Dollhouse Not Yet Cancelled

Dollhouse Officially Not Yet Cancelled

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (43)

I know, I know. I’m as sick of talking about “Dollhouse” as you are about reading about it. But, there’s news afoot, and for the few remaining folks who aren’t nauseous at the sound of the show’s title, I feel it’s my moral obligation to report it:

Joss Whedon is hopeful that “Dollhouse” will not be canceled. Does that mean it won’t be? No. In fact, it probably will be. But, Whedon — who is having his ass kissed by scores of blind devotees for the second year in a row at Paleyfest — came out and gave them all a pep talk. Of “Dollhouse’s” chances for a second season, Whedon said (via THR):

“So right now I’ve gone from a sort of place of ‘You don’t even care, nobody loves me’ [laughs] to a place of God, I can’t believe I’m saying this … hope.

“We might actually get the chance to do what we’re dying to do, which is tell more of these stories with these crazy people because we have so many more yet to come,” Whedon said of the series in which Eliza Dushku (Buffy) plays an “active” whose memory is wiped and replaced to suit various “engagements.”

“Basically it’s what happens in the next few weeks; we have a new lead-in (replacing ‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’), we have a few more episodes coming up — whether it’s 12 or 13 — they are fierce,” he added. “They are ridiculous; I am so proud of them. We’re going to go out this season with a bang, and hopefully we’ll get to come back for Season 2.”

I’m not sure that we reported it, but it is official: “The Sarah Connor Chronicles” has been canceled. I hope Whedon is not actually pinning his newfound hope on the new lead-in. It’s the remaining episodes of “Prison Break,” which has been relegated to the dumping ground, where it will finish its run. There’s nothing like hope to prolong and exacerbate the pain, Joss. I’m just glad there’s only a few more weeks before it’s shitcanned (and it will be shitcanned), so I can shut up about it already.

If you’re curious, he also talks about FOX’s decision not to air the 13th episode. Click here for details.

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Comments

I actually kind of liked the most recent episode.

Posted by: NF at April 16, 2009 9:14 PM

it is official: “The Sarah Connor Chronicles” has been canceled.

Balls.

Posted by: Lainey at April 16, 2009 9:17 PM

I've read it's very likely that Terminator will be cancelled, but not official. TV Guide says it's not official yet. Don't kill our tiny bit of hope!

Posted by: Cindy at April 16, 2009 9:23 PM

I googled "terminator cancelled" on google news, this post from about an hour ago on IGN says its future is not decided...NO FATE

Posted by: Jesse M. at April 16, 2009 9:26 PM

If they cancel The Sarah Connor Chronicles after last weeks finale, I will officially lose the tiny smidgen of respect for FOX that I have left in me. What the hell! I need CLOSURE!

Posted by: Shell'sBells at April 16, 2009 9:37 PM

I read that if Fox cancels Terminator, there is a chance another network might pick it up.

Also, I was at the Paley Fest the night before the Dollhouse event for Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog night. It was a lot of fun!

Posted by: DarthCorleone at April 16, 2009 9:44 PM

If you have an 'official' link verifying TSCC cancellation, please share. Last I heard it was wobbling precariously on the bubble.

Posted by: TL at April 16, 2009 9:44 PM

I want to kiss and hug you if that's true Darth.

Posted by: Cindy at April 16, 2009 9:51 PM

I don't really get what's going on with you, Dustin. Do you not like Joss Whedon? You write about him as if you hate him. Not liking the show is one thing, but he's a great guy. He wrote an editorial in an issue of TV Guide around the time Firefly was cancelled about the state and future of television, and it was one of the funniest editorials I've ever read.

Posted by: ChristianH at April 16, 2009 9:56 PM

There was so much cancellation talk after the first season (which would have killed me.. TSCC rocks the season finale), and we still got another season, so I'm not convinced the show is done. Denial? Maybe. But I need more, dammit!

Posted by: Lisa at April 16, 2009 9:57 PM

I'm a huge Joss Whedon fanboy, but seriously, Dollhouse doesn't deserve to be renewed. Terminator, however, has been awesome and I want desperately for it to be picked up again for another season.

Posted by: TeenieBopper at April 16, 2009 10:00 PM

Jesus Christ, it's happened! Joss Whedon has become a hipster George Lucas!

Posted by: George at April 16, 2009 10:01 PM

I hear you, TeenieBopper.. not that I won't keep watching until it ends (what can I say? I need my weekly dose of Helo), but it's not up to par with some of his other work.

Posted by: Lisa at April 16, 2009 10:06 PM

“The Sarah Connor Chronicles” has been canceled.

FUCK Dollhouse. They moved TSCC (a good show with solid actors and good storylines that actually improved with each episode) to Friday nights to partner with that vortex of suck and now it may get canceled. It deserves better than that and I'll be pissed if it doesn't get picked up and Dollhouse does.

Posted by: jM at April 16, 2009 10:07 PM

Shit, look how long Prison Break hung on when it should have been dead. And for that matter, 24 had a couple of close calls.

To leave us hanging after that fantastic fucking finale would be intolerable cruelty. They need to put Terminator back on Mondays and let it ride.

Posted by: Cindy at April 16, 2009 10:08 PM

Regarding T:TSCC there's long shot rumors of maybe Sci-Fi/SyFy picking it up as its replacement for BSG.

Replace one show about a war against killer robots disguised as hot chicks with another show about a war against killer robots disguised as hot chicks?

Hmmm......only if we can have a Grace Park v Summer Glau robot-off to the death (in a tub full of Jell-O).

As for Dollhouse, bye. Someone please pull Joss Whedon aside and tell him, "Go write your next show and this time FOCUS ON STARTING OFF WITH A BANG!"

Posted by: Fredo at April 16, 2009 10:17 PM

Where, where, where are you reading these rumors? I need hope.

Posted by: Cindy at April 16, 2009 10:19 PM

I don't know what the ratings for T:TSCC are, but seriously, how good are the ratings for *any* Fox show on Friday nights? It got better and better (especially after they got rid of Riley) and with the finale (which ROCKED fucking hard!), it now has the opportunity to go in several different directions.

If Fox (or another network) would give it a chance in a real time slot and a tiny bit of promotion (other than pairing it with the promotions for Dollhouse), it might do ok.

PS: (I like parentheses.)

Posted by: Lainey at April 16, 2009 10:22 PM

It was doing well on Monday nights. Then they had to go and fuck it up.

Posted by: Cindy at April 16, 2009 10:32 PM

I kinda wish that T:TSCC does get picked up by another network. It'll get far better treatment than Fox could ever give it.

(SPOILER!!! I GUESS)

Lainey, during the finale I squealed, "BAG!", and then, "Lucky!" and thought of you.

Posted by: jM at April 16, 2009 10:37 PM

Ha, jM,! I squealed too and then seeing the original, non-irritating Emily Quartermaine on The Unusuals made me think of the two of them together and Foster and Annabelle and JJ's squeaky little voice and floppy hair... *ahem* sorry, waaaaaay off topic there. My inner 16 year-old, emo nerdgirl likes to come out and play sometimes.

I hope SciFi picks it up. I think it would be a great fit and would definitely get the nurturing and promotion it deserves. Plus? I really want to see

SPOILER?

The human Cameron. I need to watch it again, but was she with Kyle? 'Cuz, yeah, that could be an interesting storyline.

End Questionable SPOILER

Do we need spoiler warnings anymore?

Posted by: Lainey at April 16, 2009 11:01 PM

I'm not sure how we could know if she was "with" Kyle - and how do you mean that?

Posted by: Cindy at April 16, 2009 11:28 PM

I don't know exactly, Cindy. I was extra-special emotional during the finale when Sarah didn't go with John and then with Derek not remembering him. It's possible that I saw something that not only wasn't there, wasn't even vaguely hinted at. It was just a feeling I had that they were together (although, not in love because Kyle never loves anyone other than Sarah according to the original movie). As I said, I need to watch it again.

Posted by: Lainey at April 17, 2009 12:07 AM

Now that Friday Night Lights has a guaranteed five seasons, I've got hope for anything. Keep on trucking, Dollhouse.

Posted by: Lucas at April 17, 2009 12:28 AM

Conspiracy theory one:

I actually think Whedon may actually start of slow on purpose. I know that most whedonites (and I am one) enjoy looking down on shows that have great ratings, relative to his shows. If Dollhouse ever became popular it would make the whedon-clique less exclusive.

Moreover, we know that Whedon is mad talented, even semi-haters like Dustin really enjoyed (at least I think he did) Dr. Horrible. If he did something mainstream with similar talents, a la directing a how i met your mother episode, i know he could pull ratings.

Posted by: "luker" the barbarian at April 17, 2009 12:53 AM

I'm a huge Whedon fan but, being stuck in the telly hinterland that is the UK, as far as I can tell we're nowhere near getting Dollhouse yet.

So, having read various extremely mixed reviews I'm gonna turn to folks I trust - is it worth me spending the time hunting down episodes so I can go ahead and watch already or should I save myself the bother and wait til it eventually, maybe, gets picked up over here?

Posted by: Lisa S at April 17, 2009 2:38 AM

Lisa, Dollhouse will air on Sci Fi in the UK from the middle of May so you could either wait until then, watch it week to week and have your patience sorely tested until episode 6, whereupon it suddenly becomes an entirely different show. Or you could hunt around and find it all online and watch it in one fell swoop, which would probably be more gratifying.

I don't look down on shows that have great ratings relative to Whedon shows. I look down on shows that suck yet have inexplicably massive audiences and/or keep getting renewed even though they're utter shite. Criminal Minds, Numb3rs, NCIS and Cold Case are just four that leap immediately to mind. If I wanted to list the shows that I loved but never made it a full first season or got a second season, well, I'd be here all day.

Posted by: Popcultureboy at April 17, 2009 3:53 AM

Thanks popcultureboy, think I may well do the online thing. I don't think I have the patience to wait 6 weeks for it to become worth watching! One evening is infinitely more preferable.

Posted by: Lisa S at April 17, 2009 4:15 AM

Dollhouse cancelled, mmmmmm

*sip coffee from mug*

/moves on

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at April 17, 2009 6:39 AM

Lisa S, if you're a "huge Whedon fan", then why the hell are you asking us? I'd hardly consider myself to be a Whedon fan and even I download the Dollhouse eps every week (on top of everything else I have to download because Belgium is so damn backward). And yeah, the show is not that great, but there are some cool elements to it. And I really enjoyed last Friday's ep.

Posted by: Thijs at April 17, 2009 7:48 AM

Great, thanks Lainey and jM, you guys have totally spoiled T:SCC for me should I ever decide I want to watch it. Nobody should ever write anything about anything I don't like or might want to watch one day, because I said so.

Posted by: "luker" the barbarian at April 17, 2009 12:53 AM

1) I agree with your sentiments
2) Your new handle... I *heart* it

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at April 17, 2009 9:37 AM

I squealed too and then seeing the original, non-irritating Emily Quartermaine on The Unusuals made me think of the two of them together and Foster and Annabelle and JJ's squeaky little voice and floppy hair

@jM and Lainey

Not to mention JJ's fey little earring. Can I say that thanks to you all taking me down GH memory lane I've been burning more time than usual looking at the youtubes because I found all these old Lucky and Elizabeth clips and can I tell you something? They were SO good. GOOD I TELL YOU. I am not ashamed of the two years I spent with GH, not at all. Now, it is le crap.

Posted by: coveredinbees at April 17, 2009 9:53 AM

I'm starting to think Whedon is weaseling out of whatever "promise" he made to Dushku by letting Dollhouse suck. Perhaps he's banking on it getting canceled so he can just get it over with already...

Posted by: the bees knees at April 17, 2009 9:56 AM

Interesting thought, Lainey. But that would be seriously messed up if Cameron stole Kyle's lover's identity.

Posted by: Cindy at April 17, 2009 9:57 AM

And what's up with the shit fight scenes too? I know the man can film an ass kicking, and that Dushku can bring one, but damn. I've just been annoyed by all the camera jerking and close-up blurry flailing.

Posted by: the bees knees at April 17, 2009 10:00 AM

Son of a mother fucker! I was so looking forward to the next season of Terminator. Damn those black and heartless grey suits to a fiery damnation with "The House Bunny" playing on repeat.

Posted by: Captain Steve at April 17, 2009 11:02 AM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I need to know what happens in Sarah Connor!

Posted by: dene at April 17, 2009 11:40 AM

Thijs - I'm asking because despite being a huge Whedon fan, I'm well aware that not everything he makes is going to be the best!thing!ever! Adding in the hugely mixed reviews I've heard, I wanted to make sure it was worth the effort before I tied up my admittedly crappy internet connection downloading the series.

And besides, no harm in asking, right?

Posted by: Lisa S at April 17, 2009 12:00 PM

The problem for Fox with Terminator and Dollhouse (and similar niche shows like them) is there aren't a lot of nights to put them on where they won't get killed in the ratings. Monday? Heroes, Dancing with the Stars and House. Tuesday? The Biggest Loser and again, Dancing with the Stars (Jesus, 2 nights in a row?). Wednesday? America's Next Top Model, Lost, Law & Order. Thursday? Survivor, CSI, Grey's Anatomy. Saturday? The graveyard. Fox has Sunday as its comedy night with Simpsons et al. And any major sportscast during the week (basketball tourney, baseball games, football games, etc.) is pulling away part of whatever male audience Terminator might be getting. I'd like Terminator to stay, but I don't think it's gonna. I thought it ended OK, though I would like to find out exactly what Shirley Manson is up to. They could at least explain that on the website or something, if they haven't already.

Posted by: Slash at April 17, 2009 4:37 PM

Ratings for last Friday: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 3.57 million, up 220K; Dollhouse, 3.58 million.

CBS pretty much owns Friday nights with Ghost Whisperer (I'm gonna guess about 8 million people watch that, it may be a little more) and Flashpoint. And ABC gets some people to watch that shitty-ass Wife Swap show.

Posted by: Slash at April 17, 2009 5:03 PM

dollhouse is getting to be a really good, thoughtful, suprising, and funny show. and excellent characters. boyle and adele are standouts. totally worth the effort of getting online, but so far it's gone like this:
ep 1: uneven, shows promise
ep 2: pretty darn good
ep 3: sucked
and so one until episode 6 which is a damn fine hour of television. just remember what color the third flower is. =)

Posted by: violet at April 21, 2009 2:06 AM

Top Whedon Fan Excuses for Dollhouse Failing:

8: Whedon always starts out slow, then six or ten eposides later it gets better, I swear.

7: Whedon isn't appreciated by [insert network name here], it's the studio's fault the show failed, they meddled with this vision.

6: Whedon is too dark, allegorical, brilliant, and Jesus-like for you losers to get him, only a true Whedon fans can appreciate his shows and only 100,000 of those fans will get into Whedon heaven.

5: It's [insert actor here] fault for not interpreting Whedon's words as he meant them to be performed. Halle Berry in X-Men, hello?

4: Everything is fine and the show will never get cancelled, everyone loves it, see the hits on Itunes? Sure 10,000 of those hits were me but c'mon, people love the show, right?

3: You need to give the show another chance, it got better in episode 120, you're missing out on some good stuff.

2: Thank god Dollhouse got cancelled, now Whedon can bring back Firefly.

1: The show failing is the final sign of the Whedonocalypse. When are the space ships coming to take me to Whedon heaven?

Posted by: Gambit at April 23, 2009 1:29 AM

nice...

Posted by: emotep at May 4, 2009 4:08 AM

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Dollhouse Officially Not Yet Cancelled

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