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"Chuck" and "Dollhouse" will return for new seasonsChuck? Saved. Dollhouse? Activated for another season. Cold Case? Very warm. Better Off Ted? Much better than dead. Yes, the television gods were indeed benevolent this weekend with news that several on-the-bubble shows were renewed for another season.
I feel like leaving offerings in front of my TV in thanks in particular for the return of Yvonne Strahovski and Eliza Dushku. Both actresses play strong, complex, kick-ass central female characters who help make the television landscape richer and more interesting. Also, they both look really hot in leather.
Of course, all the news wasn’t good for in limbo series. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was officially terminated meaning no more weekly doses of Lena Headey or Summer Glau. Amber Tamblyn’s freshman crime drama, The Unusuals, received unusually low ratings and didn’t get a second season. And it looks like the missing persons drama Without a Trace might disappear itself. Plus, don’t forget the previously announced axing of Life and Pushing Daisies. Oh, Olive Snook, I think I’ll miss you most of all.
Still the pickups of the low-rated Dollhouse and Better Off Ted and lowish-rated Chuck can be seen as triumphs of the little guys. The shows all had dedicated, organized and very vocal online fan campaigns to rescue their shows from extinction. The "Save Chuck" campaign had fans send letter and buy Subway sandwiches. And Dollhouse fans started a "Save Dollhouse" project before the show even aired.
Though Chuck’s hard-won renewal comes with a catch. According to Michael Ausiello from Entertainment Weekly the 13-episode order comes with an agreement to make “significant budget concessions” including reducing the screentime for some of the supporting cast and possibly eliminating one actor as well as writing staff. Dollhouse has also been asked to slash its budget, but there’s no indication that the cuts would mean any cast losses.
So, which show’s return has you most excited? Which loss will you mourn? And does this mean I can finally stop buying Subway sandwiches? Monday afternoon update: At a press conference today announcing their next season, Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly explained, "Terminator had a nice little run. We did see it trailing off a bit, and ultimately we made the bet on Dollhouse. That's it for Terminator. If we canceled Joss Whedon's show I would have got 110 million emails from his fans today." Submitted by on May 18, 2009 - 11:00am. |
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This is a shame. I was
This is a shame. I was hoping that Dollhouse would get cancelled due to its abundant awfulness, whereas I thought that Terminator at least deserved another chance, and Pushing Daisies definitely shouldn't be pushing daisies :(
About me: http://www.afterellen.com/node/48413
Re: Dollhouse
Sorry, but I have to rebut this: WHAAAAAAA??? I think everyone agrees that the first couple of episodes of Dollhouse were scarily disapointing, but dear god did it get better. All of a sudden it was a show about identity and psycology and full of twists and characters with really fucked up motives, or no motives at all. They started concentraiting on the actives in their doll state, instead of with a personality, and that was always more interesting.
If you've watched the whole season of Dollhouse and still think it sucked, then okay, that's your thing. But definately do not write it off just from the first few episodes. The last 4 or 5 were so gripping and took TV to a place I hadn't seen in a long time.
But I totally agree that it really really sucks that Terminator was cancelled. And of course, the lovely Pushing Daisies. Now where shall I get my Cheno hit?! How long til Leagally Mad hits screens?!
Still have yet to watch
Still have yet to watch Dollhouse but seeing as university ends in seven days I got something to look forward too.
Cold Case will be my fave show am hoping to get renewed and waiting for confirmation on Criminal Minds and CSI shows
CHUCK!
chuck is saved! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!
I love that series...it couldnt end like that!
i'm embarrased to admit
how happy and relieved i am to see Chuck and Dollhouse get another season. and for as much as i groove on my Buy More green shirt and Nerd Herd ballcap (not to mention Jeffster shirt) i think the whole Buy More aspect can be safely dropped at this point, especially given the 13 (possible 22 as there's a back nine pickup option) episode season.
also they're both supposed to be returning in friday night timeslots. here's hoping it's Chuck at 8:00 then Dollhouse at 9:00, then to Animal Planet for The Dog Whisper and Dogtown . . .
DOLLHOUSE!!??? Yes :D
All right, I was greatly disappointed by Dollhouse... I mean, how could something like that come from someone who gave us, say, something like Buffy - right?
Fear not, someone should have told me.
Do trust in the awesomeness of Whedon, someone should have told me.
Because Dollhouse? Damn did it improve. Whedon obviously started out slow, with a lot of 'monster of the week' episodes, pretty basic plots and not a lot of complicated ideas. I suspect he did that to appeal to the general public who, lets face it, don't have the patience and energy to follow something complex. I think he underestimated his viewers and 'dumbed' it down too much. But I’m kinda glad he did it, because it just left me even more surprised when he pushed the genius button in the end.
And all right, I would have been really sad to loose the opportunity of a weekly dose of Dushku.
"Even in death Gabrielle, I will never leave you"- Xena
I think that teh wierd start
wa a product of Fox trying to get their hands in and meddle. When they leave him alone he makes a great story, but I think Fox justs wants to have Beautiful peopel making out with each other, and the plot is a second thought.
~~
Rude alert! Rude alert! An electrical fire has knocked out my voice-recognition unicycle! Many Wurlitzers are missing from my database! Abandon shop! This is not a daffodil! Repeat: This is not a daffodil!
thanks be to gods..
The return of both of these shows is cause for celebration. As a Whedonite, i watched Dollhouse from the beginning, and i'm glad i stuck it out. It really picked up in the last half of the season, and i can see it's potential for extreme awesomeness next season.
Speaking of 'Awesome'..I came into Chuck kinda late, but totally fell in love. The season ender was one of the BEST finales i've ever seen. In a sea of reality shows about people's questionable 'talents' and 'struggles to overcome' obstacles, (starving on an island, being fat, finding a mate, blahdiddy blah blah..), Chuck provides me with a welcome balm of fiction, while providing a fabulous character like Agent Sarah Walker. Yeeoow. I watch TV to be entertained, and Chuck delivers. Can he.. be awesome? Why yes. Yes he can.
I shall join you, Ms.Snarker, in placing offerings of thanks in front of my TV. Or maybe i'll show my grattitude with a solid 'swiffer dustering'. Thanks TV gods. Thanks a bunchel. :)
Dollhouse isn't so bad
Am I the only one?
Am I the only one saddened by the cancellation of The Unusuals? I really enjoyed the show and have always liked Amber Tamblyn.
I am however happy that Chuck, Better Off Ted, Coldcase and Dollhouse are coming back. I'll give Dollhouse another chance to prove itself, because I like Eliza Dushku and Amy Acker as well as the rest of the cast and Joss Whedon always does such interesting shows (look at the all too short lived Firefly).
As for Life and Pushing Daisies those two I am very unhappy about... they were really great and unique shows, not your usual TV fare, so I am not at all happy about their cancellations. Here's hoping we get some sort of new rating system soon, because the one we have now leaves a lot to be desired.
♡OTALIA Forever!♡
"I have a simple philosophy. Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches." -Alice Roosevelt Longworth
I'm not sure yet if I'm
I'm not sure yet if I'm happy about Dollhouse as I've yet to see it! It starts tomorrow night in the UK, so I'll watch it and see what it's like :) although the fact it has Eliza Dushku is already a big win ;)
I love Chuck so I'm reaaaallllyy happy about it being renewed! And yay for Cold Case! Also waiting on Criminal Minds, being that that show is AWSEOME :)
______
I Tweet therefore I am; http://twitter.com/RainbowPleb
hm.
"Oh, Olive Snook, I think I’ll miss you most of all", i will never be okay with the cancellation of Pushing Daisies.
But Dollhouse is sort of growing on me, kind of. Only not so much for Eliza (never was a big fan of her, even on Buffy) but rather the awesomeness that is Olivia Williams.
Dollhouse
For those of you that say Dollhouse isn't great...suffer through the first 5 episodes (though it's hardly suffering when you get to see Eliza onscreen) and you will be greatly rewarded with episodes 6 - 12. The show really takes off with lots of twists and turns.
Very thankful to see Dollhouse and Chuck get renewed. The last few months, Monday (this does include Gossip Girl & House) and Fridays were the only nights that I really cared about what was on TV. Hope the budget cuts at Chuck don't mess up the great show that it is (they can really just cut out the Buy More completely, although it does its job with the comic relief, there's enough of that with just Chuck on screen!)
Mmmmmm Eliza<3I hope
Mmmmmm Eliza<3
I hope Dollhouse lasts as long as Buffy :D
Go here for my view on all things lesbian: http://allthingslesbeau.blogspot.com
Chuck sucks, it's a teeny booper show. I'll miss SCC
Losing Lena!
I'm terribly sad to see T:SCC get the axe! The show had boundless amounts of potential. Of course I saw it coming the minute I saw them turn Sarah Connor in to an idiot character in the 'sleep' show!
She was always meant to be the voice of reason in an unresonable world (James Cameron has always had a knack for creating female characters that are the very best of womanhood blending amazon like strength with that certain softness)...so putting this character in the hands anyone else it's no wonder they had trouble controlling that level of perfection...Cameron succeeded cos he didn't write to please the audience he wrote to be truthful...and therefore always gave us a ride that was perfect.
Sadly in TV pleasing people always seems to get in the way of the truth and therefore everything becomes a little hollow after a while!
I will miss this show cos I believed it could really get there...
SMB!
Yaaayy!!!
I'm really glad no one else was in my room to hear me squeal with glee when I read the words "Dollhouse" and "new seasons." I totally agree with SpecialK7. The show has some awesome plot twists that will leave you wanting more at the end of each episode.
"There are three flowers in a vase. The third flower is green."
Yay Cold Case!!!! Wish
There's an issue with the
As a person who has watched
As a person who has watched the drama unfold (and who firmly thinks that the way Dollhouse flopped the first couple episodes was due to the network sticking its nose where it didn't belong) from the begginning, and also watched the actual TV show every single friday I could (and on hulu if I couldn't) I am SO glad this show has been renewed.
love dollhouse
Dollhouse
I like Dollhouse. It's actually a new show I watch. But I never did get into Terminator. :/
-Rachel
http://www.kissthegirl09.webs.com
I'm so happy about
Dollhouse!
So very excited. Thank you, Fox! (How often do I get to say that?)
Where will I get my SarahCC now?
I need my Lena Headey and my Summer Glau :X
How can life go on?
^.^°
Nope, sorry, I watched
Nope, sorry, I watched Dollhouse until that unimaginably horrible pop star episode and I couldn't go any further -- even though I was alone at the time, I was literally embarrassed to be watching it. I was a big fan of Buffy, but that was mostly because of Sarah Michelle, and writers like Marti Noxon and Jane Espenson. I never thought much of Eliza's acting, and I think Joss is incredibly overrated, so I won't be going back.
About me: http://www.afterellen.com/node/48413
Give it another go?
It sounds like you've pretty much sworn off watching anymore of the show, so this might be a waste of time, but: the pop star episode is pretty much regarded as the low point of the series. Where the show ends up going-- hardly even looks like the same show. Things change, dramatically. If you're so tired of the episodicness, I'd say just watch 6-12 and skip 4 and 5-- 6 is when plot takes over and the previously episodic structure is left behind.
I know, it's hard to believe. But I know so many people who went from "this sucks" when watching the pop star episode to saying "this is the best show ever!!" by the end of the series.
Just a vote for keeping watching. Plus, the second to last episode was written by Jane Espenson and TOTALLY ROCKS. She's such a great writer.
YESSSS!!!!
Dollhouse is renewed, DOLLHOUSE IS RENEWED!!! *proceedes to do happy dance
yea there will absolutely no intelligent defense of the show because I am too happy woot and Better Off Ted is not dead now I just sound like a moron but that's ok because I am a happy moron WOOT. *happy dance happy dance*
BOOYAHH!!!!!!!!
Holding my breath
AWESOME!!! DOLLHOUSE FREAKING ROCKS!!!!
Oh thank Joss Dollhouse is saved! I need my dose of Eliza!
Seduce my mind and you can have my body…find my soul and I'm yours forever.
Fraking frak frak frak!!!
That SCC finale is going to haunt me for the rest of my days!!!!! Bastards.
"I know you're lonely. I think you need someone to want you. Well, I do want you. So be brave, and want me back."
You're not alone!
Keeva I sooo hear you! I think networks at least owe it to fans to produce finale movies or bonus episodes to provide decent closure to fans when they pull a stunt like this...
SMB!
I agree
They should make an ending that makes everyone happy. Maybe they can offer ending insurance wheer if you have a full series and are not renewed for a new one they will have a very special episode.
But Then I remember Firefly, and if they ended it would they have made a movie.
Unless they make a movie for everthing. Or on the DVD box set the creator/writers explain a time line for the rest of the series and maybe explain soem deep mysteries.
~~
Rude alert! Rude alert! An electrical fire has knocked out my voice-recognition unicycle! Many Wurlitzers are missing from my database! Abandon shop! This is not a daffodil! Repeat: This is not a daffodil!
Very Happy About Dollhouse
I was a part of that movement to keep Dollhouse afloat! Well, only the online broadcasting part, but I did try my best to keep that show from canceling! If you know Joss Whedon, then you know that his fans are fiercely devoted to him and his shows. I personally love every show he creates, so I'm glad he's got the green light for such a promising series.
Yay for Dollhouse being
:D :D
BRILLIANT, DOLLHOUSE!!!!
I love Dollhouse! I'm so so happy that it's being renewed for a second season! As a few people have pointed out, once you get past the first 5 episodes, it gets amazing. And brilliant. And fantastic. And I'm loving the ever so gorgeous Dichen Lachman ---------->
I can't wait to see the next season!
(I, too was part of the twittering @Fox to keep the show.)
Disappointed about SCC, but
Disappointed about SCC, but really. The show was really bad halfway through, the Shirley Manson storyline was way too lengthy and obscure to really stay invested in. The thing that redeemed the entire second season was (besides Summer Glau hotness ;p ) the last 4 episodes. :(
--
http://ankie.livejournal.com
SCC (sob)
I was getting in to
I was getting in to Dollhouse as I think the concept is good so im glad another series will be done but Termintator what the hell, I really think it needs another series because we only just got left on a cliffhanger didn't we, am I the only one who is desperate to know what happens. I really hope some U turn will be made. Cam if your listening how about a feature length finale? please....
Nothing is unnatural that is natural in itself. jeanette Winterson
Well, don't hold your
ooh, dark angel. . . that
Yeah I loved dark
Yeah I loved dark Angel too, what a finish that was. Why do they seem to do this, axe all the good drama's. i mean Dark Angel used to get millions of viewers in the US and UK. thay are crazy.
Nothing is unnatural that is natural in itself. jeanette Winterson
Dollhouse!!
I'm so pleased about Dollhouse being renewed. YAY! LOVE where this show has gone.
Sad for TSCC and yes, still sad about Pushing Daisies.
Haven't seen Chuck, but I'm thinking I should tune-in.
SCC and Lena gone?!
I'm posting belatedly here but it ruined my day last Monday to hear that SCC was cancelled especially when a show like Dollhouse, which had less critical acclaim, lower ratings and less of a storyline built up, was renewed. I feel like fans don't matter with the networks, no matter how much they try to save a show or how good the show is. Grumble, grumble...
I will so miss Lena kicking ass as Sarah Connor on a weekly basis, and showing off her best performance of her career to date (along with IMAY of course!) and this show is something she should be proud of. Props to Lena and the rest of the awesome SCC cast/crew for two great years! :D