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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Happy Birthday Tara!

Have a great one!

Dr. Horrible: One-Shot Wonder REVIEWED

Greetings, minions! Say hello to big, stinky, kind of disgusting but nonetheless *awesome* fear for it is I, Doctor Horrib.. no wait, that's not true. Let me try again.

Stand aside and consider your day saved in a both rugged and charming manner, citizens, for I am Captain Ham... no, that's not it either.

Hey, Buffyfest, it's me, your nerdiest blogger just back from running to the comic book store in the manner that a fat kid runs away from a dodge ball with Dr. Horrible #1 (of one) grasped tightly in my teeny, tiny, itsy, bitsy grasp. Yeah. That'll do.

So! Zack Whedon is our writer, Joelle Jones makes with the art and Dark Horse wraps the whole thing up in a nice bow for consumption by the massively massive masses but is it any good? Is the $3.50 a worthy investment or should you just keep saving up for that nifty freeze ray you've had your eye on? Well, harken close, kiddos, because working in this industry of funny books has earned me some, at least, perceived cache. In other words: I know what's up.

In a word: Yes. In two words: Do it! In three words: It was awesome. Four words? You get the point. See what I did there? Seriously, gang, the book is a winner. This idea that Scott Allie and co. came up with to tell a series of single issue stories has really paid off and there's no better example thus far than this very book I hold in my hands. The story leaps right off the page with wit, charm, and even, dare I say it, a little tenderness. But mostly it's funny and Joelle Jones captures the crap out of Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion. You want a criticism? Okay. Penny is the weak point of the story. She gets only the briefest of cameos and it falls flat on it's face. In fairness, I think it's best to leave her out of the narrative since there just isn't much of her story to tell. If it's a heroic lady person you're after, you'll have to stick with Buffy.

But, but, but! Let's not put all our focus on the one debbie downer and lose sight of the wonderfully horrible forest of amazing doom that is this book. You know who else shows up? Moist! I love me some sweaty, jewish henchman and Moist is a special fellow who plays his special part specialfully...? There's even a cool ad in here for Brad Meltzer's upcoming arc of the Buffy comic. Yes, even the commercials are cool. What's not to love?

I'm asking you, I'm telling you, nay, demanding you run out and retrieve your copy today. Start up your jalopy, fill it up with petroleum distillate and re-vulcanize your tires, post haste, and get yourself down to the local comic book shoppe. You won't regret it and maybe, just maybe, if the book sells really well... we could get some more comics starring a certain Doc and his supposedly well endowed arch nemesis. When you're done come on back and let me know what *you* thought. Consider yourself winked at as I slowly saunter away, Buffyfest.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Can't Stop the Serenity Last Hurrah Auction

Can't Stop the Serenity is having their final fundraiser of the year with a "Last Hurrah" auction in support of Equality Now. They've already raised $128,000 and your bid will help them reach their pledge goal of $150,000!

There's some fabulous prizes, including a donation given to us by Kelley Armstrong, Angel comic writer. Kelley was nice enough to send a bunch of Angel goodies, including a signed original draft of Aftermath #1. We all read this original version while we still had it in our hot little hands and it's fantastic. It's fascinating to have a little insight from the original concept and compare to what was in the final print. The winner of the auction will be the only other person to ever get to read it besides us, Kelley and Mr. Whedon himself. A great item for any Angel fan!

Other prizes include a tour of the Dollhouse costume department and a Browncoat Fan Pack. Go check it out here.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Vote for Buffy Between the Lines at the Podcast Awards

Buffy Between the Lines - The fan audio drama that explains what happened when the cameras stopped - is a finalist at the Podcast Awards! Apparently, Harry Potter wins in the entertainment category every year. Let's show those Potterheads what's up!

For an added bonus if BBtL wins, they will be producing a post-Chosen episode that fans have been clamouring for....bridging Seasons 7 and 8. So go vote! You can vote once a day, every day from now until November 30th at http://podcastawards.com/. Buffy Between the Lines is in the Entertainment category. FYI, you must enter a valid email to validate your vote.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Buffy the Vampire Diaries

Every time a new vampire show comes out, I set my DVR in hopes it will be the next Buffy and/or Angel. Remember that show Moonlight? I lasted 3 episodes and I was gone. With True Blood I stayed around for about eight episodes until I couldn't stand it anymore. That's when I realized the truth of the matter. I don't love vampires, demons, witches and slayers, I love a show with smart writing and great characters. My love for Buffy and Angel is definitely not about a plot point.

In true compulsive fashion, though, with the season premier of Vampire Diaries looming in the "Must See TV" September air, I set my DVR to record because at this point I think it's a sickness for me to record any show set in a fantastic other world (see also: Supernatural, Fringe). And again, I almost stopped watching circa episode 5, but then something amazing happened - I saw true potential in the show and a hint of smart writing and some interesting characterization crept in, too. I do have my worries that it will soon lose my interest because in all honesty, I don't see the point of Elena (yet). I'm least interested in her and more intrigued by her screwed up brother, his even more screwed up girlfriend and her witchy best friend. Let's not forget the two vamp brothers either, who by the the way, are the equivalent of Angel and Angelus getting their own spin off called Orpheus: The Series where in the first episode they find the long lost Gem of Amara!

Which brings me to my second fear. I always compare supernatural shows to Buffy and this one's no different with the parallels. We've got the witchy best friend, the other best friend with unrequited feelings, the vamp-tortured-soul boyfriend, his evil alter-ego, the unaware aunt/parental figure, the High School bitca and the local hangout in the mystical town. The only thing missing is the Watcher and an interesting female lead, unfortunately.

I don't even mind that it clearly bites off of the Buffy/Angel relationship (see photo above) because, at the end of the day, I think the show has potential. I just truly hope that they either nix the lead actress from the show or give her arc something interesting to hold onto besides an undead boyfriend and some silly diary entries. Oh, and get rid of that stupid crow while you're at it.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

He's Dead, Jim. Dollhouse Canceled

You heard it hear fifth, folks. Dollhouse just got the axe. The most positive spin on it can be found at Variety where they at least say that the remaining episodes will go to air.

This is one of those occasions where it's hard for me to be the one breaking the news. If it were Tara, she'd just let the show go quietly into that good night and Michelle... well, Michelle wouldn't write a post about this. But you've got me and that's... slightly unfortunate. I am genuinely sorry for the cast and crew and for all the people who were fans of the show. I do think the show deserved to be canceled though. It was a misstep for so many reasons, in my opinion. The concept was never going to be sustainable as an ongoing series, Eliza never quite nailed the part of Echo the way I'd wished she had, and Joss, clever though he is, has yet to learn that you have to work with the system if you are going to be a part of it. You know who else has a show whose ratings are in the toilet? J.J. Abrams. Fringe could get canceled but it probably won't because he knows how to listen to and work with network executives. That's a hard lesson to learn. Nobody likes to have their creative vision screwed with but such is the nature of the beast.

I'm sure we'll get some angry responses for this opinion so let me say that it is mine and mine alone. It doesn't reflect the opinions of Tara or Michelle. It really is a shame that so many hard working people have got to pack it in. I don't relish in that one jot but, for the sake of all involved, I hope that, once the smoke clears, they can all really evaluate the reasons why Dollhouse never took off other than "it's Fox's fault".

UPDATE: Here's the quote from Joss:

Hmm. Apparently my news is not news.

"I don't have a lot to say. I'm extremely proud of the people I've worked with: my star, my staff, my cast, my crew. I feel the show is getting better pretty much every week, and I think you'll agree in the coming months. I'm grateful that we got to put it on, and then come back and put it on again.

I'm off to pursue internet ventures/binge drinking. Possibly that relaxation thing I've read so much about. By the time the last episode airs, you'll know what my next project is. But for now there's a lot of work still to be done, and disappointment to bear.

Thank you all for your support, your patience, your excellent adverts. See you again. -j."