Dollhouse Ratings Watch!
- Thread starter Silum
- Start date
AndrewCrossett
Satsu Otaku
Yes.
Even DVR and downloads aren't going to save a show that's bleeding half a million viewers every week.
Guess we'll have another 13-episode Complete Series set to buy.
Maybe they could re-tool it as a procedural. That's literally the only kind of scripted television that's surviving on the networks.
Airam
UGH! You're so on the money, which is a shame cause I pretty much overall HATE procedural shows... Bones is the only one thats gotten it right IMO cause it so perfectly balances the case of the week with the actual lives of the show characters.
It's kinda dumb to really take yesterday's ratings so seriously. Watchmen came out yesterday and most showings were all sold out. So I can see why ratings would take a slight drop from something that big. The next couple weeks will really show where viewers stand.
Friendly Lurker
Scooby
clemsgirlfriend
Potential
Does DVR viewing count equally as on-air viewing? It would be interesting if so, since DVR viewers can fast-forward through commercials without watching them. Of course, on-air viewers can use them to go to the bathroom or get a snack, but the commercials are still there, being heard, and parts of them being watched, while with a DVR none of them have to be watched. It would be surprising if advertisers considered DVR viewing to be equal to on-air viewing.
Edmund Blackadder
Scooby
Just like its dumb to take the viewing figures seriously for the double holiday weekend because the following week the numbers rose?
Oh wait.
There will ALWAYS be a reason why someone didn't watch something, but thats the point, thats why advertisers pay money.
They want a TV show that people will plan around not the other way - which is where TV on demand and internet players come into play, but I still feel this is a season or 2 too early for anything to be 'saved' by these numbers because the advertisers, the ones who pay the money for the shows still, they don't have a way to make money from this, yet.
Hey, I'm just saying. Not making excuses.. but I mean, theaters were packed with people Friday night. Not even I was home to see Dollhouse. It's just something to think about.
Your totally right about viewing figures being affected because of things like this.
The trouble is it wont make a difference. Thats what the Friday night slot must overcome...which is hard, especially for the demographic Dollhouse needs (18-49 audience going out most firday nights).
They dont call it the death slot for nothin, its hard. It seems Dollhouse has failed. It needs a ratings spike to stick around. Something it might get once the more Whedon-unleashed version of Ep6 onward but by then...is it too late?
Probably.
Thought this was intersting too:
Nielsen Ratings - Overnight TV Ratings for Dollhouse
gossi FROM Dollverse.com said:
A lot of people have been using Dollverse to follow the show, in fact in a few interviews with Eliza ive heard her mention that site. I thought it was intersting for him to be so candid.
With a turn-around I still think the show can still be saved. Surely with a crappy 1.5 demographic FOX thinks so too, otherwise it would be gone. Or are they just holding up their pledge to air all the episodes?
AndrewCrossett
Satsu Otaku
The question now is, does Fox care enough about this series to do something to try and save it? Like giving it a better timeslot, or putting a special episode on after AI, or something?
A lot of people are talking about how things "pick up" around episode 6 because that's where the network meddling tailed off... but that won't matter if nobody but the hardcore fans are still watching by then.
I don't suppose there's much chance Fox would let Joss and Eliza take this show to cable, where it belonged in the first place. They've got too much money wrapped up in it.
A lot of people are talking about how things "pick up" around episode 6 because that's where the network meddling tailed off... but that won't matter if nobody but the hardcore fans are still watching by then.
I don't suppose there's much chance Fox would let Joss and Eliza take this show to cable, where it belonged in the first place. They've got too much money wrapped up in it.
Aly Fan
MeowCluck!
I don't know if this is exactly relevant but the site that i download dollhouse from has a list of the top ten things downloaded most that day...and dollhouse has been on it both today and yesterday...i think that shows it's got a wide out-of-america fan base...they should really take that into consideration too!!
Does anyone remember what ratings were like for Buffy when it first got started? I mean, if they look back at shows like Buffy and Angel.. they went on for a nice run and have huge fan bases. They should really wait until season 2 to make the death call. Especially since it was Fox who were responsible for the retooling of the first five episodes anyway.
Airam
I really feel like these are different times though when it comes to the chance showx get on network TV... back when Angel and Buffy were on networks weren't as quick to cancel shows as they are now and fans sure as hell weren't as on edge about it.
AndrewCrossett
Satsu Otaku
The download and DVR numbers prove that there is a healthy audience for this show. Fox just needs to find a way to get them sitting in front of the TV and dutifully watching commercials for the predatory mega-corporations who fund this stuff.
Keeping it in its current timeslot isn't going to do that. Unless they're running a high fever or there's a blizzard going on outside, this show's demographic just aren't gonna stay home watching TV at 9 on a Friday night, Watchmen or no Watchmen.
Keeping it in its current timeslot isn't going to do that. Unless they're running a high fever or there's a blizzard going on outside, this show's demographic just aren't gonna stay home watching TV at 9 on a Friday night, Watchmen or no Watchmen.
true...how can a show be close to BOTTOM of the TV weekly list, yet be number 1 online? Its a pretty complicated situation, i just how FOX understands it the way my 'dollhouse-wanting' mind wants.
Gotcha. Still.. Buffy turned into a smash hit. Angel did really well also. Firefly, though canceled, had a nice enough following to bring Joss to finish it off with a movie. Why cancel Dollhouse without giving it a real chance? I mean, it was retooled.. stuck in the worst time slot.. But then again, Fox isn't too bright.
AndrewCrossett
Satsu Otaku
I have to think that when Fox and Joss and Eliza sat down to talk about launching the show, it must have been said that look, we all know this show's target demographic isn't going to be watching TV on a Friday night. We're going to be looking at a combination of Nielsens, DVR numbers, and downloads, and knowing that a large portion of our profits are going to come from the DVD sales.
Joss's audience tends to be young, urban, educated, reasonably affluent, and hip. They're the most attractive demographic to advertisers, but they're also the first ones to shift out of the traditional sit-at-home style of TV watching and evolve into getting their shows in other ways. If the networks and the advertisers want those eyeballs, they're going to have to be ready to make the leap. It's not 1975 anymore, when the whole family would gather round the TV to watch M*A*S*H.
Even so, the show can only continue to lose viewers for so many weeks and still remain viable.
I remember when "Alias" was floundering in the ratings. They picked the best, most exciting episode of the season, and stuck it on right after the Superbowl. It got a huge ratings boost and stayed on the air for several more seasons. Fox needs to do something like that with Dollhouse (and Terminator too, if they want to save it). Take the best episode of each, put it on in a featured timeslot and make an event out of it.
Well in danger of sounding like Al...Fox is a buisness.
Buffy was a great success for the Wb because it brought an audience that is rare for cable. Firefly relied on network ratings...which were crap...so it got cancelled. Yes there were various reasons for its cancellation but FOX siezed upon its DVD success.
Cancelling Dollhouse will have little to do with what they think it will do in DVD sales imo.
E
Edmund Blackadder
Haha, its OK to admit that you agree with me on certain things!
AndrewCrossett
Buffy wasn't on cable... it was on small networks that didn't expect very high ratings.
No, I totally get it. But I just think the whole thing is stupid. The show is only 4 episodes old and has had to face not only the Friday death slot.. but the release of a massive movie on one of those 4 Fridays. People are preparing for the show's death. And I just think it's dumb. Fox should work on fixing these issues rather than firing a bullet at the project.
Basically, I'm saying it's too early to lose hope.
Edmund Blackadder
Scooby
Fox and every other network needs something for a Friday night.
Joss Whedon's shows haven't ever really been massive in terms of figures, so why should they take a punt and put it on another night.
They have given it a chance and it is haemorraging viewers.
I'll I am reading on this thread are the rantings of whiney fans who are searching endlessly for reasons on why the show is failing.
Do you ever stop to think that IF Fox thought they could make money from this, they would try?
They did initially give the show support - they commissioned it for heavens sake.
They then did some interesting advertising to try and hook viewers.
Yes they have interfered BUT to be quite honest Joss was still the lead on the show, he could easily have made the shows entertaining.
They don't need to be arch heavy to start with, just stand alones. I don't hear anyone saying 'The first six episodes are to blame and Joss worked on them'.
Lets also remember that Joss closed down production for a time - not because he was forced to BUT because he felt the need to.
I'm can't comment on the quality of the show because I haven't seen any of it, nor do I plan to, but I can comment on all the people whining at the Network because I think it is totally unjustified, considering they have already taken a chance.
Airam
the thing is though he first 6 supposedly weren't arch heavy but IMO they really are... if this is the first 6 then the following ones must be nothing but arch... I don't get it.
AndrewCrossett
Satsu Otaku
The show's not doomed yet. As I said, the audience is there, the audience is a good demographic, and it's worth Fox's while to try and reach them.
It's highly unlikely Fox has anything that would do better in that timeslot, they've already finished shooting the season, and they've sunk a lot of money into it. I feel sure we'll at least get our 13 episodes, and unless the ratings absolutely crater, Fox won't abandon hope on the show for a while yet.