Buffy & AnGeL News


The end of 'Angel'

May 18, 2004

'Buffy' spinoff has finale Wednesday night

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Just because the wry vampire drama "Angel" is over doesn't mean it's the end of the world ... even if the final episode does include an appearance by the Apocalypse.

"Angel" creator Joss Whedon -- whose efforts to remake the show this year boosted ratings and garnered continued critical acclaim, only to see it canceled by the WB network regardless -- says the theme of the closing installment is "keep on fighting." (The WB is a division of Time Warner, which also owns CNN.)

That goes for the title hero himself, a youthful-looking 250-year-old vampire, played by David Boreanaz, who is trying to redeem past decades of undead wickedness by helping the hopeless amid the supernatural evildoers of Los Angeles.

"Redemption is something you have to fight for in a very personal down dirty way," Whedon told The Associated Press. "Some of our characters lose that, some stray from that, and some regain it."

"Keep on fighting" also applies, Whedon added, to the thousands of fervent fans who, in a desperate bid to keep "Angel" around for one more season, protested, petitioned, wrote letters and even mailed out free chocolate bars to anyone remotely associated with the fate of the program.

They want more, more, more and are bitterly angry at the WB for dropping the show, which lagged in repeats. The WB, which in the meantime is exploring a different vampire drama with a remake of the supernatural soap opera "Dark Shadows," has responded to "Angel" fan lobbying by proposing a return to the show with occasional TV movies or a miniseries.

Boreanaz: 'No interest' in TV reunion Nothing is on the slate yet, according to Whedon. It's up to fans to maintain the pressure.

"Part of me is still thinking about TV movies," he said. "The WB did propose the idea of doing something ... but it was kind of offhand. There was interest in that, but I haven't heard anybody really pursuing it."

One of the people the fans will have to persuade is Boreanaz. "As far as returning to the show for a reunion, I could probably put that to bed now: I have no interest in doing that," he said, adding that he would, however, be open to a theatrical movie. "It would have to be a bigger challenge rather than going back to something."

After the cancellation, there were some hurt feelings among the cast and crew that manifested itself in the finale.

"We put a lot of that heartbreak into the script, into the show, so it would hurt as much to watch as it did to have it taken away from us," Whedon said. "I would not have been as brutal about the ending had we had another season."

The last episode of "Angel," titled "Not Fade Away," is considerably less upbeat than the conclusion to its sister show, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," which ended last year with the heroine and her friends successfully closing a major gateway to Hell.

"Angel" finishes with a less victorious tone, and the show's admirers may be surprised by its brutality.

At least one major character meets a grisly death. Another decides fighting the good fight is no longer worth it. By the time the show is broadcast Wednesday night, fans may find there aren't enough survivors for a reunion special.

Defining heroism

Naturally, there's conflict with Spike, played by James Marsters. The show's admirers developed a special relationship with the cast of supernatural-fighting misfits: Wesley, a bookwormish occult expert whose comic-relief role devolved into tragedy and betrayal; Lorne (Andy Hallett), a green-skinned, two-horned do-gooder demon who can read minds by listening to a person sing; Gunn (J. August Richards), a streetfighter who sold some of his righteousness for mystical intelligence; and Spike (James Marsters) a rival vampire-with-a-soul whose bad attitude brought a welcome dose of pragmatism.

Marsters, who was brought over in this fifth and final season after being a regular on "Buffy," said the closing scenes of "Angel" represent a dark moral: "Being a hero doesn't mean you succeed in saving the day. It just means you tried."

Already this past season, they saw two major characters meet their deaths. Charisma Carpenter, who played Angel's sarcastic sometimes-love-interest Cordelia, returned from the dead in spirit form to guide her friends on a final quest. Then Fred, the winsome scientist played by Amy Acker, died when her body became possessed by an ancient malevolent spirit.

There remain a lot of loose ends to tie up, but they all come down to one thing: the end of the world. All through the show, evil powers have conspired to manipulate Angel into triggering Armageddon, clearing the way for ghouls, ghosts and other creatures to reclaim the Earth.

Angel's immortal soul -- the thing that makes him ache over past wrongs, unlike his soulless vampire brethren -- hangs in the balance, and he could find himself cursed through eternity.

If his character survives the finale for a return to the "Angel" universe, Marsters said he'd be game to revisit the bloodsucker Spike.

"I have no idea what's in the future -- but what I do know is that I play a vampire and the clock is ticking on how long this face can be believably exactly the same as when we met him (seven years ago on 'Buffy')," Marsters said, laughing. "If they want to do something, let's not wait too long."

OPINION

Fading Away

by Daniel Erenberg



May 19, 2004

It hit me hard. I know why.

The episode was called “Not Fade Away”. It was the last episode of any show to take place in Joss Whedon’s universe. It made a lot of noise about not fading away. The title yelled at you. This isn’t the end. But it is. It hit me, I think, especially at the end during The WB’s Thank You to the Angel crew. I started whimpering a bit. I didn’t even do that after Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s finale. But this hurt. Because it’s all over. It’s faded away. It’s done with. I offer you, the viewers of these shows, a continuation of my column. The shows deserve to live on in your memories. They deserve to be discussed and pored over. They don’t deserve to fade away. But they have.

As for the episode being discussed, it was pretty incredible. It was also very much an ensemble episode, something we haven’t seen a lot of lately. The hardcore fans are the only ones that have ever believed that Buffy and Angel were ensemble shows (and it hurts me writing in the past tense about Angel for the first time).

Wesley Wyndham-Price: My favorite Angel character. He went through quite a five-season character arc. And now he’s dead. His death really did hurt. It hurt me. But, just like Anya’s death in Buffy’s finale “Chosen”, it made a lot of sense. When he explained to Illyria that he had no perfect day, that he had nothing to live for, that was the first time in the episode I sobbed a bit. Alexis Denisof is a revelatory actor and if he doesn’t continue to work good and regularly, then Hollywood really is a lost cause.

Illyria/Winifred Burkle: Illyria spent most of the episode doing her usual hardcore posing and having her dark, meaningful conversations with Wesley. But she showed grief. Her final two scenes, first with her “lying” to Wesley in his time of need, and then with her fascination at what she was feeling in the rain, made me feel something interesting. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Amy Acker was truly a find. The way she can seamlessly go back and forth from Illyria to Fred is nothing short of astonishing.

Krevlornswath Of The Deathswok Tribe: Lorne went through the greatest character change of the series (other than Wesley perhaps). He really impressed me as a character in this one. And Andy Hallett showed some surprisingly subtle acting, and it was a joy to hear him sing one last time. Lorne’s final scene, killing Lindsey, leaving for good, “Goodnight, folks”, it hurt.

Lindsey McDonald: Even evil Lindsey had some great moments in this one, particularly his surprise at having been killed by a “flunkie”. When the the WB advertisements stated that someone was going to die, and Lindsey got shot, I thought that was it. I was wrong. Christian Kane gave yet another solid performance.

Charles Gunn: I enjoyed Gunn more in this episode than I have in ages, probably since around “Billy” in season three, and that’s high praise. His perfect day was going back to the old neighborhood, and boy was it great seeing Anne again. In his final fight, we finally got to see the bad-ass we first met in season one’s “War Zone”. J. August Richards—I can’t say enough about this man. No matter how little I’ve felt towards the character at times, he always surprised me.

Spike: James Marsters was again wonderful. His perfect day of drinking and fighting seemed certainly fitting. Finally, the scene in which he read his poem for Cecily, so reviled when he was a human, and it was finally appreciated was another thing that tore me up inside. I would have loved to have seen that in an episode of Buffy.

Angel: Angel signed away Shanshu. Thus proving that he deserved it in the first place. I can’t love this character enough. His duet with Conner fighting Hamilton was glorious. There was nothing that wasn’t glorious. David Boreanaz proves himself one of the best actors to ever grace a television set. Once again.

Some fans are going to bitch about the seeming lack of closure in the finale. Four characters still alive, one wounded very badly, with an army coming after them. We don’t get to see the fight. And I guess it’s because the show didn’t want to fade away. But it has.

David Boreanaz is furious with Sarah Michelle Gellar

Feb 12, 2004

Angel spunk David Boreanaz isn’t too pleased with Sarah Michelle Gellar’s refusal to return to her Buffy role for a one-off TV special. Although Sarah claims she’s too busy after signing up for a remake of the Japanese horror flick The Grudge, David is furious. He apparently declared, "If Sarah were to come back for a final farewell - like I did for her on her series finale - that would be fantastic ... It’s not like you do a 50 or 100 episodes of a show and say, ’Screw you.’ You have a responsibility to your fans."

Doomed `Angel’ still good TV

Feb 17, 2004

Doomed `Angel’ still good TV
WB decision to kill vampire series may not be fatal; show’s fate staked to star’s desire
By R.D. Heldenfels
Angel is going. But it’s going in style.
As was mentioned here a couple of weeks ago, the makers of the WB drama about a vampire with a soul felt they had enough ideas to keep the show going for several more years.
Still, The WB appeared to be looking past Angel and began talks with producer John Wells about another vampire series, a new version of Dark Shadows. And late last week the network decided the current season of Angel will be its last.
In a statement Friday the network said it had given the show the pink slip. It did so well ahead of the usual series-pickup announcements in May so the show’s makers will be ``able to wrap up the series in a way befitting a classic television series.... We did not want to contemplate this being the last year of Angel without giving the show the option of crafting their own destiny for this character and this series.’’
The WB did hold out the possibility of ``special movie events’’ derived from Angel next season.
And it’s always possible another network could pick up the show, the way Buffy the Vampire Slayer landed on UPN after a falling-out with The WB. But that would depend on David Boreanaz -- who plays Angel -- agreeing to a new contract, and on a network’s modest ratings expectations. This season Angel is averaging a little under 4 million viewers a week, ranking 93rd among all prime-time series and below several other WB series.
Still, for people who want good television, Angel is still doing righteous work, including in a hilariously oddball episode airing at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Called Smile Time, the episode finds Angel and his associates investigating what is putting children into comas -- and suspecting a popular children’s show of being the cause. When Angel takes a look at the show’s set, he is turned into a puppet and must continue to deal with the case in puppet form.
That includes a hilarious fight between the Angel puppet and the human Spike, a great conflict between Angel and the puppets on the children’s show and at least one bit so funny that I am not going to spoil the surprise here.
It’s inventive, a little scary and just plain fun. The episode also manages to be that while advancing three ongoing stories in the series -- whether Angel is ever going to enter another romantic relationship, the romantic tension between Fred (Amy Acker) and Wesley (Alexis Denisof) and the powers given earlier this year to Gunn (J. August Richards).
The show does include some odd choices, including its portrayal of Angel as a bit of a goof with women. (After all, this is supposed to be the same guy who brought smouldering romance to his first appearances on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.) But it’s still guaranteed to be one of the high points of TV this week. I still wish the show wouldn’t end.

Actress wins mayor's gratitude

Jan 12, 2004

Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress Alyson Hannigan made a friend of London mayor Ken Livingstone on Tuesday when she praised the city's transport system. At a press launch for the mayor's annual cut-price ticket promotion for the West End, Ms Hannigan remarked how easy it was to get around.

"Oh, thank you," said Mr Livingstone, whose pro-public transport policy has not found favour with everyone.

"You can come back every week," he added with a smile.

Ms Hannigan and comedian Lee Evans, who are both starring in West End productions, were helping launch the third annual Get Into London Theatre promotion.

Tickets to more than 70 shows, including Bombay Dreams and Chicago, are being reduced until 28 March.

Ms Hannigan, who is starring in the stage version of When Harry Met Sally at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, said she had always wanted to act in the West End.

"The theatres here are beautiful. I feel like I'm in a masterpiece just standing on that stage - it is just beyond words."

InStyle Weddings of Angel

Jan 12, 2004

In the current, January, special issue of InStyle Weddings, Angel brides can be found in heavenly bliss. Featured on page 404 is a Day of Wine & Roses with Amy Acker as InStyle covered the once Pylean cowslave’s wedding from the vineyards of Napa Valley when she married actor James Carpinello on April 25th, 2003.

Amy wore a sheath gown by Reva Mivasagar, while James was dashing in an Armani suit. Despite a threatening storm that raged thru the valley, the sun beamed down upon the happy couple just 5-minutes before the ceremony began. “The timing was simply a miracle,” stated an undaunted Amy. The ceremony was held at the Hans Fahden Vineyard, and coordinator, Sasha Souza created a ‘hip, bohemian mood’ for the laid-back couple. “It was Amy’s dream to be married in a garden,” she said.

With 65 guests on hand including fellow castmates, Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof (who wed five months later), Amy’s father walked the anxious bride down the aisle. After the ceremony, guests entered a wine cave for a three-course sit-down dinner on a 56-foot long mosaic table. The day ended with the newlyweds departing in a 1947 Packard convertible. “I wasn’t ready for the day to end,” confessed Amy, “yet I was excited to start this new phase of life.”

Buffy's Trachtenberg is "Ice Princess"

Fri 9 January, 2004 08:48

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Michelle Trachtenberg is going to be skating in to "Ice Princess," a Disney comedy described as "Flashdance" meets "Bring It On."

She will play a brainy ugly duckling who realises her dream of becoming a champion figure skater with the help of physics, a disgraced coach, three snooty ice princesses, a chorus of stage parents and the hunky boy who drives the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine.

Shooting is scheduled to start in late March or early April with Andrew Waller at the helm.

Trachtenberg is also in early negotiations for a four-episode arc on HBO's "Six Feet Under." She would play Celeste, a pop singer who is protected by Keith Charles (series regular Michael St. Patrick).

Trachtenberg next stars in the DreamWorks comedy "Eurotrip," set for release next month, followed by the indie drama "Mysterious Skin" for director Gregg Araki.