Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog star Felicia Day set off a Joss Whedon-fan panic this afternoon when she tweeted “Found out my Dollhouse ep, #13 isn’t gonna air. Only on DVD. Such a great part too. Thx Fox. 
”
It’s true. Fox bought and paid for 13 hours of Dollhouse (from sister company 20th Century Fox), one of which turned out to be the scrapped pilot that Whedon wound up reshooting. Which means Day’s episode, “Epitaph One,” is the 14th — which the network didn’t buy. And isn’t going to buy. “We currently do not have plans to air ‘Epitaph One,’” says a Fox source, who added that this decision does not reflect the network’s feelings about the show or whether Dollhouse will be renewed. An official announcement about Dollhouse’s possible return for next season will be made at the network’s upfronts in May.
But don’t be too sad, Whedonites. The episode will be on the DVD, and as far as the show’s mythology goes, “Epitaph One” is, according to the source, less a conclusion and more of a branch into another direction: “‘Omega’ was and is the proper season finale.”
The show’s been a disaster since the beginning. Retooled before debut = never a good sign. People in the rec.arts.tv. newsgroup (Usenet) have said it’s gotten worse and worse. Give it up, man.
Yes. Because the people still using Newsgroups are the absolute word on everything. The truth is that the show wasn’t great at first but has really stepped up its game.
Alex obviously isn’t watching. After a rough first few weeks, Dollhouse has gotten really good. And EW’s Ken Tucker agrees.
It’s a great show, I would like to thank Fox’s meddling in everything for the fact that Whedon had to change so much of the show. The didn’t like the pilot, they didn’t like his storytelling structure, etc. Dollhouse is going to turn into another Firefly if it gets cancelled; should have stayed on the air, but maybe we’ll get a movie out of it later.
It’s a great show, I would like to thank Fox’s meddling in everything for the fact that Whedon had to change so much of the show. The didn’t like the pilot, they didn’t like his storytelling structure, etc. Dollhouse is going to turn into another Firefly if it gets cancelled; should have stayed on the air, but maybe we’ll get a movie out of it later.
Ever since Dollhouse was announced I was asking myself what the heck Whedon was thinking by working with Fox again (after the Firefly debacle). Now, Dollhouse may not be as good as Buffy or Firefly, but I’ve enjoyed it and I really think it’s been getting better as it goes. If it goes, I’ll miss it.
I like the Dollhouse, but with their recent press, I’m of the opinion that FOX is going to cancel the majority of its SciFi shows.
This shows amazing. I totallly pulled a “Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo” at my screen when I read this. This just ruined part of a very pleasant day.
Fox has to give it a chance, I mean, Look at buffy, the first season is damn near unbareable to watch, but it grew, let this grow, its getting better and better, and has a hell of a lot of potential!
Nobody but losers go to rec.arts.tv. newsgroup. Get a life!
The show has absolutely gotten better as time went on (and perhaps getting more into how Joss envisioned the show’s episodes to ‘be’).
While I am happy that Fox network is still planning to air all the episodes that it DID buy (because sometimes networks cancel and stop showing) .. I am still disappointed that they’re choosing to not buy/air this ‘extra’ episode. To me it indicates their overall future plans for the show (ie no renewal) .. and I want Dollhouse renewed!!
Im really enjoying Dollhouse but these type shows never appeal to a mass audience. Too much thinking involved. Will Fox renew a show avg 4.5 million viewers a week? I hope so but probably not!
http://www.entertainmenttodayandbeyond.com/
chuck
Let’s see, Fox meddled with the pilot and the first few shows so that you got a neutered and yes, dull, version of a Joss Whedon show. Halfway through, the true Whedon fans that held on FINALLY got to see a proper Whedon show, and the show was actually getting interesting. Why hire someone like Joss if you aren’t going to let him do his ‘thing’ and give the audience a show to the best of his ability?
The first five episodes (that Fox meddled with) were obviuosly slower and dumber under instructions from above. The instant Joss was freed up, episode six was PHENOMENAL. Episodes seven and eight weren’t phenomenal (merely excellent), but it is a clear indicator that Fox’s heavy handed (mis) management was the cuase of the slow start. If you haven’t seen Dollhouse since episode six, you haven’t seen Dollhouse.
And, honestly, Nelisen is a poor indicator of the ratings of any show; and Dollhouse is particularly undercounted since it as a young, tech savvy audience that uses watching methods that Neilsen (and other ratings services) cannot and do not count. I use a TV DVR and do not allow my information to be shared so I’m never counted. At least two-thirds of the people I know are in a miliar boat (they use alternate viewing methods that aren’t counted or they opt out of the DVR monitoring system for privacy). Though my sample might not be representative, most of the people I know (friends, neighbors)watch Dollhouse by the end of the same weekend – a number far in excess of the Neilsen numbers. Neilsen might work for the retirement crowd, but not at all for shows that skew young.
The first few episodes were mediocre at best, but ever since a few weeks ago, this show has been FANTASTIC! Among the best new shows of the season, and if the rest of the season is as good as the past few episodes have been, it WILL be the best new show of the season. If Fox drops this they have some serious PR problems.