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.”
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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.
I wish I could afford a network. Joss Whedon shows as he wants it all the time. I love LOVE this show. If Fox cancels this (and/or Fringe) I am done with them.
Sorry, Whedonites — you don’t get a season and a half to warm up anymore. There’s no reason a guy making is fourth show should need six, seven or eight episodes to make it get to the point of being watchable. (And, despite the fact that Buffy and Angel didn’t start at their top potential, they were FAR better out of the gate than the limp Dollhouse.) It just wasn’t that good a show, and nobody outside the Cult of the Faithful watches it, and Fox is within its rights to cut the thing loose.
Twitter is for teenaged girls and fans of “The Hills”. So…why, exactly, should I give a rat’s posterior what anybody says on it?
It’s true, I’m 20 and I’ve seen every episode of Dollhouse…but not a single second on an actual television. I work Friday nights and go to Hulu. I’m guessing many do the same. Who is home on Fridays anyways?
@Sylvia – if you actually has a clue (or read this thread even) you’d know why there was some difficulties with the first five episodes. And it’s certainly NOT true that any show is expected to be great off the bat. Heck, a majority of the shows on TV have been on most (or more) of a season and they’re still total garbage. If you don’t like the premise of the show, just say that, and skip the nattering about things you don’t understand.
I give up! I am through with network television. Everytime I get into a television show it gets cancelled. Why bother anymore?
Dollhouse started off kind shaky, but it got way better over time. I really hope that FOX lets Whedon play it out to the end, but knowin their track record with him I guess there isn’t much hope. Personally I’d rather have had them keep Firefly going, I love that show so much!
Did you guys even read the post? What they’re saying is that Fox hasn’t made a decision regarding cancellation and that the season finale will air as intended; there just happens to be one episode that will be bumped from the season because they went one-over on the production Fox had in mind since Whedon scrapped the first pilot and shot a second.
Fox agreed to buy thirteen episodes. Whedon made fourteen. They aren’t picking up the additional one. That’s all it means.
Tim,
When you watch Dollhouse via your PVR how many of the adverts do you watch? I guess you ffwd them like the rest of us. That’s why Nielson don’t track you and if you don’t watch the things that pay for the show then why should Fox consider you when deciding to axe the show
At least the retirement crowd watch the adverts that’s why shows reflect what they like
I hope they pick the show up for aslong as Joss needs to tell the whole story.
Sylvia – Joss delivered his show and Fox asked him to retool it. It was retooled to their liking and what we got onscreen the first few weeks was a Fox dictated version of what Joss wanted to present – and it was dull. The majority of blame goes to Fox for hiring someone for their talent and then basically undermining that talent by telling them how to do a show – which, clearly, they were wrong about.
I’ve enjoyed the show from the beginning, and like others, I think it has become such a better show over the last few weeks. I hope they don’t cancel it but this is Fox so I won’t hold my breath.
At least they played the episodes in order, which is more then they did from Firefly. You’d think Fox would learn a lesson from that and other cult FAV.cancellations
I gave up on Dollhouse after The Awakening didn’t really AWAKEN anyone… sorry Joss, I’ll tune in again for the next one, but I’m done with this show.
I love “Dollhouse”! Fox had better keep it on.