Ghost (Dollhouse episode)

Infobox Television episode


Caption="Dollhouse" logo.
Title=Ghost
Series=Dollhouse
Season=1
Episode=1
Airdate=start date|2009|1|5 (Rumored)
Production=DOLL101
Writer=Joss Whedon
Director=Joss Whedon
Guests=Miracle Laurie
(November)
Amy Acker
(Dr. Claire Saunders)
Episode list=List of "Dollhouse" episodes
Prev=
Next=Echocite web |url=http://www.tv.com/dollhouse//episode/1223934/summary.html?tag=episode_tabs;next|title=TV.com: Dollhouse: Episode Guide: Season 1: "Echo"|last=|first=|author=|date=September 21, 2008|publisher=TV.com]

"Ghost" is the 1st episode and series premiere of "Dollhouse". It is written and directed by Joss Whedoncite web |url=http://www.tv.com/dollhouse/ghost/episode/1190127/summary.html?tag=ep_guide;ep_title;0|title=TV.com: Dollhouse: Episode Guide: Season 1: "Ghost"|last=|first=|author=|date=September 21, 2008|publisher=TV.com] , who previoulsy created the popular TV series, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel". Also Eliza Dushku as Faith who appeared in "Buffy" in 15 episodes in season 3, 2 episodes in season 4, and the last 5 episodes in season 7 and also appeared in "Angel" in 2 episodes in season 1, 1 episode in season 2, and 3 episodes in season 4. Amy Acker as Fred appeared in "Angel" in the last 4 episodes of season 2, and join the cast in seasons 3, 4, & 5.

Websites have reported that "Ghost" will start on January 5, 2009, this is either true or false.fact|date=September 2008

Plot snyposis

Echo is one of the "Actives" in the elite and illegal Dollhouse. Through different personality downloads, she plays the role of a lovestruck girl on a romantic weekend, and then a ruthlessly efficient kidnapping negotiator. Meanwhile, FBI Agent Paul Ballard is struggling with his assignment to uncover information on the Dollhouse. The chase has destroyed his marriage and is wrecking his career, and it doesn't seem that he'll stop until he uncovers the truth.

Acting

Main Cast

* Eliza Dushku as Echo — The main character. A Doll who begins, in her mind-wiped state, to become self-aware.
* Olivia Williams as Adelle DeWitt
* Tahmoh Penikett as Paul Ballard
* Fran Kranz as Topher Brink
* Dichen Lachman as Sierra
* Enver Gjokaj as Victor
* Harry J. Lennix as Boyd Langton

Recurring

* Miracle Laurie as November
* Amy Acker as Dr. Claire Saunders

Production

"Dollhouse" went into went into production in April 2008. The show is scheduled to air on Fox as part of their midseason lineup in January 2009 on Mondays at 8PM, before "24".cite web
url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Eliza-Dushku-Lures/800026169 |title=Eliza Dushku Lures Joss Whedon Back to TV! |accessdate=2007-11-01 |last=Ausiello |first=Michael |authorlink=Michael Ausiello |coauthors= |date=2007-10-31 |format= |work=Ausiello Report |publisher=TVGuide.com |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] cite web |url=http://www.productionweekly.com/030608.pdf |title=Production Weekly - 599 - March 6, 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-02 |date=2008-03-06 |format=PDF |publisher=Production Weekly] [cite news | title = FOX ANNOUNCES PRIMETIME SLATE FOR 2008–2009 SEASON | work = Fox Press Release | date = 2008-05-15 | url = http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080515fox02 | accessdate = 2008-05-15] The series stars Eliza Dushku, who worked with Whedon on the cult television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel". Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain will be showrunners, while Tim Minear and Steven DeKnight will serve as consulting producers.cite web| url=http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=b77ff420-3cc1-4076-b078-2d9ac0adcab8 |title=EW Party Is TV Fan Heaven |accessdate=2005-05-15 |date=2005-05-14 |authorlink=Kristin Dos Santos |coauthors=Jennifer Godwin |first=Kristin |last=Dos Santos |work=Watch with Kristin |publisher=E! Online] cite web |url=http://www.timminear.net/archives/news/000152.html |title=Minear joins Whedon, Dushku for DOLLHOUSE |accessdate=2007-11-02 |date=2007-11-01 |work=TimMinear.net |publisher=FanGeek |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

"Dollhouse", which is to be produced by 20th Century Fox Television, Whedon's Mutant Enemy Inc.cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2007/10/whedon-returns-.html |title="Whedon returns to TV with 'Dollhouse'" |date=2007-10-31 |accessdate=2008-06-21 |last=Phillips |first=Jevon |work=Show Tracker: What you're watching |publisher=LA Times] cite web |url=http://www.fox.com/programming/shows/new/dollhouse.htm |title=FOX '08 New Series: Dollhouse |accessdate=2008-05-20 |publisher=Fox Broadcasting Company] and Dushku's Boston Diva Productions, has been granted a thirteen-episode production commitment by Fox, with a reported license fee in the range of US$1.5 million to US$2 million per episode.cite web |url=http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2007/10/whedon-returns-.html |title=Joss Whedon taps Eliza Dushku for new Fox series |accessdate=2007-11-01 |last=Snierson |first=Dan |date=2007-10-31 |format= |work=Hollywood Insider |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] cite web |url=http://whedonesque.com/comments/16320#228220 |title=Dollhouse news from Joss! |last=Whedon |first=Joss |authorlink=Joss Whedon |publisher=whedonesque.com |date=2008-05-15 |accessdate=2005-05-16] Fox has decided to forgo the pilot episode of the series, opting to put funds towards the construction of the elaborate set and cultural context of the television series. It has been described as a "life-size Dollhouse".cite news |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120692540745275735.html |title=Post-Strike, Networks Revamp Pilot Season |accessdate=2008-04-01 |author= |last=Dana |first=Rebecca |date=2008-03-31 |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] On July 22nd, 2008 Joss Whedon announced that the first episode shot, "Echo", will be pushed to be the second, while a new episode will become first, saying that this "idea to do a new first episode wasn’t the network’s. It was mine."cite web|url=http://whedonesque.com/comments/17005 |last=Whedon |first=Joss |date=2008-07-22 |accessdate=2008-07-22 |publisher=whedonesque.com | title=Welcome (back) to the Dollhouse |authorlink=Joss Whedon]

Writing

The writing staff will include Tim Minear, Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen,

Casting

Anya Colloff and Amy McIntyre Britt, who previously worked with Joss Whedon on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Angel", "Firefly", and "Serenity", are the show's casting directors.cite web |url=http://www.dollrific.com/blogging_dollhouse/2008/04/dollhouse-has-a.html |title=Want to be on Dollhouse? These Are the Folks You Need to Impress |accessdate=2008-04-09 |date=2008-04-08 |work=Dollrific! |publisher= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

On March 26, 2008, it was officially announced that Tahmoh Penikett, Dichen Lachman, Fran Kranz, and Enver Gjokaj had been cast in four principal roles for the show.cite web|url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Ausiello-Scoop-Whedons/800036353|title=Breaking: Battlestar Stud Playing Dollhouse with Dushku|work=TV Guide|accessdate=2008-03-26] cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=7a8cccc3-6b6c-4605-90ce-9fb186d14e4f|title=Dollhouse Casting Alert!|work=E! Online|accessdate=2008-03-26] On April 3, 2008, it was announced that Olivia Williams would be playing the role of Adelle DeWitt.cite news | title=Olivia Williams cast in 'Dollhouse'| last=Andreeva |first=Nellie| publisher=The Hollywood Reporter | date = 2008-04-03 | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i1773b9d1d4828bb0949984fd99f45dbe | accessdate=2008-05-16] On April 17, 2008, it was announced that Harry J. Lennix had also joined the cast.cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=8d4f2a63-0a18-4024-8e80-248e53ed83cd&utm_campaign=xxltfp&utm_source=xjljqfejb&utm_medium=link|title=Exclusive Pilot Details: Welcome to the Dollhouse!|accessdate=2008-04-16|last=Dos Santos|first=Kristin|authorlink=Kristin Dos Santos|coauthors=Jennifer Godwin|date=2008-04-16|publisher=E! Online] On the same day, Joss Whedon announced on whedonesque.com that Miracle Laurie and Amy Acker were to complete the cast.

Brennan Elliott auditioned for the part of Paul Smith but lost out to Penikett. Ian Anthony Dale and Paul Campbell auditioned for Victor, but Gjokaj got the part. [cite web |url=http://www.dollverse.com/index.php/Dollverse-Blogs/49-Casting-process-rumours.html |title=Dollhouse casting auditions |work=Dollverse |accessdate=2008-03-12]

Trivia

*The names of the Dolls are all words from the NATO phonetic alphabet. This alphabet is used for radio communication because many letters sound the same over such connections. Thus one says "Alpha" instead of "A", "Bravo" instead of "B", and "Echo" instead of "E".
*Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku first discussed the idea for the series while meeting over lunch to talk about Eliza's career.
*According to a copy of the shooting script for this episode which leaked onto the Internet in August of 2008, the title of this episode was originally "Mariposa", and the name of Tahmoh Penikett's character changed from "Paul Smith" to "Paul Ballard".
*Production for the second filmed episode was supposed to begin on July 16th, 2008, with filming wrapping on July 23rd. However, the decision to film a new pilot episode pushed that schedule back. Joss announced on July 22nd that he had finished the new script, production began on July 30, and principal photography took place from August 4th to August 14th.

Refrences