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The Return of Joss Whedon

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1 2007 6:00 PM

Submitted by TheCoolerKing. Edited By erin_broadley.

TAGS: Joss Whedon, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly

What can you even say? I'm at a loss for words and tears of joy seem imminent.

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon is returning to television with "Dollhouse," a new sci-fi project starring "Buffy" alumna Eliza Dushku that has received a seven-episode commitment from Fox.

Yes, thank you God. Or, whoever. Zeus? Was this one you? Odin? Ra -- you old sun god, you -- was this your handiwork? Whoever it was, I'm signing up for your program. The whole nine yards. The outfit, the special diet, whatever you need... I'll even travel!

I can't think of better TV related news. Fuck, I can't think of better news ... If you're sitting across from me holding a magic lamp with one wish left, feeling generous, and you ask me to pick between ending world hunger or getting a new Whedon show on the air... Yeah, I'll opt for the hunger part but damn, there's gonna be a few tense seconds there where I mull it over.

I might even do one of those "gaze off at the horizon while scenes from past Whedon shows flash before my eyes." Plus, honestly, how many of those starving people are actually starved for quality entertainment? Without a proper diagnosis, we really can't say.

The drama, whose license fee is said to be in the $1.5 million-$2 million-per-episode range, stars Dushku as Echo, a member of a group of men and women who are imprinted with different personalities for different assignments. In between tasks they are mind-wiped, living like children in Dollhouse, a futuristic dorm/lab. They have no memories of their previous lives, until Echo begins to try to find out who she was.

And they went to the trouble of coming up with a great idea. They really didn't have to, I'd have tuned in anyway. Eight out of 10 times, here's how I react to this news.

"Hey, you hear that Whedon has a new show about --"

I'd miss the end of the sentence, cause I'd already be in front of my TV, waiting... however long it took.

I'd be onboard with this no matter what the idea. "Whedon has a new show about watching paint dry." Done. "Whedon has a new show about Jay Leno." Sounds great, when's it on? "Whedon has a show about what a douche you are called 'TheCoolerKing can suck it' and every episode ends with you getting kicked in the neck." Just tell me where I can get the T-shirt, man...

Dollhouse" came out of a lunch between Whedon and Dushku in September, shortly after the actress had signed a development deal with 20th TV and Fox. Whedon was giving her advice about writers and types of shows that might be good for her but wasn't interested in venturing into TV himself because he was trying to get a couple of movie projects off the ground at the time.

"In the middle of the conversation, I went, 'Oh, God. I thought of the show, and I had the title,' " Whedon said. Dushku came on board immediately. Within a week, the show was set up Fox and 20th TV.

Wow, my idea of a productive lunch is not dragging my sleeve through mayo while managing to pass up desert...

Whedon, with Dushku, in a sci-fi show... I can't ask for more than that. Whedon, the mastermind behind not just "Buffy," not just "Angel" but "Firefly" as well? Nobody has that track record. As much as I love all the shows I love, they're usually the sole crowning achievement of the creator. Whedon's about to go for crowning achievement number four. Even Sorking flamed out after the "West Wing."

I'm going out to get a new TV, there' s no way my old one can stand up to this kind of awesome.

TheCoolerKing is already looking forward to an Anthony Stewart Head cameo.

103 Comments

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dingoes8

Milwaukee, WI

March 2004

NOV 01, 2007 09:13 PM

Not excited at all. Fricking nervous.

Expectations this high rarely pay off. I really, really hope it doesn't suck.

lolly

Los Angeles, CA

April 2004

NOV 01, 2007 09:14 PM

This news was so awesome I almost forgot I came here to look at naked women!

78walk

Oklahoma City, OK

July 2005

NOV 01, 2007 09:22 PM

It's great news, but Fox does have a history of destroying shows I love, including Firefly and Wonderfalls. Just have to wait and hope for the best...

camshaft

Colonia, NJ

February 2004

NOV 01, 2007 09:23 PM

Eliza Dushku is contractually bound to Fox, otherwise I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have been Whedon's first choice to work with. But is there really a network where an intelligent, well-written show is safe in this sea of reality shows and crime procedurals?

ardour

Ottawa, ON

March 2006

NOV 01, 2007 09:27 PM

Heh. I used to be pretty down on Whedon during the final Buffy years because frankly, I thought the show really really took a nose dive after the first few seasons. Later I realized it was probably due to focusing energy on Firefly, which is my favourite show ever, so I can deal with that. If this show is anything near as good as Firefly it'll be worth my time.

ardour

Ottawa, ON

March 2006

NOV 01, 2007 09:32 PM

DeusExMachina said:
didn't Buffy do a season or two on Fox before it was dropped by them, and then picked up by The WB which carried it for 5 seasons , and then picked up by UPN which saw it through to the end?

No, Buffy started on the WB and moved to UPN for its final couple seasons. It was never on Fox. However, it was produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox.

handsome_rob

Burlington, IA

May 2004

NOV 01, 2007 09:40 PM

how about a powerful ten-minute warholian tribute to mayonnaise?!?!

i liked firefly, so if i manage to obtain cable tv, i'll probably watch it.

BonnieBlu

HOPEFUL

Australia

NOV 01, 2007 10:05 PM

Oh hooray! That's so exciting!

tfaville

Beaverton, OR

January 2007

NOV 01, 2007 11:26 PM

Proof that there are still a very few smart people left in hollywood. YES!!!!!!!!!

910dohead

Palm Springs, CA

September 2002

NOV 01, 2007 11:28 PM

Fox will probably end up airing the last episode of the season first and then end up cancelling the show.

Shroomysmurf

Bremerton, WA

April 2006

NOV 02, 2007 12:11 AM

Well I might just have to remove myself from the Atheist group here on SG because news like this must mean there is a god.

Novalee

HOPEFUL

USA

NOV 02, 2007 12:29 AM

All i have to say is that i am stoked and seriously seriously seriously cannot wait....i dont have one doubt in my mind about this being friggin awesome....i am doubting fox however...but i am hopeful...hopefully they learned their lesson....Just tell me when its on!!!