So, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised or concerned to hear that the keymaster of the Dollhouse will be sliding over one spot to direct an upcoming episode of Glee.

Michael Ausiello broke the news on his EW blog, so you can head over there for more details but really, what more do you need to know other than it’s going to be the best episode of the new musical comedy ever — and probably the weirdest. Can’t wait.

Pictured back row L-R: Chris Colfer, Jenna Ushkowitz, Heather Morris, Cory Monteith, Harry Shum Jr, Lea Michele and Dianna Agron. Front row L-R: Dijon Talton, Naya Rivera, Mark Salling and Amber Riley. ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Michael Yarish/FOX

Post from: SF Universe

Dollhouse

Dollhouse was pretty close to not getting that second season pick-up. Why do you think Fox changed their minds?

Joss: I think it’s the nature of the business and the nature of the fan base.  The nature of the fan base is they’re in it for the long haul, and they’re nurturing, and they’re intense about it and they will see it through.  They will stick with it and that means years after it’s cancelled.  Firefly still sells, Buffy still sells, and that’s also a business thing for the studio.  They’re in it for the long haul because they know the long haul is how my work pays off.  I don’t make hit shows.  I make shows that stick around that people come to long after they would have stopped generating revenue in the old system.

With the advent of DVD and the eventual monetization of Online, there’s a market there that exists beyond your Nielsen numbers, and the fans showing up and DVRing, and buying a DVD, and proving on all my other projects that they don’t do these things lightly, that it runs deep in them, means that the base doesn’t have to be as broad for the studio to think it’s worth it to try and eke out another season.

Eliza Dushku is a huge driving force in the series. How much of a hand did she have in developing the concept and the character of Echo?

Joss: Well, she really wants to dance burlesque.  We keep forgetting to put that in.  Eliza has specific things she’s interested in, specific things she feels comfortable with.  Sometimes I like to go to that place because I know that she can knock it out of the park and sometimes I like to go in the opposite direction to take her out of her comfort zone because that’s the best thing you can do with an actor. (DOLLHOUSE: Joss Whedon (R) directing on set with director of photography Ross Berryman (L). ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Greg Gayne/FOX)

There are many different aspects to [Eliza] the people don’t usually get to see how funny she can be, how elegant.  She doesn’t always have to play the tough girl, but she really just presents.  It was a conversation about all of the different things she was supposed to be, or had been, or was trying to be, or trying to get away from that led to the creation of the show.  It made me think, “Wait a minute.  That’s what the show should be about.”  So it wasn’t so much that she said, “I’d like to be the following things,” although we talked about what the characters are, it’s just that she is so many people that we pluck from them.  She did go bow hunting.  I understand, however, that she herself was not hunted.

Echo’s got a lot to deal with, how will she manage to come into her own?

Joss: Basically, through force of will.  She did have all those personalities dumped into her at once and as we pick up, we’re going to find out that that’s starting to affect her.  Rather than be at sea in between engagements, she’s much more directed and driven, and even in her doll state is growing, and learning and starting to try to access these personalities to see what they can help her with, because she has a mission that she understands now, which is to get back to her personality and get everybody back to theirs.

Let’s talk relationships:

Joss: Victor and Sierra just can’t keep their hands off each other, and they’re like monkeys and it’s something that we’re going to be treating, they’re going to be seeing through for a while.  It makes some people very uncomfortable and sometimes it’s just extremely sweet.  Sometimes it’s just funny.  But Echo is very much building herself and she sees it as an indication that they’re ready to be pushed to a level like hers.  She’s looking for allies and Paul is the first person she’s going to turn to for that.  But then a lot of the season is going to be her attempt to put together some kind of team, even though she has trouble articulating it at first.  She’s looking for the sense of family that I think the audience was looking for last season.  So we’re going to be seeing who’s on her side and who, not so much.

How is Dr. Saunders going to factor into the season?

Joss: Dr. Saunders would factor in much more in the season had we not lost her to another show.  She will factor inasmuch as we are allowed to factor her in, which is exactly three episodes worth.  They will, however, be three extraordinarily memorable episodes.  Amy Acker is ridiculously talented and the character’s dilemma is fascinating to us.  We grit our teeth that we didn’t have the funds, or the support, or the success, to just make her a regular and now we’re paying for it.  It means that every time we have her on screen, we’ll squeeze every drop out of her that we can.  We’re seizing the day.  We just don’t get to seize as many of them as we’d like.

How will the “lost” episode Epitaph One fit into the grand scheme?

Joss: It had originally been my intention to start in that era and then come back, but I just had too much information in my first episode.  What we’re talking about doing is perhaps revisiting that timeline towards the end of the 13 in a similar fashion, but we’re also looking at the show through the lens of that episode and saying, “Well, this is taking us to a more global concept of how this power is used and abused.”  That’s a lot of what informs the season.  You don’t have to have seen it to understand that, but it helps if you do.  I think it adds a layer.

THE GUEST STARS:

Summer Glau:

Joss: The casting of Summer was based on the knowledge that Summer existed and the character was created with the hopes that she would play it, which she is right on stage right now doing.  She’s playing the programmer of another Dollhouse.  It’s a somewhat eccentric part but hopefully different than what we’ve seen her do before.  The most useful part of that is that the writers work twice as hard to make sure that the character really pops and pays off because they know that it’s going to be played by somebody extraordinary.

Jaime Bamber (who “marries’ Echo in the first episode)

Joss: If you were those two, wouldn’t you get married?  They’re so cute.  He came in as the guest star in the first episode, which was just besides a geek dream for me, an extraordinary experience because he’s not just very professional, and precise and talented, but he fleshed out a character that could have been a little bit of a cardboard cutout.  He has such sincerity and gravitas that you feel terrible.  He makes you feel you’ve betrayed him, even if he’s completely in the wrong.  It’s something that he shares with Adelle.  Maybe it’s a British thing; I don’t know. (DOLLHOUSE: Echo (Eliza Dushku, R) and her new husband (guest star Jamie Bamber, L) have a dangerous honeymoon in the DOLLHOUSE season premiere episode “Vows” airing Friday, Sept. 25 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Isabella Vosmikova/FOX)

Ray Wise:

Joss: Ray Wise, I believe, will be appearing in episode six and he’s going to be playing the head of another house, so he’s going to interact with young Olivia and it should be very exciting.

Alexis Denisoff:

Joss: Yes, he’s got his own crusade going.  He’s a very different person than Paul but he’s in a similar position except that he’s gone public with it.  How much the Dollhouse loves a senator who has gone public with an attack on them, we will find out in later episodes.  But he’s not the Paul of the season because he’s going to have a different set of problems thrown at him, but he has a similar vibe in terms of he’s very tenacious and righteous.

Any other Buffy-verse guest stars coming up?

Joss: It’s a death match between Firefly and Battlestar and which of them is going to get all their people.  The fact of the matter is they’re people I admire and they’re people I know I love to work with and this season, I’m a lot less concerned with how the cast is perceived. Last season, we felt like we wanted to make sure that this was new territory and that people didn’t think of it as just, “Oh, it’s just these faces and he’s doing his old thing.”  Now I’m like, “I know these people can act,” and honestly, the people that are watching it are fans anyway.  If they know who these people are, they’ll be thrilled.  If they don’t, they’ll see good acting so it doesn’t matter to me as much.  So yes, I have no fear of throwing anybody that I have worked with or just want to work with in anytime I can.

The big question — Is everybody a doll?

Joss: I’ll tell you right now, everybody is not a doll because it would be very easy for us to pull that trick over and over and ultimately shoot ourselves in the foot, because you would find that nothing was at stake and that everybody would see the plot was coming.  We’ve actually grounded the show fairly heavily.  People who are dolls, are dolls and the other people, every now and then, I’m not saying never, I’m not saying we won’t question reality every now and then but basically, we’re taking the people we have and we’re pushing them around as much as possible.

We’re trying to keep it grounded so that people know that there is something at stake and if somebody did have their personality altered or taken away, that that would be a huge deal.  That’s like the attic; that’s like death.  That’s like the worst thing that can happen to a character so we want to make sure that the characters are grounded enough that people feel those stakes.  If we just make people dolls, Willie-Nillie, then it’s the rabbit hole and none of it really connects or means anything.

Post from: SF Universe

On how will Echo come into her own:

Joss: Basically through force of will. She did have all those personalities dumped into her at once and that’s starting to affect her. Instead of being at sea, she’s much more driven. She has a mission she understands now which is to get back to her personality.

On how much the fans influenced the decision to bring the show back:

Joss: I think it’s the nature of the fan base, they’re in it for the long haul and they’re nurturing and intense about it and they’ll see it through years after it’s canceled. Firefly still sells, Buffy still sells, the network knows that my shows pay off in the long run. There’s a market beyond the Nielsen numbers. So the fans showing up and buying the DVDs, they prove it runs deep to them and the base doesn’t have to be as broad for the studio to decide to eek out another season.

On what Eliza brings to the character:

Joss: Eliza really wants to dance burlesque and we keep forgetting to put that in.  She is so many people that we pluck from them. She did go bow hunting but to my knowledge, she herself was not hunted.

On Amy Acker:

Joss: Dr. Saunders would factor in much more if we hadn’t lost her to another show. Three episodes worth and they will be extraordinary episodes. . . .we grit our teeth that we didn’t have the funds or success to just make her a regular and now we’re paying for it. Everytime we have her on screen we’ll squeeze every drop out of her.

On the hiring of genre guest stars this season:

Joss: It’s a death match between Firefly and Battlestar and which of them will get all their people [on first]. The fact of the matter is there are people I like to work with and this season I’m less concerned about how the cast is perceived. Now I’m like, I know these people can act and the fans watching it are fans anyway. If they know who they are they’ll be thrilled and if they don’t know they’ll see good acting.

On Summer Glau:

Joss: The character was created with hopes that she would play it. She plays the programmer of another Dollhouse, it’s somewhat eccentric part but different than what we’ve seen from her before.

On Alexis Denisoff:

Joss: He has his own crusade going, different then Paul because he’s gone public with it. He’s not the Paul of this season because he’s going to have a different set of problems thrown at him. He’s very tenacious.

On Jaime Bamber (and the fact that he “marries” Echo in the episode):

Joss: If you were those two, wouldn’t you get married? [Having him guest star was] a geek dream and an extraordinary experience. He fleshed out a character that could have been a little bit of a cardboard cutout and you feel that you’ve betrayed him even though he’s completely in the wrong. (Cr: Isabella Vosmikova/FOX)

On The Attic:

Joss: It is going to be creepy but I think ultimately what it’s going to be like is something we’re going to hang on to pretty tight. It ain’t gonna be pretty.

Final words:

Joss: I love each and everyone of you very much, possibly inappropriately.

Irreverent and a little mysterious — Joss Whedon sounds like he’s realized his mistake from last season, which was not listening to his own instincts and always doing what his heart said was best. I think this is going to be a rocking year for Dollhouse.

Cr: Frank Ockenfels/FOX

Post from: SF Universe

Summer always seemed like a natural for this series since she does that “blank slate” look so well but obviously her role on Sarah Connor Chronicles kept that from happening. Now, with that series behind her, she is taking on the roll of Bennett a “Dollhouse employee who shares a past with Echo.”

As this story hit the airwaves yesterday, I was surprised to see a lot of love and hate on both sides. Some people feel that Summer would have been a better choice to play Echo in the first place. Others are less complementary about her acting ability while many (like my husband) rejoice in the pairing of these two sexy sci fi chicks. (Yes, that’s my husband talking, not me.) I think it’s a smart move and I’m excited to see how it all plays out.

We also have a little more information on the other guest stars that I mentioned yesterday, Alexis Denisof will be playing Daniel Perrin, a U.S. senator leading a witch hunt to track down the underground organization. Mysterious, charismatic businessman Martin Klar (Jamie Bamber) is Echo’s new husband. Bradley Karrens (Michael Hogan) comes to the Dollhouse hoping to stop a psychotic family member’s killing spree, while Matthew Harding (Keith Carradine), a nemesis of Dollhouse leader Adelle Dewitt (Olivia Williams), stirs up trouble. Additionally, Dr. Saunders (Amy Acker) and Madeline /November (Miracle Laurie) return this season in multiple-episode arcs.

Wow, that’s one heck of a sci-fi, power packed cast.

What do you think abut the addition of Summer Glau or any of the newly announced guest stars? Let us know in the comments below.

DOLLHOUSE: Paul (Tahmoh Penikett, R) challenges Echo (Eliza Dushku, L) to remember her past to save his life in the DOLLHOUSE season premiere episode “Vows” airing Friday, Sept. 25 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Also pictured: Jamie Bamber (back R) and Zoran Radanovich (back L)©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Isabella Vosmikova/FOX

Post from: SF Universe

I don’t have a webcam (believe it or not) so I can’t test it. Has anyone tried it? I’d love to know if it’s as cool as it sounds. Meanwhile, here are some great photos courtesy of Fox.

Photos: Fox

Post from: SF Universe

The DVDs will come in exclusive Comic Con packaging and each will be numbered. Only 5000 (2500 Blu-ray/2500 DVD) copies were created and they must be picked up at the Fox Booth at the event.

There will be a limited quantity on sale at the con, but if you want one you better hit FoxStore.com TODAY to pre-order your copy. Remember that photo ID will be required at the time of pick-up or purchasers must designate at checkout someone who will pick-up the DVD on their behalf.

The “Dollhouse” Season One Comic-Con Blu-ray Disc will be available for a suggested retail price of $69.99 and the DVD will be available for $49.98. Regular versions of “Dollhouse” Season One BD and DVD will be available everywhere July 28.

Box Art: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Post from: SF Universe

FRIDAY, JULY 24:
2:15-3:00 P.M. Coming off its most critically acclaimed season in years, 24 stars Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub and new cast members Anil Kapoor, Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Katee Sackhoff join showrunnner Howard Gordon and the producers of the Emmy-winning series for a special sneak peek at the heart-stopping premiere episode of Season 8. Ballroom 20.

3-3:45 P.M. Bones showrunner Hart Hanson and stars David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel are on hand for a discussion of what’s on deck for Booth and Brennan, hot on the heels of this year’s much talked-about season finale in which the pair finally wound up between the sheets. Ballroom 20.

4 P.M-6 P.M. Join Dollhouse creator Joss Whedon and star/producer Eliza Dushku for a no-holds-barred Q & A about what they have planned for season 2, after they unveil a special screening of the NEVER BEFORE SEEN “Epitaph One” episode of the Fox hit which releases on DVD just four days later. Ballroom 20. (DOLLHOUSE: Joss Whedon (L) directs Eliza Dushku (R) on the set during production. ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Greg Gayne/FOX)

SATURDAY, JULY 25:
11:15 A.M.-12 P.M Join Seth MacFarlane, Mila Kunis, Seth Green and the brilliant creative minds behind Family Guy for a raucous discussion of what goes on behind the scenes of tv’s most subversive animated hit. They’ll also be offering a not-to-be-missed sneak peek at “Something, Something Dark Side,” the Empire Strikes Back parody follow-up to Star Wars: Blue Harvest. Giggity! Ballroom 20.

12-12:45 P.M. Con fans will get the FIRST LOOK at The Cleveland Show, the wickedly funny new spin-off of Family Guy starring America’s favorite beleaguered animated African American, Cleveland Brown. Co-creators Seth MacFarlane, Mike Henry and Rich Appel and voice cast Sana’a Lathan and Kevin Michael Richardson will all be on hand to discuss this new series premiering on Fox in the fall. Ballroom 20.

1-1:45 P.M. Futurama: Life or Death?! BE A PART OF SCI-FI HISTORY! Join Executive Producers Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, and stars Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio and Maurice LaMarche for high-stakes thrills as a top-ranking Fox executive decides live, on stage, whether Futurama will make yet another triumphant return, or whether it is gone forever! The very fate of Futurama hangs in the balance! Paramedics will be standing by in case the intense excitement causes any panelists to collapse. Raucous celebration or abject despair to follow the news. Ballroom 20.

1:45-2:30 P.M. Now entering its record-breaking 21st season on the air, The Simpsons is the longest-running series in the history of American television, and a household name around the world. Get a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming up in the Simpsonverse, including never-before-seen highlights from the upcoming “Treehouse of Horror XX”, with a panel including Simpsons Creator Matt Groening, Showrunner Al Jean, Executive Producer Matt Selman and Supervising Director Mike Anderson. Ballroom 20.

1:30-3 P.M. When Fox aired a special preview of its subversive new comedy musical series Glee after the American Idol finale, the response was through the roof and fans have hungered for another episode ever since. The wait is over! Join stars Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele and Cory Monteith and the producers of the Fox hit for a sneak preview screening of a never-before-broadcast episode with panel discussion to follow. Don’t Stop Believin’, Con fans! Glee is here! Indigo Room.

SUNDAY, JULY 26:
11:15 A.M.-12:15 P.M. American Dad showrunners Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman and stars Seth MacFarlane, Wendy Schall and Dee Bradley Baker are back to regale the fans with an insider’s look at how an episode of the hilarious Fox animated comedy is made, from table read to animatic to color. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind Comic-con event. Ballroom 20.

Post from: SF Universe

Davies says Torchwood’s season four is ready to go

Torchwood creator and executive producer Russell T. Davies told the British press Friday that the fourth season of the sci-fi show is ready and waiting, depending on how the show’s third mini-season (”Children of Earth”) performs.

Read the full story at TVSquad.com

Joss Whedon on Dollhouse

Whedon says. “Really, just every meeting is like, ‘What’s the most fun we can have with this actor?’ about the whole cast. All I can say — ’cause I’m gonna be Mr. Un-Spoiler — is that we’re having a crazy amount of fun, and usually, that tends to translate onto the screen.”

Read the full story at EW and careful, there ARE spoilers.

Would FOX or NBC Be Willing To Bring It Back?

Yes. I think from my talks with the people running FOX that they would bring it back under the right circumstances. However, you must understand that right now Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Morena Baccarin, and Alan Tudyk (plus he was killed in SERENITY) all have gigs for the foreseeable future. However don’t underestimate the power of a movie.

Read the full story at TVbytheNumbers.com

DOLLHOUSE: Alpha (Alan Tudyk, L) imprints Echo (Eliza Dushku, R) as a natural born killer. ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Carin Baer/FOX

Post from: SF Universe

As you can imagine, the fans went wild. Buffy without Joss? Sacrilege! I say, baloney. I fully admit that Joss Whedon was 100 % responsible for the phenomena that was Buffy. It was his direction, his wit, his creative genius that made that show the icon that it is today. However, that doesn’t mean the franchise should be put out to pasture just because he’s no longer involved. Have we already forgotten Star Trek? J.J. Abrams admitted that he wasn’t a huge fan of the original series, and yet he did an excellent job of paying homage to the original while still giving us something new and exciting.

Says Hollywood Reporter, “Vertigo and Kuzui are looking to restart the story line without trampling on the beloved existing universe created by Whedon.” This could mean remaking the first movie with a darker, more modern tone (likely removing that tongue from the cheek) or even shifting the story to a new slayer. How long has Buffy been out of high school? Could be time for some fresh blood. There’s also a potential for films based on the various slayers throughout history, but I think this would be the least likely choice if they’re looking for a reboot.

The truth of the matter is, the Kuzuis brought Buffy to the public in the first place. It was their belief in the core idea, cheerleader by day, monster slayer by night, that got the show on the air. Yes, it was Joss Whedon who molded the concept into the one we love, but there comes a time when all of us parents must step away and let our children go out on their own.

I love the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I’d like to see that concept portrayed on the big screen. I’d prefer a bigger version of the witty series we all know and love, but I wouldn’t say no to a dark and scary Grudge version either.

Image: Newscom

Post from: SF Universe

Tudyk, known to scifi fans as Wash from Firefly, is the face behind the mysterious Alpha that we’ve heard so many scary tales about. Which is funny, because on the surface, Alan Tudyk isn’t a scary person, but he sure made us believe when he switched from the nutty and neurotic engineer Kepler, to a man you wouldn’t want to meet up with in the dark.

“I had so much fun playing Kepler, all this stupid physical stuff was great. And then turning into a bad ass was also fun,” said Tudyk, when he spoke to reporters on the phone after last week’s episode.  “Mentally speaking, and in this next episode, I’m only Alpha. I’m even more crazy, like he’s insane, insane.”

Playing the crazed killer was a new thing for Tudyk, and as much as he enjoyed the opportunity, it wasn’t something he’d sign up for on a long term basis.

“I like goofing around on set and joking around with the crew and everything. When you’re playing somebody who’s as intense as this guy is, I kind of have to be quiet and to myself from time to time and kind of keep my focus. If I was signing up for seven years of one or the other, I’d go with the fun loving, funny guy because it’s more fun to play. But luckily I don’t have to choose and Joss gave me this guy, which is both and many.”

By “many,” Tudyk means the other forty-two personalities that reside inside Alpha’s head.

“In this coming episode,” says Tudyk, “you see the effect of what forty-three people is on one person. We all have inner monologues, different voices that chime in throughout our day, different opinions on situations. Alpha has a little less control of his opinions. They are full people who all want voices. It takes an effort to maintain order in his brain.”

The actor admit that playing such a character was a little “crazy making” particularly when he’s contradicting himself as the various personalities battled for dominance. 

It was, however, this very character description that had Tudyk hungry for the role in the first place.

“[Joss] set me up really well because he didn’t tell me he wanted me for the role when he first described it. It wasn’t like we were in his office discussing work. We were over at Nathan Fillion’s house for Pictionary. We were on a Pictionary break when I brought it up. ‘What’s going on with the show? I want to hear about your new show,’ because it had yet to start and we were just getting into the strike time.

“He gave me a full scope of the guy, that he was this person who was obsessed with Echo and was forty-three people at once and has all of these skill sets crammed into one, but because he’s forty-three people at once, he’s mad. But he can do many things and he’s sort of godlike in his own mind. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, that’s sounds so amazing. Who’s playing that?’ ‘I want you to play it.’ I was really blown away that he wanted me for it and I was excited. As you said, I don’t get to play bad asses very often.”

And bad ass he shall be as Alpha sets off on his quest for world domination that starts with bringing Echo up to his personal, god-like standard. According to Tudyk, it’s going to be one heck of a finale. As for the future he says. . .

“My fate beyond the episode, totally alive, living a healthy life in Venice, California. But Alpha’s fate? It’s uncertain.”

Which in a world of Dollhouse, could mean anything.

The Dollhouse season finale airs tonight on FOX and now I’m actually sorry to see it go.

Cr: Carin Baer/FOX

Post from: SF Universe