When the DVR numbers came out for this season’s premiere of Dollhouse execs noticed a 50% boost in ratings. Good news, right? Apparently not, as a 50% boost to already horrible ratings is still pretty lackluster. But even after live Nielsen ratings for the show did less than stellar (and before these DVR numbers dropped), Fox exec Kevin Reilly told series creator Joss Whedon that the full season of Dollhouse would air.
The possibility of a back-nine or a third season will be decided after it’s current run, and the show may be pulled if ratings continue to decline (to boost sweeps), but Fox promises that all 13 episodes will air. Whedon, currently filming episode eight, stated that he will script this season’s finale as a series finale with lingering threads should the network decide to renew the show.
Dollhouse has actually picked up quite a bit this season. The show is reinvigorated and every episode thus far seems to be striving for the heights of “Epitaph One”, unofficially known as the show’s best episode. I’m glad that at the very least we’ll get to see this season play out as Whedon intended, and that we’ll get Summer Glau goodness in three weeks. For the first and possibly last time ever, thanks Fox!
-Brian
Source: http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/15400/-dollhouse-gets-full-episode-run
Glad to hear that it will at least complete this season, especially since this has been a stronger season so far. I was afraid with the poor ratings that it would get axed after 6 or 7 episodes.
Dennis
Me too. Remember Tim Minear's "Drive" which aired something like four episodes, then got axed? Fox is still banking on American Idol, The Simpsons, and Seth McFarlane so why care about any of their other shows? Let's just hope Summer Glau proves a good luck charm instead of the usual "We have to cancel this, because this girl has talent!"
Brian
Thank God! I like how fox tends to keep some shows even though there doing badly. Sort of like Til Death which I think is pretty crappy but I'm unbelievable happy there giving Dollhouse a season 2. I think they should just put it on on monday or tuesday. The better shows are on Wednesdays and Thursdays so putting it on those days would definitely help its ratings.
The Friday death slot is ruthless to everyone, not just Fox; though Fox seems to have gotten the black hole of Friday night death slots. At least we'll get to see a Dollhouse season without any interference from Fox in it's completion. I'd say that's a pretty good deal for Joss.
Brian
WwooooooWhooooooooo!!!!!
I would be so mad if they nixed it without a full season.
Me too. I personally think Fox is scared of Joss Whedon's fanbase.
Brian
They ought to move Dollhouse to a different timeslot so it's not opposite Stargate: Universe. There's a significant overlap in the audience for both shows, so the shows might get more live viewers instead of DVR viewers if they didn't air at the same time. My husband and I are guilty of recording Dollhouse to watch later because we'd rather watch Stargate: Universe live, but it's a close race between the two shows. I want to give Whedon's show a chance to develop, which won't happen if it doesnt' get enough viewers and get renewed, so I always feel bad that we're not watching Dollhouse live.
It's a combination of the Nielsen ratings simply being an outdated form of tracking with the advent of DVR and online viewership, and Fox saying they're gonna give a show a shot…by dumping it in the Friday death slot again. Fox will never give any show a shot while American Idol and garbage like that still exists.
However, Dollhouse's storytelling has picked up quite extensively in their second season with just a few episodes. Even if it doesn't last, I think we're in for a pretty interesting season.
Brian
Just watched Ep.10 and wwoooowhoooo. This show needs to survive. Damn, that was good.