INTERVIEW: JOSS WHEDON TALKS "DOLLHOUSE," FEARS AND WORRIES

What follows is the first in a series of one-on-one interviews conducted during the 2009 FOX Midseason Press Junket. We'll post each as they relate to that week's premieres. In this case though, we're hard pressed to sit on a chat with "Dollhouse" creator Joss Whedon.

Brian Ford Sullivan: Having done films with "Serenity" and the internet with "Dr. Horrible," what's the draw for you in going back to television?

Joss Whedon: Well, there are two different dreams - and one of them is to do something, you know, epic in scope and large like a TV show where you can spend years examining the lives of these characters with the microscope of my love. And there's movies where I don't know how else to say this - the shit is big. [Laughs.] And that's not nothing. There's a reason for that. And then there's the internet where my id can just explode and I plan as soon as humanly possible to get back to that because that to me is very exciting. I am ultimately agnostic about medium. I love telling stories. I love radio, I mean narrative radio... the old shows... "Mystery Theatre" with E.G. Marshall... and so wherever the next story is is where I go.

And "Dollhouse," it just sort of happened [over] lunch with Eliza [Dushku]. I had been pursuing what had ultimately become the internet model, and at that time I was thinking about DVDs. It was just, how do I do stuff outside the system on the cheap and just get some stories out there. I developed "Wonder Woman" to no avail. I developed "Goners" to no avail. I was getting tired of not telling stories. So I was interested in pursuing that. Then I went to lunch [with Eliza], I came back and I was like, "I think I'm doing a show for FOX. Because I think this is gonna happen now." It was just very organic, you just have to be ready for the next thing, to know what it is, to not turn your nose up at it because you had a different plan.

Brian Ford Sullivan: In terms of "Dollhouse" itself, I know you shot a new pilot - was there a specific change in the concept of the show you were looking to do?

Joss Whedon: It was more... in the emphasis and the feel of the show and the way it rolled out. The things that the network clearly wanted to... shooting a new pilot was my idea. Because the network, they were looking for something specific. I thought I delivered it because they were very excited about the script. They weren't as excited about the show so we talked about why and why and why and I figured out what they wanted. We talked about those things and it was obvious they wanted more of an action feel than a noir feel. What I had done was very sort of dark and moody. And they wanted a show, a first episode that absolutely laid out the structure of the show, which is - Echo is at the Dollhouse, she is imprinted for an engagement, she goes on the engagement, she comes back from the engagement into the Dollhouse. This is how it works.

They wanted, the first thing I wrote was sort of laying out how that would happen... in the next episode. They were like, "No, we want it to happen in [this] episode so people get it from that." And then, you know, upping the action and deciding to roll out... change certain events that ultimately made it so that I just junked the other pilot. This won't be the second episode because this isn't what the network wants, this isn't the kind of show they want. This is something you could do two years in when everybody's familiar with it and you don't have to explain it. I always hold to the premise that the first six episodes are the first six pilots. You have to be able to come in and just go, "Oh, okay. So that's the premise and here it is delivered in this fashion." And I did get a little turned around. There was times when I was like, wait a minute, are the things that I care about still in the show? [Laughs.] Because some things that I was interested in - the more twisted elements of the human psyche and some of the more quieter aspects of it, kind of got shunned to the side.

But I realized, you know, I may have said this before - you don't pitch "Buffy" with "The Body." You earn that. You pitch it with the premise and then you get to all the stuff that you're really doing it for. So, you know, I had fun with the episodes once I figured out sort of how I was doing it. The fun with the episodes, the only trouble has been trying to figure out what actually happened because we had a bunch of stuff everybody assumed that we threw out and then we had to start shooting everything out of sequence. Everything. So literally every script comes with a memo to the actors - "this is what you have gone through" or "this is before you went through that" - because it just got, it was one of those snowball effects of scheduling. So it's getting complicated but ultimately I feel like it rolls out pretty nicely and as the show progresses it really starts to become something more than the sum of its parts. I like the premise, I'm interested in the premise. But it's the people behind the premise that are ultimately the heart of the show.

Brian Ford Sullivan: So what are these dark and twisted elements of the human psyche that you spoke about?

Joss Whedon: Well, you know, there was sort of this celebration of human perversion. It was kind of part of it because ultimately some of their engagements are sexual in nature. That's been very much downplayed because it makes some people uncomfortable. My mandate was to make some people uncomfortable - unfortunately some of those people run the network. [Laughs.] Or are the bosses of the people that run the network. So, it's something that you, again, you have to earn. Once you have people's trust you can start to... that's not to say there isn't some controversial stuff. There's some very borderline stuff about what they are doing, about how evil it is and I think ultimately some people may be kind of shocked by the show even though it doesn't present itself as a very shocking thing. It presents itself as sort of a straight ahead - with its own twist - thrilling drama.

But at the same time there are elements of it that if you look at it and go, "Well that's terrible! That's an affront to humanity!" or "That's something that I always assumed was terrible but seems fine." or "That's something that I would think was heroic that's being done that's sort of terrible!" [Laughs.] And I want all of those things to be playing all the time so that people, while they are completely invested in the characters - we hope - they're still questioning their own investment. Should I be rooting for this person? I don't know! And I'm lucky because I have an amazing cast - people like Olivia Williams. She plays the woman who runs the Dollhouse or as she herself has said, "I'm British, of course I'm a villain!" And it's so easy to play it as a villainous part and Olivia Williams is enormously sympathetic and has a great sadness so that every time she does something actually terrible, she makes you feel sorry for her. And every time she does something surprising decent, she'll do it in a very snarky fashion. And [her performance] sort of embodies that duality... sorry, that was a really long answer. [Laughs.]

Brian Ford Sullivan: And lastly, everyone knows that you have a large online following. Is it challenging managing expectations when people know it's a Joss Whedon show?

Joss Whedon: There are certain things about expectations that I've learned in the last couple of years. You know, I've publically blogged about issues once or twice. That kind of makes you frightened. These people are being hired for sex. So what about all of my stuff about human trafficking and my involvement with Equality Now? What right do I have to be irresponsible in the stories that I write or push the boundaries? How much do I have to adhere to what I say as a person in my work? I think it's something I've worried about my whole life but as I become more public, it becomes more of an issue for me. The expectations of people about, oh, time slot, oh, the reshooting - let's just let everybody see behind the curtain, that's how society works now - I just sort of tune that out.

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.]

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/rant.a...0106_dollhouse

Joss Whedon speaks candidly about Dollhouse and has a message for haters.

Joss Whedon, creator of Fox's upcoming sci-fi drama Dollhouse, has a message for the haters out there: Give the show a frakkin' chance!

Responding to my questions for the first time about the swirl of buzz surrounding the much-anticipated show, Whedon said in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, Dec. 6, that the show's found its groove, that he's very happy with the way it's going and that he's confident viewers will like it.

But with characteristic candor, Whedon also admits that the negative buzz—based in part on reports of reshoots, a scrapped pilot, production halts and a Friday night "death slot"—weighs on him and that he also struggled to find the show's voice during a lengthy development process.

"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.

The chatter about the show's development—including, we admit, our own speculation that it may be doomed before it hits the air—has been premature, Whedon says. "All the business speculation is just that," he says. "So when people start saying, 'Well, clearly this is an attempt to ... ,' and they actually start deconstructing the show before they've seen it, and I kind of go, 'Well, wait a minute.' But ... it's just part of how it works now. You notice [the bad buzz] just to make sure that you know what people are thinking, and then you shove it down."

Dollhouse tells the story of a group of people, called "dolls," whose minds have been wiped and who are implanted with artificial personalities—memories, skills, even physical abilities and infirmities—in order to perform tasks for hire by a secret organization: escort service, assassination, kidnap negotiation, etc. The show stars Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast member Eliza Dushku, former Battlestar Galactica cast member Tahmoh Penikett, Olivia Williams, Harry Lennix and former Angel star Amy Acker. It debuts Feb. 13 and will air Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, after Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Following is an edited version of Whedon's interview with SCI FI Wire.

How happy are you with the way the show is now?

Whedon: I'm happy with it. It's been hard for me, too. There was a point where I literally was, like, "What show am I making? What's going on? Wait, which part did I like? Why did I let Eliza buy me lunch?" [Whedon hatched the idea for the show at a lunch with Dushku.] But now it's gotten really exciting for us. We feel like it's found itself. You know, all the pieces are there, because the ensemble is extraordinary, the premise is really challenging and fun, and now, as we're working on the episodes a little further in, those episodes are becoming more than the sum of its parts. Which is exciting.

At what point are you in the process right now?

Whedon: We're shooting the 10th episode. We have the last three, which are being written by Jane Espenson, Tim Minear and myself. And Jane's finishing a draft, Tim's working on his, and I'm working on mine, because we're actually going to shoot it simultaneously. It's a very weird production thing that we're doing, partially because we junked the pilot, so we're creating these other episodes.

[At this point in the interview, Dushku—dressed in a slammin' tight black dress—comes up behind Whedon and says hello.]

Dushku: Wanna make out? [laughs] ... I'm a little sick.

Whedon [to Dushku]: I like you, I mean, I love you, as a friend. ...

[She laughs, they exchange more pleasantries, she runs off to do her own interviews.]

Whedon: Oh, sorry. Now I remember why I'm making the show. Forget all the stuff I said about interesting storylines. Have you seen her in that dress?

So, how is the show sort of coming together? It seems like you were trying to find the show's core for a couple of episodes.

Whedon: Fox came down with the mandate of stand-alones, and ... higher stakes and adventure and stuff. And all of that was part of the show, and so we just had to bring it to the fore. And ... this is a mistake that I often make, which is I'm interested in what's underneath, and so that's where I start, and you sort of can't. 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. ...

How do you feel about the timeslot?

Whedon: You know, I feel fine about it. I know that it has a bad reputation. But so do the executives who built the sort of Terminator/Dollhouse entity, and they've been very up-front about a different expectation about audience numbers and slow growth. I think that they get—in a way that they really didn't back in the days of Firefly—that genre is ... something where a small group embraces it, and then it bleeds out. I mean, occasionally you get something like Lost, where it's like, "Bang! America's watching!" But that doesn't usually happen. So these are both shows that ... have, ... in their own way, kind of complicated premises. Even though Terminator has a sort of slam-dunk of, "There is a Terminator." And there are some real similarities between them, so I really like that pairing. I was never comfortable being paired with 24. That's not exactly the kind of thing that I'm behind. ... And I'm a devotee of Terminator, and I feel like the only problem I have is in the case they do something so much like what we're doing. ... Sometimes we'll come to the writers' room the day after it airs, and all look at each other and go like, "OK, back to work. We've got to change that."

http://scifiwire.com/2009/01/joss-wh...for-haters.php

Fox's "Dollhouse" (Premieres 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13) Yes, we've all been waiting for Joss Whedon's new sci-fi drama, about a bunch of hot people who have their memories erased so that they can act as anonymous agents for a high-end firm that provides fantasy dates, secret missions of various kinds, hostage negotiations ... It's not entirely clear what goes down at the Dollhouse or who runs it or how they got started or whether they're good or evil, and that, my dear, is the custard filling in this big, sugary doughnut of a drama. If you take off the rose-colored, Joss Whedon-loving glasses, of course, you'll notice that the first episode of "Dollhouse" is a little bit dorky and uneven at times. But Eliza Dushku fills that "Buffy"-esque dazed-but-sharp babe quotient nicely, and I guarantee that after the first episode, you'll want to see more, more, more, more, as soon as you can. Personally, I can't wait for this show to kick into high gear. Weird, witty, smart, suspenseful, intense? This is what we spent the fall TV season hungering for.

http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/iltw/200...eason_preview/

Review: Joss Whedon's Dollhouse by Tim Surette

Dollhouse's pilot isn't going to blow away anyone who isn't a die-hard Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly) fan, but the potential for a very strong season is definitely here. In fact, some Joss fans may not even like it right away as most of Joss' trademarks are absent--there's almost no witty back-and-forth dialogue and the show seems to be exhibit Joss' more serious side (a stark contrast from his last project, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog).

There is probably no need to summarize the plot of Dollhouse, but just in case someone reads this who isn't completely obsessed with Whedon, I'll give it a go.

Eliza Dushku stars as Echo, an "Active" for a secret organization that runs an updated version of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. These Actives are people who--through imprinting memories, abilities, and personalities (think Keanu Reeves' "I know kung-fu" bit from The Matrix)--are made-to-order for anyone willing to pay the right price. Of course the Actives have no idea they're being pimped out.

They can become spies, sexual companions (as we see in the first five minutes), or probably even World's Greatest Grandpa. Dollhouse thankfully doesn't go into the science and technology that allows this to happen in the plot-stuffed pilot, but as a basic premise, it's incredibly promising and keeps the door open for anything and everything to happen in future episodes.

There have been concerns about Fox's requests to make the episodes more action-packed and standalone, and I'm afraid to say those concerns are warranted. Joss is a storyteller who thrives on character-building, and that's a tough gig when your star spends most of her time being other characters in the episode's standalone plot or having no character at all (as noted in the premiere, Actives must be almost completely devoid of personality in order to receive implants--not those kind, you dirty dog--resulting in an emotionless Echo cruising around the Dollhouse).

This is just the pilot, so we're counting on Echo's developing awareness of what's going on (which we're promised is the main storyline) to help us feel some sort of bond with her. It will be very interesting to see how Whedon is able to overcome this obstacle, but I'm pretty confident he will (we're treated to some pre-Dollhouse Echo footage, but not enough).

As for the other characters, Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica) plays an FBI agent obsessed with uncovering the Dollhouse, Harry J. Lennix (Commander in Chief) plays an ex-cop who serves as Echo's handler (he watches over her when she's on an engagement), and Olivia Williams' character runs the Dollhouse and serves as the shady corporate figurehead that all sci-fi shows need. Of particular interest is Fran Kranz's Topher Brink, the tech-wiz responsible for implanting the Actives. He's instantly engaging and provides the pilot's only levity. Dichen Lachman is also poised to be a breakout star as a fellow Active that will no doubt butt heads with Echo later.

The standalone plot in the pilot is nothing special…pretty standard stuff. There's a kidnapping and some mediocre character acting going on, but that's about it (we don't want to give too much away). We all read the story about the original pilot being thrown out, reshot, and rewritten, and sadly that can be seen--the pilot feels a bit hurried.

In recent interviews, Whedon has said the show has definitely hit its stride (albeit several episodes in), and I'm inclined to believe him. Whedon is an artist working with new tools, and the pilot was basically a first draft.

Having said all that, I'm eagerly anticipating more based on Whedon's track record, the incredible potential, and Eliza Dushku (whoa momma that white dress done made me stupid!). I'm not usually one to give out scores, but this pilot would be somewhere in the 7.0-7.5 range.

http://www.tv.com/story/12093.html

Review: Joss Whedon's 'Dollhouse' not perfect, but don't panic
by Jennifer Thomas

The "Dollhouse" pilot is a bit muddled -- it feels like a puzzle that wasn't put together quite right. Maybe that's because the first episode wasn't really meant to be the first one at all. But even though the pilot (9/8 C Feb. 13 on Fox) is flawed, it has major potential. The best thing is that since the time I've watched it, I've been thinking about the show a lot -- always a good sign -- and I'm excited to see what comes next.

Even the most talented TV creators (and Whedon takes the top spot in my TV triumverate above J.J. Abrams and Rob Thomas), can falter, but this is still Joss Whedon! (And I'm not saying "Dollhouse" is a flop.) Whedon is a planner -- he's not going to get tangled in a mythology he can't see his way out of, he's not going to allow some of the characters who aren't very well-developed in the pilot to stay that way. What I've always admired about his shows is the wit, the creative unnatural worlds he develops, and that he always puts the characters and their relationships first. What Whedon isn't known for is bang-up pilots. He doesn't deliver the jaw-dropping first episodes that someone like Abrams does, so judging the potential for "Dollhouse" from just the first episode is hard. But the potential is there.

The pilot dumps us into the action immediately, but we don't learn much about Eliza Dushku's character Echo before she was made part of the Dollhouse. The organization wipes its actives' minds of their memories (both their own and the ones they're implanted with) to be given new memories and skills in order to accomplish certain tasks. At one point, Echo was a young, idealistic woman named Caroline who got herself into trouble, and maybe in place of going to jail, agreed to a five year contract as an active. (Of course, even if they wipe her memories of the Dollhouse clean, it seems doubtful they'd just let her go. It pays to be suspicious of corporations these days.)

Things pick up when Echo takes on her first major assignment -- help return a rich man's daughter from her kidnappers. But the memories of one of the borrowed personalities, a hostage negotiator, start to surface and interfere with the assignment. Here's where Dushku gets to show some emotional range as she reacts realistically to the woman whose past she's reliving.

The major players in "Dollhouse" are the tough and practical Adelle DeWitt (Olivia Williams, "X-Men: The Last Stand," "Rushmore") who heads up the operation; Laurence Dominic (Reed Diamond, "Journeyman"), DeWitt's blustering, fierce right-hand-security man; Boyd Langdon (Harry Lennix, "24," "The Matrix" sequels), an ex-cop and the actives' handler, who is starting to doubt the morality of the organization he's working for. (He seems to be hearding toward a father figure/bodyguard for Echo.) There's also the amoral techno wizard Topher Brink (Fran Kranz, "Welcome to the Captain"), who handles the memory wiping and poking and prodding; the quiet, scar-faced medical doctor, Claire Saunders (Amy Acker, "Alias," "Angel") and the dogged FBI Agent Paul Ballard (Tahmoh Penikett, "Battlestar Galactica") who is investigating the Dollhouse. There are also a handful of other actives like Sierra (Dichen Lachman) and Victor (Enver Gjokaj).

I immediately liked Lennix as Boyd, an honest man starting to have reservations about the work he's doing. And I adore Amy Acker, who can play so many roles -- from the mousy, sweet Fred on "Angel" to a cold-hearted villain on "Alias." Agent Ballard's role didn't quite mesh with the rest of the episode's story, but he's an interesting entry point -- he's convinced the Dollhouse exists, but not exactly what it's all about. He also could ewnd up being a romantic interest for Echo. Ballard's superiors want him off the investigation since he's stepped on some high-profile toes, but he's not done digging into the cases of people who have disappeared.

Whedon has an affinity for oddballs, dorks, unlikely heroes and society's outsiders, and some of the "straight" characters in "Dollhouse"-- those more associated with the real world -- don't play as well. The FBI agents and even the kidnappers come off as a bit cardboard and ridiculous since their motives and jobs aren't particularly special -- the kidnappers just want money, and what's a quirky mind like Whedon's to do with such a banal motive?

"Dollhouse" feels very different from anything Whedon has done. It's closer to "Firefly" and "Angel" than it is to "Buffy," although the actives, during the time after they've had their memories wiped, reminded me of the Buffybot: they're pleasant, childlike, naive and literal. They don't remember anything about their old life or the mission they've just been on. But Echo starts bucking the system almost from the beginning: she's troubled when she spots fellow doll, Sierra, in pain. In a way, it's good that "Dollhouse" can't directly be compared to Whedon's previous work, but the premiere also lacks some of his characteristic warmth and sharp humor. Lab rat Topher would seem an obvious candidate for some sharp sarcasm.

So why the hopefulness? "Dollhouse" has an intriguing premise with a lot of plot strings to pull at. It just needs to strike the right balance among the personality of the week; the melancholy of dealing with people who can't retain their own memories; intriguing relationships and an investment in what happens to these people.There are a lot of dynamics here: the relationship between the three actives Victor, Echo and Sierra (maybe getting their names from the NATO phonetic alphabet?); the concern of handler Boyd; Echo's increasing awareness of not only her own personality but the other ones she's inhabited; and Agent Ballard's investigation into the Dollhouse. There's also the discovery of the actives' back stories and real lives. Before Caroline became Echo she had friends; she must have had a family. So where are they and what do they think happened to her? What's the real goal behind the Dollhouse? With every episode, we'll probably get better insight into Echo's past, but the final scene of the premiere suggests just exactly what she might have to go home to.

So, no, the pilot wasn't perfect, but it felt like a taste of what can be. "Dollhouse" might just take a few episodes to find its footing.

http://blogs.pioneerlocal.com/entert...llhouse_1.html

Dollhouse -- An early look by Brad Trechak

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Joss Whedon's new television brainchild, particularly since it became slated for Friday nights (it premieres on Feb. 13 at 9 PM ET). It's difficult to judge a Joss Whedon show by a single episode since the creator relies so much on serialized storytelling, so let's start with the facts.

Joss Whedon is a versatile writer and has no difficulty in producing shows that nobody expects. For example, Firefly was nothing like Buffy. Similarly, Dollhouse is very different than Whedon's previous television ventures. This could be why Fox relegated it to Fridays. Perhaps they fear change.

Eliza Dushku plays Echo, who is a (seemingly unwilling) participant at a location in Los Angeles code-named "The Dollhouse" (Joss has learned a lesson since his Buffy and Angel days and never names a program after a character on it). The Dollhouse is an illegal facility, but it survives and thrives because the people behind it and the people that use its services are too powerful to be touched by the law.

Each participant is called a Doll or an Active. The Actives can be programmed with different personalities which fulfill specific needs for The Dollhouse's clients. Those needs could be personal or professional.

The first episode is a psychological thriller and not a gun-fest or fight-fest like his previous works. The pilot teaches the viewer about the life of Echo. We get a sense of who she is, and who she isn't. In this instance, she is programmed with the personality of a hostage negotiator after a wealthy man's daughter is kidnapped.

Apparently, the process in becoming an Active is painful, as we witness a woman being initiated into the program during the course of the episode. It certainly brings into question whether the Actives are there voluntarily. During the episode, Echo begins to break her programming which undoubtedly foreshadows upcoming stories.

We also learn what Dollhouse is and the main players behind it. We meet Adelle DeWitt (played by Olivia Williams), who runs the place; Topher Brink (Fran Kranz), an amoral nerd who runs the software that keeps the Actives programmed; and Boyd Langton (Henry Lennix, whom I recognized from the Matrix sequels), a former law-enforcement officer who now works for The Dollhouse as Echo's "handler" (a position that entails both supervision to prevent deviation from her programming and bodyguarding her). Whedon-alum Amy Acker also makes an appearance on the show as a facility doctor with a scarred face.

Sub-plots abound within the show. Tahmoh Penikett (Helo from Battlestar Galactica) plays an FBI agent obsessed with finding The Dollhouse. He seems to have an unhealthy infatuation with Echo. Future episodes will probably explain why.

The show has a strong cast and Eliza Dushku is terrific in her role. The Dollhouse set reminds me a bit of the Wolfram and Hart offices from Angel.

The episode was okay as a stand-alone, but not great. As mentioned, I don't think anybody should judge a Joss Whedon production by the first episode. Whedon weaves an intricate web and it usually takes a few episodes to get involved. I'm looking forward to the journey.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/01/12/do...an-early-look/

Eliza Dushku pulls back the curtain to Fox's Dollhouse

Eliza Dushku, who stars in Joss Whedon's upcoming SF Fox series Dollhouse, says it's been challenging playing the role of a woman who takes on different personas every week.

Speaking in an exclusive interview last week in Los Angeles, Dushku added that she can't wait for fans—and potential critics—to see the show, which hits the airwaves on Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Dollhouse tells the story of a group of people, called "dolls," whose minds have been wiped and who are implanted with artificial personalities--memories, skills, even physical abilities and infirmities--in order to perform tasks for hire by a secret organization: escort service, assassination, kidnap negotiation, etc. The show stars Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast member Dushku, former Battlestar Galactica cast member Tahmoh Penikett, Olivia Williams, Harry Lennix and former Angel star Amy Acker. It will air Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, after Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Following is an edited excerpt of Dushku's interview with SCI FI Wire.

Tell me about some of the crazier stuff you've gotten to do.

Dushku: You mean dunking me in the National Sequoia Park river, like rolling me on the street in a motorcycle crash. They have me in a six-page ... fight scene with Tahmoh [Penikett], who, yeah, we're about the same size, so it was an even match, but we had a big fight scene ...

You kicked his ass, right?

Dushku: Yeah, totally. And then ... Joss puts me in these up-dos that really throw me for a loop. ... He's like, "I can throw you off a building, I can run you over with a car, and like, you know, while you're getting your ass kicked by like eight guys, and me putting you in an up-do is the one thing that takes you out of your comfort zone. There's something wrong with that." It's true! I'm just such, I don't know, I just grew up such a tomboy that having my hair, like, up and prim and proper just feels so foreign. Those are the weirdest days for me. Go figure.

You play different characters.

Dushku: Multiple. Every week, yes.

How's that?

Dushku: Good times. It's really good times. You never get bored. Yeah, boredom is not an option. ... I walk into my trailer, and there's 15 ... skirts and pants and tops for me to try on for the next episode, and I walk in, and there's like ... horse-riding gear or ... sky-diving gear. ... Every time I walk into my trailer and see the new wardrobe, I ... get an idea what the next episode is going to involve, and it's always exciting.

It's kind of a challenge, because you're playing different characters, but you've got to be Echo in there somewhere, right?

Dushku: Echo is ... the name ... that they've given me [in the] Dollhouse. So Caroline ... may be who I really am, but I'm also Echo. But I'm also each person I'm imprinted to be.

Are any of those people Eliza?

Dushku: I think all of them have a little bit of Eliza in them. It's about gauging and playing chemist. Yeah. Because I myself have multiple personalities. That's part of the reason Joss sat down and thought, "I know the perfect show to write for you. ... I've known you for 10 years, and I have no idea who [or] what you are, so ... let's just video it."

But no, it's awesome, it's the coolest, most humbling, and you know, truly great opportunity, experience. Because some parts are more like me, and I can kind of roll out of bed and roll into the outfit and churn them out. And other times, I mean, I've had some serious, ... challenging roles. Like the blind woman. ... They implant cameras into my eyeballs and send me into a cult as a blind woman, like [a] religious cult follower. But I believe that I'm that woman. And so there have been a number of different parts I've played that I've had to do some serious last-minute research on, and it's so fun, you know? ... It makes it all that much more interesting to go in every day and be wild.

What's the funnest thing you've had to do?

Dushku: I loved the fierce assassin that I was when I kicked Tahmoh's ass. She ... was a good egg. She was just ... highly intelligent, ... kind of quiet, but steely. Just, just kind of fierce, yeah.

You've probably read some of the reviews and heard the buzz, positive and negative, about the show. Does any of that come through, or do you try to screen it out?

Dushku: I'm proud of what we're doing, and we ... are doing what we wanted to do and telling the stories we wanted to tell. ... There's been pressure since the day we announced it, and there's been naysayers since the day we announced it, and, at this point, ... I just can't wait for the show to get on the air and for people to see it. ... Regardless of ... the hype and what people are saying, why don't people see it, and then they can decide what they feel? But I feel confident, ... because it's on the page, recorded on the stage, ... and it's working. And we're having a great time. ... Each episode is more and more intricate, and the story's unfolding. ...

I brought the first episodes home to my family to watch over the holidays, and you know what? They were freaking out. ... They were more proud and more psyched about this than most anything that [I've done]. ...

http://scifiwire.com/2009/01/eliza-d...-dollhouse.php

Is Dollhouse as bad as we are hearing?

Peter Liguori: Joss Whedon has an unbelievably loyal fan base, and he really knows how to write to that fan base. I expect that they're going to be there. They're going to enjoy his show. One of the things about airing on Friday night, a show is not expected to have those boffo ratings.

So you're not burying him in the Friday graveyard?

Peter Liguori: No, I'm not burying him in the Friday graveyard. I'm giving him a little bit of a reprieve by being on Friday.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/art...dustryid=47168

This New Dollhouse

There is no me. I do not exist. There used to be a me, but I had it surgically removed--Peter Sellers
I'm not nobody--Echo...or is it?

It's been more than a month since Time magazine became the first media site to look at the pilot for Dollhouse, Joss Whedon's return to TV. Since then, a few more sites have given their verdicts, including TV.com and Salon. More familiar sites will also have their chances over the next few weeks.

Fox sent a DVD copy of the pilot to TV and radio stations, along with a special doll to symbolize what an Active is: a clean slate who can be made into anyone, over and over again. At least that's the theory. My radio station got a copy, and I decided to take a look.

As many fans know, Joss Whedon remade the pilot episode to give the show a better launch. That's why there's no scenes from the original pilot that have been seen by fans at Comic-Con and the internet. The new pilot, "Ghost", establishes the Dollhouse, and the main Active, Echo, played by Eliza Dushku. We see she had a past once, only because we hear her "real" name. After that, we see the girl in a motorcycle race with another guy which turns out to be part of his birthday party. She's a girl who likes to take risks and parties well into the night. Suddenly, she calmly walks out of the date and into a van. We see that her "engagement" is over, and that it's time to get a "treatment". What it really means that it's time for her to be no one.

The girl sits on a weird-looking chair, and waits to be treated. The tech, called Topher (Fran Kranz), says it will pinch. Then, we see this girl's life literally dissolve. Now, she is Echo, a girl who is alive but has no self or memories of what she did. She wakes up, and asks Topher, "Did I fall asleep?" "For a little while," he answers.

Topher discusses the engagement with Boyd Langdon (Harry Lennix), her handler, and acts pretty proud of himself. Boyd is just worried about whether their little operation is ever found. Topher's not worried. In fact, he envies Echo. "She's living the dream", he says. "Whose dream?", Boyd asks. "Who's next?", Topher replies.

We find out who's next: a businessman whose 12-year-old daughter has been kidnapped from his house. He's a past customer, and needs an Active to help him pay the ransom. So, Echo is programmed as a no-nonsense negotiator who will oversee the exchange. Of course, things go wrong, and the Dollhouse crew has to scramble to get Echo out, and just leave the kidnapped girl. The top priority of the Dollhouse is to stay a secret, with the "engagement" being secondary. When Boyd is worried the kidnapped child may be sacrificed, he risks a lot to convince his boss, Adelle DeWitt (Olivia Williams), to finish the job. Boyd seems to be the conscience of the show, the man who tries to show the Dollhouse has a positive purpose, even if the means are almost unspeakable.

Meanwhile, we meet FBI agent Paul Ballard (Tahmoh Penikett), who has sacrificed everything to find the Dollhouse. He insists that it exists, even if he can't prove it. Yet this is his assignment, because someone said it should be. However, his work is threatening to ruin an important investigation on human-trafficking, involving Russians. Ballard tracks down a sleazy Russian guy named Lubov, (Enver Gjokaj) and tells him to find out who's connected to the Dollhouse. You can tell Ballard has been given an impossible task, but he's very determined to complete it.

The pilot, written and directed by Whedon, is good, but Dushku isn't very convincing as a hostage negotiator. While she can spout off theories as quickly as a bullet train, she looks too young. Glasses, a hairdo, and a schoolmarm attitude aren't enough. I give the show credit by admitting this, and giving an explanation on how her role still works. Whedon also gets major points for symbolizing Ballard's dilemma and determination by juxtaposing his meeting with FBI supervisors with clips of him kick-boxing.

The pilot also introduces Sierra (Dichen Lachman), a new Active, but in an unsettling way. In fact, Echo meets her in a surprising way that will later affect her in the engagement. We also meet Dr. Claire Saunders (Amy Acker), who takes care of Echo. She seems suspicious of Topher for some reason, while he sometimes sneaks a peek at Claire, too. Did they have a history that didn't end well? Also, how come there's a scar on her face? It's faint, but the pain is still there.

If you look closely, there is an influence of Firefly/Serenity in the pilot. When Echo is "neutral", she's almost like River Tam in her more calm moments. When Echo sees Sierra get her "treatment", it's a little too similar to the "treatments" the Alliance gave River.

Also, people who saw pieces of the pilot may think Lubov looks familiar. I think Gjokaj was supposed to play Victor, another Active. Then again, maybe he is...and Lubov. Hmmmmm......

Although the show may start seemingly as a procedural, we'll soon find out that it isn't. Echo will play many roles..and she'll start to remember some of them. We get a hint of that in "Ghost", as I said before, when her accidental meeting with Sierra will affect her. I am hoping that the other Actives have the same experience. Hopefully, we'll get back stories of the keepers of the Dollhouse, too. How did Topher learn how to rewire people like computers, and why does he think it's so cool? Could it be a dark Revenge of the Nerd? Who got Adelle to run this Dollhouse, and who's paying for all this? Why was Ballard assigned to the Dollhouse? Did he jump at the chance, or was he pushed?

Dollhouse will be on Fridays at 9 PM after Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles starting February 13th. It's a tough spot, since it's been years since Fox has had a hit on that night. The executives say they will give both shows time to build an audience. Dollhouse has a very interesting premise that takes time to understand. Once a viewer does, it's worth it. Joss may be a bit rusty about making TV after making a movie, some comic books, and an internet musical. Still, this Dollhouse is a good way to spend a Friday night.

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...ogID=463120773

NEW DRAMA · DOLLHOUSE · Fox · Feb. 13 · 9PM

What it's about: 
Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon has imagined an underground organization that 
fulfills the wishes of well-paying clients by hiring out memory-wiped agents who can be imprinted with any personality. When not facilitating dream dates for rich boys or executing dirty deeds for dubious businessmen, these ''actives'' live in a state of blank-slate bliss within Dollhouse HQ. But one agent, Echo (Buffy alum Eliza Dushku), starts flashing on memories she shouldn't possess.

What to expect: 
''The show allows 
 me to play two or three different roles an episode, from hostage negotiator to crazy-sexy assassin,'' says Dushku. In one episode she takes on the persona of an elderly woman becoming keenly aware that she's now occupying a younger, stronger, hotter body. Speaking of makeovers, Dollhouse acquired some sketchy buzz last summer when Whedon announced he was revising chunks of the pilot — and then scrapped it altogether. ''It didn't really present what audiences will get each week,'' says Whedon. ''It was like I dove into the world and got so wrapped up in it, I didn't see 
if there was anyone else in it with me.'' Says Dushku, ''Absolutely everything has been for the best. There's more action, it moves at a quicker pace, there are payoffs every episode.'' Though it's not a serialized drama, ongoing subplots include 
an FBI agent's 
 (Battlestar Galactica's Tahmoh Penikett) quest to expose 
 the Dollhouse, and a mystery about a 
dangerous, MIA 
active named Alpha. Says Whedon: ''Hopefully, we've made 
 it more accessible and entertaining 
for audiences — but haven't lost any 
 of the dynamics I loved.''

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20252766_7,00.html

What can you tell us about your character in Dollhouse?

Amy Acker: Well I am Dr. Saunders and I take care of the dolls at the Dollhouse. I’m kind of the one who seems to be looking out for everybody and there’s a lot of maybe not so nice people at the dollhouse. I keep trying to turn things around to do what’s best for the dolls and I guess the trait that is most noticeable is that I have these huge scars across my face, like five scars scraping up my face which look pretty painful.

It must be pretty difficult on the makeup side to do that one.

Amy Acker: It is, were still trying to get it mastered it’s been very challenging to get it to work every time, but I think it looks really cool. Yesterday I got to do them with stitches all over them so that was really neat looking.

How long do the scars usually take to get done in makeup?

Amy Acker: Usually about 2 hours.

So it’s not as bad as the Illyria then?

Amy Acker: No not quite. Illyria was only a pain, but this has the glue and all of that so it tends to be trickier.

Will you be a series regular or recurring?

Amy Acker: Right now I’m a recurring character, but I’ve been in every episode, all but one, so I feel like I’m definitely around. When there at the Dollhouse you usually see me and hopefully if there’s more episodes after these first 13 then I think you’ll see a lot more of Doctor Saunders in the future.

How similar will you be playing Dr. Saunders to Fred?

Amy Acker: She is not really like Fred at all because she’s much more mysterious and she’s a little bit sad, Fred was very bubbly and up and kind of goofy with lots of energy moving around a lot. Dr Saunders is very still, I feel like they’re very different.

What’s it like being in another Joss Whedon show?

Amy Acker: It’s awesome, ever since Angel whenever I see Joss I keep asking “So when’s the next thing were doing?”, “When do I get to be on another show of yours?” like “Can I do craft service?” So finally he decided to do another TV show and I’m so excited there was a part I got to play even if it’s just an excuse to hang out with all the old friends.

If there was any other character in Dollhouse you could have played as an acting challenge which would it be?

Amy Acker: I just think all the dolls are, any of the dolls would be [fantastic], it’s like an actor’s dream you get to, be like Jennifer Garner on Alias you get to be a different character each week. You get to have [different] accents and be some different places and different personalities. I think he’s created a show where the dolls get to do so many cool things. That would be fun.

http://www.stuffwelike.com/stuffweli...lhouse-part-2/

I LOVE TV: "Dollhouse" star Harry Lennix talks "Little Britain USA" by Jeff Hidek

Notes from the TV Critics Association winter press tour:

"Dollhouse" co-star Harry Lennix praised both his past castmates on "Little Britain USA" and his current sci-fi family while talking to critics Wednesday. "Dollhouse," created by "Buffy" guru Joss Whedon, stars Eliza Dusku as an "active," an operative for a shadowy organization who is programmed to be anyone a client needs her to be -- only to have her memories and abilities wiped away after every misison. Lennix plays her handler, who has some reservations about the ethics of his company. On "Little Britain USA" he played a very Obama-like president who was the object of David Walliams Britsh character's affection.

"The guys on 'Little Britain USA' are obviously comic geniuses," Lennix said. "They know more about American comedy and actually specifically black American comedy than I know. As long as President-elect Obama is President, they may find some currency to cash in for humor. It was remarkable to work with them and then being able to work with Eliza and Joss and the rest of this remarkable cast is also equally fun. So that's where I get a lot of joy just in acting."

Lennix compared the expansive, pristine set of the "Dollhouse" where the actives live to a cathedral in a way. "When I go into it every time I'm actually filled with awe. It has a kind of reverential quality. At the same time, the goings on in the 'Dollhouse' are almost antithetical to what would happen in the church. But there's still an ethic that underlies, I think ... everybody who's essentially not an 'Active' There is a kind of quest for what is ultimately human, what actually is it to grapple with these questions -- when do you actually have free will? When do you actually get to make the decision of what is right and wrong, and are those ever objective, universal truths? So I think that, while it is not a church, the questions that are dealt with are equally humanistic and almost, to some extent, getting to what it is to be divine, what it is to live in a kind of alternate consciousness to our normal human selves.

http://blogs.starnewsonline.com/defa...p?item=2315601

Reasons to be optimistic about Dollhouse's future by Bellona

We've all spent months being told why we should worry about Dollhouse, but here are some good reasons we shouldn't.

1. Joss' respect for his fans.
Joss has always been very candid with his fans. He tells us things other writers/producers wouldn't. When he says he thinks the show has a shot and is on the right track, history indicates he has earned the benefit of the doubt.

2. Joss' respect for his work.
One source of the fan-freak outs is the knowledge that Fox has been making some 'suggestions' to Joss about things like the tone of the series. I believe in the level of care Joss puts into his work. Do you really think he would make a change that would ruin the show?

3. Fox's bad reputation.
As much as we all like to call them stupid (they have cancelled some amazing shows) Fox is run by business people. And having the rep as the network that cancels shows after 1 season is very bad for business. I know of many people who have made it clear that if this show isn't treated fairly they will never watch Fox again. And I'm pretty sure they know it too. Joss has said they have realised that sci-fi doesn't usually grab an immediate audience. Essentially telling a show's creator that they understand the show won't be a huge success for a while is a big swing in attitude for them.

4. Reviews of the pilot.
Reviews have been ok. Seemingly an even mix of compliments and doubts. The thing is, as much as I love everything Joss writes, pilots aren't his strong point. Do you know anyone whose favourite episodes of Buffy are the first few? or the first few of Angel? when he has this kind of story to tell the first episode is never his best. I've also found that I never appreciate the first episode of a Joss show till I've seen the next few. Once you know more about the characters, once it's not all explaining the mythology of the show, his pilots start to shine. So having complimentary reviews about what will probably be the worst episode he writes is a fantastic sign. (I say 'worst' in comparison to what he'll write after that. It will, of course, still rock.)

5. Terminator: Sarah Connor chronicles.
Not only is that show a sign of Fox's less trigger happy attitude (Hey, a sci-fi that made it to a 2nd season) but I really feel there will be some Dollhouse/T:SCC fan solidarity. Not only are they fans of a show that's in the sci-fi genre featuring a lot of strong female characters (so they are all clearly potential Joss fans) but they know what it's like to be the Fox show everyone thinks is next for the chop. Though people feared the friday slot, I actually think this pairing is going to reel in fans we may not have otherwise had.

6. Because we're freaking people the heck out!
seriously, would you want to give a chance to a show that all the fans were preparing eulogies for before it even started?

Finally, the most important reason to me. Because this is great. After all this time we have another Joss show. Are you really going to enjoy watching it if all the time you're watching you're subconsciously waiting for it to get axed? We're about to have shiny new Joss work! This isn't a time for a case of the angries, this is a time for a Numfar style dance of joy!

http://www.fanpop.com/spots/dollhouse/articles/8547

Tamoh Penikett Talks BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and DOLLHOUSE

After parlaying five seasons on the critically acclaimed BATTLESTAR GALACTICA into a starring role in Joss Whedon’s highly anticipated new series DOLLHOUSE, some might say Tamoh Penikett is the luckiest actor in Hollywood.

This TV Addict wouldn’t be one of those people.

As recently, we were given the opportunity to interview Penikett, whose incredibly concise and well thought out answers made it clear that ‘luck’ has nothing to do with it.

The following is what he had to say with regards to BATTLESTAR GALACTICA coming to an end, the fate of his character Lt. Karl C. ‘Helo’ Agathon and his role in the Dollhouse.

What would you say you’re more excited for, the premiere of DOLLHOUSE or for people to stop asking you about the identity of the final Cylon?

Tahmoh Penikett: [Laughs] Good question! I’m excited about both. I’ll tell you this, from a purely egotistical stand point, I’m just proud of the fact that I’m on two shows at the same time. I think it’s great. I’ve got an incredible series coming to an end that I think fans are going to be really really happy with. Especially the last three episodes where all I will say is that it’s going to be a very just and perfect conclusion for BATTLESTAR. And I’m really excited to be a part of this new Joss Whedon series (DOLLHOUSE). I’ve gone from one successful show to potentially and hopefully another one. I’m a lucky guy.

Was it a challenge to prepare for Helo’s big heroic death scene?

Tahmoh Penikett: [Laughs] Ahhh… trying to be tricky I see.

I knew you’d be too smart to fall for that one, but can you really blame me for trying?

Tahmoh Penikett: I understand.There are pictures all over the internet where obviously Helo isn’t doing very well and there is a lot of speculation about what happens to me. All I can say about this is that what happens to Helo is not going to be predictable. A lot of people are going to be really surprised.

Does the internet’s insistence on spoiling everything frustrate you as an actor?

Tahmoh Penikett: I’ve never understood spoilers. Is not being surprised why you watch a series? The opportunity to enjoy the roller-coaster ride. It’s like sports. I don’t want to know the result. It’s funny, some people like spoilers, some people don’t. I’ve never given any away and I’m not going to start now.

Moving on to something you can talk about. How excited are you to be joining the Joss Whedon Universe and with it, gain an entirely new legion of loyal followers.

Tahmoh Penikett: I keep hearing about this and luckily, I’ve somewhat been set up for it coming from the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA world. I’m excited that there’s already this built in fan-base and so much expectation and excitement about the show. It’s great because a lot of shows don’t have that working for them right off that bat and we do.

What can you tell us about your DOLLHOUSE character?

Tahmoh Penikett: Paul is an FBI agent who is given the case of the “Dollhouse.” Now I think, it’s kind of like his last case where he either solves it or he doesn’t. The fact is that it’s kind of a catch 22 situation. I don’t believe his superiors have any confidence that he’s actually going to get to the bottom of the dollhouse. Because anytime he gets any leads, makes any progress, he runs into walls and stops. But Paul is incredibly driven and once he starts something he has to finish it.

What would you say are the most interesting qualities about Paul?

Tahmoh Penikett: What’s interesting about Paul is the question as to why is he so alone? Why is he so incessant on working by himself? Is it his self righteous attitude that pushes everyone away and what happened in his past that has made him like this, so destructive.

Do you know the answers to those questions?

Tahmoh Penikett: Joss has given me some stuff, but I’ve also made some choices, which is something you always have to do as an actor. Whether or not my choices fit in to where the character eventually goes, I don’t know. At a point where Paul starts getting information about Echo (Eliza Dushku), something clicks in him. Motivates him even more. Even with all his frustrations and all the roadblocks that he keeps running into, something compels him even more to get on the case. It’s not just the dollhouse, a beautiful girl, I’m not sure what it is. But there is definitely something about this girl.

Would it be safe to say that Paul has a personal connection to someone in the dollhouse?

Tahmoh Penikett: There’s definitely potential for that. But we all know Joss Whedon. Perhaps in our second or third season it will come out that Paul and Echo knew each other at a certain point. Or what I’d like to say and I don’t often share my choices, is that I think Paul suffered some loss in the past and that something in this girl (Echo) reminds him of that. Something happened in his life that makes him set on helping those in distress, especially females. There is something with this girl that changes everything and motivates him even more.

With all the hype surrounding the conclusion of BSG and DOLLHOUSE, how surreal is your life right now?

Tahmoh Penikett: It is surreal but I’m not a guy who takes it for granted. I’m very grateful for everything that has happened in my career and I think you have to be. It keeps you humble and gives you humility, which you need in this business. There’s not a morning that I don’t get up and I’m not grateful to be going to work. I’m an actor, I get paid to do what I love and I’m working with some of the best in the business.

http://thetvaddict.com/2009/01/16/ex...francis-daley/

Preview/Review: Dollhouse, Episode 1.1 - “Ghost”

Joss Whedon fans are notoriously dedicated and passionate; I can certainly appreciate and relate to such fervor as an active member of the online Lost community. So I would like to state that although I love the genre and watch many similar shows, I have never been a Buffy, Firefly or Serenity person (but I LOVED Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog!). To be honest…Lost, Fringe, Heroes and The X-Files occupy most of the sci-fi space in my wheelhouse. Regardless of my lack of Whedon experience, however, I have been anxiously anticipating the arrival of Dollhouse based on the original description of the series alone.

Before I begin and for what it’s worth - I tend to avoid spoilers and news about any show I watch or would like to; for that reason, I was able to absorb and enjoy the first episode of Dollhouse without distraction or any real information about the cast, script, etc. My goal is to provide initial thoughts and perspective rather than a detailed analysis or full episode recap with potential spoilers.

To sum up Dollhouse in one (run-on) sentence: it is centered around a mysterious organization which funds and oversees a controversial lab and living facility (the Dollhouse) where recruited members receive “treatments” (memories are wiped clean) and are then imprinted with new personalities for each new “engagement” (mission). As a fan of vague, nefarious syndicates (The Dharma Initiative, SD-6 and Massive Dynamic come to mind), I was hooked almost immediately. Almost.

The first few minutes of Dollhouse were not as intriguing and seamless as I would have liked. Obviously the version of the first episode that I was given the opportunity to view is not final, but I did not find the opening sequence to be the best choice of scenes to introduce Echo (Eliza Dushku, who plays the lead character).

And to be perfectly frank, although she rocks the shortest mini-dress that I’ve ever seen with great success, Dushku and co-star Dichen Lachman need to eat a sandwich or three. The only reason it garners a mention is that I find it rather distracting; I’d much prefer to notice one’s acting abilities than her collar or hip bones. I have the same issue with Rose Byrne on Damages. Perhaps it is that I prefer my she-spies more along the lines of Sydney Bristow (a nice balance of athleticism, emotion and intellect).

That being said…after ten minutes, I was riveted. As I am apt to do with Lost, a long list of questions started forming as the episode and intensity progressed; who funds the organization? If the Dollhouse project is top secret, how do potential clients make contact? How and where does the company recruit?

The only eye-roll inducing moment was a co-ed shower scene, reminiscent of the infamous Ally McBeal mixed gender bathroom. Did FOX decide that we were ready for such a concept again? I recently reviewed an in-depth interview with Joss Whedon for The Write Environment, and he did not strike me as the kind of show runner and writer who would write and include a scene simply to be gratuitous.

I have no doubt that my initial issues with Dollhouse will be resolved quickly. I love the concept and supporting cast, look forward to further character development and have no doubt that there will be improvement in the execution of what looks to be a very addictive mythology.

In my eyes, the series is TiVO Season Pass-worthy and I will be tuning in for the duration.

http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/do...isode-11-ghost

Amy Acker: What’s Up, Doc?

The people who made Angel really love Amy Acker. When Joss Whedon hired her for to play Fred Burkle in the show, co-creator/executive producer Joss Whedon declared: “She’s stolen all of our hearts – and now we’re afraid she won’t give them back!” Acker was a regular on Angel for four years, before being hired by erstwhile Angel showrunner Tim Minear to play Nathan Fillion’s wife on the short-lived Drive, and had a recurring gig as a badass spy on Alias in between. Now she’s a regular on Whedon’s new Fox series Dollhouse as “house” doctor Claire Saunders. Words: Abbie Bernstein

So you’re back with Joss Whedon…

Amy Acker: Yes, I’m very excited. I roped him into hiring me!

In Dollhouse, the ‘dolls’ are imprinted with a variety of personalities, but your character has a stable identity…

Amy Acker: As far as I know! I’m the doctor.

So she’s not a psychiatrist with a troubled past?

Amy Acker: I’m more of the general practitioner. I actually help them with their injuries, but I deal with everything.

Did you have to study anything about being a doctor to prepare for the part?

Amy Acker: Right now, I’m doing a movie [21 and a Wakeup] where I play a nurse, so I was already kind of engrossed in the medical world. So far in Dollhouse I haven’t had to do any actual ‘doctoring’. I put a Band-Aid on, so I can handle that! But I haven’t seen the scripts coming up to see what happens.

How is filming on that movie affecting the Dollhouse schedule?

Amy Acker: Well, actually, it’s going to overlap a little bit, but I think it’s going to work out. The movie’s being really flexible.

Has your Dollhouse character surprised you yet?

Amy Acker: Right now, I’m just waiting to see exactly who she is. I feel like I’m going to be surprised. It’s Joss, so no one’s ever who they seem to be.

Since it’s probably going to change, what’s your initial take on it?

Amy Acker: Well, I have scars all over my face as Claire, so I’ll be excited to see the history of who I actually am.

Do you think that the Dollhouse premise is sort of a metaphor for being an actor?

Amy Acker: I’ve talked to Joss a lot about the premise - he’s never mentioned that, but it’s a good idea. I’d have to think about it, but I’m sure that it is a metaphor, especially with the psychology of Angel and Buffy.

During the last season of Angel, your character, Fred, died and the blue-faced god Illyria took over her body. In terms of application, is your Dollhouse make-up longer or shorter than the Illyria make-up?

Amy Acker: Well, we have some things to work out, so I’ve had to redo it and do it twice, so it ended up being longer. But I think it’s going to end up being 30 minutes shorter, a couple of hours.

Have you seen the Angel comic books, with the images of you as Illyria?

Amy Acker: I just saw one the other day. It looks great. My sister’s boyfriend is an avid comic book guy, so he’s been showing me all the latest stuff.

Do you sort of feel like working with Joss is being ‘back to normal’?

Amy Acker: Doing the Dollhouse pilot, I felt like I was just so happy to be with him. And actually, a lot of the crew is from Angel [including line producer Kelly Manners, director of photography Ross Berryman and stunt coordinator Mike Massa]. So it felt like, ‘Where’s Alexis Denisof?’ [laughs]

What do you think of the overall Dollhouse premise?

Amy Acker: I think it’s going to be really cool. You can do anything with these people – they can be anyone, and you’ve got all these really good actors getting to play these different parts. I’m just excited to see where they go with it.

http://www.dwscifi.com/admin/articles/show/2994