I hope people flood him with Shakespeare questions cuz at present that's all I'm really interested in hearing him answer. Questions like, "what was it like doing kissing scenes with SMG?" for me? Not so much. Whether or not he thinks Shakespeare was really a pseudonym for the drunken Bacon and Marlowe? That I'd like to see him waft philosphical.

I doubt I'll email tho cuz I have a rather defeatist attitude about things like this. I mean he's gonna be bombarded with emails. I'd have a better chance getting struck by lightning, and have less interest standing out in that particular field waiting for said lightning.

ZachsMind | March 01, 21:08 CET

Would love to hear more of JM's Shakespeare-related thoughts rather than more 'OMGZ j00 r so teh hotnezz! I r have no ?'s i just wanted 2 say that'. It would be a shame (IMO) to see his considerable passion and insight on the subject of the Bard go unasked after. Alternately: for gods' sakes, ZM, please email intelligent questions- you may be my only hope!

zeitgeist | March 01, 21:52 CET

It says they plan to screen out questions that have been asked a number of times in the past, so I don't think we'll be seeing them address the "how was it kissing Sarah" type questions. I bet he'd rather answer questions about Shakespeare too, so go ahead and send them.

killinj | March 01, 21:57 CET

I suspect 90% of the questions will be 'When is the Spike movie being release?¬!:~ Joo r so teh hotnezz! Oh baby you make me so horny'.

gossi | March 01, 22:37 CET

How about, 'What would it be like kissing SMG if she were playing Ophelia (both pre and post pond interface scenario) ?'. Seems like a happy compromise.

Go ahead zachsmind, after all, you have to be in it to win it, nothing ventured nothing gained (and all the other motivational platitudes I tend to ignore myself ;)

(it's a great idea tho'. Hopefully just by weight of numbers we should get some insightful questions each month)

Saje | March 01, 22:39 CET

Score! This is great, I wish Joss would do this!

Joss rules! | March 01, 22:40 CET

Well, with all due respect to the Bard (and i do hope he gets questions on that subject as i'd be very interested in reading his replies) i have to state the obvious and hope that he gets regular questions on Spike too. And i don't mean about the possible telemovie, as we all know the only one who can really answer that at the moment is Joss.

James has never been shy in answering questions about what he thought of the various Spike developments over the course of the seasons of Buffy and Angel he starred in. The attack on Buffy in the bathroom (which i still refuse to call rape, or even attempted rape, given all that led up to that night), the chip, the regaining of his soul, the transition to a regular character on Angel. It would be good to hear his opinions on all of these Spike related topics, especially in this kind of Q&A where he will actually have time to write a detailed response, rather than the sometimes rushed replies given at conventions.

Buffysmglover | March 01, 22:43 CET

I've just sent the e-mail with my questions. :D

William the bloody | March 01, 22:48 CET

Ok my question would be why a yahoo account when you have your own domain? Did they not give you a couple of free email accounts to use? I don't know the yahoo account thing just smacks of something to get hacked into eventually and screwed with. Or maybe I'm the only one who has seen the yahoo account hackers out there.

RavenU | March 01, 23:08 CET

Ok my question would be why a yahoo account when you have your own domain? Did they not give you a couple of free email accounts to use?

James' reply: "I don't know anything about the interweb!"

Rogue Slayer | March 01, 23:34 CET

"I suspect 90% of the questions will be 'When is the Spike movie being release?¬!:~ Joo r so teh hotnezz! Oh baby you make me so horny'.
gossi | March 01, 20:37 CET"

Sounds like a really low opinion of Marsters fans that does. Some may ask those type of questions, although I doubt it would be anywhere near as many as you assume, but they most probably wouldn't get answered. I'm guessing you haven't been to a JMLive organised Con. Not big with the childish squeeeeing.

Plus a whole lot of JM fans may want one, but don't expect we will ever get a Spike movie. There's more to the man than Spike, hence "JM fans" not just "Spike fans". :0)

exoticmushroom | March 01, 23:45 CET

Ok my question would be why a yahoo account when you have your own domain?

That would require them to know better RavenU and unfortunately its not only James who doesn't know anything about the interweb. I wish Himber would just hire someone who knew what they were doing to run the site for him.

killinj | March 01, 23:50 CET

Well, the last bit of that sentence was a joke lifted from 40 Year Old Virgin. I'm sure James has many intelligent fans -- but I'm also sure he also has many fans who will submit questions like that.

gossi | March 01, 23:54 CET

Haven't seen the movie, didn't get the "joke".

I'm sure he does, but not as many as you'd think.

exoticmushroom | March 02, 00:00 CET

Thanks for the link Killinj I just sent an email asking about his possible future involvement with the Dresden Files television series. I would dearly love to see him play Thomas. And also asked if he has recorded book 4 on CD yet.

For those who have no idea what I'm talking about go here: http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/1/ The Dresden Files is a wonderful book series and James reads them on CD.

Miss Edith | March 02, 00:05 CET

Random story: I was once in The Caven (a bar in Liverpool) ordering a round, and spoke to some American bloke whilst stood around. Somebody pointed out to me the next day it was James, who was apparently doing a gig in the other side (the gig area). I was fairly well lubricated.

[ edited by gossi on 2006-03-01 22:07 ]

gossi | March 02, 00:06 CET

Lucky bloke. Blokess?

Miss Edith | March 02, 00:07 CET

Presumably this was pre-fandom, gossi ? If you were already a JM fan and didn't recognise him you must have been absolutely shedded ;).

Saje | March 02, 00:26 CET

gossi!

How on earth could you be standing next to James and not know??? Even if I was unconscious, I would know!

Nebula1400 | March 02, 00:26 CET

It's quite easily done. I was at a fish and chips restaurant in Yorkshire once in the late 90s and sat behind a guy talking about Shakespeare. Afterwards my girlfriend told me that the guy was Alan Rickman.

Simon | March 02, 00:31 CET

Way back in the early 90s, my best friend took a class at the RSC taught by Ian McKellen (who few knew at the time).

Miss Edith | March 02, 00:32 CET

And you missed seeing me, as being a local gal I've been to all his gigs (only 3, not that many) at the Cavern.

Blonde or shaven-headed?

exoticmushroom | March 02, 00:33 CET

This was about a year or two ago.

gossi | March 02, 00:38 CET

Must have been with the short brown locks then - not quite as recognizable, but I'd know those cheekbones anywhere!

killinj | March 02, 00:47 CET

I don't know, after 7 pints of larger I don't think I could recognise my own face in a mirror. I probably need glasses.

gossi | March 02, 00:49 CET

OK, gossi, we'll go with option number 2 'Shedded' then ;).

I met Kevin Keegan once (in Saudi Arabia of all places). That's about it for brushes with fame (well, apart from walking past Gloria Hunniford one time and seeing Clive Anderson in Waterloo station).

Probably mean very little (or should I say, even less) to international readers, sorry ;).

Saje | March 02, 00:53 CET

I saw Craig from Big Brother outside my office today.

Yes. It was about exciting as it sounds.

gossi | March 02, 01:08 CET

Was he cleaning the windows or selling 'The Big Issue' ?

Saje | March 02, 01:17 CET

Nah. He got out of a jag in a suit, on a mobile phone. Obviously the BBC building program paid well.

gossi | March 02, 01:22 CET

Thanks for the link Killinj I just sent an email asking about his possible future involvement with the Dresden Files television series. I would dearly love to see him play Thomas. And also asked if he has recorded book 4 on CD yet.

For those who have no idea what I'm talking about go here: http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/1/ The Dresden Files is a wonderful book series and James reads them on CD.
Miss Edith | March 01, 22:05 CET

Miss Edith, I'd love for James to play Thomas, but I doubt he would, because of the vampire thing, been there, done that.

Zacksmind, please ask the Shakespeare question, he loves Shakespeare and I think they might select it just because they know it would get him all involved and excited.

wrikiwood | March 02, 01:25 CET

I don't think it's such a terrible thing that a number of James' fans may just be interested in his Spike role. I'm a fan of the actor himself (going so far as to watch the current season of Smallville because he is appearing in it. That's how big a fan of the actor i am, lol!) but there are many actors out there who only interest me for a given role.

Take Adrian Paul, for example. Duncan MacLeod will always be one of my favourite fictional heroes but beyond that role i don't follow Adrian's career at all closely. William Shatner will always be my favourite starship captain but you won't find me watching T J Hooker or Boston Legal. Lance Henriksen impressed me in pretty much every episode of Millennium but i haven't a clue what he has done since then.

There are some fans out there that really only care about James because of the fact he played Spike and i think it's a little unfair that any of them should be looked down upon or presumed unintelligent simply because their interest only extends as far as that one role.

[ edited by Vampire With A Gun on 2006-03-01 23:28 ]

Buffysmglover | March 02, 01:27 CET

I know wrikiwood that's the only bad thing. But in the back of my mind, I just picture Jim writing that character with James (from S6) in mind ;-)

VWaG: Give Boston Legal a try. It's as much a fantasy series as any with ghosts and demons. And it relies on the magnificent chemistry of its cast as much as or more than its stories. If you like character based entertainment, you might like it. The interplay between Shatner and Spader is priceless.

Miss Edith | March 02, 01:36 CET

I'm not looking down on them for being interested in the character of Spike - let's face it, it's the best part James has played, and it's probably the best part he ever will get to play.

I think it's just Spike-Movie-overload. That said (I'll stoke that fire!), there's a post on SM.org from somebody saying Joss told them the Spike project is being 'finalised', whatever that means.

gossi | March 02, 01:39 CET

I think most of the James fans online now appreciate his talent and feel it goes beyond Spike.

spikeylover | March 02, 02:04 CET

The fan of actor vs. character question is interesting.
In general, I consider myself a fan of actors. I love certain people – Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, Tom Wilkinson, Juliette Binoche, Sean Penn, Johnny Depp, Paul Giamatti, to name just a few off the top of my head – and will go see (almost) anything they're in because I know they'll do stellar things with the role. But that's because I'm mostly a movie person, and those are all film actors.
With TV, I find I get much more attached to characters, because I get so familiar with them. I love the BtVS and Angel characters more than any others, but for the most part, haven't really followed the actors to other roles. Mostly because the roles just haven't interested me that much. It's not that I want to limit the actor to that role, or say "I'm only interested in James as Spike, or in Alyson Hannigan as Willow" – just that, if I'm honest, it's really more the character (and that actor's portrayal of the character, of course) that has captured my heart.
I think JM is a great actor, and I'd love to see what he can do with a role other than Spike. But so far, he hasn't really been given a role that has made me want to follow him. I adored AH as Willow, but there hasn't been much in what she's done outside BtVS that has appealed to me (not to say she's been bad in stuff, just not of the quality that would make me follow her from role to role).
I love Veronica Mars as a character, and also liked Kristin Bell's brief stint on Deadwood, but I don't know that I'm going to check out her new movie, which from the previews looks terrible.

I guess this is all to say that for me, there's a big difference between TV and movies when it comes to following actors. And it makes sense, given the lengh of seasons and series, that we become so attached to certain characters over time. As for the actors, I'm usually thrilled if I come across them later in another role that I can love, but I don't follow them looking for it. if that makes sense....

acp | March 02, 02:11 CET

The two times I've actually seen JM at a Q&A (as someone else mentioned, JMLive events are also a good example of great questions), people in general, ask pretty good questions. Oh, I'm sure there are duplicates from Con to Con, but I think most folks do try to come up with something as original as possible to try and stand out amongst everyone (especially when it's their moment to ask James the question personally).

Knowing they'll be screened helps too. We know we won't get duplicates that way and with only 5 being answered, I'm sure they'll be ones that are unique. Looking forward to it. I think it's a great idea as long as they keep at it.

[ edited by Grace on 2006-03-02 00:16 ]

Grace | March 02, 02:12 CET

In my book there's no such thing as Spike Movie overload... personally I'll believe it when I see it but can you imagine the reams of posts that would be generated if Joss had been talking about Serenity# 2 for as long as he's been taking about the Spike movie? I guess Serenity fans might be just a tad excited! And no one would think the worse of them for that.Hell I might even get a tad frisky myself... for a year or so at least.

Spike fans started off all full of the oh be joyfuls but of late the reaction on most boards I frequent seems to have gone from excitement to " yeah yeah, get back to us when you actually have some news"


By the way I post on several forums and have been to many a Q and A and never once have I encountered the "OMG Spike is so hot!" text speak abominations that you seem to fear will be flooding in to the questions line. I'm sure there are teenage boards where that is the level of discussion but James has been asked some highly insightful questions at the events I've been to as well as a few of the fun trivia type.


Never underestimate the high level of intelligence of the Whedonverse fandom, no matter which character we support :)

In any case I'm pretty sure that any repetitive or downright silly questions will be swiftly " screened" (which I assume means deleted) long before James gets given the list from which to select the chosen five.


Of course, now that I have the chance to actually ask something my mind has gone blank, and I've already asked too many Shakespeare questions at cons ( and got some pretty amazing and thought provoking answers) so I'll leave those to someone else.

hey ho

maybe next month.

[ edited by debw on 2006-03-02 00:28 ]

debw | March 02, 02:27 CET

I sent a question. If he answers it, you'll know it was me who sent it - it's that obvious. Nothing to do with Shakespeare, either. Sorry :-/

I'm hoping to get in with the 'this question is so random we'll just answer it fo the heck of it' factor. Wish me luck!

giles (yes, it is my real name) | March 02, 02:41 CET

"James, how does it feel to go from being surrounded by the heights of writing, directing and acting talent on Buffy and Angel to, well, Smallville?"

I'm guessing the mods probably wouldn't let me ask that.

MrArg | March 02, 02:58 CET

Well James has already said on several occasions that he's enjoying his role on Smallville ( which, by the way really isn't a bad little show) and that he likes the fact that his character has a clear motivation and that Michael Rosenbaum who plays Lex is a great actor . So I'm guessing it'd come under the heading of FAQ . Of course you could try re-phrasing it in a manner slighly less offensive to his current role. Just a suggestion.

[ edited by debw on 2006-03-02 01:48 ]

debw | March 02, 03:08 CET

"James, how does it feel to go from being surrounded by the heights of writing, directing and acting talent on Buffy and Angel to, well, Smallville?"

I'm guessing the mods probably wouldn't let me ask that.
MrArg | March 02, 00:58 CET

Oh, I'm sure the mods would allow it, since they are only screening the personal questions. But if you are asking whether James would belittle his current co-workers, I would say the answer is no, he has already voiced a positive opinion about the people involved in Smallville. Besides, the man has a lot of class.

wrikiwood | March 02, 03:12 CET

Well, in fairness you're never going to see an actor going "Well, the writing is shit, but I need the work" whilst they're reoccuring. That said, you could do an awful lot worse than Smallville.

gossi | March 02, 03:13 CET

and that Michael Rosenbaum who plays Lex is a great actor.

I had not heard that. It makes me happy to know that James Marsters recognises and appreciates the talents of Michael Rosenbaum. He IS a great actor, and, doomed-bad-boy comparisons apart, I bet JM can empathize with the painstaking hair issues the part of Lex Luthor demands. I mean, having to be bald for a part is probably the only thing worse than having to keep your hair bleached platinum blonde with no roots showing, year in year out...

PS - I submitted some questions. I'm quite asleep in anticipation of them actually being answered.

Bad Kitty | March 02, 03:51 CET

That said, you could do an awful lot worse than Smallville.

Are you sure? Save Charmed, I'm not sure...
IMO, of course.

Rogue Slayer | March 02, 03:52 CET

James would be quite a bit more gracious than I, to be sure. Correct me if I'm misusing the slang, but Smallville is pants IMHO.

MrArg | March 02, 03:56 CET

That said, you could do an awful lot worse than Smallville.

Are you sure? Save Charmed, I'm not sure...
IMO, of course.

Actually I think pretty much everything else on The WB is worse than Smallville (maybe not Gilmore Girls).

vampire dan | March 02, 04:01 CET

He could be in Hollyoaks.

gossi | March 02, 04:55 CET

He could have been in Serenity. Shudders at the thought of having to sit through that just to get my James fix. I'll take Smallville. It's always good to remember that one person's trash is another's treasure.

iowagirl | March 02, 05:33 CET

Now, we all know James wouldn't fit into Kaylee's jumpsuit, let's not get silly.

gossi | March 02, 05:40 CET

Gossi, could you provide a link for sm.org, because I couldn't find it. Or, are you just trying to pull the legs of the JM/Spike fans?

wrikiwood | March 02, 05:48 CET

Miss Edith:

VWaG: Give Boston Legal a try. It's as much a fantasy series as any with ghosts and demons. And it relies on the magnificent chemistry of its cast as much as or more than its stories. If you like character based entertainment, you might like it. The interplay between Shatner and Spader is priceless.

Don't get me wrong in what i mean when i say i'm not watching Boston Legal, Miss Edith. The show, from what i've seen, looks very good and certainly something i'd enjoy. The timeslot it's in here in the UK is not the best for me to catch it regularly though. Add that to the fact my television schedule is already pretty full right now and Boston Legal comes in as a low priority.

I'll probably give it a try at some point though. :)

As for Smallville, it's not terrible but it is far, FAR from being great television. The highlights for me, other than James, would have to be the brilliant John Glover and the lovely Erica Durance. The three of them almost make the show worth watching.

Buffysmglover | March 02, 05:50 CET

Boston legal is top notch, but, good grief, sometimes the judges' decisions really annoy me (liberal atheist vent)

Smallville with Mr Masters has yet to hit screens over here so I shall refrain from commenting. However, I'm a huge fan of the guy that does the Television Without Pity recaps. Hoyay.

(edited for stupid spelling type things)

[ edited by giles (yes, it is my real name) on 2006-03-02 11:26 ]

giles (yes, it is my real name) | March 02, 13:24 CET

"Smallville with Mr Masters has yet to hit screens over here"

If "over here" is the UK, then you've just missed at least two episodes of JM in Smallville on E4. Or perhaps you haven't got that new-fangled digital TV thingy? ;)

I watched 3 eps of Smallville just to see JM. It seemed pretty good in a Saturday-afternoon-family-viewing kind of way, but that's not my cup of herbal infusion. JM's performance was fine, but I wouldn't have paid any special attention to it if I hadn't already seen him as Spike. I don't think the writing gave him the opportunity to do much with the role.

tichtich | March 02, 15:23 CET

Gossi...Spike IS HOT...thats true, but thats not the only reason Spike fans loved the character. I loved the depth and complexity right along with the killer good looks.

James Marsters is also a lot more than just a gorgeous face. He is an incredibly talented actor and a genuinely fascinating human being.That is what I see in him.

That said...I think most fans, or at least the REAL fans, of both the character Spike and the actor James, are there for a hell of a lot more than 'fangirl' titillation!

kathylovesspike | March 02, 16:42 CET

James can bring an amazing intensity to a role, without actually being that intense in real life.

gossi | March 02, 18:05 CET

I'm sure that can be true for a great many actors, Gossi...thats why I said I think a lot of fans are there because they appreciate the person he IS apart from the character he PLAYED....at least IMHO.

kathylovesspike | March 02, 18:39 CET

Mr. Arg, Smallville is a big girls blouse, not pants. I know people keep saying "You could do worse" but I wonder how. Even Red Dwarf had better special effects. . . Don't get me wrong, I love my daily dose of James, I hear he's tops on the show, but that doesn't make up for the fact that the show is, um, well, not good.

GrrrAargh | March 02, 22:40 CET

If "over here" is the UK

Nope - the UK is over there. I'm over here, past the equator, slightly to the left and down. That's it. Now scratch.

Oddly enough, the UK used to be over here. But now it's quite obviously not, in a way that makes you wonder if it ever really was, or was it, perhaps, merely some bad vindaloo?

giles (yes, it is my real name) | March 03, 01:38 CET