Here’s a question: Why does Joss Whedon keep getting into bed with broadcast networks? With all the recent drama surrounding Dollhouse — Felicia Day twittering that her episode won’t be on the air (it’ll appear only on the eventual DVD), whether the mythical "live +7" DVR numbers are enough to buoy the guttery ratings — it’s enough to make a nerd think. Given Whedon’s past history with Fox, who threw his (and my) beloved Firefly off a cliff, and The WB, whose cancellation of Angel Whedon once likened to a perfectly healthy man dropping dead of a heart attack, you’d think his Spider-sense would’ve been tingling like a muthereffer.
Yes, the circumstances surrounding Dollhouse were somewhat unique — Eliza Dushku (pictured leaning on Whedon with co-star Tahmoh Penkett) came to him with the kernel of the idea, and she had a deal with Fox — but I’m just hoping that the experience hasn’t soured Whedon on television altogether.
Any basic cable network on the grid would kill to have him…and what’s more, it’d be the best thing in the world for Whedon. TNT, USA, FX, AMC, Sci Fi: they’re all doing work head-and-shoulders above anything on the single-digit channels, and I’ll bet they’d guarantee Whedon a full 22-episodes right out of the gate. They’d give him the creative freedom to build the worlds he so loves to build — worlds that need time to gel. They’d promote both him, and his shows — they’d have lead-ins that actually work.
And, selfishly, it’d give me more of what I want: Joss Whedon, on a weekly basis.
Any one else think Whedon would thrive on basic cable? Is there any hope left that a broadcast net can do justice to one of his creations?
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I completely agree! I was shocked and so worried when I found out Fox was the network showing Dollhouse. Whedon needs to be on a network that appreciates him and doesn’t stifle his creativity. Fox is like the antithesis of that. You know Fox had their greedy little hands all over the new and “improved” pilot and I’m sorry, after the Firefly fiasco I will never trust them as capable enough to handle Whedon or his shows.
hell yeah
I completely agree! I was shocked and so worried when I found out Fox was the network showing Dollhouse. Whedon needs to be on a network that appreciates him and doesn’t stifle his creativity. Fox is like the antithesis of that. You know Fox had their greedy little hands all over the new and “improved” pilot and I’m sorry, after the Firefly fiasco I will never trust them as capable enough to handle Whedon or his shows.
I absolutely agree, Marc! Even his shows that are now in syndication on basic cable garner new followers all the time!
I agree. And furthermore I think alot of these guys should look more to basic cable for shows. As a fan I would love to have some of these shows actually get the treatment and care they deserve to build an audience. Networks are so out of wack they don’t give shows chances to grow. I barely get invested in a new show on the networks these days because they are so quick to kill them off. And they just don’t know what they are doing with scheduling the shows either. Fridays really?
Wheldon rocks my world. Fox sucks.
Thank you! This is what I have been thinking all along. Joss Whedon must be a glutton for pain to keep returning to his abusive lover, FOX. He belongs on cable. His brilliant, high-concept ideas deserve a network that allows breathing room and prides themselves on artistic content, not just ratings alone. USA, Sci-Fi, FX, hell even HBO or Showtime. His caliber of work belongs there.
We don’t have all the information to blame Fox in this situation, but I totally agree with the idea that Joss should be on cable, where he could have the time and freedom to do what he wants. My question is…if so many networks truly would kill to have Whedon…why didn’t any of the rescue Firefly? Seems like it would have been perfect for Sc-Fi. Andyway, I hope Dollhouse makes it, but I have a feeling that even if it makes it to season 2, it will always have the ‘will they cancel it’ cloud hanging over it. If it were on cable network it could be ’safe.’ I love Dollhouse and am not giving up on it, but whatecer Joss’s next TV endeavor, I do hope it is on cable.
This is a GREAT idea! Goodness knows Joss reads message boards and I think Marc’s definitely on to something here. Maybe basic cable can even pick up Dollhouse? (Heck, that might even make me get cable…)
Perhaps he has shopped shows to cable? His production budgets tend to be a little on the high end… maybe that’s why he sticks with network because they have the bigger money? I don’t know much about the business side of this stuff, but it was just a thought that occurred to me.
While Dollhouse hasn’t completely clicked with me yet, I love this man’s body of work and would follow him anywhere. I would finally get cable if he did decide to go that route. This guy has so much talent! I hate that he’s been so abused by the networks!
I totally agree with this premise, but I will one-up you – how ’bout HBO, Showtime or Starz? Built in audience for Whedon’s product – what is there, like at 3-4 million Whedon faithful? I would pay that extra 15 bucks a month for Whedon on one of the pay channels. Even the best pay channel series dont ever get more than 2-5 million viewers at best (excluding Sopranos of course) and that seems tailor made. Or instead of FOX, why not F/X, Fox’s basic cable channel? Surely, we can’t be the first people to think of this….
Joss reads this article! When it was first announced that he was returning to Fox, the only thing I could think was, “Why!?!”
A cable channel would give him the freedom he needs. The first five episodes of Dollhouse were terrible – and I’m sure they were terrible due to interference from Fox.
I think whoever at Fox thinks they will ever have good ratings on a Friday night needs to be fired.. they havent had a single shwo succeed. Now as they get 2 shows that can replace Sci-Fi Fridays after the death of SG and BSG they contemplate canceling them? I’d much rather see them on a network that doesn’t need a clue by four.
As for production values, HBO has crazy production values.. although that would somewhat limit access to the Whedonverse
Yes, absolutely. The regular broadcast networks seem to be flailing all over the place, and no new show is safe on any of them. They haven’t managed to catch up to what basic cable has already got figured out in terms of intelligent, interesting programming, and giving those programs a solid chance (w/o expecting massive audience numbers) – even though some of them (most?) are tied to the same parent companies as the broadcast stations. Seems like a no-brainer for Joss Whedon to be on cable.
Joss Whedon, Bryan Fuller, and any show creator that has an original idea. The networks just keep lining ‘em up and knocking ‘em down. Maybe SyFy (ick) can pull some budget money from their latest “epic” and do these guys a solid.
I have to agree with this idea. Speaking as someone who mainly watches her basic cable, I never really got the hype surrounding Joss until I started watching Firefly on dvd. Now I wonder how this didn’t get picked up by Sci Fi or TNT or FX.
Because of the nasty Friday night time slot (BOOO FOX!), I can never seme to catch Dollhouse and I don’t have a DVR. I can only hope to rent it from Netflix.
I think “Dollhouse” is terrible, and not necessarily for reasons that are the network’s fault. That said, Whedon should definitely try something on cable. I think he tried to make something commercial out of a concept he didn’t have natural affinity for, and this trainwreck was the result. If he had a bit more creative freedom, maybe we’d see him produce something that could compare with his Buffy glory days.
Dear SiFi,
If you save Dollhouse (and my bsgless fridays), I will start referring you as syfy. promise.
Maybe it’s time for the networks to realize what cable channels already know: except for teenagers, the rest of the country is already “cocooning” and staying home more on Fridays rather than spending scarce cash on going out. Give the Friday night shows a chance to grow…
@Janice: look at Battlestar Galactica, the hottest thing on Friday nights for SciFi. Cable nets have the budget for high-end shows if they want to back them.
Fox is schizophrenic. It’s like the people in charge of picking up new shows are the most discerning and imaginative people out there, but the people in charge of scheduling and maintaining those very same shows have absolutely no taste or judgement.
Yeah, Whedon. Do yourself, and us, a favor. Move on.
Joss Whedon needs to seriously consider doing a animated version of Buffy on Basic Cable.
He already has a load of post Buffy material in graphic novel and comic form, and still has contact with his main players to do the voice work.
An adult oriented animated series on basic cable can clearly work, as demonstrated by Family Guy and American Dad, and could even be moved in syndication to Adult Swim, after the main run, so this series could be a cash cow.
The fan interest in the Star Wars Clone Wars series also shows that a solid story line connected to a loyal fan base will work for an adult animated series.
A Clone Wars style animation would work well with the fantasy elements and grand battles of the Buffyverse.
This animation would also allow actors who might be burned out on live action Buffy work or invlved in live action projects, to return in their spare time, and give their vocal stylings to the characters.
abso-freaking-lutely. There’s so little quality on the “big 4″ broadcast channels, and all the creative stuff is coming from the cable nets. The numbers Whedon-shows do would be killer for any of them.
I’d really like my weekly Whedon, and I fear DOLLHOUSE is toast. Too bad.
By the way K, we do have a lot of the story surrounding Dollhouse. They made him completely reshoot the pilot and rewrite the first several episodes. The result was that the first 4-5 episodes dragged on until Whedon finally had the chance to do it his way and knocked it out of the park. I’m sure there were a lot of people who probably quit tuning in after those first episodes because the series wasn’t making any progress.
Yes. But anything but SciFi/Syfy/the Channel Formerly Known as SciFi/whatever they’re called now. That’s equally dumb.
FOX, just move Dollhouse to FX. No matter what, the Whedon crowd will follow. After you move it, put it on a different night (maybe Tuesday?). There, problem solved. Bonus! Fans will stop thinking of FOX as a complete jerk.
I think FOX executives know in the back of their minds that Dollhouse can make them a lot of money in the long run. Whedon’s shows always end up getting sydicated and they sell really well on DVD. Plus there are always tie-in products.
Perfect solution! The best shows this decade have been 13-episode seasons on cable channels. In a just world, “Serenity” would refly on SyFy, “Y: The Last Man” would be a few seasons on Showtime, and “Twin Peaks” would resolve on HBO. 13 eps is cheaper, strengthens the story arc, and sells cheaper on DVD; everybody wins. (Somebody repeat that sentence to the Suits. Psst, MONEY!) And if they can afford more than 13, who’s complaining? Joss deserves support from the networks equal to what he gets from his fans.
Agreed. Or he could try more web stories or come and work for the BBC/Channel 4/ITV. Look what the Beeb has done for Dr Who and Torchwood [for instance]. The Sanctuary web series got picked up by regular TV. I’m willing to bet that future Joss web product would get similarly picked up. Heck, audio dramas/talking books/animation/more comics/feature films. However Joss wants to tell his story. I’ll be listening and/or watching.
Just do ANYTHING to keep Joss and company on the air!! ANYTHING!!!
Mo Ryan of the Chicago Tribune is making the exact same argument. I wondered initially if maybe FOX was being scapegoated a bit, but if you read the script for the original pilot which is available online it is FAR superior to the one aired on FOX. Much more complex and brought up some of the philosophical issues that have largely been ignored thus far.