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Conference ljsrv1::tv_chatter

Title:The TV Chatter Notes Conference
Notice:Welcome to TV Chatter :-)
Moderator:PASTA::PIERCE
Created:Wed Dec 16 1992
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:498
Total number of notes:5416

492.0. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" by ODIXIE::MOREAU (Ken Moreau;Technical Support;Florida) Fri Mar 28 1997 11:28

This is a good show, that my entire family enjoys.  It may not be for
everyone, but if you liked the movie I believe you will like the show.

The best thing about it is the writing.  They go out of their way to 
make as many characters as possible be real people with real motivations,
and don't just create cardboard background characters.  They also have
sub-plots which don't relate to the main plot in any way: gee, just
like real life where multiple things are going on that have nothing to
do with each other.

They have gone out of their way to make it "reasonable".  The standard
question is why are all these bad monsters showing up just where Buffy
happens to be, and the ordinary show would ignore this, requiring a
severe case of "willing suspension of disbelief".  But this show states
that after Buffy was kicked out of school for burning down the gym (which
happened in the movie), they had to move, and her mother was drawn to
this new town and doesn't understand why she was drawn there.  Buffy
understands: this is the location of the HellMouth, where the evil 
creatures are attempting to break out of their world into ours.

In another example, Buffy was chasing a monster, when the monster ran
across a woman walking down the street.  The monster took one look at
the woman, froze, and then ran screaming in panic from her.  This put
Buffy on the track of the shows *real* monster.  Or as Buffy put it
later "You are an undead beast with razors for hands: what makes you
run in terror?"

The show keeps you guessing.  In the one with the witch, I predicted the
plot at least 3 different ways during the show, and was wrong all 3 times.
Good job on the writers part, since the ultimate revelation made by far
the most sense...

The show has an internal logic, well drawn characters, humor, and they
do a fair job of keeping the gore down.  It also has it's fair amount
of cheesecake and beefcake for those among us who like that kind of thing.
Buffy herself (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is quite attractive, and the
supporting cast seems to be chosen well in that regard, both male and
female.

I think the advertising campaign for this show is doing it a dis-service.
The show is very funny.  Lots of quips, lots of humorous situations, and
lots of Buffy reacting as a Valley Girl to horrible monsters.  The ads
emphasize the horror of it, which is really a minor part of the show.

-- Ken Moreau
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
492.1I agreePASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereFri Mar 28 1997 11:306
    
    I to liked this one.  When I first saw it advertised, I said "oh gawd"
    this will be terrible.  but their was nothing on, so I tried it.  I was
    very surpirsed, I relly enjoyed it.
    
    Lou
492.2epsPASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereFri Mar 28 1997 11:3489
      * "Welcome To The H-mouth" parts 1 and 2 - Teenage vampire slayer
        Buffy Summers moves to a new town to make a fresh start, but finds
        her powers are sorely needed. As Buffy tries to settle into her new
        surroundings, she is called upon to stop the Master Vampire from
        destroying the earth.
    
        (part 1) 4V01 - Written by Joss Whedon - Directed by Charles Martin
        Smith
    
        (part 2, aka "The Harvest") 4V02 - Written by Joss Whedon -
        Directed by John Kretchmer
    
        Monday, March 10. 8-10 p.m. (Two Hour Pilot) on the WB Network

      * "The Witch" - An unpopular student�s obsession with becoming a
        cheerleader is questioned when members of the squad start having
        unexplainable accidents.
    
        4V03 - Written by Dana Reston - Directed by Stephen Cragg
        Monday, March 17. 9 p.m. on the WB Network

      * "Teacher�s Pet" - A substitute teacher�s infatuation with Xander is
        flattering to the lovesick teen, but alarming to Buffy.
        4V04 - Written by David Greenwalt - Directed by Bruce Seth Green
    
        Tuesday, March 25. 9 p.m. on the WB Network

      * "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date" - Buffy has her first
        slayer/teenager dilemma when she must decide between stopping the
        forces of evil and going out with a handsome, poetry-loving
        classmate.
    
        4V05 - Written by Rob Des Hotel & Dean Batali - Directed by David
        Semel
    
        Monday, March 31. 9 p.m. on the WB Network

      * "The Pack" - A school trip to the zoo inexplicably turns
        Sunnydale�s cool crowd into a bunch of savages.
        4V06 - Written by Matt Kiene & Joe Reinkmeyer - Directed by Bruce
        Seth Green
    
        Monday, April 7. 9 p.m. on the WB Network

      * "Angel" - Buffy is attracted to a mysterious stranger whose ancient
        history has Giles worried.
        4V07 - Written by David Greenwalt - Directed by Scott Brazil
    
        Time and date to be announced. On the WB Network

      * "I, Robot -- You, Jane" - As a computer teacher tries to lure
        book-lover Giles into the world of technology, Willow begins a
        dangerous on-line romance.
    
        4V08 - Written by Ashley Gable & Thomas A. Swyden - Directed by
        Stephen Posey
    
        Time and date to be announced. On the WB Network

      * "The Puppet Show" - Giles is the reluctant coordinator of a school
        talent show featuring a ventriloquist whose dummy seems to have a
        mind of its own.
    
        4V09 - Written by Dean Batali & Rob Des Hotel - Directed by Ellen
        Pressman
    
        Time and date to be announced. On the WB Network

      * "Nightmares" - A young boy�s accident leaves him comatose, and his
        unsettled spirit wreaks havoc on Sunnydale.
        4V10 - Story by Joss Whedon - Teleplay by David Greenwalt -
    
        Directed by Bruce Seth Green
        Time and date to be announced. On the WB Network

    
      * "Invisible Girl" (a.k.a "Out Of Mind, Out Of Sight") - An ignored
        student takes her revenge on those who tormented her.
    
        4V11 - Story by Joss Whedon - Teleplay by Ashley Gable & Thomas A.
        Swyden - Directed by Reza Badiyi
        Time and date to be announced. On the WB Network

      * "Prophecy Girl" - Giles� books predict that Buffy is about to face
        the Master in a battle to the death -- hers.
    
        4V12 - Written & Directed by Joss Whedon Time and date to be
        announced. On the WB Network
492.3morePASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereFri Mar 28 1997 11:3521
       "There's a reason why you're here, and there's a reason why it's
  now."

       For each generation, there is only one Slayer. And in this
  generation, the Slayer is Buffy Summers, 16 years old and a new
  student at Sunnydale High. Her experiences at her last school have
  persuaded Buffy to retire from vampire-slaying, and to try to resume the
  life of a normal teenager. Rupert Giles, the school's librarian and
  Buffy's new Watcher, thinks it is no coincidence that Buffy has come to
  this town. The influx of the undead, the supernatural occurences - it's
  been building for years.

       Although some times she'd rather be on a date, or hanging out with
  her friends, Buffy takes her slaying very seriously. Using a combination
  of mental and physical agility, she is up for the challenge.

       Anything from a pool cue to a chair leg becomes a lethal weapon in
  her hands. Being a high school student is occasionally as hard as being
  a Slayer, and Buffy tackles both roles with aplomb.
492.4SarahPASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereFri Mar 28 1997 11:3726
       Buffy's a study in contrasts. She has all the outward signs of
  being a normal teenager: school problems, mom problems, boyfriend
  problems. But she also has vampire problems. As The Slayer -- the one
  girl in all the world with the strength and skill to hunt and kill
  vampire -- she faces life-threatening struggles on a daily basis. But
  still she reminds a kind friend, a loving daughter, and an eager
  student.

       Although she's only 20 years old, Sarah Michelle Gellar has
  already had an illustrious career. A 15-year veteran of show
  business, Sarah won an Emmy Award for the role of Kendall Hart on
  ABC's daytime drama, "All My Children" in 1994. The native New Yorker
  has also had memorable roles on prime time TV and in movies. She
  portrayed a young Jackie Kennedy in the mini-series "A Woman Called
  Jackie." She also starred with Valerie Harper and Jeff Daniels in the
  movie "An Invasion Of Privacy." Some of Sarah's other credits include
  guest appearances on "Spenser: For Hire," and the daytime drama,
  "Guiding Light." She was featured in several films, including "Funny
  Farm" with Chevy Chase, "Over The Brooklyn Bridge," and "High Stakes."
  Not only has Sarah been an accomplished screen actress, but she has
  performed on the stage as well. Her credits include the New York theater
  productions of "The Widow Claire," opposite Matthew Broderick, and Neil
  Simon's "Jake's Women."
492.5DREGS::BLICKSTEINThe moment is a masterpieceFri Mar 28 1997 15:4411
    I like the show, but what some of you see as, shall we say
    "juxtaposition"  of "teenage girl" and "vampire slayer", I see
    as plot contrivance and inconsistency.
    
    At least in the pilot, she flips inexplicably between between confident
    and non-confident, strong and weak, etc.
    
    But, I'm a sucker for anything having to do with vampires (no pun
    intended) so... I'll watch.
    
    	db - who greatly preferred "Forever Knight"
492.6ODIXIE::MOREAUKen Moreau;Technical Support;FloridaFri Mar 28 1997 17:5710
RE: .-1
    
>    At least in the pilot, she flips inexplicably between between confident
>    and non-confident, strong and weak, etc.
 
To each their own: as the father of an 11 year old girl, I see this 
instantaneous switch every single day, so I saw it as more realistic
than you saw it.  Oh, well, YMMV and all that...

-- Ken Moreau
492.7CLUSTA::MAIEWSKIBraves, 1914 1957 1995 WS ChampsMon Mar 31 1997 09:508
  Throughout the history of monster films there have always been the <z> meets
<y> spinnoffs.

  The book/movie I'm waiting to see is "Buffy meets Lastat".

  Wonder what the Las Vegas line would be for that contest?

  George
492.8DREGS::BLICKSTEINThe moment is a masterpieceMon Mar 31 1997 15:4611
    Something tells me the sudden and unexplained swings in Buffy's
    behavior wasn't an attempt to realistically portray the mood swings
    of a teenage.
    
    The fact that they are needed for plot contrivances seems like more
    than a coincidence, at least to me.  ;-)
    
    But hey... whatever.   This ain't really "art" we're talking about, and
    like I said, I "enjoy" the show and that's what counts.
    
    	db
492.9I hope we never see "Buffy Meets Barnabas" ;-)DREGS::BLICKSTEINThe moment is a masterpieceMon Mar 31 1997 15:476
    re: .7
    
    Just so long as Buffy stays away from my buddy and absolute favorite
    vampire Barnabas Collins (from "Dark Shadows").
    
    ;-)
492.10JULIET::CORDES_JAEight Tigers on My CouchWed Apr 02 1997 21:276
    I watched this on Monday night after seeing the reviews here.  This was
    fun stuff.  But then, I'm a fan of anything remotely related to
    vampires.  I haven't seen the movie yet.  I guess I need to rent it so
    I'll know how Buffy became the Slayer and the other guy the Watcher.
    
    Jan