DOLLHOUSE

Joss to quit TV forever?

POSTED BY: PIRATENEWS
UPDATED: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 17:27
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 7290
PAGE 1 of 1

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 11:00 AM

PIRATENEWS

John Lee, conspiracy therapist at Hollywood award-winner History Channel-mocked SNL-spoofed PirateNew.org wooHOO!!!!!!


Quote:



TV playtime is over for Dollhouse's Joss, says Olivia

By Alison Jones on Feb 23, 2010

Dollhouse star Olivia Williams has said that creator Joss Whedon has been so scarred by the cancellation of his show that he may shun television entirely in the future.

The fantasy drama/actioner about pleasure puppets served as a vehicle for his Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Eliza Dushku.

It suffered through two seasons of uncertainty, beset by rumours it would be axed after the first then finally being dropped by Fox after the second.

It was another early cancellation blow for Whedon after his space western Firefly was ditched with only 11 episodes aired of the 14 that had been produced.

The remaining episodes of Dollhouse series 2, which is running on Sci-Fi with the finale on March 9, attempt to tie up all the loose ends in a story arc originally intended to evolve over five years.

Olivia, who will next been seen in the Roman Polanski directed thriller The Ghost, which opens in cinemas on April 16, said she would be happy to be one of Joss's go-to actresses for other projects but doubted whether it would be on the small screen.

"He writes beautifully. He wrote all my scenes because he was the only writer who could do the English thing without me sounding like I had a rod up my arse. We got on very well. But I don't think he will ever do another TV show because he was so burnt by that experience.

"I was disappointed (by the cancellation) because it was hurtful. Not knowing every day when you showed up whether someone was going to come in and unplug the lighting while you were speaking is not an experience I want to repeat."

When she first took the role Olivia, 41, was worried about how she would cope artistically with such a (potentially) long term commitment and whether she would continue to be challenged by the role of Adelle DeWitt, the steely but stylish head of the LA Dollhouse and puppet-mistress of its actives.

"I think it is tough when you sign up for a five to seven year contract. I had never done that before and after the first three episodes I thought 'have I got to do the same person again?' I have always changed character, done something for a couple of months then moved on. I thought I'd have to dig deep to keep this person alive over a possible five years."

However, because of its premature ending, character development was put on fast forward.

"When we realised we were going to be cancelled Joss shoved more and more in.

"Everything that was going to happen over seven years happened in about an episode and a half. So I became an alcoholic, recovered from alcoholism - goody, baddy, goody baddy, goody - which was such fun to play.

"I had two great periods of five months in LA playing a character who got to wear fabulous clothes and (I) only had to work three days per week. I can't imagine a nicer job in terms of lifestyle, so it all worked out very well for me."

In The Ghost she plays a similarly intelligent and articulate woman. Ruth Lang is the forthright wife of a former British PM (Pierce Brosnan), who is much cleverer than her husband but who lacked the people skills necessary to succeed in politics herself.

"I do see parallels," she agrees. "Except as Adelle I was dressed up to the nines, lovely lighting, lovely designer outfits, There was a lot about Adelle that was about presentation. How she was perceived was extremely important to her whereas Ruth doesn't give a toss about how she is perceived and doesn't really have a clue about clothes. She is dressing to be comfortable or practical.

"The only time she puts a bit of lipstick on is when she is trying to get information out of the ghost writer (Ewan McGregor). I think Adelle is a cleverer politician whereas as Ruth is hopeless politician but a very bright and alarming person."

Olivia and her husband Rashan Stone, who is also an actor and playwright, based themselves in LA while she was filming Dollhouse and their daughters, Esme and Roxana, are still enrolled in school there.

She says they are waiting to see where their work takes them next before they decide whether and where to relocate.

In addition to her TV work and The Ghost, she also squeezed in roles as a teacher in An Education and playing Ian Dury's wife in Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll.

"The theory is I am going to take a break but I love working and the next person who comes up with an abrasive, intelligent woman I shall snap it up.

"How lucky am I? I mean look at the range of that in a year. Women of my age have every right to complain that they don't get good roles, and the amount of times that women of my age say 'your dinner's in the oven, honey' and I haven't said that once.

"My husband is an amazingly supportive person and fortunately very good at raising children, so that is good."

http://blogs.sundaymercury.net/anorak-city/2010/02/tv-playtime-is-over
-for-dollho.html



Dollhouse "finale" on SciFi/SyFy on March 9...? UK?

March 9 on SyFy has Tru Calling but no Dollhouse.
www.syfy.com

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 11:03 AM

STORYMARK


Meh, he talked much the same way before. He'll stay away from TV until such a time that he decides to go back. No biggie.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 11:35 AM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


Yes, that's in the UK. Even if it repeats here in the US it probably won't be for at least a year.

Quote:

Dollhouse star Olivia Williams has said that...he may shun television entirely in the future.

Quote:

But I don't think he will ever do another TV show...

That's just Olivia's speculation, and even if Joss had said it the "may" and "I don't think" doesn't mean an unequivocal rejection of the medium.

It just better not be on FOX the next time.



NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 11:58 AM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by Storymark:
Meh, he talked much the same way before. He'll stay away from TV until such a time that he decides to go back. No biggie.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."




Agreed. The Firefly experience seemed to almost have crushed his spirit, but that wasn't enough to stop him from trying again. He'll be back, and I'll be there to give it a try, whatever he comes up with.

Mike

Work is the curse of the Drinking Class.
- Oscar Wilde

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 12:00 PM

ZEEK


I doubt it. Unless the talk of online networks pan out and he decides to go that route. I think Joss loves the TV medium too much. The medium and the bureaucracy associated with it are very different things.

I say that because I feel much the same way about my job. I like the people I work with. I enjoy the work. I'd just like the management to go flitter away somewhere.

I can't see Joss being happy creating characters exclusively for movies or comics. They just don't have the same life. Sure he might enjoy those too for a while, but I just think he has a passion for creating TV characters.

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 12:05 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


Joss delights in creating characters that bond and create extended families, and that is difficult to do given the limited time in a film.




wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 12:35 PM

BYTEMITE


Boy. Remember when Joss said he'd announce his next project soon after the last episode of Dollhouse airs? I saw the title here and thought I'd been Jossed again by the master of misleads. Whew.

Well, I agree that I think we can take this as Olivia's opinion. That's not to say he's not torn up about how Dollhouse went: even if, for Joss, this was just a show he pitched for his friend Eliza, I think Joss CARES about the art and what he creates. I'd imagine watching his shows get canceled is probably a little like when a pet or a good friend dies. He's like to be sad about Dollhouse.

I'd say give him six months to properly grieve and he'll probably be back on his feet working on new projects by then. Assuming he's not ready to spill what his next project is yet.

That said, I think the internet probably WOULD be a better environment for him than television. No bureaucracy, no executives, pre-established fanbase and the DVD sales for profits. Worked before.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 1:10 PM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by Bytemite:
Boy. Remember when Joss said he'd announce his next project soon after the last episode of Dollhouse airs? I saw the title here and thought I'd been Jossed again by the master of misleads. Whew.



Well, he did just announce that Comic-Con doc with Spurlock, so really he was only off by a couple weeks.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 1:15 PM

ISROUSRO


He will not work until there is a check made out to him for another project. Or one of his friends says "could you help?". In either case I think it would be Grrr Arggh time again.

passoniatetly indifferent

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 1:15 PM

BYTEMITE


No, no, I meant I thought, based on this title, that Joss announcing he's not coming back to television WAS the announcement he promised. In which case my response would have been a blank stare, jaw dropped, then a slow, steadily building noise of despair sounding suspiciously like some sort of whine. Something like a dog after being drop kicked then mauled by a bear and left for dead.

I'm glad it's not.

So... Announcements? There's been announcements? About anything? Comic Con?

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 1:29 PM

STORYMARK


Ah, gotcha.

And yeah, there were a couple threads for it here, but basically Joss and Morgan Spurlock (Supersize Me guy) are doing to pick 6 comic fans - the type that make elaborate costumes for cons - and follow them around the con itself.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 1:41 PM

PIRATENEWS

John Lee, conspiracy therapist at Hollywood award-winner History Channel-mocked SNL-spoofed PirateNew.org wooHOO!!!!!!


It's like sex after a bad break up. Hard to quit for good. 6 months later and its speed dating at the local meat market.

I'd recommend to Joss he not mention mind control in his future scripts until the 2nd season is paid in advance. Gotcha!

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 5:12 PM

OPPYH


waa waa waa. Give me a break. I understand why he was upset with average ratings for Firefly, and the shockingly sudden cancellation. That makes sense.

What doesn't make sense is Dollhouse. The show underperformed from the start. It was a miracle it got picked up for a second season. He knew what he was up against. With Nielson ratings like Dollhouse had....cancellation was imminent.
He can save the sob story for the next 'good' show he makes that gets cancelled.




NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 5:27 PM

BYTEMITE


Grief is strange. Sometimes, even if you're prepared for it, it can hit you hard.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

YOUR OPTIONS

NEW POSTS TODAY

USERPOST DATE

OTHER TOPICS

DISCUSSIONS
Seeing Dichen Lachman
Sun, February 23, 2020 16:42 - 3 posts
Liza Lapira in Battle Creek
Wed, June 26, 2019 20:26 - 6 posts
Happy Birthday Eliza Dushku!
Sun, December 30, 2018 10:07 - 1 posts
Happy Birthday to Amy Acker!
Wed, December 5, 2018 03:58 - 1 posts
Happy Birthday Liza Lapira!
Mon, December 3, 2018 06:32 - 1 posts
Tahmoh Penikett on Taken
Fri, April 6, 2018 20:49 - 1 posts
We are all in the attic.
Thu, October 5, 2017 11:25 - 8 posts
Eliza in Bull Next Week
Tue, September 12, 2017 23:03 - 7 posts
Lust For Love (2014)
Sat, August 12, 2017 20:32 - 2 posts
Fran Kranz to have "Friends With Benefits"
Mon, November 28, 2016 20:52 - 5 posts
Amy Acker Helps Bolster MacGuyver
Mon, October 3, 2016 19:16 - 1 posts
First Time Watching: What Order Should I Watch?
Thu, August 14, 2014 21:52 - 3 posts

FFF.NET SOCIAL