View Full Version : Eliza Dushku: "Dollhouse" hits its stride with Episode 6
Malcontent
02-27-2009, 02:27 PM
http://www.avclub.com/articles/eliza-dushku,24418/
Eliza Dushku: "Dollhouse" hits its stride with Episode 6. That's when, she says, Fox left Joss Whedon alone to do his thing. "That happens around episode six -- six through 13 are just extraordinary," she says.
Robin
02-27-2009, 02:29 PM
March 20 can't come soon enough!
dcheesi
02-27-2009, 02:29 PM
...which is about the time that every non-Whedonite viewer will have given up and stopped watching. Way to go, Fox! :rolleyes:
heySkippy
02-27-2009, 02:45 PM
Too late, I gave up half-way through episode 2.
IndyJones1023
02-27-2009, 03:57 PM
No wonder they haven't felt Whedonesque. He didn't even write an episode until the 6th one!
DevdogAZ
02-27-2009, 04:08 PM
No wonder they haven't felt Whedonesque. He didn't even write an episode until the 6th one!
That's not the way I read it. I took it to be that what became the 6th episode was actually the second one he wrote. Not that he didn't write 2-5, but that 6 was written before those.
Either way, I'm now looking forward to how the show evolves. I agree with dcheesi that it will probably be too late at that point.
So it gets good about two episodes after it's going to be canceled?
DevdogAZ
02-27-2009, 04:09 PM
So it gets good about two episodes after it's going to be canceled?
They've already guaranteed they'll air all 13 episodes, so there's not much danger of that. Whether it gets renewed for next season is a different story.
IndyJones1023
02-27-2009, 04:11 PM
That's not the way I read it. I took it to be that what became the 6th episode was actually the second one he wrote. Not that he didn't write 2-5, but that 6 was written before those.
Either way, I'm now looking forward to how the show evolves. I agree with dcheesi that it will probably be too late at that point.
From this:
"Dollhouse" hits its stride with Episode 6. That's when, she says, Fox left Joss Whedon alone to do his thing.
It sounds like they stopped overseeing/changing things at that point. Thus, the first 5 episodes aren't Joss-like (enough).
DevdogAZ
02-27-2009, 04:14 PM
From this:
It sounds like they stopped overseeing/changing things at that point. Thus, the first 5 episodes aren't Joss-like (enough).
Right. I realize what you're saying. I just thought you were inferring from the OP that he didn't write eps 2-5.
IndyJones1023
02-27-2009, 04:15 PM
Right. I realize what you're saying. I just thought you were inferring from the OP that he didn't write eps 2-5.
Dunno. Do you think he wrote the pilot, then episode 6, then back to episodes 2 - 5 which the execs tinkered with?
dcheesi
02-27-2009, 04:19 PM
Dunno. Do you think he wrote the pilot, then episode 6, then back to episodes 2 - 5 which the execs tinkered with?Actually he wrote the first pilot, then it sounds like he did episodes 6+; then Fox threw a fit and made him write a whole new pilot and four more Fox-approved filler/explanatory episodes.
Alfer
02-27-2009, 04:32 PM
It was a nice TV experiment but I don't think it will make it past 13...I did laugh at the ad's during idol for it trying to toss in a cheesy critic quote like "MOST EXCITING SHOW ON TV!!" from some unknown critic.
LoadStar
02-27-2009, 04:48 PM
Quote from the article:
"Dollhouse" hits its stride with Episode 6. That's when, she says, Fox left Joss Whedon alone to do his thing.
What they REALLY meant:
"Dollhouse" hits its stride with Episode 6. That's when, she says, Fox executives had already written the show off, so they went to go bother the producers at some other show.
Kamakzie
02-27-2009, 05:37 PM
So Fox will probably cancel the series after episode 5 airs? :rolleyes:
DreadPirateRob
02-27-2009, 05:40 PM
Again - Fox has committed to showing all 13 episodes.
gchance
02-27-2009, 05:42 PM
You're the same folks who give up on any other show after one episode, yet with Dollhouse you'll be watching until the end as long as it has Whedonsnot(TM) on it.
Greg
Kamakzie
02-27-2009, 05:48 PM
Again - Fox has committed to showing all 13 episodes.
Wow I'm shocked. I guess after the Firefly cancellation Whedon wanted some sort of a commitment to work with Fox again.
whitepelican
02-27-2009, 05:49 PM
I'm still watching (even though Dollhouse has been dreadful) simply due to my guilt about having never watched Firefly when it originally aired.
mrmike
02-27-2009, 05:49 PM
You're the same folks who give up on any other show after one episode, yet with Dollhouse you'll be watching until the end as long as it has Whedonsnot(TM) on it.
The only show I ever gave up on after one episode was "Survivor". Because they completely lied to me about what the show would be in all the promos. I wanted to see the show they were promoting, not the lame soap opera/game show they ended up with.
I even gave "Worst Week" more than one episode.
DevdogAZ
02-27-2009, 07:13 PM
You're the same folks who give up on any other show after one episode, yet with Dollhouse you'll be watching until the end as long as it has Whedonsnot(TM) on it.
Greg
I couldn't care less about Whedon. I've never seen a single episode of Buffy or Angel. I really enjoyed Firefly. I'm watching this show simply because I think Dushku is hot and I want to promote quality, serial TV shows. Although I'm not a Whedon-ite, I trust that he'll be able to make a decent show and therefore, I think it's worth supporting.
Robin
02-27-2009, 08:54 PM
You're the same folks who give up on any other show after one episode, yet with Dollhouse you'll be watching until the end as long as it has Whedonsnot(TM) on it.
Not me...I'm still watching ER. ;)
jjpk01
02-27-2009, 09:31 PM
Dollhouse has a season pass for now. Can't pass up the chance to see Eliza Dushku... I skipped episdoe 1 because I had heard it wasn't all the great. All I've see is Ep 2 and it's not that bad. So we'll see....
Joss wrote the original pilot, which will likely never see air.
He also wrote the first show that aired this season, "Ghost".
He did not write episodes 2-5. These were writtten by various members Whedon's stable of writers, including Steven DeKnight and Tim Minear.
Whedon returned to write episode 6.
cwoody222
02-27-2009, 11:46 PM
Joss wrote the original pilot, which will likely never see air.
He also wrote the first show that aired this season, "Ghost".
He did not write episodes 2-5. These were writtten by various members Whedon's stable of writers, including Steven DeKnight and Tim Minear.
Whedon returned to write episode 6.
But you can't argue anything against Minear!
Eps 2-5 (which I haven't seen yet, 2 & 3 are waiting) can't be THAT bad!
But you can't argue anything against Minear!
Eps 2-5 (which I haven't seen yet, 2 & 3 are waiting) can't be THAT bad!
I would never argue against Minear OR DeKnight. :)
Graymalkin
02-27-2009, 11:57 PM
I'm still watching.
stalemate
02-28-2009, 12:42 AM
I had never heard of this show until I noticed this thread. Now I'm intrigued.
Uncle Briggs
02-28-2009, 02:45 AM
March 20 can't come soon enough!I agree. The SP is hanging by a thread. Tonight's episode was the worst
NJChris
02-28-2009, 03:17 PM
Why would anyone want to try to tune in that might be interested after reading the countless "It's going to be cancelled" comments?
I like the show and can see things being laid down to develop.
newsposter
03-01-2009, 11:46 AM
Not me...I'm still watching ER. ;)
me too, i dont know how people can give up on shows. I've canceled the SP for very few shows in my life. heck i only ditched testees because i my hr20 ran out of SLs ;)
dtivouser
03-01-2009, 06:14 PM
Dushku's statement about episode 6 actually gives me more patience to stay with this show. If it was just 13 episodes of what we've seen so far, I don't think I would bother.
newsposter
03-01-2009, 09:15 PM
without debating preferences, can someone tell me more definitively if she's gotten skinnier since buffy and may have had some facial work, especially nose?
Peter000
03-01-2009, 09:43 PM
without debating preferences, can someone tell me more definitively if she's gotten skinnier since buffy and may have had some facial work, especially nose?
She's definitely toned up for this show... her abs were ripped in this last ep. As to the facial work, I couldn't tell you. I haven't really noticed anything.
astrohip
03-01-2009, 11:20 PM
Too late, I gave up half-way through episode 2.
QFT. Ep 6 is a little late for a show to strut. I really wanted to like this show, but found the first episode boring. The second was even worse. SP deleted. Ain't no way I'm sticking around thru 5 terrible episodes just to get to the ones "that finally kick-*ss".
Do writers/creators have any idea what it takes to have a successful series? Great writing will win out every time; bore your viewer and you've just committed suicide.
ToddAtl
03-02-2009, 07:52 AM
Ratings for Dollhouse have actually been decent for a show airing on Fridays. More importantly, there was not much slippage between the premiere and the second episode. If the numbers hold for episode 3 then things might actually be looking up for a second season. If the Sarah Connor Chornicles got a second season surely Dollhouse should. Having said that, I'm definitely in the "if this weren't a Joss Whedon show, I would have cancelled my season pass already" camp.
dcheesi
03-02-2009, 08:01 AM
QFT. Ep 6 is a little late for a show to strut. I really wanted to like this show, but found the first episode boring. The second was even worse. SP deleted. Ain't no way I'm sticking around thru 5 terrible episodes just to get to the ones "that finally kick-*ss".
Do writers/creators have any idea what it takes to have a successful series? Great writing will win out every time; bore your viewer and you've just committed suicide.Don't blame the writer/creator for this one; it's all Fox's meddling.
I actually like the show so far. If anything, it feels like the hints of Echo's "awakening" are coming too quickly; IMHO they needed to fully establish the convention that the "dolls" are perfectly mindless before they started breaking it... But that's spoken as a hardcore science fiction fan with some patience; I can see where they'd want to throw in more hints early on to let casual viewers know where the show going.
Ep 6 is a little late for a show to strut. I really wanted to like this show, but found the first episode boring. The second was even worse. SP deleted. Ain't no way I'm sticking around thru 5 terrible episodes just to get to the ones "that finally kick-*ss".
My opinion exactly. If a show can't hook me on episode 1, it's a sign of a problem. Depending on the concept, I may give it another couple episodes to pick up steam. After this 3rd episode, I canceled my season pass. I'm not "putting up with it" until the good episodes come. They should already be here.
Firefly had me from the first episode. Lost, from the first half of the first episode. It's perfectly possible, and Joss himself has done it before. If this show can't pull off a good opening, then maybe it's a sign of deeper problems. Right now, every episode just seems an elaborate setup to get Eliza into something skimpy and have her shake around. While that does seem right on par with Fox, maybe that's why I don't find myself watching Fox that often.
dcheesi
03-02-2009, 08:10 AM
Right now, every episode just seems an elaborate setup to get Eliza into something skimpy and have her shake around. You say that like it's a bad thing :confused: :D
newsposter
03-02-2009, 08:19 AM
You say that like it's a bad thing :confused: :D
while i may be confusing my shows (watched a ton over the weekend), i 'think' it was this show that had the main character lifting up her shirt and you could see all the ribs...so as far as i'm concerned yes it is a bad thing (for whatever show it was i was watching) :p
Robin
03-02-2009, 08:39 AM
Firefly had me from the first episode.
Interesting. Most people agree that The Train Job did a terrible job as a pilot. If it hadn't been "A Whedon Show" I wouldn't have stuck with it. But it was, and I did, and it sure paid off.
dcheesi
03-02-2009, 08:48 AM
Interesting. Most people agree that The Train Job did a terrible job as a pilot. If it hadn't been "A Whedon Show" I wouldn't have stuck with it. But it was, and I did, and it sure paid off.I think it did a terrible job introducing the show from a plot/backstory perspective, but it did a good job at introducing the characters and 'attitude' of the show. Actually I think for most people it was the "engine-intake" scene that hooked us ;) I do think that the original pilot would have worked better, at least in its final form.
dcheesi
03-02-2009, 08:53 AM
while i may be confusing my shows (watched a ton over the weekend), i 'think' it was this show that had the main character lifting up her shirt and you could see all the ribs...so as far as i'm concerned yes it is a bad thing (for whatever show it was i was watching) :pI don't remember that; usually I'm not into skinny waifs either, and nothing I've seen so far has turned me off.
Robin
03-02-2009, 09:12 AM
Actually I think for most people it was the "engine-intake" scene that hooked us ;) I do think that the original pilot would have worked better, at least in its final form.
Sort of like the "dancing in a t-shirt" scene? ;)
eddyj
03-02-2009, 11:02 AM
My opinion exactly. If a show can't hook me on episode 1, it's a sign of a problem. Depending on the concept, I may give it another couple episodes to pick up steam. After this 3rd episode, I canceled my season pass. I'm not "putting up with it" until the good episodes come. They should already be here.
I don't get this attitude. Lots of shows get better as they go on. There is a lot of good stuff out there that had a rocky start. I am willing to be a bit tolerant with new shows.
whitson77
03-02-2009, 12:43 PM
I'm sticking with it, but I have to say, so far the show is just average at best.
DevdogAZ
03-02-2009, 12:58 PM
I pretty much expect that pilot episodes are going to suck. The writers are so intent on setting up the premise of the series and the backgrounds of the characters that the story really suffers. In addition, the actors haven't yet figured out how to play the characters and the writers haven't yet gotten into the "groove" of writing for those characters. While I agree that episode 6 is a little late to be "coming on strong," I can't figure out those who watch a pilot and immediately decide a show sucks based solely on that.
TAsunder
03-02-2009, 01:31 PM
Buffy wasn't very good for the entire first season. Before watching it, I was assured that it got better at the end of the first season and beyond. Mostly true. If it only takes 6 episodes this time, that will be great. IMO, Firefly went in the other direction and got a bit worse (especially if you consider the movie) as the major plot arc developed. But I kind of could tell that it would just from the premise.
Dollhouse's premise could go either way, so I'm hopeful...
Malcontent
03-02-2009, 01:55 PM
IMO, Firefly went in the other direction and got a bit worse (especially if you consider the movie) as the major plot arc developed. But I kind of could tell that it would just from the premise.
Considering FOX aired some episodes of Firefly out of order didn't help. Also, switching the time and day of airings several times prevented people to from watching/finding the show.
Hunter Green
03-02-2009, 02:32 PM
Actually I think for most people it was the "engine-intake" scene that hooked us ;)
Absofragginlutely. The wooden dining table in a spaceship had me saying "I don't know about this..." Of course, later, it seemed charmingly new, but at first it put me off. But the engine intake scene made me decide to stay. It wasn't until "Our Mrs. Reynolds" that I had decided I would watch everything they gave us forever. It was somewhere around "Ariel" that it was my favorite TV show of history.
So far, Dollhouse hasn't had an engine-intake scene yet, and it has a few wooden tables in its dining room, but it's still making the worth-watching cut.
tewcewl
03-02-2009, 02:33 PM
Did anyone see Penny Arcade's hilarious comic last Friday?
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/2/27/
Personally, I haven't watched the show yet; all three eps so far are sitting on my TiVo. I'm just waiting to sit down and watch a couple in a row to get a feel for it. I think a lot of it is when someone does well for you for a few years, they kind of deserve your patience if it doesn't work out right away, BUT you do have the right to say "Yeah, this isn't working. Try something else." They may listen.
After all, it's how Nikki and Paulo were written off from LOST.
Rob Helmerichs
03-02-2009, 03:25 PM
After all, it's how Nikki and Paulo were written off from LOST.
Ironically, Nikki and Paolo were written INTO the show in response to fanboy whining ("Why don't we ever get to see the people in the background?"), and the response to that was what made them decide not to listen to fanboy whining any more and just do the show...a good decision, I think!
You say that like it's a bad thing :confused: :D
I have nothing against an occasional :eek: moment, but there has to be something more than that to keep my interest in the show in general. Contrast this to, say, Chuck, which has about one yowza-Sarah moment per episode. At most, that moment "owns" one scene. With Dollhouse, it feels like Echo's "assets" are (at least partially) the focus of a much more significant chunk of the episode.
I actually fast-forwarded through most of this 3rd episode's on-stage scenes. Yeah, I get it - attractive women with barely anything on dancing seductively. Now give me some plot...
jebbbz
03-02-2009, 11:57 PM
without debating preferences, can someone tell me more definitively if she's gotten skinnier since buffy and may have had some facial work, especially nose?
Depends on how reliable you think awfulplasticsurgery.com is:
Side by side photos (http://www.awfulplasticsurgery.com/eliza_dushku.htm)
Doesn't look like a huge change to me, nothing like some (well, many) of the other cases discussed on the site.
IndyJones1023
03-03-2009, 07:05 AM
She is waaaay too skinny. She looks like a teen boy.
Robin
03-03-2009, 07:17 AM
Depends on how reliable you think awfulplasticsurgery.com is:
Side by side photos (http://www.awfulplasticsurgery.com/eliza_dushku.htm)
Doesn't look like a huge change to me, nothing like some (well, many) of the other cases discussed on the site.
I don't see a change at all. In fact, I'm surprised two photos taken a year apart could look so similar! She's smiling a little wider in the second, that's all.
newsposter
03-03-2009, 07:31 AM
Considering FOX aired some episodes of Firefly out of order didn't help. Also, switching the time and day of airings several times prevented people to from watching/finding the show.
speaking of out of order, i watched a show recently in which the teen girl started driving, kind of shocked me...then next week they showed her applying for her learners permit...it's the first show i really was aware was shown out of order, was funny
mrmike
03-03-2009, 10:24 AM
She is waaaay too skinny. She looks like a teen boy.
She's lost weight. She didn't used to be as thin. I met her a few years ago at a con and she was trending more towards "normal" (which to many here would be "fat").
astrohip
03-03-2009, 01:29 PM
speaking of out of order, i watched a show recently in which the teen girl started driving, kind of shocked me...then next week they showed her applying for her learners permit...it's the first show i really was aware was shown out of order, was funny
Medium! I noticed that too.
I don't see a change at all. In fact, I'm surprised two photos taken a year apart could look so similar! She's smiling a little wider in the second, that's all.
Absolutely. That site is just bogus, at least where Eliza is concerned.
Sirius Black
03-03-2009, 02:09 PM
You're the same folks who give up on any other show after one episode, yet with Dollhouse you'll be watching until the end as long as it has Whedonsnot(TM) on it.
Greg
Grrrr Argg!
newsposter
03-03-2009, 02:12 PM
Medium! I noticed that too.
that info, in another thread in this forum, would bring out the firing squad
stellie93
03-03-2009, 02:16 PM
When a show is canceled like for a President's speech, is there some reason the rest of the episodes can't just be moved up 1 week instead of showing them out of order? :confused:
Fleegle
03-03-2009, 02:31 PM
When a show is canceled like for a President's speech, is there some reason the rest of the episodes can't just be moved up 1 week instead of showing them out of order? :confused:
Normally, they would. But they had a Valentines Day themed episode that they felt had to be shown in its original spot.
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