Exclusive: Joss Whedon's 'Dollhouse' Shuts Down Production
Just days after learning that production on the new season of 24 has been shut down for two weeks, another FOX series is giving its cast and crew some unexpected vacation time. The highly-anticipated Dollhouse, from acclaimed TV guru Joss Whedon, has shut down production for two weeks as well.
I'm told that because Joss directed two of the three episodes already shot, he has not had sufficient time to be in the writers room and tailor the upcoming scripts to his liking. A rep from 20th Century Fox -- the studio behind Dollhouse -- said Joss came to them asking for a couple weeks to regroup and they were happy to give it to him, adding that the situation is very similar to 24's: With several episodes in the can and both series not scheduled to debut until mid season, they have the luxury of being able to shut down and reexamine their direction without delaying their premiere date.
Said the rep, "We have every confidence that [the extra time] will allow Joss to make the show the best it can possibly be. It's very rare that you have a head writer who is also directing two episodes in a row. But we are happy that Joss is directing, because this is his vision."
And word is, Joss is handling his myriad of responsibilities quite well. I spoke with Dollhouse actor Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica's Helo, sigh, so pretty) at Monday's FOX fall launch party, who had this to say about working with Mr. Whedon: "He has a very consistent energy and strong work ethic. You can tell he's juggling so many things at once -- one minute he's giving you direction on a scene, the next minute he's writing a new scene for a new episode -- but he doesn't really get worked up when he's on the job. He keeps it light. He should be a performer, because he's always cracking jokes on set."
Ah, yes, that's all Joss needs... to add another task to his to do list.
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oh man that was scary for a moment. that headline made me think they would cancel this show before it even aired! i'm anxious to watch another joss whedon created show and so i'm really excited about this show.
JOSS! TAHMOH! My love for you grows!
Very bad omen. The premise is weak in itself, so execution was going to have to save it. This looks bad.
joss looking forward to seeing dollhouse. miss ya my friend. any chance of u coming on the east coast?
How hot is Tahmoh in real life, Korbi?
way to give a fan a heart attack with that headline.
Trainwreck.
Next time hire better writers.
I told the folks at Whedonesque.com, last June, that the scene of the show that they previewed was lacking. Eliza wasn't emoting properly...and they ruthlessly attacked me to no end. Next, Fox had a problem with the pilot, proving that they saw what I saw, and acted on it, and then Joss ordered a new pilot for the show. I called the problems well ahead of time, months ago.
I say this not to brag, or to cut down the series which I think has great potential, rather, I say this to blunt my often hive mind critics who ***ume you can't have an opinion but to say everything that Joss does is perfect, even Joss would disagree. Secondly, I must say, I love Joss, I would love to work for this guy as he is a hero of mine...but I said what I said, my negative critique, in order to help fix the show so it will survive and be a big hit. Months ago, I advised on AICN.com, that they should change the show's premise somewhat and make it a spy based show where the Dollhouse operatives are government agents who are given the cover as students in a uni-sex college dorm...where their missions and their mental erasures and reprogramming are secretly launched. Their lives a lie, the members of the agency ***ume that everything they know in life is true, from their family lives, their memories, etc., but it is all a closely managed sham...an elaborate cover for the Dollhouse. This would be a more fluid concept and easier for viewers to follow. The agents of the Dollhouse seemingly have normal college lives but are perfectly unaware that they are being reprogrammed to perform high risk spy missions, where they are given false personas each time around. When one of them, Echo, begins to remember her previous life, realizing everything she knows is a lie, she plots to destroy the Dollhouse from within after trolling for its secrets via counter spying against her own handlers and fellow agents.
That is my pitch, and I think it a clearer way for viewers to more easily jump into as a televised entertainment. I hope to sell it to Fox, if they are game. They can simply graduate the original concept of the show to a different story arc, my story arc, as a plot twist which would work also as a restart of sorts, to, and for the show!!! Viewers will think the whole thing was pre-planned as it would come-off as a very smooth transition.
I saw Joss Whedon Kill a man in Utah!