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Whedonesque - a community weblog about Joss Whedon
"The words 'Let that be a lesson' are a tad redundant at this juncture."
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October 26 2008

(SPOILER) What happened when the lights went out. Sadly, this is not a naughty post. It's just Joss nattering on again.

I thought it was time to check in with you once again, gentle viewers. Or readers. Or pictures-looker-ats (that might be viewers). Also listeners, sniffers, haberdashers, Olympic hopefuls, the elderly, the youngerdly, and the mighty state of Oregon (go Oregon-based sports franchise!) Welcome all. Welcome... to me.

What's me up to? I'm glad me asked. Me've (I'm not doing that any more) been working on a little show called Dollhouse. Yes, perhaps you've read about how it's blazing an untrammeled path to surefire success, with nary a hitch or a hiccup, just pure blazing blazery, comet-like and meteoresque. What's that, you say? You've read other things? Dark, Yog-Sothothy rumors about shutdowns and delays? Poppycock! They’re true. But I never pass up a chance to say "poppycock". ("Balderdash" is so '07. Let it go.) I know there's been a lot of concern, various fabulous hues of panic alert readiness. So here's the skinny. Some of the names have been changed.

The show was ruined by Flim Flinear. Okay, that's another lie, and you're probably close to giving up on this blog, so here we go. Yes, we've had to make adjustments. Yes, it's been hard and I've been depressing to be around for awhile. Basically, the Network and I had different ideas about what the tone of the show would be. They bought something somewhat different than what I was selling them, which is not that uncommon in this business. Their desires were not surprising: up the stakes, make the episodes more stand-alone, stop talking about relationships and cut to the chase. Oh, and add a chase. That you can cut to. Nothing I hadn't heard before on my other shows (apparently my learning curve has no bendy part) but frustrating as hell given our circumstances - a pilot shot, scripts written, everybody marching together/gainfully employed... and then a shutdown. Glad I was for the breathing room, but it's hardly auspicious. So back into the writer cave I went, wondering why I put up with this when I can make literally dozens of dollars making internet movies. Why I do put up with this is divided into three parts.

One: They're not wrong. Oh, we don't see eye-to-eye on everything, but wanting the first episodes to be exciting and accessible is not exactly Satanic. Being Satan is, but that's in their free time and hey, there's no judging in the Dollhouse. This kind of back and forth has happened on every show I've done, so if you liked those, chances are that was a part of why. And the need to focus on the essentials of what makes this universe tick - and which wire to cut to make it stop - really does bring up our game. So we as a staff have gone from blinking like unhoused moles to delving in with the same relish we had when we started. The show is really coming together now, in a way that I believe excites us and satisfies the Network. Of course, I have no idea if anybody else will like it, but I have the same faith in the staff, the crew and the remarkable cast that I always did. More, in fact. And what's more crucial:

Two: Nothing essential has changed about the universe. The ideas and relationships that intrigued me from the start are all there (though some have shifted, more on that), and the progression of the first thirteen eps has me massively excited. The episode we're shooting now I wrote as fast as anything I have before, not because I had to (although, funny side-note: I had to) but because I couldn't stop the words from coming. Because I can feel the show talking to me; delighting, scaring and occasionally even offending me. It's alive. Alive! Which is a far cry from how I felt a month ago. It's been hilarious trying to keep up with what's in, what's out, who's met whom and when - we've shot all of the first seven episodes out of airing order - but it's come together in a pretty thrilling way. My huge gratitude to our cast for their precision and patience. Which also includes...

Three: Eliza. Watching her on the monitors at two o'clock this morning I was reminded forcibly how much I wished I were in bed – but also how strong, radiant and unmistakable her presence is. She's someone who could coast on talent and never ever does. I love to watch her work. In fact, I think I got myself into this mess for that very reason, and though I have this fall occasionally sworn never to eat lunch with an actor I like again, I’m pretty pleased and crazy proud.

So here's me, slogging away on a show like days of old and not hating life. Again, you guys will be the judge, jury and execu... lawyer, but we do have something to show you. Something, I'm chuffed to say, still pretty damn strange.

As for what's been changed, well, some things I obviously can't tell you. Some I can, for the record: The original pilot was in fact thrown out. Again, at my behest. Once it became clear what paradigm the Network was shooting for, it just didn't fit at all, even after I'd reshot more than half of it (see above re: despair). To get a sense of how completely turned around I was during this process, you should know there was a scene with Eliza and the astonishing Ashley Johnson that I wrote and shot completely differently three different times, with different characters in different places (actually I wrote it closer to eight times), and none of it will ever see air. Which is as it should be (though I'm determined to get Ms. Johnson back in the future). The scene just didn't belong anymore. Similarly, the character of November has fallen out of the mix, because the show simply moves too fast now for me to do what I wanted with her. Season three, anyone...? Happily, Miracle Laurie is still with us in a new role, playing against (and pining for) Tahmoh's character, Paul Ballard. Their chemistry is deeply nifty. The only other major cast shift is that the Dollhouse head of security, Laurence Dominic (played by Reed Diamond), who was written just for the now-defunct first ep, has stuck like fly-paper, and Reed is very much in the family for the present. (Most of my problems seem to involve my actors making themselves indispensable. This is the good problem kind.)

Apart from that, it's all hush-hush: some things I'd intended to hold back are laid out much sooner, and some are rolling out more slowly. We're still heading toward Tim's intense two-part mind-blower - right before a thirteenth ep that may actually just be insane.

And finally, young Steve DeKnight, after writing and shooting an ep so cool it helped not only define the show but save its ass, is ending his consulting duties, the f#%&er. I will be crying on the shoulder of Jane Espenson come Monday, so congratudolences are in order. Excited for the Jane Flava.

And there you have it. I'll be writing more bulletins about "Cabin" and a certain DVD in the very near future, but I wanted to get you all some actual information for a change. I can count on you guys not to tell anyone, right? What's a blog?

Faithfully, -joss.

Woo Hoo! A Joss post, I suppose I should read it first, but I wanted to post first!

Edited to add: well we've waited months (months I tell you!) for a Joss post, and this one was kind of hair-raising: he starts out scaring me with the dire specter or corporate suits and his own depression, but then raising my excitement level with allusions to amazing scripts and story lines. He makes me sad about DeKnight leaving, but then thrills me with the fact that Jane Espenson is jumping on board! So Yay!!
Right?

[ edited by embers on 2008-10-26 07:03 ]
I think you have a real darkside Mr Whedon, because you only seem to come out at night.

Poppycock make a comeback, finally.

But man do not read that word to quickly or to late at night or otherwise it may not appear as it seems. Because I could have swore at least one of the "o" was a "u".

Oh and hey - I say the stuff you think we will never see. Just wait I'm sure FOX squirreled it away for the DVD.

Seriously, I doubt anyone reads this site anymore, I mean why would they. Nothing ever interesting is posted here. So your secrets are safe on this side of the ether.

:D

Well maybe a few pot roast recipes every now and then but that is it.

[ edited by RavenU on 2008-10-26 07:09 ]
Great, like I wasn't obsessed about the show already...

Thanks for checking in with us. Don't worry, mum's the word. And a perfectly good word it is, too. Very mumlike.
Joss, you write it, we will come.
Dont worry we are all here for you and will support you forever! Whatever the tone...
Glad to hear- see- read- some good words on the subject, Joss. Thanks for bringing us from the dark, dirty, dank terror of unknowingness, and into the bright, slightly scary light of truth.

Seriously, would it kill them to mop unknowingness once in a while?
That post illicited a deep sigh of relief and yayness. Yes, there is a sigh of yayness. By my imperfect calculations it is just a bit over 11 weeks until we get to see the grand mess. And I mean mess in the bestest of ways.

And Oregon mentions are always welcome. There are not near enough Oregon mentions (or the correct pronunciation) in TV. Orygun, people. Orygun.

[ edited by TamaraC on 2008-10-26 07:05 ]
Technically, here on the west coast of the US, it's still October 25, and therefore Joss posted on my birthday. Yay me.

ETA that I meant to actually say something Dollhouse-related here, not just me-related, but got distracted. So, on that: All of the above, while obviously more specific than we've heard previously, basically matches what so many have said here before: TV can be like this, so just relax and wait until January.

Also, I don't even remember hearing Reed Diamond was in it at all, for whatever reason. But good cast catch.

(Meanwhile, since he just alluded to Cabin, can anyone tell me WTF the listing for Cabin said in two of the last three issues of Production Weekly?)

[ edited by theonetruebix on 2008-10-26 07:10 ]
Thanks for the update, J-man.

Note to self: Don't read a Joss-post half asleep because it makes you drink caffeine to properly read and understand it.

Panic alert level: Carolina blue with a tinge of magenta.
Excellent! I have been clicking the 'Joss Post' link for a while now thinking, 'isn't it about time'? And I suppose I was right!

I just keep on getting more and more excited about Dollhouse! Is it January yet?
Perma-Reed Diamond-ness! Yay!
All I have to add is a shout out to Dexter for keeping my brain completely enveloped until January. If not for that, I'm not sure I could contain myself during the wait. :)
PS: I saw a trailer for the show during the World Series today. It looks bodacious. :D (Yes, I used a word that The Ex-Presidents used despite being neither an expert surfer, a criminal or a President.) Back to my point, it looked awesome.
Information! Delicious purple information. So looking forward to this show.
Do not despair, Joss! Oregon will always have your back! That, and I just saw the Dollhouse commercial during the World Series tonight, and it looked great.
Only one concern about the pilot being thrown out... does that mean that hilariously awesome "it's the happiest day of my life!!" scene now exists only in the trailer that's around? I really hope that managed to find it's way into the new script. But, hey, at least it's on the trailer!
There was a commercial? YouTube links, people!
PS: I saw a trailer for the show during the World Series today.

Wait, what, where, when? I was watching. Damn it.
Josspost! So since the original pilot is out, there'd be no harm if some "unnamed source" leaked it, right?

Not that I'd ever advocate that sort of behavior. Just posing the hypothetical.
Thanks for posting Joss. Its always great to hear from you!!

My word for the day is Poppycock!
Bix, I think it happened in the first three innings because I still was flipping between the Series and the OSU-PSU football game. I caught the last half of it.

[ edited by crazygolfa on 2008-10-26 07:22 ]
Did it have new footage, crazygolfa? Or was it just a shorter version of what we've seen?
That's what I get for deciding this was the evening in which to do all my laundry, I guess. Where's gossi, why hasn't he posted it for us somewhere.
My goodness, don't I feel all toasty about my screen name now?
Thanks for checking in, always nice to be updated.
I second the post above that says Oregon will always have your back, but I mean it more singularly. Statewide too.
Jobo,

It had entirely brand-spanking new material. It had a motorcycle race or chase in it, (Which Eliza spoke about in her interview with Jimmy Kimmel a few months ago) and other shiny new material. It made me squee. :D

Let me rephrase that, the commercial-ad-trailer thingy was new to me.

ETA a missing letter.

[ edited by crazygolfa on 2008-10-26 07:37 ]
Excellent! Joss-post. Can't wait til January.
Hmmm... I tired searching for a video of the Dollhouse commercial, but couldn't find it, anyone kind enough to upload it for those who didn't see it?

Was there anything new?
Joss-
Thanks so much. Your communication means a lot.
So excited about Dollhouse! And very interested to know that it sometimes offends you. :)
Thanks SO much for the news Joss.
It's great to know what's really happening... helps with the long long wait 'till January.
Can't wait to watch the show! Can't wait for more purple goodness!
Thanks for posting Joss. This sounds like cautiously good news to me - the team is good, and the product will be good. As a recent Mad Men convert, though, I'm beginning to realise how much I like TV that doesn't cut to the chase - or even have one occasionally. Or maybe it's not the chase you thought it was. Or something.
You all have approximately 20 minutes to find me this commercial. Under penalty of, um. Well, okay, no penalty, just go anyway.
Thank you Joss for keeping us informed. I'm a little sad about losing November but happy to hear Miracle is staying in the family. Is it next year yet?
Hey, I'm in Oregon! Yay, shout out! :D

Still not worried about Dollhouse. I have faith in Joss and everybody and the entire process. I can't wait for it to actually be on my TV though.
Ah, I think we can lower the alert level to a color in the visible range again ;)
Hopefully we will be able to see the "thrown out" pilot at a later date? On dvd maybe? :D

I wish Fox would just put their complete faith in you and stop tinkering with awesomeness (also read: anything that you write.)

I wasn't before, but now I'm worried.
Jane! How delightful!
I wasn't before, but now I'm worried.

Yes, nothing like an honest bit of reassurance to... make worried people who were not worried before? What?
joss: "Basically, the Network and I had different ideas about what the tone of the show would be. They bought something somewhat different than what I was selling them, which is not that uncommon in this business. Their desires were not surprising: up the stakes, make the episodes more stand-alone, stop talking about relationships and cut to the chase. Oh, and add a chase. That you can cut to."

Oh my, was this cut and paste from the announcement for Firefly's new pilot? Because I swear, my heart fell all the way to China. :( *faints from the horror*

P.S. Thanks, joss, for the eventually good news -- I am looking forward to it even more now! :)

[ edited by cabri on 2008-10-26 07:46 ]
I'm not concerned about whether or not Dollhouse is going to be good or about it being canceled right away.. but about how Fox is going to take away from it's quality. Sure, we know we are going to get a good show, but it worries me to think about how amazing it could be if they weren't trying to make it extra accessible. I have faith in Joss, I just wish Fox did.
Thanks for the update, Joss. I wish my writing projects would talk to me, delight me, scare me, and occasionally offend me... again. It truly is a wondrous feeling of creation.

I'm sad about the loss of November (for now), but glad Miracle Laurie gets to stick around.

Not (as) long to go now...
I have been waiting for a Joss post in quite a while-- there seems to be so much that has needed clarification from a first hand source.

Well, I'm looking forward to seeing Dollhouse. I actually am glad that Fox had Joss change Malcolm Reynold's character from what it was originally- I'm glad he has that sense of humor and is not just doom and gloom as he was originally meant to be.

That being said, I have a hard time having any confidence that Fox will give the show a good, honest chance. (Drive, anyone?) Hopefully it will at least get the chance that Fringe is getting, and the hope of improvement that Sarah Conner Chronicles is getting.
So, despite the fact, as you yourself mention, that two current shows under the current FOX regime are being given the opportunity to succeed, you're stuck on the experiences of Firefly and Drive under the old FOX regime?
Hey long time no see!
This pleased me all six ways to Sunday!!! (And a seventh-- but I dont like to talk about that one there might be Younglings about.)

Thanks for keeping us in the loopy Joss. And nope, we wont tell nary a soul.

*is totally not linking all of her friends to this site right now*

Mums a word.

British people use....

And yes please if we non baseball people can get a link to the commercial???
b!X, some people need to see it to believe it. Fox will have to prove itself to a lot of fans.
They've already seen it to believe it: Fringe and Terminator. The reality is things happen in TV. If for some reason Dollhouse doesn't get the chance those two shows are getting, it won't prove these people right that FOX hasn't changed/isn't different. FOX has already proven they've changed/are different.
Mmm. Thanks for your deliciously detail-filled blog, Joss. Great to know that things are coming together. I look forward to seeing Dollhouse when it materialises! :)
Yay! Josspost! Thank you for reassuring us. I just hope this keeps everyone from panicking. the show WILL go on!
On behalf of Amalgamated Haberdashers, Trimmers & Sniffers Local 120, we thank you for your greeting and the high quality gen. My panic levels have remained guarded-to-low (bluish-purple, or purply-blueish purple) this whole time, 'cause I'm trying to stay relatively Spoiler-free (uniformed.) I'm sorry if you have had to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous disconnect - I hope everyone's on the (relatively) same page now as our Storyteller, 'cause that's the page I want to read & not the Executives. Sorry, Executives.

"...there’s no judging in the Dollhouse."

See, I didn't know that.

*stops judging the Executives and administers mind-wipe instead.*

There you go. Now listen to the suave man with the sorta-red hair and slightly high forehead and do what he tells you.

I will maintain my high level of interest in Dollhouse come what may, but I wish people would stop bugging the Jossir.
I'm not as thrilled as everyone else here. Okay cool it will be really good and he's put cancellation fears at rest. But, still, I can't help thinking the show would be considerably better (and, it seems, stranger) if Joss was allowed complete control. Sure, it might be how TV works but that doesn't make me like it
Thanks, Boss- both for posting and for "putting the band back together!". Can't wait for the new show!

And happy belated birthday, theonetruebix!
Ooh, His Royal Jossness posted! I feel all special. Even though I'm only one of somewhere around a hundred or so fans of his able to post on this site, and merely one of umpety hundredy thousands of his fans...

Any way.

YAY for new info! YAY for Joss humor! Boo silly execs who don't trust the Genius That is Joss. Boo, I say!

"Poppycock" is a very good word. nods

Jossir, I'm glad your brain is churning out all sorts of new ideas and just won't shut up. 'cause that way lies amazing stories, filled with humor, angst and scathing wit. Sometimes all at once.

I know mine's already trying to write fan fic for this show, which is silly because I only know the most basic of basics about it, and also rather frightening.

I, however, will not watch the World Series for a chance to catch the ads, being not a fan of baseball. I will have to wait for regular programming to resume to see it. And maybe when I do I'll also catch some ads for Merlin on NBC, which should be starting sometime the same month. Oooh! I hope they're not up against each other! 'cause that'd be rude, having to choose between ASH & Eliza.
Joss post! Yay! On behalf of myself and everyone I've dragged into my fandom (Jossdom?), we trust you wholeheartedly with Dollhouse and are SUPER stoked for it's arrival in January.

Looking forward to that additional information! Take care, Joss Boss, and thanks for the post! It's always a thrill to hear from you; we love that you love us. ^_~
I'm wonderin' if they will make a new first episode. Seriously. Towards the end, shoot something new - you know what works about the show by then - and shove it right to the front to get your best out first.

Dollhouse is an odd thing. In theory, it's a show about identity, who we are, what defines us etc. But the thing is, that's not a show - that's an idea. FOX are "the action network", which I've said before I think is their downfall. So you've got this weird mismash goin' on. It reminds me ever so slightly of Drive, which started out as Magnolia-on-wheels (the idea) and quickly became a NASCAResque drama (the delivery).

Here's the thing with FOX's action network identity. What are their biggest shows? Family Guy, House, American Idol, Fringe... What shows do they have which are tanking? Terminator (sorry Summer), Prison Break... What am I saying? FOX. Stop being the action network. It's not what works for you. Here's a radical idea: identify yourself as the quality funny drama network. It's what works for you. Seriously.

[ edited by gossi on 2008-10-26 10:06 ]
Thanks for the post, love some info from the source himself, as far as this jury goes I'm thinking there are multiple get-out-of-jail-free cards available for anything up to and including Dexterlike hobbies, but the hunger for the spicy ideas is so strong the show is in danger of being executed by being talked to death before it's first airing, which would be sad.
Here's a tip, distract us with more news of cabins and dvds, quickly.

gossi, being the Idol network seems to be what works best for Fox, don't give them ideas to reshuffle, nothing good could come out of that :)

[ edited by jpr on 2008-10-26 10:14 ]
jpr, in terms of drama FOX prides itself as The Action Network. It's their thing, but I don't personally think it's the right thing.
Whatever I think about Fox, or Dollhouse, or the progression of events, it's undeniably awesome that Joss would come online and try to put everyone's minds at ease. And the fact that he seems enthusiastic can't hurt.
Yay update! Really, nothing beats hearing that the people working on a project are really loving it.
Wow, my first Joss-post as an official member!

Note to self: Do not read Joss-posts first thing in the morning. Neighbors do not appreciate loud squeeing at 5:30 in the morning.

Thanks for the info and humour and for poppycock. That word simply isn't used nearly enough.

I'm getting more and more excited about the show. I swear I'm going to find a countdown clock and set it for the series premiere.

My faith in Joss remains Mt. Everest high; my faith in Fox, not so much.

::continues making Fox executive voodoo dolls and gathering many large pins::

Oh, and ShadowQuest:

having to choose between ASH & Eliza

Tries.

Head explodes.

[ edited by Giles'chainsawchick on 2008-10-26 10:57 ]
Hurray, Joss post. That made my Sunday morning better than it already was by being a Sunday morning (and one with an extra hour in bed, too).

At the risk of annoying b!x, I must say that my panic level has very slightly increased also. I appreciate all the good stuff that Joss is saying about feedback from people who want it to be easier to catch onto, and in the end that could turn out very well. I guess I'm just a bear of little brain and, since this is the first solid evidence we've had of creative differences between network and creative team, I'm going to go ahead and build just a little bit of worry on it. Previously, I was resisting all rumours and hearsay, but a Joss post carries a little more weight and is forcing me to think about it. But it's okay, I'll make the panic level a nice light cyan colour, and keep it to myself.
Joss
Their desires were not surprising: up the stakes, make the episodes more stand-alone, stop talking about relationships and cut to the chase.


I hope "stand-alone" doesn't mean a procedural with a mask, right? Like Fringe?

If the pilot was trashed it means we won't have that scene where Eliza talks spanish? Or the one Eliza goes out with an older guy? Or every other thing that happened on the trailer (like the mountain)?

I'm excited about Jane Espenson because she wrote Conversations with Dead People.


Update: About spreading the word, don't worry, everyone in Portugal will know!

[ edited by Rikardo on 2008-10-26 10:59 ]
Well, no exercise for me needed today. My heart got all the workout it needed just now. The ups, the downs, the highs the lows. Jossir's post was like a whole season all in one. There has been love and death and rebirth. Whew.
I don’t have much to say other than “Yay, Joss chose my birthday of all days to post after along purple drought”. Now, of course, he didn’t know that 26Oct was my b-day, but he still did it ;)
I wasn't worried before, but now I am. Too much network interference can either make or break a show. Look at "Dirty Sexy Money", it's a show with a great cast, an interesting basic concept, but overall it isn't near what it could be. This season it's even pretty bad at times. I hope DOLLHOUSE profits from two opinions trying to make it work out, but I am not so sure about it.

ANYWAY, I need to see this new trailer. Where is one of the geeks who recorded it and uploads it to Youtube?
"Eliza. Watching her on the monitors at two o'clock this morning I was reminded forcibly how much I wished I were in bed"

with her?
When you click recent comments and see 4.2 quintillion uninterrupted posts on one thread you know there's been Purple Postage (or maybe the apocalypse and the kind folks on here are giving a heads-up).

Ahhhnnnndd relax. OK, feel better about, well, everything now - even that mysterious rash looks like it's clearing up. It seems a pity that some compromising has had to be done (and to be honest I thought from early on that November was being distinctly "under-emphasised" in the promotional stuff) but then that's the really real world for you, you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs (OK, that's more the metaphorically real world cos in the really real one you also need a frying pan, ideally a wooden spatula to preserve the non-stick surface and some kind of heat source).

Must admit, i'm slightly amused to see the odd bit of panic rising now when a month ago we were all saying "Don't Panic !" and yet, by the sounds of Big Dub's post, a month ago things were looking not so great and a bit of panic might even have been justified ;).

Whedon Alert Level: Cute, the colour of !Kittens!

(glad to hear about Jane E hopping aboard)

((and happy belated birthday to theonetruebix and happy just birthday to Mirage ;))

(((and yay, an extra hour ! I'm gonna spend mine contemplating what to do with the extra hour, good times)))
gossi, I see, guess they are trying to build on 24, not sure about funny drama though what do they have in that vein ?
Action by itself doesn't do it, pity that Showtime took the 'it's all about characters', cause thats a large part of what you're looking for isn't it ?

Now for my favorite hobby, watching how fast the Joss post spreads on the internet.

[ edited by jpr on 2008-10-26 11:21 ]
Thanks for the update Joss! I'm sure you and the rest of the Dollhouse team will do your best to both satisfy the network and keep the show as strange and interesting as possible.

I do hope that the original pilot, or at least bits of it end up on the DVD as extras. I was very intrigued by what I saw in the original trailer. But now I wanna see the new trailer. Why has no one put it up yet, huh? A bit slow people! :p
A Joss post! Well, that will teach me to go to sleep. I go to bed and looky there, news happens.

But it's good news. And Jane is on board! Thanks, Joss!

*does yippy joy dance to the utter embarassment of the kids*
Joss does for the internet what STDs did for sex. No wait, Mummy, take the keyboard away. (From me). (And probably Joss). (Give him a typewriter and a fax machine). (And me, a carrier pigeon).

I do have to say, I don't think any of us knows if Dollhouse will stick - including the network - until the ratings start to arrive. I really wish FOX would stop saying they have faith in the show and actually start having it, though.

They also really need to order some more episodes at some point soonish. As that's the next Whedon terror colour alert problem, trust me.
Thanks for that explanation Joss (straight from the Bad Horse's mouth!). It's always interesting to get an insight into how these things work. I remember recently reading a JJ Abram's interview whereby he mentioned collaborating with his studio (Warner Bros in his case) on his creations, and his view is that it would have been a disaster if the studio had said yes to everything they suggested.

Great news that Jane Espenson's on board!

Thanks also for confirming the Balderdash and Poppycock situation.

I can count on you guys not to tell anyone, right?


er...oops....sorry...! ;-)

[ edited by Rosalind on 2008-10-26 12:18 ]
My first Joss post since I registered !
Nice to see that Dollhouse is back on the right track, can't wait to see it :)
The Buffy fan in me would have liked some news about the comics (a possible crossover between Angel and Buffy, maybe...)or maybe, one can dream, the animated series !
I wonder whether later seasons (touch wood) might be able to get closer to Joss's original vision
I refuse to be scared by the networks into thinking that this show will not be the Best Show Ever. I have utmost faith in its success, even if the pilot is rewritten a thousand times. How could it not be, with the calibre of people on board?
Joss' post settled my tummy in ways I can't even begin to describe.

And JANE ESPENSON writing on Dollhouse! WOO-frakking-HOO!
Er...gossi, you just compared Joss to an STD. Em?

Along the same note. Has anyone else noticed that when you search for Dollhouse on YouTube, some very strange porn-like stuff comes up? Couldn't find the commercial. Found lots of stuff I wish I hadn't though. I'm off to go scrub my mind now.
Thanks for the update, Boss.

TV without you is a black hole (except for BSG), devoid of meaningful content.

I was so scared of cancellation! Thank the gods it hasn't happened. Your post is most reassuring. CAN'T WAIT!!!

*squeals of Eliza delight*
Anybody catch the fact that Joss confirmed that Yog Sothoth works in the rumor-mongering department at Fox? I just knew it ...

Always glad to see a purple post, especially one that makes with the rumor control. And Mr. Whedon, with respect to the "you're probably close to giving up on this blog," may I suggest that if you ever figure out what would stop Whedonesquers from reading a purple post, you make a movie about it, or at least make it the next Big Bad in "Buffy" S8, because it will not be a small, unnoticeable thing, it will be huge and stompy. And/or Yog Sothoth.

And Happy Birthday theonetruebix and Miracle!
I still see bus stop ads for Dollhouse. It's not for the show, but some sort of clothing line/makeup/perfume/lozenge.
Wow, wghat a way to wake up,. With a Joss post.
I'm really looking forward to Dollhouse, and I'm just sad that everything from the changes on the show, are being played back there with Joss and his peeps against the network. There has been not real public reaction yet. We've been reacting to news about the show, well sourced and non-funded reports, generating different colors of panic colors, but just like back with Buffy season 1, most 13 episodes will already be finalized by the time Fox starts to air it in January. I only wished there were more time, to let us play, well as Joss points out the jury, judge and well, lawyers.
I'll be there supporting the show however I can, sometimes just wished it was more.
I haven't been worried. And after this purple posting my non-worry has increased. Also, the whole 'must-complete-time-machine-to-fast-forward-to-January' issue is becoming more and more pressing. Because let's face it, if I'm not done before December, the whole thing starts to become kind of moot.

But really, as previously stated (by many people, again, and again, and again), TV works likes this sometimes. And maybe, just maybe, this isn't a completely bad thing for the show. So once again: Don't worry about the state of a show that's still 11 weeks away from premiering.

Besides, my own personal worry schedule is filled up by Pushing Daisies right now.
Thanks for filling us in, Your Purpleness. :) Unlike other posters, this actually alleviates my worries, since the changes you mentioned don't seem dire at all, and, despite everything, you seem to have found your footing.

Stephen DeKnight and Jane Espenson both make my Top 5, when it comes to favourite Jossverse writers, so I'm cool with that change, too. I love me some Jane. ♥
John Darc, it might be Target. There was some weird, and very boring, commercial on YouTube that referenced both Dollhouse and Target. Hey. Maybe they are trying to mooch off the fandom?
Yeah, Steve DeKnight and Jane Espenson are some of my favourites too. I can't wait to see their episodes. Now we just need Marti Noxon for some heartbreaking melodrama
The ad up here at the Fox site seems to be more detailed with new information, or more detailed information than the original ad. Is that what was run during the baseball game? And may I say that I think the fact that Fox was advertising Dollhouse during the game is really a good sign! That is valuable advertising space!
MysticSlug, Product placement, maybe the first episode is Echo working on an undercover mission in a Target store :)
Shhh, jpr. We don't want to get them worrying again. But I suppose it's Ok as long as they use the right pronunciation of Target. Much more classy-like without the final -t and all.

[ edited by MysticSlug on 2008-10-26 13:24 ]
This Joss post is mighty comforting, though I never worried about the quality of DH. I know Joss will pull it out with his usual flair, because growing pains = normal part of the process. And every Joss-ian show I've loved (and I've loved them all!) began with episodes that were good with flashes of brilliance that promised more. That's the great thing: they delivered on those flashes!

I remember nervously watching "The Train Job" and thinking all kinds of omg!-panicky thoughts, and then Mal kicked that dude into the carbine and I knew Firefly would be good.

I am much more nervous about how FOX will handle the show, but the plans so far -- premiering it midseason with a strong lead-in on Monday nights! It sounds very promising so far. And TV ratings have universally been in the toilet this season, so that's comforting too.
I'd come to think the Boss had perhaps forgotten about us, so what a wonderful surprise to wake and find a Joss-post with an already-healthy number of posts. Good morning, Sunday.

Thanks for the update, Joss. Sorry to hear about SDeK, but really happy to hear about JE!

And thanks for a new line that I must find some use for somewhere: "apparently my learning curve has no bendy part."
At the risk of annoying b!x, I must say that my panic level has very slightly increased also.

Ha, it's a risk we all have to take sometimes ;). So some of us are panicking more, some of us less? It's nice to get some long posty info, though I think Joss-posts are designed for people who have already had their coffee.

Happy OneTrueDayAfterYourBirthday, b!X, and happy birthday Mirage!

(((and yay, an extra hour ! I'm gonna spend mine contemplating what to do with the extra hour, good times)))

Hey, did your clocks go forward already, Saje? Enjoy your hour, and I'm glad to hear the rash is clearing up, ahem.

ETA Does Joss read this far down? I shoulda said thank you for the nice long posty info :)

[ edited by catherine on 2008-10-26 14:41 ]
Joss, thanks for the kind word. I can't wait for January, or whenever Dollhouse air date arrives, but since I have to I'm watching Firefly again one episode at a time and nobody tells stories the way you do -- so just keep telling and we'll keep watching.
After waking at 7 this morning and watching 4 hours of Buffy, I thought it was time to safely sing-along and check out the internet. A Joss post. The Sabbath is indeed a holy day. All worship at the alter of Joss.

Here lies everything
The World I wanted on the net
My victory in Dollhouse is set

You get the idea ;o)
Joss, we have faith. Please write the show as you see it. Don't worry, we'll be here.
I must say that my panic level has very slightly increased also.


I think we're seeing what most show creators/runners have to go through, it's just that Joss is a bit more open about the whole process.
hooray for a joss post--has been too long!

and i love the honesty and humour here...as was said earlier (i think) "if you write it joss, we will come...or watch" :)
Lovely to see Joss, as always, and glad to hear Dollhouse is still a-comin'. And Jane Espenson! Jane the Great!

Sorry for all the stress, but you know what they say; stress turns coal into ulcers. Wait, no, it turns into something else, doesn't it? Emmys? Moral superiority? Daleks? Eh, something cool.
Hey, did your clocks go forward already, Saje?

Well i'm hoping it's the world that's gone forward and our clocks have gone back but now you've got me worried (i've actually made that mistake before ;).

...

Nope, just checked with the speaking clock and they definitely went back. So, what's the future like, do we have flying cars yet ?

(incidentally, any UKers know when the speaking clock turned into frikkin' Tinkerbell (and an American Tinkerbell at that) ? Is it just for today ? Some anniversary that I don't know about or something ?)
Ok I have a question, when the heck was Joss in Heores???? I was looking at the Dollhouse and pulled up his bio and saw the following under his credits...

"Heroes - 2008 - Actor - A fantasy series about ordinary people with extraordinary powers."

Did we miss something???? I looked on imdb and saw nothing mentioned there. So what is the stitch about Joss acting in Heroes??? When??? Where??? How don't we know this??? Anyone know anything about this or Joss please tease.
Saje, it's for the next three months (!) apparently the speaking clock is being sponsored by Disney for this period as part of a promotion for a new dvd coming out. Yuck.
My heart skipped a beat at the first couple of words- I thought he was heading off into a 'Sorry, Dollhouse has gone dark' direction. Phew- time to breathe again.

I hope Joss won't be bullied out of showing us his vision, as so many people- and not just here in the black- are behind him 100%
Since I've avoided knowing anything beforehand about the series, I won't see the difference. I only read this post because it's Joss.

But I'm sorry his stress level has, once again, been sorely tested, and glad that he seems to think things are on track now.
The thing that scares me is the "more stand-alone" part. We've seen both Angel and Veronica Mars suffer in quality after going to a "more stand-alone" format, and then get cancelled.

Personally, I think Firefly and Battlestar Galactica strike the best balance. Each episode is a complete story on it's own, but most of them are also part of the larger story arc. This is mostly what I've been imagining Dollhouse to be like, and I hope the execs don't push it too far into the "Echo's personality of the week" category.
Saje, it's for the next three months (!) apparently the speaking clock is being sponsored by Disney for this period as part of a promotion for a new dvd coming out. Yuck.

Hmm, yeah, not sure how I feel about that, cheers for the info though Rosalind ;).

(Lenny Henry doing it for Comic Relief was one thing but to promote a film ? And it's a pretty annoying voice too, not at all the calm, dulcet tones I was just starting to get used to from the new lady)
You missed nothing, RavenU. Gosh, it's so good to hear your voice again. Welcome back!
"The thing that scares me is the "more stand-alone" part. We've seen both Angel and Veronica Mars suffer in quality after going to a "more stand-alone" format, and then get cancelled."

I definitely get what you mean though I love season 5 Angel; and Firefly was standalone too. I reckon if the show gets established and goes past season one it will inevitably become more serialised eg. Angel season 5 which couldn't stay standalone even though it tried
The thing that scares me is the "more stand-alone" part. We've seen both Angel and Veronica Mars suffer in quality after going to a "more stand-alone" format, and then get cancelled.


Wait, so are you saying you think season 5 of Angel was a dip in quality? Because I'd argue that season 5 had the highest concentration of not-just-good-but-fucking-brilliant episodes of the (or indeed, any) series.

Not saying more stand-alone is always a good thing, I likes me continuity as much as the next nerd, but I just can't follow you there.
Season 5 is my favourite season of Angel, but I think most of its not-just-good-but-fucking-brilliant episodes were arc-based, and most of its lame episodes were... the standalones.
Let's stop bashing Fox execs. They're not the Big Bad -- they WANT Dollhouse to succeed and are the one investing money to make it possible. Creative differences & evolutions are part of the show-making process. I inderstand all our interest in seeing Joss's vision, but let's not alienate the Powers That Be who are funding this project.
I think the point was referred to stand alone episodes. With that said, you can't disagree that "Smile Time" was absolutely brilliant. I still want a vampy Angel.
Conviction, The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco, Lineage, Damage, Smile Time, The Girl in Question. I'd hold those episodes, all of them very much stand-alone, as being as some of the best of the series. And that's being very strict about what's stand-alone vs. arc-based. I'm tempted to throw A Hole in the World and You're Welcome in there, too. I'd say that though there are certainly plot-threads evolving through the episodes, particularly in the last half of the season, they're much more independent than not just season 4 (which, if anything, went a bit overboard on arcyness), but 3 and the last half of 2 as well. There's a reason there's nary a 'previously on' in the season.
I wonder when the old pilot will start making it's way onto the interweb!
So, despite the fact, as you yourself mention, that two current shows under the current FOX regime are being given the opportunity to succeed, you're stuck on the experiences of Firefly and Drive under the old FOX regime?

I have a feeling responding this far down will get me no where, but my answer is yes. I was completely convinced that Terminator was out with all the discussion of it failing to be renewed (I told quite a few people that it was), and while I'm glad that it's still around, I was honestly surprised about it. Every day I'm wondering if Fringe is going to just disappear into nothingness. As well, what happened with Drive just doesn't seem to be that long ago.

Has the entire philosophy of Fox really changed in that amount of time? I just don't know, considering the behemoth that is a network like that. How fast can it change, anyway?

So that's me being skeptical and cautious of a thing that has burned me in the past.
This is what happens when you don't wake up till noon, you miss everything! I'm a little late but, yay Joss post! And I'm so glad Jane Espenson is on the writing staff now, her episodes are among my favorites.
Okay, think I understand now.

And alittledarkcorner, which old pilot is that? BTW, wonderful name:)
@Saje: Oh right. Spring forward, fall back. Oops! No flying cars yet here in the future, but I'm keeping my eyes peeled. Will keep you posted.
With regard to stand-alone vs. arc-heavy, I think the key is balance, and it's why I love season five of Angel so much--I think it's as close as that show got to the lovely balance between arc and stand-alone that Buffy S2/S3 had. Each episode in those seasons had its own very distinct, separate plot, even the major arc-contributors like Passion. But then hidden in all the stand-alones was the season's big plot, resolved in the finale, blah blah blah. S5 of Angel did a good job of finding the balance. I liked season four of Angel, but I dislike that sort of storytelling on a very long-term (series-length) basis.

The End.

[ edited by Jobo on 2008-10-26 16:56 ]
I laughed, I cried, I said "Poppycock!" Thanks for the update, Joss!
Spring forward, fall back.

Aha, i'm nicking that catherine. We don't call it 'fall' but I know what it means (and anyway, "Spring forward, Autumn back" is just crazy talk ;).
Joining the "slightly more concerned than before" faction, but still cautiously optimistic. I'd like to believe that this sort of thing happens with all new series, but my gut feeling is that it only happens with the ones that the network (no matter how evolved from prior incarnations) perceives as too smart, too dense and complex, too "different".

Deep sadness for the departure of Steve DeKnight may be fueling my bad feelings, because in spite of the Yay! factor for the addition of Jane E., DeKnight was my best hope for seeing something really out there on the edge.

Remaining hopeful, and Thank You Joss! for the update. It can't be easy finding the time.
I haven't read the entire thread (it's so huge!) but remember that Firefly was essentially all standalones, really. (Arc-y episodes like "Ariel" were still framed in the context of the mission of that week.) So I'm not too worried about the standalone issue, for now. I like arc-ier things myself, but there's no denying the appeal. And I love the way Whedon tends to develop his characters through standalones, and integrate the season's themes into them.

Angel season five survived the transition well to standalones, but it is true that the weakest episodes tended to be standalones. ("Why We Fight" is the big example; while they had arc-y elements, I'd add "Unleashed" in spite of introducing a major character, "Life of the Party".) Of course, "The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco," "Lineage," and "Smile Time" were also absolutely standalone episodes in conception. Really, besides Angel season four, most seasons of Buffy and Angel were based along a mixture of standalone and arc, anyway; I'd say many of the best episodes of the series were ones that advanced the arc by moving at right angles to it with a plot of the week ("Lie to Me," "The Wish," "Earshot," "Hush," "Who Are You," "Once More With Feeling," "Storyteller", "Waiting in the Wings"...). And plus "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been" is a complete standalone, with not all that much direct effect on the show (besides introducing a new character in the Hyperion hotel). VM definitely didn't survive the transition to stnadalones--but then, this is a Whedon show and not a Rob Thomas one.

All that said--I really hope that the show doesn't end up being less cerebral than originally intended. Hopefully the effect of the network is to allow Whedon to broaden the show's scope to do that genre blendiness we all love so well.
Joss said "Yog-Sothothy". I heart that man.

DVD extras are hopefully big.
You never fail to make me smile, Mr Whedon. :D

I absolutely can't wait for this show!
Yawn! After trying to stay awake during game 3 of the World Series, and battling a cold, this makes my Sunday a bit brighter. Thanks for the update, Joss!

[ edited by impalergeneral on 2008-10-26 18:00 ]
Just thought I'd put my 2 cents which I never do but I just have to say I can't wait any longer for Dollhouse to come. And Joss's post just makes it worse and it makes it better and now I'm confused and excited and just so incredibly happy to read all this.
The show is alive and I have full faith in Joss that it's gonna be mindblowing.
A big welcome hug to Jane. Can this get any better?

PS*
Batten down the hatches, here comes hurricane Eliza. *Cordystyle* :D
If Dollhouse is half as entertaining as reading Joss' posts, I'm sure it'll be a hit ;) I can't wait!
YAY Jane Espenson!!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE
Oh my gods!!! I was in my car this morning thinking about how cool it would be if Jane Espenson would work on "Dollhouse" now that her BSG duties seem to be finished (for now). Bummer about DeKnight moving on.

Now I can't grade papers, because I need to talk about this all day long!

Thank you Damn you, Joss!

Edited because I was thinking in Swedish...

[ edited by Nebula1400 on 2008-10-26 18:12 ]
I am not concerned nor panicked because Joss' words are soothing no matter what they say. Even when they are typed.

I am a little bummed that DeKnight isn't going to be involved anymore, but I am excited that Jane is coming aboard because I have always enjoyed the episodes of Joss' shows that Jane has written. So, sad that we're losing DeKnights action-savvyness, but happy we are gaining Espenson's humour! I'll call that a win.
I Dugg it, Caroline.
Hey y'all talkin' 'bout DST, ya might wanna read this blurb:

"At 2 a.m. on November 2, 2008, groggy Americans will turn their clocks back one hour, marking the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST).

The federal law that established "daylight time" in the United States does not require any area to observe daylight saving time. But if a state chooses to observe DST, it must follow the starting and ending dates set by the law. From 1986 to 2006 this was the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October, but starting in 2007, it is observed from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, adding about a month to daylight saving time."

'cause...it hasn't happened yet! I woke up & my VCR was off an hour from my watch, bedroom clock & computer. As my mother suggested, it didn't listen to Bush.
Anyone know what DeKnight is moving on to do?
Whoa whoa whoa, let me get this straight. Is there some kind of connection between Flim and this Tim fellow???...

"I know, I'm not funny." -Felicia Day, The Guild

Great post, Joss. Many thanks for the updates.
Wait, did Steve DeKnight leave? When did that happen? Talking about falling asleep at the switch. So guilty am I.
The UK has a speaking clock? Why don't we have a speaking clock?

Also, Saje, you guys are getting the flying cars first because you're still in the future. Just not as far in the future as you were yesterday.
Yay for seeing Reed Diamond again (and in a Joss show!) I've liked Reed ever since Homicide: Life on the Street.

Thanks for the update, Joss. I'm really looking forward to Dollhouse.
Yay, Jane! Yay, Reed (I loved him in Homicide)! Yay Miracle getting to stick around. It sounds even more tightly tuned and fabulous. Anything that'll help other folks find it accessible too (without sacrificing the original vision) is okay by me!
Poppycock!!!!! And how soon can we order the Dr. H's DVDs??? And what is Marti Noxon wasting her time on if she's not on a Joss project??? And what took Jane so long????
The ad up here at the Fox site seems to be more detailed with new information

That embedded ad was posted to YouTube in like May (or was it March, I don't remember and I'm too lazy to reclick), so that's likely not it. Doesn't quite match the description either.

And what took Jane so long????

For one thing, she was writing the BSG movie The Plan.

[ edited by theonetruebix on 2008-10-26 18:42 ]
I just Googled Reed Diamond cos the name was familiar and he's from 'Journeyman'. Yay, liked him.

The UK has a speaking clock? Why don't we have a speaking clock?

Something to do with tea jcs ? I don't use it often cos it's actually quite dear (30p per call) but when I was a kid we used to call it 'Tim' and ring it all the time, just cos.

And fair point about the footoor. **spoilers** We don't have flying cars yet BUT the sun has set so rest easy on that score, I know it can sometimes be a worry **end spoilers**.
Oh Joss! Thanks for the update! Unfortunately for me, the constant rumors of dysfunction had begun to make me worry a little, but I am reminded how comfortable and content I am with you in the driver's seat of a TV series. Thanks for the peace of mind. In Joss we trust!
My favorite thing about Joss posts (besides the fact that, hey, Joss posted) is the fact that everyone starts speaking (typing?) Jossian. Or Joss-slang. Or whatever that very distinct way of speaking is. It gives me warm fuzzies, even if I'm not all that adept at it.

I must admit to being kind of crushed about DeKnight's departure--he's one of my favorites--but that's fabulous news about Jane Espenson.

As for everything else, I don't know if I'm more or less confidant now because I'm doing that thing I do where I don't let myself really think about Dollhouse at all...because if I do, I just get way too excited, and then it's impossible to wait. I shove it to the side of my mind and let the fact of its mere existence warm me. Like not looking directly at the sun. Or something. That analogy made way more sense in my head.
And what took Jane so long????


Didn't Joss say in a interview that Dollhouse couldn't afford Jane (or something to that effect).
Ponder, Boldfaced Purple Prosodist:*
1. The road to “Ah-hah!” mountain runs through the valley of “Ah-fuck!”
2. This = best date for posting. AFAIC. THX. I mean that, and not in some obscure George Lucash way.
3. What would have happened to Spike if Joyce had served him this cocoa?

*That word doesn't mean what you think it means, if you think it means what I did. Strangely, it still works, though only during long breaks.
I did always wonder what happened when a Protestant and a Methodist mated. Now I still don't know.
Ha ha! I'm sending you your free toaster!
Also, I would like to note my immense excitement at the idea of the season finale. I mean, I know, that means the end of the show for three months (best case scenario), but still. I love season finales. And I love two-parters. And Flim Flinear.

I am giddy in a pathetic way.
Me, too. But hey, we're only, like, 2-2.5 months away now!
I'm so excited for this show! Awesome 2-parter, exciting season finale, Jane Espenson!! The list keeps going on the more we hear about it.
Am I the only one who sees the headline link ...."What happened when the lights went out" ... and I mentally add "in Georgia" to the end of it.

***crickets chripping*** and age is showing.

Ok so it's just me then, I thought so.
ShadowQuest"'cause...it hasn't happened yet! I woke up & my VCR was off an hour from my watch, bedroom clock & computer. As my mother suggested, it didn't listen to Bush."

Yes, if you're an American and your VCR or other programmable-type clock fell back an hour so you went ahead and changed all your other clocks -- well, you're going to be late for work.
RavenU, it's not just you. (And I'm only 18!)

Anyway, thanks for posting, Joss. I'm even more excited for the show after this, something which I did not believe to be humanly possible. (It is possible I am not human.)

Apparently I'm also adding parenthetical statements at the end of every paragraph now. (Like this.)
UnpluggedCrazy, something which I asked myself recently - did I start adding parentheticals into sentences before I knew of Joss, or after? I'm honestly not sure. For as long as I can remember I've been doing it. But I can't remember that far back I suspect - the price of beer.
Oh, I'm pretty sure you're human, UnpluggedCrazy. (But I might be wrong.)

Eep! It's contagious. (Or not.)
Only at the end? I've scattered parentheticals -- and items set off by em dashes -- throughout sentences and paragraphs since way back.
Yeah, we got it RavenU. Bunch of kiddies in the room. They give me the giggles as well. As such.

With the exception of UnpluggedCrazy that is.
gossi, that's about the longest free beer line I've heard in awhile. Must toast you!
No, RavenU, it's not just you. And I remember the original Vicki Lawrence (am I the only one who can't believe that Mama from Mama's Family had a number 1 song? But I digress...) version, not just Reba McEntire's.

UnpluggedCrazy, parentheticals are a computer disease for me. I never used them till I got my first computer, but I haven't stopped using them since.
Pretty sure I (way, way over)used parentheses long before i'd read Joss but his dialogue has a parenthetical quality too, maybe that was slightly influential. Then again, it's not that different to "an aside" that you see a lot in plays etc.

BTW, i'm pretty sure it's perfectly correct, certainly in American usage but to my eye there's just something fundamentally wrong with having the full stop inside the parenthesis, it just looks badly nested, like you're ending the sentence and then continuing it after you've marked the end. Wonder if that's just my vestigial programmer coming to the fore.
So. Anything important happen today, on the black?

Wonder if that's just my vestigial programmer coming to the fore.


Probably, Saje, as I'm experiencing the same thing :).
Placement varies for me, depending on the apparent logical flow of the sentence. (If the parentheticals are separate sentences, I place all punctuation inside.) But then I'm constantly placing punctuation where it seems most logical to be, which often conflicts with how, apparently, I'm "supposed" to be doing it. I don't care, really, about "supposed". I care about it making sense.
Wait, did Steve DeKnight leave? When did that happen? Talking about falling asleep at the switch.
So guilty am I.
Madhatter | October 26, 18:20 CET


Yeah, I'd like to know too :(
American usage for quotes is to put punctuation inside (though personally I do it the other way because it makes more sense), but for parentheses I believe it's correct to put it outside (unless it's a separate sentence).

And I've been using too many parentheses (and dashes and ellipses) for years, long before I ever heard of Mr. Whedon.
I'm pretty sure Marti Noxon is wasting her time with Mad Men and Private Practice.

(.(.(.(.(The nerve.).).).).

(Und I forgotted to say before that I'm sorry Steve DeKnight is moving on, but so glad for the re-entry of !Jane ("!Kittens!") Espenson back into Whedonia, of which Hail.).
full stop inside the parenhesis...

Actually, that rule is in Strunk and White's Elements of Style.

And one should never pass up a good parenthetical.

ETA: edited because I finally figured out how to do italics. Talk about learning curves. How long have I been hanging around here, and I'm only just now figuring it out? Pathetic.

[ edited by MysticSlug on 2008-10-26 21:28 ]