As a wise man once said, it's all about "Emotional resonance and rocket launchers".

This is what I tell people when trying to explain why BtVS is so great. Take away the vampires and the monsters of the week and you're left with what the episode is really about.

zz9 | June 12, 14:26 CET

Nice article. And i'm definitely going to nick that phrase.

Shalom Auslander is awesome, btw.

beergood | June 12, 16:02 CET

Loved this as well. How does Buffy feel is a great way to break down an episode.

zeitgeist | June 12, 17:03 CET

WWBF? Neat!

Sunfire | June 12, 18:19 CET

I'm not surprised Ira Glass is a fan of the show, he's just that kind of cool. Any Whedon fan who hasn't checked out TAL is in for quite a treat once they do. Great article!

AthenaMuze | June 12, 18:34 CET

Wow is Buffy ever getting the NPR love or what, recently.

This is awesome because Ira Glass does such an amazing show himself, quirky, smart and absorbing. Sometimes if I'm driving somewhere with This American Life on the radio and I come to where ever I'm going in the middle of a story, I have to just sit and wait in the parking lot 'til it's ended. And I can send this link to all my intellectual friends and family members who just don't get why I'm so hooked on Buffy ("Isn't that a kid's show?") and say, see, see Ira Glass, Ira frakkin' Glass is a BtVS fan!

Now if only Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me would get Joss to do their "Not My Job" segment, life would be complete. (Or at least way cool).

barboo | June 12, 19:02 CET

Now if only Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me would get Joss to do their "Not My Job" segment, life would be complete. (Or at least way cool).

How do they pick people for that?

Sunfire | June 12, 19:23 CET

I so just called my NPR loving husband and told him that Ira Glass is a fan of Buffy. I may be a geek, but I am a geek in intelligent company.

Now you have me jumping in my chair at the thought of Joss on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. But what would the category be that they would throw at him? What profession would Joss not have a clue about? Dwarf throwing?

Things to muse on a Thursday morning.

Zannadoo | June 12, 20:27 CET

Maybe they ask Ira Glass for recommendations.

barboo | June 12, 20:53 CET

Well it is my default reasoning is to assume Ira Glass is the influential person to pelt with emails in any radio-related situation. But normally that's just me.

Sunfire | June 12, 21:02 CET

This phenomenon is apparently so common that it is known as a Driveway Moment. I've had many listening to TAL, but now sometimes I fall asleep listening to it on my iPod instead, and there are no cars involved. I have to pull over in my dreams to finish listening to it, though.

"It's a war between people who are trying to invent something to amuse themselves and all the forces that would stop it, rightly or wrongly," says Glass.

Loved that. Love Ira and TAL. Love BtVS. Love NPR. It's a LoveFest for me this a.m.

If I were to find out that David Sedaris was a BtVS fan, the circle would be complete... but then I would have to move on to the next life, and I don't think I'm ready.

QuoterGal | June 12, 21:37 CET

Well, he and Glass are good buddies. It wouldn't be surprise me to learn that they sit around and discuss episodes. Or maybe, watch them together on DVD. Now there's an image to warn the cockles of any BtVS/NPR crossover fan's heart.

barboo | June 13, 00:25 CET

I nominate David Sedaris to read the Buffy comics on the audio CD of my dreams.

Sunfire | June 13, 00:35 CET

Sunfire, I think you are on to something. Buffy ala David Sedaris would be pure gold.

haney-hop | June 13, 00:51 CET

Hey, just this morning I dog-eared the David Sedaris page in my UCLA Live schedule. (He's speaking at Royce Hall next April.)

jcs | June 13, 01:57 CET

Wow, I just know in my heart of hearts that if I had any idea who these folks are I'd be truly speechless right now.

(And no, I'm not trying to be funny. This is without wax.)

DaddyCatALSO | June 13, 04:28 CET

TAL on my ipod comes to work with me on the crowded rush hour bus. I almost forget that I'm clinging to a pole, even. And my personal "driveway moment" (I have no car) occurs while I wait to enter the building where I work. I have to finish listening outside, so I won't have to stop the show while I pull out my ID for the guard.
DCAlso, you should really check it out.

Ira Glass is terrific. My favorite recent podcast was the one with the story of the Irish fellow who won the Big Quiz show.

toast | June 13, 06:21 CET

Ira Glass is brilliant, David Sedaris is brilliant (and incredibly fun live).

zeitgeist | June 13, 06:28 CET

toast; /thanks, but I'm not sure I can pull in NPR around here, and I don't have an iPOD yet.

DaddyCatALSO | June 15, 00:17 CET

I just listen to pod casts on my computer. It is a pain, but it works.

newcj | June 15, 01:52 CET