MODERATOR: Get ready to chat with Spike! Any second...

James: Thanks everybody for waiting around and thanks for coming back. Sorry for dumping out on everybody the other week.

hulahula: Who taught you how to do that brilliant accent for Buffy?

James: Well, Monty Python first of all growing up, and then theater school. But specifically I was lucky -- the accent that they wanted was supposed to be like the Sex Pistols, who are from north London. And I was lucky to be doing a play with a guy from north London at the time. So I cornered him and made him read the lines for me. He wanted to know what the audition was and I told him to go blow off.

sweethon19@a: Are you working on any movies this year?

James: Not so far. Pray for me.

j2cool4u: What was it like to audition for Buffy?

James: It was very fun. The scene kinda required an actor to cut loose and I did. I met Juliet Landau two minutes before the audition and I climbed all over her anyway.

Celia: What's with the cute eyebrow scar? I heard you got it in a mugging in NY. Is that true?

James: It is true. In Astoria, Queens -- a filthy neighborhood down by the water. Half a block from my apartment. It was from brass knuckles. A guy jumped out and hit me with brass knuckles, and didn't say hello -- very impolite -- and said give me your money. And I told him to f*** off. And he continued to hit me and then his friend started to join in, at which point I beat tail.

SpikesDru: Do you know what Spike is gonna do when he sees Dru again?

James: Is he? Do you guys know something I don't? I'm on a need to know basis, which means I know nothing. But I've heard the same rumors about Drusilla coming back. I would hope he would be over her by now. Being love's bitch is only cool when she loves you.

Brickru: What was your favorite episode?

James: Ummm.... it would be "Harsh Light of Day." The beginning of this last season. They let me throw Buffy through a glass and metal table, which terrified me. Usually only stunt guys do that stuff. It was even more exciting than lighting my hand on fire the previous year.

SpikeLover: So what is it like working with Sarah Michelle Geller?

James: Brilliant. Seriously brilliant. She's gracious and kind and consummately professional, which means no one else can screw off, and we all have a fun time WORKING. But working is playing, and it's a damn good playpen they got going over there. I adore Sarah. She's always been more than kind to me, especially when I was new on the set.

Slayergirl2: Are you anything like Spike? Except for the vampire part...

James: Yeah. We both have tempers, although I'm not really funny when I get really mad. We're both romantics. We both fall hard for our girls. We both like to cause trouble for the fun of it. We both have blond hair...

tartanrob: Do you like playing the "big bad" or chipped Spike better?

James: Big Bad any day of the week. But Big Bad would have to die pretty soon, which means I'd be back to pulling change out of my sofa for rent money....

taracav@hotmail.com: What are your opinions on the latest series -- has it lost the cult/subversive feel and heading more sunnydale90210?

James: Are you KIDDING me!!!!! I think the WB told Joss to calm down on the violence, at which point the sex went through the roof. At one point, Buffy and Riley did it THE WHOLE EPSIODE. I was shocked when I read that script. I never thought it'd see the air. But I realized that on TV what's on the page as sex ends up as semi-naked cuddling. Then you add the whole Willow-Tara thing, which in my mind is the sweetest, most innocent relationship on TV today. And then you have Anya, who has no compunction with sex.

Queen Of Rain: Willow & Spike have become quite popular as an unconventional couple in fan fiction. Would you like to see them become an item in the show?

James: Oh man. Canoodling with Alison? Sure! The problem is I know her boyfriend and I have a girlfriend -- and it's weird enough when you DON 'T know the other person. But what the hell, I'll try anything. Sorry, Alexis -- your girl's hot!

Emalee: Not that I don't LOVE the leather, but when is Spike going to vary his wardrobe a bit? I think that outfit's been in every episode.

James: Yes, it has. In fact, for the first two years it was my own tee shirt. However, the only other costume was Bermuda shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, so I've stopped complaining about not having another costume. But Cynthia, the costume designer, says she's gonna cook up something this year. I just hope it doesn't have anything to do with shorts.

Brickru: If you were on the show Survivor, would you survive?

James: If they kicked me off, I'd just hang around the island and hunt them. I'd be bitter... I have never seen that show, it's too popular. I can't watch any show that's too popular -- except Buffy of course. But that's because it rocks.

Felicity: You've been very well known to sing a lot -- are you planning on making a CD or something in the near future? It would be nice!

James: I love to sing, and I'm in rotation at 14 Below, a club in Santa Monica. I play there every six weeks or so. But no -- making a CD is putting the cart before the horse right now. BUT -- I understand the WB recorded one of my shoes and it's on safesearch.com, which is part of the WB site.

Anne-Sophie: Did you get teased a lot after missing that SMG question on Hollywood Squares? And don't try with that "I was bluffing" stuff...

James: I don't even remember that day, I was so bleary tired. I think that was a 15-cup of coffee day. I am not joking.

kristen: Have you had any weird experiences with fanatics?

James: No. Just very good ones. Buffy fans tend to be pretty cool. They're pretty smart and they appreciate good writing. They're quite polite when they approach me.

la.la.de.daaa: Harmony vs. Drucilla, who would win in a cat fight?

James: Oh man -- Dru would slice her. Dru killed a slayer, man! She doesn't look it, but she's wicked with the nails. Harmony is a hair puller. Albeit a cute one....

TheBreakfastFood: Hello, James! I really admire that you're an actor with such a background in theater. Theater is so much fun...do you think you'll ever go back to it, even if only for a brief stint?

James: I'm going back tonight. I'm performing an original play - "The World Premiere of The Y." Written by a 19-year-old playwright, Victor Kaufold. Four actors, playing 28 characters. A very serious laugh riot about Columbine. And Fred Savage the shooter. It's running through the end of the month in L.A. at the Hudson Theater, produced by the Blank Theater Company. For tickets call 323-661-9827.

spikeskitten: Have you ever been injured while filming for Buffy?

James: Only when I set my hand on fire. I let the burn go twice as long as they told me to, because I thought it would look "cool". I was embarrassed that I got myself hurt, so I didn't tell anybody. That was my only episode that season, so they still don't know. I had like nine dime-sized blisters on the back of my hand.

pyrochic: What kind of music are you listening to?

James: Tom Waits, Beck, Morphine, Bob Marley, Miles Davis, Nirvana, the soundtrack to Ghost Dog, Lauryn Hill, Marvin Gaye, Charlie Parker, Johnny Lee Hooker, blink-182, Macy Gray -- I love music.

sarita_16: I LUV U JAMES. Good luck with the show and your music! Would you ever be on Dawson's Creek?

James: Sure. Yeah, I'd love to. I'd love to stir up jealousy between them.

hentzau: If you could star in your own TV series, what kind of series would you like it to be?

James: Written by Joss Whedon. That's it.

DreamLurker: I hear it is your birthday next week. Have any special plans?

James: Hopefully, they'll have a cake on the break on set. Other than that... if they celebrated everyone's birthday on the set, we'd all have too much cake. There's like 250 people making Buffy.

vampgrl1114: Who's you're biggest inspiration?

James: Martin Luther King. He had guts. They set dogs on him and gnawed on him, and he didn't back down. And he won every time. That's why they had to kill him.

polobear111: What do you like in a girl?

James: I think all girls are great. I like girls! I don't have a specific physical type. I like intelligence, I like courage. I like someone you don't want to mess with, but who's also kind.

Katee: If you could work with anybody who would it be?

James: Meryl Streep. She is incapable of being anything but brilliant.

Slayergirl2: First of all, you are WICKED hot. Have you become great friends with anyone especially on the set of Buffy?

James: Yes, friends with everybody. There are no mean kids in our playpen. Tonight, Tony Head and Marc Blucas are coming to my play, Sarah's coming Saturday, I just hung out with Nick the other day. We're all VERY lucky to be working with each other.

KAY: What would you do right now if you didn't play in Buffy?

James: I would be one of 100,000 actors trying to find work. Explaining to my family why I was an actor in the first place.

Karabear: What is it like to be famous and would you trade it in if you had to?

James: It's mostly very cool, except when you're in a horrible mood walking down the street and someone recognizes you. You have to be nice for a while. Or if you're late for something. But it's an amazing feeling that I am part of something that so many people enjoy. Fame, though, was never really the point. The thing I'm most happy about is that I can make rent every month without a problem. I came down to L.A. because I didn't want to die a poor regional theater actor. P.S. Props to all regional theater actors. I respect you and your decision. You're fighting the good fight -- and I sold out. But it's soooo delicious to sell out in L.A. There are some good writers down here.

bLÎnK·gÜrL: If it came down to it, would Buffy be able to kill Spike -- minus brain chip, of course =)?

James: No. Buffy is not aware of her true potential. But she always surprises herself by rising to the challenge. I would HOPE she would win because if she lost there would be no show and people would hate me forever. I don't think Buffy the Dead Vampire Slayer would fly.

scsgloria: You've written comics and such. Are you ever going to try your hand at an episode?

James: No. I am not NEARLY as good as the people writing the show although I'm not bad. Most of my experience writing has been in adapting for the stage, which is a whole different thing. I'm not on Buffy because of my writing ability. I'm only good enough to appreciate how incredible they are.

moomin: In high school were you popular or were you an outcast?

James: I was a total outcast and had NO interest in being popular. I ran with the group of punk rock punks. We did NOT want to be liked. We did not want to fit in. We had a rock and roll band and the irony was that we became enormously popular because we just didn't care -- and we threw the most enormous parties in the town. And sought subtle revenge on all the big kids who abused us in junior high. We made sure they didn't get any when they came to our parties. Yes, we would crush their self-esteem. I don't like mean kids.

hentzau: Do you think you'll stay a blond after Buffy?

James: No. Most roles call for human beings, and I look like a freak. I LOVE it. If I wasn't an actor I'd keep it.... I like extreme looks. I used to shave my head. I used to grow it out without cutting it for like 12 to 15 months. I looked like Roger Daltry from The Who.

bLÎnK·gÜrL: If you could play another Buffy character (male or female, I mean, not cross-dressing or anything....unless u wanted to.....) who would it be?

James: No WAY in hell. They make the other people work too hard on that show. I'm a vampire, I don't have to shoot in the day. I breeze in, kick butt, quip, and go back to bed. They're there 20 hours a day.

dragonlady: We know that Sarah and Aly have tattoos. Just wondering if any grace your hunky body.

James: Sorry -- no tattoos. Just scars.

MODERATOR: OK, that's about all the time we have for today. Thanks for chatting with us, James!

James: Thanks for sticking it out. Hope it was worth the wait! Good questions.

MODERATOR: Wanna win your very own piece of Spike? Head to the Win Prizes channel and enter to win a autographed tee shirt of Spike's!

MODERATOR: Thanks for chatting!