Joss Whedon is brilliant.

If you have watched any of Whedon's projects in the past you probably know the above statement to be true. From co-writing (and winning an Academy Award) for Toy Story to creating Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Serenity, Dollhouse, & Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, or his work on other's creations such as Marvel's Astonishing X-Men and Runaways, Whedon is always at the top of his game.

He's also the master of taking a failure in one medium and creating a cult classic in another. Witness the life of Buffy, it started out as a failed movie, was turned into a long running, cult classic television series that was a hit with critics, and now it's a several year long Comic book.

Now 2 of Whedon's projects are heading to your home. On October 12 Dollhouse Season 2 hits shelves on DVD and Blu-ray and on January 4th the 8th Season of Buffy does the same.
Dollhouse is Joss Whedon’s take on the ultimate identity theft and follows a cast of Actives, or Dolls, who serve as agents of Dollhouse, an illegal underground organization providing elite clientele with programmable human beings. Personality imprints allow Actives to temporarily become anyone or anything—the perfect burglar, lover, spy or assassin. When the mission is completed, memories are wiped clean. The all-star Dollhouse cast is led by Eliza Dushku as Echo (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Tru Calling, Angel) and Tahmoh Penikett as Paul Ballard (Battlestar Galactica).

The second season comes with several special features including a retrospective with Joss Whedon and cast roundtable about the series. A gag reel and deleted scenes from top episodes. But probably the coolest, and most anticipated extra is the 28 page exclusive limited edition comic book by Dark Horse Comics.

In the comic, Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, joined by longtime Buffy the Vampire Slayer artist Cliff Richards, take us on an intricate trip through the precise moment when the Active technology went global, and how the protagonists from Epitaph One and Two narrowly avoided death, and worse. Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen wrote the Epitaph episodes of Dollhouse Seasons One and Two, and currently write for the Starz series Spartacus. This is their first work in comics. Artist Cliff Richards has drawn more Joss Whedon-related comics than any other artist, including issues of Buffy Season Eight.If you don't follow comics, you might be wondering what Buffy season 8 is, as the television series ended with Season 7. Well for the past several years Buffy, as mentioned above, has lived on in comic book form. This 8th season picks up after the destruction of the Hellmouth in the explosive finale of the television series, Buffy and her trusted friend Xander have relocated to a citadel in Scotland to oversee the thousands of newly activated slayers from across the globe. Using their new home as command-central in their fight against evil, Buffy and her allies lead these new slayers as they take on vamps, zombies and now the U.S. government who declare, in the wake of Sunnydale’s destruction, that slayers are nothing more than international terrorists.

Those comics have been turned into Motion Comics, in which the frames from the comic are animated and voice actors read the lines, instead of their being text bubbles. The very first episode of the motion comic series is available now on the iTunes Store (www.iTunes.com), with new episodes available every week from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. iTunes episodes are available for $.99/$1.99 HD each, or with a season pass for $14.99/$29.99 HD and can be found at www.iTunes.com/Buffy. All 19 episodes will make their official debut on DVD January 4, 2011 which will include limited edition Jo Chen packaging and a collectible reprint of Dark Horse Comic’s first book in the series.

And if that's not enough Jones Soda has created 6 custom themed “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” Motion Comic labels which can be purchased on their website. You can see them below:

As a big fan of Whedon I can honestly say I'm eagerly awaiting these releases.

Labels: AWESOMENESS, Buffy, Dollhouse, Joss Whedon

Disclaimer: I took several pictures last night but for some reason my camera is messing up and though I can see them on the camera I can't copy them to the computer. Even though my pics are still out of commission (including one Seth Green took of the two of us, Grr Arrg!) I have some from the Paley Center itself, so thanks to Kevin Parry/The Paley Center For Media for all photos.

Last night was The Paley Center for Media's Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reunion Panel, and it was a blast. The event began with a clip from the Paley Archive that was related to Buffy, a scene from 'All My Children' between Sarah Michelle Gellar and Susan Lucci. The clip was met with much applause and, as it played out, laughter at the ridiculousness of it all. Afterwards, Moderator Matt Roush (TvGuide) was introduced and he admitted that he was a "Buffy-holic" as soon as he took the podium. He then remembered characterizing the show as Beverly Hills 90210 with a "666 suffix" when writing for USA Today. Roush also pointed out that since the show began on the WB and moved to the UPN it was the "1st CW Show."

Roush then introduced Marti Noxon, ex-producer/writer for Buffy who introduced the episode we would be watching. Noxon spoke about sneaking into a screening of the Buffy Sing-A-Long with Joss Whedon and the strangeness of watching people throw underwear at her on the screen (It's because of a lyric in the song she sings "I'm not wearing underwear") She then introduced that same episode, the classic Musical episode of Buffy "Once More With Feeling." The screening was met with excited shouts of joy, lots of clapping, and even some singing from the audience. (I'd be lying if I said I didn't sing along) The episode, which I haven't seen in years, looked amazing on the big screen at the Arclight, and was even better than I remembered, possibly because of the huge crowd, everyone of which was a fan.

After the episode Roush introduced the panel: Ex-Producer David Greenwalt, Amber Benson (Tara), Seth Green (Oz), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia), Marti Noxon, Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn), Emma Caulfield (Anya), James Marsters (Spike), Nicholas Brendon (Xander), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy), and Creator/genius Joss Whedon.

The panel began with talk of the musical episode, which James called "A terror" to film. Sara admitted to hoping for a return of Buffy the Rat, (a reference to an episode where Buffy was turned into a rat, so Sarah could prepare to host SNL) but thought that "Hush" (the silent episode) was surprisingly the hardest. And Michelle said she gave herself psychosomatic bronchitis in the hopes that she wouldn't have to sing.

Joss was asked if he'd take Buffy to Broadway, and he said he'd love to take A Buffy Musical to Broadway, but it wouldn't be this one, as it was clearly a television episode, but admitted he's spent time thinking about it, but would want to write it himself. Roush then asked who'd come along to Broadway, to which everyone but Sarah seemed game.

The talk then turned to the very dark 6th season and how difficult it was for Sarah, who said it was so rough because she, like Buffy, was trying to find the character. Sarah also said it was so tough because she looked up to Buffy and wished she had had a hero like her to look up to as she grew up, to which Nicholas said "It wasn't Susan Lucci?" which got a huge laugh from the crowd.

A wonderful tidbit from the panel was the fact that Joss and David called Sarah "Jimmy Stewart" because he was the greatest American in pain, something Sarah was really good at displaying. (and not because of her bone structure as Nicholas pondered) Apparently this nickname was a surprise to Sarah herself who never knew this fact.

Roush then asked the great question that always causes debate among fans "Angel or Spike?" Which was immediately met with the response that because of the comic maybe it was Willow! (In the most recent issue of the Buffy Season 8 comic, Buffy spends one night with another girl) Sarah said she had only heard about this development about 5 min before the panel started.
When talked turned to potential spin-offs Nicholas quickly offered up a "Xander the one-eyed monster" idea, to which Seth interjecting that was the monster that we all struggled with in High School. Joss said he'd love to do a spin-off or something with all the cast back together and that he'd gladly shoot down the comics continuity in order to do it.

It was Intersting to discover that the only time Joss threatened to pack up his desk had to do with Willow and Tara's kiss. Apparently the WB contacted him saying that they had "a lot of gay this year" and they were kind of "gayed out" after Dawson's Creek and asked him if they had to do the kiss. But once he threatened to leave they backed off. And in fact they didn't lose any advertisers over the kiss, the only time that happened was, strangely, when Buffy worked at a Fast food Restaurant.

Apparently there was a recurring cruel joke that Joss and David used to play involved pulling someone aside and telling them they were fired, then saying "just kidding" Charisma said they did it to her before offering her the Angel job, Marti said they did it for her after receiving her first script, telling her she just didn't cut it and Seth said they did it to him, "but it took."

Someone asked the panel their favorite movies, a question I loved:
Joss - The Matrix
Sarah - South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut
Nick - Marney
James - Apocalypse Now (the original, the redux is "too long")
Emma - Silence of the Lambs/Pulp Fiction
Michelle - Labyrinth/Rainman (and anything with Seth Green)
Marti - Poltergeist/Goodfellas
Charisma - Anchorman
Seth - Raising Arizona (He also loved There Will Be Blood)
Amber - Sullivan's Travels
David - Godfather/Serenity

Some more Tid-bits:
Oz will be making an appearance in the Season 8 comic.
Sarah said "Fans were better than any Awards" in response to not winning many awards.
Sarah most misses the family including all the cast and crew.
Seth misses arriving to his trailer every morning to find David Boreanaz had left him "a gift" in his toilet.
And Joss said the thing he misses the most is the writers room, because there will never be a group of writers like that again.

And finally the night ended with everyone saying what they wereup to now.
Joss just wrapped his Independent Musical "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" (in fact he drove straight from finishing it up) and said we'd be seeing it sometime, somewhere maybe on a computer, but they were still figuring that out.
Sarah had just got back from Africa where she had traveled with CARE and would be starring in an adaptation of Veronika Decides to Die.
Nick said he was currently "writing, acting, and finding peace" what he didn't mention was he'd be returning to Criminal Minds.
James had flown in straight from Mexico City where he had just wrapped Dragonball where he was getting his "ass kicked" as Piccolo as well as doing Smallville and Torchwood.
Emma had also just returned from Africa working with a different charity, and planned to return next year. She also has 2 movies coming out this year and has recently gotten married.
Michelle just wrapped up 17 Again with Zac Efron, Mathew Perry, and Leslie Mann, and also has Kids in America with topher Grace coming out soon. She also mentioned she had been cast as an "evil bitch" on Gossip Girl.
Marti will be seen in Joss' Dr. Horrible project, and is working on Private Practise, and preparing to direct a movie.
Seth joked that he and Charisma were working on the untitled "Seth and Charisma Fitness Video" which was will be a combo of Tae-bo and aerobic stripping, which will be the sexist fighting ever.
Amber just sold a series of Fantasy Chick lit to penguin and would be working on those.
David said he is now retired from the biz after a series of well timed mental breakdowns. But he'd rush back if he got a call from Joss.

Overall it was an amazing night, and one I'm glad I was able to attend. There's so much more that happened, but I can't remember it all. Hopefully the Paley Center will be releasing a DVD of it so I can relive it and you can all watch it for yourselves.

Labels: Buffy, Paley

Today as I worked on doing research for papers I decided to check out my Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chosen Collection Box Set. I was looking for something to watch and decided during this time of papers and finals, when I like to work with somehting on in the background I'd start watching the Buffy-verse from the beginning, which means once I get to Season 4 I'll be watching Buffy and Angel. But First up is Season 1.


Episode 01.01/02 - Welcome to the Hellmouth/The Harvest
Following the events of the movie, Buffy has been expelled from her school in Los Angeles for burning down the gym (to her credit it was filled with Vampires, also in the movie she doesn't actually burn the place down, but she did in Creator Joss Whedon's original script) and she's now moved to the fictional Sunnydale, CA. One her first day of school at Sunnydale High she meets her soon to be best friends Willow Rosenberg and Xander Harris, two geeky outcasts who are tormented by the queen bee of the school, Cordelia Chase, and their best friend Jesse.
Looking for books Buffy stumbles into the library where she meets her watcher, Rubert Giles, an uptight British former museum curator whose real job is to groom the Slayer to save the world. And finally Buffy meets Angel, the dark mysterioso who would become her life's love, and a spin-off of his own, who her looks younger, but otherwise the same. Angel dishes out cryptic, hard to understand clues that will hopefully lead her to defeat evil.
But Buffy doesn't want to be "The Chosen One" instead she want to live a normal teenage life, but that dream ends when a body shows up in the girls locker room, with all of its blood drained. Soon Willow and Jesse are both taken by the vamps to feed their Master, a horribly ugly ancient vampire whose stuck underground for reasons unknown. Luckily Buffy is able to save Willow, but Jesse's not so lucky.
What will happen? Will Buffy accept her place as The Chosen One? I'm not saying, so go rent or buy the show for yourself.
I have to say the show stands up pretty well 10 years later (yes the show started way back in 1997) although some of the dialogue is pretty lame, and the shows first few episodes are a bit cheesy, its still a great show, with a great metaphor anyone can relate to: High School as Hell.

Episode 1.03 - Witch
Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles (notice Jesse's no long around hmmm I wonder what happened?) must figure out whose hurting the school's cheerleaders and why they're doing it. Stop for a second and think about the episode's title, it might help you figure out what's going on.
I'll be honest this is one of my least favorite episodes of the show (along with episode 8 "I Robot, You Jane") and in both cases, I think it's just because these are the two episodes that were constantly rerun in the first couple of years, so I've seen them far too many times. It's still a decent episode, and I'm sure it's a good one, just not my personal favorite. It is the episode that showed Buffy would be about more than just Vampires.

Episode 1.04 - Teacher's Pet
As Buffy tries to settle into her new life, and get past being "the girl who burned down her last school" to all her teachers, her science teacher tells her he things she has promise and gives her hope that she'll be ok. So it should be no surprise when he turns up dead, missing his head.
Enter the new substitute teacher, a beautiful woman who has all the boys drooling. But strange things start to happen when she asks some of the boys to stay after class. When Xander succumbs to her charm will he be the next victim? It's up to Buffy, Willow, and Giles to find out what's going on.
Overall another decent episode, but once again full of cheese, and the monster is pretty cheap looking. But some great early character moments.

Episode 1.05 - Never Kill A Boy On The First Date
Once again Buffy wants to have some sibilance of a normal life, this time its going on a date with the super dreamy Owen. Unfortunately her date coensides with a prophesy about "The Vessel" rising from the ashes of "The five" and Giles demands she skip her date to go a slaying. Which she reluctantly does. When nothing happens Buffy rushes of to find Owen in the arms of her enemy Cordelia. Of course later that night there's a bus crash caused by a gaggle of vampires which lead to the death of five people.
The next day Owen asks Buffy out again, understanding that she couldn't make it. Unfortunately while she's on her date Giles goes to investigate on his own and gets trapped by some vamps. When Buffy tries to go save him, Owen follows her and tags along which leads to action packed hilarity.
This is a great episode as it deals with Buffy trying to be normal and Xander's feelings for Buffy, as he grows jealous of Owen. The episode also furthers the Master storyline that overarches throughout the first season. (This would become the normal Buffy format with each season having a "Big Bad") Plus it has a mean twist at the end you (hopefully) won't see coming.
Overall a grand episode. The banter is witty. The action is packed. And the ology is mythical.

It's great to look back and see how the series began and see the pieces that started to fit together to form the amazing series that it would one day become. I can't wait to see what's next, again!

Labels: Buffy, RetroTV