Showing complete faith in Whedon, FOX has decided to build the Dollhouse instead of spending money on a pilot. The Wall Street Journal has:

Fox Broadcasting Co. decided to forgo a pilot for its new series “Dollhouse” by “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” creator Joss Whedon, opting to invest money instead in building the elaborate, life-size dollhouse that will be the show’s set.

Committing to series without seeing full pilots may help the networks save money now, but it carries risks. The pilot system, as expensive as it is, evolved as a way of avoiding the disasters that occasionally occur when a terrific script yields a miserable show.

“It’s going to require a little bit more creative thinking on the part of buyers and researchers to gauge how these shows are going to perform,” Mr. Adgate says.

I think it shows that FOX likes what it’s hearing from Joss and co., and they already feel a hit on their hands. Hopefully, advertisers can be convinced as well. Without strong advertiser support, a show like “Dollhouse” would struggle. Fox isn’t know for giving shows a chance to find an audience.