What's Coming Up In Genre TV?

Instead, the networks started ordering series directly instead of ordering a pilot, or even ordered foreign series.

Here's a look at the new series coming to your screens in the next twelve months or so.

"Dollhouse" will air on Fox, was created and produced by Joss Whedon, and stars Eliza Dushku. It's about men and women imprinted with different personalities and skills for different assignments, and then having those personalities wiped clean when the assignment is completed.

When between assignments, they live like children in the Dollhouse, their dormitory/laboratory. They live with no memories of which they are, until Echo, played by Dushku, begins to remember.

I like the concept behind this show. If it was airing on a cable network, I think we'd have a winner. However, it will be airing on Fox.

Joss Whedon is a genre fan favorite, but let's face it, he hasn't really had a hit show. Although "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" had long runs, they ran on minor netlets. Neither show would have lasted on a major network. "Firefly" did air on a major network, and it was a ratings failure.

Dushku previously starred in genre series "Tru Calling," and it also failed in the ratings. Combining Whedon, Dushku and Fox does not spell success. I think we'll only see the seven episodes contracted, if that.

"Fear Itself," a horror anthology from NBC, promises be much like Showtime's "Masters of Horror," providing 60-minute telefilms by name horror writers and directors. Anthologies don't work on network television anymore. This one is doomed before it starts.

"The Listener" is being produced by CTV in Canada, and has been bought by NBC to air this coming summer/fall. Paramedic Toby Logan, played by Craig Olejnik, has "the power to listen to people's most intimate thoughts."

With the help of his friend and partner Osman Bey (Ennis Esmer), they save lives and solve mysteries. Borrowing from "Heroes," they take the most lame of abilities and build a show around it. It could work, but it would depend on the strength of the writing and the acting.

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