'Dollhouse' premieres soft; 'Terminator' dives
Expectations were low.
But they weren't quite this low.
The series premiere of Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse" was seen by 4.7 million viewers Friday night and garnered a 2.0 preliminary adults 18-49 rating and 6 share. It was beaten in the 9 p.m. hour by ABC's "Supernanny" (6.1 million viewers, 2.2/7) and is the lowest-rated scripted series premiere on a major broadcast network this season aside from NBC's now-defunct "Crusoe."
"Dollhouse" was paired with the midseason return of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" (3.7 million, 1.3/5), which was shifted from its previous Monday post. "Terminator" came in third place in the hour and hit a series low (by like 27%). "Terminator" beat NBC's "Howie Do It" (3.9 million, 1.2/4), but not by much. Both "Ghost Whisperer" (10.3 million, 2.4/8) and "Wife Swap" (4.3 million, 1.5/5) did better.
The performances represent a disappointing debut for what was, on paper, a good idea: creating a male-skewing sci-fi block to go against CBS' night-topping female-skewing crime shows. Fox didn't expect to win against CBS, but had some hope of coming out ahead of ABC's reality shows. But "Terminator" was sinking in the ratings earlier this season and "Dollhouse" has suffered from negative buzz and creative trouble for months. Critics, overall, seemed disappointed with Whedon's latest effort.
Fox had a third-place finish for the evening despite airing full-budgeted dramas. "Dollhouse" fared OK against two of its competitors, with CBS' Canadian import "Flashpoint" (8.9 million, 1.9/6) and NBC's ailing "Friday Night Lights" (3.5 million, 1.1/3) pulling lower numbers. It also did better than last year's short-lived "Canterbury's Law" in the slot.
At 10 p.m., an episode of ABC's "20/20" (10.9 million, 3.4/11) about the impoverished hill people of the Appalachian Mountains drew the newsmagazine's largest Friday audience in more than four years (ABC, in fact, won the night over CBS, which is rare). Yes, there was a whole morbid curiosity "real-life 'Deliverance'" aspect to its popularity. But give ABC and Diane Sawyer credit for convincing so many people to watch a report on poverty. Usually a newsmagazine needs an octuplet mom to pull off those kind of numbers.
http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/02/dollhouse-terminator-premiere-ratings.html (http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/02/dollhouse-terminator-premiere-ratings.html)
I don't recall ever seeing an ad for it on TV.
I saw at leas one ad for the Terminator show and Dollhouse done Grindhouse style. There is some marketing genius, pitch it like one of the biggest box bombs from the last five years.
It (Dollhouse) , didn't look, feel, or sound like anything of Joss' that I've seen/liked. (never was into 'Buffy').
Leverage feels more like Joss than Dollhouse did.
Too bad.
Quote from: Saxon on February 15, 2009, 12:26:23 PM
Leverage feels more like Joss than Dollhouse did.
Bingo!
Quote from: Saxon on February 15, 2009, 12:26:23 PM
It (Dollhouse) , didn't look, feel, or sound like anything of Joss' that I've seen/liked. (never was into 'Buffy').
Leverage feels more like Joss than Dollhouse did.
Too bad.
I so agree, in fact I found myself thinking exactly that when it ended. But then it has 2 Joss guys (Christian Kane and Mark Sheppard) & Dean Devlin is an excutive producer. What is so weird, I was channel surfing and it pulled me in :clap:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1103987/fullcredits#writers (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1103987/fullcredits#writers)
I absolutely love it. So do Jess and Tom.
Trouble is, with everyone's schedules/sleep patterns, we can't all watch it together, and I can't come in and talk about the eps after they play first run on TV.
We've watched some eps on On Demand, some on the website and some from some other online source of Jessi's. heh.
Quote from: Saxon on February 15, 2009, 12:26:23 PM
It (Dollhouse) , didn't look, feel, or sound like anything of Joss' that I've seen/liked. (never was into 'Buffy').
Leverage feels more like Joss than Dollhouse did.
Too bad.
Heck, Chuck and Burn Notice have the Joss feel more than Dollhouse does.
Quote from: Saxon on February 15, 2009, 01:15:36 PM
I absolutely love it. So do Jess and Tom.
Trouble is, with everyone's schedules/sleep patterns, we can't all watch it together, and I can't come in and talk about the eps after they play first run on TV.
We've watched some eps on On Demand, some on the website and some from some other online source of Jessi's. heh.
Well, you beat me.... I have only seen 2 episodes so far & I am not even sure what day it is on *G
Quote from: Spooky on February 15, 2009, 01:18:39 PM
Quote from: Saxon on February 15, 2009, 12:26:23 PM
It (Dollhouse) , didn't look, feel, or sound like anything of Joss' that I've seen/liked. (never was into 'Buffy').
Leverage feels more like Joss than Dollhouse did.
Too bad.
Heck, Chuck and Burn Notice have the Joss feel more than Dollhouse does.
Way back when Joss first talked about this project I thought that he was going to explore that extremely dark side of his with no humor to ground the show.
Quote from: Wyobar on February 15, 2009, 01:19:15 PM
Quote from: Saxon on February 15, 2009, 01:15:36 PM
I absolutely love it. So do Jess and Tom.
Trouble is, with everyone's schedules/sleep patterns, we can't all watch it together, and I can't come in and talk about the eps after they play first run on TV.
We've watched some eps on On Demand, some on the website and some from some other online source of Jessi's. heh.
Well, you beat me.... I have only seen 2 episodes so far & I am not even sure what day it is on *G
I think it it Tues. at 10pm?
Tom can't stay up that late, and Jessi doesn't have TV at her place at school.
If you want to find the very first eps, I think Jessi had to search for them online. I think the last few eps can be found on On Demand, www.fancast.com (http://www.fancast.com), or on the TNT site. I saw them out of order and it was still okay, didn't throw me off (like Rosie said). The characters are so full and say so much with so little, you KNOW them immediately. Honestly, I'd swear Joss had a hand in it if some one were to show me an ep without any background info. BUT, it's not a rip off, like anything else I've seen. I've heard it compared to the 'Oceans' movies, and I can see that a bit...but it's the 'Joss-like' characters, the misfits who somehow fit together...and someone become familiy with even wanting to..THAT's what does it for me. Absolutely LOVE it. I will def. get this on DVD and make sure Gingi watches it. She's got such a 'readers' mentality...she wants to start the 'story' and keep going till it's over. I guess in TV talk, she's a marathon girl! hehe.
Quote from: Wyobar on February 15, 2009, 01:21:24 PM
Quote from: Spooky on February 15, 2009, 01:18:39 PM
Quote from: Saxon on February 15, 2009, 12:26:23 PM
It (Dollhouse) , didn't look, feel, or sound like anything of Joss' that I've seen/liked. (never was into 'Buffy').
Leverage feels more like Joss than Dollhouse did.
Too bad.
Heck, Chuck and Burn Notice have the Joss feel more than Dollhouse does.
Way back when Joss first talked about this project I thought that he was going to explore that extremely dark side of his with no humor to ground the show.
You know, I think Joss is his own worst enemy, he wanted to make Firefly darker too and succeeded with
Serenity. I can't imagine Firefly without the humor and I understand that was the networks idea so did they
expect more humor here and once again Joss did his gloom and doom thing? Joss's best work is his lighter
stuff but for some reason he insists on trying this melodramatic tragedy crap! For crying out loud will some-
body give this guy an antidepressant!!!
I guess Tamara works for the studio, not the network.
Quote from: Wyobar on February 15, 2009, 01:21:24 PM
Quote from: Spooky on February 15, 2009, 01:18:39 PM
Quote from: Saxon on February 15, 2009, 12:26:23 PM
It (Dollhouse) , didn't look, feel, or sound like anything of Joss' that I've seen/liked. (never was into 'Buffy').
Leverage feels more like Joss than Dollhouse did.
Too bad.
Heck, Chuck and Burn Notice have the Joss feel more than Dollhouse does.
Way back when Joss first talked about this project I thought that he was going to explore that extremely dark side of his with no humor to ground the show.
This is a Whedon show. The reason it doesn't feel like it is because FOX came in and messed it up. Joss does have humor in Dollhouse but its buried, very subtle.
I have been reading over at Whedonesque about the NY Comic Con and The party in SOHO at the Apple Store.
Joss is giving Fox what the want but he's busting out with his own ideas by Ep 6. I really trust in Joss and believe he has great things in store. The only concern is whether FOX pulls the plug *shrug* we'll see.
Joss did announce additions to the cast as guest star: Alan Tudyk and Felicia Day.
I love Leverage a lot. It's my favorite show right now. I think there's just a touch of brilliance and TNT is letting Dean do what he wants.
That said I am happy Joss is back. I am really looking fporward to seeing how Dollhouse develops. :)
The only concern is whether FOX pulls the plug *shrug* we'll see.
I hope it lives long enough to get a chance. But it was the lowest-rated scripted series premiere on a major broadcast network this season aside from NBC's already canceled Crusoe series.
Quote from: TinkTanker on February 15, 2009, 04:58:44 PM
The only concern is whether FOX pulls the plug *shrug* we'll see.
I hope it lives long enough to get a chance. But it was the lowest-rated scripted series premiere on a major broadcast network this season aside from NBC's already canceled Crusoe series.
I know. :(
Of course its also a holiday weekend. The lead ratings was 8 right, although bigger its not a great number among top draws. I just need to see the first 7 then a dvd set.
I'm still upset The Inside never came to DVD. I only saw what aired.
I'm happy Alan has work. I hope I'll see him on tv.
Quote from: Saxon on February 15, 2009, 01:27:20 PM
Quote from: Wyobar on February 15, 2009, 01:19:15 PM
Quote from: Saxon on February 15, 2009, 01:15:36 PM
I absolutely love it. So do Jess and Tom.
Trouble is, with everyone's schedules/sleep patterns, we can't all watch it together, and I can't come in and talk about the eps after they play first run on TV.
We've watched some eps on On Demand, some on the website and some from some other online source of Jessi's. heh.
Well, you beat me.... I have only seen 2 episodes so far & I am not even sure what day it is on *G
I think it it Tues. at 10pm?
Tom can't stay up that late, and Jessi doesn't have TV at her place at school.
If you want to find the very first eps, I think Jessi had to search for them online. I think the last few eps can be found on On Demand, www.fancast.com (http://www.fancast.com), or on the TNT site. I saw them out of order and it was still okay, didn't throw me off (like Rosie said). The characters are so full and say so much with so little, you KNOW them immediately. Honestly, I'd swear Joss had a hand in it if some one were to show me an ep without any background info. BUT, it's not a rip off, like anything else I've seen. I've heard it compared to the 'Oceans' movies, and I can see that a bit...but it's the 'Joss-like' characters, the misfits who somehow fit together...and someone become family with even wanting to..THAT's what does it for me. Absolutely LOVE it. I will def. get this on DVD and make sure Gingi watches it. She's got such a 'readers' mentality...she wants to start the 'story' and keep going till it's over. I guess in TV talk, she's a marathon girl! hehe.
All right... something I can watch instead of the channel surfing that I have been doing lately *G I get what you are saying about them feeling like family... this comes across immediately.
I have caught the bug : ( Coughing and headache... going to go to bed & hope that I feel better tomorrow.
I've got a whole new set of nerves 'waking up'...I fell like I did about two years ago after a hard day at work!
Took a short nap (still have to sleep on my back, in a reclining position with my arms up on pillow)...woke up with my left arm completely asleep! (that hadn't happened for about 7-8 months...it was just 'dead'). So, it's actually a sign that the nerves are regenerating. *sigh*
:'(
It really is one step forward, two steps back.
Quote from: TinkTanker on February 15, 2009, 04:39:53 PM
I guess Tamara works for the studio, not the network.
She appeared over at Wheadonesque to be disassociating herself from both when she made a comment
so that is why I asked. I knew she worked for the studio.
If her 'working' personality is anything like her online one...I don't see how she can keep a job that doesn't require her to be locked away in a padded cell without interaction on a human level.
When she told me, when she worked for Disney that one of her 'job duties' was to come to the 'cast member' party dressed as Snow White, I almost peed my pants! Unless she's a really good actress and can PRETEND to be sweet and charming (like she's always done with us in any in person meetings we had), I don't see how she could 'fake it' long enough to hold down a long term posistion.
She did make comments about even this last gig at Fox as being a 'stepping stone' for her. Maybe she moved on and up?
Quote from: Saxon on February 16, 2009, 01:43:49 PM
If her 'working' personality is anything like her online one...I don't see how she can keep a job that doesn't require her to be locked away in a padded cell without interaction on a human level.
When she told me, when she worked for Disney that one of her 'job duties' was to come to the 'cast member' party dressed as Snow White, I almost peed my pants! Unless she's a really good actress and can PRETEND to be sweet and charming (like she's always done with us in any in person meetings we had), I don't see how she could 'fake it' long enough to hold down a long term posistion.
She did make comments about even this last gig at Fox as being a 'stepping stone' for her. Maybe she moved on and up?
I always wondered how she interacted with colleagues too since the social skills on line were pretty rough.
If she acted like that in her work environment I couldn't see how she was going anywhere. I guess she puts
on a good game face. The way she phrased the statement over at Wheadonesque made me think she might
have moved on.
She was always sweet in person. The girls called her 'Auntie Tamara'...she gave Jeremy money to go on a mission (and she being wiccan).
I saw a very bitter change in her as the years went passed, and I know part of it was something in her personal life.
Quote from: Saxon on February 16, 2009, 01:57:54 PM
She was always sweet in person. The girls called her 'Auntie Tamara'...she gave Jeremy money to go on a mission (and she being wiccan).
I saw a very bitter change in her as the years went passed, and I know part of it was something in her personal life.
I figured she had personal problems. She did admit to being an alcoholic on the OB so that's a start right
there.
She is a very sad person, that's for sure. One of the reasons I cut her so much slack for so long.
Quote from: Saxon on February 16, 2009, 02:21:24 PM
She is a very sad person, that's for sure. One of the reasons I cut her so much slack for so long.
She is self-destructive, her own worst enemy.
There is actually a litany of pejoratives I could use.
The fact she cut me no slack is what allowed me to cut her out.
Quote from: Phyll33 on February 15, 2009, 03:07:08 PM
Quote from: Wyobar on February 15, 2009, 01:21:24 PM
Quote from: Spooky on February 15, 2009, 01:18:39 PM
Quote from: Saxon on February 15, 2009, 12:26:23 PM
It (Dollhouse) , didn't look, feel, or sound like anything of Joss' that I've seen/liked. (never was into 'Buffy').
Leverage feels more like Joss than Dollhouse did.
Too bad.
Heck, Chuck and Burn Notice have the Joss feel more than Dollhouse does.
Way back when Joss first talked about this project I thought that he was going to explore that extremely dark side of his with no humor to ground the show.
You know, I think Joss is his own worst enemy, he wanted to make Firefly darker too and succeeded with
Serenity. I can't imagine Firefly without the humor and I understand that was the networks idea so did they
expect more humor here and once again Joss did his gloom and doom thing? Joss's best work is his lighter
stuff but for some reason he insists on trying this melodramatic tragedy gao se! For crying out loud will some-
body give this guy an antidepressant!!!
It's the Jane Austen syndrome... I think he doesn't believe himself when he talks about how difficult it is to write comedy :-\
Quote from: Saxon on February 15, 2009, 10:47:27 PM
I've got a whole new set of nerves 'waking up'...I fell like I did about two years ago after a hard day at work!
Took a short nap (still have to sleep on my back, in a reclining position with my arms up on pillow)...woke up with my left arm completely asleep! (that hadn't happened for about 7-8 months...it was just 'dead'). So, it's actually a sign that the nerves are regenerating. *sigh*
:'(
It really is one step forward, two steps back.
I never thought I would read that getting a sleeping arm was good... excellent news!
Quote from: Rosie on February 16, 2009, 04:29:35 PM
Quote from: Saxon on February 16, 2009, 02:21:24 PM
She is a very sad person, that's for sure. One of the reasons I cut her so much slack for so long.
She is self-destructive, her own worst enemy.
There is actually a litany of pejoratives I could use.
The fact she cut me no slack is what allowed me to cut her out.
Exactly! I mean, your 'infraction' was all in her head...and when you tried to make her see it (with other's backing you up), she still didn't budge. She did admit that YOU were upset with her when she cornered me (THREE times) at Comic Con. Really ticked me off that she decided to invite herself to sit with me and Jessi during the Chuck panel (of course she waited till I was gone and TOLD Jessi she was going to join us). grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Yeah, she cut her own throat after alot of crap-takin' on our part.