Nachdem November ja raus ist, hier ein kleines (bissal spoileriges) Update über die "Recurring Guest Star"-Rolle von Miracle Laurie:

Miracle Laurie has been an actor most of her life. Miracle has been a fan of Joss' for years and auditioned for, but never booked any roles on his other shows. Finally, it was the right part at the right time and her dream came true. Miracle was originally cast as November...another doll in the house, but due to production and script issues, November is no longer. Joss gave her another role - the sweet and slightly awkward next door neighbor of Paul Ballard (played by Tahmoh Penikett of Battlestar Gallactica).

Der Name das Charakters ist übrigens "Mellie".

Ein langes Interview auf Sci Fi Wire:

"You do [think about it]," Whedon said in Los Angeles during a Fox press day. "I mean, you notice things. The fact is, it's not a seamless birthing process. But ... it seldom is. For me, never. And the only difference is now everybody in the world knows everything about everything. But that doesn't really change what's going on. And it's been hard, and I've had despair, and I've had joy and excitement, and, ... ultimately, it has nothing to do with whether or not you will respond to the TV show." And he has more to say.

Auch sehr wunderbar über das retooling und die Frage wie stand-alone oder serialisiert es wird:

You kind of have to start with, "Well, you know, here's how it works, here's what you do every week, here's the adventure," and let the questions, ... the humanity of the thing, really sort of sneak in under. And ... now that's sort of happened, and after a few episodes, all of which are stand-alones, we're at a point where ... we know the characters well enough that there's a little bit of shorthand, and the interactions start to become really, really fascinating. And ... we hint at a lot of stuff in the early episodes, while we're doing stand-alones. We're sort of laying out threads, and now we start to get weaving some of them, and, ... without getting too caught up in its own mythology, that's where it starts to get really exciting. ...

Oh, ja, ich freu mich.

Sci Fi Wire sprach mit Whedon (öfters), und einerseits, gibt es da am Horizont ein Sequel:

"It is my intention that we will see more of young Billy and his horrible schemes, and I have a very specific idea of what that's going to be, but until I'm sure how I can roll it out, I will say nothing except that I'm definitely pursuing that," Whedon promised in an exclusive interview.

"I mean, there are two things that happened. There was Dr. Horrible itself, and there was the Internet sort of event, and I'm pursuing both of those kind of separately, in the sense that I want to tell a Dr. Horrible story, but I also want to continue trying new things on the Internet," Whedon added, somewhat cryptically. "And it might not be Dr. Horrible, just because I want to keep it fresh. I don't want to just do the same thing because I did it successfully once. So ... it feels like two very exciting avenues have been opened up by that experience."

So ... what kind of Dr. Horrible? DVDs? A movie? "Puppets," Whedon says, with tongue in cheek. "Shadow puppets is the latest idea. ... Beyond the fact that I'm excited about pursuing that story and that world, I love the fact that, you know, you can make something and just put it up without, you know, without having to reshoot the whole thing. Tra la!" (That last bit was an oblique reference to Fox, which got Whedon to dump his initial pilot for Dollhouse.)

Und andererseits gibt es da The Cabin in the Woods, welches von Tom Cruise (oh, welch Fan-Streitereien es zu dem Thema schon gab...) finanziert werde wird und im März mit den Dreharbeiten anfängt:

Whedon, who wrote the upcoming horror movie Cabin in the Woods with former Buffy writer Drew Goddard, met with Cruise as head of United Artists now that UA has taken over the MGM film as part of UA's takeover of the lion studio.

"We met with him to hear his suggestions, sort of his take on it," Whedon said in a Dec. 6 interview in Los Angeles. "But it was already sort of in the pipeline when they bought it, that was the idea. We're in preproduction. We start shooting in March, so the train has left the station, and so we're just sort of, well, we're filling up the train." The movie was shepherded by UA executive Mary Parent, who was an advocate of Whedon's back when she was at Universal Pictures, which produced Whedon's Serenity.

Dollhouse sollte Ende Januar fertig sein mit der Produktion. Also hat er den ganzen Februar Zeit an dem Dr. Horrible-Sequel zu arbeiten. Good times, good times.

Ganz tolles Interview jener Leutchens, die das "Echo"-Drehbuch liebten, "Ghost" aber verrissen:

But once you yourself take a stand on something, you can't help but feel like everything you do will be judged by that. And the essential part of being a storyteller is being the dark guy, is being the enemy. Not becoming a bad guy in a "Bad Boys 2" kind of way where you're just evil. [Laughs.] But you have to access that part of yourself that's unlovely. And once you've set yourself up as a public figure, it's almost like politics. It's almost harder to do. And that's something I sort of have to just shut down in the brain. If somebody's offended, I probably got them thinking. And that's probably good. If everybody's offended, I may have fucked up. [Laughs.]

Link

Das Magazin der Writer's Guild of America hat Joss "I’m the guy who can’t find the porn" Whedon zum Internet befragt, und heraus kam ein wirklich super, lesenswerter Text, der auch Dollhouse erwähnt:

Joss went to work on Dollhouse, bringing Zack and Tancharoen along on staff. But returning to studio life was jolting. “I came back to Fox and all of a sudden got notes on everything. ‘Those are the socks you’re going to wear? Hmm, will teenage girls respond to those socks?’” And it’s not just the notes. He’s impatient with the studio pace now that he’s seen how fast things can be done with a digital video and a good idea.

The new series has encountered some familiar difficulties. Originally a fall show, it was rescheduled for midseason. The pilot didn’t work, so production was shut down for a few weeks in September for a rewrite. But Joss has said this time it was his idea to rework the first episode, not the network’s. While fans are in a panic about the show’s Friday slot (at 9 p.m., beginning February 13), he and the staff seem unconcerned.

“Dollhouse has had a troubled start, that’s not breaking news, and there was a time when I literally was like, I don’t think I can stomach this process anymore,” he admits. “That’s not a dig on Fox or the people here, because I’m dealing with a much better class of network people than I was. It really is just the process and all of the other stuff that keeps me from just making the show. I don’t feel like in these, my declining years, I have time for that anymore. I need things to happen quickly. I found out that I am a sketch artist, I really am. I was talking to—name drop, Stephen Sondheim—and he said, ‘I would not open a show without out-of-town tryouts, I need to mess with it, I need to tweak it.’ I’m like okay, He’s Rembrandt, at best I’m Hirschfeld. I need to put out a drawing every week. That’s who I am. That doesn’t mean I don’t take enormous care with the work. It just means I’ve got to get it out there.”

Joss insists he has no interest in shunting Hollywood aside. In addition to the television show, he’s producing a horror film that he co-wrote with Drew Goddard (Buffy, Angel) called Cabin in the Woods, for MGM-UA. At the same time, “as I’ve said to Eliza, ‘We’re running the daycare on the Death Star; if you’re going to be in the mainstream, it’s fairly polluted.’”

(Abgesehen davon, dass es Jed und nicht Zack ist, der bei Dollhouse mitschreibt.)

In diesem Interview kurze Dollhouse-Erwähnung:

Fellow "Buffy" alum Joss Whedon has professed his love for "Battlestar Galactica." You're also working with him again on "Dollhouse." What makes the relationship click?
The relationship between me and Joss? I think he respects my willingness to work hard and work fast and stay positive.

thehague, welcher Dollhouse-Promos schneidet, spricht:

Dollhouse. Can't say much. 'cept FOX needed a manga -- and we finally got one. More adult with less commercials. Friday's are sci-fi again!

Wie, wo, was? Oder meint er einfach die generelle Manga-ness von Dollhouse? Gunslinger Girl?

The TV Addict darf welche stellen, und nimmt Angebote gerne an:

Over the course of the next two days, the TV Addict has once again been given the incredible opportunity to take part in a FOX Press Junket. So if you’ve got any questions for any of the following FOX stars, please post away in the comments below and I’ll endeavor to get them answered.

24’s Keifer Sutherland and Mary Lynn Rajskub. BONES’ David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel. DOLLHOUSE’s Eliza Dushku, Tahmoh Penikiett and Joss Whedon. FRINGE’s John Noble. GLEE’s Cory Monteith. HELL’S KITCHEN’s Gordon Ramsay. HOUSE’s Lisa Edelstein and Olivia Wilde. THE OSBOURNES’ Sharon, Ozzy, Kelly and Jack. TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES’ Brian Austin Green and Garret Dillahunt. And finally, LIE TO ME’s Tim Roth, Kelli Williams, Brendan Hines and Ria Torres.

Großteils positiv, mit ein paar (verständlichen/nicht schlimmen) Abstrichen:

I think it’s fair to say that Joss Whedon fans are worried about his new series DOLLHOUSE. There have been rumors, production stoppages, a couple of pilots, delays and a few eye brow-raising interviews. But fear not, viewers, DOLLHOUSE’s first episode is mostly good and it’s something to be excited about.

Link

Bei TV Guide ist Dollhouse (neben Fillions Castle) ein Editor's Pick bei den kommenden Shows, trotz folgendem:

Why it's on our Watch List: The latest, reshot pilot still reveals some flaws — the biggest problem with Dollhouse may be what goes on inside the Dollhouse — but the missions, er, engagements are kinda cool, as Echo immerses herself in each new personality. We're going to give Team Whedon-Dushku some latitude on this one.

Sie mögen nicht, was im Dollhouse passiert? Sie mögen Adelle, Boyd, Topher nicht? Well, no problem there, sag ich.

Und hier kann mensch abstimmen über voraussichtliche Hits und Flops der Midseason. Guess what: Dollhouse führt die Hits-Wertung an und ist zweiter in der Flop-Wertung. Hilarious, oder?

Eine pure Masse an Lieblingszeilen. Hier mal eine der thematisch relevanteren:

A CAVEMAN PAINTED ON A CAVE
IT WAS A BISON, WAS A FAVE
THE OTHER CAVE-PEOPLE WOULD RAVE –
THEY DIDN’T ASK “WHY?”
WHY PAINT A BISON IF IT’S DEAD
WHEN DID YOU CHOOSE THE COLOR RED
WHAT WAS THE PROCESS IN YOUR HEAD
HE TOLD THEIR STORY
WHAT CAME BEFORE HE DIDN’T SHOW
WE’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO

HOMER’S ODYSSEY WAS SWELL
A BUNCH OF GUYS THAT WENT THROUGH HELL
HE TOLD THE TALE BUT DIDN’T TELL
THE AUDIENCE WHY
HE DIDN’T SAY, HERE’S WHAT IT MEANS
AND HERE’S A FEW DELETED SCENES
CHARYBDIS TESTED WELL WITH TEENS
HE’S NOT THE STORY
HE’S JUST A DOOR WE OPEN IF
OUR LIVES NEED LIFTING

BUT NOW WE PICK PICK
PICK PICK PICK IT APART
OPEN IT UP TO FIND THE
TICK TICK TICK OF A HEART
A HEART, BROKEN

(Joss Whedon)

Auf CBS läuft bald Freitags um 9 die zweite Staffel des Cop-Dramas Flashpoint, der vermutlich größte Dollhouse-Konkurrent was Ratiengs anbelangt. The Hollywood Reporter prognostiziert:

Analysis: Like comparing a Buick to a funnel cake. Here's CBS' modestly rated, yet seemingly nuclear-blast-proof Canadian import competing with Fox's fallen midseason angel. After trying "Moonlight" and "The Ex List" in this slot, Friday leader CBS hopes "Flashpoint" can finally fill this ratings pothole. With its other weekday slots occupied by more promising titles, Fox placed the softening sci-fi drama "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" and creatively overhauled freshman series "Dollhouse" onto the Friday wall in hopes they might stick.

Likely winner: In the short term, curiosity tune-in will probably push "Dollhouse" to top the adult demo, despite having a weaker lead-in. But "Flashpoint" is almost certain to win among total viewers and will probably dominate in the demo as the season progresses.

Ich würde eher davon ausgehen, dass Dollhouse mit der Zeit zunehmen wird. Gesamtzuschauerzahl wird CBS wohl tatsächlich einsacken, aber die Demo-Zahlen (also jene für die 18 bis 49-jährigen) soll/muss/wird Dollhouse gewinnen.

Hier mal ein paar kurze Linkdrops:

• Dollhouse führt hier ne Top 15 der größten Antizipationen 2009 an...
• ...während Kristin Dos Santos es auf 10. von 10 sieht.
• Paniklosigkeit ist in aller Munde.
• Gesichter zum Anschauen haben die ja auch alle. Auch Eliza.

Inkluisve bisher ungesehener Ausschnitte. Z.B. ist jene Szene dabei, aus der jenes Bild stammt, in der Echo offenbar Paul verprügelt, sowie auch der Dialog, der schon in "Echo" und einer der ersten Preview-Clips damals im Mai war... hat wohl überlebt:


(Direktlink)

dollverse berichtet über die für Spoiler-Junkies so essentiellen, viel geleakten Casting Sides:

We've had a heads up that 20th Century Fox are sending DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown orders to sites hosting Dollhouse casting sides, which are script pages used for spoilers. Just a warning to fan sites out there. We haven't hosted or linked to casting sides, as I believe if we know everything that's going to happen, why bother watching? There's too little surprise in the world.

Ohne mich auszukennen, gehe ich davon aus, dass nur die Hoster der Drehbuchseiten (im wesentlichen kenne ich nur Spoiler TV, die das für Dollhouse gemacht haben) betroffen sind, nicht Leute, die die Hoster verlinken (wie ich, z.B.).

Spoiler TV hat einen Scan des neuesten Dollhouse-Artikels. Eins der seltener benutzten Fotos und ein paar Joss-Zitate zum Opener "Ghost" inklusive:

Auch wenn es noch immer nicht bei amazon.de auftaucht, möchte ich jetzt hier und heute diese DVD zu einem schieren Meisterwerk erklären. Ganz abgesehen von allen kleinen Gimmicks und Spielereien, Easter Eggs und Making ofs, ist Commentary! The Musical das inhaltlich und musikalisch sensationellste Ding, dass es seit... naja, seit Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog eben gab. Wahnsinn.

ETA: Und wer einen lyrischen Vorgeschmack haben möchte, der kann ja hier mal reinschnuppern.

Ich hab zwar noch keine Fotos gefunden, aber angeblich geht (wie versprochen) mit Januar Fox' Marketingkampagne los. In LA stehen Plakatwände:

Anyway, there are Dollhouse billboards up all over LA. They look sort of similar to those first season billboards for Terminator, with Summer and the white background. These show Eliza against a white background, hiding between two actual dolls (mannequins), also white. There's a hard-to-read tagline that says something like "she can be whatever you want her to be." I don't believe Joss' or Eliza's names appear anywhere. They seem to be going for an intrigue/mystery vibe.

Wax Banks, schon damals eine der besten Zugänge zu Dr. Horrible, hat nun mithilfe der DVD nochmal zugeschlagen. Noch mehr lesenswertes. Oder hat irgendwer von euch bisher die "Capt. Hammer ist corporate toll ist Hollywood Studio"-Idee (mit den Bloggern als Dr. Horrible) so betrachtet, dass sein Einfrieren als work-stoppage gedeutet wird? Der Streik, der alles hervorbrachte? Fuck, fuck, fuck. Ich kann diese DVD echt kaum erwarten.

gossi haut drauf:

Ghost (written and directed by Joss Whedon)
Grey Hour (written by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain, directed by Rod Hardy)
The Target (written and directed by Steven DeKnight)
Stage Fright (written by Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon, directed by David Solomon (TBC))
Man on the Street (written by Joss Whedon, directed by David Solomon)
True Believer (written by Tim Minear, directed by Allan Kroeker)
Echoes (written by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain)
Needs (Unknown), Haunted (Unknown)
Four Engagements (written by Andrew Cambliss, directed by David Solomon)
Briar Rose (written by Jane Espenson)
12 (written by Tim Minear)
Finale (written by Joss Whedon)

Ein paar Sachen sind da schon neu.

Die DVD ist zwar noch immer nicht in meinem Besitz, ich möchte aber dennoch darauf hinweisen, dass ein Sequel, ein vierter Akt, der zwischen Dollhouse- und The Cabin in The Woods-Dreharbeiten (also Ende Februar) angesiedelt wäre, absolut nicht unwahrscheinlich ist. In der Zwischenzeit, besuchen sie bitte
www.metathecommentarythemusicalmusicalcommentary.com

Tim Minear, je nach Quellenangabe consulting oder executive producer von Dollhouse, meldet sich auch mal zu Wort:

Dollhouse, Fox, debuts Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly creator Whedon is back this midseason, and he's taking on a new genre that has nothing to do with vampires or spaceships. Eliza Dushku will play Echo, a mysterious operative who regularly gets her mind wiped and is implanted with a new personality. "We're not doing Alias," executive producer Tim Minear said. "It's not like every week she's the same character who is pretending to be somebody else. She's not pretending: She actually has these memories."

Ist zwar nix neues gesagt, aber der gute Tim gibt so selten Interviews, dass ich das mal erwähnen wollte.