Skip to main content

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer": Things You May Not Know About Everyone's Favorite Slayer

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" was an iconic series which had a huge influence on television as well as on society. What really made the show stand out was that while it had themes of the supernatural and even science-fiction, "Buffy" was at its heart a show about life. The name "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" sounded like a cheesy B-movie, but in reality it was one of the most intelligent and thought-provoking shows on the air. In fact "Buffy" was so innovative and philosophical that it has been studied in classrooms the same as any classic literature. However, the series didn't begin the way we came to know it. From the small beginning to the lasting impact, there are some interesting things you might not know about "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Sarah Michelle Geller almost wasn't Buffy

That's right, Sarah Michelle Gellar's Iconic portrayal of Buffy Summers almost didn't happen. Gellar auditioned and read for different parts where she was told that she would be better for Cordelia Chase (a role later filled by Charisma Carpenter). As the casting search went on with no Buffy, Joss Whedon noticed that Gellar had something special that would make her the perfect choice for his slayer.

Alyson Hannigan almost wasn't Willow

Originally Hannigan was not cast in the pilot. The original Willow was much different as played by the largely unknown actress "Riff Regan." When the "WB Network" picked the series up they replaced the over-weight and clumsy Willow with the petite and lovably awkward Willow we came to know as played by Alyson Hannigan.

More Alternate casting

If Sarah Michelle Gellar hadn't become the famed Slayer, who might have gotten the role? Actresses considered included Selma Blair and Katie Holmes. Ryan Reynolds was offered the role of Xander and Danny Strong (Jonathan) originally auditioned for the same role.

The original Pilot was never aired, and Joss Whedon likes it that way.

There was a different pilot filmed before the polished network version we have all seen. There were familiar faces like Cordelia, Xander, Darla, and Jonathan, but there was no Angel and no Alyson Hannigan. More importantly, the un-aired episode was not very good. In fact, series creator Whedon stated that the original pilot would never make it onto DVD as long as "there is strength in these bones."

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the subject of academic study

The series had an influence beyond popular culture that even lead to college studies of its themes and sociological importance.

Sources:

Buffy Bites - Casting Buffy

IMDB Trivia

Unaired Pilot

Buffy Studies

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to be happy. Four things to remember.

Remember that hateful people don't win by hating you, they win by making you hate them. We have all been angry. We have all felt hate whether we admit it or not. Your jaw clenches, the back of your neck and ears get hot, your fists clench and your mind is racing with every horrible thing you can think about this person who has wronged you. Typically this is a passing feeling as you react to something and once you calm down, it's back to normal for you. However, there are some people who stay in this place living in hate. Think about how you feel in that moment of intense anger. Imagine being trapped there all the time. This is the life of the hateful person. Think of them as a drowning person who is trying to pull you down with them. Or as I like to think of it, a hateful life is a lonely life and if I hate you and make you hate me, I'm not alone in that angry dark place anymore. You can't always transform hate, but you don't have to let hate transform you.
Post a Comment
Read more

Sex Offender Treatment and Recidivism

"Sexual assault is a multi-factored behavioral phenomenon that has been identified as a leading social and criminal justice problem" ( drc.state.oh.us ) Sexual assault has affected the lives of millions of people and is a serious criminal justice and a social problem. According to a study from the department of justice surveying trends of sex crimes between 1983 and 1995, persons age 12 or older reported experiencing an estimated 260,300 attempted or completed rapes and nearly 95,000 threatened or completed sexual assaults other than rape in 1995 (usdoj). In 2004, there were 209,880 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assaults ( rain.org ). According to the 1997 Sex Offense and Offenders Study from the Department of Justice and 1999 National Crime Victimization Study (as cited on  www.rainn.org ), the following statistics illustrate the problems present for society in regard to sex crimes. Every two and a half minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assault
Post a Comment
Read more

Canine Influenza: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Pet

Influenza affects millions of people every year; people rush to get flu shots every winter, and many become gravely ill from influenza infection. What a lot of people don't know is that our pets can get the flu as well. We don't usually think of our dogs getting the flu or coming down with a cold, but it is much more common than you might think. The canine influenza virus known as H3N8, was discovered in 2004 and has been found in cases throughout the U.S. This virus is commonly referred to as dog flu, however, this term is not favored by experts in the field as it creates confusion and leads people to falsely associate it with viruses affecting humans such as the bird flu and swine flu. It is important to note that this is specifically a virus impacting canines and is not transferable to humans. While H3N8 is not a direct threat to people, it is of specific concern to dog owners. Here's what you need to know if you're a dog owner. Symptoms Symptoms of dog flu are m
Post a Comment
Read more