Burning the pilot off in the summer was bad enough, but scheduling it on a holiday where the majority of the people in the US are outside watching fireworks – that was insult to injury.

Now, Fox has bumped the pilot movie back to June 26th, a better date but still not the sign of respect this expensive scifi thriller deserves.

Set aboard Earth’s first starship, the Phaeton, a crew of 12 astronauts is on the verge of embarking on an epic 10-year journey crucial to the survival of life on Earth. To give the crew a measure of privacy as well as a vital recreational outlet on the long journey, the ship has been equipped with revolutionary virtual reality modules. Each crew member can assume adventurous, avatar-like identities as they explore self-created worlds and scenarios, or simply spend quality down time as themselves in the ultra-life-like simulators. From a war hero to a rock star to secret lovers on an island, these are their psychological lifelines, and each module’s unique setting was chosen by the crew member before departing Earth.

But there is a bug in the system.

As crew members go in and out of reality, they realize that a virus has entered their private world. Questions are raised, and suspicions fanned: Is someone on the crew responsible? When the interloper’s intrusions cross a violent and disturbing line, the ship’s commander makes a difficult decision to shut down the modules. But before he can, a tragic event threatens the mission. Is it an accident or a crime? Real or virtual? Whatever the case, it’s too late to turn back, so the group ventures forth into space, fearing that they may be harboring a person or presence determined to derail their vital mission. Meanwhile, tensions are heightened even further as surveillance cameras capture their every move for a reality series back on Earth.

The cast includes New Amsterdam’s Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Clea Duvall from Heroes, Sienna Guillory, James D’Arcy and Erik Jensen.

Photos: ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: David Gray/FOX

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Air Date: April 3, 2009 at 8:00 on FOX

When John attempts to rescue Skynet’s latest target he finds himself closing in on Weaver, but at what cost? Game plans change, causing Sarah and Ellison to reunite. Meanwhile, Weaver learns Ellison’s secrets in the “Adam Raised a Cain” (cr: Richard Foreman/FOX)

If you missed the Sarah Connor “April Fool’s Joke” that aired the other night I have the video after the cut, but honestly, hardly worth the effort. There’s not much “joke” in the joke and it goes on way too long. I’d call it more of an “Awkward Fool’s Joke.” (Especially since they obviously had to film these long before April Fool’s Day.)

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Contact with a deadly virus brings back some vivid memories for Echo and things are about to get even more complicated? Can she save the day and keep her marbles in the process?

How close to the mysteries of the Dollhouse is Agent Ballard now? The more people in high places try to convince him there’s nothing to find, the more determined Ballard becomes.

©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Carin Baer/FOX

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Cree-pee. As usual, Echo’s engagement brings up a number of questions. What happens when the weekend (or however long actives are rented for) is up? Where’s your wife this week? Um, out of town – again.

While I’m on this tangent, how long can you rent out an active? Are there penalties for returning them late? Do you get coupons? I’m just asking. In other Dollhouse events, tonight is the first encounter between Echo and Agent Paul Ballard. Ballard is working hard to uncover the Dollhouse despite some superiors who don’t believe it and others who are helping cover it up.

©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Isabella Vosmikova/FOX

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According to a report published by TV Guide Live+7 DVR data, which takes into account recorded playback within the week after the show airs, shows a 36 percent jump in adult viewers for Terminator. Dollhouse picks up 30 percent. Rounding out the Top Five “timeshifted” shows are Privileged, 90210 and Scrubs. These are all shows that do well with the coveted young viewers.

This bears out what we at SFUniverse have been saying for awhile now: the young, tech-savvy demographic that watches genre shows doesn’t always do it live. That’s particularly the case when the show airs on Friday nights. Between people using DVR and viewing shows on the Net, the Nielsen ratings are even more “guesswork” than they were to begin with. Readers, how do you watch your favorite shows?

©2008 FOX Broadcasting Co. CR: Frank Ockenfels/FOX

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From our friends at Fox.

©2007 Fox Broadcasting Co

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With Joss Whedon’s involvement, the show will have to deal with Buffy comparisons. It’s not really fair to compare any fledgling show to one of the best shows in genre history, but there’s no way to stop it from happening. It’s a shame, as very few shows will measure up to that standard. Buffy is the elephant in the corner and right now it’s much better for Dollhouse if we don’t see the elephant.

There are also inevitable comparisons to Firefly. Whedon has already had to reshoot the pilot and make other changes at the request of FOX executives. Dollhouse didn’t draw the most favorable timeslot either. That has raised the ire of Whedon fans, many of whom started a campaign to save the show before it ever aired. That’s the kind of passion we love at SFUniverse.

(Kurt Caceres, R) after his daughter is abducted and held for ransom in “Ghost,” the series premiere episode of DOLLHOUSE airing Friday, Feb. 13 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Isabella Vosmikova/FOX

In tonight’s episode, Eliza Dushku’s Echo has to play the role of a hostage negotiator. One of the most interesting things will be watching Dushku slip into these various characters every week. If you have to read more now, you can check out Cynthia’s review here.

DOLLHOUSE: Joss Whedon (L) directs Eliza Dushku (R) on the set during production. ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Greg Gayne/FOX

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If it weren’t the dead of winter, I would presume this was some sort of April Fool’s gag. But [Zap2It] is reporting that FOX will produce Bitches, a “dramedy” about four sexy young Manhattan ladies who just happen to be werewolves.

Zap2It describes this pilot idea as Sex and The City meets The Howling. The writing team of Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts, known for their work on recently axed fantasy comedy Pushing Daisies, is on board to provide the pilot.

I honestly don’t know what to make of this, other than wondering how soon it will inherit the “Friday Night Death Slot” from Dollhouse. But I never thought Charmed would last as long as it did, so you really never know how these things are going to turn out. Readers, what do you think?

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Sy Fy Portal

Recently the buzz was that FOX execs were worried about what effect Sarah Connor’s low ratings might have on the network’s Prison Break. We are absolutely not kidding about that, which if it were to come to fruition might be one of the Top 5 Worst Reasons Ever for Canceling a Show.

Ordering scripts instead of episodes is considered to be a network’s way of hedging its bets. But as Sy Fy’s Brian Hinman mentions, it’s better than outright dropping the axe. SFUniverse will keep you posted on any Sarah Connor developments.

CR: Adam Taylor/FOX

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While Fox’s press releases say Dollhouse’s production halt is simply giving show creator Joss Whedon time to tweak things, TV Week says their Fox sources are telling a different story.

A piece by Josef Adalian said Fox execs are worried about whether viewers will root for Eliza Dushku’s character, a “doll” who has had memories erased and lacks free will. They also reiterated concerns that the show’s plot is confusing and hard to follow.

Some of those same concerns led Whedon to shoot a new pilot for the show. According to TV Week, some of the initial problems are still there in Fox bigwigs’ opinion.

Most of Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator Whedon’s rabid fanbase has never forgiven Fox for what they feel was the premature cancellation of his show Firefly. We’re not talking “I don’t like my next door neighbor ‘cos he borrows things and doesn’t return them” never forgiven. We are talking full-on, Capt. Kirk, “I have never forgiven Klingons for the death of my boy” not forgiven.

SFUniverse will continue following this extremely hot topic.

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