The Horribleness of It All

The Cinerama Dome in Hollywood was originally built as one of the early '60's gimmicks designed to wean viewers away from their televisions and back to movie theaters. It's therefore ironic that it is being used for Paleyfest 09, a celebration of television. And the irony was intensified on Tuesday, when the Dome was the venue for a Paleyfest program on DR. HORRIBLE'S SING-ALONG BLOG, the first Paley Festival presentation on a show that was not designed for television; it was shown only on the newest magnet for attention, the Internet.

We attended the program on Dr. Horrible, and were treated to a showing of Joss Whedon's three-act comedy/tragedy/satire/musical on the gigantic Cinerama screen -- quite a change from when I saw it on my video iPod.

Afterward, TV Guide's Matt Rausch moderated a panel discussion with the multiple Whedon's involved in the production -- Joss, brothers Zack and Jed, and even Joss's future sister-in-law -- along with BLOG stars Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day. (The doc himself, Neil Patrick Harris, was reportedly out of the country and couldn't attend.)





After the presentation, we had dinner in the Arclight Theater Lounge adjoining the Dome. As we ate, all of the program participants (along with the Whedon boys' father) paraded past our table, as they trooped to a dinner in the same restaurant.

Joss and crew were, as usual, fun and insightful to listen to as they waxed Horrible. But when attending a fency-shemncey program devoted to his work, you'd think the guy would dress up a little. Maybe business casual. Flannel is so '90's.