Good overview, except for this bit of misinformation: "The WB dropped Buffy in its fifth season, forcing Whedon to develop a storyline...while also scrambling to find a new home for the show..." Not quite, as those who were around then remember: WB wanted to renew, but UPN offered a better deal during (difficult) contract negotiations.

[ edited by Whedonage on 2009-09-02 15:24 ]

Whedonage | September 02, 15:20 CET

Also, the first season of Buffy only had 12 episodes, not 13.

Invisible Green | September 02, 15:24 CET

"Neil Patrick Harris (who[...]was in the running for a series regular role on Firefly)"

Really? Who was he supposed to be? I can only imagine him as Wash, but that's because I know him best as Barney and so can't imagine him being the straight man as Simon.

jamesthegill | September 02, 15:29 CET

@jamesthegill: I think NPH tried out for Simon, actually - anyone got a link for that?

And yes, this article seems to have a lot of bad info (Firefly had a total of 14 episodes shot, not 13). Still it's nice to see Joss getting more of his due.

KariAri | September 02, 15:35 CET

Yes, it was Simon. He mentions it in this interview.

Rachelkachel | September 02, 15:37 CET

What exactly does "distaff" mean?

wiesengrund | September 02, 16:06 CET

It's not that staff, it's dis one.

(means pertaining to women. Which BTW, I think is missing Dollhouse's point somewhat - the objectification/identity/exploitation issues mainly affect women but not exclusively)

Saje | September 02, 16:14 CET

Came here to comment of the "Buffy was dropped by the WB" myth, glad I'm not the only one to spot that. They didn't drop it, they were fighting for it but got outbid.

zz9 | September 02, 18:18 CET

Though they did do their best to imply that the series was over when the last few episodes of season 5 were airing.

Simon | September 02, 18:21 CET

It would have been sweet to see NPH in Firefly later on though, in whatever role. He pretty much rules.

Rune | September 02, 21:36 CET

I always felt that the low ratings for Buffy and Angel had to do (in part) with the fact that the WB and UPN weren't even available across the country. Speaking for Eastern Iowa: we didn't get the WB until Buffy's 4th season, and we never got UPN at all (however I could watch on Fox later after it aired, something the local Fox station arranged because of public demand).

Anyway this is a great article, I'm really happy they included Paley Fest, the Harvard Humanist speech and the Equality Now speech.

embers | September 04, 00:12 CET