According to Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello, Fox has informed showrunner Joss Whedon that it will not order any additional episodes of his cult-favorite show Dollhouse. Ausiello says that, though the show has been benched for November sweeps, the remainder of its thirteen second-season episodes will be “burned off” in December, two at a time on Friday nights, so fans can take a little solace in knowing that it won’t just abruptly end, like many recent cancellations have, or be concluded in six or eight months, a la last year’s Dirty Sexy Money and Pushing Daisies cancellations.
Whedon’s last well-liked but prematurely canceled show, Firefly, has spawned a handful of comic book spinoffs, a critically-acclaimed and reasonably successful feature film (Serenity), and (most recently) the best moment of the 2009-2010 TV season, when the character made a bizarre cameo on ABC’s Castle. So who knows what’s in store next for this one.
November 11th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I’m shocked. SHOCKED, I SAY.
/sarcasm
November 11th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
[sarcasm] Who knew? [/sarcasm]
Seriously…SyFy? USA? Lifetime? Anyone? Please pick up this show! I’m beggin’ ya!
November 11th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
NO. This can’t be happening. NO!!
I’m just kidding. I only saw a few episodes but it was an obvious ’soon to be cancelled’ series.
November 11th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I recall when the Dollhouse was nearly dead last spring, Joss said that he couldn’t see it as a comic book. It relied too much on the actors playing multiple roles, and thus on the page it would be pointless.
November 11th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Another Whedon production bites the dust. I am so sick of this. I’ve had it. Can SOMEONE please give this man the funding he needs to create his art?
November 11th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
People DO fund his art. Too bad nobody really wants it.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Yeah at this point the only reasonable solution is Fox should just stop giving Whedon money to make shows. They don’t get viewers and then Fox gets demonized by Whedon’s insane fanbase when they make the completely understandable decision to cancel the show because nobody’s watching it.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:12 am
“reasonably successful feature film (Serenity)”
seroiusly ??!
watch this: http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=serenity.htm
November 12th, 2009 at 8:13 am
@RAF…
It was absolutely successful. This number does not tally DVD sales which were big due to his fanbase. Also, it’s on HBO like every other week and they make money every time it shows.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:21 am
That’s not taking DVD sales into account, RAF, which were apparently very high.
Honestly, as much as I love the show and its moral ambiguity, it’s just not a simple enough show for a large audience. The “good guys” in the show live in such a grey area that it’s hard to cheer them on. Everyone is either emotionally or mentally broken, which leaves them doing some pretty questionable things. That’s what I LOVE about the show.
But, this is FOX, so I’m not surprised at all. Is there a possibility at all of this getting picked up elsewhere?
November 12th, 2009 at 8:32 am
The honest truth of it is that Fox just isn’t a good fit for what he does anyway. He tends to make shows with more serialization than what Fox wants. He’d be a lot better off with ABC who has put out a ton of such shows over the last 3 or 4 years (though who knows how long that’s going to last if they keep on tanking).
November 12th, 2009 at 8:42 am
I think some of the blame has to be placed on Whedon for getting in bed with Fox again in the first place. He should know by now that his shows aren’t going to attract mass audiences. The fans he does attract will be devoted and love his work, but he just can’t do a major network gig. If he were smart he’d go to a basic cable network like TNT or FX where the size of his average audiences would be a better fit. He’d also have more freedom to get a little edgier on one of those networks.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:50 am
I think it is interesting in the mix of everyone saying that no one wanted to watch this show (Lan Pitts and Dave in particular) no one mentioned the abrupt move to Friday Nights, a time slot that historically has meant the death knell of good shows. I think that plays a large part in the failure of this show (and Firefly for that matter).
November 12th, 2009 at 8:51 am
I stand by my assessment of “Serenity.” If it were more than just “reasonably” successful, it would have been sequelized. That’s the market we’re operating in. If it were less than reasonably successful, it wouldn’t have had enough support on DVD for a later, more costly expanded collector’s edition.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:02 am
I would rather have more Firefly than more Dollhouse.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Buffy…Serenity flashbacks! Make them stop!
November 12th, 2009 at 9:40 am
I disagree with your assessment as well. DVD sales have been strong on Serenity. So much so that it allowed Whedon to get a Blu-Ray and Special Edition of Serenity.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:55 am
I’m not surprised that the show was cancelled. What I don’t understand is why Fox even bothered renewing it. Yes, it was a great show with an overwhelmingly positive critical reception (not counting the first couple of episodes where Fox decided to meddle with the show). But then Fox did pretty much everything it could to make sure nobody discovers the show. Little advertising and mostly in slots that were used by the local affiliates to promote their news. The advertising they actually showed frequently misrepresented the show. Wrong airdates on official promotional material. Lead-ins during the second season that were guaranteed to have an audience not interested in Dollhouse. Did they think new viewers would magically appear despite all that ? And just to be clear: I don’t think Fox wanted the show to fail, they were just incredibly incompetent in getting viewers to tune in in the first place. The show didn’t loose many viewers compared to more successful shows, they simply hadn’t enough initial viewers in the first place.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:11 am
*Reads story*
Bom bom bom
Another one bites the dust
bom bom bom
Another one bites the dust
And another ones gone, and another ones gone
Another one bites the the dust…
November 12th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Okay, guys, I didn’t take account of the dvd sales & tv rights since by general opinion the succcess of a movie is judged by it’s domestic gross or international gross.
David Twohy’s Pitch Black is an exemple of dvd sales leading to a sequel even if it performed well at the box office.
Remember that Serenity was anticipated as a huge box office success & that NBC/Universal paid a big check to have the rights for a movie to be done. Consequences, huge disapointment.
Hey, read this: http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?threadid=59843
November 12th, 2009 at 10:29 am
I liked Buffy and Angel, and Firefly could have been really good, but Firefly was highly overrated, and looking back on them, Buffy and Angel have aged about as badly as the Chris Claremont comics that Joss Whedon has admitted inspired so much of them.
And Dollhouse was just pure crap, sorry. Worse yet, it was misogynistic crap masquerading as feminist enlightenment.
Joss Whedon started out as a genuinely promising and talented creator who was ruined and driven insane by his overly fawning fanbase.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:30 am
I stand by my assessment of “Serenity.” If it were more than just “reasonably” successful, it would have been sequelized. That’s the market we’re operating in. If it were less than reasonably successful, it wouldn’t have had enough support on DVD for a later, more costly expanded collector’s edition.
OK, I agree totally with this
November 12th, 2009 at 11:14 am
If it was ABC, NBC, or CBS they would have also cancelled it due to ratings. Don’t blame Fox.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
All major networks are struggling for ratings and quickly jettison anything they don’t perceive to be working.
This cancellation doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with Joss Whedon, only that standard-bearer mainstream media is broken and doesn’t work for his audience anymore. Culture has splintered and no major network successfully represents the emerging smaller niche cultures that have grown up in recent years. Whedon just needs to find a better fit than FOX primetime.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
SyFy, step up to the plate. You throw all your money at Warehouse 13 and endless Stargates; now take a show that already has its sets, stars, and devoted fanbase and run with it. Do 13-episode seasons, do character ‘bottle shows’, clean up on DVD sales. You’re evidently never going to figure out you should have done this with FIREFLY, so here’s your second chance…
November 12th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Look, you guys that are into Whedon REALLY like his stuff, we get it. Fact is, though, the rest of us aren’t all that into it and he’s rarely been able to craft anything that speaks to anyone but his already established–though shrinking–fanbase. Buffy was a long time ago now, and since then it’s been failure after failure. And frankly, everyone whose attitude is along the lines of “Can SOMEONE please give this man the funding he needs to create his art”–you are part of the problem. He doesn’t create art, he never has. He creates popular entertainment, much of which isn’t very popular.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
This show was overblown post-feminist garbage like most of whedon’s work. Good riddance.
November 12th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
The real shock is that Fox keeps giving this clown shows in the first place. Can someone please send this one-hit-wonder back to retail work where he belongs?
November 12th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Woo Hoo!!! More time for Dancing with the Stars
November 12th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
It’s a shame it was cancelled. The show was great (aside from the baby episode) and had a lot of room to grow!!!
Hopefully they will wrap things up and we’ll see Alpha again this season.
November 12th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I won’t pretend to understand how these things work, but I did think it was a little mystifying that he would choose to do another show with FOX after the way they botched Firefly.
At the same time, I get the sense FOX let Dollhouse run a season longer than they otherwise might have, maybe because in hindsight there might have been some feeling they’d canceled Firefly too soon.
November 12th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Bummer. I was really enjoying the show. Not for everyone, but more interesting than a lot of stuff on television, with room to grow in some interesting directions. One less hour I have to spend watching tv, I guess.
November 12th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Why did Fox even bother picking this up? I just bought and watched the first season and was really starting to get into it. Don’t understand why SyFy or someone else wouldn’t have taken this first. Hopefully they do now.
November 12th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I’m not sure why ANYONE would want to even put their show on Fox anymore (unless their name was Seth McFarland) because it feels like pretty much EVERYTHING on this network gets canceled before its time.
Sure, the other networks have a fair share of hits and misses as well, but I mean, Fox is simply the worst. Consider it’s biggest non-reality show, Family Guy. They canceled this show TWICE and relied on another network to get fans interested before they snatched it back. Fox canceled Futurama and now it’s amping up for a new season on Comedy Central. Let’s not even talk about cult favorite shows like Arrested Development or Whedon’s previously canceled series Firefly (both of which led to or will lead to movies.)
So my question is WHY? Why does anyone put their show on Fox? All they do is cancel good shows to make room for another night of American Idol. Why not pass on the deal in favor of being picked up by a cable network? What does Fox offer that makes the deal so tempting?
November 12th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Better luck next time, Mister Whedon. We’ll be waiting.
–Carl.
November 12th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Great move Fox. Put it on Friday nights and then don’t take DVR playback into account.
Stay away from the Fox pinheads Joss!
November 12th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
For all those wondering why Joss worked with Fox again after the Firefly debacle…
(1) The upper mgmt at Fox had entirely changed since then
(2) He wanted to work wish Dushku, who is contracted with Fox.
That’s all there is to it, really.
I don’t blame Fox in this instance at all. I really enjoyed Dollhouse, but it was not an ‘easy’ show, and was always going to have much greater difficulty attracting viewers than the more low-brow offerings out there.
I don’t think Fox really understood this fact until they first saw the pilot. It seems to me they both tried to ‘fix’ the show via studio involvement in those first few (and weakest) episodes, and minimize the potential damage by putting it on Friday, where it couldn’t hurt their ratings too badly.
I wanted to see more of the show, and am excited about the remaining episodes, but I don’t think it was a really good fit for network television. People want shows like NCIS, American Idol, and . I don’t agree with these people, but it is what it is.
November 12th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
does not surprise me at all since day one i figured Doll house would not last a long time that amazing fox gave it a couple seasons almost before it pulled the plug too bad this does not convince Whedon to stop making shows with fox.
November 12th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Yeah that’s it, Dollhouse failed because it was too complicated for most people what with its high concepts of hot lady assassins and stuff. Lol.
November 12th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Ok so for everyone asking about why hasn’t stepped up and picked up the show, here’s the problem. Fox has Dusku under contract for a set amount of shows. She is an Executive Producer on the show. She and Joss co-created the show so more than likely they split ownership rights. Now, if the show can be moved one of 2 things has to happen. Eliza has to sell her portion of control to Joss and let the show be moved(which would be minus her since Fox has her under contract) or 2 she would have to get Fox to release her so she could move with the show. That’s probably not going to happen.
As for SyFy, they stated shortly after the cancellation was released that they would more than likely not be picking the show up.
Personally, I think the show needs to move to HBO. That way they can really go all out. Dollhouse had some themes that could had been explored better had they had the freedom to do so with no holds barred.
November 12th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
This has to be the first time I agree with Aaron Poehler.
November 12th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
This is ridiculous! Not suprised though Joss’s shows always end up being destroyed with Fox at the helm. It’s sad because I trully did absolutely love this show.
I’m going to go cry in my room now.
November 12th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
“Yeah that’s it, Dollhouse failed because it was too complicated for most people what with its high concepts of hot lady assassins and stuff. Lol.”
Anyone else get the feeling that Charlie Hustle here has never seen an episode of the series?
November 12th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I really enjoyed Dollhouse. i’m going to miss it. but i wish it wasnt on freaking Friday nights!
i think if Syfy doesnt pick it up (which would be cool). then it would make an interesting novel. i’d rather read about this than moby dick
November 12th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I think the only serialized show on Fox was Prison Break. And even then, did the people need to buy the finale movie on dvd? Lame. Dollhouse was a good show though. Hopefully it gets picked up by WB/CW. I think that would be a perfect fit.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I for one am grateful that now there’s more room on the tv schedule for pretty boy but gritty cop shows and angsty doctor soap operas.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Yes Phylemon, Charlie Hustle clearly saw a picture and took his best guess and decided it sucked. Knew this was coming but yea it still sucks. Oh well, least the abusive relationship between Whedon and Fox is over for now.
November 13th, 2009 at 4:24 am
“t relied too much on the actors playing multiple roles”
Dushku’s acting was pretty bad. she ain’t no Toni Colette.
great story. bad acting from the main character.
the cancellation is a missed opportunity but not a disaster.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:37 am
Serenity did not get a sequel because Whedon tied up all the major plot threads that were left unaddressed from the series (with regards to the Alliance and the Reavers, River’s state of mind and the crew’s romantic interests, etc.) in the film. There is no need for a sequel, as much as those of us who love the Firefly verse would love to see one. Despite the demise of some popular characters, the film gave the Serenity crew as happy an ending as they were likely to get. We know they’re still flying, and as Mal says, that’s enough. The film was all about closure, in a way. Besides, the excellent cast was immediately involved with other projects, which would make filming a sequel difficult. I agree that it was more than reasonably successful. No, it didn’t make the impact of Iron Man or the Dark Knight at the box office, but the ripples it created with the circumstances that led to its creation in the first place make it a success in a way that defies simple sales numbers.
I also agree that Whedon needs to end his relationship with Fox. He should pitch his next show to USA, which has a much better track record of sticking with shows even if they get off to a slow start ratings-wise. Another option would be HBO, which would probably welcome the type of morally-ambiguous characters he is fond of creating.
RIP, Dollhouse. You were wiped from the lineup just when you started to really get good.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:59 am
How is a network dumping a show that failed to even keep the viewers it had,let alone gain ‘new viewers’ in the wrong?
Dollhouse wasn’t the X Files. It wasn’t even arrested development. Even the hardcore wheendonites online generally copped to a “I watch something else, and dvr the show for later” attitude. Why would any network support an expensive hit and miss series with evaporating viewership?
Fox ain’t entirely to blame folks, especially considering the other usual suspects want nothing to do with the series either.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Oh my god!!!!! Dollhouse was a freaking awesome!!!! Im so sad and will miss this show!!!!!fox is stupid!!!
November 14th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
When some one F’s you in the A the first time, shame on them. But you dont go back to them, and if you do and it happens again it’s your fault. Whedon’s fanbase can get pretty rabid but Fox has a history of canceling shows that are good because the numbers aren’t immediately ZOMG ORGASAMAZING. Now Ive seen Dollhouse once or twice and didnt really like it, Firefly however was an amazing show with characters that you dont normally see. I wasn’t a fan of Buffy either so I can only speak as a fan of Firefly Serenity and Astonishing X-Men (his Runaways run was…not for me). Hopefully now he knows better and will show his shows at different networks. But let’s be honest, this isn’t the first time Fox has canceled a show and it won’t be the last.
November 14th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I think fox made a mistake again by cancelling dollhouse. It was a great show, many people I know was waiting for it to come back on, just like 4400, lost. You take off the good ones leave ones on, like scrubs (stupid comedy). Please someone else pick up the movie, and if you are worried about ratings put on a different night. What a shame, and you were finally bringing on a cool actress from termenater……..
November 14th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I love fox station, but maybe if everyone writes to fox, and tells them what a mistake they made by taking dollhouse off. And stop watching the channel too, until it returns. Like 24 the best show on t.v., so good luck, also prison break, they are putting dumb movies on in its place it sucks….
November 15th, 2009 at 1:04 am
Jesus… FOX canceled Terminator so Dollhouse could live and look what happened. They should have just chosen Terminator to renew to begin with instead of this Dollhouse crap. FOX annoys the crap outta me. Stupid idiots.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:43 am
The problem is, Joss Whedon deals with Fox, and not another network. Fox has a bad reputation for not giving a lot of their shows a good chance.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:45 am
I mean, he dealt with The WB for Buffy and Angel, but since then he’s gone to Fox twice. From now on he should stay away from that network, forever. Go to a different one(s).
November 16th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Fox is clueless, but Dollhouse although a good idea and started with a better then average first season fell apart on a night when no one stays home to watch TV anymore. Plus for the average TV viewer turning on the TV each week to see essentially a different lead character each week is a tough sell. For better or good the average American enjoys the basic facts “Good vs Evil” with clear cut sides.
It’s okay to have gray characters but not the entire cast. Too bad I enjoyed most of the episodes except the baby one.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Aaron Poehler Says:
November 12th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Look, you guys that are into Whedon REALLY like his stuff, we get it. Fact is, though, the rest of us aren’t all that into it and he’s rarely been able to craft anything that speaks to anyone but his already established–though shrinking–fanbase.
Ok, first off, yes we like Whedon’s stuff, he’s a visionary. Second, no episode on TV is ever going to satisfy all viewers, hell I hate most of the TV that’s on. The thing with Whedons work is that his shows like Dollhouse and Firefly are much deeper and more sustaining intellectually for people who get bored with things like family guy, reality shows, the simpsons, and the shows who’s writers are now starting to strongly suck, like House. Now about the “he’s rarely been able to craft anything that speaks to anyone but his already established–though shrinking–fanbase”. I will admit to being obsessive about my love and passion for Firefly and Serenity, and so like most of the Firefly fans, I take every opportunity to share it with anyone that I can, and NEVER have I shown the series to someone and not had them LOVE it. My most recent convert is as obsessive as I am. And so about this sinking fanbase, you could not be more wrong, and the Firefly fanbase is constantly growing. Dollhouse isn’t as good as Firefly, but it’s an intelligent show about what could happen if certain technology develops and how humanity would find ways to manipulate it into something that can lead to disaster. Joss’s work has a point, a purpose, and a message. And that’s something that I guess is too difficult for the general populace to truly understand, or appreciate.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:13 am
I have to disagree with anyone who compares Firefly to Dollhouse. Firefly was a fantastic show that was cancelled before its time. The reason Firefly failed was ENTIRELY Fox’s fault.
However, with that said, you cannot blame Fox in this instance. They actually let Dollhouse come back, even with extremely poor ratings at the end of the season (and yes those poor ratings included DVR playback).
I am not saying I don’t like Dollhouse, I love it and have watched it since the beginning, but it is in no way comparable to Firefly and I applaud Fox on this go around for giving it the chance they did. I vote that we let Dollhouse die a quiet, honorable death and please, please, please do not start any “Save Dollhouse” petitions.
November 18th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
House, dollhouse, bones, and thier sunday night lineup are the only good shows fox has, they dropped “sit down’shut up”, “king of the hill”, “terminator” and a couple of others, in favor of crappy movies and reruns, of other shows, fox should take the few million viewers that dollhouse gets and be thankful that joss whedon chose them over a cable channel. god knows i would have.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Seriously, why are any of Joss’ shows on FOX in the first place?? why not Sci Fi Channel? [or SyFy... whatev w/ that new naming...] is it cheaper or something? I’m sure he can spare the moolah for more positive results…. [??] So I guess ‘Epitaph’ really was the foreboding ‘lost’ episode after all - pity it sucked…