollhouse than DeKnight.

Shey | October 21, 14:50 CET

This article reinforces the idea that the original pilot was dropped from the episode list. Amy says "we've already made four [episodes]", but the article says Joss shut down production to rework scripts, starting with the fourth episode.

dollrific | October 21, 19:52 CET

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