What the Fox?

I know you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth but what if the horse is an evil mastermind? The jaw dropping news that Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse has been renewed for a well deserved second season brings me great joy along with great confusion. This puzzling move is one of two curve balls thrown by the execs at Fox who can officially be diagnosed as suffering from multiple personality disorder.

While I was one of many Whedonites who was disappointed by the slow start of Dollhouse, the mythology heavy final half of the season grabbed my attention and left me wanting more. Of course I assumed that those desires would be left unfulfilled as the show was getting little to no ratings in its Friday night timeslot of death. Strong DVR numbers and the promise of big DVD sales were apparently enough for the execs at Fox to reconsider though, and in one the most shocking changes of direction the show was renewed. What I don’t understand though is why the folks at Fox aren’t giving it a chance to improve. I get that the financial times are tough so a smaller budget makes sense. Apparently Whedon had some foresight and shot the yet unaired season finale on a much smaller budget to show Fox it could be done. So while I don’t have a gripe with Fox shrinking the money I do have a problem with them leaving the show on Friday nights at 8pm CST. If you’re going to keep a show why not try and expand the viewership. Pair Dollhouse with 24 on Mondays come winter or better yet make a geek night with Fringe in the Fall. Speaking of pairings, who is the ad wizard who decided the best lead in would be the god awful and surprisingly still on the air show ‘Til Death starring Brad Garrett. Fox may have given us another season of Dollhouse for which I am thankful but I’m already bracing for word of cancellation this time next year.

So while Fox gives backhanded rewards to Dollhouse they also gave a complete slap in the face to Jesus fucking Christ himself, JJ Abrams. I don’t know who they think they are but shuffling Abrams’ baby and best rated new Fox show, Fringe off to Thursdays to face ratings powerhouses Grey’s Anatomy, CSI and The Office, is just about the biggest screw you they could give. All Fringe did this last year is give Fox some much needed geek cred and deliver high performance. Now moved off to Thursdays, I expect to see the ratings drop and to see the show on the chopping block this time next year. Why Fox would bite the hand that feeds them is beyond me and I don’t think Abrams is as forgiving as Joss (who in this scenario is Buddha).