Why Can't Joss Whedon Produce a Hit Show?

Joss Whedon is one of people that makes viewers curious about a project. Fans of his earlier hit shows are always buzzing when there's talk of a new Whedon creation. And often, regardless of popularity, his creations become cult hits. Whether it's his online video series, "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" or the 14 episode wonder, "Firefly," the people who do watch become die hard fans.

The problem is, people don't watch. The question that many are wondering (Fox executives, I'm sure) is why don't people stick around? Some might attribute some of his failures to Fox, which underpromoted "Firefly" and even aired some of the episodes out of order to showcase the more exciting episodes. Obviously this bastardization of his original idea is partly to blame. For a lot of viewers who are just casual watchers, the story just didn't make sense.

However, this time around, Fox actually took a chance on Whedon and renewed "Dollhouse" for a second season. Granted, on a Friday night, most shows don't really thrive. However, this still brings up a lot of questions about his ability to captivate an audience. One thing that a lot of viewers can agree on is that the second season of "Dollhouse" is far superior to the first. It's as if without the pressure of trying to get viewers, the show could suddenly thrive.

Another possibility is just that Whedon shows are generally slow to hit a stride. If you think of his most popular shows, like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel," their first seasons were mediocre at best. And in "Buffy's" case, that's actually quite generous to say. The problem is that this slow start really doesn't wash with network television, which is ruled by the ratings and advertising money.

But maybe his shows, as beloved by few as they are, might just not be that good. Therein lies another possible problem. Whedon is a great dramatic writer. He creates excellent and realistic interpersonal drama and strong characters that people love and can relate to, even if they're space cowboys or brooding vampires. However, maybe his concepts are just too weird for some people. But considering shows like ABC's "Lost" are such a hit, strangeness doesn't necessarily deter viewers.

Is he doomed to be the underdog of TV? So far, the answer is yes. Perhaps, nothing in his odd little mind appeals to mass audiences. However, it's possible that his Whedonites are onto something. Perhaps they see something special that others can't. Maybe if he were allowed to fully spread his wings, others could see it, too.