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WHEN A SPY IS DISCOVERED IN THE DOLLHOUSE ECHO BECOMES SHERLOCK HOLMES TO UNCOVER THE TRAITOR ON DOLLHOUSE FRIDAY, APRIL 10, ON FOX
When a traitor is discovered inside the Dollhouse, Echo and Sierra are programmed as spy hunters to uncover the culprit. Meanwhile, Ballard receives surprising news from Mellie, and Adelle harbors a secret in the Spy in the House of Love episode of DOLLHOUSE airing Friday, April 10 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
"Needs" Dollhouse Season 01E08
Echo leads the Actives in an escape from the Dollhouse.
This is bound to put Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles fans into another round of teeth-gnashing and wailing.
Though Airlocke Alpha disclaims it's information to "be treated as any rumor would..." their article does have some intriguing info as to how Terminator:TSCC got it's back nine episodes (back-room deal) and why after the potential payoff of that deal is no more therefore so shall T:TSCC ( be no more).
Even more surprising is that the utterly unimpressive "Dollhouse" is up for consideration of renewal.
I thought for sure after viewing the Dollhouse episode "Needs"--the third episode I've viewed--that Dollhouse was done for.
I'd sworn off ever watching Dollhouse given Whedon's deep reservations, but decided to be fair that I should watch the "new, improved" episodes beginning with S1E06.
I've now watched Dollhouse Episodes 6, 7, and 8--"Needs" shown in full above. Eppy 6 was OK but both episodes 7 and 8 were no better than the worst of Sarah Connor. Ironically, while Dollhouse has stayed not great, the past couple of episodes--indeed the last episodes ever of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles have seemed to come back into focus and are among the best of not only this season, but of the series.
I fully understand from a business angle "why" FOX is waiting to make the announcement (that they long ago decided) that Sarah Connor is to be cancelled. It's all about money as that is why they call it commercial television. It behooves them in the most obvious way to keep viewers engaged through the end of the series, even if it break the hearts of the loyal viewers that are hoping against hope.
I felt 90% certain that surely that it was over based on Summer Glau's comments about her feelings about Season 2 of Sarah Connor finishing filming. One does not get "sad" about simply a season ending when one is looking at a season to come. Summer knew then that the show was finished forever in this incarnation. My gut feel was she was trying to hint broadly without it sounding so. (This is where all those years training to be a therapist help me write about teevee shows!). I can't remember which actor on T:TSCC stated their feelings as "sad," in re: the show too, but two "sads" at a season ending versus series ending could've only added up to cancellation, all things considered.
So all this going back and forth about official announcement or lack thereof. Most of the time you don't need them to predict the fate of a show.
I'm not shocked that FOX is toying with the idea of keeping Dollhouse for another season. FOX screwed Dollhouse creator Joss Whedon once with Firefly. I think, given the rabid fan following that Whedon carries, they've been alerted to the error of their ways. If FOX thinks they can still make money as in DVD sales (for which Firefly did very well) and paid downloads it is certainly worth a ponder.
I'm not a business-minded person when it comes to what we use to fondly refer to as the "boob tube." I'm here to be entertained, informed, moved and the like by my television shows and Dollhouse does none of these consistently for me. In fact, Terminator is better than Dollhouse and would have been more deserving of reconsideration of cancellation.
I'm incredulous that anyone saw anything redeeming in Dollhouse, Episode 8, "Needs." There are a couple of good actors stuck in this mess and they are enjoyable but not so much that I can sit through the awfulness that is the "actives" when they are in their non-emotive state. They put me to sleep. And that dopey dude who speaks like a refugee from Buffy--Fran Kranz as "Topher Brink." His psuedo mad scientist routine coupled with Buffyspeak? It's not working, Joss.
And Eliza again--why is she always the leader? Two words to make Dollhouse better: Ensemble cast. The only way I'll keep watching Dollhouse is if Tahmoh gets more to do than shirtless scenes. It's gimmicky already how often they are having Tahmoh strip and show us his "gym rat's" buff physique.
Do something because I don't care how much the Whedon fanboys and girls fawn: Dollhouse does not entertain me. And don't yell at me, please. I'm a Whedon fan myself.
Also, get Amy Acker's storyline beefed up tout de suite!
I'm just realizing how much I've missed her. I would in fact love to trade out Eliza Dushku who has very average acting skillz with Amy Acker who has actually grown as an actor over the years.
Read the article and find out more about the Terminator-Dollhouse debacle. At least Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles will be put to rest after April 10.
RIP T:TSCC. You could have been great.
Source: Airlocke Alpha
The Fox network is just a step away from shaking up its Friday lineup for the 2009-10 season, canning one show and considering a move to a new night for a second.
Let's hit the good news first. Airlocke Alpha has learned that Fox is looking to give its struggling "Dollhouse" a second season, to see if it can grow some legs on a new night. Fox had originally intended "Dollhouse" to air Mondays with "24," but Fox instead decided to move "House" to that spot to replace "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," and to create sort of a genre theme night on Fridays.
The audience for "Dollhouse" are not exactly where Fox had hoped they would be, however, critical reaction to later episodes following its February premiere has grown more positive toward the series as it has had the chance to flesh itself out. Showrunner Joss Whedon had said ahead of its premiere that he had gone back to retool certain aspects of the show, including using a new premiere episode than what was originally planned, eventually canning what would have been the premiere.
The move seems to be an easy one for Fox. While the audience hasn't been as large as expected, it has instead remained stable. It's not a number that Fox uses, but "Dollhouse" carries a BlipNetwork Stability Index Rating of 92.0, better than every other network genre show currently on television outside of "Reaper" on The CW, which has a 94.7. A Stability Index Rating is the comparison of the show's highest overnight rating and its average overnight rating to see how much of its overall audience a show has retained.
Other factors in favor of the show continuing is that it's not as expensive as other Fox shows. Much of its upfront costs, including the construction of the elaborate set that is the dollhouse itself, were covered by funds that normally would've paid for a pilot (no pilot was made for "Dollhouse"). Also, while Whedon's Mutant Enemy Productions and star Eliza Dushku's Boston Diva Productions are tied to the series, 20th Century Fox Television is still the primary production company involved, which means its licensing fee is not as steep as it would be if the show was produced by another studio.
That, along with ratings, is one of the aspects killing "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." That show is set to end its second season April 10 after a 22-episode run, but its sophomore season has been nothing but a complete struggle.
After a so-so debut on Mondays and never finding its grip after that with audiences, Fox teetered on canceling the show until surprisingly deciding to give it a full-season pickup and moving it to Fridays as a lead-in to "Dollhouse." Rumors were that Warner Bros. Television, which produces the show, slashed its licensing fee to prompt a pickup as a way to help it promote its upcoming "Terminator: Salvation," which premieres May 21.
Once "Salvation" premieres, it seems Warner Bros. will have little use to keep "Sarah Connor" on the air, and likely will not continue to provide a licensing fee discount for a third season. That almost assuredly will allow Fox to make the move it normally would've done before New Year's, and that's cancel the show.
Last year, "Sarah Connor" had the worst Stability Index Rating of all network genre shows, mostly from its inflated series premiere following the National Football League playoffs. This year, it's Stability Index Rating is stronger, but out of 14 network genre show tracked by Airlock Alpha this season, "Sarah Connor" is ranked 13th. Only "Life On Mars" had a worse Stability Index Rating, mostly from its freefall following its move from Thursdays against "Eleventh Hour" to Wednesdays following "Lost."
Of course, none of this has been confirmed by Fox, so it should be treated as any rumor would, meaning information can change, or could even be wrong.
"Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. "Dollhouse" airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.
Cast Dollhouse: Eliza Dushku as Echo; Tahmoh Penikett as Paul Ballard; Olivia Williams as Adelle DeWitt; Fran Kranz as Topher Brink; Harry Lennix as Boyd Langton; Enver Gjokaj as Victor; Dichen Lachman as Sierra Guest Cast: Amy Acker as Dr. Claire Saunders; Reed Diamond as Laurence Dominic; Miracle Laurie as Mellie; Valerie Cruz as Ramirez; Liza Lapira as Ivy; Tim Chiou as Nikoden
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