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Discussion: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
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steverg |
Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 24 2009, 1:34 PM EDT
The absolute best episode ever of Dollhouse was watched by a mere 2.15 million (0.8/3 rating/share of 18-49 year-old) viewers! I don't understand it. On a night where MLB was not gumming up the whole evening we continue to lose (albeit slowly) more viewers. Brothers at 8:00pm beat out DH! But then Til Death at 8:30 dropped lower than Dollhouse, so we may be able to blame some of it on those guys. Still, I had hoped for a modest increase, not the other way around. I've been thinking about the Fox move to take off Dollhouse for sweeps November. It may not be that bad of a move. Hear me out before you protest! The numbers aren't there. We have to admit it. Even with this awesome episode, we could not improve on viewership. If Fox kept DH on during sweeps and they tanked, there would be NO WAY that the show could be renewed. This hiatus will do two things for us. First, we get a break. There will be time for the fans to help out the show. If (I emphasize IF) Fox helps with advertising as well, we may be able to come back with some new viewers curious as to what this show might be about. Second, the double episodes for three December Fridays seem to match-up very well--at least in my mind. let me lay it out for you. Friday, December 4, is Summer Glau night. She will be playing Bennett Halverson, the D.C. Dollhouse equivalent of Topher. She has a history with Echo, or at least with Caroline. Still not sure which it is. This night could be intense and may bring some Summer/TSCC fans on board who have stayed away for the first part of the season. If it is promoted, it could make those numbers jump. [continued] Do you find this valuable? |
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steverg |
1. RE: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 24 2009, 1:34 PM EDT
| Post edited: Oct 24 2009, 1:38 PM EDT
Next up is the night of Meet Jane Doe and A Love Supreme. This is what will transpire on December 11: Echo is in the world at large, struggling to come to terms with her multiple personalities, and Topher is beginning to discover the dangers of the technology he has been playing with. Powerful stuff that will lead into the 9:00pm episode where Echo’s past engagements are found murdered, thereby calling up questions as to whether Alpha has returned. Since he has been dabbling in the destructive uses of Dolhouse tech, it fits neatly with Topher’s fears, and with Echo worrying about her multiple personalities who would we most want to see to realize THOSE fears? We will also find Ballard trying to recruit Boyd and Topher as allies, as Adelle becomes suspicious of him. And finally—yes, there is more in this episode!—the actives rebel and leave a member (Active, staff?) permanently mind-wiped!Then, comes December 18 and the last two episodes, of which we have little information at the moment. No plot lines that I’ve found, just their titles, so what I’m saying here is PURE speculation. The first episode is named Stop-Lost, which sounds like a play on words over Stop-loss, the military term used when active personnel are denied their contractually mandated discharge dates. It is an ugly situation where people who thought they would be done with service can be held indefinitely. Any ideas how that might relate to the Dollhouse? He he he! It could also refer to being lost morally or psychically, something the Dollhouse is truly adept at. The second episode of the night is named The Attic. Yes, we get to see the darkest secret of the Dollhouse, and very possibly a natural consequence of Stop-Lost. So the match-ups seem to be there. The drama will be intense. Will the fans shake the rafters and create some NOISE? Will Fox do SOMETHING to promote December Fridays? Will the viewers come? Do you find this valuable? |
SilentEchoes |
2. RE: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 24 2009, 2:04 PM EDT
sooo what I'm gathering this is actually good news we're being pulled for sweeps? I don't care how we get by as long as we get by and continue the show. What is "sweeps" or whatever anyway? I'm gathering it has to do with pricing and how much advertisers pay for those time slots?
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Gusar |
3. RE: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 24 2009, 2:05 PM EDT
With Fox having advertised the Oct 30th episode and then pulling it, people will think the show is cancelled. I don't see anything good that can come from this hiatus. I mean, look at what the last one did to us!It was the same with TSCC. The baseball preemptions ruined it. After the two (!) baseball-induced hiatuses the show had, ratings dropped and never recovered, sending the show to Fridays to die. Do you find this valuable? |
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Gusar |
4. RE: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 24 2009, 2:12 PM EDT
"sooo what I'm gathering this is actually good news we're being pulled for sweeps? I don't care how we get by as long as we get by and continue the show. What is "sweeps" or whatever anyway? I'm gathering it has to do with pricing and how much advertisers pay for those time slots?"Nielsen uses people meters in 25,000 households to measure the daily ratings. But during sweeps months (November, February, May, and I think one during summer) they also send out diaries to people, who then fill them out with what they've been watching over the course of a week. A total of 1.6 million diaries. During sweeps months, producers usually present something extra in their shows, like stunt casting (Summer Glau, anyone?) or major plot reveals. Do you find this valuable? |
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steverg |
5. RE: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 24 2009, 4:49 PM EDT
I understand what you are saying, Gusar. I'm just trying to find a silver lining here. It is very possible that the Dollhouse numbers will not improve, that the hiatus will be the stake through the heart that similar nonsense created for TSCC and Firefly. The answer will not be known for a little while, but there should be some clues during November. If Fox throws just a little ad money DH's way, people will know it is coming back and new faces might even hear about it. There is also the possibility that a fan-made viral will explode on the Internet and do what Fox hasn't bothered to try. My comments (about how the episodes pair up so well) are not frivolous. They really do stack up as being "made for each other." This could be good. It could also indicate that Joss was given a heads up that the hiatus and Double Ep. December (I know: that's a DED strategy, take it as you will...) might occur, so he outlined Eps. 5-10 accordingly (or 7-10, since 5&6 may have already been locked down by then. Hmmm, double Ep of Summer Glau, so why not two more double eps.?) I'm grabbing on to whatever floats on these choppy seas. If you don't want on my life raft, that's fine. And don't tell me about the holes below the waterline! Do you find this valuable? |
MichaelStephen |
6. RE: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 24 2009, 7:03 PM EDT
I'm Quite Excited for the Attic! Can't wait to see what's up there!i Like to look at this as an opportunity to promote like HAIL! Tell anyone and everyone that Dollhouse is coming back in December! Post up Fliers and Bulletins! Create fan vids and Stick em on Youtube! ANYTHING to get this show out there to the public! Do you find this valuable? |
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SilentEchoes |
7. RE: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 24 2009, 10:41 PM EDT
"Nielsen uses people meters in 25,000 households to measure the daily ratings. But during sweeps months (November, February, May, and I think one during summer) they also send out diaries to people, who then fill them out with what they've been watching over the course of a week. A total of 1.6 million diaries.oh, alright. I get it, Thanks Gus. I still think they made poor choices on the lead-in, advertising and day. There is still plenty of people who don't know about dollhouse. It's easier to get into a show if it's behind another show you like. But in the end, Fox is a business, what can ya do...=/ Do you find this valuable? |
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Gusar |
8. RE: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 25 2009, 7:31 AM EDT
"I'm grabbing on to whatever floats on these choppy seas. If you don't want on my life raft, that's fine. And don't tell me about the holes below the waterline!"Well, I've always been realistic about these things. Even with TSCC. And I've received quite some flak for it at the TSCC wiki. Hope dies last, is what they say. But I've already accepted that the most realistic scenario is that we get 13 eps and that was it. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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SilentEchoes |
9. RE: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 25 2009, 11:05 AM EDT
"I'm grabbing on to whatever floats on these choppy seas. If you don't want on my life raft, that's fine. And don't tell me about the holes below the waterline!"I'm taking that Life raft!.........Holes?.....heh what holes? :D! Do you find this valuable? |
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AnotherPost |
10. RE: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 25 2009, 3:17 PM EDT
"Nielsen uses people meters in 25,000 households to measure the daily ratings. But during sweeps months (November, February, May, and I think one during summer) they also send out diaries to people, who then fill them out with what they've been watching over the course of a week. A total of 1.6 million diaries."This is why Nielsen is a total failure. 1.6 million does not speak for ANYBODY. So to base something's life on it, what a cruel joke. My parents said you could only do it once too. I'd rather install some piece of tracking/spyware into my Dish that sends out what I watch. If everybody did that (and if it was TRULY anonymous), the big networks might start to get a real picture. Do you find this valuable? |
Bfolks84 |
11. RE: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 26 2009, 2:49 AM EDT
Shouldn't there be like three more episodes after the Dec 18th episode? That would only be the 10th episode of the season and aren't they contracted for 13?
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SilentEchoes |
12. RE: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 26 2009, 6:35 AM EDT
"Shouldn't there be like three more episodes after the Dec 18th episode? That would only be the 10th episode of the season and aren't they contracted for 13?"yeah, it bleeds out into January. 25th is most likely some Christmas crap. And to anotherpost, the scales are certainly unbalanced. It seems to me that a lot more people are watching this show than what's being documented. The DVR recordings have to have some indication(?) what can we do though =/ Do you find this valuable? |
intrepid |
13. RE: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 26 2009, 6:50 PM EDT
"Well, I've always been realistic about these things. Even with TSCC. And I've received quite some flak for it at the TSCC wiki.I agree with Gusar, being realistic this is nothing but bad for us, once you get a forced hiatus people start watching and getting involved in other shows, so when DH comes back we'll loose more viewers. All this seems like is Fox winding up DH as fast as possible to replace it early next year. Do you find this valuable? |
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steverg |
14. RE: Where are the viewers? (Some spoilers ahead)
Oct 26 2009, 11:07 PM EDT
"Shouldn't there be like three more episodes after the Dec 18th episode? That would only be the 10th episode of the season and aren't they contracted for 13?"January 1 will be a college bowl game, then I believe that DH will be back on at 9 for the 8th, 15th and 22nd with an undisclosed lead-in at 8:00pm. There is no information out there as to what those last three shows will be about. Joss has promised a bit of a wrap-up for episode 13, to give some closure. Obviously, he won't box himself in completely with all threads neatly tied up. There COULD be a miracle and DH go on for renewal or move to SyFy, etc. Now pardon me while I work some putty into the holes on my life raft. It hasn't sunk yet and I'm bailing as fast as I can... Do you find this valuable? |
