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Giving multiple orgasms to obsessive Joss Whedon fans the world over, The Hollywood Reporter is claiming that Dollhouse has been renewed.

The official announcement will not be made until Monday at the network’s upfront presentation, but sources confirm a deal has been struck for another 13 episodes. Fox plans to continue the show on Fridays next fall.

The low-rated series was last seen given up for dead by the media in a field somewhere….

The move is tougher to explain than most, especially based on the show’s ratings. A Dollhouse pickup is a shock, an underdog comeback that blows away NBC’s will-they-or-won’t-they hand-wringing over Chuck (psst, they almost certainly will). In fact, Dollhouse might very well be the lowest-rated in-season scripted drama to ever get a renewal on a major broadcast network….

Basically this is a case of a bunch of minor decision-making factors successfully ganging up on the biggest factor (ratings). In addition to DVD sales, streaming and DVR influences, Fox received some serious budget concessions from 20th TV and Whedon to continue the show, with 20th now shouldering a greater portion of the load.

Another factor was the show’s unaired 13th episode, which Whedon shot on a shoestring budget for the Dollhouse first season DVD set. Whedon presented it to the network as an example of how Dollhouse can achieve a high-quality production with a lesser budget.

Kiala and I have previously blogged about Dollhouse (most recently here and here), and I have little doubt that both of us—along with a fair number of you, Blogtown denizens—will be watching the show’s second season to see if it lives up to its potential or continues to flounder. Despite watching it religiously, I’ve really gone back and forth on liking Dollhouse over the past season—but I have to imagine that if Whedon, et al., have indeed been unexpectedly given 13 more episodes, they’ll make the most out of ’em.

Via io9.

With honor and distinction, Erik Henriksen served as the executive editor of the Portland Mercury from 2004 to 2020. He can now be found at henriksenactual.com.

9 replies on “Rejoice, Whedonphiles: Sounds Like <i>Dollhouse</i> Got Renewed.”

  1. YAY!

    *breaks out the special Alan Tudyk commemorative champagne glasses*

    Also, I wonder how much Twitter had to do with the second season?

    *sits back and waits for the inevitable insults about my Twitter*

  3. “but I have to imagine that if Whedon, et al., have indeed been unexpectedly given 13 more episodes, they’ll make the most out of ’em.”

    I’m sad that I can’t get behind this… I re-watched Firefly during the Dollhouse season, and all it proved is that Whedon can’t pace a show to save his life. Dollhouse had some interesting conceits, but barring a brilliant ep.13, I just think he got in over his head with some ideas what couldn’t be pulled off sans things like “this food is problematic.”

    p.s. hai guise! i’m boycotting trivia night until koala can come.

  7. I’m sorry Kiala, I should be nice to you. You’re the nice one at the Merc. The rest of the staff is SO mean to me.

    They played tricks on me. Set me up for humorous photos at my expense.

  8. I DISAGREE, GRAHAM! We set you up for SEXY photos for OUR pleasure. I’m sorry but that top pic of you and Smirk is kinda HOT.

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