Latest Post

McG Says He’s Directing T5 and T6

McG says he’s directing “Terminator 5″ and “6″. Or at least, he says he is. IGN reports: During the live commentary for the movie over the weekend (that was available to those how had bought the film on Blu-ray) he said that - no matter which studio inherits the series...

Read More

Joss Whedon’s Bid for the Terminator Franchise

Posted in General Terminator News on 03-11-2009

36

Hey, we can all use a good laugh, right? Here’s Joss Whedon’s amusing bid for the “Termiantor” franchise which is now up for auction. Whedon, you’ll recall, is the creator of “Dollhouse”, the show that FOX decided to keep while dumping The Sarah Connor Chronicles. In that respect, I kinda hate Joss and his stupid show, but on the other hand, this is some funny shit right here.

Dear Sirs/Ma’ams,

joss whedonI am Joss Whedon, the mastermind behind Titan A.E., Parenthood (not the movie) (or the new series) (or the one where ‘hood’ was capitalized ’cause it was a pun), and myriad other legendary tales. I have heard through the ‘grapevine’ that the Terminator franchise is for sale, and I am prepared to make a pre-emptive bid RIGHT NOW to wrap this dealio up. This is not a joke, this is not a scam, this is not available on TV. I will write a check TODAY for $10,000, and viola! Terminator off your hands.

No, you didn’t miscount. That’s four — FOUR! — zeroes after that one. That’s to show you I mean business. And I mean show business. Nikki Finke says the Terminator concept is played. Well, here’s what I have to say to Nikki Finke: you are a fine journalist and please don’t ever notice me. The Terminator story is as formative and important in our culture — and my pretend play — as any I can think of. It’s far from over. And before you Terminator-Owners (I have trouble remembering names) rush to cash that sweet cheque, let me give you a taste of what I could do with that franchise:

1) Terminator… of the Rings! Yeah, what if he time-travelled TOO far… back to when there was dragons and wizards? (I think it was the Dark Ages.) Hasta La Vista, Boramir! Cool, huh? “Now you gonna be Gandalf the Red!” RRRRIP! But then he totally helps, because he’s a cyborg and he doesn’t give a s#&% about the ring — it has no power over him! And he can carry it AND Frodo AND Sam AND f@%& up some orcs while he’s doing it. This stuff just comes to me. I mean it. (I will also offer $10,000 for the Lord of the Rings franchise).

2) More Glau. Hey. There’s a reason they’re called “Summer” movies.

3) Can you say… musical? Well don’t. Even I know that’s an awful idea.

4) Christian Bale’s John Connor will get a throat lozenge. This will also help his Batwork (ten grand for that franchise too, btw.)

5) More porn. John Connor never told Kyle Reese this, but his main objective in going to the past was to get some. What if there’s a lot of future-babies that have to be made? Cue wah-wah pedal guitar — and dollar signs!

6) The movies will stop getting less cool.

Okay. There’s more — this brain don’t quit! (though it has occasionally been fired) — but I think you get my drift. I really believe the Terminator franchise has only begun to plumb the depths of questioning the human condition during awesome stunts, and I’d like to shepherd it through the next phase. The money is there, but more importantly, the heart is there. But more importantly, money. Think about it. End this bloody bidding war before it begins, and put the Terminator in the hands of someone who watched the first one more than any other movie in college, including “Song of Norway” (no current franchise offer).

Sincerely, Joss Whedon.

Looks like Whedon’s “Dollhouse” is next on FOX’s chopping block. Shoulda kept TSCC instead, FOX, ya bunch of tards.

Maybe if Summer had done more promos like this...

Comments (36)

I ran across this last night and just laughed. There’s a reason we love Whedon, and this note proves it!

I really hope someone who really cares about the franchise purchases it and makes quality media we’ve all come to crave in these trying times.

what a fool they should have kept tscc, dollhouse will die read it and weep.

Wow, guess there’s a bunch of Whedon-haters around here.
I wouln’t hold it against you guys for being mad about SCC being canceled (I was just as angry).
But I don’t think it’s fair to blame Dollhouse or Joss (I’ll admit I’m still watching Dollhouse, as I think it’s ok, Joss still needs to find the shows’ stride).
And as a reminder, while SCC got axed at the end of it’s second season, Joss Whedon’s Firefly (which also featured Summer Glau) got axed before it’s first and ONLY season finished… which is a testament to stupidity of Fox. Firefly (and yes, I am a huge fan) was a well written show that acknowledged what kind of budget it had, and worked with it.
So… us Sarah Connor fans got screwed, just like those of us who were (and still are) Firefly fans got screwed. And chances are, the Dollhouse fans will get screwed too. So blame Fox, not those trying to make the shows.
And as for Joss trying to buy the franchise, yes funny, him trying to buy it for less than the price of my car. Although, in his shoes, I don’t know if I would put in a joke bid.
But theoretically, if he did buy it, I think that would be really good news… Joss Whedon is not the type of guy who will screw us fans over (Fox does enough of that). I could only wonder what he would do if he could bring back SCC, or maybe right two more Terminator films…

JUST WANT TSCC BACK!!! can’t nobody do something! GrrrRrrRrr!!!! :’(

I really don’t care who buys the show,just give us a third season and some kind of closure,the second season ending just left ya hanging. The big wigs at Fox are idiots to have cancelled the show the way they did.

Unfortunately i think we are going to have to face an unpleasant fact. It’s been so long since it has been canceled, that the star’s of the show will be too involved in other shows / films for the foreseeable future and will probably be unable to commit to another season, even if they wanted….

josh was one of the guilties… and now he wanna to grab the franchise… we hope 4 good.

“josh”? Do you mean “Joss”?
If so, how is he guilty? He just tried to make a good show, just like the producers of SCC were. Unless I’m mistaken, Fox just decided to ax one show over the other (After meddling in SCC).

I’m sorry for misspelled the name.
I think he’s one of the TSCC fail and cancellation’s guilties, ‘coz he let the writers mislead the story.
Joss now wants to grab the franchise. what will he going 2 do?

Despite the good story on T:Salvation, they doesn’t succeded… why?

I’m a little sleepy translating and understanding what they say on the news. but ain’t enough news.

Sorry Jose, I’m still not sure I follow. So Joss let the writers of TSCC mislead the story? Maybe my information is limited, but I wasn’t aware that Joss was involved in the making of TSCC on any level… and thus, how would he have been able to “let the writers mislead the story”?
I still maintain that the theoretical purchase of the Terminator rights by Joss Whedon would be a good thing, and I continue to believe in Joss’s innocence in the cancellation of TSCC. For that, I think the blame falls solely on the shoulders of Fox, as is the same case with the demise of Dollhouse.
And last, let me say that just because a show is canceled, that doesn’t mean it’s bad, or that it failed. It just means that the network decided to cancel it, and with both shows, I think they made poor decisions.
Too bad Sci-Fi (or is it “Sy-Fy now) didn’t pick of both shows. Or at the very least that direct to DVD TSSC movie we’ve heard rumored of…

ok Pld515. Joss is innocent of all the charges. but I’m still wondering what he will going 2 do when he gets the Terminator franchise. I hope he maintains the mithology and provides a better view of the story.

surely he really ask to James Cameron to do something about it. I saw the movie and the entire DVD of T:Salvation and McG made a real heavy weight movie. maybe Joss could make something better?

The TV show was so well done. It just sucks it may never return because it didn’t have enough backing. It was moved to a new time after also having such a long break in between each season. Few promos, and in addition the latest Terminator: Salvation didn’t live up to the television series which was far superior. It’s a shame I don’t have the millions, I’d buy it and turn it into the gem that I know it is.

I’d appreciate SCC updates from anyone.

It’s dead and gone. There will be no new episodes, you can pretty much forget it.

It’s been close to a year now, nobody’s going to pick it up or do anything with it.

Oh boy… I am from Germany and i really loved TSSC…can’t believe it…ending up like this.
Please do not let another “How’s Annie? How’s Annie…hahahaha” happen

dollhose? not bad but nothin special.
terminator? something long time fans were waiting for and relly starting to get good!
fox drops the ball, again!

fox suck arse big time. really got envolved in the show. having just bought season two on dvd just reminds me of how good it was.

I don’t get Fox as I live in the UK but even I have for the passed few years noticed how Fox drops shows. It’s not surprising to me why people watch other channels. Why get into anything that doesn’t have a good spell and a satisfactory conclusion? Why get into Fox? All I do is buy DVDs. I am not going to make my schedule fit in with a timeslot on television watching a show that will end mid way.

From Variety
Fox has cancelled the Joss Whedon drama “Dollhouse.”
Fox’s decision on “Dollhouse” isn’t a surprise, as the net had already yanked the show from its Friday slot during November sweeps. Show will return to the sked on Dec. 4 and run the nine remaining episodes in its order for the season. 20th Century Fox TV at present is in production on the Eliza Dushku starrer’s 11th episode.

“This gives Joss the opportunity to end in a significant way,” the network said in a statement.

“Dollhouse” narrowly avoided cancellation last spring after its first season; show has struggled this fall on Fridays, however — a night that Fox hasn’t found much success over the past decade.”

I wonder if there’s a chance for TSCC now?

Good. It was about time.

Doubt it because the rights are up for auction sometime soon. But I wanna know how the hell TTSCC could go from award nominated show to canceled in one year.

Simple, because the Fox Network is run by friggin’ idiots. That’s how. They would rather cancel an expensive show and replace it with some cheap reality crap where they make money even if the ratings are poor.

Screw Fox.

NEW YORK, NY -
This summer, Bravo’s Television Without Pity asked TV junkies to cast their votes for the best, worst, most improved and just plain craziest characters, series, moments and more from the 2008-2009 season. And after a record-breaking 2.4 million votes were cast, the results can finally be revealed!
The biggest winner was FOX’s now-canceled science-fiction drama “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” which took home a whopping 16 Tubey Awards, including Best Drama, Favorite Actress (Summer Glau), Best Season Finale, and, not surprisingly, Most Underrated Show and Most Painful Series Cancellation.”

Says it all don’t it? Fox and WB go to War, and the best show made for TV suffers.

I wish a fan, like myself could get a hold of the rights and write a fantastic story through collaboration with other fans. I wish somone could some how promote me to write the next story, I love the Terminator Franchise to death and I hate seeing other people completly trash what I cheerish.

In the fan fiction area of this site talli has a great story, and i think this would make a great story for season 3.
You guys should read it, by the way any update on a movie or another season from Middleton!!!!!!!!!!

Wasnt Joss Whedon, behind Angel and Buffy??? If so they were great shows that got axed too, I never really got into Dollhouse, however I did get into Angel, Buffy and Terminator, I think its sad that the big guys like Fox, keep axing good shows and their left of cliffhangers…

Best shows:-

Stargate Atlantis - Unknown, dont know if its axed
Buffy - Axed but had a good run
Angel - Excellent show but axed could have gone longer, the last season was the funniest and the best, great shame…
Dark Angel - Axed, miss Jessica Alba
True Blood - Still going I hope, long long time to next season…
Smallville - Still going but might not be after 10th season
Heroes - Taking a lifetime to make more… Great show…
Terminator - the Sarah Connor Chronicles - Left in limbo…

I think before any show is ever aired, the writers, cast and the network should be forced to take up a contract to continue making the show no matter what happens as long as someone watches it… If the writers want to quit they should be tied to the chair and forced to keep going, cast should be tortured to continue too if they cant or they die or anything stupid like that then they should have clones made or robots or something to fill in for them… They should make a new episode every week 51 weeks a year 1 week off to have a cliff hanger etc and so everyone can take a break, lol…

I think the world would be a much better place if I ruled the world…

MyName. Howm any people are “someone”? Face facts, these shows are expensive to make and unless they brign in enough cash to make a profit they will nto be made.

TSCC, was a good show but it, like Dollhouse, only got really good towards the end of the 2nd season. I was actually more disapointed with TSCC than I was with Dollhouse. 2 seasons of Sarah and John arguing about John how john lives his life.

Another poster said Season 2 ended on a cliffhanger, well to me in concluded the series quite well. As John was in the future we know his mom did not stop skynet. We know that John made it to the future to become the leader of the reistance. That is all that really needed to be concluded.

This is really a reply to both MyName and Clayton:

MyName: I’m sure you were exaggerating with the writers, actors, ect.. being forced to do all that.
Actually, actors usually do sign contracts, although usually for a few years, sometimes shorter than the show.
Just in case what you’re proposing was genuine, than I must state that it is simply unreasonable. For the actors, during the filming season, they are hard at work filming with little free time… I’m talking about working probably 12 hours shifts or such, day after day… not really having much of a social life. To do that the vast majority of the year is insane.
Not to mention the writers needing to write all those episodes, having to come up with the plots, the scripts, re-writes, and who knows what else goes into it. This isn’t light work.
But if you did get 51 episodes a year, I’m sure the writing quality would go way down, since the writers are having to meet unreasonable deadlines and bang out anything they can just to keep up. I think quantity is more reasonable to sacrifice over quality.
And as Clayton also stated, these shows are expensive…
But I havn’t run into anyone here who doesn’t think TSCC wasn’t cut down prematurely. That’s what happens with the Friday night death slot.
We all have our lists of shows we saw die before their times…
Personally I still mourn Firefly (big surprise to those following this thread), Dark Angel, now Dollhouse (which I think is getting pretty good), and of course the Sarah Connor Chronicles. I only wish a network like Sci-Fi (or is it something like “Sy-Fi” now?) would have picked these shows up.

Mr Joss, can I have £10,000 as well please? im a great fan of your work

I just finished watching the Season 2 final episode and started cruising the internet to see when the next season was coming…only to find that FOX cancelled it! I am not a classic T-fan at all, but I have of course seen the movies, and I have to say that I LOVED this series and that it drew me in more than the movies EVER did (no offense intended to the movies either). I hate it when these networks FINALLY get around to making a show actually worth watching and then they drop it…I think if I have to be subjected to yet another season of American Idol, then even it out with a show I want to watch-TSCC!

If Joss Whedon gets the rights, it will be the best thing that ever happened for this franchise. He is amazing at what he does, no question. Look at Dollhouse(Yes, I SAID IT). Dollhouse is spectacular now. The second season has been pure perfection; Making Dollhouse probably my favorite Whedon show to date. I have not watch SCC, but I am actually starting it tonight. Summer Glau is the main reason I’m watching, as I love her, and I hear her character is very promising. But what I’m saying is that if Joss gets these rights, I’m sure he will do something involving this series. He has stated he would have rather let this show live and have his OWN SHOW offed instead. He is such a good guy, so think about that, haters.

LOL this was great I just wish Joss would make a serious offer for the franchise that would be a dream come true. Lions Gate have made an offer of 15 million i think and are strong favourites to get the rights………..I just hope they bring back the SCC or at least make a decent 5th film.

TSCC was beautifully written and acted with a consistent level of suspense and seriousness to make a very high quality science fiction program. If Joss took it over, I am afraid he would want to inject his sense of humor, which while excellent in Firefly, could water TSCC down. A thought on Dollhouse, I believe it was run as much by Joss’ kids as Joss, and the development of the first year felt a bit ragged and rushed. TSCC seemed to get stronger episode by episode, with imaginative plot twists that were within the Terminator world, yet caught me by surprise again and again.

Damn! I miss TSCC…. and yes, Fox is profit first, quality last.

Fox really messed up!! They should have kept T-SCC, anyone that saw the season 2 finale, and pretty much the whole second season could see that it was building from episode to episode into an amazing show!! They should realize that mistake and re-launch the show and drop Dollhouse because while I think Eliza Dushku is hot the show is as cold as a crocodile.

Holy Smokes it would be awesome if Josh took TSCC! They had the same edge and finesse as the Firefly series, and I was surprised that Josh didn’t have any part of the TSCC by the feel of the series. Loving TSCC and loving JW.

Write a comment