Whedon returns to TV

[William T Goodall]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117975136.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

"Joss Whedon preps Fox series'Dollhouse' to star 'Buffy's' Eliza Dushku
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
Joss Whedon is heading back to TV-- along with his "Buffy the Vampire  
Slayer" and "Angel" ingenue, Eliza Dushku.
Dushku will star in the Whedon-penned series "Dollhouse," which has  
been given a seven-episode order by Fox. News came as an extra-big  
Halloween treat for Whedon fans, considered some of the most  
passionate in all of TV.

Produced by 20th Century Fox TV -- the studio also behind "Buffy,"  
"Angel" and Whedon's late, lamented "Firefly" -- "Dollhouse" follows a  
top-secret world of people programmed with different personalities,  
abilities and memories depending on their mission.

After each assignment -- which can be physical, romantic or even  
illegal -- the characters have their memories wiped clean, and are  
sent back to a lab (dubbed the "Dollhouse"). Show centers on Dushku's  
character, Echo, as she slowly begins to develop some self-awareness,  
which impacts her missions.

Whedon has already hammered out the basic outline for all seven segs.  
Barring a strike, Fox hopes to have the show in production by spring,  
giving the net an opportunity to be so far ahead of schedule by fall  
that it could potentially air a full season uninterrupted by breaks.  
Long lead time also gives Whedon, as well as the net and studio,  
plenty of time to evolve the show if need be.

"To be sitting here talking about episodes of a series in November;  
that's exciting," said Fox Entertainment prexy Kevin Reilly. "I think  
we're in great hands."

Whedon said he wasn't plotting a comeback to the smallscreen, having  
turned his attention back to features. But Dushku -- who last toplined  
20th's and Fox's "Tru Calling" -- called up the scribe after sealing a  
talent deal with the studio and network this summer (Daily Variety,  
Aug. 27).

"He's my favorite genius," Dushku said. "And my favorite friend. He's  
been like a big brother ... and the only person out here I've ever  
wholeheartedly trusted, because he's never let me down."

What was originally simply a lunch to meet up and discuss Dushku's  
career options soon turned into a partnership, as Whedon threw out a  
random concept Dushku loved.

That germ of an idea turned into "Dollhouse."

"It was a mistake!" Whedon said. "I sat down with her to talk about  
her options, and acted all sage, saying things backwards like Yoda and  
laying out what I thought she should do. But in the course of doing  
it, I accidentally made one up. I told it to her, and she said,  
'That's exactly what I want to do.' "

Fox Entertainment chairman Peter Liguori had been pursuing Whedon  
about making a return to TV for some time, and said he couldn't  
believe his luck when Dushku brought him in the door.

"There was a lot of work and serendipity that came into this," said  
Liguori, who bought off-net runs of "Buffy" back when he ran FX.  
"Fortunately for him, his movie career was quite fertile, and he was  
only going to do something in TV that he felt quite passionately  
about. The guy has two unbelievable skills that are so rare: He's  
totally innovative creatively, and he's a terrific showrunner."

As a result, Whedon is suddenly once again donning the titles of exec  
producer-showrunner-creator-writer -- a job he didn't think he'd once  
again assume so quickly, particularly after the cancellations of  
"Angel" and "Firefly."

And because she helped convince Whedon to sign on to the project --  
and had a hand in its creation -- Dushku will serve as a producer on  
the show.

"It's exciting to know that my voice and who I am as Eliza is going to  
be in this show every single week," she said. "I'm ready to take  
control of the person I want to be in this business."

Whedon said he and Dushku hammered out an idea they believed would  
showcase the thesp's wide range (having done comedy, like the feature  
"Bring It On," in addition to drama).

"She's someone who gets pigeonholed as doing one thing, but she's  
constantly changing and could do anything," Whedon said. "I said to  
her, do you want to do the same thing for seven years? This show comes  
from her particular circumstance. We can take this show to a lot of  
different places."

Dushku agreed -- and said she could relate to the idea of people's  
lives constantly being scrutinized, and being told who you should be.

"As actors, we're expected to play characters, and in a way it feels  
like people are trying to download the latest trend into a Hollywood  
actress and make them like everyone else," she said. "I even love my  
character's name, Echo. And I'm starting my training, so I can get  
into that 'Dark Angel'-on-crack shape where I can do everything."

20th Century Fox TV chairman Gary Newman said the "Dollhouse" pitch  
reminded him of an earlier time, when Whedon brought the "Buffy"  
universe into being.

"He's creating 

Washoe is gone

[Olin Elliott]

  I just found out today that Washoe the Chimpanzee died.  I got to see her 
just last year when I visited the Chimpanzee Human Communication Center which 
is in Ellensburg Washington, not far from where I live in Seattle.  She and her 
family made a great impression on me.  I thought fans of the Uplift novels 
would understand how important she is and share my sadness.

  http://www.friendsofwashoe.org/

  Olin Elliott
___
http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l