Can Joss Whedon Make “Dollhouse” Work?

I had to keep reminding myself that I trust Joss Whedon to make great television shows out of unpromising-sounding premises while watching the trailer for his new show, “Dollhouse.”

“Buffy, the Vampire Slayer” is about a high school girl who slays vampires when she isn’t dating them, and “Firefly” is about cowboys in space in the future, so I think he might just be able to make “Dollhouse” work. The show is centered around a girl programmed to become different characters, from an assassin to a lover, without being conscious of the changes. Then she suddenly becomes aware, drama and conflict ensue, etc etc.

It sounds more like a movie (“Minority Report,” maybe?) than a TV show, and the show’s star, Eliza Dushku, is one of my least favorite actresses. You can watch her trying to act and it’s painful because she just can’t (watch what I mean in this clip.)

So, in order to get myself pumped up about this show, I’m repeating my new mantra: “I trust Joss Whedon, I trust Joss Whedon, I trust…” Well, you get the idea.