Yesterday, I called Dollhouse’s canceling before I headed out for whatever pre-Good Friday stuff I do, only to be semi-inundated with different opinions from fans and journos alike as to what it “really” means that FOX is not airing the 13th episode of Dollhouse.

The first point, rightly made, is that NBC did a similar thing with Journeyman and it’s season finale, only to end up showing it anyway.

Other points have to do with the details of Fox’s Dollhouse order and why episode 13 might be episode 14. Do these points mean Dollhouse might not be canceled?

Let’s see if someone can convince me otherwise…

Hit Fix’s Daniel, who is all over TV coverage:

Here’s the different explanation that I got from a network source: FOX ordered 13 episodes of “Dollhouse.” This has been well-reported and is true. That number, though, included the original pilot episode, which was shot and then reconceived and never aired.

The “Omega” episode is the 13th episode of that original order. It is the second part of a heavily-arced two-part closure to the season and it was written, produced and directed as the season finale. It brings the slow-developing Alpha storyline to a climax and answers a number of questions about the Dollhouse and its inhabitants. It also raises possible questions setting up a possible Season Two, but it isn’t a shocking cliffhanger.

More importantly, the questions raised at the end of “Omega” aren’t questions answered quickly in “Epitaph One.” I’m told that “Epitaph One” was ordered by 20th Century Fox TV, the show’s production company, but not by the network and the network had no commitment to air that episode. It’s Hour 14 for the season.

And a similar explanation comes from Whedonesque via Tim Minear:

Okay. So maybe I can help clarify this somewhat. Because we scrapped the original pilot — and in fact cannibalized some of its parts for other eps — we really ended up with 12 episodes. But the studio makes DVD and other deals based on the original 13 number. So we created a standalone kind of coda episode. Which is the mythical new episode 13. The network had already paid for 13 episodes, and this included the one they agreed to let us scrap for parts. It does not include the one we made to bring the number back up to 13 for the studio side and its obligations. We always knew it would be for the DVD for sure, but we also think Fox should air it because it’s awesome.

Am I buying it? No.

Basically, what this sounds like is a free episode from the Dollhouse crew that Fox is not going to air. Not to mention that despite all the digital ink being spilled on this thing, we haven’t gotten a comment from Fox at all, as a matter of fact they refused to comment for The Hollywood Reporter. Also, the news that Dollhouse’s finale would be episode 12 was ditched before Easter weekend, much like the news that Dollhouse was getting Fox’s Sci-Fi Friday slot-o-death was dumped before a weekend.

This whole thing sounds like Dollhouse is down and out, but there MUST be a reason why Fox is holding back.

Ratings bump? DVD sales?

There’s really only one group of people that can prove me wrong now, and it’s the Dollhouse fans. If enough of a stink is made and that stink turns a profit, maybe Dollhouse can be saved. That’s the only explanation I can come up with for why Fox hasn’t dropped the axe.