Club Jade

io9′s Graeme McMillan put an interesting post up this weekend on the cycle of how fans deal with canceled shows. However, the most interesting part is actually from SyFy’s Craig Engler on why the former Sci-Fi Channel doesn’t pick up network cast-offs. (They cost too much, of course.)

The Hollywood Reporter broke the news, and Entertainment Weekly confirmed… Dollhouse has been cancelled by Fox. The network will air the remaining episodes in December. Here’s Joss Whedon’s statement on Whedonesque:

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.

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.

Thank you all for your support, your patience, your excellent adverts. See you again. -j.

Whedonesque is arranging a thank you to the cast and crew.

The Doctor gets spiffed up for new season. As if Flopsy McEmohair wasn’t enough of a change, the BBC has unveiled a new logo/branding for Doctor Who. It’s a tad sophomore-year design project, but I kinda dig it.

Second verse, same as the first. Dollhouse is in trouble! How novel! The campaign is thataway.

Ride into Westeros. Horse-riding extras are needed in Northern Ireland for HBO’s A Game of Thrones later this month.

Now that everyone has gotten over Johnny Depp’s appearance and that smooch between John Barrowman and David Tennant, Airlock Alpha catches us up on all we missed with sci-fi TV:

• Joss Whedon tells all about the Dollhouse renewal surprise, the upcoming Buffy comics and his gleeful anticipation of Glee (along with half of Club Jade).
• NBC embraces the whole Comic-Con experience by posting incredible amounts of video to watch from Chuck and Heroes.
• Warehouse13 has mental stress to thank for its cast.

And now let’s see what scoopage E! is covering:

• No surprise here:  HBO picks up True Blood for another season.
• Kristin gets some scoopage on how long you’ll get to see Dominic Monaghan on Lost.
• And they examine the Heroes trailer.

And one final tidbit for crushed Jericho fans:  it looks like they’re trying for a wrap-up movie.

The Hollywood Reporter’s James Hibberd reports that Dollhouse is actually getting a second season – or at least 13 more episodes. An official announcement is expected Monday at the Fox upfronts.

Victor, Echo, November, Tango, uh-oh?

Internet buzz has been going around the announcement from FOX that the season finale of Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse would be May 8, with the 12th episode, “Omega”. But the buzz was about them not showing episode thirteen: “Epitaph One” – did FOX screw Joss Whedon over again? Producer Tim Minear explains it that “Omega” was meant to be the season ender, and “Epitaph One” is meant for DVD, as part of the need to fulfill a thirteen episode deal. Learn more about the saga behind how the news of Epitaph One’s broadcast epitaph happened.

As the geek world turns:

• The town of Vulcan, Alberta, will have a special pre-release screening of Star Trek, after Leonard Nimoy went to bat for them to the Paramount bigwigs who chose Sydney, Australia for the world premiere. But wait, Vulcan doesn’t even have a movie theater!
• Leonard Nimoy talks about being Spock one more time, and gives a spoiler as to his scene.
• Some new Red Dwarf: Back to Earth photos have popped up, as well as a postcard from Lister.
• NPR ponders: Does the end of BSG mean dividends for Dollhouse?
• Moviehole reports that the ending of Terminator Salvation has been changed since the original ending was leaked online last month. Maybe they’ll put in that line about the Salvation Army? Will this affect the prequel novel “Terminator Salvation: From the Ashes” written by Timothy Zahn that came out last week?
• And with the latest promo material showcasing the cast of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, cinematical wonders where are Ryan Reynolds and Dominic Monaghan?

So says creator Joss Whedon, in a message out to the media – from this episode on, Dollhouse will be “stronger” and “more intense”. TV Guide reports that this week’s episode is to be game-changing and a “much shirtless Tahmoh [Penikett]“. Screen Rant takes a look at FOX’s interference on why the first five episodes haven’t been living up to the show’s potential, and drops a big cast spoiler — a former Whedon show alum.

Meanwhile, the show and its lead-in, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, are on rocky ground. Two episodes ago, the ratings seemed dismal for both Terminator and Dollhouse, putting them into the crosshairs of FOX cancellation. But last week’s episodes bounced upwards – perhaps all their fans were in line for Watchmen two weeks ago? Atomic takes a gander at why FOX hates sci-fi, though keeps showing it. In other Terminator news, /film reveals that Linda Hamilton has provided the opening narration for the upcoming Terminator Salvation movie.

Making a meal of the news, we got a Joss-Watchmen-Joss sandwich for you:

• Joss Whedon, who was once writing a Wonder Woman movie a long time ago, explains that of the DC Universe, Batman is the only one worth writing a movie for him.
• Who reviews the Watchmen? Alan Moore, the writer behind Watchmen (the graphic novel), shares his gripes on Hollywood and comic book movies with with TotalFilm (Warning: Alan Moore looks spooky) but gives a more general interview to Salon about many of his works, and his youth. Meanwhile, a few reviewers look at what’s wrong with the Watchwoman: is it the costume designer’s fault? Or is it Malin Ackerman’s performance as Silk Spectre? And the Examiner tells you why you should see Watchmen … because you should see movies that are involved in a legal battle between studios, or have technological challenges.
• Joss Whedon talks about the Dr. Horrible business model and the future of television to The TV Addict. “I haven’t watched anything that wasn’t THE OFFICE, TERMINATOR, or 30 ROCK in two seasons.” Not watching BSG anymore, Joss? Meanwhile, Dollhouse and Terminator get big ratings boosts from DVR viewership.

Bon appetit!

Some little bits from the world of genre:

• io9 thinks that Dollhouse is possible now, with our existing brain manipulating tech. But will they make us as good looking as Eliza Dushku? Meanwhile, the Dollhouse first episode “Ghost” climbed to the top of the TV episodes list on iTunes.
• Sophie Winkleman, (Susan from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) has been cast in the upcoming Red Dwarf special: Back to Earth.
• Andrew Liptak lists out 9 sci-fi books that would be great movies. Karen Traviss and Tim Zahn make the list.
• Joss Whedon will be receiving the Bradbury award for excellence in screenwriting, to be presented at this year’s Nebula Awards this April.