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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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NoPantsDave

Cincinnati, OH

OLD SKOOL

NOV 03, 2007 11:51 AM

I'll give it a try. Maybe it'll be good. But Fox does have a history of canning good shows.

wereduck

I'm lost

July 2007

NOV 03, 2007 06:05 PM

Son of a bitch!!!!

Just when I think I don't have to watch anymore TV, Joss has to drop this on my head. I have no choice but to answer the call...

Scott_Davidson

Australia

April 2007

NOV 04, 2007 03:32 PM

I'm with juvenilemutant on this one. Lately, when a good series comes out in the ole US of A, I first torrent it, then buy the dvd boxed sets, and then, a few months later, actually see an add for it on Australian teev. Except Californication - gotta give it its props for the simulcast.

IronOrchid

Australia

February 2007

NOV 04, 2007 03:40 PM

Scott_Davidson said:
I'm with juvenilemutant on this one. Lately, when a good series comes out in the ole US of A, I first torrent it, then buy the dvd boxed sets, and then, a few months later, actually see an add for it on Australian teev. Except Californication - gotta give it its props for the simulcast.

Gotta love torrents.

But also gotta remember to watch and tell people to watch it on TV, so that it actually gets ratings and they keep making it.

IronOrchid

Australia

February 2007

NOV 04, 2007 03:41 PM

double post

spyder13

San Francisco, CA

October 2006

NOV 04, 2007 05:00 PM

I am a late comer to the Joss Whedon Enterprise, but he is by far one of the best TV show creators/writers ever. I wait with baited breath for this!

malkav11

Saint Paul, MN

July 2003

NOV 04, 2007 06:57 PM

ratzaz said:
On the other hand, it's probably too good for TV and won't make it. The TV audience wants crap, and they get it. Buffy was the best TV series of all time; Firefly was close. And Eliza Dushku is the best. So, what's gonna pry the morons away from their reality shows?

I can understand bashing Fox over their treatment of Firefly (which was abysmal), but bashing the TV viewing audience for not wanting Whedon shows? Buffy ran 7 fucking seasons, Angel went for 5. Those are not exactly the numbers of audience-rejected failures. And Dollhouse sounds to be closer to those shows than Firefly's slightly nichier setup.

Morgan

SUICIDEGIRL

Morocco

NOV 04, 2007 07:50 PM

malkav11 said:I can understand bashing Fox over their treatment of Firefly (which was abysmal), but bashing the TV viewing audience for not wanting Whedon shows? Buffy ran 7 fucking seasons, Angel went for 5. Those are not exactly the numbers of audience-rejected failures. And Dollhouse sounds to be closer to those shows than Firefly's slightly nichier setup.

Thank you. You are so right. I think people focus a lot on Firefly and forget that Whedon had worked on incredibly successful shows in the past. Of course, Firefly was incredible and should have been popular, but yeah...Whedon, in general, hasn't exactly only appealed to a small market.

PointBlank

New York, NY

November 2004

NOV 04, 2007 08:01 PM

Much like with Kevin Smith, I don't get the obsession with Whedon. Of course, his shows are much better than a majority of what's on TV, but that's a pretty low bar. I'm not gonna hate, but I'm not into it at all.

makebelieve

Asheville, NC

February 2007

NOV 06, 2007 07:03 PM

I have to try to be optimistic about this one...since losing Buffy, Angel, and then Veronica Mars (not a Whedon project but he DID guest star!) I'm with ya on the anything Whedon I'm in front of the TV. Which I really can't do of late.