Today FOX officially announced its 2009-2010 schedule, and Joss Whedon fans were delighted to see Dollhouse on the schedule.  After much debate and anxiety, Dollhouse was thankfully renewed for a second season thanks in no small part to the overwhelming support and Save Dollhouse campaigns on the Internet.

The question now is whether FOX renewed it just to appease fans before a quick cancellation next season or if it means Dollhouse might have some steam.  I choose to be optimistic about the fate of Dollhouse, and it's not out of sheer delusion.  There are some very good reasons to feel good about Dollhouse's renewal.
1. The Spring Schedule
FOX presented its schedule for all of next season, separating between Fall and Spring schedules.  While a show like Lie to Me only appears in the Fall, Dollhouse is on FOX's schedule for the full year.  While this is subject to change, it's the first indication that FOX has no immediate plans to get rid of Dollhouse.

2. The Seth MacFarlane Precedent
FOX famously canceled Family Guy only to see huge sales for DVDs and huge ratings for reruns on Adult Swim, prompting the network to bring it back, pay creator Seth MacFarlane a bajillion dollars, and let him keep making as many shows as he wants .  This Fall MacFarlane will own 75 percent of Sundays with Family Guy, American Dad and The Cleveland Show.

In other words, FOX had a change of heart and now implicitly trusts the talented showrunner of a show they once canceled.  Given Joss Whedon's track record with Firefly, this could mean that FOX has decided to let him do what he wants.


With those two factors in mind, I feel confident that Dollhouse will be given a fair shot after teetering on the brink of cancellation.  


-John Kubicek, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image courtesy of FOX)