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Thursday, April 9, 2009

TV Oh Noes! Is Dollhouse Getting the Axe?

Posted by Kiala Kazebee on Thu, Apr 9, 2009 at 11:45 AM

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Canceled??? Is it???

According to a reliable source which rhymes with "Flitter" Episode #13 (the Felicia Day episode) will only be available on the season one DVD and will not air on Fox.

This could mean that Fox has decided to cut the series off, canceling it after 12 episodes (NOOOOOOO). This could also mean that they've decided to make Episode #13 into a romantic comedy starring myself, Daniel Craig, and Seth Rogen wherein we all go to Dollhouse boot camp and learn to fight ninjas using everyday objects like dishtowels and throw pillows*. Or, Fox has decided to shorten the series and see how the audience reacts. And by "reacts" I mean Whedon fans looting, pillaging, and burning (in a sweet way!) the Fox headquarters.

What do we think Blogtownies?

*Please let it be this one oh please oh please.

Update: Here is some contact info if you would like to share your opinion about this possible travesty with the Fox higher ups.

askfox@fox.com

 

Comments (16) RSS

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1
"Thx Fox. :(" might be the saddest phrase I've ever read.
Posted by Erik Henriksen on April 9, 2009 at 11:55 AM · Report
2
Option * sounds cool, but even better if Mila Jovovich in thigh high boots is one of the drill instructors.
Posted by Demondog on April 9, 2009 at 12:02 PM · Report
3
Fox cancelling a Joss Whedon show before its time? I'm shocked I tell you, SHOCKED!
Posted by Graham on April 9, 2009 at 12:08 PM · Report
4
Also, while the show is finally finding it's stride - maybe it doesn't need a 2nd season. making the show dushku centric is really the only reason it got made, and is simultaneously the reason it doesn't really work. It should be Ballard and November's show, with Echo playing more along the lines of the Angel/Spike role. As it stands, even with all the improvements, the show feels like "The Initiative: The TV Show" and I don't remember anyone really asking for that back when Buffy S4 was on the air.

SciFi (syfy, whatever) should pony up some cash and procure it if Fox is gonna dump it. That way it doesn't have to be a Dushku-centric show anymore, and the drama aspects can be explored further, due to the fact they can't quite afford any super-expensive action set pieces (which are pretty bland in Dollhouse anyway)
Posted by Fatboy Roberts on April 9, 2009 at 12:29 PM · Report
5
Ah, dammit, now I've gone and visited Twitter.
Posted by tk. on April 9, 2009 at 12:44 PM · Report
6
Apparently the decision not to show this episode has nothing to do with the show's renewal (which we won't find out about until the May upfronts)—however, the entire and confusing update is here:

http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2009/04/doll…
Posted by Wm. Steven Humphrey on April 9, 2009 at 1:24 PM · Report
7
Sounds like Fox the studio just wants to sell more DVDs. Which also works out fine for Fox the network 'cause they don't have to pay to pick up the extra ep... and it's not like they miss out on ratings/ad revenue by showing a reality TV rerun that week instead.
Posted by JasonC on April 9, 2009 at 1:40 PM · Report
8
Why does Joss stick with that tird of a network
Posted by McAngryPants on April 9, 2009 at 2:53 PM · Report
9
*ahem*...turd
Posted by McAngryPants on April 9, 2009 at 2:55 PM · Report
10
God. I leave the house one goddamn time to go to goddamn IKEA and buy some goddamn haartsvaaards and eat some snitzhengraafen and all hell breaks loose.

So, eonline clarifies it all for you guys.
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with…

Excuse me. I have some crap to put together now.
Posted by kiala on April 9, 2009 at 4:12 PM · Report
11
Yes, the basic situation is that the studio produced 14 episodes -- the original pilot (unused), and 13 episodes including "Epitaph One". The network considered the original pilot and the first 12 episodes produced to fulfull its contractual obligation.

Episode 1x13 will be on the DVD, and likely air internationally.

Aside from those specifics, it's a PR clusterfuck of epic proportions, since any PR person worth their salary would have seen this kerfuffle coming once they wrote a press release that said "1x12 is the finale".
Posted by The One True b!X on April 9, 2009 at 5:32 PM · Report
12
This is also entirely separate from the renewal/cancellation issue. That decision likely comes the second half of May.

Warning: The eonline.com article has been edited to add a MAJOR SPOILER for 1x13. I havent' read it, and don't intend to, and will probably now stay away from this thread as well, lest someone spill it here.
Posted by The One True b!X on April 9, 2009 at 5:35 PM · Report
13
I actually think this is a shrewd PR stunt by Fox to generate free publicity and discussion for Dollhouse.
Posted by kiala on April 9, 2009 at 5:40 PM · Report
14
Given the things people tell me from various parts inside the Fox wall, that doesn't sound likely. And even if it were, it would be profoundly stupid because all it's done is make people think it's cancelled, and with it preempted by Prison Break next week (and only next week), people will *really* think that.

This wasn't a stunt. It was pure PR stupidity.
Posted by The One True b!X on April 9, 2009 at 5:48 PM · Report
15
I don't think it was done on purpose, either b/X. I was joking.

HOWEVER, I do think it rallied the fanbase into action and helped them direct their support of both Felicia and Dollhouse to the Fox executives and that can't hurt.
Posted by kiala on April 9, 2009 at 7:00 PM · Report
16
NOTE: Everyone please make sure and say your prayers to The One True b!X tonight... maybe he'll take pity on us and use his vast powers of influence over at the Fox Network to bring back "Herman's Head".

Please! I wanna know how it ends...
Posted by daneh on April 9, 2009 at 7:05 PM · Report

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