FOX delays 'Dollhouse' return

Eliza Dushku of 'Dollhouse'

Credit: Miranda Penn Turin/FOX

FOX has pushed back the second season premiere of "Dollhouse." 

Before the show's fans throw their arms in the air and yell, "Here we go again," worry not. The shift is only by a week.

"Dollhouse," a semi-surprising renewal this spring, will now return on Friday, Sept. 25 at 9 p.m. ET, rather than the originally announced Sept. 18.

A source at the network confirms the one-week delay and explains that the push is meant to accommodate the already-tight "Dollhouse" shooting schedule. "Dollhouse" is going back into production in two weeks and FOX intends to air new episodes over consecutive weeks in the fall (as much as possible), so the new premiere date gives Joss Whedon and company a little additional breathing room.

The premiere should be worth the wait, since FOX has also revealed that Whedon will be writing and directing the episode.

FOX will use the September 18 slot to reair the season premiere of "Glee," set for its first showing on September 16 after the Season Six launch of "So You Think You Can Dance." That Friday night will also be the series premiere of the sitcom "Brothers" and the triumphant (?) return of "'Til Death."

And in response to a frequently heard question, our FOX source says that as of now, FOX still hasn't licensed the unaired "Dollhouse" bonus episode "Epitaph One" (made for 20th Century Fox TV, but not for the network) and, thus, has no plans for the episode to air in primetime. 

Fortunately, dedicated viewers will already have seen the episode as part of the DVD package for the "Dollhouse," dropping on July 28. "Epitaph One" will also be screened as part of the "Dollhouse" panel at the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con, slated for Friday, July 24.