I hope that 'Ripper' doesn't become one of those things that's just TALKED about but never happens... that is if it hasn't already.

Dan Corson | July 17, 12:19 CET

Daburcor, I'm sure if it could happen, it will happen, if Joss wants to do it. Personally, I would always like to hear about things Joss wants to do, even if many don't come to pass (Spike movie). Joss can't predict what The Men In Suits (Hamilton, cough) will or won't want to make in the end.

gossi | July 17, 12:22 CET

I'm with you %100! I'm still bummed that the Spike movie never came to be.

I just really hope that something DOES come of Ripper. It's been the one rumored project that has intrigued me the most.

Dan Corson | July 17, 12:38 CET

Man. Ripper. Now there's a show I'd do something undignified to get.

Jobo | July 17, 12:39 CET

... one of those things that's just TALKED about but never happens... that is if it hasn't already.

Well, we'll have to wait until the end of everything to find out - never's a pretty long time coming ;). I'd like to see it but the thing about 'Ripper' is, it's not particularly time critical (Giles is meant to age as ASH does and ghost stories aren't about to become, like, sooo last year). Also have to say that the numbers that got 'Firefly' cancelled would be a pretty successful show on e.g. BBC2 so if they could do it cheaply enough I can see the Beeb being interested.

And I guess it's understandable but is anyone else getting a bit bored with every show that features a young (especially blond) girl being compared to 'Buffy' ? 'Heroes' has, to put it kindly, plenty of influences but i'm not sure how largely BtVS features among them (except as a branch on the Kitty Pryde -> X-Men -> Heroes/Buffy tree - which as it turns out is pretty hard to render in ASCII ;).

Saje | July 17, 12:50 CET

Well the 'Heroes' and 'Buffy' comparisons are valid inasmuch as Claire Bennett is also a blonde cheerleader with extraordinary abilities that need/ed to be kept secret.
The main difference for me- Buffy's tagline wasn't about HER being saved, rather she was the hero herself.

I love 'Heroes' but find comparisons to 'Buffy' characters and plots creeping up on me all the time- bending time-Illyria, the good twin/bad twin- Angel, the moralities of invisibility- Buffy, hearing thoughts- Buffy again. I could go on, and it's not a conscious comparison but as a result I do normally find 'Heroes' for all it's hype, to be a bit lacking.

As I'm sure 'Ripper' would NOT be, if it ever bloody makes it into production!

missb | July 17, 13:39 CET

It's all subjective course but though Buffy/Angel have hugely influenced my take on fiction, especially of the TV variety, I guess I still tend to primarily see the precursors for each of the ideas BtVS subverted (or just used) - so 'The Invisible Man' for the personal consequences of invisibility, Jekyll and Hyde for good/bad twin (or any soap opera ;) etc. And with 'Heroes' in particular it's obviously pretty natural to look at the X-Men (or at least the Marvel U) for all the characters' precursors (including, famously, Buffy herself ;).

Fair point though, there are some valid similarities and a lot of the Heroes' abilities (a lot of all supposedly sci-fi superpowers IMO) are actually just magical/mythical abilities with new clothes (the woman who can cast glamours, invisibility etc.) which were played around with quite a lot on Buffy.

Saje | July 17, 14:08 CET

You know what warms my heart? The fact that some of them still talk to each other.
Tony is staying over in America with Aly and Alexis, and James calls him.
Maybe the whole cast never got to become the big family like the Firefly crew, but it makes me giddy that at least part of the gang still talks to each other.

And , yes. Ripper please.
Make it in UK, and Stephen Moffat can work with Joss... that would be fun.

Numfar PTB | July 17, 16:15 CET

I think everyone is so Joss-deprived, they are looking for Joss/Buffy similarities in anything they can get that even remotely resembles Buffy.

I'm kind of hoping the new stint on "The Office" makes sci-fi-heavy NBC do the math.

Joss+TV=GOLD.

Nebula1400 | July 17, 16:20 CET

It's great to hear from Tony. I want a cush job in St. Lucia.

thatweirdgirl | July 17, 17:08 CET

Personally, I would always like to hear about things Joss wants to do.

Even if he said he was going to do a remake of The Man With One Red Shoe?

Ripper still possible?! YEAH! I'd give my left kidney (okay, maybe not) but I'd give something important.

I love hearing about some cast members staying in touch, but I was a little sad that ASH only mentioned Joss and Alyson in reference to being in L.A. I won't elaborate.

Tonya J | July 17, 19:22 CET

Yes, please. :)

Lunakitty | July 17, 19:32 CET

I think the comparison between Claire and Buffy is weak...it's purely superficial qualities that they have in common. Who they are and how they deal with their powers seem more important to me, and they are VERY different in that regard.

Also, as Saje pointed out, most of the superpowers that appear on Heroes have origins in works that are much earlier than Buffy. It's falling into that old "all sci-fi is the same" trap to compare them. Heroes is, to me anyway, pure supernatural drama; it doesn't really have the horror or comedy that set Buffy apart. I like the show, I think it's wonderfully executed for what it is, but I don't see it's "mission statement" being overly influenced by Joss...there would be more masturbation jokes if it were. (;

WillowSlay | July 17, 20:09 CET

Make it in UK, and Stephen Moffat can work with Joss... that would be fun.

That click you just heard? My brain rebooting. That would be just about the most must-seeish show ever for me.

Lady Brick | July 17, 21:55 CET

Man, this has been talked about for years, and it's still the spin-off I most want to see.

I would do various illegal things to see this happen. Like, littering. And downloading CDs. I'm hardcore.

UnpluggedCrazy | July 17, 22:08 CET

I said several years ago that the perfect course to continue would be Giles training a group of watchers to lead this army of slayers. The lead character would be your typical thoughtful Joe whom is always challenged by his second in charge, the bull-headed type. The storyline will follow the unexpected chaos that comes from Willow unlocking the power of the scythe. With good comes evil. The balance of power within our world must remain even. Every draw has its pull. Imagine that if you can. Fire and brimstone, the gates of hell opening, cats and dogs sleeping together....what a nightmare!

Sorry for that last pun, couldn't resist:) Anyway, I just miss Joss on television. I think the time has come for his return.

Madhatter | July 17, 22:11 CET

So um... whats the adult fic album CD they are talking about??? Not that I am that interested in buying it... jsut curious...

kurya | July 17, 22:25 CET

Ripper!

So many things get compared to Buffy, accurate or not, because Buffy was and is very successful. I notice a similar trend in music and tv reviews/ads: " [Our new creative product]! Like [most recently successful creative product], but with [trait that makes it seem unique]!"

It's one reason Firefly and Serenity were difficult to market-- they don't fit into that formula, or neatly into a genre box.

So let's start this early: Ripper! Like Buffy, but with more Giles!

Sunfire | July 18, 02:26 CET

Sunfire, that is a great tag line. Who wouldn't watch that? pouts. More Giles please.

Harmalicious | July 18, 07:11 CET

Joss, *please* do it.
It's a great idea and we've been starving to see a new series. Something from the Buffyverse would be especially great!

Pank | July 18, 11:58 CET

Just realised calling the series 'Ripper' wouldn't really work, would it? People would think it's about Jack The?

Caroline | July 18, 16:08 CET

I'd love to have a sound clip of ASH saying “Sorry dude, I’m in America" and use it as a ring tone or something.

Hjermsted | July 21, 10:05 CET