Joss Whedon: Summary

Recent Role:: on Dollhouse

Gender:: Male

Birthday:: 6-23-1964

Birthplace:: Manhattan, New York, USA

Birth Name:: Joseph Hill Whedon

AKA:: Joss Wedon

Born Joseph Hill Whedon, Joss spent his childhood in Manhattan before attending an all-boys high school in England. Upon graduation he returned to the United States and attended Connecticut’s Wesleyan University where he received a degree in Film Studies. He then moved to Los Angeles, and after a year of being unable to find work in the industry he landed a job as a writer and story editor for the television show Rosanne. He had been seeking a career in movies, but this job was familiar to him because his father and grandfather had both written for the medium, making Joss arguably the world’s first third generation television writer. It was during this time that he met Kai Cole, the woman who he later married.

After a year working on Rosanne, and writing and co-producing a number of episodes of Parenthood, Joss sold his first movie script for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Despite negative reviews and modest box office, the film went on to become a cult hit and Joss found himself much in demand as a writer and “script doctor” in Hollywood. Often uncredited, Joss wrote or worked on drafts of screenplays for such films as Speed, X-Men, and Alien: Resurrection. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on Toy Story.

In 1997, Joss was approached by the brand new Warner Brothers Network (The WB) who requested that he submit some ideas for new programs. He had always been disappointed by the way his first film script was handled, so he suggested a TV version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer under the condition that he be allowed total creative control. The network agreed, and soon Buffy was being widely praised as one of the best shows on television. In 1999, Whedon launched the first spin-off of Buffy called Angel. It, too, was praised by fans and critics and quickly developed its own devoted following. Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran for seven seasons before the cast and creators decided to end the series. Angel however, was cancelled after five seasons, prompting one of the largest fan reactions in television history. Despite the massive efforts, however, the show did not return.

In 2002, Joss moved to the larger networks with a new series called Firefly on Fox. The series was a futuristic science fiction with a western flair and was instantly hailed by critics and fans alike as one of the most original shows in years. Despite the positive reviews, however, Firefly never found an audience and was cancelled after only eleven episodes. Many blamed the network who gave the series an historically poor timeslot, did very little advertising, and aired the episodes out of order with the pilot as the last episode ever aired. Shortly after the series’ cancellation was announced, Joss and Kai had a son, Arden, on December 18, 2002.

Due to incredible sales of the Firefly DVD set and Joss’ dogged persistence, Universal Pictures eventually offered him the chance to try his series on the big screen. Joss was given free rein to write and direct the silver screen adaptation of Firefly called Serenity which opened on September 30, 2005. During this time he was also tapped to write and direct a feature film version of Wonder Woman, to be released in 2006.

Joss has also expanded into the realm of one of his early inspirations, comic books. He has written a twelve-issue run of the new series Astonishing X-Men which was an instant critical and sales hit. Over the years he has also contributed to a number of other comic book projects involving his characters Buffy and Angel, including a mini-series called Fray about a Slayer in the future of the Buffy world. Born Joseph Hill Whedon, Joss spent his childhood in Manhattan before attending an all-boys high school in England. Upon graduation he returned to the United States and attended Connecticut’s Wesleyan University where he received a degree in Film Studies. He then moved to Los Angeles, and after a year of being unable to find work in the industry he landed a job as a writer and story...

Welcome to the TV.com Blog for Joss+Whedon by SYS 08/02/2007 9:26am

Saying Goodbye to the Dollhouse
On Friday, Joss Whedon's Dollhouse reached the end of the line.
- 02/01/10 2:29 PM
- 30 comments
Joss Whedon + FX = A Great Idea
Plus: Gene Roddenberry gets a posthumous pilot deal, Mischa Barton needs a roommate, and Lost's Ben Linus is crazy scary.
- 01/22/10 11:13 AM
- 25 comments
TV.com UK Podcast: Torchwood News & 24 Views
To mark Jack Bauer's eighth day we look back at seasons past and preview the series to come.
- 01/22/10 9:03 AM
- 0 comments
Joss Whedon + Neil Patrick Harris = Glee
Plus: Alex O'Loughlin potential new job and the uncertain fate of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
- 01/19/10 9:50 AM
- 18 comments
Dollhouse, Saturday Night Live, and Survivor
What to watch from Friday, December 19 to Sunday, December 20.
- 12/18/09 12:00 AM
- 8 comments

10
21
exterminator25
member since: Aug 8, 2007
The Godfather of Sci Fi ...Continue »
Joss Whedon is a genius. He is the godfather of sci fi. He created the greatest TV show ever, Buffy The Vampire Slayer (starring Sarah Michelle Geller) which ran for 7 years and got a comic book continuation, then it's spin off show, Angel (starring David Boreanez) which ran for 5 years then got a comic book continuation. He then moved on to Firefly (Starring Nathan Fillion) which only ran for 1 year then got a movie follow up. He then created Dr Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog (starring Neil Patrick Harris) which may get a sequel, and is currently working on Dollhouse (starring Eliza Dushku) which has just been given a second series.
07/03/09 04:24am | report abuse
10
32
SMGslayer97
member since: Jun 16, 2005
Buffy, Angel, Firefly/Serenity, Dr. Horrible. From the beginning Joss has made his mark on the world as a true a orginal ...Continue »
From the beginning Joss has made his mark on the world as a true a orginal, he is a visionary in television and will forever have the most loyal fans who will follow him any where to any project. I know I would. My love for Joss began of course with Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV), as it did for most of his fans, from the second it began Buffy was a different kind of show unlike anything on tv and became a run away hit launching the teen era for the now defunct WB network. Buffy helped define a generation and that generation owes Joss a great deal of respect. With his second hit Angel, though less acclaimed then Buffy, he proved he was not a one hit wonder and could really dish out originality compelling stories and well developed enthralling character like no other. He knew how to make quality television. Even with Firefly, which could be deemed a failure from a certain perspective, soard to amazing heights. After being cancelled shortly after it began airing the fans went to new heights and thanks to them Firefly was turned into a big screen adaptation entitled Serenity.

Though Firefly didn't gain a cult status like Buffy it did have just as many loyal and dedicated fans as Angel did. It was another example of the fact that Joss was more then a one hit wonder but also that he was creative beyond words. A space scifi western filled with quirk, characters for everyone, action and comedy Firefly may not have lasted long but it the minds of Joss Whedon fans it's just as important as Angel or Buffy for that matter. With his latest project Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog Joss also showed us that he has an amazing commitment to his fans, to his work, and to his own integrity. He continues to out do himself and try to reach new heights and mediums. I know we can only expect great things from him in the future. On the big screen, small screen and even now the computer screen. No one can write characters like Joss, no one can make tv like Joss and no one seems more devoted to challenging himself and reinventing himself, much like he does with his on screen characters, then Joss.
08/01/08 11:45am | report abuse
10
21
charmedgal101
member since: Aug 31, 2007
Joss Whedon is amazing if you ask me. ...Continue »
Joss has given us so much... Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Serenity, the comics and now Dollhouse.
He is such a talented writer and he can be so funny yet so serious.
In all his shows the combination of emotions is handled really well. He knows when to make it more one thing and more of another. He also seems like he does a lot at once what with all the comics, new show and when the writers strike was on. Plus there's all the messages, some more discrete than others in his shows and that thing he does when he doesn't want to decide too much for us so leavs it open to our own imagination. Not too many others do all of this.
I know some people think that he is now letting it get to his head but I don't think he is. I think he is still quite a down to earth guy who enjoys making these things for us and he is full of wisdom. I think he is truly amazing and I can not wait to see Dollhouse. Hoping he'll bring us again another amazing show.
05/20/08 07:37am | report abuse
9.5
71
lennydonkey
member since: Jan 25, 2007
I feel like I owe him an apology... ...Continue »
I feel like I owe Joss Whedon and apology for not watching his shows the first time around when they were origianly broadcast. Especially for not watching "Firefly", which turned out to be my favorite show ever, but was cancelled because of low ratings. He is also responsible for the shows "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", which I didn't watch at the time because I thought ot was a silly teen show (it's not), and for "Angel" which I didn't watch because I thought you had to be familar with Buffy. (you don't) His shows actauly focus on the complex relationships of people. Those people just happen to be in fantastic locals and situations. But the drama and humor mined from real relationships are what make the shows truely exceptional.
02/17/08 12:09pm | report abuse
9.4
34
bobbibrown
member since: Feb 19, 2006
I believe he is very talented, but I believe it has gone to his head. ...Continue »
He gave us Buffy. Loved it - an iconic study in the power of women and the strength to stand-alone without having to have a man by her side. However, he seemed to be jealous of the beauty of the men he created to stand by her -- both Angel and Spike, simply because they were prettier than the physicality of himself, so he made Angel leave and Spike evil, whipped, evil, whipped, then dead. All the while making Buffy "the poor tortured soul" in all this-- supposedly. Interesting writing, it made Joss's career, as well as all the actors'.

He gave us Angel -- interesting and twisted show that played all over the gamut from incestuous to nonsensical. Everyone loved it except the network -- that he keeps returning to (?).

He gave us Firefly -- browncoats can attest to the appeal of the show because the verse lives on-- Serenity shall never die.

He gave us Serenity.....it didn't make the millions desired, but once again the verse lives on.

Millions of fans still follow and write their own continuing fictions about the whedonverse that he so masterfully crafted. BUT, he is just a person.

Wonder Woman isn't in the verse....testimony to the fact that people will give up on the Whedon as my master mentality and only take his putting things off for years and years and years for only so long.

"I'll never do television again.." We are glad he is coming back. We wished he would have picked a different network, but maybe no one else would work with him because of his attitude? He does great work, but he doesn't do it alone. He owes much to his entire team. He owes the success of Buffy to the casting, not to his creative genius and his marvelous writing. He needs to admit that Buffy would have never made 7 years without the gorgeous face and acting ability of James Marsters. No one else draws a crowd like that man. Just ask the folks at the conventions -- the other people hate him. Now that Master Joss has humbled himself enough to come back to TV, he needs to put that man in a series not yesterday, but NOW. he has wasted too many years and too much unearned money being small and spoiled. Sure Joss is talented, but he is also shortsighted and petty. The only reason a Spike movie didn't materialize was because he was "too busy working on other projects" . Hmm...like? Lets get with the program and get a program in place that makes the fans of the verse happy, J-man. One with stick-to-itiveness. One that has meat, substance and makes sense.

Show us your worth, stop being petty, short-sighted and flighty and we'll stop losing faith in you and start rebuilding the pedestals we had raised in the past.
11/11/07 07:12am | report abuse