FOX formally cancels 'Dollhouse'

Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku's drama is expected to end on Jan. 22 after a 13-episode second season

By Daniel Fienberg Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009 5:02 PM

Eliza Dushku of 'Dollhouse'

Credit: FOX

It's the day denizens of the Whedonverse have been expecting and dreading since at least last spring (or possibly even since the show was originally announced).

As first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, FOX has formally decided not to extend "Dollhouse" beyond its 13-episode initial order, effectively canceling the second-year show.

FOX insiders tell HitFix that "Dollhouse," currently at work on its 11th episode, will its 13 episodes, which will give Joss Whedon and company the chance to retrofit a series finale, if they weren't already planning such a move.

Already low-rated in its first season, "Dollhouse" received a not-unsurprising renewal in May, in no small part due to the dedication of Whedon's fanbase and the sense that audiences were watching the show in non-traditional settings, including streaming on the Internet and downloaded off of Hulu. The renewal came after a half-dozen cancellation rumors, several stemming from the episode "Epitaph One," which was shot for 20th Century Fox, but never aired on the network.

Ratings for "Dollhouse" were no better, though, when the show returned to its difficult Friday time slot for a second season ("gifted" with a lead-in of "Brothers" and "'Til Death"), the show began its season with a string of series-low audiences, falling to an audience of under 2.1 million viewers and a 0.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic. Given those numbers, it was no surprise when FOX yanked the show for November sweeps.

Although FOX pulled "Dollhouse" from November, the network previously announced plans to air double-doses of "Dollhouse" in December (perhaps due to its alliterative merits). As of now, that plan remains intact, with the finale tentatively scheduled for Jan. 22.

That current plan for the remaining "Dollhouse" episodes:

Dec. 4 - 8:00PM-10:00PM (Episodes 5 & 6)

Dec. 11 - 8:00PM-10:00PM (Episodes 7 & 8)

Dec. 18 - 8:00PM-10:00PM (Episodes 9 & 10)

Jan. 8 - 9:00PM-10:00PM (Episode 11)

Jan. 15 - 9:00PM-10:00PM (Episode 12)

Jan. 22 - 9:00PM-10:00PM (Episode 13 / Series Finale)

As he's wont to do, Whedon took to the Whedonesque message boards to give his own take on the news.

"I don't have a lot to say. I'm extremely proud of the people I've worked with: my star, my staff, my cast, my crew. I feel the show is getting better pretty much every week, and I think you'll agree in the coming months. I'm grateful that we got to put it on, and then come back and put it on again," Whedon posts.

He continues, "I'm off to pursue internet ventures/binge drinking. Possibly that relaxation thing I've read so much about. By the time the last episode airs, you'll know what my next project is. But for now there's a lot of work still to be done, and disappointment to bear."

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.

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chutneylix

Completely expected. Even though Fox deserves props for giving it a second season at all, them messing with it initially and sticking it in Friday didn't much count as a launch. Also they should have aired the 13th episode. Hopefully Joss finds another network that better fits his audience.
November 11, 2009 at 5:28PM EST Reply to Comment
shirley

Mr Whedon is awesome as a writer of scifi. The main stream shows are for 3rd graders. The Cuties, good doers, white washed shows lack vision, instead of showing new thoughts, they show the same old star trek vision. Some of us, actually a lot of us, want, no need exitement a new twist of story telling, Dollhouse was an interesting tale, something different, not another star trek. Most the shows are formula, Dollhouse and Fringe both have a larger and darker side of the story. This is not the sixty or seventys any more. Please stop giving us Waldens and I Love Lucy shows. Please let us grow up. I want to use my mind when I watch TV. I'm not a dull brained, half wit zombie. When the story is boring, I either change the station or turn off the TV. So take off the great storys, there's always a book handy.
November 17, 2009 at 7:32PM EST Reply to Comment