Soooo jealous!

AthenaMuze | July 01, 04:47 CET

Six screens? Wow. I still have not been to a Sing-A-Long. Here's hoping it eventually makes a comeback in some way. :(

Sunfire | July 01, 04:51 CET

I'll be there! :D

cabri | July 01, 04:54 CET

I was planning to see "Mamma Mia" after Comic-Con, and probably still will, but I have to check this out.
But six screens? This could be the biggest sing-a-long yet!

impalergeneral | July 01, 05:13 CET

what!?!? NOOOOOO!!! :grumbles: That is off the charts unfair :(. Hopefully they'll be able to start them back up again, otherwise I'll never be able to go to one.

dulce_serenidad | July 01, 05:13 CET

Funny. I just watched it at home.

Now "Tabula Rasa" is on.

Nebula1400 | July 01, 05:18 CET

Now I'm having really disappointing visions of 5,000 people all moronically screaming, "Shut up, Dawn!" in unison. Might have to skip this.

theonetruebix | July 01, 05:39 CET

I think that S6 Disk 2 (Life Serial, All the Way, OMWF, and Tabula Rasa) is one of my all-time favorites, because each episode just cracks me up for hours on end. Plus, it's good when I'm on the exercise bike to keep me amused.

"Randy Giles? Why not just call me "Horny" or "Desperate For a Shag" Giles? I knew there was a reason I hated you."

Back to OMWF: I am so very jealous of all who are going to be there. I haven't been to a sing along (nor have I been to Rocky Horror, but that's beside the point :). I'm hoping against hope that it will be reinstated so I can go and throw underwear at Marti Noxon.

Have fun, all...and avoid all bunnies.

ETA: b!x: Now I'm having really disappointing visions of 5,000 people all moronically screaming, "Shut up, Dawn!" in unison. Might have to skip this.

Aww, but where's the fun if you can't take out your frustration with teenage angst out on someone? Also, just think: MT went through psychosomatic tonsilitis to bring us golden musical lines such as "She'll get pissed/if I'm missed/see my sister's the Slayer."

[ edited by BandofBuggered on 2008-07-01 02:50 ]

BandofBuggered | July 01, 05:45 CET

BandofBuggered, I have no illusions about the fact that I'm very much the minority opinion on this, but my experience of these shows has been audiences that, frankly, are kind of ugly and in some cases almost frighteningly thuggish in the way they interact with the episode.

Honestly, it's the only time I felt outright gut-level uncomfortable in a room full of fans. So the prospect of it being a crowd in the thousands? Not filling me with hugs and puppies.

ETA that in my case these were in two instances the touring OMWF show, which had a very specific structure to it. I have no idea if other screenings follow the same pattern, so I'm fully aware that my perspective could be colored by a particular experience.

[ edited by theonetruebix on 2008-07-01 02:56 ]

theonetruebix | July 01, 05:53 CET

Oh please ixnay on the Dawn abuse and the key thing. Why do people throw underwear at Marti Noxon? Parking tickets I would understand.

bix, would it maybe be a more mixed crowd at Comic-Con? I could see the Dawn resentment being much less then.

ETA: And by mixed I mean hardcore fans and also more generally nerdy types.

[ edited by Sunfire on 2008-07-01 02:57 ]

Sunfire | July 01, 05:56 CET

Why do people throw underwear at Marti Noxon? Parking tickets I would understand.

I would assume because of, "I'm not wearing underwear."

She could use some, is all. But I've never been to one of these. So I dunno.

Jobo | July 01, 06:02 CET

Sunfire, it is because of the Parking Ticket song, where her last line is "hey, I'm not wearing underwear..." Hence the tossage of knickers.

And I was being flip about the whole Dawn thing, b!x; the thought of thousands of disgruntled fans definitely has me quaking in my stylish yet affordable boots. Also, I've never been to such a thing, so I have no experience with the matter.

What I am hoping is that when I defend my BtVS thesis next spring, I can show that episode beforehand just for the awesomeness. It might fill a void in my life.

As for Dawn, she doesn't bug me too terribly much except in extreme cases of whininess, although that might be because I'm only a few years removed from teenage/high school angst and issues. So I have a little bit of sympathy.

ETA: oops, Jobo got there before me, but got it dead-on. And much like socks, everybody could use an extra pair of underwear. Except maybe Vikings. ;)

[ edited by BandofBuggered on 2008-07-01 03:05 ]

BandofBuggered | July 01, 06:04 CET

Oh wow I somehow totally missed that underwear line. I don't think I'd ever looked up the transcript of Marti's lines until now. Sorry BoB, I was envisioning something more like a rock concert there for a minute. Carry on!

Sunfire | July 01, 06:08 CET

Isn't the underwear line not actually in the TV version, but present on the soundtrack or some such thing?

theonetruebix | July 01, 06:11 CET

It's in the TV version, but by the time she sings it Giles, Anya, and Xander are back to talking, so unless you're listening for it you're not likely to hear it.

Jobo | July 01, 06:13 CET

You can hear the underwear line if you listen closely.

redeem147 | July 01, 06:15 CET

I kinda agree with b!x - not that I've had audience participatory experience with OMWF; but I have no desire to be in a room of screaming, talking-back fans - it's bad enough having my two kids talking back to the TV, honestly. The Reunion screening was great because, while some sang along (ahem, I may have done so a little too), there was no talking over the brilliant dialogue etc.

In any case, I'll have departed from CC by that time, so the show will be left for those as enjoys it. :-)

SoddingNancyTribe | July 01, 06:20 CET

My one experience at a Buffy singalong was in Chicago at the Music Box theater and it was an electric atmosphere. I saw no thuggery among the 700+ attendees . I only heard shut up Dawn twice. A small price to pay for the other 50 minutes and 10 seconds.

As if there weren't enough reasons to be bummed out that I can't be at the show. However, I did just attend Wizard World and purchased a kick-ass page from Season 8 from Andy Owens! It's page 2 from issue 11. Its the one page recap of the slayers being called by Willow's mojo. I couldn't believe there were so many to choose from too. He even had original Fray pages for sale. Wish I had more funds but at least I got the best page.

If I can figure out Flicker I'll post a pic.

alexreager | July 01, 06:28 CET

At the Detroit sing-a-long, it was a midnight movie in a town filled with bars, so the 'shut up, Dawn!'s did get very discomfiting by the end, but hopefully there will have been less alcohol imbibed on CC Sunday evening. Also hopefully most people will have heard Joss's (disapproving) opinion on the matter and taken it to heart.

cabri | July 01, 06:35 CET

I didn't go to the singalong in Seattle specifically for that reason, and later read several comments on the Buffy Seattle web page that the people booing Dawn had been so rough on her that they (the commenters) had felt uncomfortable. That would've ruined it for me, so I'm glad I didn't attend.

shambleau | July 01, 06:38 CET

I would love to go to a OMWF screening where some singing along would occur but I'm not interested in sitting through a magical episode of television that's being made less magical with people talking over the lines and becoming slightly abusive. While I could sometimes relate to being annoyed with Dawn, it's certainly not at the level to yell 'shut up' each time her mouth is opened. And I know many love the performance aspect of the screenings where there are actors out in front of the screen but I prefer to get lost in the moment, and all of those things would certainly take me out of said moment. So while this is yet another reason to be jealous of ComicCon attendees, I know I too would enjoy it far less if it were to go down anything like b!x described. (Although I'm all for the throwing underwear, I always have an extra pair handy cause you just never know when circumstances might call for it.:)

onthedrift | July 01, 06:43 CET

I went to one sing-along at a con, which was actually pretty sedate, but it was enough for me.

My big concern at Comic Con is what happens if SAG strikes, as I expect it will. Will any of the actors come? Would attending an industry panel be morally wrong if I'm in solidarity with the actors? Will I spend the weekend at the zoo?

redeem147 | July 01, 06:44 CET

The Dr. Horrible people would be there because it's not a major studio production, and stars of any movies that are indie productions.

cabri | July 01, 07:01 CET

Hell. Yes.

einral | July 01, 07:03 CET

Hmm. Yup, if a whole bunch of people were yelling "Shut up, Dawn!" every time she opened her mouth (even for the pteradactyl line?!?!) I would start to get pretty bugged. I have no problem with people singing along, though--especially if they're on key. But nobody, not nobody, interferes with lines of dialogue. That's like, heresy!

Thanks for the insider information, all; I feel a little silly for being so flip earlier when I lacked information. I'll keep such knowledge in mind if I ever go to a OMWF sing along in the future.

Sunfire: BoB, I was envisioning something more like a rock concert there for a minute. It's all good. But this gives me an idea that maybe I should bring a pair of underwear to throw when I finally go to see Repo!, as it is a rock musical. I think ASH deserves that much.

Btw: I just noticed that this thread is tagged as BtAS as opposed to BtVS. Thought that pointing it out might help for archival purposes--I'm not just a nitpicker.

BandofBuggered | July 01, 07:18 CET

Oh, so there isn't an audience participation script, a la The Rocky Horror Picture Show where everyone does and says the same stuff at the same time, thus not shouting/singing over dialog? (Never been to one of the sing alongs.)

NYPinTA | July 01, 07:19 CET

NYPinTA, it depends on the event. With the touring show, there very much was a set collection of things people were "supposed to do" at specific times, whether within musical numbers or otherwise.

Other such events are pretty much just singing along coupled with simply watching the episode.

The fact that a number of us have experienced unfortunate versions of this event doesn't mean all OMWF events are like that. I think it's more the fact that those of us who have had miserable experiences are very reluctant to take the chance again.

That's ultimately unfair to "safer" events, but also kind of understandable for that set of people.

theonetruebix | July 01, 07:46 CET

I went the last (first) time they had an OMWF screening at Comic-con. There was no ugliness. Everyone was nice and it was fun. I'd go again if I had a Sunday ticket.

dreamlogic | July 01, 07:56 CET

SAG, from all reports, is not going to strike, redeem147. I don't think anyone needs to worry about that.

TamaraC | July 01, 07:57 CET

The Dawn-bashing got so out of control at the regular Austin screenings that our host had to put a stop to it. It was really ruining the show and some people yelled really horrible things which shouldn't be said about anyone. I think it was the last screening before they were stopped where our host banned it, and it was so much more enjoyable.

sunnydalegirl | July 01, 08:29 CET

I'm so there.

userpjx | July 01, 08:53 CET

SAG's not going to strike tomorrow, as they might have, but there's still no deal and not much evident common ground for one. I think that those of us who are looking forward to new shows by our creator-heroes still have ample reason to be nervous. I am.

But I doubt Comic-con would be affected much. It's mostly about things that are already done.

dreamlogic | July 01, 08:55 CET

Thanks for the explination, bix.

I can understand one being leery of going to something after a bad experience previously. But I'm getting the idea that people at Comic Con are just so happy to be there that maybe the ugliness will be avoided.

As someone who is a little sister, I am really looking forward to the day when little sisters are not always portrayed as whiny, bratty, gets-her-way-all-the-time, fun leeches.

NYPinTA | July 01, 08:57 CET

As someone who is a little sister, I am really looking forward to the day when little sisters are not always portrayed as whiny, bratty, gets-her-way-all-the-time, fun leeches. Hear, hear, NYPinTA. My older sister and I have about the same age difference as Buffy and Dawn, so I would definitely as Cordy would say "over-identify much."

As for the SAG strike, a part of me is happy because of Dollhouse's being "safe" for the moment, but I'm disappointed nonetheless. I feel like the AMPTP is sucking the industry dry, and the fact that the actors aren't all together is upsetting. I think that the writers got a bad deal, and that the SAG's not striking is not a good sign for things to come. OTOH, that other part of me is still shrieking "Dollhouse! Dollhouse!" happily.

BandofBuggered | July 01, 09:07 CET

Ooh, I'm so excited about this! I'm glad the Comic Con PTB realized their mistake last year and that we get Ballroom 20 this year!

Last year's was lots of fun at CC San Diego- no ugliness, very little Dawn bashing. I'll definately be there this year, too!

NicoletheCylon | July 01, 09:31 CET

At the Seattle screening I went to, the fans were indeed pretty rough on Dawnie. The crew did hold up a sign that said "She's right this time" after the "hardest thing in life" line, but either some people didn't see the sign or didn't care, because they still roared "Shut up, Dawn!" I didn't mind a little ribbing of the characters (the pre-episode screening of the Riley-mockery vid was particularly fun) but that line of Dawn's is important, and quite true, and deeply significant, and not to be denigrated just because Dawn spoke it.

ManEnoughToAdmitIt | July 01, 10:04 CET

Do we know that Dollhouse has been filmed beyond the first episode, and is "safe." If so, I missed that, but I'd love to hear it. Already ordered episodes are enough for a DVD. Just sayin'.

dreamlogic | July 01, 10:09 CET

This is slightly off topic, and I don't know if anyone made a full post, but has it been mentioned that the sheet music for Once More with Feeling is being published in a nice shiny book?

19 selections are included, including:


Anyway, even though I have the sheet music that was published in the script book shortly after the ep aired, I'll definitely be adding this to the collection... :)

Sydney | July 01, 10:21 CET

I've been to two OMWF sing-alongs following Serenity CSTS screenings in 2006 and 2007. The first was a lot of fun, but the second was not nearly as fun due to the particularly obnoxious people shouting "Shut up, Dawn!" every single time she made an appearance in the episode. I remember the first year reading the instructions to yell this. And some people did, but not throughout the entire episode. It gets old reaaallly fast. And it doesn't seem quite appropriate for people who supposedly love the show. Like most, I find Dawn a little annoying at times, but the vitriol during these sing-alongs is quite shocking.

JossIzBoss | July 01, 10:29 CET

I prefer the Dawn hate to be a once or twice thing for the night. Anything repeated over and over not only loses the desired effect, but ruins the feel of the show. Unless it's actually funny, and I don't think "shut up Dawn" is particularly funny.

danregal | July 01, 10:44 CET

The question on my lips -- and surely everyone else's -- is, "Who are these Whedonopolis.com wannabes?" Pah! ;-)

dzr | July 01, 15:00 CET

Well, I will definitely do my best to attend this. But there's no way that I'm telling Dawn to shut up; if I'm right, even Joss has expressed his discomfort over fans yelling that at the screen. I mean, it's moronic, and boneheaded.

UnpluggedCrazy | July 01, 15:58 CET

Does this mean that the 20th Century persecution against the screenings is now at an end?

Simon | July 01, 16:11 CET

My guess would be that this is a one-shot thing for comic-con, but don't take my word on that.

At any rate, I'm glad it'll be back this year! I went to the comic-con sing along last year (while exhausted after a day packed full of whedon-y goodness) and it was so much fun, o just sit in a giant roon full of Buffy fans and sings along as loud as we could.

timeerkat | July 01, 16:27 CET

I'm guessing that the audience will be a bit different than the crowds that attended the traveling shows. For one thing, the ticket price is much higher, and like others said, I bet the fans at CC are aware of Joss' comments on the Dawn bashing. Sounds like last year it went pretty well. Wasn't it on Saturday night last year? The crowd may be smaller this year since it is on Sunday night.

SaltyGoodness | July 01, 18:51 CET

I've always imagined sing-a-longs to be magical, wonderous affairs filled with many merry songs and jigs and general adoration-bordering-on-total-reverence displayed by all those in attendance.....now I find there is Dawnie abuse involved? And people talking and being thuggish? It may be cuz I just finished my 13hr Serenifly marathon, or due to all the sugar I've consumed during said marathon, or a combination of the two, but I'm kinda emotional right now and this newly discovered truth about certain sing-a-long events just makes me sad. So very sad.

For all those who are attending, I hope the CC crowd are just like those from my naive delusions. Sniffle.

shpedoinkel | July 01, 19:30 CET

Well, I'll be there. I'll poke my head into the sing-along and see what it's about. If it gets good marks, that makes two in a row for CC, and hopefully it'll encourage others to go in the future.

And for those who have the urge to shout "shut up, Dawn!", you might lose your nerve from the tingling sensation of being whacked on the back of the head. Not that I'd go to jail for those dopes. :)

korkster | July 01, 22:59 CET

[quote]Well, I'll be there. I'll poke my head into the sing-along and see what it's about. If it gets good marks, that makes two in a row for CC, and hopefully it'll encourage others to go in the future.

And for those who have the urge to shout "shut up, Dawn!", you might lose your nerve from the tingling sensation of being whacked on the back of the head. Not that I'd go to jail for those dopes.[/quote]

Thank you korkster and everyone else who have written feedback here on the screenings held by Whedonopolis.

I won't get into why FOX stopped the screenings, I will say there is a world of difference between the touring (for profit) version and the home-grown (for charity) versions. 1st, we remind people that Joss has instucted us (and the audiences respect it) to not yell "shut up Dawn" anymore. 2nd, there is no audience script. We don't tell you to say this when they say that though there are moments that do call out for certain things to be said and done. But there are no rules except to enjoy yourself and respect those around you.

One of my many hopes is that TPTB at FOX will see the mass fan reaction to a non-tour version of OMWF which may help in the push to get screenings back up. Or at least again at CC 2009.

[quote] The question on my lips -- and surely everyone else's -- is, "Who are these Whedonopolis.com wannabes?" Pah! ;-) [/quote]

Whedonopolis are the folks who ran the April 2007 charity screening in Pasadena, Los Angeles (where David Fury, Ben Edmund, Camden Toy, James Leary and Bryan Fuller got to to hear the fans reaction to OMWF & Smile Time), the one last year at Comic Con (that was an adventure) and are involved with SoCalBrowncoats too- Brian (CSTS organizer this year), Marsia, Kelly, Alison, Ray (CSTS organizer last year), Susan and Patti. It's a digital media news site dedicated to promoting the Whedonverse and everyone involved in it, whether cast, crew, writer, director, producer, or what have you.

Our goal is to hold charity screenings of OMWF & Smile Time. The one for the EGPAF raised approx $3500. We also helped groups in other cities to get legal permission to screen OMWF and the the "do's and don'ts" per FOX legal.

I never want to piss off FOX legal.

Marsia | July 01, 23:35 CET

I've been to four OMWF sing-alongs and my only complaint was with the first two where there was a lot of "Shut up, Dawn!" going on. The first one had a few drunk people there, even though it was a regular theatre, and was being run by an out-of-town group as part of a film week. The other three were charitable ones and after I commented on being uncomfortable with the shouting, the next time the presenter asked people not to yell and no one did and it was so much fun. Everyone singing along in a room of 200+ was so much fun, I can't wait for a crowd of 2,000!

samatwitch | July 02, 00:10 CET

*jaw drop to Marsia*

Wow, talk about being caught red-handed. *blushes* I'm glad I was caffinated enough to not post something I'd regret later.

*waves hello*

Thanks for introducing us so-called-knowledge-seekers to Whedonopolis. With that information, I'm sure the people going to CC will be more comfortable about attending. I'm still bringing my hand, though. Cuz, you know, it's attached and all.

korkster | July 02, 00:31 CET

Plus, just asking, is this an event with separate admission or is it part of those special pricier Sunday admissions? If the latter, it would technically be a private party. But heck, whichever it is, if there's a signature on the line from Murdoch er Fox Legal systems are go.

Hmm, if News Corp is a fox, AOL-Time-Warner a rabbit, Disney-Capital Cities a mouse, and Viacom a one-eyed octopus, what is Sony/Columbia? Interesting zoo.

DaddyCatALSO | July 02, 01:10 CET

[quote]Plus, just asking, is this an event with separate admission or is it part of those special pricier Sunday admissions? If the latter, it would technically be a private party. But heck, whichever it is, if there's a signature on the line from Murdoch er Fox Legal systems are go.
Its the Closing Event of CC. CC is very anal about no attendee having to pay extra for any panel, screening, anything outside the dealers room. The screening is part the Con, whether you buy a 4-day or Sunday only pass. And TPTB did a lot of sweet talking to get permission for the Musical.

Hi! back!!!

[ edited by Marsia on 2008-07-02 00:55 ]

Marsia | July 02, 03:55 CET

I went to most of the Austin OMWF shows and the anti-Dawn shouts were getting a bit out of hand (despite gentle warnings), but I missed the last one where it was banned.

The exploding lighters (handed out for "Walk Through the Fire") made up for a lot, though. I never actually saw (or experienced) one exploding, but just the pre-show warning that they were extra cheap and just might go up, if held burning too long, added a real sense of adventure to the proceedings.

Wm54 | July 02, 07:13 CET