Crossovers through different Networks

Last post I covered crossovers on the same network and same night, now I am covering crossovers that happened between different networks. This rarely has happens as networks compete but mostly happens as they are from the same producer.

 

Fox's Ally McBeal/ABC's The Practice (1998)

Since David E. Kelley ran these two shows and they were both hits, ABC and FOX agreed to cross them over. On the night of April 27, 1998, Ally McBeal‘s episode "The Inmates,” Dylan McDermott appeared and an hour later on ABC, Calista Flockheart and Gil Bellows appeared on "The Practice" episode "Axe Murderer."

 

WB's Angel/UPN's Buffy (2003)

Buffy was on the WB but then UPN for Seasons 6 and 7 in 2001-2003. Season 3 of Angel and Season 6 of Buffy had no on-screen crossovers but off-screen, which was played with in the comic books (Dawn, Anya and Xander wondered about the Buffy/Angel encounter). While it did NOT happen on the same night and not crossover many characters, the characters did crossover and bridge a recurring character over. Season 4 of Angel episode "Orpheus" aired March 19, 2003 where Alyson Hannigan (Willow) guest starred and took Eliza Dushku (Faith) with her. Faith reappeared on Buffy on Season Seven's episode "Dirty Girls" which aired on April 15, 2003. Though Willow did get a phone call from Fred in the episode "The Lies My Parents Told Me" which aired March 25, six days after "Orpheus" aired so if Buffy fans didn't know about the crossover and found out through the Buffy show itself, then they would've missed the episode. David Boreanaz (Angel) later appeared on "End of Days" and "Chosen" of Buffy on UPN while his show was still airing on the WB.

 

 John Munch

This character has crossed over networks and genres. He has originated on NBC's "Homicide: Life on the Street," (1993-1999) and when that show was canceled, he later moved on to NBC's "Law & Order: SVU." While he was on Homicide he guest starred on Law & Order in 1996 four times. John Munch has been on SVU since it started in 1999. While he was on "Homicide," he appeared in FOX's sci-fi classic "The X-Files" in 1997 with the Lone Gunmen. In 2000, he appeared on UPN's "The Beat", which was canceled in months. In 2005, he appeared on "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" on NBC. He then appeared on FOX's comedy Arrested Development's season three episode "Exit Strategy" in 2006. In 2008, he appeared on HBO's The Wire's episode "Took." He has also made guest appearances on other types of programs like "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and "30 Rock" (but as the actor himself Richard Belzer).

 

 

Sources:

http://decider.com/2014/09/18/ally-mcbeal-the-practice-crossover/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Munch

Same Network Same Night Crossovers

What I am talking about here is crossovers between shows that happened on the same night and same network. This mostly happened on ABC and NBC. I am referring to crossovers that had a story plot or gimmick that went through the episodes through the night, not an isolated crossover in one episode (like the recent Simpsons/Family Guy episode that was just a Family Guy episode). Also not counting little crossover cameos without a story thread on the same ep. This was mostly done with shows hat had the same producers.

 

NBC's Hurricane Sunday (1991)

Susan Harris had three shows on Saturday night in 1991: "Golden Girls", "Empty Nest" and "Nurses." All shows were set in Miami and a Hurricane occurred. "Golden Girls" was a two-parter and Carol appears in one of the two episodes dating Stan's therapist. Sophia Petrillo was featured in the "Empty Next" episode. On "Nurses," Rose Nylund and Laverne Todd from Empty Nest were featured.

NBC's Blackout Thursday (1994)
On the night of November 3, 1994, 'Friends,' 'Mad About You' and 'Madman of the People' all had a blackout in New York but none of the characters crossover on the show, just the blackout. This was the first season of Friends and Madman lasted one show. Though characters of Mad About You did appear on Friends and confusing Phoebe for her sister Ursula as Lisa Kudrow played both characters. These shows had different producers.

NBC's Law & Order and Homicide: Life on the Street (1996-1997)
On Feb 2, 1996 Law and Order's "Charm City" season 6, episode 13 and Homicide's "For God and Country" season 4, episode 12 were interconnected. Then on November 12, 1997, Law & Order's "Baby, It's You" season eight, episode 6 and Homicide: "Baby, It's You (2)" season 6, episode 5. Finally, February 17th, 1999 saw Law & Order's "Sideshow" season nine, episode 14 & Homicide: "Sideshow (2)" season 7, episode 15

 

 ABC'S TGIF Time Event (1997)

The night of November 7, the four shows "Boy Meets World," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," and two sitcoms that newly premiered that season and were canceled the next--the 'I dream of Jeannie' gender-swap "You Wish" and the 'male' Sabrina "Teen Angel." The thread was that Salem the cat ate a 'time ball' and took the different sitcoms through different times. The last show of the night "Teen Angel" actually had Melissa Joan Hart in it and guest star. Many people are confused when seeing "Boy Meets World" in syndication and see Salem and not understand why. Sabrina the Teenage Witch went to the 60's. Boy Meets World was swept into the 40's, You Wish to the 60's and Teen Angel to the 70's. Some of these shows had different producers.

NBC's The Pretender and Profiler (1999)
Five years after Susan Harris' comedies were over, Saturday night was the night for The Pretender and Profiler. On May 18, "The Pretender" Season 3 episode "End Game" and  Profiler's Season 3, ep 19 -"Grand Master". Pretender's Season 4 ep "Spin Doctor" lead to Profiler's "Clean Sweep." And Profiler's "Pianissimo" had a cameo from a Pretender character.

 

The WB's Buffy and Angel Crossovers (1999-2000)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) had various crossovers with Angel (1999-2004) like "The Harsh Light of Day" (season 4 of Buffy) and "In the Dark" (Angel season 1) on the same night of October 19, 1999. November 23rd had "Pangs" of Buffy and "I will Remember You" on Angel. Faith crossovered from Buffy episode "Who are you?" to Angel episode "Five by Five" but not on the same night. Buffy appeared on "Sanctuary" and then Angel in "The Yoko Factor" but not on the same night. The WB would not do a same night event until November 14, 2000 that had the episodes "Fool For Love" (season 5 of Buffy) and "Darla." (season 2 of Angel) Other characters like Drusilla, Harmony and Willow would crossover but it wasn't the same night nor a main storyline. Buffy moved to UPN for season 6 and there was no more crossovers until season 4 of Angel and Buffy season 7 but I will cover that in the next post. Both shows were produced by Joss Whedon.

 

ABC's 2009 Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice Crossover Event

After the success of Addison returning to Seattle for an ep, the idea of a big crossover between the 2 shows was created. Both the creative forces behind the series and the network wanted to produce. The fourth crossover was marketed as the "Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice Crossover Event" by ABC. It was the episodes : Beat Your Heart Out (GA), Acceptance (PP), Before and After (GA), Ex-Life (PP), and An Honest Mistake (GA). Both shows had the same producer.

 

Fox's Seth Macfarlane's Night of the Hurricane

The event depicts a hurricane which hits the towns of Stoolbend (The Cleveland Show), Quahog (Family Guy) and Langley Falls (American Dad). The "Night of the Hurricane" block is similar to the NBC "Hurricane Saturday" block with three series created by Susan Harris—The Golden Girls, Empty Nest and Nurses. It was originally scheduled to air on May 1, 2011, but was delayed after the April 25–28, 2011 tornado outbreak. It ultimately aired on October 2, 2011.

The CW's "The Brave and the Bold" Crossover Event
Even though Barry/The Flash has originated on "Arrow" (two episodes), there was recently a crossover between the two shows. Also Felicity has guest starred in 2 episodes so far. On December 3, 2014, The Flash's "Flash Vs Arrow" and Arrow's "The Brave and the Bold." Also Grant Gustin appeared on "The Calm" in October.

 



Recapping 5 seasons of "Angel" - Response to EW recap Buffy

This is a response to http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/07/14/buffy-vampire-slayer-napkin-recaps/?hootPostID=225c4b6ab9a9069bdb50df1c4cbe25d8

 The pointy things are his stakes. My rams look like dogs.

Holt looks like that Lego Movie mentor in my memory.

A complicated cycle like I like it.

"Wee puppet man"

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alyson Hannigan as girlfriends to animated boys

 Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy) has done a lot of voice actor work in adult animated shows, especially as girlfriends that have effected the boys of the family.

 King of the Hill

"And They Call It Bobby Love" aired in 1998, of the third season of "King of the Hill." Marie was a vegan older girl that Bobby kissed and broke his heart. This aired during the height of Buffy popularity. I think this was a good episode.

 Simpsons

She played Gina in 'The Wandering Juvie" and recently reprise the role. She played a girl that Bart falls for in Juvie. It wasn't a good episode. This aired in 2004, after Buffy.

 American Dad
"Virtual In-Stanity" aired in 2011. She played an avatar that was really Stan, in order for his son Steve to have a girlfriend.

 In American Dad, Alyson Hannigan (Willow) also co-starred in the ep as the ignored Chelsea.

 King of the Hill
 In 2004, she played a character obsessed with Bobby in "Talking Shop."

 The Simpsons
In 2011, she played Melody who spends time with Bart because Skinner is into her mother played by Kristen Wigg in 2011 episode "Flaming Moe."

Buffy Season 5 reference in Daily Show

Jon Stewart was mentioning Big Brother as the government last night's episode (December 14) and then decided they don't need a Big Brother but a Big Sister... in comes footage of the episode "Blood Ties" of Season 5 of Joss Whedon's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" where Buffy beats up Glory for bothering her sister Dawn. 'Big Brother' is a reference to the novel 1984 (written in 1949 by the way) by "George Orwell" also known as Eric Arthur Blair. For those to young to know, 1984 is about the future as it was written 1949 where the government, or Big Brother would gave the public no privacy at all or freedom. Kudos to Jon and crew to reference Joss' Buffy.

Family Guy Chirstmas Hour Review

Family Guy hasn't had a X-mas special since its second year or so, and I loved the first one, it is a funny episode. This one is a 'A Road to' episode that features Stewie and Brian. It starts out with a beautiful musical featuring the family and almost all the Quaoghians (however you spell it). The plot is that after Stewie is shafted at the mall so he wants to kill Santa. Stewie heads out to the North Pole, with Brian resisting but ending up to say that Santa doesn't exist. But finally reach the North Pole and meet Santa, who is old and dying and depressed. The elves were inbreed and mutated, the reindeer are rabid and like on steroids, hungry for elves. So, yes, the episode ends up with Stewie and Brian being Santa and bringing presents. So it is a dark Christmas special, much like the two episodes of Futurama and the South Park Christmas specials, especially the Wood Critter Christmas.

So the message of the episode is basically the over-commercialization of Christmas, but maybe Futurama handled it better. And even though fans love the Critter Christmas, I didn't like it and found it in bad taste, but that was the point, it was suppose to look distasteful. This Family Guy Episodes I wouldn't want to see over and over again each Christmas, the first one, yes, for sure. What was real funny was Seth Macfarlane's 'father', don't know if it was really he's father, we will soon find out, he sounds a bit like Seth.

Oh yeah and David Boreanaz guest starred as the Aurora Boreanaz.

Ron MacFarlane, is indeed Seth's father.

Alert Buffy fans! If You haven't read the comics, don't look online!

There is a big Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer spoiler is coming issues of the comic books so if you haven't read the Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 8 comics, read them! And don't search anything online! Definitely DON'T READ WIKIPEDIA! Because that's what I did and that's how I was spoiled. The #24 issue cover was released earlier this week and fans have been spoiled to the identity of Twilight, the Big Bad villain of Season 8.

Marvel Super Hero Squad

I have seen two episodes of Marvel Super Hero Squad, they are based on the toys, of the mini Marvel heroes. Spider-Man is absent from this series, it is for the under 7 set and clearly looks likes. Iron Man is the leader and the roster mainly contains Captain America, Hulk, Falcon, Thor, Silver Surfer and Wolverine. The bad guys are led by Fantastic Four's main villain Doctor Doom, green amphibian Abomination and a squeaky voiced MODOK (giant floating head with little arms and legs). One episode I saw had a young rookie named Reptil (not created for the show--he's one of the latest characters from The Avengers) and the episode was pretty juvenile. There is not a lot of female heroes, they might guest for one episode but not part of the whole roster. In one episode, Mystique (voiced by Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles' own Lena Headey!!!) comes in disguised as Black Widow of S.H.I.E.L.D. and 'mystifies' the boys, except for Silver Surfer and Hulk in order to infiltrate the crew. It was a great episode, it was really smart episode and flipped on its head the 'clone spy' episode with 'femme fatale' episode. The villains also rotate, in this episode Screaming Mimi was present and looked like a clown.

The voices of the main heroes are stereotypical: Thor speaks old school viking, Captain America speaks like a 30's superhero, Hulk smash, and so on. Marvel is known for their strong women characters, it is shame they aren't highlighted in this series. Clearly this series is aimed toward boys. The producers have a lot of Marvel characters at their disposal--from Fantastic Four, X-Men, the Avengers, etc. Some of the characters don't even have toys yet--Enchantress is yet to be released and Screaming Mimi doesn't have one at all, so interesting she is on the show. Some of the guest voices are shown above. Interesting enough, Shawn Ashmore who played Iceman in the X-Men movies will play Iceman's voice on this show. James Marsters (Spike of Buffy) will play Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic and Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn of Buffy) will play Valkyrie in one episode. An annoying part is when they 'Hero up,' it is useless. This show and a couple of other new shows on Cartoon Network make its Saturday Morning line-up very vibrant.

About the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot

Okay, all Buffy fans are upset about Fran Rubel Kuzui, and her husband Kaz Kuzui wanting to reboot Buffy the Vampire Slayer without Joss Whedon. I was not going to say anything but with Entertainment Weekly (big Buffy fans there) confirming it might be a go, I just want to say that no fan of the TV show should go see this travesty. The first Buffy movie did not succeed because it did not go with Whedon's vision. It was directed by Kuzui and she didn't want violence and it sucked. Some people like the movie but it made no money. Fans of the movie are only maybe 25% of the Buffy TV show fans. Whedon doesn't control the rights to Buffy. Kuzui plan to make a new movie with a new story and new actress but they don't have the rights to Willow, Angel, Xander, Giles, Cordelia, Spike and any other character from the show. Even Buffy's mom Joyce didn't have that name in the movie. The only characters they could use are from the movie--Merrick and Pike (Luke Perry's character). But why make a movie out of a bad movie with the very people who made it bad and not use the person who made it popular? With no Whedon, there would be no Buffy popularity.

MTV News
Hollywood Reporter

Vampire Shows Post-Buffy and Angel

I was watching one of my favorite shows "Angel" and thought about how after "Angel" and "Buffy" ended, how there now has been a surge of vampire shows. I am referring to "Blood Ties," "Moonlight" and the new "True Blood." Three shows is not much of a surge but it is really curious. Even though vampire fans have complained about how "Angel" and "Buffy" weren't all about vampires, the two shows really change things for the vampire genre. Great special effects and the shows were higher brow that anything else could muster. "Forever Knight" was great but it is less in the cult totem-pole than the aforementioned shows. "Moonlight" is the only show out of the three that was on a network and it got canceled. "Moonlight" was also produced by David Greenwalt, who spear-headed "Angel." But it had different vampire rules than "Angel" and most vampire lore. "Blood Ties" is on Lifetime and I think it is coming back, but is overall unknown. It has lasted two seasons. "True Blood" is on HBO, recently started and much more dark and sexual and gory than anything. I am not saying these shows came up because of "Angel" and "Buffy," plus that "Angel" ended in 2005. Before "Buffy," there was a long lull of vampire shows, not many, so it is curious to me that they are attractive now. I just hope they push the envelope, I am sure "True Blood" is going to do that. But I don't want them to ruin the lore, play with and use it like the other two shows did.

My Moonlight Review
My Blood Ties Review

Buffy had sex with a female slayer---She's not gay but is it a ploy?

When "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" was on the air, I admit I spoiled myself a bit by checking spoilers. In the comics, I now really wait for the comic and don't look up what is next. For me, the comics are short, I am always feeling wanting more and I know that is cliche but I am that much of a Buffy fan. In the first part of "Wolves at the Gate," Buffy is found in bed with the Asian slayer Satsu. Critics and media are blaming this as a marketing ploy to sell more comics. "We had already established that there was this character, Satsu, was in love with Buffy and that Buffy was kind of lonesome," said Whedon. "[We decided] it would be fun if they just went ahead and did it, rather than have it be a 'will they won't they' situation." As for writer Drew Goddard, who wrote Cloverfield: "I guess the stakes are different in that we have more freedom in comics. Even though we've still got a ways to go, we've made tremendous progress with regard to portrayals of human sexuality in pop culture over the last 10 years or so. So the stage just feels different now. I'm sure people can argue that Willow/Tara broke a lot of ground in that regard, but it's not like we go into these things saying, 'How can we make a grand political statement here?' We just try to do what feels right for the characters. The rest takes care of itself."

In the first four-issue arc, Amy put Buffy under a 'fairy tale' spell where only a person who was really in love could wake her up with a kiss. Buffy said 'Cinnamon Buns' when she woke up. And we found out that Satsu's cinnamon lip gloss gave her away. Like MTV said, Ever since the "Season Eight" comics continued the series, our heroine has appeared increasingly isolated, lonely and hungry for some form of connection. She fantasizes about Angel/Spike threesomes, Daniel Craig and Christian Bale, and constantly complains that it's been awhile since she's had a relationship, so it's not surprising that she ends up in bed with the next available partner. In the last issue, Buffy took Satsu on a vampire slay and let her down by saying that people who love her usually end up dead. She hasn't had sex since season six with Spike. MTV: Yes, we know she loves Buffy. But didn't Buffy already rebuff her in the last issue, during a vampire slay?

Drew Goddard says, "Whenever you first sleep with someone, it makes the ensuing relationship more complicated. And we're going to explore those complications to the fullest in the book." For me, basically, as being a devoted Buffy fan and a gay man who speaks for a non-profit organization about gender, I don't think Buffy is gay--by social and culture definition of being exclusively being attracted to the same sex. I believe sexuality is fluid, a continuum. "It made logical, emotional sense and it was an opportunity for drama and character exploration," said Whedon, who told ABCNEWS.com that while Buffy has not "all of a sudden turned gay" she is not "completely cut off from that particular enjoyment." Experimentation is common and how many people believe in this culture, it is more acceptable & easier for women to have affairs with other women.

Goddard revels in the idea of fans turning the page and being shocked to find a full page of the main character with a person of the same sex in bed. i do admit it was a bit shocking but not beyond them to do. I also think it is not beyond Goddard and Whedon to be fanboy giddy. I was actually hoping Buffy would indulge poor Satsu. Satsu, a bit a star-strucked, only expects the worst--for Buffy to only consider their situation as a one night stand. I am not surprised Whedon to go there, people consider Whedon to push the envelope but he says he doesn't. I don't ever want to think Whedon to be the kind to want to do a stunt. And people that know Whedon, knows he is not the kind. With Willow and Tara, it wasn't gratuitous, it was true and it was love, is love. "I don't need to push the envelope. The reason I'm [still writing it] is that we love it and we couldn't stop telling these stories," Whedon said. But it is still a risk. For the main character who for almost two decades, being a heterosexual character, to have a same-sex thirst is risky for loosing fans. But fans sorta have been expecting Buffy to be bisexual since Season 3 with Faith and lots of innuendo. I commend them for their bravery, but they might not see it as bravery.

ABC News
MTV--includes Amber Benson explaining struggles over same-sex kiss and Joss Whedon interview

Buffy Season 8 Comic - No Future For You - Review

The following is a review of the new issue (the sixth) of the new canon comic book series spearheaded by Joss Whedon, the creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

I didn't make a review of the first four issues "The Long Way Home" or the fifth "The Chain," those didn't propel me to write about it. This one did propel me to write about it. Plus that it stars Faith, one of my favorite characters.

Faith now resides in Cleveland, the second Hellmouth (many fans became enticed about it after mentioned in the last episode of the TV series) and her relationship with Robin Wood seemingly is in the past tense. Robin in charge of a slayer troop, Buffy said there was 10 in the first issue. So far we have seen the troops of Buffy's, Xander's, Andrew's, Giles', and now Robin. One can guess Willow has one as well. But, there is no mention of slayers being under Faith's guidance. The plot entails Giles visiting her and offering early retirement in the country of her choice after a wet-works mission. Faith has to go undercover with Giles' refinement lessons to the 19th birthday party of Lady Genevieve to assassinate her. Lady Genevieve, a Rogue Slayer, is trained by her warlock to kill Slayers and according to Giles, will usher in the apocalypse. She seems to be doing it for something he promised her. They seem to be doing this secret from her parents. She referred to the red-haired self-proclaimed 'handsome' warlock as Roden. He seems to be connected to this 'Twilight' mark that was on General Voll from the first arc.

It is a pretty good issue. Joss Whedon said in an article that the artist drawing Faith captures her mannerisms, that is no exaggeration. You can literally feel Faith jump at you, every sketch of her embodies her. Not like Buffy, who in some panels looks like a little girl and can easily be confused with other blond characters. Joss has said that the artists feel more comfortable drawing new characters because they don't have stigma of having them look like the actors and can make them their own. It is noticeable. The whole issue feels like Faith's dark world, except the middle when it gets to Lady Genevieve. Obviously, it is a mood shift and deliciously Whedon, when Faith says, "So who is this evil bitch, anyway?" and it cuts to this smiling happy rich girl on a horse on a bright day. But it does feel like a whole different comic. Giles explains as quickly as he can that Genevieve is beyond redemption than Faith. He has detected magical protection over Genevieve's estate, but I don't think he knows about her warlock. The warlock seems like an interesting character as well.

The issue squeezes in a quick scene between Xander and Buffy, they don't discuss Warren but the Twilight and Xander buffing (pun not intended) up for slayer Renee (who we suspect to have a crush on him) to 'spar'. Buffy taunts Xander about Renee, much like she did with Willow over Kennedy in the season 7 episode "Killer in Me." We do see Xander's newly minted comic book torso, not six-pack but does show advantage of being drawn. This issue seems more air-tight and whole than the last ones, especially issue four. The writer, Brian K. Vaughan brilliantly captures Whedon's vocab. Faith says, "Haven't clocked you since the Sunny D went from being an outie to an innie," which I completely got. But the best line which could make fans go berserk into reconstructing... "Hey, I likes me some kink, but if you think I'm going downtown on this chick, you chose the wrong Chosen One." The line could reach one to think that Faith isn't a lesbian. It has been popular fan thought that Faith was in love with Buffy and is bisexual. This could get interesting at how fans interpret it. What is interesting is that Giles admits the parallels between him and Faith. Faith has been compared to Spike and Angel before. It is also interesting to mention that how the Angel troop and the Buffy gang view Faith. Wesley selected Faith to salvage Angelus to get Angel, not kill him in Season four of Angel, while now Giles selects Faith to kill a slayer. Granted, it is not the same with Angel.

In this issue's letters column "Slay the Writers," Joss Whedon answers the question that the reason The First could take the form of Warren was that he was legally dead for a bit but Amy never told him.

Related: Buffy Season 8 Comic Book Spoiler Interviews

Buffy Season 8 Comic Spoiler Interviews

The cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer didn't even know that Joss Whedon was making a comic of Season 8, and I am sure many still don't know. It is already at Issue 4 and a lot has happened. I grouped together really informative interviews on the books. You can order the re-issues and pre-order upcoming issues here at TFAW.com. If you have read the issues already, these aren't really spoilers. I am going into plot specifics because you just gotta go out and buy it! No news on agraphic novel yet but a compilation of the first four will be out in November but who can wait that long?

MTV News
Basic stuff on the comicComic Resources
In this interview Joss Whedon talks about after issue 4.
iF Magazine
Interviews Scott Allie, the editor that has been around the beginning of the Buffy comic itself.
The A.V. Club
Joss is frank about Season Six of Angel in comic book form and still stands by on how the final episode ended.

He puts it well, "But calling it Season Eight isn’t what makes this special. It’s that it is the continuation of the show by the guy who created it, the guy who deserves the credit for the success of the show, who’s as involved in this “season” as he was in the best seasons of the TV Series."

A loving review on the first four issues

And Buffy might not be the only one coming back in full official canon status in the comic world. More here as well.

Buffyversary?

There is no surprise that I am a Buffy fan but even though I was taken aback when I found out somebody was throwing an anniversary for Buffy. The show first aired Monday March 10, 1997 and it is 10 years old now! TV.com celebrates it.

Article about the anniversary

Today's front page covers everything Whedonverse with 'Angel' and 'Firefly' and anything connected like Nathan Fillion's new show 'Drive' and 'Family Guy' and 'Bones.' In the interviews, we can Charisma Carpenter, Danny Strong (Jonathan), and Adam Busch (Warren) and blink if you missed her Amber Benson and Joss and Marti and Jane Espenson. I think it is great that TV.com is celebrating the show.

What I hate about people who judge the show is that either they have never seen the show or they judge it out of context. One of my friends was like 'it's so goofy, they are fighting in a playground.' ['I Was Made to Love You'] I'm like, 'that's the point.' A fight between a slayer and a robot on a sunny playground was just funny and bright and somewhat ironic. Who wants to see more fights in the dark? I also hear that large misconception that she is just dumb blonde. Buffy was not a bimbo, she was smart. And the biggest complaint I've gotten is that she has died so much. I'm like, well it didn't come without a price. Piper Haiwell died like 9 times so let's not split hairs. Buffy only died twice. Also, one of my cousins was like, 'Oh, there isn't enough Vampires.' But Joss made it very clear by the third episode 'Witch' that they wouldn't only be dealing with vampires and I think that gave them plenty of room for the metaphors.

I think what separates this show from other Sci-Fi genres like 'Charmed', 'Xena' and even 'Andromena' and 'Babylon 5' is the metaphors. And what I liked was that the show dared to go dark and make fans upset like season 6. I like all the seasons. I try to think which one is my favorite season and I love them all. With season 1, people usually put the bottom of their list but if with 12 episodes, Whedon had us craving for more and blew us away. The dodgeball scene in "The Pack" really got me, the ignored girl becoming invisible was genius and in 'Nightmares' Giles' nightmare was that Buffy died, little would he see it happen twice. Season 2 is the one people identify with most and has a special place in my heart. ONE of my favorite episodes in that season was 'Lie to Me,' it speaks strongly about the line between child and adult, when you are a teenager and you realize that life isn't easy and you kind of understand why adults lie to you and you want them to because life sucks.

Season 3 was my favorite for a long time, mainly because of Faith. There were lots of great episodes like when the adults starting acting like kids in 'Band Candy' and Buffy reads people's minds in 'Earshot.' and everything went bizarro in 'The Wish' and 'Dopplegangland.' There is a lot of good episodes there. Season 4 gets slammed but it was a great season writing-wise. One would wish the Oz-Veruca storyline would go longer if Seth Green stayed. But without that, we wouldn't have gotten scorned Willow that was fun to watch through 'Doomed' and 'Beer Bad.' My best friend actually loves the episode 'Beer Bad,' it was without its merits. I was so excited when Faith came back and with a great body-swapping episodes. I think it spoke strongly when Tara, who Willow still hasn't come out with, was able to tell Buffy wasn't Buffy. The 'Superstar' episode spoke strongly that they put Jonathan in the opening credits.

Season 5 spoke strong of feminism and family. I didn't even know Buffy got a new fighting style. Glory was one of those 'Big Bads' that stayed the longest through a season and I feel like it didn't skip a beat. Almost everyone complains about Dawn but she was great---its hard to bring someone new in, especially so integrated in the gang but people don't realize how much Dawn was like Buffy and her discovery that she was the Key really mirrors how Buffy felt about being a Slayer. Hey at least we didn't get a seven-year old 'Sixth Sense' girl like they were planning. Season 6 is strong and the best. I loved the episode 'Dead Things' were Buffy and Spike went doggy style in the Bronze in front of the Scobbies. It was dark and it dared going there. I think what bummed people out is that it was after 9/11.

I loved the musical, I don't care what people say, the songs were strong and related to the show, maybe not the singing. And if you got any more complaints, you got to understand they have a tight schedule and the creativity they had was great. TV ain't easy. I like Dark Willow more than Vamp Willow which is a fan favorite. The GLBT community was upset that Joss was punishing Willow and Tara because they were gay. I understand why they did it, Willow needed something strong to happen to her. But everyone dies on the show. Just like complaints that they kill or harm black people (Trick, Gunn, Wood, Rona), if you single it out, you have to realize every group has been killed. If you are going to complain about Tara, then what about Jenny Calender and Katrina (Warren's ex)? Season 7 people complain is weak and I do feel they built it up to virtually nothing and were annoyingly vague (The First found a loophole because Buffy was brought back? Why couldn't they activate the slayers before going down into the Hellmouth? What happened to the usual Hellmouth demon we saw the seasons before?) but there was pretty strong writing there and memorial scenes. But my fav. ep has to be 'Selfless.'

Wow, that was a lot. :)

Buffy's back!!! sort of...

For ya'll 'watchers' that have been under a rock, Joss Whedon has been planning a comic book on Buffy's adventures after the series, like a 'season 8.' On the latest TV Guide, there is an exclusive picture above. The comic is being released by Dark House of course. Pieces from interviews, Buffy will be in a relationship with the Immortal (Angel season 5 "The Girl in Question"). Whedon reveals that there will be a few Angel favorite characters including Buffyverse characters. He can work at a grand scale now and be around the which is exactly where everyone is. Buffy is leading an assault team of Slayers, above I don't see any familiar characters. I am so excited, I'm so going to get an issue. There is 25 to 30 planned issues and he will write 8 and writers from the show will do the rest. It will be launched in MARCH 2007.

Let's see.. if a regular TV season is 22 episodes long and this starts several months after the Hellmouth's destruction, then it might not be set right when Angel and Co took over the Los Angeles offices of Wolfharm and Hart. So it must be 2003 or 2004. We'll see...

The WB bids farewell

Last sunday the 17th, the WB said goodbye with 2 hours of the series premieres of their landmark shows. I am glad with their picks: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Dawson's Creek, and Felicity. Sadly, Charmed was not part of it. Also even more sad, I missed it. Well, I've seen the eps long ago. There is always DVD and taped promos on VHS and YouTube. Farewell WB. Screw you UPN.