Fox has given Joss Whedon a green light for a second season of “Dollhouse” according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The show was picked up for a 13-episode order and will remain on Fridays in the fall according to reports. Fox was apparently impressed by Whedon’s pitch for the second season and the numbers for time-shifted viewing via DVR and on-line streaming of episodes.
Various media outlets are also reporting that “Dollhouse” was helped by a weak slate of potential pilots for Fox. The network is looking to establish a solid fall line-up according to various reports. Many Hollywood insiders considered the series on the list of cancelled series, especially with last week’s low ratings for the season finale.
Basically this is a case of a bunch of minor decision-making factors successfully ganging up on the biggest factor (ratings). In addition to DVD sales, streaming and DVR influences, Fox received some serious budget concessions from 20th TV and Whedon to continue the show, with 20th now shouldering a greater portion of the load.
Interestingly, the 14th episode that will feature on the DVD set was a factor in Fox’s decision to renew the series. The episode showed Fox execs that the show could maintain its level of quality with the lowered budget.
Gazerbeam says
THERE IS A GOD!!! *passes out*
SFDex says
YAY! Yay, yay, yay, yay.
Ahem. I mean, that’s good news.
😀
NoxFPS says
Hell as Frozen Over as in FOX gives Joss Whedon and “Dollhouse” a second season Now can you give FireFly a second season.
Trekscribbler says
Wow. And the Fox haters STILL aren’t happy.
Lisa from Indiana says
I’m really glad Dollhouse will be back, but the budget thing worries me. Does anyone remember season 3 of Star Trek? Budget cuts can do evil things to sci-fi shows…
Rob says
I think the show will be fine with budget cuts. I hope this will mean it will focus more on the character arcs and less on flashy stunts, which I could always do without. I’m confident that Whedon can still pull out a beautiful show. Give it a chance first and watch the 13th episode when it comes out on DVD.
Billy Uno says
As a Fox Hater, I’m being turned around by several factors: Family Guy got renewed. Dollhouse got renewed. The Cleveland based Family Guys Spinoff show got approved for 2 seasons. AND they’re not running shows with crappy pilots.
I’m not worried about the budget; I’m more worried about the time slot. With any luck Timeshift DVR and Webstreaming will keep this thing afloat for a while. I’m with NoxFPS when I say
SAVE FIREFLY!
…. um… that said, I REALLY like Castle, so maybe Nathan could do both for a while? Or maybe alternate between spring and fall seasons? *bites lip and grins hopefully*
John says
I’m glad it’s renewed. Very glad. But why does FOX insist on keeping Whedon on Fridays…air it with Fringe for goodness sake.
Robin says
Since no one’s actually said it yet, SQUEEEEEE!!!!!!
I now return you to your regularly scheduled sedate celebration. 😀
Hilsler says
Holy mushrooms!!!! Hell is freezing over right?? No? Global catastrophe?? No? Something must be up, because FOX, of all the networks, renewed a low-rated, but beloved series. I’m shocked. I’m stunned.
GazerBeam says
Our faith in FOX has been slightly misplaced. Dollhouse has been renewed, but word came down today that another show with about the same ratings was axed. Sadly, there will be no more Sarah Connor Chronicles. It’s a shame, because they made a fairly solid sci-fi block together.
Sam Sloan says
I’m not surprised that T:TSCC has been canceled. Fox made no secret that the show held on as long as it did only because of the upcoming big Terminator movie……and, since that film will debut in theaters this Thursday night there was, in the mind of Fox execs,no need to continue with the TV show for another season. Perhaps, (and that’s a big perhaps) if the film brings in stellar box office Fox may rethink its T:TSCC strategy and bring it back for at least 13 more episodes…..but that seems highly unlikely.
ejdalise says
I never saw the TV show as being linked except peripherally with either the past movies or the upcoming one.
It really was an entity on its own, and as someone mentioned before, it is likely the licensing fees which killed it as much as anything else (or perhaps the Sarah-centric episodes).
I will go out on a very short limb and speculate the upcoming movie will be formulaic, have tremendous special effects, be short of plot (and be predictable to boot), and marginal in the acting. Then again, perhaps the trailers are masking a brilliant script to be sprung on an unsuspecting audience when they show up to watch cool robots interacting with laconic characters.
If that comes to pass, it would place behind the series as far as quality entertainment goes. I’m speaking, of course, only for myself.