It’s Joss Whedon interview week. He seems like a fairly stand-up guy and it’s fun to read his comments. Here are some snippet via an interview posted on TVWeek.com, with some brief commentary from me after his responses:
TVWeek: You’ve been supportive of Fox’s decision to move “Dollhouse” to Fridays.
Mr. Whedon: At the end of the day the move isn’t about getting the fans. The fans are called fans—that’s already covered. That’s doesn’t mean they’ll all love [“Dollhouse”], but it means they’re more likely to check it out than Joe Blow. And we need Joe Blow.
If he had Sarah Palin as one of the dolls, he’d attract Joe Blow, Joe the Plumber, Average Joe, G.I. Joe, and at least 10 million others.
TVWeek: What shows on TV do you have to watch?
Mr. Whedon: “Battlestar [Galactica]” is back on, so, you know, life is worth living again. Other than “Battlestar,” I just moved, so I don’t have a TV and I’m behind. But “Terminator,” “30 Rock,” “The Office”—those are my bread and butter.
Doesn’t have a TV!
TVWeek: Did you watch “Moonlight”?
Mr. Whedon: I did not. I actually don’t love vampires. Anne Rice was definitely a life-changer. It was wonderful. But at the end of the day, I’ve really kind of had my fill.
honest, but perhaps alienating of the (significantly) less than 8 million people who are looking for something to watch at 9pm on Fridays as long as it isn’t on CBS.
TVWeek: Looking back, do you think the writers strike was worth it?
Mr. Whedon: Necessary. We lost. But I’m not going to say it wasn’t worth it. And to me personally, “Dr. Horrible” would have never happened, and my eyes would have never been opened to things that I was [previously] able to ignore. I was in a fortunate position, and now I feel that I have a much better handle on what’s necessary from people like me at this time in our industry.
Dr. Horrible was awesome, and so was casting Felicia Day. My guess is that the strike worked out better for Mr. Whedon than for many, many writers. Read the whole interview on TVWeek.com
As much as Palin is trying to keep herself in the limelight, I have a feeling that ship has sailed, and even she wouldn’t be able to get Whedon 10 million Joe Blows.
But he really confuses me in that first answer. The move isn’t about getting fans, but the regular old viewers. Does he not realize that there are almost no viewers on Fridays?
I like how he basically implied that his fans might be hurting the show before it even airs with the whole “SAVE DOLLHOUSE,” campaign before they’ve:
A. Seen an episode.
B. An episode has aired.
C. The show even in “trouble.”
there aren’t anywhere near almost no viewers on Fridays. There are millions and millions of viewers on Friday. It’s not like they’re are only have the people watching TV on Fridays as there are on Thursdays. More like 85%.
I think his point is that “fans” yield #s like TSCC on broadcast and BSG on cable and that in order to do better than that, he needs to attract a broader audience. That doesn’t seem likely with a show like Dollhouse, but it will be interesting to see how it goes.
Nick, I guess post-Firefly, Whedon fans are very proactive. By the time the first episode of Dollhouse airs, that site will have been up almost 9 months!
Julia, that depends. If you put really strong TV on Fridays you get viewers. Same with Saturday. The Networks just treat them like a black hole.
I think what he is saying is they will give him more time on Friday to try and get the attention of non-Whedon fans. I’m not convinced it’s a “bad thing,” like so many others, but who knows. I actually liked the promo with the hot chicks from TSCC and DOLLHOUSE in that GRINDHOUSE feel. Unfortunately I wasn’t around to remind them that GRINDHOUSE flopped. It was a neat advert, but not sure it was a smart one.
He doesn’t have a TV ? LOL
The first thing that came into my new house was a 52 inch LCD and a couch, and that was before all the windows were put in 
And I’m kinda sick with this whole Joe Blow story, I have a feeling that Joss thinks that Dollhouse can bring in CSIlike numbers…
Robert, it’s still more negative than positive. I like that he called them out for it. DOLLHOUSE is unique in that the premise is pretty cool in a sci fi kind of way that normal people could “buy,” and the buy in is the key in a show like that.
If the stories are good, the people will come. Especially if FOX keeps their word about giving it time.
I agree that it’s more negative than positive, but only the tiniest sliver of potential viewers is even aware of it. But it will continue to get a lot of media coverage, especially if the early indicators aren’t great.
I’d be surprised if FOX doesn’t give it the full 13 episode run unless the ratings are much worse than either of us think they will be.
Granted there are viewers on Fridays, but I hardly think that FOX is putting it there to find those elusive Joe Blows. You don’t put a show that you know is going to struggle in a spot where it’s tough to find viewers to begin with.
Grindhouse flopped because it came out on Easter weekend. Of all the weekends to release that movie, it was just a horrible decision. Combined with it being rated R and a three hour movie, that hurt it too. I went and saw it, and I thought it was great. I haven’t had as much fun at a movie since then. They’re talking about making a sequel. Then again, I don’t see how any of this is relevant to this post, so I’ll get off of my soapbox and hope for the day when the movie gets released back to its theatrical format.
Vader, you obviously haven’t seen the Cameron/Echo promo that looks like a promo from GRINDHOUSE then.
Julia, I’m not in the school of thought that FOX is stupid enough right now to just throw a show onto a time slot to die. That’s an expensive and stupid thing to do. That is something NBC would do. FOX has been saying all the right things, and they’ve made some drastic errors in the past in FAMILY GUY and FIREFLY. Both those DVD sets outsold the number of average viewers! FAMILY GUY got renewed, and FOX is hoping Joss still has whatever it is he has bottled up and ready to go for DOLLHOUSE.
I think if anything Whedon’s biggest problems are it takes his shows time to find their legs. FIREFLY wasn’t really interesting until midseason (well the pilot was interesting, but it aired last). BUFFY is infamous for its lame first season and extremely strong 2nd season. ANGEL took a couple seasons to find its legs too. I can’t say I watched any but FIREFLY… however he has that tendency to take time to “get it.”
FOX knows that, and they know he’s really good at finding writing talent and nurturing them. So I think FOX is feeling pretty good about it right now. That is why I buy Kevin and them saying the latest episodes are really strong it just follows the norm with Whedon.
I think they’ll be happy gathering 6M+ if they can get it, and then let the show grow. Which with Sci Fi and shows like it, that is usually what happens.
Yes I have, I just don’t get your need to compare the TV industry to the film industry. You’re basically saying that the promo convinced nobody to watch the show because a movie using the same style flopped, which I don’t find to be a valid argument.
I thought the Grindhouse Terminator/Dollhouse promo was pretty good.
Vader, unfortunately the market works like that. People compare like to like. Someone says “that was like GRINDHOUSE,” and the other person thinks “Didn’t that flop?” It is the power of association.
Bill, I thought it was pretty good too. Just not positive it will work, but I enjoyed it.
I would not have recognized the Dollhouse/Grindhouse connection if I hadn’t read all this. Reason? Grindhouse flopped so I don’t remember much about it. I suspect Joe Blow viewers will view the spot in a similar manner – not compared to Grindhouse unless someone else mentions it to them.
The reason there’s any buzz whatsoever about this series is that Whedon’s name is attached to it. NBC should have cut him into MOWE somehow
.
Nick C, I strongly disagree with you.
I think everybody thought that Firefly had quality! Not just the “mid season episodes”. Otherwise, why would people buy the DVD? To see the final episodes?
As for Buffy, the first season was definitely the worst but it wasn’t lame. It was pretty entertaining and had a style, a thing to it. Angel took a couple of seasons to find his legs? Maybe the last seasons were better, but that doesn’t mean the show was bad before.
On the other hand, I hope your right about Fox strategy because I wouldn’t bear living Firefly all over again. Do you know why did they change the order of the first 6 episodes? Because last time it didn’t work out to well…
With Fox tossing in America’s Most Wanted and Cops on test run a Friday, I get the feeling they feel Fridays are about the same as Saturdays. That’s why AMW & Cops have been on Saturdays so long. They are cheap to produce and the ratings are half-way decent.
Leading me to beleive Nick C could be right. As long as TSCC & Dollhouse show a pulse(and cut production costs to the bone) they could be allowed to survive another season.
Well…it’s late right now and I can’t sleep…I saw this article and you know I had to jump in…as anyone knows me (R.G.) – I love the Sarah Chronilcles…
I saw the grindhouse type promo – though it will lock the fans in and I thought it was clever – they need to pull back the other 6 million they lost from the first season (again 9 episodes is not a season…I still call this season 1.5)…
and I don’t think that will work…
There really is only one thing the majority of viewers are watching – and that’s GHOST WHISPERER…so there is hope that another show can make it on Fri’ nites b/c G.W. has over 10 million viewers every new episode…
but Sarah is up against G.W….so we need newer viewers…and most of those are going to see Friday the 13th the movie…but what does it matter…only people with “Nielson boxes” are tracked…so I can miss Sarah (which i won’t) and the ratings are based on those that have nielson boxes…so it’s destiny are with those people…nobody else—which just doesn’t seem fair…and most of them probably work for Skynet…
sarah – we hope for the best but…just like the movies – you are not there in the future
Ah — so political comments are welcome as long as they’re non-Obama-related comments. Got it.
GRD, what political comment? Obama ate my baby. See, they won’t censor XX XXXXX XXXXX XXXX XXX XXXXXXXXX.
you are really building up this whole “Dollhouse” “TSCC” thing. I’m actually looking forward to seeing the numbers, even though I don’t care for either show.
I realize Joss Whedon has a hard on for me and a major man crush, but hey, I just dont go for dudes. Know what Im sayin? Now if Joss were a well endowed woman, that would be a different story. I know he has gone batty after the failure of Firefly, but thanks but no thanks.
Fox has released a new(non grindhouse) promo for T:SCC/Dollhouse. It’s tight.
http://sarahconnorsociety.net/2009/02/06/tscc-and-dollhouse-are-new-next-friday-get-ready-new-promo/
And here was I thinking that Joe Blow couldn’t get more annoying…
I’ve never been a fan of Whedon, but I’ve been intrigued by the Dollhouse premise since it was announced. I definitely plan on checking out the first episode. Hopefully it’ll be good enough to hook me.
Also, Whedon didn’t watch MOONLIGHT because CBS forced a good friend of his out as the show runner.
BRING BACK MOONLIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!1111!11!
GEEK!
He doesn’t have a TV. He never watched MOONLIGHT. What a deusch. Oh, by the way, Joss, Ann Rice has nothing to do with moonlight. Moonlight had more class than you can every pretend to have.
Pat, you’re the douche. Whedon didn’t watch MOONLIGHT because his friend David Greenwalt (who created Angel) who was the show runner left the show before it ever aired.