Comments on: DOLLHOUSE Why Is FOX Letting It Live? (Or How Invested Is FOX With Joss Whedon?)

By: Reaper: Epílogo « Crónicas del Simio Malhumorado

Reaper: Epílogo « Crónicas del Simio Malhumorado — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:52:05 +0000

[...] segunda temporada de Dollhouse tampoco ha sido muy favorecida por los [...]

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:08:42 +0000

I think Dushku is part of the problem but not necessarily because of her performances, although I agree that she’s horribly miscast and out of her depth in the show she’s not so bad she makes it unwatchable. The real problem with her is that because she’s the ’star’ of the show she has to be the focus and therefore Whedon is tied into the engagement of the week scenario because there isn’t any other way to structure the show with Dushku as the centrepiece.

By: NeilG

NeilG — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:37:06 +0000

I completely agree that Dushku isn’t the main problem. As I said, if the other real issues on the show weren’t there then I probably wouldn’t even have mentioned her.

It’s potentially an interesting TV show and there are some really great concepts on it. Some of the episodes are brilliant and Mo Ryan’s review of the next two episodes sound great, but a lot are just very mediocre. As I said I agree with Alex’s summary of the issues with the show.

By: Mel

Mel — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:24:40 +0000

To me, there are two types of audience ‘hooks’ that a show can have. Character or premise/plot. One or the other has to grab you right away and pull you into a show. For example, the Mentalist, has both: Jayne – an extremely likeable character AND an easy-to-grasp CBI investigations plot. If a show has at least one or the other, Flashforward, for example – neat premise — then it can build the other (its not — how boring are all the characters?)
Dollhouse has neither. There are no likeable characters — we don’t even know any of them (except Topher and if he was more of cuddily genius, he might have served as an anchor)and so don’t care much. (As I’m thinking about it, Topher doesn’t either – that might be part of the problem, hmmmm)
And Dollhouse has a difficult premise. Human trafficking? Its OK if they don’t remember it! The Dolls signed a contract! Yeah, yeah, I know — its an insightful commentary on modern life — the next important chapter in Joss’ girlpower treatise. Or its just an excuse to dress Dushku up like a hooker. Either way — that people AREN’T watching in droves — doesn’t surprise me. Kinda sad though.

By: Nick C

Nick C — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:31:56 +0000

Dushku’s acting is not bringing down numbers the premise is. I know many who believe it’s a show about whores. Seriously.

By: Neil G

Neil G — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:02:33 +0000

I certainly don’t hate Eliza Dushku (or anyone else), and I don’t in fact think she is an awful actress. The problem is that she isn’t good enough to carry off all the parts she’s required to do on the show.

You say she’s fantastic 80% of the time. That still leaves 20% when she’s not by your own admission. I would say it’s actually lower than 80% but that’s just my opinion.

If the show wasn’t struggling then I doubt we’d be talking about this at all, but as it is I do think it’s a valid area to look at to try an explain what’s gone wrong so far. It would be a strange ommision if we somehow just overlook the lead actor who the show is based around.

By: Artemis

Artemis — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:49:08 +0000

NeilG, Eliza is far from being egotistical about her acting skills. She wanted to challenge herself and have the opportunity to play characters she wouldn’t normally get cast as. Joss is the one who came up with the concept and toted about how much he believes in Eliza’s range as an actress. Fox obviously believes she can act, Joss thinks she can act, other people in the industry think Eliza can act too. So really? It doesn’t matter that fans/critics can’t look past seeing her as a bad girl and see that she actually has done a terrific job in Dollhouse. I’ve seen her change her tone of voice, inflection and pitch, and her body language/mannerisms for *most* of the characters she played on Dollhouse. I don’t think she’s been successful with every role she’s taken on in the show, but I’d say that about 80% of the time she’s been fantastic and nobody ever wants to give her credit because they’re so keen on hating her for whatever reason. I’m a theatre major myself so I’m not just speaking as a fan. I know how to critique acting as I’ve spent four years doing it!

By: chrisjozo

chrisjozo — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:26:04 +0000

I’d definitely watch Faith the Vampire Slayer.

By: Gusar

Gusar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:17:27 +0000

Fox really thinks Summer Glau has that kind of a pull to raise the ratings???

I’m a huge fan of hers, but I fully realize that to the mainstream public she’s pretty much an unknown. I can’t wait to see her episodes, doubly so after seeing the promo pics, but I don’t expect the ratings to rise just because of her.

By: jani

jani — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:11:35 +0000

“Summer Glau is expected to be on the show and she herself has a big following they believe. The hope is that her appearance will boost ratings and get new fans.”
Yikes. FOX thought and made the same with TSCC too. They aired promos full with Summer and then we saw those crazy Sarah episodes.