Dollhouse News & Season 2 Rumors

[AmericanAssassin]

Why is it that DVR, Hulu.com, and Fox.com numbers don't count? I've never watched a single episode on a Friday night (as I'm working). That doesn't mean I won't watch it. I always do the next day! I intend to buy it on Blu-Ray the day it comes out. Dollhouse has a hell of a lot more fans than Fox give it credit for.

[hitnrun017]

Apr 16, 2009 8:26:31 GMT -5 AndrewCrossett said:

Joss has been talking to Fox and getting surprisingly upbeat feedback, apparently. From PaleyFest yesterday:

"We also talked about next season, they called me specifically to say we've been hearing you sound a little despondent, being very clear about this, the show is not cancelled. The numbers have been soft, but the demographic is wonderful. DVR is great, they [FOX] are big fans of the show and they're waiting to see what happens, so now I've gone from a place that's sort of ehhhhhh, they don't even care, no one loves me, to a place of - God, I can't believe I'm saying this...hope."

The whole article is here.

All this optimism that came out of no where is very fun. And gossi saying this on Whedonesque is pretty damn cool:

"You know in threads here I've been saying now isn't the time to write letters to execs wailing about cancellation, I've pointed out I haven't called time of death this thing, I've said they're looking at moving it across night, they're talking about renewal etc?

It's all true. I'm trying not to give false hope, because I hate that, but I know there's key execs at FOX and 20th who want the show back. They're doing anything they can to swing the finances of it. That's very important. And been the situation for a few weeks.

And, yes, since joss has outright said it now - episode 13 may also air."

My hopes are up again.

Apr 16, 2009 9:21:16 GMT -5 AmericanAssassin said:

Why is it that DVR, Hulu.com, and Fox.com numbers don't count? I've never watched a single episode on a Friday night (as I'm working). That doesn't mean I won't watch it. I always do the next day! I intend to buy it on Blu-Ray the day it comes out. Dollhouse has a hell of a lot more fans than Fox give it credit for.

They don't count as much as the live viewers, but the important thing is that it's hugely popular on DVR, Hulu and FOX.com. I bet they will play a part in the fate of the show.

[sagewoman]

Counting live Friday viewers doesn't take into account that so many people work Friday night's. The world is changing and the networks have to realize that live viewers may not account for the people who purchase the advertiser products.
makes me so mad when quality shows are cut and mind-numbing shows stay on.

Wish Joss would look to the UK for production - look at how long Dr. Who has been on, Torchwood is completing Season three. Not to mention the many, many BBC produced shows that have been on for years. Quality and endurance. What are they doing that the US isn't???

Joss - try Canada - there may be a home for you here. Maybe Space.

[AndrewCrossett]

Apr 16, 2009 11:22:55 GMT -5 sagewoman said:

Counting live Friday viewers doesn't take into account that so many people work Friday night's. The world is changing and the networks have to realize that live viewers may not account for the people who purchase the advertiser products.

I've thought since the beginning that Fox knows that... that the only reason they'd put this show on in such a suicidal timeslot is because they were looking for a proof of concept... that a show like this can overcome bad Nielsens and find other ways to reach an audience.

Most of the networks are just sitting around, waiting to get blindsided by change and stubbornly expecting viewers to behave just as they always have since the 1950's. It seemed to me that Fox was trying to get ahead of the curve and blaze a trail into the post-Nielsen world so they'll be prepared to survive in the "new world order" of DVR and download.

If that's the case, though, it appears they forgot to let Joss in on their little experiment, which is... strange.

But ever since I heard Fox was putting the show on Friday night, I thought there had to be something unusual in their thinking. Why spend so many tens of millions of dollars on a show, in this rough economy, and then put it in a timeslot where everyone knows it can't succeed in the Nielsens?

[Rebecca]

Here's more reason to hope that Hulu/DVR/iTunes/etc are gonna play a part in a second season being ordered:

However, at the Paley Festival, where “Dollhouse” was honored last night, Joss Whedon revealed that second-season hope is actually still very much alive. To be clear, there has been no official pick up, but Joss is optimistic that the network -- filled with execs who love the show, he says -- will be looking at the full picture, including iTunes purchases, DVR playback, hulu streaming, etc., and he reassured fans that the people who canned his previous FOX TV endeavor “Firefly” are not a part of the team that will decide if “Dollhouse” returns.

Click here for the whole article.

Finally, some real hope.

[●B E N]

I really want this show to continue! it's amazing! and Im not just saying that because it's joss and eliza.. but because Ive already fallen in love with the other characters (especially Victor & Sierra) and the Dollverse. Plus! I too work friday nights, plus movies come out on fridays! So of course people go to the movies instead of staying home... but they watch the show on hulu and on DVR.... sooooo they should deff renew it.

[MrKittyFantastico]

It does seem like FOX is most likely keeping Episode 13 back just to sell more DVDs. If they are really looking for proof of these new viewing mediums like DVR and iTunes working, then it also makes sense that DVD sales will be majorly factored in.

It does seem like Dollhouse is getting a great reception at FOX, so let's all just sit and hope. Joss needs more than a Season to work his awesome TV magic.

[theend]

Apr 16, 2009 11:22:55 GMT -5 sagewoman said:

Counting live Friday viewers doesn't take into account that so many people work Friday night's. The world is changing and the networks have to realize that live viewers may not account for the people who purchase the advertiser products.
makes me so mad when quality shows are cut and mind-numbing shows stay on.

Wish Joss would look to the UK for production - look at how long Dr. Who has been on, Torchwood is completing Season three. Not to mention the many, many BBC produced shows that have been on for years. Quality and endurance. What are they doing that the US isn't???

Joss - try Canada - there may be a home for you here. Maybe Space.

Something like the BBC would never have the budget needed to make Dollhouse good. Dr Who only works because it's OK that the effects are laughable.

[Joe]

www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i9adb8751e5603b1d90c1233925025b29

"Of Fox's two bubble series, "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" and "Dollhouse," sophomore "Terminator" is considered all but gone, while freshman "Dollhouse's" chances are 50/50."

Yea! That's better chances than we were giving it a couple weeks ago. It's not the best chance, but I still think it'll be renewed!

[rufio]

ok. i will officially freak the F out if it is not renewed. How STUPID do the execs have to be to not realize that a good show, a show worth watching in the end, takes TIME to grow. All they care about is ratings and like someone else said-instant gratification. Buffy wasn't the big cult success it is now when it first started out! I mean, it was bad enough with firefly but are they really being so shortsighted once again!? God, I thought joss would've learned by now. He definitely should be on HBO or something.

[theend]

When will we find out if it's renewed or not??

[hitnrun017]

Apr 25, 2009 10:11:20 GMT -5 theend said:

When will we find out if it's renewed or not??

Most likely on or around May 18, when FOX announces its fall schedule.

[snizapman6294]

i officially have absolutely no hope. with numbers like these, i'm starting to lean off of the "blame the death slot" side and going toward "people just don't like the show" side. i love it and would be 1. Astounded if it got a second season and 2. probably end up hurting myself in the excitement... but i have little hope. i'm not giving up hope completely, but so if i was 55% (for it getting a second season) and 45% (for it not) it shifted to 25% and 75% respectively

[Joe]

Some executives at Fox are intrigued by the idea of buying "Ghost Whisperer" -- and possibly pairing it with a second season of Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse" -- but it seems unlikely a deal would be done.

That was in a TV Week article. Hey, that could give Dollhouse more views!

But seriously, I don't care how it happens, I just want Dollhouse to be renewed!

[Wyndam]

Here's the link to the article for those interested:

www.tvweek.com/news/2009/05/ghost_whisperer_kerfuffle_a_si.php

After reading, it doesn't seem very likely to happen. If it does though, then that would of course be awesome.

[Rebecca]

TIME's James Poniewozik just wrote an article speaking about how improved Dollhouse has become in light of Briar Rose, and how he hopes for a second season, even more than Chuck.

Dollhouse Watch: New and Improved

Alan Tudyk's shift from faux-nebbish to slasher menace was awesome enough (especially after getting to know him as Serenity's nice-guy pilot on Firefly). But it was when Ballard and Lennix tussled on the staircase that it hit me what an incredible challenge Joss Whedon has set himself up with on this show. It's a dark, entertaining but cerebral series in which (1) he not only does not have the assistance of his usual comic relief, (2) central characters can change personality at the touch of a button and (3) a lawman can battle the muscle for a human-slavery outfit and you still do not know whom to root for.

Should a good run of a few episodes toward the end of the season be enough to earn Dollhouse a renewal? Absolutely, from where I'm sitting. Like a team going into the playoffs on a winning streak, momentum matters here; I care more about Dollhouse's forward motion than its past consistency. And consistency is overrated anyway: I'll take a show that swings for the fences and is occasionally amazing over one that is reliably satisfying any day.

Hopefully positive press like this will help renewal chances.

[cheungcheung]

Apr 25, 2009 12:46:20 GMT -5 snizapman6294 said:

i officially have absolutely no hope. with numbers like these, i'm starting to lean off of the "blame the death slot" side and going toward "people just don't like the show" side. i love it and would be 1. Astounded if it got a second season and 2. probably end up hurting myself in the excitement... but i have little hope. i'm not giving up hope completely, but so if i was 55% (for it getting a second season) and 45% (for it not) it shifted to 25% and 75% respectively

agree 100%.

ever since returning from the two week break due to prison break the ratings have been HORRID.

and we all know (according to joss) that the ratings for those 2 eps plus the one this friday was being closely monitored by fox for season 2 renewal chances.

i see no hope anymore.... =(

[Joe]

www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/10/DDUK17H9HO.DTL

Final spin: With limited availability on the schedule, there could be one or two surprises in the cancellation department (including the potential survival of "Dollhouse").

HOLY CRAP! People think it still has hope whereas us, the actual fans, have given up!

P.S. I didn't like the other parts of this article because it says Bones won't be renewed!

[Wyndam]

That article fails for even suggesting Bones won't get renewed. It's a sure thing at this point. And I don't really think he said anything different than what the fans are saying. Dollhouse renewal is a long shot, but we could certainly be surprised and see it renewed. That's all he's really saying.

[deathisyourgift]

I have been lurking in this topic for long enough, scared to make a final verdict on where my hope lies. But after all this nay-saying, I must stand up and blog-shout at all of you:
YOU CALL YOURSELVES FANS? lol I still have hope that Dollhouse will be renewed, for the reason that I think Fox is considering as well-the show will only get better with time. I think that the ups and downs of the first season have ended on a gigantic up, and the Fox execs see this. Maybe it'll take some convincing, but I think they'll renew it. If they don't I plan on complaining...a lot. I have gotten really into this show and my mom and I watch and then have discussions about the ideas posited in the episodes and the theories behind the Dollhouse, etc. which shows how interesting this show is. I don't think that my mom and I are the only viewers getting this into the show either.

Fox better renew Dollhouse, or they will feel the wrath of me and my mom!!!!