Vintage

The first episode of Dollhouse, called Echo, has wrapped filming.  There's now a bunch of poking with sticks which takes place. There could be singing, there could be dancing, there may be test screenings - who knows?  Zoic are on board for special effects.  You might remember them from such shows as Firefly and Battlestar Galactica.

Variety say Dollhouse is going mid-season (think January 2009).  Find out tomorrow and Thursday about the exact target air date, as they should be a press release, followed by the presentation at the upfronts on Thursday.

We'll bring you coverage from the upfronts.  There's some shiny stuff in store ya'll will want to see.

And remember: the sun is a mass of incandescent gas.

The Hollywood Reporter today reports that Dollhouse is being eyed as a mid-season premiere.

We have checked with multiple people, and they all say the same thing: The Hollywood Reporter has it wrong.

The air date will be confirmed next Thursday (the 15th).  But as far as everybody is concerned right now, it's still looking at a Fall premiere.

Okay, here begins another generic catch up post.  I've been in LA the last few weeks, hence the lack of updates.  So hopefully as of this post we'll be back to our regular update schedule.

So what do we have.  Firstly...  Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain answered a few fan questions here.  There they mention Tim Minear will be writing episode seven. 

There have also been several mentions across the internet that Dollhouse could premiere on Fox as early as late August, the idea being that the initial seven episodes air before baseball begins.

IMDB has a list of the guest cast for the first episode, "Echo", here. 

Aside from this in the last few weeks Dollhouse began shooting in Los Angeles.  Kristin at E! Online reported that the first day of shooting took place in Downtown LA.

And hopefully that concludes the last few weeks of Dollhouse news.

Well, it's happening.  Today is the first day of shooting on DOLLHOUSE.  I'd say it's been a long journey - and I'm sure it has felt like it for Joss and chums (yes, I'm British, I'm allowed to use that word) - but in terms of the gestation period for your average TV show it's actually been pretty quick.  So far.  Let's not jinx things.

Provided there's not some major disagreements on things from all parties involved (He's too big!, She's too depressing!, Can't there not be dolls?) I think we're looking at an early fall premiere, my spider sense tells me.  You'll start seeing promotional material for the show within one month.  Yeah, one month.  Excited yet?

 So, Joss Whedon is back on the lot.  He once asked me -- you know, jokingly -- to invent something which lets him talk to all the world at once.  There's no way of doing that (although Rick Astley keeps trying), but as I said at the time, there is something better - television.  People watch it, and not all of them to purely pass the time to their graves.  It makes people think.  It infests their dreams, and their lives.  It can be silly, stupid, amazing and heartbreaking.  Or it can be Fear Factor.  It's a powerful medium which has shaped my life, and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person in that position. 

Welcome back to television, Joss.  We missed you.

Okay, brace yourself.

The script is out there and the opinions are in.  Both Televisionary and E! Online have posted their thoughts.

The final rolls have also been cast.  Echo's handler Boyd is to be played by Harry J. Lennix.  Meanwhile, Joss Whedon announced the casting of the recurring characters at Whedonesque.  Angel's Amy Acker will play scarred Dr. Claire Saunders and Miracle Laurie will play the doll known as November.

Hollywood Reporter confirms the following people have been cast in the following roles:

Tahmoh Penikett as Paul Smith

Fran Kranz as Topher Brink

Dichen Lachman as Sierra

Enver Gjokaj as Victor

Dollhouse is at an interesting stage.  We're deliberately not publishing spoilers about the show because, well, I think it's the job of Joss Whedon, his staff and FOX to tell us - the audience - about the show.

But here's some stuff we can say:

- There's a pilot script.

- Casting is well on it's way.

- Shooting is weeks away.

- Stuart Blatt ("ANGEL") and his workmates are busy designing 'n building The Dollhouse and various other sets.  It's in a great big Fox studio. 

- The show is set in LA.

- Shawna Trpcic ("FIREFLY") is the costume designer. (Thanks, you know who you are)

- Mike Massa ("ANGEL") is the stunt coordinator. (Thanks, Shapenew)

- Much of the old ANGEL team are on board, from writers to crew (Ross Berryman etc).

- A lot of the people who are working on this show have worked on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel or Firefly.  And in many cases, all three.  Although just because there's a bunch of people behind the cameras who have worked on Whedonesque shows before, I wouldn't assume this will extend too far in front of the camera.  Yes, we're looking at you, TV Guide.

- If you've seen the casting sides floating around the 'net (elsewhere), don't presume they're all direct script from the first ep.  They aren't.  No, we aren't publishing anything like that here.

- Dollhouse to be presented to press and advertisers May 15th.  We should find out if Dollhouse is Fall or mid-season then.  Yes, a tentative launch date for your calendar.  Expect a lot of news that week.

He reunites with Joss Whedon, with whom he worked on Buffy and Angel, Sarah and Elizabeth, who he worked with on Angel, and Tim, who also worked on Angel.

This brings the current team to:

Echo........................... Eliza Dushku

Creator ......................  Joss Whedon

Show runner.................  Joss Whedon 

Executive producer......... Joss Whedon

Producer....................... Sarah Fain

Producer....................... Elizabeth Craft
Producer....................... Eliza Dushku

Line Producer................. Kelly Manners 

Consulting Producer.......... Tim Minear

Director of Photography... ??

....................??............. Ross Berryman

Gaffer............................ Dan Kerns

Production Designer........ Stuart Blatt 

Editor............................ ?? 

Thanks to those who helped us compile the list so far!

DollhouseTV.net are reporting that production for Dollhouse is set to begin on April 23rd.