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Tag: dollhouse

  • TV Or Not TV: Dollhouse “Epitaph One”

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    Welcome to another special edition of TV or not TV where I admit that I am a Whedon-holic.

    This past spring long time fans of the brain behind Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly were given the gift of another TV show from the mind of Joss Whedon. I admit to both excitement and trepidation in knowing that this new show, Dollhouse, would be on FOX after already having gone down that road with Serenity. I feared not enough  network support, I feared network interference and on at least one of those accounts I was right. Thankfully as the show progressed through it’s season the latter was overcome and the show went from mediocre to amazing in a very short amount of time.

    Today I’m here to not talk to you about the history of Dollhouse or its second season pickup. I’m here to talk about the forthcoming release of Dollhouse season 1 on DVD and Blu-Ray on July 27th.

    Dollhouse Blu-Ray
    Dollhouse Blu-Ray

    I’m not usually the guy that tells you to go out and buy a TV show on DVD mostly due to the fact that what you get more often than not isn’t anything greater than what you saw for free on television. With this DVD/Blu-Ray release, however, there is a different story.

    There are two extras on this DVD/Blu-Ray that make the purchase a must have for any fan of the show. The first is the un-aired original pilot of the show. This pilot was shot and then shelved/used for parts in the assembly of a new pilot and subsequent episodes. After seeing the entire series I think seeing this pilot was interesting in seeing the vision that was originally intended for (and eventually moved back to) for the show. It’s also interesting to see the bits and pieces from this pilot that were used in the actual series. I also highly recommend it because as a fan of the Whedon clan I found that this pilot was far superior to the aired pilot.

    The second reason I highly recommend this purchase if for another un-aired 13th episode of the show, Epitaph One. Ever since Felicia Day (@feliciaday on Twitter) announced that her episode wouldn’t air on TV (at the time setting off fear that this was a sign that the eventual renewal wasn’t coming) I have been obsessed with seeing this episode. Over the days after the tweet we learned that this episode was actually made specifically for overseas distribution AND the home video release. We were treated to cryptic messages from those involved like when Joss Whedon who said, “It’s one of the best episodes we’ve ever made.” The fans were wanting and waiting.

    Now, on the eve of the episode Epitaph One being shown at the San Diego Comic-Con I am happy to say that I have seen the episode… and it is better than I’d even imagined.

    Epitaph One was a story by Joss Whedon and a teleplay written by Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen. The episode, set well after the events of the first season, is a stand alone episode that provides us some flashbacks of the original cast and introduces us to six new characters (in the case of most, only briefly in true Whedon fashion). In a phone interview I recently had with Jed Whedon he confirmed that this episode was a story that was set in a way that the if show wasn’t picked up for renewal it would serve as a nice book-end to the series. It does this wonderfully in that we are shown the big picture while still having plenty of questions to have answered and none of our future seasons spoiled. We learn some information about what happened to our regular cast of players while being handed an interesting and frightening original story to follow. In some ways the story has almost Stephen King and George A. Romero inspirations to it and it presents to us a twist that could only come from the mind of someone named (or married to a) Whedon.

    One of the interesting things about Dollhouse is the moral gray area that the show tap-dances within. Is what any of these people doing really right or wrong? If you watch Epitaph One one of those questions is heavily answered, and the answer weighs on one of the regular cast members so bad that the result is a complete mental breakdown. The performance of this character is a complete 180 turn from anything we’ve seen from them before and the pain that was conveyed in this scene reached out to me.

    Another stand out in this episode is the use of Zack Ward who most of you will remember as Scut Fergus in the holiday classic A Christmas Story. His character is hard, he is tough, and he is played to perfection. One of the things I walked away from most in seeing Epitaph One is wanting to see this story play out just so I can see more of him.

    I hate to say that Epitaph One is by far my favorite episode of the season, especially since it is a completely unique story that in no way is a reflection of the rest of the season, but it really is. I would love to see Dollhouse last for quite a few seasons to come and have each season end with the annual continuation of this stand alone story.

    So there you have it folks. Whether you buy it or rent it I highly recommend you take in the first season home video release of Dollhouse and especially sit down and enjoy Epitaph One.

    – Will Wilkins is only available in this limited edition set.I’d also encourage you to listen to the Jed Whedon interview for even more interesting tidbits.

  • Contest Round-Up: 2009-07-22

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    Welcome to our weekly round-up of featured giveaways here at Quick Stop. Every Wednesday, we’ll present a new clutch of DVDs, books, and other cool stuff you can take a shot at winning. All you have to do is click on the graphics below to be taken to their respective contest pages. And good luck!

    In conjunction with Adult Swim, we’re giving away three (3) copies of ROBOT CHICKEN: STAR WARS EPISODE II on DVD.

    In conjunction with Thinkgeek.com, we’re giving away a SUN JAR and a MOON JAR.

    In conjunction with Fox Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of DOLLHOUSE: SEASON 1 on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of DOCTOR WHO: PLANET OF THE DEAD on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of TORCHWOOD: CHILDREN OF EARTH on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of TORCHWOOD: SEASON 2 on Blu-Ray.

    In conjunction with Shout! Factory, we’re giving away five (5) copies of THE MIDDLEMAN on DVD.

    In conjunction with Fox Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION on DVD.

    In conjunction with Fox Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of MISS MARCH on DVD.

    In conjunction with Walt Disney Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of THE TIGGER MOVIE on DVD.

    In conjunction with Miramax Home Video, we’re giving away a copy of SLING BLADE on Blu-Ray.

    In conjunction with Touchstone Home Video, we’re giving away a copy of THE WATERBOY on Blu-Ray.

  • Win DOLLHOUSE: SEASON 1 on DVD!

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    In conjunction with Fox Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of DOLLHOUSE: SEASON 1 on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, August 12th.

    CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

    Official Rules

    No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on August, 12th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • TV Or Not TV: 5/18 – 5/24

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    Welcome to another edition of TV or Not TV where I’m getting all caught up.

    Two weeks ago was the season finale of Dollhouse. This freshman show on FOX had a rocky start, but the potential was there. The finale, titled Omega, paid off that potential in spades.

    As the series has progressed we had a lot of questions about the active gone psycho named Alpha who seemed to go on a killing spree in the Dollhouse but for some reason sparing Echo. We wondered what made him snap, why did he spare Echo and who the heck was he? All of these questions are answered as the story unfolds.

    The one stand out from both this episode and the one prior is the amazing performance by Alan Tudyk. Tudyk played the character of Wash in the other Whedon FOX project Firefly with such amazing charm and wit to such a great extreme that he was probably my favorite character from that show. His eco-environmentalist personality reflected some of this, but his real range popped when he changed before our eyes to Alpha. It turns out that Alpha had several cards stacked against him before the series started, one of these being the accidental implantation of all of his prior imprints, making him one body with several people melded together inside his head. This was played out wonderfully with both the acting and editing as we see Alpha deal with and argue with his many personalities.

    The other issues this tricky show dealt with was with the question of what really makes a person a person? FBI Agent Ballard brings up the notion of “What about his soul?” when it is revealed that Alpha had destroyed the carts with his original persona. This is, of course, a question that the show has sort of been making us ask all along. Are people made up of just the memories and experiences that we have or is there something in the very fiber of our being that helps to move that along. The season finale addresses this and even gives us a very solid take on it when we discover that Alpha is doing what it was that he seemed to be moving towards prior to his becoming a doll. Even though the person was stripped out of the mind he still seemed to follow the path he was made for, where his soul lead him.

    I think they wrapped up this first season very well and I’m excited to learn that FOX has in fact given Dollhouse a second chance with the pick-up for a new season. I hope that the network will also trust Joss Whedon to do what it is that he does well so that we can see where the vision behind this show can actually take us.

    Now that I’m all caught up let’s take a look at what the rest of the week holds for us. Not a wealth of choices this week as most of the remaining shows are having their finales.

    MONDAY

    FOX ““ 8:00 PM: The clock finally runs out on another day of 24. Will Kim Bauer survive being used as a tool to manipulate Jack? Will Tony Almeda get away? Will Jack finally get treated with that experimental cure? Based on the renewal for next season we at least know the answer to one of those questions!

    CBS ““ 8:30 PM: How I Met Your Mother‘s season finale promises to have the goat alluded to last season during Ted’s 31st surprise party. Tune in with me and watch all the awkward ways they block Robin and Lily‘s stomachs with stuff.

    ABC ““ 9:00 PM: Once again the alphabet network turns failure into feature as Jillian Harris tries to find her perfect man (again) on The Bachelorette.

    TUESDAY

    ABC ““ 9:00 PM: I never watch it but by the ratings a whole ton of people will be tuning in for the finale of Dancing with the Stars. I still don’t get it.

    CBS ““ 9:00 PM: It’s the season finale of The Mentalist so you just know it has to be an episode with a Red John story line (still sounds more like a drinking game than a serial killer).

    FOX ““ 9:00 PM: You may think that Glee is nothing but a High School Musical rip-off. Let me tell you, the language and story lines would never play on Disney Channel.

    WEDNESDAY

    FOX ““ 8:00 PM: Prepare for two hours hosted by the automaton Ryan Seacrest only to find out in the last two minutes who walks away as this year’s American Idol.

    CBS ““ 8:00 PM: It’s season finale night on CBS with The New Adventures of Old Christine, Gary Unmarried, and Criminal Minds.

    STYLE- 10:00 PM: Get ready to feel good about where you live when you watch Clean House: Search for the Messiest Home in the Country.

    THURSDAY

    ABC ““ 8:00 PM: Ugly Betty follows suit with the rest of the shows on the network by having her two hours season finale.

    NBC ““ 10:00 PM: Freshman show Southland has it’s season finale as well. Didn’t this show just start?

    FOX ““ 8:00 PM: Another season of So You Think You Can Dance? kicks off, once again guaranteeing I won’t watch FOX for at least one time slot during the summer.

    FRIDAY

    TLC ““ 5:00 PM: You can tell that TLC is gearing up for the final cha”¦ ahem”¦ new season of Jon & Kate Plus 8 with an entire weekend marathon that kicks off with the original specials about this couple and their kids that lead to the series.

    FOX ““ 8:00 PM: Prison Break and Dollhouse are gone, so what do you do FOX? You roll out new episodes of Don’t Forget the Lyrics. Tonight have meatloaf while watching Meat Loaf.

    STARZ ““ 10:00 PM: Dr. Goode sits down with Jerry Seinfeld for the season finale of Head Case. If you haven’t watched it and have Starz OnDemand I’d recommend you take it all in.

    SATURDAY

    AMC ““ 10:30 AM: A Fistful of Dollars immediately followed by A Few Dollars More? Wow, I may not be leaving the house until the afternoon.

    DISCOVERY ““ 1:00 PM: Oh man, a marathon of Deadliest Catch? It’s like they don’t want me to leave the house today at all!

    ABC Family ““ 8:00 PM: Enjoy the Lohan about two years pre-implosion in Mean Girls. Yes, I like this movie. Don’t judge me!

    SUNDAY

    G4 ““ 7:00 PM: For some reason I’m always fascinated by Hollywood film making drama. The Onion Movie is one of those films, but only if you know the back story. I’m not saying you should watch it, just sharing some info.

    NBC ““ 9:00 PM: Did you miss The Last Templar the first time it aired? You get a second chance to catch it if you want.

    ABC ““ 9:00 PM: ABC may not be known for their mini-series any more, but Diamonds takes a look at the diamond trade from beginning to end as it weaves the stories of people affected. Think of it as the diamond version of Traffic or New Jack City.

    – Will Wilkins may have had some portions cut that did not affect the outcome of the game.

  • TV Or Not TV: 5/4 – 5/10

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    Welcome to TV or Not TV where I am humbled by mother nature.

    This week I was able to get caught up on the new History Channel original series Life After People. This series, crafted after last year’s startling special, takes a unique look at what would happen if we people of the planet Earth just suddenly vanished. What would become of our cars, our buildings, our legacy? The results are very humbling.

    In the discussion of “saving our planet” I have long been a student of the philosophy that we are not needing to save our planet but instead we need to save ourselves. Yes, we need to treat mother Earth a lot better so that her environment will still be suitable for us. We, however, do not need to save the planet because as this show outlines pretty harshly the planet will in face go on without us.

    It is one thing, when watching this show, to see the computer generated scenarios of a Statue of Liberty crumbling, or the Houston Astrodome becoming a richly vegetated rain forest climate, but it is another thing to see the real evidence in today’s society where we see how the planet will reclaim that which we leave behind. A coal mining island in Japan, after only 35 years, is already falling apart and appears on the precipice of complete collapse. Mother Nature will quickly reclaim that which we turn our backs on proving that her creations are the only ones that can stand the test of time.

    If you haven’t seen this show I  strongly suggest you tune in to Life After People every Tuesday night at 10 PM to see this eye opening look at what the future may hold for that which we leave behind.

    Now let’s see what television transmissions we can choose from this week that will just be static two light years from now.

    MONDAY

    LIFETIME – 5:00 PM: It’s not every week that I make a recommendation for Lifetime, but a show called Cook Yourself Thin can’t go without mentioning in this day and age of the obese American.

    FX – 9:00 PM: Now that 24 is in the 21st of it’s 24 hours Jack has got to be getting a miracle cure any minute now, right?

    NBC – 9:00 PM: Allison is bailing on the DA’s office to work for a big corporate job on Medium. Do I sense a new Ms. Cleo?

    TUESDAY

    NBC – 8:00 PM: With only four contestants left standing on The Biggest Loser: Couples you’d think by now they’ve been through enough. Nope. They have to run a full marathon.

    FOX – 9:00 PM: Olivia starts having visions, Walter confesses his connection to the Z.F.T. manifesto and we finally get to learn what Peter’s secret side project is this week on Fringe? Whoah! It must be sweeps!

    HISTORY – 10:00 PM: As mentioned above, a new episode of Life After People premieres as it takes a look at what happens to Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles over the test of time.

    WEDNESDAY

    ABC – 8:00 PM: JD says farewell to Sacred Heart as the shows tries to wrap up what was envisioned as Scrubs final season. Will that actually be the case?

    FOX – 9:00 PM: I really don’t care who gets booted on American Idol tonight, I’m just interested in seeing Daughtry perform.

    ABC – 9:00 PM: This time next week I’ll be half-way into the season finale of LOST, so I’m eagerly anticipating what happens in this episode as the prelude to that.

    THURSDAY

    FOX – 8:00 PM: Tonight on Bones FBI agent Boothe gets a visit from Stewie from Family Guy. No, really… it happens.

    NBC – 9:30 PM: Jack learns something shocking about his parentage and Alan Alda guest stars on 30 Rock. Coincidence?

    ABC – 10:00 PM: It’s been over a decade since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and tonight we get to see just how far it has taken him in Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist.

    FRIDAY

    CW – 8:00 PM: Will this be the season or series finale for Everybody Hates Chris? Chris Rock himself has been quoted as saying it would be a good end point in the storytelling based on his life. It’s looking like the CW might agree.

    FOX – 9:00 PM: The same question as asked above can be asked for Dollhouse as well. Last week we finally learned who Alpha is, we learned why he kept Echo alive and now they’re both on the run. Will this be the show’s swan song or only the ending of this chapter (not counting the un-aired thirteenth episode)?

    SATURDAY

    HISTORY – 8:00 PM: Cashing in on the release of Star Trek the History Channel rolls out Ancient Aliens followed by Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier.

    FOOD – 9:00 PM: Duff and company get to go to Hawaii to create a special cake for the show LOST on Ace of Cakes. This hour special is nestled between two other hours of some of their other great entertainment themed cakes. I’ll be watching (and snacking) for the duration.

    SUNDAY

    FOX – 8:00 PM: Jodie Foster guests as a voice of Maggie (kind of) in tonight’s episode of The Simpsons.

    NBC – 8:00 PM: It’s the season finale of The Celebrity Apprentice with Annie Duke vs. Joan Rivers. After the venom that was spewed when Melissa got the boot this should be a good one.

    CBS – 8:00 PM: The Amazing Race has actually had an interesting season and this one comes to a close as the remaining teams are making the small jaunt from Beijing to Maui to cross the finale finish line.

    – Will Wilkins loved the new Star Trek movie, but since it’s not TV I can’t talk about it.

  • TV Or Not TV: 9/8 – 9/14

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    Greetings one and all as we start the next to last of our discussions on the upcoming new shows on TV. This week I am taking a look at the offerings that the FOX network is giving us (and in the way of new shows, there aren’t many).

    Fringe (Premieres 9/9) – When the previews for this show starting airing I had absolutley no clue what it is about. The only thing that we knew is that things blew up, bad things happened to people, and the show was executive produced by JJ Abrams. After seeing the pilot for Fringe (the name comes from fringe science, ie: regeneration, teleportation, etc.) I can tell you that it has the potential to be the successor to The X-Files as the show sets up the premise for good stand alone episodes as well as story arc episodes. The acting is good, the plot holds up, and the first five minutes of the show is truly frightening to watch (after you see it you will also wonder if Abrams and company have something against flying as the pilot for LOST was another example of why people are afraid to fly). FOX has a lot of faith in the show as it is one of the only two shows that they are trying their new “Remote-Free TV” advertising strategy that expands shows to have only 7 minutes of advertising time. I think their faith might be justified.

    Hole in the Wall (Premieres 9/9) – When I first heard this show name I thought it was something dirty or a situation comedy set in an old bar. It’s actually a game show where there is a moving wall that comes at contestants. The hole is a different shape that contestants must contort their body to fit through (like a plus symbol or the number four). Can’t fit? The wall will knock you into the pool of water behind it. This is a HUGE game show in Asia, so FOX thought they would try their luck with it here.

    Do Not Disturb (Premieres 9/10) – Let out a groan with me as FOX brings us another work place sitcom. This time instead of a news room the show is set at The Inn, a New York hotel voted one of the 10 best places to stay. It’s run by Jerry O’Connell who is dying to find another steady job since Crossing Jordan ended. Niecy Nash from Reno 911! is the head of HR who keeps O’Connell in check. I won’t even bother looking at the rest of the cast as I’m sure they’re going to have eye candy at the front desk, a newcomer to the big city handling bags or room service and the “awkward chick” working some other part of the hotel. It’s a sitcom and it is on FOX. Let’s face it, this won’t rock your socks off. Mind you I haven’t seen it, but I’d lay money on the fact that it will limp through the first season and go no further.

    Dollhouse (Mid-Season Replacement) – All right, I admit reviewing the show now is a stretch because it isn’t coming out in the fall, it is slated for January no matter what. Dollhouse however is the other show that will be “Remote-Free TV” so I thought it was worth mentioning. The show is also from TV guru Joss Whedon and features Buffy alumni Eliza Dushku. We’ll talk about what the show is like when we get closer to January, but it is one of the ones that I’m looking forward to.

    And on that note, queue the schedule…

    MONDAY

    FOX – 8:00 PM: Finally we will know how Cameron fared in the Jeep explosion and we get to see where this story will continue to go on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

    HIST – 8:00 PM: A computerized rendition of the Zapruder film leads is the basis for two hours of The Kennedy Assasination: Beyond Conspiracy.

    FOX – 9:00 PM: I dared them to get better, and they may have just done it. Prison Break has now become Mission Impossible and The Dirty Dozen as the gang is back together and now they have to break in to a facility while in a virtual prison while they find the pieces they need before pulling the big job.

    SHO – 10:00 PM: It’s the season finale for Weeds and based on what we saw this season it may be the last episode. For me this season came off as hollow and I’m glad at this point that it is over.

    TUESDAY

    FOX – 8:00 PM: The hype is over, Fringe is here. Enjoy.

    CBS – 8:00 PM: Will the 75 year old former Marine finally leave the Big Brother house? I hope so.

    FOX – 9:35 PM: Behold the glory of Hole in the Wall!

    CW – 9:00 PM: Yet another show on the CW catering to the younger generation with Privileged. The touching story of a nanny in charge of twin sisters who party harder than the Hilton sisters and Olsen Twins combined.

    WEDNESDAY

    FOX – 8:00 PM: The show is officially in the crapper when someone is found decaying in an outhouse on Bones.

    FOOD – 8:00 PM: Alton Brown takes to the seas saling through the Leeward Islands and on to the British Virgin Islands as he looks for America’s culinary origins and fine Caribbean cuising in Feasting on Waves. How does this guy keep getting Food Network to pay for his vacations?

    FOX – 9:30 PM: Do Not Disturb may be the name of the show or what you wish you had done instead of watching.

    THURSDAY

    There is plenty else on, but even 7 years after 9/11 I still remember the day vividly and I am thankful I am one of the few people I know that did not lose anyone on this tragic day in American history. As such I only wish, for this day, to recommend the following:

    HIST – 8:00 PM: Rick Rescorla, the director of security for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, predicts the attack on the World Trade Center and leads 100’s out of the South Tower before dying in its collapse.

    HIST – 9:00 PM: 102 Minutes that Changed America – Films, photos and recordings from unique and rarely seen or heard archives chronicle the terrorist attack on New York City’s World Trade Center Sept. 11, 2001.

    HIST – 10:41 PM: Witness to 9/11 – Interviews with individuals who provided video footage for 102 Minutes that Changes America.

    FRIDAY

    NICK – 8:00 PM: Christopher Meloni proved in both Harold & Kumar films that he has comedic chops. This gives me hope that his playing a coach that has to take a gangly kid from mathlete to athlete to fufill his own dream in Gym Teacher: The Movie will be more than a movie with a catchy title.

    USA – 9:00 PM: Monk is trapped acting as a 9 year old child after a hypnosis session goes bad. Same thing happened with my brother when he used hypnosis to try to quict smoking.

    FOX – 9:00 PM: Wayne Brady is back for another season of Don’t Forget the Lyrics!

    SATURDAY

    FX – 8:00 PM: The Wachowski Brothers wrote this film adaption of the Alan Moore comic V for Vendetta. I really enjoyed it, you might to.

    NBC – 11:29 PM: Sure he can swim like a dolphin, but can Michael Phelps bring home the gold on SNL tonight? My hopes are not high.

    SUNDAY

    FOX – 8:00 PM: FOX really wants you to watch Fringe. So much so that they are re-airing the season premiere tonight.

    TNT – 8:00 PM: Take in each of the Wilson brothers seperately starting with Owen in Wedding Crashers followed by Luke in Old School.

    IFC – 9:00 PM: Not a big fan of Wedding Crashers? You can still get your Owen Wilson on with the very quirky The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.

    – Will WIlkins is the product of fringe science.