IMHO: Joss is top notch as a writer, producor, director, and 3rd alternate key grip. He's given us the best novel sci-fi space setting in a decade in the (Firefly) 'Verse. Beyond that, he knows how to use the fantastic to drive characters, rather than just letting characters loose in the fantastic. He and JMS are the two multi-role guys that I'd most like to see given the keys to make a big budget massive scale TV series.

Are you kidding? He has more failed series than Chris Carter. An overrated amateur.

Well if Cameron has one, then: Yeah why not? Whedon has created some really fresh classic iconic genre universes in a short time span (and has not rode them down the tubes like Lucas has). I know people out there will nit pick the choice because his script for “Alien: Resurrection” got turned into utter crap, but everyone knows a screenwriter cannot help that most of the time.

Hell no. More overrated that David Beckham.

The man does have a huge following. Created several cult classics. Had conferences dedicated to his characters. Created an animated series and comic book series. Had toys and games based off his characters. Directed, produced and wrote. And has been doing all of this for the past 20 years.

So why wouldn't he? Yes, I think he deserves his honor.

Let's see.... Lucas created a franchise that is 2nd to none in staying power, popularity and creative influence across all story telling mediums. Cameron made the most successful movie of all time and created or contributed substantially to two of the most significant adult sci-fi properties of the last 20+ years. Joss has written some scripts for some mediocre movies, had a couple successful but very cult tv shows (as opposed to the super wide appeal of Lucas and Cameron's works) and is most notable as of late for not being able to create another tv show that anyone wants to watch. Yeah, they're all like the same person.

Whedon is very similar to Lucas and Cameron in that he has made some very good stuff, but he's also made some absolute stinkers.

Since this item doesn't bother to mention it, and I bet most people don't click through to read the full information, the award in question "recognizes achievements in new media and technology".

Given the independent success of Dr. Horrible, which no one had previously pulled off and no one has yet matched, Joss certainly qualifies.

This isn't some sort of lifetime achievement award or an award for the entirety of one's career, so those arguing that Whedon shouldn't be put on the same level as Lucas or Cameron are basically arguing against a point that's not, in fact, being made by the award to begin with.

The problem is he generally tries to make too intellectual stuff for public TV - and when the unwashed masses don't get it they get all upset.

"This is an honor I didn't expect and probably don't deserve," he said. "The truth is, I've never actually guarded a van. But I am a super-total visionary, so that fits."

What a visionary! And his sense of humor is impeccable! The only thing that would make this news any better is if he won the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award...Most people that win that award are already retired or dead.
So Sick of hearing about this deuche...

I can't really say Whedon comes close to being the visionary that Lucas is (or at least was), but he is nowhere near as low down as the over-rated, undisciplined, unprofessional talentless hack that Cameron is.

What is this another thread just to make everyone argue???

No he shouldnt Buffy Angel and Firefly were damned good shows though.

As much as I like some of Joss Whedon's stuff, I think the jury is still out over whether or not he's on par with Lucas and Cameron. Let's see if we're still talking about Buffy, Angel, or Firefly in twenty or thirty years. If so, then by all means, give the man his props and put him in the pantheon with the rest of them.

Well, at least you tried The One True b!X...

As The One True b!X has mentioned, for anyone who actually read the original story they linked to, the award is for use of NEW MEDIA and TECHNOLOGY. It is not a Lifetime Achievement Award or anything like that. It is also not exclusive to TV or movies. In addition to Lucas and Cameron, the founders of MySpace and Youtube have also won the award. Regardless of what one may think of their work, all the winners of this award, including Whedon, have created or used new forms of media and technology to do something either no one had ever done before or done something that had been done before, but in a much more successful and influential way.

So when one is deciding whether or not he deserved the award, please make sure you actually know what he is being awarded for. Note I never discussed the quality of his work, merely his technical influence.

I strongly believe that Firefly would still be on the air if FOX had not shown the episodes out of order and the suits prematurely canceling the finest Science Fiction TV series I’ve ever experienced. I really liked Buffy the Vampire Slayer, was not interested in Angel (but it had a long run), didn’t find Doll House interesting or entertaining enough for me to sick with, Dr Horrible Sing a Long Blog was fricken brilliant and very entertaining. I’m just going to continue to wait for some smart network to ask Joss to bring Firefly back in the form of a MiniSeries or a full season show.

Yes, just because of Firefly/Serenity. Anyone who can make those things deserves all kinds of awards and medals.

"The problem is he generally tries to make too intellectual stuff for public TV - and when the unwashed masses don't get it they get all upset."

Yeah, OK. Dollhouse and Firefly are pathetic failures because people just are not smart enough for them. Ever think that people are just too smart for these juvenile, idiotic, and mind numbingly simplistic creations? Dollhouse has to be one of the worst show concepts in a decade, yet we are all just not smart enough....right.

I think this is why I despise fanboyism and everything involved. It just makes people into blathering mouth pieces for their obsession.

I honestly believe that Joss's best work is still ahead of him and that he will easily sit among that pantheon before he's through.

Wow . . . . Whedon's accomplishments aside, I'd have to say that people are giving Lucas waaaaay too much credit. I'll give him the original Star Wars. And Empire, which was good as it was because he let somebody else write it. But this is also the guy who gave us Ewoks, Jar Jar (and the entirely worthless prequel trilogy to which he belonged) and Willow, to name a few.

I don't get it, what is the big deal with this guy? He's marginally talented, at best, who has ripped off most of his ideas from japanese manga or anime. Buffy was aweful, as was Angel, Firefly passably entertaining and how Dollhouse got a second season is beyond me. Is there no one else out there that thinks this guy is a no talent bum?

What are you people complaining about? This is like a 5th grade playground argument. How bout you read the article first. By the way, anyone trying to convince anyone else that what they like is better is going to lose. You can't win an opinionated argument. Welcome to the world. Sure, he deserves the award. Most successful internet series of all time. Other than that, I'm not really a fan of Whedon's. God knows, I've tried. Just can't get into his writing, I suppose.

DAMN THIS FRIGGIN CAPTCHA!!! GET IT RIGHT SOON, SCIFIWIRE!!!!!!

Unbelievably slanted article that doesn't even give the readers the facts. What sort of writers are you employing, Sci-Fi Wire? Joss Whedon created a brilliant, funny online musical that broke records. All four of his television series are cutting edge fantasy and science fiction. I don't trash the stuff you guys like. Don't trash my Joss.

The real question is do Lucas and Cameron belong in Joss' league?

The greatest talent since Roddenberry!

Yes.

Oh HELL no. Geez, talk about dropping the bar. I mean, both Lucas and Cameron were innovative. I'll give Whedon credit, where credit is due. He's a great scriptwriter, but so's JMS, and at least he rebuilt science fiction with Babylon 5. A funny vampire series doesn't count. Firefly would have if it had legs.
What is it with the Joss love? I don't get it. Funny dialogue does not greatness make.

Lucas is a hack compared to Whedon. The only reason Whedon hasn't found greater main-stream success is because his material is more intelligent than his audience.

The comparison to Cameron is a bit more apt, in that both utilize strong female protagonists in their work.

Calling "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "a funny vampire series" is like calling "The Martian Chronicles", "a cute set of stories".

"Lucas is a hack compared to Whedon. The only reason Whedon hasn't found greater main-stream success is because his material is more intelligent than his audience."

LMAO! Bonanza in Space and Whore of the week, that is his accomplishments. Talk about delusion.

bookant - Wow, I was honestly going to say almost the same exact thing you did! So, perhaps I'll go a bit further...

Here's the deal... I LOVED Star Wars (original, Ep. IV, whatever)! Empire blew me away! But, then Lucas began to switch from creative visionary to marketing master starting with Jedi. Ewoks - great "characters" to pull in the little tykes, but able to take down the feared Stormtroopers? Really??? Jar-Jar made a great Halloween costume, but was oh-so-annoying to the serious science fiction fans. And, perhaps he could create a new universe, but the man could NOT write dialog for his actors! Think young Anakin in Ep. I. Think of most of Natalie Portman's lines said with so much "feeling" [insert sarcasm here]. And, could he have made the man-who-would-be-the-terror-instilling-Vader any more whiny?

So, Joss Whedon, congratulations! At least you can create characters who you really care about, write intelligent & witty dialog for them, and place them in thought provoking & (yes) controversial universes for us to explore.

Whedon should be recognized by his own merits. Congratulations Joss

After reading this, I actually went to check Whedon's curriculum vitae to see if he had done something I wasn't aware of. He didn't.
If I were Joss, I'd be shocked at getting this too as he hasn't actually accomplished much at all in comparison to previous winners. This is as meaningless as Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Much as I love Joss Whedon and think he has created characters with at least as much longevity as either Lucas or Cameron - people didn't think much of Roddenberry's "Wagon Train To the Stars" at first, either - I should think that, in terms of new media, "Sanctuary" should be considered before "Dr. Horrible". "Sanctuary" went from a web series to a TV series, is shot primarily on green screen and uses state of the art technology on a regular basis. Based on what I understand the parameters of the award to be, the "Sanctuary" producers deserve the award more.

That being said, congratulations, Joss!

No comparison. Lucas and Cameron spend hundreds of millions of dollars to make crappy films. Joss only spends tens of millions to make them.

Absolutely. Sure, he's had a couple of failed shows, but failed or not, Firefly was better in terms of quality than most "successful" shows (yes, it's only my opinion, but that's what this forum is for). The guy also created one of the most well-known iconic characters in pop culture with Buffy (and even though it was never considered the hit Buffy was, "Angel" made a pretty good go of it too). Also, Joss has yet to go in and do an incredibly looooong Buffy prequel that nearly made people forget what was so great about the original series in the first place, nor has he ever directed "Dark Angel" (which yeah okay I loved that show, but, let's face it, it wasn't exactly high art). My point is, both Cameron and Lucas have black marks on their records and personally, I don't find their work nearly as entertaining as I do Whedon's. Plus, I have yet to see either of them do a musical. :)

No

This shouldn't be about who has made crap. They all have. But who has made real gems? Popular worldwide over decades with legions of fans. Lucas and Cameron have that. Whedon is new still and has a cult following. Lucas has a religion. Cameron has very successful standalone products (Terminator/Titanic). Buffy and Firefly combined don't have the impact/following of Terminator alone.

I'm a fan of Firefly and I think that even mentioning Whedon's name in the same sentence as James Cameron is just RIDICULOUS!!! Making one good televisions series that failed doesn't qualify you to be compared to a director who is responsible for some of the greatest films of all time. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just clueless or has been drinking the Joss Juice for too long. Dollhouse was horrible and stuck around a season longer than it should have. Whedon doesn't even deserve to be mentioned with the giants of TV scifi such as Roddenberry and Straczynski.

Well, I'd object to Lucas -- he only had a couple really good films, but Joss created Buffy, possibly the best TV series ever. And can someone please stake Edward already.

Congratulations, Joss Whedon!

I've enjoyed everything he's ever done.

Seriously: Is there anyone out there other than this guy who actually tries to come up with something new?

To answer the question posed by the news item:

No.

He shouldn't be compared to Lucas or Cameron.

He is not as talented, intense or driven as those other two men.

I like Joss' work just fine (except for Dollhouse, which is a whole house full of suck, and not in the good way), but no.

He should not be compared.

Thread over.

If you are going to put Joss in, then you better put Gene Roddenberry in. Talk about a visionary guy....

But no, I don't think he deserves to be in with those guys yet.

hell yes he has mad very good shows and movies....lucus is overrated, cameron is to old school and avitar will suk ass....josh will get that movie that will dismiss all talk

Of course you can compare Joss with Lucas and Cameron. BUt I also think you can compare Apples and Oranges, it matters what properties you care for.

In the context of this award, you definitely can.
If we were talking life-time achievement, well...

I think you can too. Believe it or not, not everyone cares for Star Wars, Star Trek or Terminator. They probably wouldn't rank on the "must-see" list of my father, for example.

So it's okay if Firefly or Buffy or Angel doesn't appeal to everyone.

I think it matters a lot more that all of them gained a significant following and that when they put out something, a lot of people want to know what it's all about.

Firefly, Angel and Buffy are part of the modern "geek" culture - and I think the modern "geek" culture has changed during the past few years or decades. Thanks to the internet, being geek is a lot better accepted than it ever was. Maybe that's just a perception thing - because the internet allows the geeks to connect and no longer feel isolated. Maybe it's a real change in our society.

Being among the first of the "new" geeky things in this era means a lot under these circumstances. But a lot of new shows, authors and directors appeared among the time - but Buffy captured its audience and made its fans, and others did not.

HELL YEAH...

For all you Joss hater out there look at his resume again as a writer & director. Some of the best Scifi films & series have had him on board. Also don't forget his amazing work in the comic world under X-MEN & BUFFY.

What he needs to do is focus on films again but this time with his own projects the way Lucas, Speilberg, and Cameron do. Just take it all into his own hands with an ultimate project. We know he has the resources and willing cast alum's to make a great picture.

Personally I think he is a far better Director than George Lucas ever could be. More consistent then James Cameron since Titanic. I say give him the award and let the studios ask him for films with big budgets for a new generation if amazing scifi/horror pictures.

I find it hilarious that people posting about genre TV are judging the merits of a show by how successful it is in drawing in the non-genre viewers. Dollhouse, like Firefly before it, is a great drama, featuring all the hallmarks of Whedon's considerable talents - strong characterizations, humor, pathos and intelligent writing that asks more questions than it answers.