With such low ratings, it had to happen eventually. The Dollhouse is closing after two seasons on FOX.
From the mind of Joss Whedon, Dollhouse revolves around a group of people whose minds are wiped of their own identities and implanted with temporary memories for jobs-for-hire. The cast includes Eliza Dushku, Harry Lennix, Fran Kranz, Tahmoh Penikett, Enver Gjokaj, Dichen Lachman, Olivia Williams, Amy Acker, Reed Diamond, and Miracle Laurie.
Though loved by many fans, the series has been ratings-challenged from the start. Surprisingly, Dollhouse received a second season order last May, despite low ratings. The second season’s ratings have been even worse but FOX publicly committed to at least produce and air all of the 13 ordered episodes.
While it looked highly unlikely that Dollhouse would be given a full season or be renewed for a third year, many fans have been hoping that it would still happen. After all, conventional wisdom indicated that the series shouldn’t have been renewed last year.
FOX has now officially cancelled the series. Production is currently underway on episode 11 and all 13 installments will be completed.
Whedon had previously said that he was planning to include some amount of closure in the last episode of the season. The FOX announcement is likely timed so that he can give the show a more definitive ending.
Dollhouse is currently on hiatus. It’s expected to return to FOX on December 4th and begin burning off the remaining nine episodes of the season in double installments.
What do you think? Are you surprised by the cancellation or were you reconciled that it was going to happen? How would you like to see it end?
Image courtesy FOX.
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68 Comments on "Dollhouse: FOX Cancels Joss Whedon Series; No Season Three"
Uh, Firefly.. honestly, I’ve seen it, and the movie, and I barely remember it.
For me that show was very much a waste of time without any real depth or intelligent message, unlike the fantastic character development you can see in Dollhouse combined with some intriguing soon-to-be-post-apocalyptic-future as well as more philosophical questions.
But I do agree that the first five, or so, episodes during the first season of the Dollhouse wasn’t very impressive.
That’s total bullshot!!!! I ******* love this show… y is it ending? They should just put it on another channel like tnt cuz that ***** goin downhill… its a good ******* show… DOLLHOUSE FOREVER! It’s better than most of them shows like supernatural or smallvile… wtf man
I enjoy Dollhouse, it’s one of the best shows on TV. It seems all the good shows get cancelled (another example Numbers). We have 3 CSI’s, 2 NCIS and I have lost count how many Law & Orders there are. And let’s not forget about the never ending reality shows. Dollhouse was different, I am very sad to see it go!
I do not understand all the people saying good concept poor execution. I thought the idea ridiculous until I actually watched the show. And to those who say not interesting enough for a series, you didnt see how me and my husband anticipated every episode and we drive ourselves crazy speculating what will happen next and how they will wrap things up. At least they saw it coming in time to wrap things up at all , unlike kyle xy which still breaks our heart. Still having withdrawals from that one.
Show was not good. It was lucky to get renewed. Almost interesting concept, poor execution
This show was very indepth and had to have time to unfold. Being a Whedon FAN I knew this. His work has always been great and is not just another boring unoriginal story line. THIS SHOW WAS AWESOME AND SHOULD BE BROUGHT BACK. Echo was really about to start changing the environment of the Dollhouse and it was getting good!!!!
Good for TV that they’re giving series creators a heads up about the cancellation. Many a show has been tainted by last minute axeings where story lines never get resolved (the most obvious being The Incredible Hulk 70’s show).
How typical.
The only shows that seem to get ratings are the shows that have no depth.
Shows like House, CSI and Bones where the same thing happens week after week – just different scenarios with the same format and similar endings, these are the shows the mainstream want to watch.
I’m not saying these shows are bad but why is it that every time we get a show that dares to do things differently it gets canceled?
Too bad for the rest of us eh?
joss always has a bit of complexity in his story lines. it is a pity that any show which requires more than 3 brain cells to follow the plot has to die. there is money to be made from dvds etc. and network kudos should be a consideration. i am sure i am not the only viewer who watches the show in other modes than the tv airing. most people tape the shows and watch them when convenient. time to recognise this fact.