ElizaDushku-related stories
Posted Oct 24th 2009 1:14AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Dollhouse, Joss Whedon
(S02E04) It's somewhat ironic that upon news that
Dollhouse is going on
something of a hiatus and will likely not be back next year that it delivers one of the best episodes of its run. Co-written by Joss' brother Jed (and it wouldn't surprise me if he wrote the music to the episode as well) and Maurissa Tancharoen (both of
Doctor Horrible fame), we got the backstory of Sierra and received a major view of how dark the underbelly of the Dollhouse really is.
In another surprise, they redid the graphics for the opening credits and they're better. Does anybody else make up lyrics while listening to the theme or is it just me? If so, what are your lyrics? Mine begins with "This is the Dollhouse. We're in the Dollhouse. This is the Dollhouse song."
Continue reading Review: Dollhouse - Belonging
Posted Oct 22nd 2009 8:33AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Reality-Free, Dollhouse, Joss Whedon
In a portent of things to come,
Dollhouse is
being shoved aside by Fox during November sweeps. The popular rumor is that November will see a repeat of
House shown on Friday nights. The upside is that December will have
Dollhouse go double-long as two episodes will be shown back-to-back on Friday nights.
At least Fox is living up to its promise to show all 13 episodes of the second season. Granted,
Dollhouse has not been Whedon's best effort, but Fox hasn't exactly been kind to the show what with relegating it to Friday nights.
This is just an example of how outdated the current ratings system is. I'm sure if DVRs or Internet downloads were taken into account,
Dollhouse's ratings would be much better than they are on paper. Sadly, we live in an unfair world (with an unfair Nielsen Ratings system) so it's likely we're looking at the last season of the show.
Posted Oct 6th 2009 3:05PM by Mike Moody
Filed under: OpEd, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
Suppose you were the head of a real-life
Dollhouse that wiped volunteers' personalities, downloaded new ones into their brains, and rented them out to the super rich and privileged. Would you let your Dolls walk away, no strings attached, after they've honored their contract?
Yeah, me neither.
The last episode of Joss Whedon's
Dollhouse,
"Instinct," featured the newly liberated November/Madeline (Miracle Laurie) returning to the Dollhouse to undergo a "diagnostic." According to Adelle, the procedure is necessary to make sure Topher's tech didn't permanently blow a fuse inside Madeline's pretty head. Madeline was understandably cautious when Adelle came to visit her and prod her into getting the check-up. "I have this irrational fear that if I say the wrong thing, men in suits are going to throw me in a black van and take me away," she said.
Can you blame her?
Continue reading Dollhouse: Can Actives really earn their freedom?
Posted Oct 3rd 2009 12:55AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Dollhouse, Joss Whedon
(S02E02) So, um, what happened?
Dollhouse came back last week and posted its lowest ratings to date. It's a shame, because the show continues to find its footing. What was impressive this time was that the episode was compelling and dramatic, and it had virtually nothing to do with the overall story-arc for the series.
Just like some of the best episodes of
The X-Files were "monster-of-the-week" installments, this "imprint-of-the-week" chapter was simply brilliant. It explored the full capabilities of the Dollhouse technology, where we got our first hint that Topher's genius can sometimes push him to doing things he shouldn't. At least not without testing. It's this character flaw that led to his failures in "
Epitaph One."
Continue reading Dollhouse: Instinct
Posted Sep 30th 2009 10:00AM by Mike Moody
Filed under: Interviews, Celebrities, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
In last week's
season premiere of Dollhouse, we learned that the usually empty-headed Echo is becoming self-aware and is now able to access memories from her many personality imprints.
This puts her in a very dangerous place, star Eliza Dushku told reporters during a conference call this week. While a self-aware Echo might be more fun and challenging for an actor to play than a "dumbed down Doll," Dushku reminded us that any sign of Echo's evolution in the Dollhouse might get her sent to "the attic," aka Doll hell.
The vulnerable Echo will be looking for allies this season, Dushku said. She and former FBI agent Paul Ballard (Tamoh Penikett) "may possibly be trying to bring down the Dollhouse from the inside," she teased. During the conference call, Dushku also talked about the unaired first season episode, "Epitaph One," working with Summer Glau, and she teased more origins and back stories for the show's other characters.
Continue reading Eliza Dushku on Dollhouse, Epitaph One, and Echo's evolution
Posted Sep 25th 2009 10:00PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Dollhouse, Joss Whedon
(S02E01) For those who have seen the DVD-and-iTunes-only episode of
Dollhouse (
"Epitaph One") which deals with an apocalyptic future, we're not there yet. Instead, this episode (written and directed by Joss Whedon) deals with Paul Ballard using his connections to the Dollhouse to go after an arms dealer that he couldn't put away as a simple FBI agent.
We see the beginnings of the Boyd Langton/Doctor Saunders relationship hinted at in "Epitaph One," but once again, considering that Amy Acker has a limited appearance this season in order to go to
Happy Town, she was the highlight of this episode. I honestly hope that show fails, so that Amy will be around this one more for next season. Is that wrong?
Continue reading Dollhouse: Vows (season premiere)
Posted Sep 18th 2009 2:02PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: TV Royalty, OpEd, Celebrities, Reality-Free, Dollhouse, Joss Whedon
I was lucky enough to participate in a conference call today with
Dollhouse (and
Buffy and
Angel and
Firefly and
Dr. Horrible) mastermind
Joss Whedon. While he was very good at giving vague answers to questions asked so as not to spoil the storylines for season two of the show, he did drop a few tidbits that certainly make me want to watch.
The most interesting of this is that Amy Acker, who plays Doctor Saunders a.k.a. Whiskey, is only contracted for three episodes this season (apparently she's committed to another show). I found that surprising considering her important role in the apocalyptic future of "
Epitaph One," but I'm sure the writers have figured out a way around it. It was stated that the world of "Epitaph One" will be revisited later in this season.
Continue reading Some Dollhouse tidbits from Joss Whedon
Posted Aug 25th 2009 6:31PM by Mike Moody
Filed under: Video, Celebrities, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
Today's dose of Whedoncrack comes from the red carpet watchers over at
Access Hollywood. They recently caught up with Eliza Dushku at a party and asked her about the upcoming season of
Dollhouse, which kicks off Sept. 25 on Fox.
Dushku didn't reveal much we didn't already know – upcoming guest stars will include Jamie Bamber, Keith Carradine and
Angel alum Alexis Denisof – but she did play up the fact that season two will be shot entirely on HD, like the unaired thirteenth ep, "Epitaph One." Dushku said the format change makes the show feel more real and less "science fictiony." Video after the jump.
Continue reading Dushku promises Dollhouse season two will be 'racier, darker, crisper'
Posted Aug 19th 2009 4:27PM by Mike Moody
Filed under: Battlestar Galactica, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
Apollo has landed ... in Joss Whedon's
Dollhouse. The first (very tiny)
promo pics of the season premiere of
Dollhouse, "Vows," have popped up online. The pics feature former
Battlestar Galactica cast member Jamie Bamber apparently tying the knot with Eliza Dushku's Echo.
The ep follows Echo on her latest engagement as the bride of a wealthy financier who might be involved in arms trafficking. The engagement is set up by do-gooder and former FBI agent Paul, played by Bamber's former
Battlestar co-star Tahmoh Penikett, who wants to use the Dollhouse to do some good for the world.
Continue reading First pics of Battlestar's Jamie Bamber on Dollhouse
Posted Aug 12th 2009 4:25PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Programming, Web, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
"Epitaph One" didn't air as part of
Dollhouse's first season. But fans at the San Diego Comic-Con got to watch it, as do those that plunk down their hard-earned cash for the Season One DVD. But, if you're still on the fence about the show, now you have the opportunity to
watch "Epitaph One" to make up your mind via iTunes.
And if you found absolutely anything at all to like about
Dollhouse, then you owe it to yourself to check out "Epitaph One." Not only is it by far the best episode of
Dollhouse yet, it's one of the best single episode installments of any science fiction premise I've seen; I go on and on like this in
my review of "Epitaph One" from a few weeks back.
With the new season gearing up to go soon, this is a brilliant move. "Epitaph One" is one of the best reviewed episodes of the series, and one of the most buzzed about "lost" episodes in quite some time for any series.
Continue reading iTunes making Dollhouse: Epitaph One available for everyone
Posted Aug 1st 2009 11:21AM by Joel Keller
Filed under: Interviews, TCA Press Tour, Dollhouse
Yesterday was cable's last day here in Pasadena, with only a few quotable lines of note (mostly from Omarosa, promoting her new TV One reality show,
Life After). The afternoon was full of set visits; first to the Paramount lot to visit
Three Rivers and
NCIS: Los Angeles, then to Fox to drop by
Bones and
Dollhouse.
Of course, the last one is probably the one of most interest to the Squad's readership. And that's something Joss Whedon emphasized as he appeared first solo, then with the cast; despite the show's dismal Nielsen numbers, its "non-traditional" numbers -- DVR, online, etc. -- were enough to get the show renewed.
Still, Joss was astounded to be in front of us on that set again: "Welcome back to the biggest surprise of my career: our season two."
More on the panel, including the impact of "Epitaph One" on the second season, after the jump.
Continue reading Epitaph One will affect Dollhouse season two, says Joss - TCA Report
Posted Jul 26th 2009 3:02PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: OpEd, Reality-Free, Comic-Con, Dollhouse
(S01E13) This episode of
Dollhouse never actually aired on Fox, and in fact, it's not going to. I'm not sure why, though, because I thought it was fantastic. Yes, it was a dramatic departure from what had gone before, but despite its unique presentation, it offered some amazing insight into the world of Whedon's
Dollhouse, and its future.
"Epitaph One" will be available on the
Dollhouse: Season One DVD, available July 28, 2009. It was also screened this past weekend at
Comic-Con. Even though I wasn't there, I did manage to get my hands on it, so join me, if you will, for a very spoilery look at the true season finale of
Dollhouse.
Continue reading Dollhouse: Epitaph One
Posted Jul 25th 2009 10:02AM by John Scott Lewinski
Filed under: OpEd, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free, Comic-Con, Dollhouse
Just a few short months ago, you wouldn't have thought that Joss Whedon's
Dollhouse would have a presence at 2009's
Comic-Con International. The show seemed on the brink of oblivion right up until its renewal for a second season.
Whedon and Dushku appeared at a press conference Friday to discuss the future and recent past of
Dollhouse as it prepares for its new season this September.
The panel for the fans was built around a new, second pilot for the show, "Epitaph One." The story darkens the show and reveals Dushku's character in a new and very special light. (It's too late in the dead of night for spoilers, so more on this later.)
Continue reading Whedon, Dushku talk new season of Dollhouse - Comic-Con Report
Posted Jun 16th 2009 9:10AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Programming, Reality-Free, Dollhouse
Fox has given
the release date for the premiere of Dollhouse, as well as their new musical comedy
Glee and several other shows. However, I wanted to focus on
Dollhouse for a moment.
Once again sitting in the Friday night Death Slot of 9 PM, this time it doesn't even have a lead-in of another sci-fi drama. This time, starting September 18, the lead is
'Til Death starring Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher.
The only reasonable hypothesis I can reasonably come up with is that Fox wants to broadcast all thirteen episodes of season 2 during the 2009 calendar year before they finally pull the plug on this show. This would mean that the entire run of
Dollhouse would have been during 2009.
In short, if you really want the show to make it to a third season, I recommend buying a hundred copies per household member of the DVD set for season one. Otherwise, I don't see it happening.
Posted Jun 12th 2009 5:09PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Reality-Free, Dollhouse
I'm glad that in this interview,
Joss Whedon says that he and the team "really understand Dollhouse now. We understand what works, and what didn't work so well." I do wish he'd figured it all out from the beginning, as it would have saved him the situation he's in now. Off to a very shaky start last season,
Dollhouse barely eked out a renewal.
The main problem is that it took about half of that short season for the show to find its voice and become something I was really invested in. So now Whedon needs to find a way for his show to "break out" in its second year, or I fear that
Dollhouse will go the way of recent second season fails (not in quality, but in ability to make a third) like
Pushing Daisies,
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and the most famous of all,
Jericho. That core passionate following is great to have, but you need to grow your audience to make it to three.
Continue reading Whedon "really understands" Dollhouse now, but can he get the viewers
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