Posted at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday. May 20

Joss Whedon, Eliza Dushku and Tahmoh Penikett—those are three big reasons I can’t wait to see “Dollhouse” when it debuts on Fox in January 2009.

2009! Yes, we have to wait forever for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” creator Whedon’s first series since 2002’s “Firefly” to come to TV.

I have little doubt that “Dollhouse,” about an underground group that imprints its “actives” with personalities and abilities needed to carry out specific missions, will be worth the wait. I loves me some science fiction, after all.

Whedon’s never let me down in that department in the past. I’m a big fan of his “Buffy,” “Angel” and “Firefly.” I love the way he combines humor with drama, witty dialogue with slapstick moments and believable characters with sci fi freakiness. And if the “Dollhouse” clips I’ve seen are any indication, he’s adding some real bendy plot twists to the mix.

Whedon also excels at creating bad-ass female characters. There’s River Tam from “Firefly,” and of course Buffy. You can add the dark slayer Faith Lehane from “Buffy” and “Angel,” who was played by Dushku.

It’s nice to see Dushku back on TV kicking butt. “Dollhouse” should offer the actress great opportunities, since she plays Echo, one of the actives who gets a new persona and skill set for each assignment.

Somehow Echo’s personality wasn't completely lost, because she begins to investigate the Dollhouse, the lab where the organization does its work and the actives live.

“It’s really perfect for my personality, which is kind of ADD. It's nice to not have the same wardrobe every day,” Dushku told Entertainment Weekly.

Speaking of wardrobe, I’m hoping Penikett’s is kind of sparse, or at least he wears those sleeveless shirts he’s always in as Helo on “Battlestar Galactica.” Wow. Easy on the eyes much?

Penikett plays FBI Agent Paul Smith, who also is investigating the Dollhouse. I hear he and Echo eventually become involved romantically too. Penikett’s a great actor and I’ll enjoy seeing him move beyond Helo and “BSG,” which ends its run next year.

This is one show I am so looking forward to watching. And by the way, Fox has upped its order to 13 episodes from the originally reported seven episodes.

Here’s another clip that gives us a hint of the direction the show may take in its first season. In it Echo and Agent Smith argue over Echo’s missing sister.

It could be a deliberate ploy to mess with Smith’s investigation of the Dollhouse, or Echo could actually be taping into memories that weren’t wiped clean.

For more on "Dollhouse" from Fox, go to the jump.

The "Dollhouse" cast: Tahmoh Penikett (from left), Enver Gjokaj, Eliza Dushku, Dichen Lachman, Fran Kranz, Olivia Williams, Harry Lennix.

Here’s how Fox describes "Dollhouse":

Echo (Eliza Dushku) is an “Active,” a member of a highly illegal and underground group who have had their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with any number of new personas.

Confined to a secret facility known as the “Dollhouse,” Echo and the other Actives including Sierra (Dichen Lachman) and Victor (Enver Gjokaj) carry out engagements assigned by Adelle (Olivia Williams), one of the Dollhouse leaders. The engagements cater to the wealthy, powerful and connected, and require the Actives to immerse themselves in all manner of scenarios—romantic, criminal, uplifting, dangerous, comic and the occasional “pro bono” good deed.

After each scenario, Echo, always under the watchful eye of her handler Boyd (Harry Lennix), returns to the mysterious Dollhouse where her thoughts, feelings and experiences are erased by Topher (Fran Kranz), the Dollhouse’s genius programmer.

Echo enters the next scenario with no memory of before. Or does she?

As the series progresses, FBI Agent Paul Smith (Tahmoh Penikett) pieces together clues that lead him closer to the Dollhouse, while Echo stops forgetting, her memories begin to return and she slowly pieces together her mysterious past.

“Dollhouse” revolves around Echo’s blossoming self-awareness and her desire to discover her true identity. But with each new engagement comes a new memory and increased danger inside and outside the Dollhouse.

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I'm also eagerly awaiting this new Joss undertaking. I have to say I was immediately struck by the glaring omission of Firefly from your (otherwise excellent) all-time faves list. What's up with that?!

Curt's reply: My list is currently under renovation Laura. You are correct, I need to add "Firefly." Thanks

Just read this article over at DollhouseForums.com and I think it's so great that everyone is parading for this show to do well. If there's one show this upcoming season that deserves the hype and applause, it will be Dollhouse!

Curt's reply: You'll have to wait until January. Don't forget!

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