Opinions about Joss' new project.

[haldira]

I am very excited about this project.  What about you?

[Josh]

I'll be super-optimistic. What the hell. (famous last words)

[Zeek]

super excited here.

I'll admit I'm not happy to hear it's on Fox, but what can you do?  I also don't blame Fox for Drive at all.  They promoted it pretty well.  They gave it a shot, but with a show like that and less than stellar ratings that were consistently dropping, I don't know what else they could do.  No one is going to jump into Drive in the middle and understand what's going on.  So, they basically needed a big starting fan base that stuck with the show.  It didn't happen so they had to move on.

[haldira]

Well - here's hoping this show is awesome and well received.

[hornslongtx]

But seriously, Fox. Again. Not only do they have a bad history personally but Fox just seems to run through more shows than the other networks. They're pretty much increasing the possibility of premature cancellation four-fold.

[Zeek]

But seriously, Fox. Again. Not only do they have a bad history personally but Fox just seems to run through more shows than the other networks. They're pretty much increasing the possibility of premature cancellation four-fold.

I agree and again this show has a story that Joe Public will probably say "that's not real life" to and never tune in to give it a chance.  They're more into the CSI and Law & Order shows which someone come off as more real to them.

So, I'd say we have a good chance of cancellation.  Doesn't mean I can't love it as long as it's on the air.

[Josh]

I think there's 2 things that kill Fox shows, and why I think Dollhouse may do well:

1. Is there a high production cost involved?

I would think that Dollhouse is going to have less costs than, say, Firefly and Drive (two shows that were good but got axed well before their time). Dollhouse will likely have a few 'high tech' looking sets and will need new sets/locations on a regular basis for different 'fantasies', but they aren't going to need as many visual effects as Firefly or Drive, and they aren't gonna have the stunt work overhead that Drive had.

2. Can they clearly market the show?

Using the comparison to the same shows, Drive was highly marketable as a car racing show, but had no major star to 'anchor' it, and I think Fox had next to no idea of how to market Firefly. I think Dollhouse is highly marketable as a futuristic action/sexy show, and Eliza Dushku is a fairly well-known quantity. Even Tru Calling, which was a non-quirky show about dead people, lasted over a season - it's only quirky shows about dead people that seem to succeed nowadays...see Six Feet Under, Dead Like Me, Pushing Daisies, etc (although Ghost Whisperer, which is almost exactly the same show as Tru Calling, is now on Season 3).

I don't trust Fox to do right by this show -- they are proven morons for most shows -- but I think Dollhouse has a much better chance to succeed than other shows that have met their premature demise.

[haldira]

Josh - I agree with everything you've said.  I can see if being expensive only if they go too Alias.  Visual effects will definitely be a deciding factor in cost - hopefully they temper that and make it more "realistic." More Buffy.  Stunt doubles and proper set design.