1-29-2000

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 16:11:57 2000 205.188.192.163)
Hello. Stopping by to lie a lot about what's coming up. Anyone else excited about the Buffy-adopts-a-walrus story arc? I know I am!

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 16:20:00 2000 205.188.192.163)
Well, you guys probably have all sorts of questions. As is my tradition, I like answer a few right away to save time. So:
Okay. That should clear a lot of things up. Meanwhile, i'm frittering away my day off by staring at the wall and going "I can't belive I have a day off". Also by doing this. How's everybody else?

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 16:27:28 2000 205.188.192.163)
Okay. The lawsuit. I agree that Xander has been slightly less in the foreground this season. He's also been funnier than ever, great work nick, and look for his situation to change (slowly). I personally dig him and Anya -- we're working on an ep that features them. Neither Sarah nor Sophia has had a major head injury that I know of, though Sophia gets banged up pretty impressively. I work on all the stories for Angel, but don't plan to write one by myself for now. No time.

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 16:37:03 2000 205.188.192.163)
Well, we meant it to be SUBTEXT, but you guys have obviously worked it out. Yes, Willow is becoming a Monkey-owner. I just hope we don't get a lot of protest from Christian Right Groups over this.

Marginally more seriously, Willow and Tara's relationship is definitely romantic. Thorny subject; the writers and I have had long topics about how to deal with the subject responibly, without writing a story that sounds like people spent a long time discussing how to deal with it responsibly. To me it feels just right. ALL the relationships on the show are sort of romantic (Hence the B Y O Subtext principle) and this feels like the natural next step for her. I can only promise you two things for sure: We're not going to do an ALLY or PARTY OF5 in which we promote the hell out of a same sex relationship for exploitation value that we take back by the end of the ep, and we will never have a very special Buffy where someone gets on a soapbox and... oh, I nodded off for a moment there. I just know there's a sweet story there, that would become very complicated if Oz were to show up again. Which he will.

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 16:43:16 2000 205.188.192.163)
I tell the actors I'm gonna kill their characters all the time, and they NEVER LAUGH. I just don't get it. And yes, Tracey says "aboot."

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 16:49:59 2000 205.188.192.163)
Lilly/Chantarelle -- I am hoping to bring her to Angel in a story soon. Julia's a very cool actress. Alien 4 -- afraid I don't share your good opinion of it. I'll not write another movie I don't direct (and I don't think I'd do Alien because I'd like to work on a franchise that nine guys didn't have a piece of).

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 16:54:26 2000 205.188.192.163)
See, this is why I love coming here. You guys actually make me think about what I'm doing, about how I'm working this whole Buffy concepts. It's an honor to be challenged by these incisive questions. I feel compelled to answer more honestly than I normally would. Yes, I like chicken a whole damn lot.

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 17:01:06 2000 205.188.192.163)
Sazzie -- you live in town? Or a Wykemist? I have been back but once, on my honeymoon. Would have gone sooner but had no money.

The stuff in the dream in graduation day does have meaning. All will be revealed.

HUSH was much the labor of love. The whole crew worked their asses off and did wonderful jobs. i was really proud of the whole effort. No, i didn't read G I Joe.

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 17:06:26 2000 205.188.192.163)
Cheese and ice capades -- that was our Mr Petrie. Credit due.

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 17:11:10 2000 205.188.192.163)
I seldom drink, but the answer would be Jack Daniels.

Slave, bingo. But there is also another reason, which will be explained. (This was in response to this statement from someone named Slave2Faity " I have to say that Willow's lying about Tara is classic behavior. I'm not answering for you, Joss, just presenting my own viewpoint :) The thing is, perhaps Willow already has a twinge of feeling for Tara, and it scares her. Why, then, would she tell Buffy about Tara? Buffy might get suspicious, start asking questions...and perhaps it's not something Willow feels comfortable sharing. I certainly never felt right telling people about my girlfriend... it's not easily brought up in a conversation,,,"

Yes we will learn more about Angel's family. We've got some juicy flashbacks coming up -- which can only mean one thing. DARLA. I've missed her so.

As will Faith. I'm shooting an ep with the irrepressable Eliza now and it's great fun. She's gonna shake things up.

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 17:18:17 2000 205.188.192.163)
Spike fighting his way out of the initiative? Funny you should ask. This was one of the great foul ups in Buffy history. When I saw the show cut together I went ballistic. Spike was hitting everybody -- in the initiative, in the dorm hall, it was insane. Now I surround myself with smart people (and then take credit for their efforts, a plan brilliant in its simplicity) but the ball got dropped there. We couldn't reshoot most of it so we edited it so that all he did was throw people, not punch them, and when he did punch someone he went "Arrgh my head" and whatnot. Mostly, we got away with it. It's like every time I see Angel walking in what looks like sunlight, i just cry and realize I can't possibly run two shows. But I press on after someone drags me drooling and muttering from the men's room and try to do my best. So for the love of god, DON'T MENTION THE SPIKE THING!!! Fa la la.

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 17:22:14 2000 205.188.192.163)
By the by, destroying the citroen was a personal favor to Tony. He hated driving that thing.

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 17:25:52 2000 205.188.192.163)
Okay, i'm winding down... But the answer is, barring unforseen developments, yes. Buffy and Angel will crossover again this year. And it will be quite different from the last time. And yes, Angel will meet Riley. I bet they'll be BEST FRIENDS..

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 17:32:04 2000 205.188.192.163)
Matrix, best movie, best screenplay. Period. Haven't got the storyboards, still not ready to look behind the magic. Tony had to loop one scene in 11, and for some reason the loops did sound awkward. Our sound guys are usually awesome, i guess that was a tough one.

joss says:
(Sat Jan 29 17:37:42 2000 205.188.192.163)
And now I go. So very tired. Sorry for all unanswered questions. Have good saturdays.

And off he rode on his majestic horse, a horse made of metal that had wheels and that he actually got INTO instead of riding on its back, a horse that was powered by gasoline and emmited a smoky plume of carbon monoxide as away he rode, shouting "giddyup!', and honking his horses horn.


5/15/99:

can't stay long -- and the computer censor ****ed up my Diagnosis Murder joke, I spent WEEKS on that joke, dammit! life goes on. Good news: The network has given Angel a FIVE YEAR pick up! They are changing New Tuesday to Joss is the MAN day (or possible "'da man," their legal teams are working it out). Also the network will be called Jossyland. all executives will change their names to Joss and certain household items (Soap, ziplocks, lard) will be known as Joss as well (I was against the lard). All this in testament to the fact that I am so humble and have not gotten a swelled head at all. Isn't that nice?
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6/19/99:

So, how's everybody? I'm shooting Angel ep1 and I'm insanely tired. Going well, though. Writing Buffy ep1 at the same time. Cranky almost always. Saying hi, though, mostly to deliver my SECRET CODE MESSAGE to the Buffy fans that took out that dare I say bitchin' ad in variety that brought a smile to my lips, a tear to my eye and strange burning sensation to my elbow. (that last part's not true.) I guess everyone knows by now that the WB is airing the eps soon. Thank Dorgrogck the unseeing, I was beginning to worry.

Okay, couple of things. Earshot is supposed to air two weeks before the season premiere in sept. Oddly enough, when we were shooting it I thought it felt like the final highschool ep. The last three are very personal, but EARSHOT sort of contains the shows thesis statement in a way, so it kind of fits as last ( though I wish it could have aired in order)...

It goes on to say more stuff but nothing that's really important.
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Late May 1999:

Guys. How bout that season finale, eh? Rip snortin'! Although, looking at it objectively, it WAS a little bit like band candy. Still. Pretty damn exciting.
Controversy. Not my fave. For the record, I don't think the WB had to pre-empt the ep, but I understand why they did. When those of you who haven't seen it do, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about. But one violent graduation incident and the WB and I would feel like collective @$#%. So. July. Hey, at least we won't be up against the final Home Improvement.
Crazy people with guns bother me. They just do.
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Don't have a lot of time -- unbelievable amounts of work to be done (no, I never stop complaining. It's, like, my thing.) Stories to break for Buffy and Angel, it's very exciting but Greenwalt and I have also come to the informed and reasonable opinion that IT CAN'T BE DONE. We are panicking and proud of it.
Had my usual tuesday night viewing -- only it was packed this week, since I did show the final ep and it was the only place outside of canada that was. Fun.
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It's nice to see how much people care about seeing the ep -- although there were threats made against WB execs, which is, uh, most creepy. Look to poor Britain, who gets it in clumps, out of order, on different networks or not at all. All we have to do is wait a couple of months. Besides, now they're the FORBIDDEN EPISODES, and isn't that a treat in itself. And to be slightly SPOILERISH, all this fuss over the graduation scene means the scene at the end of act one just slipped right by 'em. La la la...
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Couple of things, then must run. One: The show will not change. Yeah, I made a couple of trims in the final ep, but I was on board for that -- they just seemed tasteless (by pure coincidence). But nothing will change in the creative process. If someone tries to start interfering with the show, I'll not make it anymore. Very simple.
And, no, I haven't seen the Phantom Menace yet. I will when I get a mo, but I don't have very high hopes. Maybe the world needs a NEW epic Sci-Fi franchise. Hmm.....
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gone am I. I'll post when we get air times for the eps. Be well
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December 3rd, 1998:

Okay, so I guess I must apologize, Brad. I just read the piece on Buffy and Faith that Buffynerd linked and By God, I think she's right! I can't believe I never saw it! (Actually, desptie my facetious tone, it's a pretty damn convincing argument. But then, I think that's part of the attraction of the Buffyverse. It lends itself to polymorphously perverse subtext. It encourages it. I personally find romance in every realtionship [with exceptions], I love all the characters, so I say B.Y.O.Subtext!)
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Nothing like ruining a graceful exit with another hiccup of a post. Buffynerd, please be my guest, I meant what I said.
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Twice in one week, what are the odds? See Buffynerd hanging, told the other writers about your theory -- BYOSubtext is now the watchword at Buffy. And Godeater quoting Marcus Aurelius, very into him as a youth (brotherhood of Aurelius in ep5 yr1, it all comes around). And Seth WILL be in Austin Powers 2, it means he'll have to be light in a couple of eps but I couldn't stand in the way of Scott Evil.
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