Whedonesque : Comments on 20418 : (SPOILER) Is Amy Acker in Dollhouse next season?

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May 21 2009

(SPOILER) Is Amy Acker in Dollhouse next season? Joss is desperate to have her according to Ausiello (spoilers for other shows as well).

danielgm | Dollhouse | 06:48 CET | 36 comments total | tags: dollhouse season 2, happy town, whiskey, dr. saunders, amy acker

Nice to hear Joss is trying to get her back. Not that I doubted he would, it's just nice to actually hear it.

Jobo | May 21, 06:53 CET

I'm still just enjoying the fact that we get "so, what are you doing for season two" items instead of "so, what are you doing now that Dollhouse is cancelled" items.

The One True b!X | May 21, 06:57 CET

I want to send chocolate and flowers to the Happytown people too. Let's hope they're not allergic.

nyrk | May 21, 06:59 CET

This sound like good news.

I have to say I believe that Amy was kind of the unrecognized star of season 1. All of her scenes had a kind of quiet magic to them and she ended up being the most interesting character on the show, by the end of the season.

[ edited by Zoic_Fan on 2009-05-21 11:09 ]

Zoic_Fan | May 21, 07:17 CET

Totally agree Zoic_Fan, along with Alpha as well.

Firefly Flanatic | May 21, 07:40 CET

I find her character extremely fascinating. A self aware Doll has so many possibilities as a plot line.

Simon | May 21, 09:19 CET

Judging from the trailer thing for Happy Town (which granted isn't the best way to judge the situation but all we have) Amy was only shown for about a second, out of about 200 of them. She appears to be the wife of someone so its possible she can do both...or at least that's what I'm praying.

Ashley | May 21, 10:33 CET

Really hope it works out. Amy was so spectacular in Omega. Happy Town also seems like a nice Twin Peaks wannabe, I might just watch it to see Amy.

[ edited by the Groosalugg on 2009-05-21 11:30 ]

the Groosalugg | May 21, 11:13 CET

In addition to the flowers and chocolates, I think Joss should be able to tell the Happy Town producers that if they let Amy Acker appear on Dollhouse, Dollhouse viewers will watch Happy Town. Especially the episodes without Amy in them. I will, anyway ;)

dreamlogic | May 21, 11:26 CET

The reveal of a male personality (the original Dr. Saunders) in a female body (Whiskey) brings up an interesting question about gender response. If a guy started getting romantic with Saunders, how would she/he respond? The self-aware doctor's personality still "feels" male, I assume. How would you respond?

SteveP | May 21, 11:30 CET

I assumed she was reprogrammed female to avoid dissonances. Although she did pointedly mention actives on same sex engagements, and she does use online dating sites.

doublemeat | May 21, 12:24 CET

I just assumed they gave her the same name, some of the same habits (such as handing out lollipops to patients) but ultimately she's a new 'Saunders.' Not just the old man put into an adorable female body.

Anyway, I imagine Joss will be able to work around Amy's schedule in order to continue her character's progression. Obviously, I'd prefer Amy on Dollhouse fulltime, but I am happy that she has options and is doing well, in terms of finding work.

LaneMeyer | May 21, 12:55 CET

I saw that Ausiello also said that Smallville is moving to Fridays... So is Medium, Ugly Betty, and probably others as well. Chuck almost ended up there, too. Does anyone know what Dollhouse's direct competition will be? Is there a chart?

floofypooh | May 21, 14:09 CET

I'm still just enjoying the fact that we get "so, what are you doing for season two" items instead of "so, what are you doing now that Dollhouse is cancelled" items.

Yes, this! Basking in it.

catherine | May 21, 14:25 CET

Dollhouse will be competing against Medium (CBS), Southland (NBC), Ugly Betty (ABC) and ANTM reruns (CW), and we have to account to the fact that SyFy will probably be showing Stargate Universe at the same slot.

As I just tweeted, apparently the Fridays are the new Mondays, for some weird reason.

[ edited by Numfar PTB on 2009-05-21 14:37 ]

Numfar PTB | May 21, 14:36 CET

Floofypooh, one chart coming up.

Michael | May 21, 14:37 CET

floofypooh: Ugly Betty (ABC), Southland (NBC), Medium (CBS), repeat of America's Next Top Model (CW)

Anuris | May 21, 14:38 CET

Yeah, I think the networks are realizing that Fridays are actually a good place for critically acclaimed shows that people tend to watch on DVR or online. It's the "prestige" slot.

That is to say, they have to put SOMETHING on Fridays, so why not use it to air stuff that people will watch at another time since so few people watch on Friday nigths anyway? Or, to put it another way, each network is concerned with how many TOTAL hours of their primetime scheduling people watch; since getting people to watch on Friday nights is hard, why not put stuff there that people who DVR and watch online will watch at some other point? That adds to the networks total hours watched each week and they don't have to compete with more highly rated shows. (Yes, I know those other forms of watching don't count as much.) Finally, it's a good place to put "prestige" shows in order to get critical acclaim without, again, sacrificing more prime timeslots when more people are watching.

Septimus | May 21, 14:42 CET

Sorry Septimus, just read your comment about being prestige slot, and thought about CW moving Smallville to Fridays, it made me laugh.

Numfar PTB | May 21, 14:46 CET

I just assumed they gave her the same name, some of the same habits (such as handing out lollipops to patients) but ultimately she's a new 'Saunders.' Not just the old man put into an adorable female body.

The lollipops were a memory of Whiskey that she recovered partially, and the male/female thing could be something easy to Topher, since he already needs to change imprints memories about self image - The thief from "Gray our" and many others should be able to look at a mirror and recognize themself, IMHV.

Brasilian Chaos Man | May 21, 15:17 CET

Thanks, all, for the info and chart location!

That's some very eclectic competition. As for me, I'll be watching Dollhouse live -- Fox, take note!

floofypooh | May 21, 15:18 CET

Sorry Septimus, just read your comment about being prestige slot, and thought about CW moving Smallville to Fridays, it made me laugh.

Hey, Smallville was really good this season.

redeem147 | May 21, 15:35 CET

I read on several sites that Medium was canceled. Is this information wrong?

Jillybug | May 21, 16:04 CET

Yes and no, Jullybug. Medium switched networks. Medium is cancelled! Long live Medium (just not in the same timeslot as dollhouse, please!)

-And it must be nice for Amy Acker - multiple tv series tussling over her, adoring fans in thralls of ecstasy (with the Drive cancellation almost a forgotten memory.) So hoo-yea for AA!

ETA: Nikki Finke has the details.

[ edited by peacemonger on 2009-05-21 21:55 ]

peacemonger | May 21, 16:18 CET

I've seen the HAPPY TOWN pilot, the cast is fairly large, and Amy's role isn't one of the bigger ones. I'm hopeful she can probably work a schedule where she can do both shows.

WindTheFrog | May 21, 17:41 CET

Is Happy Town worth watching?

Add me to the list that wants more Whiskey. Erm... the character.

AnotherFireflyfan | May 21, 18:19 CET

I'm glad to see that the shows scheduled in Dollhouse's time slot by the other four networks are quite different types of shows (different from each other as well), so viewers can watch what they like and not feel conflicted. I wish networks did this more often, instead of deliberately counter programming shows of the same kind.

janef | May 21, 18:33 CET

Quotufh Joss: "[But] everyone is not going to be in every episode,"

Oh bums. Although I'm rather have everybody back than not everybody, having said that.

gossi | May 21, 18:45 CET

I'm not surprised. I can't imagine Joss just dropping a character with no explanation whatsoever (or even with just a small bit of exposition from one of the remainders--I think he prefers proper send-offs), so it makes sense he'd choose to do this. Hopefully it's not really obvious... I know with some shows it's just like, "Okay, so this is the episode they couldn't afford [actor] for, that's why it's focused on this character instead." And that is bothersome to me.

Jobo | May 21, 19:34 CET

I agree with Zoic_fan about Amy's "quiet magic". She was the actor and the character(s) that kept me coming back week after week despite all my other misgivings about the show. She's just amazing, and if she isn't in season two, I just may not be able to watch it.

I think some of the same qualities that enabled her to play both Fred and Ilyria have also enabled her to play Saunders/Whiskey/etc. -- she really is leagues ahead of the other actors in this regard.

chickenbird | May 21, 19:40 CET

gossi, that quote might not mean what you think it means. Amy and Miracle weren't in every episode of season one as well. The main cast could still be in every episode of season two.

Michael | May 21, 20:00 CET

Really do hope that Amy returns next season. The dollhouse just wouldn't be the same without Dr. Claire Saunders. :)

Jossfan_21 | May 21, 20:32 CET

I think Medium was picked up by CBS.

Little Green Kid | May 21, 21:52 CET

Yep, and it's in the same timeslot as Dollhouse.

wiesengrund | May 21, 21:53 CET

Whiskey is far and away my favorite character so i hope they get her back for several episodes next season. Saying next season when talking about Dollhouse is a great feeling!

I am a little fuzzy on this so feel free to correct me but wasn't Illyria a male demon god king reborn in Fred? 2 roles in which she has a male's persona dwelling inside her shell. Cool!

silent knight | May 22, 00:30 CET

If Joss isn't using everyone all the time, that isn't shocking. It's cheaper per day and if he's concerned about the budget it's a good cost cutting move.

Also it will probably play out better than you think. As long as it's not detracting from the plot because a character SHOULD be there, it allows you much more time to flesh out individual characters. I don't mind missing Victor for an episode if I'm going to know much more about Sierra or vice-versa. Actually I prefer it to "C" story that feels more obligatory than necessary.

azzers | May 22, 01:53 CET

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