About
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog is the story of a “low-rent super-villain, the hero who keeps beating him up, and the cute girl from the laundromat he’s too shy to talk to.” says Whedon. “Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” stars Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Horrible, Nathan Fillion as Captain Hammer, Felicia Day as Penny and a cast of dozens.”
During the WGA strike in 2007 Joss Whedon started writing a three part musical series for the internet after deciding it was time to “change the face of Show Business as we know it”. Co-writers for the internet feature were Joss’ brothers Zack and Jed and Jed’s Fiancé Maurissa Tancharoen. The writing and shooting were completed early in 2008 and the series was released online in three acts and was free for viewers around the world for a limited time.
The first act was released on Tuesday July 15, 2008 with act two and three following on the 17th and 19th. All three instalments were available to watch for free online anywhere in the world (after an emergency code re-write by Hulu to allow international viewing the night it was released) until the 20th. Shortly after the free viewing Dr Horrible was made available to purchase on iTunes in the USA and Canada and went straight to #1 within a week of being released. On July 29 Dr. Horrible was re-released on Hulu for free viewing by people within the USA where it can still be viewed today. iTunes released Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog in Australia and the UK on October 10, 2008.
The soundtrack for Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog was released via iTunes and also went to #1 spot in the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK.
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog made its first public appearance at San Diego Comic-Con on July 26, 2008 and the Dr. Horrible team including the Whedon Brothers, Maurissa Tancharoen, Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day and Simon Helberg held a Q&A session with an audience of thousands, many having to be turned away.
The first fan arranged screening of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog was held on August 29, 2008, at Dragon*Con in Atlanta, Georgia, with showings reaching standing-room-only capacity. A public Halloween screening of Dr. Horrible was held in in Los Angeles, CA hosted by Whedonopolis and the Paley Center held a public screening in New York on December 19, 2008.
The Dr. Horrible DVD was released as an Amazon Exclusive on December 19, 2008 and quickly rose up the charts to #3 position for Movies & TV. The DVD will be released in the Canadian Amazon store on December 31.
While this is a fan run website it has been deemed “official” by the Dr Horrible Team.
A Message from Creator Joss Whedon
Posted on Whedonesque June 28, 2008 12:51 CET
At last the time has come to reveal to you our Master Plan. BEWARE! Those with weak hearts should log off lest they be terrified by the twisted genius of our schemes! Also pregnant women and the elderly should consider reading only certain sentences. Do not mix with other blogs. Do not operate heavy machinery while reading this blog. You must be this tall to read. ‘Kay?
It is time for us to change the face of Show Business as we know it. You know the old adage, “It’s Show Business – not Show Friends”? Well now it’s Show Friends. We did that. To Show Business. To show Show Business we mean business. (Also, there are now other businesses like it.)
ONE WEEK ONLY! AN INTERNET MINISERIES EVENT!
“Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” will be streamed, LIVE (that part’s not true), FREE (sadly, that part is) right on Drhorrible.com, in mid-July. Specifically:
ACT ONE (Wheee!) will go up Tuesday July 15th.
ACT TWO (OMG!) will go up Thursday July 17th.
ACT THREE (Denouement!) will go up Saturday July 19th.
All acts will stay up until midnight Sunday July 20th. Then they will vanish into the night, like a phantom (but not THE Phantom – that’s still playing. Like, everywhere.)
And now to answers a few Frequently (soon to be) Asked Questions:
1) Why, Joss? Why? Why now, why free, why us?
Once upon a time, all the writers in the forest got very mad with the Forest Kings and declared a work-stoppage. The forest creatures were all sad; the mushrooms did not dance, the elderberries gave no juice for the festival wines, and the Teamsters were kinda pissed. (They were very polite about it, though.) During this work-stoppage, many writers tried to form partnerships for outside funding to create new work that circumvented the Forest King system.
Frustrated with the lack of movement on that front, I finally decided to do something very ambitious, very exciting, very mid-life-crisisy. Aided only by everyone I had worked with, was related to or had ever met, I single-handedly created this unique little epic. A supervillain musical, of which, as we all know, there are far too few.
The idea was to make it on the fly, on the cheap – but to make it. To turn out a really thrilling, professionalish piece of entertainment specifically for the internet. To show how much could be done with very little. To show the world there is another way. To give the public (and in particular you guys) something for all your support and patience. And to make a lot of silly jokes. Actually, that sentence probably should have come first.
2) What happens when it goes away? Does it go to a happy farm for always like Fluffy did when mommy was crying and the neighbor kept washing his fender?
No, Dr horrible will live on. We intend to make it available for download soon after it’s published. This would be for a nominal fee, which we’re hoping people will embrace instead of getting all piratey. We have big dreams, people, and one of them is paying our crew.
And somewhat later, we will put the complete short epic out on DVD – with the finest and bravest extras in all the land. We’ll go into greater detail about that at Comiccon, but we’re changing the face of Show Friendliness a second time with that crazy DVD.
3) Joss, you are so kind, and generous, and your forehead is like, huge, like SCARY, like I think I can see Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint hanging off it… what can WE do to help this musical extravanganza?
What you always do, peeps! What you’re already doing. Spread the word. Rock some banners, widgets, diggs… let people know who wouldn’t ordinarily know. It wouldn’t hurt if this really was an event. Good for the business, good for the community – communitIES: Hollywood, internet, artists around the world, comic-book fans, musical fans (and even the rather vocal community of people who hate both but will still dig on this). Proving we can turn Dr Horrible into a viable economic proposition as well as an awesome goof will only inspire more people to lay themselves out in the same way. It’s time for the dissemination of the artistic process. Create more for less. You are the ones that can make that happen.
Wow. I had no idea how important you guys were. I’m a little afraid of you.
4) Joss, do you ever answer a question simply or coherently?
Shledzguohn?
There’ll be more questions, and more long, long answers, but for now I’m just excited that we’re actually making this happen. We (and a lot of other people — gushing to commence soon) worked very hard on the show and we hope/think you guys will be pleased. Until July 15th , I remain, yours truly, -j, of the firm j, j, m & z.
when?!?!?!?! where? how?! of course I am not expecting a deadline etched in stone as I am not footing your bills…. but I sure wouldn’t mind a rough idea for release? otherwise I fear I might miss EVERYTHING!!!! please tell me all your secret plans?
April 25th, 2008 at 7:22 pmHi Burrito,
Have you seen the new Buzz item? Felicia told ‘How I Wow’ it will be released before ComiCon – sometime between late May and July.
April 26th, 2008 at 4:05 am[...] We finally have a trailer for Joss’s Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. If you remember, “It’s the story of a low-rent super-villain, the hero who keeps beating him up, and the cute girl from the laundromat he’s too shy to talk to,” Whedon says. [...]
June 26th, 2008 at 12:43 pm[...] from the Official Fan Site. [...]
June 26th, 2008 at 2:45 pm[...] Dr. Horrible is an Internet based musical comedy. You can read more about it here. [...]
June 29th, 2008 at 6:02 pm[...] a separate note, I found this cool website by Joss Whedon. Looks hilarious. Definitely worth [...]
June 30th, 2008 at 6:30 pm[...] doctorhorrible.net: “During the WGA strike Joss Whedon started writing a three part musical series for the [...]
June 30th, 2008 at 10:11 pmBut Joss, when are you going to make a Spike movie, huh? I’d pay to see that. I promise. I’d make all my friends pay too.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:47 pmI dare Mr. Whedon (the Joss one) to say “shledzguohn” aloud and record it for us to hear.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:35 pmThis is amazing in it’s fantabulousness! I can’t wait until we see it.
July 6th, 2008 at 4:20 amI had no idea what was missing in my life until I found the link for this on a knitting website and saw all the awesomeness.
AND THERE’S MAL AND NEIL PATRICK HARRIS TOO!!!
And singing. Don’t forget about the singing.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:09 amI have to say this is one of the best bits of internet media stuffage I’ve ever heard about, can’t wait to see this since I’m a big fan of Joss Whedon’s shows and really want to see what he’ll do with a full blown self-contained musical.
July 12th, 2008 at 11:41 pmAnd sorry, but I’ve got to ask – What would NPH do?
Oh why oh why!
Thou lure us like this and then make a limited release!
Our summers are short but rainy, our winters are harsh and our bread stale, and our Dr.Horrible viewings are cut by the “The item you’ve requested is not currently available in the Finnish Store.”
Oh the horror. Someone tell Joss to get his act straight or I’ll take my sled and my reindeer and come pay him a visit.
July 15th, 2008 at 5:17 amHaving watched act one, all I can say is: the DVD can’t come out soon enough. I’ll buy the collector’s edition if there is one.
July 15th, 2008 at 8:39 am[...] Also, today begins Joss Whedon’s Online gig. Check it out. [...]
July 15th, 2008 at 5:31 pmI’m so freaking excited! I seriously can’t wait. I remember sending Joss a message a few months back begging him to do something like this. If he read it, he must have chuckled at it given this whole project. Now if only I could actually get through to watch the first Dr. Horrible episode!
July 15th, 2008 at 6:34 pmOh, hell….I want Firefly back….really, please…pretty please with sugar on top?????
July 15th, 2008 at 8:48 pmOh hell yes!
July 15th, 2008 at 9:11 pmI three thousandth that vote, though I realize Firefly probably feels like a red headed stepchild with six fingers.
Ya know, I was talking to my friends the other day( the real ones, not the ones in my head) just how much I miss the archnemesis musicals of the old days and I wish someone would make one with Doogie Houser (sorry dude, you are stuck with that one for life). Thank you for making that dream come true. So can we expect to see a spin off cd with the best hits by his mangled, tortured, comedy sidekick assistant?
Danke
July 15th, 2008 at 11:56 pmSplotch the great (you can call me splotch for short)
So there I was, last night, listening to Act 1 on my iTunes. (Damned old computer! More on that in a minute.)
July 16th, 2008 at 4:10 pmI know! I’ll watch it at work from the website!
Alas, no luck, for I am a mere Worker Bee for The Man (aka The Government) and can’t watch Doctor Horrible on my computer at work. It’s blocked lest we be exposed to anything, oh let’s say: FUN and/or CREATIVE that would make one SQUEE WITH RAPTUROUS JOY.
*sigh*
And let’s not talk about my poor almost-10-year-old computer at home. The one that needs either a)more RAM; or b)to be replaced.
This just might be the straw that makes me finally buy that 3rd Gen 8G iPod.
So here I sit. Wiping away my tears. Waiting for the Doctor Horrible DVD. And the CD.
Hurry…soon.
Please?
I like the idea, and perhaps someday I can actually watch it! I keep getting error messages when I try to go to the dr.horrible sight. I’ll try again at home latter.
BUT…
Very nice job with the buzz on this, Mr. Whedon (and do people every confuse you with Will Wheaton, and does that make you want to “Crush! Kill! Destroy!”?)
Once I watch it I will have something more coherent to say, and maybe will want to contribute (I’m a wannabee writer with one option (for the princely sum of 1 pound) for a short, if that’s allowed.
Until then, Shledzguohn to the max!
July 16th, 2008 at 5:22 pmUnfortuanUnfortunately I have not been able to view dr.horrible, as I keep getting an error message.
But I will say very nice job on the buzz on this (but then again, you are a pro).
One question – do people ever confuse you with Will Wheaton, and how long do they live after doing that?
I will probably have something more coherent to say once I view it, and may even feel moved to contribute (In my favorite hallucinatio, and some fun house mirrors, I am a highly successful screenwriter. In this alternate universe I have signed one option for the princely sum of 1 pound for a short script.)
Until then – Shledzguohn, solum in somniis!
July 16th, 2008 at 5:29 pmAll three episodes were great! I loved it. I can’t wait to see more internet t.v. Heard about it on npr on my way home from work tonight. Will tell my friends. Congratulations.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:47 amDavid Fury and Marti Noxon! Woo hoo! Well done, Joss. “Well done to you.”
July 19th, 2008 at 12:57 pmThis is hilarious! I loved it and I can’t wait for this to come out on DVD – Very good stuff!
July 19th, 2008 at 3:49 pmThis was, without question, the best thing I’ve seen in a long, long time. I am now in love with TWO gay men.
Yew rawk, Joss!
July 19th, 2008 at 6:59 pmHow can you not love this short movie? Neil Patrick Harris is a hoot. Who knew he could sing? And the whole thing of making fun of blogs and bloggers–how great is that?
Has anyone mentioned it seems a perfect metaphor for our dolt President?? Think about it–-likeable, not very bright but ambitious guy has big plans, they come to be and wreck things, in the end. It’s perfect. It’s W all over, guys.
Just wait ’til Halowe’en, folks. It’ll be all “Dr. Horrible”, “The Hammer” and “Moist” costumes!
July 19th, 2008 at 8:40 pmGreat Mini-Series. I’ve always been a Neil Patrick Harris fan. He’s a great actor.
Felicia Day was a great Actress in the short film.
Nathan Fillion – The caption of Serenity from the series Firefly and the movie titles Serenity.
Everyone did a great job in this mini series.
July 20th, 2008 at 5:13 pmMore, please! As soon as possible!
July 21st, 2008 at 7:02 pmThis has reminded me of how much I like musicals! I don’t care for serious dramas as much, and it seems like musicals tend to go that direction. Obviously with a serious theme, the show was enjoyably lighthearted and humorous. I rank this my second favorite musical ever, just behind the version of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels I was lucky enough to see on Broadway about three years back. I loved all the actors, and the songs were all written really well too, can’t wait for the soundtrack!
Great job all around, I hope this kind of thing starts catching on in the internet community!
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:43 pmWas told of this by a young coworker. Hilarious! Hope to see more.
July 31st, 2008 at 5:58 amYou bet I’ll pay.
I’m getting all “huarrrr” pirate when I see that have to pay 15$ to get into a movie theater to see some stupide blockbuster.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:10 pmWe. Need. MORE! MORE, I say!
August 16th, 2008 at 6:58 pmThanks!
August 29th, 2008 at 6:55 pmNeil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion are so perfect in their roles! Can’t wait to get the DVD and Soundtrack!! Amazing!!!
September 20th, 2008 at 6:53 pmThere are only a few shows I watch over and over again.
Buffy
Alias
Babylon 5
Cartoons
and This “Dr Horribles Sing Along Blog”
Fantastic work. Everyone I have shown it to has loved it. I really hope there is more of it.
October 30th, 2008 at 1:07 pmJoss, you and your family have done a fantastic colaberation. Well done.
I would watch this every week if it were on the internet or television. I know many that would do the same.
Ya know, this kind of genius needs to be fostered. In days of old, he would be sponsored and allowed to create this stuff day and night.
Come on rich person, step up and throw money at him!!
December 5th, 2008 at 4:47 amMr. Whedon I got one thing to say to you. Your a freaking mad genius when it comes to this type of thing. Whatever happens do not stop doing this because it’s people like you that keep people like me from killing the Captain Hammer’s of the world. You know the oh so annoying Head Cheerleader who thinks she is soooooooo much better then you and acts like it when your the one who does more good. I really do enjoy this show to bad I’m at work or I would be watching it right now. XD
December 17th, 2008 at 10:13 amMUST HAVE MORE DR HORRIBLE OR I WILL DESTROY YOU WITH MY OBLONG PENETRATOR! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
This has been one of the best “films” I’ve seen this past year and my heart sank at the end. I hope the writers go on strike again so a sequel will be made! Or is there one in the works already?
December 20th, 2008 at 4:21 amLike watching a fabulous off-broadway play in the comfort of your living room! KUDOS!!!
December 20th, 2008 at 4:22 amLoved it!
January 4th, 2009 at 5:22 pmCheck out the commentary’s on the DVD!Let’s have some more shall we?
i love it so much i have the sound track on my ipod
March 17th, 2009 at 12:35 pm