Buffyfest

Buffy (and Buffyfest) Back to Syndication-Only

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 16:15:00 -0400

And just like that, the Buffyfest reunion would not come to fruition.

When rumors of the Buffy reboot/sequel started, calls were made echoing into the wild. Blog post messages were sent like carrier pigeons. Bitsy, Tara, and Michelle were summoned like members of the Scooby Gang.

Lately I’d been wondering:

"Should we have a conference call?"
"If we do this thing, when do we start teasing our triumphant return?"
"Does anyone actually have time for this?"

Still, it felt like it might be a welcome distraction from the absolute hellhole of a shitshow the world currently seems determined to be.

But alas...poof! Gone in an instant. Like dust after a vampire staking.

This morning, Sarah Michelle Gellar herself made the painful call to address the world herself: Hulu has decided not to proceed with its Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot. She broke the news to fans on Instagram, seemingly sad but proud.

According to TMZ: "A source close to SMG and slated revival director Chloé Zhao [said] both women feel blindsided by the news, not to mention the timing -- as Sarah just had a killer opening at SXSW for her new movie "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come," and Chloe has the Oscars on Sunday for "Hamnet."

First BTS Images From BtVS Reboot Or Sequel

So you're now wondering, how did Buffyfest react? Here was the long distance, quick interaction between a few of us:

Tara: What the FUCK?!? I'm a little relieved but TOTALLY SHOCKED. They already filmed!!! Was it Joss?? Was he threatening litigation???
Tara:Honestly, I always thought it was weird to do without him, even though he's a sex pest asshole, or whatever.
Tara: Chloe Zhao is a BIG DEAL. This doesn't make sense
Ivan: Definitely doesn't make sense. How many brand new shows could you say already had a baked in audience? That alone should have made them move forward.
Ivan: think a lot of fans are going to be pissed.
Mike: Scrubs is pulling insane numbers right now too!
Ivan: Corroborates my point!
Ivan: Have you watched the new scrubs yet? I still haven't but want to.
Mike: It’s everything I need...and wanted.
Michelle: I feel the same. I was afraid of it, but now that it's not happening, I'm upset.
Michelle: Something is weird. They had an Oscar winning director?

So that's that. For now. But hey, just because that gang isn't getting back together doesn't mean this one can't. You never know!

And while you wait for that, listen to Buffyfest's First (and Possible Only) Podcast! here: https://open.spotify.com/show/216965FMsWWjS1dKEuQlvd

Buffy Rewatch: Prepping for the (please let it happen) Reboot

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 17:38:00 -0500

After all the hoopla surrounding the Buffy reboot and Sarah Michelle Gellar’s return as our savior Buffy, it occurred to me that I hadn’t watched Buffy in a long time.

So, last week on a lazy Sunday I decided to embark on that journey. I’ve even committed to doing an Angel rewatch using our nifty little watching guide.

I’ll do an overall recap after I’m done with both series, but for now, after watching all of Season One and the first three episodes of Season Two, here are the Top 5 things I know to be true:

Xander is truly one of the worst characters on television EVER
Cordelia is so underrated and is probably one of Buffy’s truest friends
“I Robot, You Jane” is so ridiculous, but also prescient
I completely forgot “Inca Mummy Girl” existed and it’s a bit cringe
Spike and Drusilla’s entrance into the Buffyverse might be one of the best introductions of character ever on the show

Buffy Returns. Maybe. Should Buffyfest Return? Also Maybe.

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:55:00 -0500

Back in 2018, Joss Whedon, along with Monica Owusu-Breen, was doing the thing we all dreamed of: bringing back Buffy the Vampire Slayer. At the time my feelings were mixed at best. Specifically, I had doubts about Joss Whedon being in charge.

By the late 2010's, stories had long been circulating about Whedon's alleged inappropriate behavior towards women on set. By 2022, four years after the initial Buffy reboot announcement, a Vulture expose on Whedon's behavior removed all doubt. Women came forward. Stories of Whedon's questionable-at-best behavior were brought to light. And after decades of him getting away with it, Joss Whedon's career fizzled. The man hasn't had a credit since The Nevers in 2021.

No Joss Whedon, no Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A questionable idea staked kind of right on time.

But that was then, this is now. And for the second time in a decade, Buffy The Vampire Slayer is coming back. Maybe. More importantly, for the first time ever the reason for the reboot isn't comic books, audio dramas, or disgraced showrunners -- it's Buffy herself. Sarah Michelle Gellar, despite whatever complicated feelings she's had about Buffy, both the show and her connection with the legacy of the character, is the one leading the charge this time.

No Joss Whedon, yes Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A good idea long passed due.

In addition to Gellar, the new Hulu (as of now) pilot will also involve Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao in the director's chair and feature writers Nora and Lilla Zuckerman handling scripting. If you've seen the Natasha Lyonne series Poker Face, you know Nora and Lilla Zuckerman are a good fit for a 2020's Buffy.

But this is dime store stuff. You can get these facts anywhere. As Angel said in his show's 100th episode: they sell that crap at the airport. The real questions aren't about cast members returning, it's not about debates over who Buffy's truest true is, and it's certainly not over what's "canon".

No, the real question is: will Buffyfest return? Will the original three members who made Buffyfest one of the most read Buffy fansites (there weren't that many) of the mid 2000s reunite once more?

I dunno. Maybe!

The state of entertainment journalism has changed a lot over the years. Buffyfest wasn't birthed because any of us thought this was a career path. It was something we did for fun and to stay in touch. It connected us with other fans.

In the intervening years, there was money to be made covering nerdy news. I did it successfully for over a decade. But, and you'll forgive the crotchety of the following: entertainment news is kind of a grift these days. It's a lot of rumor mongering, ad copy, and SEO slop crafted unlovingly by A.I.

In other words, the only real reason to do it these days is for the love of the game. Over two decades ago, we loved Buffy and one another enough to make Buffyfest the first time. The question I find myself asking is: if Buffy the Vampire Slayer really does return, should we get the band back together?

I'm just one of three, so I can't tell you what happens next. I don't even know if this reboot will actually take. Lord knows the last attempt didn't. The state of streaming is a mess so who knows how Hulu will be doing in the next couple years.

When asked about the odds on this whole thing going down, Spike himself, James Marsters, had the good sense to say "I don't know and I'm not going to talk about it until there's something to say". That's not superstitious actor talk -- it's just good sense. Sarah Michelle Gellar showing interest is a big deal, but it's not a guarantee.

That being said, am I tentatively putting my hand in and seeing what happens? Yeah. I am.

If Sarah Michelle Gellar can say yes after all this time, why not Buffyfest, too? Because I lied: of course I want to talk about the canon and the shipping and oh god they're going to have to say Xander died offscreen, right? It's just that it would be a lot more fun to do it like we used to: together.

They're Back! Kinda.

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 16:31:00 -0400

***Drumroll please***

It looks like the Buffyverse is making a comeback in an unexpected way and we're here for it!

After hearing the devastating news that the new iteration of the slayer for TV had been placed "on pause" after Joss was outed as a creepo by more than one cast member, we thought all hope was lost.

Who knew that over 20 years after the Buffy finale, Audible was the champion we needed to finally revive the 'verse with SLAYERS: A Buffyverse Story? Looks like we'll also be getting some of our faves back, too: James Marsters, Charisma Carpenter, Anthony Head, Juliet Landau, Emma Caulfield Ford, James Charles Leary, and Danny Strong are set to voice their original characters. And Amber Benson and Christopher Golden as writers!

Check out Audible's press release here.

Is it too much to ask the universe for SMG and Boreanaz to make a cameo? All of us at Buffyfest are praying hard to the Powers that Be. 🙏

The Audible series will premiere on Oct. 12. Yay!

‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Universe Audio Series
Set With Original Cast Members Returning

Have We TALKED About This??

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 13:53:00 -0400

Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor Nicholas Brendon arrested for alleged prescription fraud. He was also charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly failing to properly identify himself when stopped by police.

'The Nevers' Mid-Season Finale SLAPPED [spoilers]

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Wed, 19 May 2021 19:00:00 -0400

Listen, it's not just because we're some bamboozled Joss Whedon fangirls over here still. We are most certainly not. But after seeing the mid-season finale of The Nevers entitled "True", we realize that he really created something amazing here and I personally am not afraid to admit it. The twists and turns elevated the plot to something so much more than "Buffy in the Victorian Era." It was wild.

And I'm angry. This continues to make me so angry at Joss. He had a fresh, unique idea for a show that is aesthetically pleasing and different from anything else on TV right now. What a comeback it would've been! For all we know, at this moment in time, this show could end up being the the next Game of Thrones-level hit for HBO! And I'm angry that he blew it. Maybe HE needs to time-travel back to Victorian times to clean up the mess he made and make things right. If only.

Until the Galanthi come to scare him straight, here are some cool behind-the-scenes photos of what is most likely the last times that Joss Whedon will be on the set of The Nevers.

And if you loved the finale as much as we did, please check out this fantastic interview that Esquire did with Laura Donnelly, who of course plays protagonist Amalia True/Molly/Zephyr Alexis
Navine/Stripe.:

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a36418765/the-nevers-part-1-finale-explained-recap-laura-donnelly-interview-stripe-zephyr-galanthi/

Did You Watch 'The Nevers'?

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 01:07:00 -0400

I have a lot to say about what could've been (and likely would've been) Joss Whedon's giant comeback to TV with a fancy-ass HBO show complete with fancy-ass budget. The Nevers premiered tonight amiss a flurry of drama regarding El Hefe, but honestly I don't even want to think or talk about any of that. By now, you know what's happened with Joss. At this moment, I'd like to keep a very open mind and think of this show airing in the alternate universe: What Michelle and I call "The Light Timeline™". You know, the one where Al Gore became president back in 2000 and the Pandemic never happened. No 9/11 either. QAnon and KellyAnne Conway are unheard of over there. And yes, Joss also hasn't been cancelled in The Light Timeline™. But as you know, dear reader, you join me here in the putrid Dark Timeline™...so I'm not sure if you'll be able to bend your mind enough to just watch this show purely for what it is and keep Joss Whedon's downfall out of it. I can't say I really blame you, but I have made a vow to myself to try to do just that.

Annnyway, The Nevers. I loved it. And yes, the reason I loved it were all of those Joss Whedon touches I've grown to love over the decades (but now have a hard time separating from the inner mind of the man himself.) What I recognized was the whole "We are not the sum of our parts" ethos that has driven every single Whedon event. The character building. The female bad-assery. Loved it all. I also am a big-time sucker for the Victorian fashion and sets. This era seems like such an obvious theme for Joss to explore next. Le Sigh, what could've been.

Let's quickly break it all down. [Spoilers from here on! You have been warned.]

The Pilot starts in London, August 1896 with a 5150 psychiatric commitment, a suicide attempt and then quickly scootches to 3 years later where we find our main characters in a chase scene very similar to a scene in Serenity. You know the one: A very long tracking shot shows Mal prepping to bring River on a bank robbery, Despite Simon's objections. When they arrive, River warns them that the Reavers are coming so they haul ass on the hovercraft vehicle known as "The Mule". This whole scene was very that, and I was SO here for it.

(Well, if you're going to pay homage to your own work, why not use the above masterpiece as inspiration.)

Said chase scene in The Nevers also features a clearer introduction of some important characters. First we have protagonist Amalia True - a very Buffy/Cordy combo in that she's a superstrong superfighter with a superpower of Prophetic Short-term Visions sprinkled on top. Amalia was the near-suicide shown at the top of the hour and is also a widow. Apparently, she likes the drink, as well.

Amalia is paired up with innocent, redhead Penance Adair who is definitely our Willow/Fred/Kaley, in this case, all sciencey and witchy. She can see electricity currents, which helps shape her inventions. Also shown is teenager Myrtle who is our River Tam, at least in this scene. She can only speak foreign tongues, particularly Chinese, although she can understand English.

Long story short, these women belong to a community known as “the touched,” basically people with superpowers. You know the drill. Amalia and Penance ask young Myrtle to come live at the orphanage that they run, but chaos and chase ensue. Later in the episode there are fireballs, human experiments, the expected misogyny, an Opera, Bellatrix LeStrange even pops over for a cameo! There's also the silly plot-line of a pampered, spoiled Duke trying to open a sex club (???) I don't want to spoil too much more except for pointing out heiress Lavinia Bidlow. She's this universe's version of Dollhouse's Adelle Dewitt, and not only because she's played by the same actress, Olivia Williams. Plot-wise the Pilot was a little fast paced and confusing, but left me wanting more.

The Joss Whedon energy was definitely big here, and even harder to miss in the end-credits. He’s credited as Director, Writer, Producer, and Creator. Four big smacks, right in a row. And I'm really sad. Sad that his fall-from-grace is not going to allow the viewer to see his vision unfold on HBO, perhaps over many seasons. But also sad that he has put us in this position. That's all I've got.

I think I'll go watch the episode again. And then watch Serenity.

Ship Your Ornaments! Today's the Deadline!

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Mon, 9 Dec 2019 21:38:00 -0500

**Reminder** Today is the deadline to send out your ornaments for the 2019 Whedonverse Ornament Swap! Hope everyone had a great time crafting and managed to get them out on time. We over here at Buffyfest have already previewed some of the creations and they are incredible!

Don't forget, as you receive the ornies please post pics to the Flickr group so we can all see the fun! That can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/buffyfestholidayswap

If you have any other questions, please feel free to email us at buffyfest[at]aim[dot]com

Swap Lists Have Gone Out!

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 12:30:00 -0500

Lists have all now gone out for the 2019 Whedonverse Ornament Swap! All participants should have their recipient group list at this time. If you signed up but didn't receive the email, WTF? Please let us know asap.

Now it's time to get crafting on those ornaments and remember to ship out by Dec 8th. That's just about 3 weeks away! We do recommend shipping even earlier if you're outside of the US or are in an international group, so that everyone gets their festive packages in time for the holidays.

If you need a little inspiration, check out the fantastic history of this swap here. Make sure to post photos in that group as well!

If you still have questions, feel free to email us at buffyfest@aim.com.

Thank you to all the participants. Happy swapping!

Final Weekend to Sign Up for the Whendoverse Ornament Swap!

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Sat, 16 Nov 2019 12:10:00 -0500

Tomorrow is the last day to join the fun known as the Whedonverse Ornament Swap! If you'd like to sign up for the resurgence of our favorite Holiday tradition, follow the instructions below before tomorrow night. We'll be sorting the groups immediately and you'll receive your list of recipients Monday morning.

Please make sure to read full details here and if you're down, send an email with the subject "MERRY WHEDON" with the following information to buffyfest@aim.com:

- name
- mailing address
- whether your are willing to ship internationally (note: All of North America will be combined this year).

IT'S BACK! The Annual Whedonverse Ornament Swap!

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Sun, 10 Nov 2019 14:34:00 -0500

After SO many requests, we’ve realized how much this event means to everyone...so we've decided to bring back the beloved Annual Whedonverse Ornament Swap! Shiny!

If you've never heard of this swap then let us do a little explainy: The purpose of the swap is to give and receive a little festive Buffy & Whedonverse joy. Basically, you will create ornaments with a Whedonverse theme (Buffy, Firefly, Dr. Horrible, Avengers, etc.) and send them to 4-6 different recipients. In return you will receive 4-6 completely different handmade ornaments from around the world. As you can see from the photos, you really can make them out of anything: Wood, knit, sew, paint, draw, sculpt, paper craft, recycle old ornaments (earth friendly!) Have fun with it! There are no rules. (Actually there are some rules, see below.)

We looove this event and every year we are reminded of the wonderful creativity of this fandom. Check out the several hundred photos of coolness from years past: http://www.flickr.com/groups/buffyfestholidayswap/

If you'd like to join us, sign-ups begin right now and will end next Monday, November 16th at 11:59 PM U.S. EST. And pretty please make super sure you're willing to go through with this entire process before signing up! Deadbeats ruin the holiday fun for everyone. Here are the guidelines in 6 easy steps:

1. Sign up by sending an email with the subject "MERRY WHEDON" and the following information to buffyfest@aim.com by Sunday, November 17th at 11:59 PM U.S. EST
- name
- address
- whether your are willing to ship overseas* (US and Canada will be mixed together)

2. On November 18th you'll receive an email from us containing the addresses and email addresses of 4-6 swap participants for you to send your ornaments to.

3. Create the multiple Whedon themed ornaments! You'll have 3 weeks to make them.

4. Package your ornaments well (especially if you create something fragile) and send one ornament to each person on the list of swap participants in your group by Monday, December 9th.

5. Sit back and relax as you wait to receive 4-6 lovely Whedonverse ornaments in the mail!

6. Then don't forget to share photos of the ornaments you make and receive by uploading to the swap flickr group here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/buffyfestholidayswap. (You will need a flickr account to upload photos, which is easy to set up.)

*Fine Print*
Since you'll have each other's personal info, please contact each other with any questions, disputes or praise.

A note on international shipping: Please only select international shipping if you are willing to ship at least 2-3 of your ornaments overseas. Take timing and the cost of shipping into account when you design your ornament. Lighter and more compact ornaments are cheaper to ship.

Any questions? Email us at buffyfest@aim.com

A Slayer By Any Other Name

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Sun, 6 Oct 2019 21:21:00 -0400

As news trickles in, we’ve come to find out that the Buffy reboot isn’t so much a reboot, but the story of a new Chosen One with her own set of adventures. We’re more than fine with that - no need to redo the perfection that was Buffy Summers. A script hasn’t been penned yet, so we thought it might be fun to take this opportunity to make a Wish List of sorts. Here are a few story ideas (out of a gazillion) that we came up with off the top of our heads:

The Future Dystopia: What if our new slayer lived in a dystopian future a la the Buffy episode “The Wish”? We could see a world ravaged by climate change, making it fertile hunting grounds for nasty night dwellers, demons, as well as desperate humans. Sounds like a perfect time for Wolfram & Hart to enter stage left and take advantage of the situation.

The Metaphor: Buffy was known for the “high school is hell” metaphor and since one thing we know for sure about the new slayer is that she will be a person of color, it would make sense to use vampires as a metaphor for white supremacy and racism. This could be a powerful telling of our present state of affairs.

The Period Piece: Literally anytime in our past would make for a great telling of a young girl’s story as she comes into her own power and faces the resistance of the society around her.

The Crossover: Recently, SMG and David Boreanaz were asked about the new slayer and both shot down the idea of appearing in it, but if you read the articles here and here, I think you’ll see that they might be a little confused (like we all were ) and think it’s a literal reboot of their characters. It’s not and any and all guest appearances are welcome, even annoying Xander (kidding, not really).

No matter what, I know we’re all looking forward to watching this world come to life again. The possibilities are endless and that’s a good thing.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is getting a reboot: complicated feelings... ACTIVATE!

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 15:13:00 -0400

Creepy uncle that loves telling stories about abused girls who kickypunch their way to empowerment, Joss Whedon, is set to executive produce a new series for the character who helped make him a nerdy household name back in the decade of crop tops and rapey presidents. Wow, things sure have changed! Yes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is coming back to television but this time as a black woman because... intersectional feminism?

Look, maybe it's just that I'm having an allergic reaction to all the dust I kicked up after using this website for the first time in over five years, but I'm not sure I feel so great about more Buffy from ol' Josh. And knowing that Monica Owusu-Breen, a black woman herself, will serve as head writer and showrunner doesn't tamp down my uncertainty as much as I wish it would.

Because I should be excited, right? More Buffy was one of the things I wanted most over a decade ago when Tara, Michelle, and I started this fansite which is dedicated to Buffy. A shared love for this character and this show, cliche as it is, is the genesis for the friendships that helped me survive through some of the most tumultuous times in my life. And Buffyfest itself is the website where I learned that the trick to writing is to just do it, that the key to building relationships with creatives is to just ask, and that you can actually make a living off of shitposting on the internet. Buffy and the 'fest she inspired are the building blocks of my personal and professional life.

So why aren't I happy?

At first I thought maybe it was because I, selfishly, always hoped that the inevitable return to the world of Buffy would finally usher in a story about a transgender slayer. The idea that a young trans girl could find affirmation of her womanness through the simultaneous exhilaration and horror that is being the slayer is something I've dreamed of for actual decades now. A trans slayer is a dream I've shared with a lot of other non-cisgender folks over the years -- even Tara herself, Amber Benson, told me at a New York Comic Con several years ago that she thought the new slayer *had* to be trans.

But I think even if I did get that wish, I'd still be hesitant. Part of that, sadly, is because Whedon is involved, a feeling that would blow 2008 me's mind. Joss's ability to write through a feminist lens has been called into question repeatedly in the last decade. Whedon has rightfully lost the faith of fans for a myriad of reasons, whether it's fridging Felicia Day's character to enable the villanous rise of someone like Doctor Horrible, the repeated use of violence on women's bodies as an avenue towards expressing the power of womanhood, or the allegations that he was having sex with multiple young actresses in a way that suggests dubious consent. Things like that give me pause when I hear that Joss will be even remotely involved in crafting a new Buffy story.

There's something else about this Buffy reboot that rings hollow, too. While, yes, Breen will serve as showrunner, Buffy is not her creation. And yet both before and after the original Buffy film in 1992, there have been stories of vampire hunters written by women of color, a fact pointed out by many culture critics.

Instead of a black Buffy how about you just so a story of another black slayer? Even better how about we just let black creators make their own things. L.A Banks has a whole ass vampire huntress series, Joss did not invent vampire hunters. pic.twitter.com/ZAv593IoeM
— Princess “Bisexual Vampire” Weekes (@melinapendulum) July 21, 2018

I'd ask, "Why not a TV series based off of something like Minion," but I already know the answer. I knew it before, while attending the Nerds of Color Pool Party on Saturday night at 2018's San Diego Comic Con, writer, Valerie Complex, referred to the Buffy reboot as a "cash grab." Valerie talked with me about the obviousness that people like Whedon want to appeal to (and make money off of) black women, but they clearly don't know how to do that.

I've been having a lot of conversations like this lately, even more than usual. That same day, I was sitting down with Orlando Jones and we wound up talking a lot about his friend and frequent collaborator, Bryan Fuller. Jones pointed out how Fuller for all his success, is still the showrunner most famous for always getting his shows canceled -- or, in the case of Star Trek: Discovery, the showrunner who fired before his creation even debuted.

Jones pointed out that part of Fuller's repeated challenges stem from the natural conflict between network and creator. Sure, Fuller bringing his experiences as a queer creator to the world of Star Trek sounds great as a headline, but the reality is never as uplifting or as "diversifying" as what's being claimed. Because, sure, a gay man writing Star Trek is great until he actually wants to show gay people being as sexual and as diverse as straight people are. Then those who hold the purse strings say, "Can we dial this back a little?" And then they keep saying dial it back until we're Will & Grace in space. And that's not diversity -- that's pandering from people who want the LGBTQIA audience but don't want their baggage.

Would it be any different with the Buffy reboot? Whedon has never been very good at getting his way with TV execs (see: the cancellations of Firefly and Dollhouse) and Breen doesn't have the kind of clout to get her way, either.

Buffy who?

And while Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil have been able to escape the oft inevitability of blackness as monolith with The CW's Black Lightning, that doesn't feel so much a sign of the times at it is a sign that Black Lightning wasn't as established a property. Black Lightning could have failed without the CW's Arrowverse having to skip a beat (it's not even part of the Arrowverse). But Buffy, one of the most famous "feminist" properties of the last quarter century is another matter entirely. Buffy is just too big to believe that TV execs would allow for the risk of genuine diversity. "Buffy's black now," and that feels like the most we're likely to get.

That just won't cut it. That's not enough to pull in the viewers TV executives claim they are trying to represent. When Black Lightning exists, when Black Panther exists, when Luke Cage exists, when Shonda goddamn Rhimes exists, that just isn't enough.

And I wish I could say that the reason I'm writing my thoughts about the Buffy reboot on Buffyfest as opposed to SYFY WIRE where my byline has found its home for over 7 years is out of pure nostalgia. But the truth is that I'm also doing it because WIRE is owned by NBC Universal Comcast and what I really feel and want to say would absolutely be tamped down so that we don't offend some of our "less political" readers. Even at WIRE, which is just a website for nerds entirely unaffiliated with Buffy or Fox, any remotely strongly worded criticisms for something like a Buffy reboot would be edited down and finished off with a "these opinions do not reflect those of Universal Comcast."

None of this is to say that a Buffy reboot will be definitely be bad. It might be good! For all we know that new, black Buffy Summers will also be trans and be joined by a host of people of color and LGBTQIA folx that entirely eschew colorism and queer stereotyping (looking at you Warren "bury our gays" Mears).

But I'm not holding my breath. And if it were up to me, we'd be getting a Vampire Huntress Legend series instead of the goofy prospect of a new Buffy/new Charmed crossover. Which, in fairness, I would absolutely watch.

This Entertainment Weekly 'Buffy' 20th Anniversary Reunion is Evvverything!

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 18:55:00 -0400

If you haven't already watched the 44 minute Buffy 20th reunion video, really stop what you're doing and watch it here online RIGHT NOW on the People/Entertainment Network. It'll make your whole damn day.

Highlights: SMG and Joss are still Bangel 'shippers, Kristen Sutherland (Buffy's mom) has a killer Wednesday Adams-type style going on, Nicholas Brendon seems happy and healthy, everyone looks amazing (cough *Charisma Carpenter*) and more! Oh, and David Boareanz likes to rock a RHCP-eque cock-sock, or nothing at all. lolz!

See a slew of photos below of the cast reuniting from EW's corresponding photo shoot below. Issues are on sale this week!

Anthony Stewart Head didn't attend lol

No Really, Thank You.

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 22:13:00 -0500

On this great day, Sarah Michelle Gellar professed her love and gratitude for Buffy and it's fans on social media in celebration of the show's 20th anniversary and other cast members followed suit. She said:

"most importantly thank you to all of you, the fans. We made this show for you, and your unwavering support has kept this show going long past our seven years. You are everything. And always remember...'if the apocalypse comes, beep me'"

Aww.

Now go and watch along with us, our site-wide favorite episode: "The Gift".

'Cruel Intentions' Show - WTF Sarah Michelle Gellar?

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 17:09:00 -0500

So Sarah Michelle Gellar is reprising her role as Kathryn Merteuil in a reboot show of the 90's film she starred in named Cruel Intentions but not a Buffy reboot show of the 90's show (and film) of the same name. Yeah ok. What did we ever do to you, girl?

Best Gift of 2015 - The Stake Mic!

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 20:03:00 -0500

We received the most amazing gift from my brother! He MADE it: A professional microphone for us to conduct interviews that resembles a stake for the handle!!! Yeah! Dusting Vamps at Mother Effin Comic Con, yo!

It's made out of real wood...so Buffy could certainly borrow our mic, if need be.

Happy Yule and Merry Christmas everyone! Hope your sibling is as kick-ass as mine and Santa gives you a gift as awesome as STAKE MIC is!

'Buffy's' Nicholas Brendon Returns to Dr. Phil After Storming Off

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Tue, 1 Dec 2015 20:17:00 -0500

I know this is dark subject matter, dear Buffyfest readers, but Nicholas Brendon is one of ours and needs some support right now. Obviously he's ready to tell his story so we're ok with mentioning it.

Several months ago Nicholas Brendon stormed off the set of The Dr. Phil Show. At the time, he accused Dr. Phil of going for "the jugular" and forcing him to "lay the darkest parts of myself on national TV". Today, our Xander returned to the show after being arrested 4 times this year for various reasons (trashing a hotel room, pub;ic intoxication and most recently, a domestic violence incident with his girlfriend). On today's show, Nicky told Dr. Phil that he blacked out during most of these incidents. He has now checked into a 90-day depression program at a Florida rehab center in October (but was allowed to attend Toulouse Game Show, a French fan convention, last week.)

Nicky opened up about attempting suicide because of his substance abuse. "I cut my wrists with a steak knife," Nicholas Brendon told Dr. Phil McGaw, crying. "Did you want to die that day?" Dr. Phil asked. "I think I wanted to be heard. I think I wanted to be helped, you know?" he said. "Because I think there's a lot of good life to live."

He also insisted he did not choke his girlfriend. "I just felt at that time that my girlfriend shouldn't drive, so I tried to take her keys away. I held her down to get the keys."

"When you wake up in jail and you're not sure why you're there, that's a very, very lonely feeling," Nicholas says.

He also delved into his childhood trauma of being molested by a music teacher, who went to jail in 1981, when he was about 10 years old. After the teacher was caught, Brendon said he felt "numb, and then the betrayal kind of came to fruition after it all came out, and then anger." "I think about it every day of my life and I wonder how it affected me … did I stop growing emotionally?" he added. "When you're molested for a couple years and you're blamed for it by the people who are supposed to be your protectors, there's going to be a lot of confusion and a lot of sadness."

At the end of the interview, Brendon checked into a dual diagnosis treatment center, HeadWaters at Origins. "Maybe I'm just done," he said. "Maybe I'm ready to be happy now."

See a clip below:

Good Luck, Buddy. We're rooting for you!

Reminder: 2015 Whedonverse Ornament Swap Deadline is Today!

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 14:18:00 -0500

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Today is the last day to join the crafty Holiday fun! If you'd like to sign up for one of our favorite traditions - our beloved Whedonverse themed ornament swap - follow the instructions below before midnight tonight! We'll be sorting the groups immediately and you'll receive your list of recipients tomorrow.

Please make sure to read full details here and if you're down, send an email with the subject "MERRY WHEDON" with the following information to buffyfest@aim.com:

- name
- mailing address
- whether your are willing to ship internationally (note: All of North America will be combined this year).

The 8th Annual Whedonverse Ornament Swap!

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 22:11:00 -0500

Ho ho ho! The Holidays are finally here and we're proud to once again announce our 8th annual Whedonverse Holiday Ornament Swap. Eight years, can you even believe it!!

We looove this event and every year we are reminded of the wonderful creativity of this fandom. Check out the several hundred photos of coolness from years past: http://www.flickr.com/groups/buffyfestholidayswap/

If you've never heard of this swap then let us do a little explainy: The purpose of the swap is to give and receive a little festive Whedonverse joy. Basically, you will create ornaments with a Whedonverse theme (Buffy, Firefly, Dr. Horrible, Avengers, etc.) and send them to 4-6 different recipients. In return you will receive 4-6 completely different handmade ornaments from around the world. As you can see from the photos, you really can make them out of anything: Wood, knit, sew, paint, draw, sculpt, paper craft, recycle old ornaments (earth friendly!) Have fun with it! There are not rules. (Actually there are some rules, see below.)

If you'd like to join us, sign-ups begin right now and will end next Monday, November 16th at 11:59 PM U.S. EST. And pretty please make super sure you're willing to go through with this entire process before signing up! Deadbeats ruin the holiday fun for everyone. Here are the guidelines in 6 easy steps:

1. Sign up by sending an email with the subject "MERRY WHEDON" and the following information to buffyfest@aim.com by Monday, November 16th.
- name
- address
- whether your are willing to ship overseas* (US and Canada will be mixed together)

2. On November 17th you'll receive an email from us containing the addresses and email addresses of 4-6 swap participants for you to send your ornaments to. Since you'll have each other's personal info, please contact each other with any questions, disputes or praise.

3. Create the multiple Whedon themed ornaments! You'll have 3 weeks to make them.

4. Package your ornaments well (especially if you create something fragile) and send one ornament to each person on the list of swap participants in your group by Tuesday, December 8th.

5. Sit back and relax as you wait to receive 4-6 lovely Whedonverse ornaments in the mail!

6. Then don't forget to share photos of the ornaments you make and receive by uploading to the swap flickr group here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/buffyfestholidayswap. You will need a flickr account to upload photos, which is easy to set up.

*A note on international shipping: Please only select international shipping if you are willing to ship at least 2-3 of your ornaments overseas. Take timing and the cost of shipping into account when you design your ornament. Lighter and more compact ornaments are cheaper to ship.

Any questions? Email us at buffyfest@aim.com

'Buffy: The High School Years - Freaks & Geeks' Announced at #NYCC

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Fri, 9 Oct 2015 12:34:00 -0400

Just a short time ago, Dark Horse Comics announced a new Buffyverse graphic novel that will be released in June 2016 titled Buffy: The High School Years - Freaks & Geeks. The Dark Horse peeps told us this story will be set in season one (Yay Buffy, Angel & the Scoobs!) and have more of a YA angle. This story is executive produced by Joss Whedon himself. It will be written by Faith Erin Hicks with illustration by Yishan Li and the cover art will be done by Buffyverse veteran Scott Fischer. Check out the cover below, SO 90's!!:

Apparently, this idea was sparked all the way back in SDCC 2013! Long time Buffy fan Faith Erin Hicks had this to say on Twitter:

That was why this happened back at SDCC in 2013, lol. pic.twitter.com/hKkzZy3b85

— Faith Erin Hicks (@FaithErinHicks) October 9, 2015

The Mary Sue has an interview with Faith Erin Hicks. We'll have something from her too as we get closer to the release. Do you know she lives in Nova Scotia? Nova Scotia in the house!

In the mean time, check out some of the adorable sketches by Yishan Li:

And here are some of the preview pages of the book (click to enlarge). Really looking forward to this!

Dark Horse Panel at #NYCC Currently Underway!

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Fri, 9 Oct 2015 11:12:00 -0400

Check out our live blog below for the Whedoverse biggest announcement of #NYCC 2015! NEW BUFFY BOOK ANNOUNCED! (see below for more info).

11:04 Dark Horse PR dude Steve Suno takes the stage! Welcome to the "Dark Horse: CLASSIFIED!" Panel of New York Comic Con 2015.

11:08 On stage is writer Brian Wood, Writer Matt Kindt & new Editor-In-Chief Dave Marshall...so far.

11:12 Announcing "Aliens: Defiance" by Brian Wood and Tristan Jones. "Aliens: Defiance" drops April 2016.

11:16 Matt talks "DEPT.H" his upcoming series created with his wife set underwater.

11:20 Brittney Williams announced as "Legends of Korra" artist and signing at the DH booth Sunday!

11:22 I think to myself "get to the "Whedonverse stuff OMG the suspense is killing me!!"

11:25 Nope, not yet. Next up: "How to Train Your Dragon!" books coming soon. Cute! Love that movie.

11:35 Here we go!! New Buffy Book announced!!

11:37 The graphic novel will be set in Season 1 called "Buffy: The High School Years". To be written by Faith Erin Hicks, drawn by manga artist Yishan Li. Release Date June 2016! Whew! So glad that's out in the open now...

We'll have an updated high-res of this cover and more deets later today.

11:43 Dark Horse president Mike Richardson then takes the stage to deliver a message from James Cameron, who announces a ten year partnership with DH for the world of Avatar. Big stuff at this panel!

New York Comic Con - Day 1

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Fri, 9 Oct 2015 10:07:00 -0400

Dr. Horrible Cosplayer

I think this is our 8th year covering NYCC as press and it truly gets better and better every year. It's grown so much since our first time attending - between the awesome fans in costumes, kick-ass panels and cute interactive branded things, like the vid made above at the Nickelodeon booth (located right when you walk in). They did facial recognition of my face and morphed it into Spongebob! So fun! If you're attending, definitely do that and also check out the amazing "Cafe 80's" - set to look like the spot from Back to the Future 2 where you can also pick up the coveted, real world version of "Pepsi Perfect". Sooooo good. This convention is the place to be for brands right now.

Now that NYCC is open to con-goers on Thursday (instead of just professionals as in the past) it's totally cray. I mean look at the crowds at 11am on a workday! I'd be shocked if they don't add a Wednesday "Preview Night" to the convention very soon ala SDCC. Maybe even next year?

Instead of waiting on long-ass lines to attend panels in the underbelly of the Javits center, this year Nerdist and Wikia decided to plop a stage right in the front hallway where the proceeded to conduct interviews all day. The same goes for the NYCC Live stage in "The Block" area. These are the easiest panels to get in ever! See our coverage of the panel with Eliza Dushku here.

Speaking of the Buffyverse, Sarah Michelle Gellar made a rare convention appearance at NYCC today. Out of all the conventions we've been to all over the country, we've only ever seen her one time at SDCC, so this was a real treat!

She was there, of course, to appear in the Star War Rebels panel to chat a bit about her new character in Season 2 named The Seventh Sister. During the panel she said her character is “a thinking man’s villain. She’ll toy with you and then kill you.” When asked who her favorite character in the Star Wars universe was she replied she "of course loves Han Solo" but if she could play any character it would be Anakin around the time of the Clone Wars. Sounds like she really is a fan! Finally, during the Q&A someone said to SMG "I’ve been waiting for 15 years. I’ve gone through so much struggle to be independent, and I'll ask myself “What would Buffy do?” In response, Sarah Michelle Gellar gave the girl a hug.

The Dark Horse booth has the usual fantastic Whedonverse display.

More to come!

Big Whedonverse Announcement at #NYCC tomorrow!!

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Thu, 8 Oct 2015 22:03:00 -0400

A little birdie told me that there is a big Whedonverse related announcement happening at New York Comic Con tomorrow. That little birdie is named Aub Driver, PR Guru Extraoidinaire at Dark Horse Comics, of course and the announcement is a really nice one. I mean just look how excited we are below, we can't even contain ourselves. Stay tuned!

Eliza Dushku Panel #NYCC 2015 - Full Video

buffyfest@aim.com (Buffyfest.Blogspot.com) — Thu, 8 Oct 2015 19:55:00 -0400

The gorgeous Eliza Dushku took stage just a few hours ago at New York Comic Con 2015 totally rocking Buffy's Red Leather Pants. I'd like to think it was on purpose, especially with Sarah Michelle Gellar showing up at NYCC as a surprise guest in the Star Wars: Rebels panel. Surprise guest to Eliza too! I imagine a conversation that went like "Hey! Are those my pants? I knew I lent them to you and you never gave them back!!" Oopsie!!

Ahem.

Anyway Eliza, along with Ivana Milicevic, spoke quite a bit...mostly about "Banshee: The Final Season", but also some "Buffy" and "Dollhouse" with Nerdist. See the full video below.

Edited to add this photo Eliza with her mother after the panel was over. Mrs. Dushku sat there right across and watched the whole thing...what a supportive mom!