Dollhouse cancelled
The good news is there will be finality to the story.
The bad news is, well, there’s finality to the story. Fox have decided to ditch the show (rather than Ditching The Tech, ahem). I don’t think it was a very smart business move, but hey.
On a personal note, thank you to everybody who worked on the show and the awesome people who kept in contact with me through the last two years. It’s been a wacky ride. We’ll continue to exist whilst the remaining episodes get produced and (hopefully) aired.
I went slightly Topher and waved my arms around whilst typing this.
Love,
me.
79 Responses 
Dollverse (c) 2007-2009 Kevin Beaumont. Dollhouse (c) 20th Century Fox.
So Fox does it again! Congratulations for being so predictable, Fox executives!
It’d be nice if this got Whedon to finally stop trusting FOX.
Anyone in the mood to whip up a batch of Morgo’s Executive Powder?
futurama reference, nice!
Next for Whedon- more Firefly? Pretty please? Pretty pretty please?
More all of his series!!
Hope Joss talks to the cable networks. I wouldn’t be able to see it live, but I wouldn’t care as long as the show lived.
Just found out about this on Facebook less than five minutes ago, headed straight over here. Do we know how far ahead production on the show is, how many eps they have in the can, and if they will be broadcast or if we will have to wait for the DVD? Is there even a possibility they might finish the season for overseas obligations and in order to put out a complete season on disc? Wishful thinking, I know.
I can’t pretend to be surprised, only disappointed. And considering how amazing the show has been the last couple of weeks, it is a loss for everyone.
We’re just lucky we had it as long as we did – certainly longer than we had Firefly.
Thanks for keeping the fires burning, Gossi. Hope to see you in May.
They’ve just wrapped episode 10 (big ep) and started on ep 11 (big ep). All 13 episodes will air, with 13 being written and directed as the series finale now.
so episode 13 will work as a real series finale or will it be a cliffhanger/regular imprint episode.
My understanding is that Episode 13 always was going to have some closure. I figure it will just have a bit more now.
My question is, has the thirteenth episode been written yet? Where in the production process is it? How about the twelfth episode?
13 isn’t been written yet I believe
Fml…….. And this was such a great day too. Well, guess that means well be getting the Dr. Horrible sequel sooner than we initially hoped, so some huzzahs are in order for that category I suppose…..yay…….
I wonder would we have any success if we got a campaign running like Jericho’s? Mind you, that series seems to have stalled at two seasons as well.
Maybe we could mail in paperdolls as our protest?
Didn’t work with “Roswell” an the tabasco bottles, so my guess …. not working here either
I found out about this several hours ago and wrote Fox a nasty, but professional email. The only response I got back was their promise to air all 13 episodes of this season. Here is the schedule as copied from my email.
DOLLHOUSE will air 2-Hour episodes on FRI 12/4, 12/11 & 12/18 (8-10pm ET/PT) – then return after the holidays on FRI 1/8, 1/15 & 1/22 – to complete the full Season 2 order of 13 episodes!!
ASKFOX
this isn’t about it dollhouse being canceled, but I was wondering if you knew who the writer is for ‘A Love Supreme’? No one has the information on it…..and since they’re filming episode 11…you’d expect that by now they would release the name of the writer.
This really sucks I love this show and FOX has been cruel twice now to both Eliza and Joss what with the cancellations of Firefly and Tru Calling and now cancelling Dollhouse. I think I am just going to give up on watching Fox.
What kills me is — and I say this completely without bias — Dollhouse is one of the very few good shows on FOX. FX has way better shows. I blame it completely on the scheduling. I won’t post my spiel here, but I ranted all about it over at my blog: http://perpetualsmile.net/2009/11/20/fox-takes-down-the-dollhouse/
Who can we email our complaints to? Anyone know the emails of Fox execs? The people responsible for this decision? I know it won’t change anything, but they deserve to know who we feel.
you can email askfox.com
but it won’t matter. They didn’t seem to reply to what I wrote. They just gave me the upcoming schedule.
It’s simple, ratings. Fox never cared for the show. It only aired due to Eliza and Joss.
At least they get to wrap up the story.
Joss and Eliza made a mistake to take it to Fox. That show was something more geared to cable.
Hopefully, the show goes out with a bang.
Just another show in a long line of shows that last a season or two.
i for one am just crushed by this news. I started having all my friends watch the dvds, and got them interested too. They never knew it existed? Now im just so…bummed. I even blogged about it
. it just goes to show u that fox is just a bunch of mindless assholes. I guess in the end they are a blank state, and couldnt even fill themselves up with some substance.
Hey anybody notice what joss hinted in the end of his comment on whedonesque? I’m off to pursue internet ventures/binge drinking. Possibly that relaxation thing I’ve read so much about. By the time the last episode airs, you’ll know what my next project is. But for now there’s a lot of work still to be done, and disappointment to bear. You noticed when he phrased that, it tells me he is planning something with dollhouse. I mean fox owns the name Dollhouse, but not the property per se. It just gives me a glimmer of hope that he is still going to follow the adventures of Echo, Victor, Sierra, Topher, Boyd, Adelle and Paul.
I was thinking the same thing, but then the licensing had me wondering exactly how he was going to wing it. I guess, like he said, we’ll see!
Why the hell would they decide this now? Why not wait until after the show returns in December to see what happens?
I really don’t understand how the executives at Fox think.
Make a Dollhouse movie. Like you did with Firefly. I don’t get why Fox treated the show so badly. Go to another network and bring it back to life.
I started my letter to Fox thusly:
Dear Fox Dunderheads…,
That’s offensive to Dunderheads. I think if you leave it at “Dear Fox” it should be insulting as is
really sad with this news, dollhouse one of the only shows i really love just now.
i just wish they let the full season run before making a choice of whether or not to cancell. how can you really judge on 4eps? which have all gotten stronger each ep, with both fans and critics praising it.
can only hope now that joss will make a dollhouse movie or turn it into a web thing.
all the cast are truely talented and will have no problems finding work at least.
=(
i knew this was coming.
UH in a way u cant blame fox. cuz the ratings did suck. i guess this show is just tooo complex!
I think ‘no longer do the dance of joy Numfar’ pretty much sums it up…
Aptly put. I rip Fox executives images into tiny pieces, feed them to the swine, butcher the pigs and have their remains scattered for the dogs.
Chortle chortle.
I think FOX should definitely be doing the Dance of Shame.
..and I was just starting to bond with Topher. Entirely unsurprised but wondering if they will go the graphic novel route, they could certainly make more of the future events in a different media.
Also. Wondering if Joss ever was involved in, watched or even liked Brimstone??
This is a shame but doesn’t come as too much of a surprise. I think DH has suffered from consistency problems from the outset. I mean, even as an avid Whedon fan, I struggled greatly with the initial episodes of season 1. Had I not been a Joss convert, I would have given up 3-4 episodes in.
Hell I did almost give up, then Episode 6 hit and things improved greatly. Arguably, these teething problems were due to DH being ‘tooled’ with by Fox execs, not trusting the original (darker) vision. I for one thought the unaired pilot was rock solid and would have likely adored the show had it been written and shot to the original spec.
Also, I loved the future flash of episode 13, which was like watching a whole other show. It put me in mind of Firefly… so I would have loved to see more of that. I expect S3 would have been a whole different kettle of fish.
But let’s be honest here, DH was never anywhere near the quality of Firefly. There were some inexcusably bad episodes regardless of what Fox did or didn’t do.
I’m sorry for the collective cast of the show and It’s a shame to see another Whedon show cancelled before its time, but I can’t say I’m too gutted. I’m just eager to see what Whedon does next.
I agree with your entire post, except the part about Firefly being better than dollhouse, I know most fans won’t agree with me, but in my opinion Dollhouse is a much better show (Though Firefly was exceptional too)
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and suggest that maybe the tech in Dollhouse is the reason for the future in Firefly? I had that feeling the entire time I watched Epitaph One. Call me crazy, but it would be so. freaking. cool.
Sad. I understand that challenging shows have no place on American television. Ratings mean pleasing most people and in turn.that means staying intellectually average or best, much below it. In this, nothing’s better than a reality show.
Hey, I have a suggestion for FOX: a new and exciting reality show called “Being Joss Wheedon”. Every week, Joss writes a new serie and peoples have to vote in sufficient number in order to cancel it!
That ought to be a winner.
Until then, I’ll go back to reading books.
Au revoir à tous!
My husband and I think Joss should go back to using the CW network…it worked for him so long with buffy. We think it would work for Dollhouse.
Congrats on your failure of a decision again Fox. Joss W, you should start using other networks, Fox clearly can’t see your talent or good taste. Fox can be such idiots … Why do I say that? SEE ABOVE … :\
omg omfg i cant believe it i love you show how coiuld this be i love it its sooo fucking awesome please revive it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! anyways a different station something
“We’ll continue to exist whilst the remaining episodes get produced and (hopefully) aired”
I like this, are you having an existential crisis or something?:) I hope we all continue to exist so we can watch and enjoy all the remaining episodes of dollhouse – and go on to support this amazingly talented bunch of people in whatever new projects come along (hopefully soonish).
Star Trek. Angel. Firefly. Sarah Connor Chronicles. Now Dollhouse. This show was continually and consistently WAY above the norm of soul-sapping, conformist junk. It added new layers of imagination and complexity every episode. Like Frost said, “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” Rock on, Whedon. Everyone else, heed Plato: We all live in the frakkin’ dollhouse. Who Programs You?
Nice.. Another great show cancelled by fox now dollhouse goes with futurama,arrested development,family guy(when it meant something) Titus,firefly,etc… What is fox thinking do they just hate the loyal viewer? No more I say if fox has room for the Cleveland show on the network it should have ample space for dollhouse
NO!… why cancel Dollhouse!
I hate Fox right now. . . . .
been sitting for like five minutes and thinking what to write
conclusion: — This sucks — Big Time …
I just hope joss doesn’t stop making shows completely…..
He would never stop. Even if he kept getting canceled over and over again, it’s his calling. It’s just what he does. He’s awesome at it, and he’s got tons of ideas just waiting to be brought to life. You’ll never see him drop out of the game completely. (:
so upset about this news. I got 10 friends hooked on the show, but know one could ever watch live because, whos home on a friday night! Really really bummed out, and its getting worse just thinking about how many seasons this show could of gone on for..its such a ubelievable idea and concept! Hope that Joss takes this to a different network, or does his own episodes and broadcast’s them on itunes or something..or a Movie?
There’s just way too many stories yet told, and the characters are so awesome, deep, and complicated. You can really relate. The actors are great, so dissapointing.
Well, I can’t say that I’m entirely surprised, but, disappointed? Sure. I am, however, nowhere near as bitter as I was for other shows because of how “Dollhouse” was treated during its second season.
I mean, let’s be honest: none of us thought we were going to GET a second season. Also, they’re not only letting Whedon and Co. FINISH the season, they also let them know in advance that they were writing a series finale so they had enough time to give fans a more satisfying ending. This is much more consideration than they ever gave fans of other shows (Firefly, Tru Calling, Point Pleasant, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, etc).
I, for one, plan to thoroughly enjoy all the double-shots in December and look forward to an excellent finale with much tear-shedding by us loyal fans. I hope that Whedon will continue with this ‘verse in the form of comic books (a la Buffy and Angel) or a movie (a la Firefly/Serenity). Either way, it’s been an amazing two years.
“Did I fall asleep?”
“For a little while?”
“Shall I go now?”
Tragically, yes, you shall.
Also, it occurs to me — if the series finale goes the way of “Epitaph One,” when watching the DVD’s couldn’t we all just watch season one and then season two and THEN watch “Epitaph One” as the series finale? It’d make sense and also end the series on a serious storytelling high note!
As most others have said, I cannot say I am surprised by the news per say. Deep down, I knew this series had no chance on Fox on that time slot, and when Season 2 didn’t change days, I knew it was only a matter of time. I tried to stay optimistic, and still will. I am hoping Joss can take it to another network or find a way to monetize it online. If it does not return in the future, it was a fun ride while it lasted.
it’s not fox’s fault guys, the show just wasn’t that good. one step away from heroes. that’s bad.
Whiskey – Tango – Foxtrot, FOX network? Go Foxtrot – Oscar for dumping another great Jossterpiece. Sigh.
As soon as I saw the Nov Sweeps Hiatus, I knew we were toast. Between that and the ratings, and FOX no longer pushing the show most of this season.
It remains to be seen if FOX will hold to it’s questionable word on airing the remaining episodes. Or will they bail at the end, like with [i]Firefly[/i] leaving episodes unaired? I guess we’ll see.
A shame really, the show was very good, but a little too niche, too intimate and personal for the mass market appeal that Network TV desires for success. We do not cease to wonder at Joss’ relationship with FOX. It may very well be that other networks don’t want anything to do with him. His shows may very well be too unique and personal for their tastes. Certainly FOX’s.
And what IS it with Networks almost ALWAYS trying to fly Science Fiction series’ on Friday Night, when the most desired demographic is out of the house? Even SyFy places their most high profile series’ on Friday Nights. To live or die depending on hardcore geek fans. Meanwhile Tuesday, when people are HOME gets.. WWF. incomprehensible.
“Did I fall asleep?”
“For a little while.”
“Do I HAVE to wake up now?”
“Yes.”
[B]“F***!!!”[/b]
I really liked this show. I actually enjoyed the “story of the week” formula of Season One. Point is, I really liked the show and the concept is genius. I don’t know why Fox cancelled it. But, hey, they got rid of “King of The Hill” and replaced it with that trashy and waste-of-space “Clevland Show.” So, I guess I’m not surprised.
I don’t know about you guys, but I watched the preview for the episode coming in December and it looks fun and exciting. I just hope Fox doesn’t think to pull those episodes off the air. But if they do it’ll probably sell more DVDs.
The show was absolutely brilliant and I plan to thoroughly enjoy the final nine episodes. Time will bear out its uniqueness and it will never be completely forgotten.
I wish we could have 7 seasons of Dollhouse. But there’s no doubt of this: Enver Gjokaj and Dichen Lachmann have unbelievably bright futures.
Bugger! Bugger! When will he learn to go to a different and less imbecilic network?
I wonder if you can privately fund a TV show. Like the Puppy Channel. Whedon Channel.
Well if this got off the ground I think a lot of people wpould love to help and support the channel in any way they could, myself included in this.
I basically agree with M – and if you look at this comment from Whedon himself, originally posted over on Whedonesque, you kind of get the sense that he knew that the show had some problems:
“I don’t have a lot to say. I’m extremely proud of the people I’ve worked with: my star, my staff, my cast, my crew. I feel the show is getting better pretty much every week, and I think you’ll agree in the coming months. I’m grateful that we got to put it on, and then come back and put it on again.”
grrrr arrrgh!
I’m never watching FOX again. Fool me once…
I was going to suggest something along the lines of a boycott to be honest. I’m from the UK, so it’s not like I watch FOX, but I’d be more than happy to just stop watching FOX shows.
I think a boycott, while it may not hurt them financially too much, it would at least be a kick in the teeth.
Kind of a no win situation. But for one bright, shining moment, we can show them that they don’t own us…
I’m disappointed but scarcely surprised by the network decision. They are not interested in art, or quality – just ratings and money. The US produces some of the best TV in the world and then destroys them quickly – see “Pushing Daisies”, “Studio 60″ and now Dollhouse.
As things air very much later here in the UK, we had to get the DVD set to see Season 1 and thought it outstanding. Then I saw episode 13 and I think it was a mis-step. It was so bleak, so depressing it left me feeling that whatever happened to the characters next didn’t really matter, as we were all going to hell in a handbasket anyway.
Naturally, we haven’t seen season 2 yet – but I look forward to it, and my thanks to the talented team for this great adventure.
My family would still like to see Joss’s Wonder Woman, or anything he can throw together and persuade Nathan Fillion to take part in!
Rename it “Real Housewives of Dollhouse” and have the dolls sit around a biyatch at each other for an hour. It’ll run for 10 seasons.
We get so little good TV here in Australia. Our TV shows ALL revolve around nurses, and cops, and cops dating nurses, and nurses becoming cops-it’s weird. We congregate on dodgy street corners in the wee hours, covertly swapping Firefly, and now Dollhouse stories, peeling an eye for the fuzz, one detached ear held to the ground scouring for Dollhouse news-when I hear this, CANCELLED?! What the frak is this! It’s time for the studio execs to just say NO. NO to their overwhelming propensity to sideline intelligent TV. NO to endless reruns of Desperate Landmines and American Idle. And NO to whatever flyspray laced apple flavoured hashish they keep importing from some off the grid grower in an outback space station that gives them the blowfish courage they require to continue making bad TV. And if they can’t say NO to drugs, and least share them round so we don’t care either that we are losing TV treasures left and right. Booooooooo to Fox.
Please pass the drugs along.
Signed,
Still annoyed Dollhouse Got Cancelled.
(And drunk).
I didn’t realize that Gigi Edgely had played a nurse, or a cop, and never a nurse dating/becoming a cop.
Could you imagine Chiana as a Doll. That would be a whole season unto itself. Australia produced some great television, and “Farscape” was never boring.
It’s interesting that “Dollhouse” seems to be almost “Mission Impossible” and that lasted for years. Fox TV really doesn’t have much to recommend it these days, and “Dollhouse” is just getting better and better. I wonder what it would take to “uncancel” a show?
Fox sux.
I have only just got into DollHouse nd now it is cancelled?!?! Yes I agree some of the episodes where not as good as they could have been, maybe an issue with budget problems. This is no reason to cancel the whole show there are many people that would love this show outside the U.S (My self being one, I live in Ireland) I really do hope Joss contiues this online or with another network. I would love to do something Dollhouse related myself.
P.S Please don’t ask how I watch this outside the U.S
fox is starting to piss me off, this is my show. Something I can watch to get away from the rest of this f**** up world. They do is every time something good comes on…….
I’m in Australia, and a friend has me hooked on Dollhouse…. she has access to the US Fox website (coz we can’t access it here) and I am totally devastated the show will not be continuing. I rarely find anything on TV that hooks me, and it’s so exciting to find a show that is intelligent and entertaining. Such a pity. Such a pity. Maybe once it develops a cult following in a year or two… they may re-visit it and make a third series…. so let’s spread the word, people!!!
I’ve come to the conclusion that all the mindless people who arnt watching this amazing show are too stupid to understand its amazing storyline. They would rather watch thier stupid reality crap or thier predictible sitcoms. I love dollhouse, and the people who dont only refuse to give it a chance just because its different from other things on tv…as far as im concerned different is great! I think Joss should just make more episodes for season two and stick them on the dvd
I have a new slogan for FOX .It goes something like this…..”FOX….Where great shows don’t have a chance !!!! We have probably cancelled your program before we have even aired it !!!”
Sadly, I don’t think DH was “reality show” enough for Fox. Since, it seems, that is the direction that Fox is going lately.
Given the steady stream of “reality shows” that fox airs, and the addition of the “Fox Reality Channel” (yes, sadly, a Fox owned cable/Sat network that shows nothing but “reality shows” 24/7).
Not that surprising though. Most of us can remember back in the day of the birth of Fox Network. They were the “white trash” of network broadcasting with it’s hard hitters Married With Children, Down and Out in Beverly Hills (the series), The Simpsons, The Tracy Ulman Show and Arsenio Hall as their top money makers. It is funny, Down and Out in Beverly Hills was the first canceled Fox show after just, you guessed it, 13 episodes!
Oh, and remember, Fox canceled Buffy before its time and it was saved by WB.
Ok, toooo much rambling on my part. I guess what I am trying to say is that there seems to no longer be any room for creative, thought provoking, smart, television shows anymore. It is being replaced by the lowest common denominator: “Reality Television”
So I only get seven more episodes of Dollhouse, BOOOOOOOOO! The only reason I even turn fox on is for it and Fringe, so when are they canseling Fringe?
This show will live on, like all the others. I foresee a big blowup like Firefly/Serenity verse had when cancelled before its due time
Whedonite forever!
I’m late to this conversation. After seeing that there were double-shots of “DH” 3 wks straight, i just came to verify what i knew was gonna happen when they put the show on hiatus.
This is a sin and a shame. Unlike most of you, i’m not a Whedonite, and i loved every single episode i saw. I saw how the show grew and changed, but i’ve never complained about any of the episodes and i never will. I loved them all.
I really hope Joss & Co. fight for this show and take it to another network as opposed to just abandoning Echo and her crew. I think The CW and SyFy are perfect fits for the show. SyFy is trying to attract more women viewers anyway, so this would be a wonderful pick-up for them. Someone mentioned above that CW saved “Buffy”, and it worked out well. Perhaps if “DH” fans let it be known that we will follow this show to another network, he’ll consider trying to move it to another network.
Screw Fox. They are not the only game in town. They are geared more toward those wretched reality shows because they are cheaper to make, and bring in more revenue. You can thank the general viewing public who likes to watch crap that doesn’t require them to think (read: dumb as a box of rocks) for that.
Talk about a match made in hell.
Someone said that Fox owns the name “Dollhouse”. Do they also own the character’s names ? If not, there are several titles he can use for the series that will let us know it’s the same show. Shoot..he could call the show “Did I Fall Asleep?” and we would know what it was.
This whole thing has me so pissed, i may have to start a blog or actually break down and get a Facebook account just to get it all out. Shoot.
Anybody seen Inara Croft ? I need to get up with her so she can help me calm down..