I am – Hercules!!

A Tuesday without “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” postage? Nonsense!

EW!

It turns out Jeff Jensen’s Entertainment Weekly cover story on Sarah Michelle Gellar this week contains a lot more than just confirmation of the actress’ exit from “Buffy.” Among the revelations:

* On Joss Whedon’s master plan for the slayer:

“I knew Dawn was coming two years in advance.... Willow was always supposed to go bad. Willow was supposed to go bad a year before she did, but Joss loved Tara and Willow, so that story line was pushed a year.... I honestly believe his original intention was to put Buffy and Xander together.”

* On disdain for season six:

“It wasn't who Buffy was, or why people loved her. You don't want to see that dark heroine; you don't want to see her punishing herself. You want to see her killing vampires and making quips. It didn't feel like the character that I loved.”

* On her least favorite part of season six:

“I had trouble with the one [in the sixth season] where Buffy had sex with Spike on the balcony while watching their friends. I really thought that was out of character. And I didn't like what it stood for. That was the moment that I had the most problems with.”

* On “Scooby Doo”:

“The reviews were scathing, and I took it really hard.” [Though not hard enough to turn down the sequel she’ll be shooting right after “Buffy” wraps production next month.]

* On “Simply Irresisible”:

“I wasn't ready to make that movie. I was too young. The script was not ready. I knew in my heart before I left [to make it] that I should back out.”

The online version of EW piece can be read here.

Official Word

In other “Buffy” news, Joss Whedon commented last week that he’d be amenable to an early 2004 launch for any “Buffy” spinoff, but didn’t rule out an autumn debut.

Hey, want to see UPN’s announcement of “Buffy’s” demise?

FEBRUARY 27, 2003

"BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER," LANDMARK SERIES TO LEGIONS

OF FANS, TO END PRODUCTION AFTER SEVEN ACCLAIMED SEASONS

After seven memorable seasons as one of television's favorite and most critically lauded programs, 20th Century Fox Television and UPN announced today that BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER will end production in April and will broadcast its final original episode on Tuesday, May 20 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN.

"It's hard to believe it's over," said Joss Whedon, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER's executive producer and creator. "Well, it's hard to think at all, or stand, or form vowel sounds, so maybe it's time to take a break. I'm just glad I can say we did our best on every single episode. We didn't always succeed, but we never slacked, and I'm immensely proud of my writers, actors and crew for that. And I'm proud of what this show means (except for that whole weird "Feminist" thing people attached to it. What was that all about? Girls are stupid.) I truly believe that in years to come, people will look back and say 'that was a show that was on TV.' Yessir. I truly do."

"BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER will go down in history as one of television's best shows and an enduring testament to the vision and genius of its creator Joss Whedon," said Dana Walden, President of 20th Century Fox Television. "For seven years, Joss, his team of writers led by Marti Noxon and an extraordinary cast led by Sarah Michelle Gellar captured the cultural zeitgeist and effortlessly combined drama, action and humor. Without question, BUFFY will live on for generations to come."

"We have been very fortunate to be the home to such a landmark series, always brilliantly written and acted," said Dawn Ostroff, President, Entertainment, UPN. "I'd like to send a special thanks to the remarkably talented actors, producers, writers and crew who worked tirelessly through the years."

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, which premiered on UPN on Oct. 2, 2001, made its television debut on March 10, 1997. It spawned a spinoff show, "Angel," which launched in the Fall of 1999. With its finale in May 2003, the total number of BUFFY episodes produced will be 144. Over the past seven seasons, BUFFY won two Emmy Awards and was nominated a total of nine times, including one for Joss Whedon in 2000 for writing the classic episode, "Hush." The show was also nominated in 2002 as Best Drama by the American Film Institute and star Sarah Michelle Gellar received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in 2001. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER has proven to be an international audience favorite and has become a successful franchise dominating almost every element of media and entertainment.

Discussions regarding the future of the BUFFY franchise and a possible spin-off are ongoing.

“Angel” Digression!

The WB still hasn’t announced a fifth season for “Angel” (and won’t have to until its fall schedule is announced in mid-May), but network entertainment president Jordan Levin told members of the press last week that the network is happy with the show’s ratings. If it does come back, Whedon hints a major new direction is in the offing.

A Party To This

Many write in asking if they’ve been denied access to AICN/Coaxial’s May 20 Big Buffy Buh-Bye Bash in Los Angeles. The answer: No one’s been invited to nothing yet. We’ve received many hundreds of emails indicating rabid interest - and the plan right now is to decide on the place, admission fee and perhaps other particulars by March 20. If anyone knows of L.A. venues we should be considering, please email us pronto at hercaicn@yahoo.com. We essentially need a site with lots of liquor and a very, very big TV screen. Or 50 biggish TV screens. Oh, and cable. A chair would be nice.

I am – Hercules!!

Looking for bumper stickers, plush toys and girls’ underwear covered with cute cartoon double-amputees? Visit The Herc Store!