Jed Whedon

Dear Jed and Maurissa,

So, you don’t know me, but, well, I’ve seen you around a few times. In fact, Maurissa, you and I were both wearing the same Urban Outfitters top at the Guild and Dollhouse Comic-Con panels this year, which was a little embarrassing because you looked much cuter in it than me, but then I decided to take it as a sign that we both have excellent taste. Maybe we could go shopping together sometime! If you’re not busy, that is.

Because that’s the thing. You guys have been busy since co-writing and cameoing in Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog, most notably working on the second season of Dollhouse as staff writers. Some people — uncool people who don’t respect your talent, let’s be clear — might think you got that gig because of, um, family connections. However, the episodes you’ve written, including the Felicia Day-starring Epitaph One, have been standouts of the series and will hopefully ensure future work down the line.

But now that Dollhouse has been canceled and, in theory, you have some extra time on your hands — um, maybe you could make some more YouTube videos?

I know that it’s been a few years since you two seriously played around with making short-form content and posting it as user nervouscircus. But your involvement with online video predated most of those in Hollywood — sure, you made your own (hilarious) video about the 2007-2008 WGA strike, co-starring older brother Zack Whedon, but prior to that you produced four episodes of the Apartment 4B series, which, shot very simply with your computer’s webcam, was a fun, low-fi collaboration that showcased both your acting and writing skills. I wish that the first episode was still available, but the goofiness of the Halloween special makes up for it.

Even when you abandoned a quasi-scripted format, though, you were still really interesting — your 2008 New Year’s message shouldn’t have been as funny as it was, but the last line gave it a punch. And it takes a special kind of talent to make getting wasted and making up songs about food entertaining — yet you not only did it, but it’s your most viewed video.

You haven’t completely abandoned your YouTube account, I’m glad to say — in fact, your most recent video, last November’s Another Food Song, was how I discovered your account. And the funny little a capella tune is a great expression of both your comedic and musical talents — inspiring me to be selfish, and want more from you.

Because if you’re not writing Dollhouse, and you’re not making us laugh on YouTube, then what are you doing? If the answer is “polishing up the script and songs for Dr. Horrible 2″ of course, all is forgiven.

Lots of love,

Liz