Angel News and Interveiws
The ANGEL star revealed at the Metro Autographs signing on August 21st that she's five and a half months pregnant with a boy.
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Marsters did not provide any detail on the movies other than that each would focus on one particular character, and that either all four would be made or none at all. As far as Marsters was aware, only he has comitted to the project so far.
We'd speculate that other prime candidates for movies of their own would be Willow and Giles, and perhaps Wesley, and that if all four movies were part of an all-or-nothing deal, perhaps this implies all four would tell smaller parts of a larger, overarching story?
Stay tuned to GEOS for further news on potential Buffy/Angel spin-offs!
14/06/04
Amy Acker - Backstage.com Interview
Heavenly Luck
One of the most heartbreaking losses of this season was the WB’s abrupt cancellation of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff, Angel. Completely original, frequently gothic in scope, Angel was one of the best-written shows on television. The show was enjoying its fifth year when the WB announced, in a rather cryptic memo, that it was ending the show despite calling Buffy and Angel "cornerstones of our network" and admitting: "The sum total of the work done on those shows has produced some of the proudest moments in our history." Despite rabid campaigns organized by fans of the show, Angel aired its final episode May 19.
On a sunny day in April, it’s the next to last day of shooting on the series, and Amy Acker still seems stunned by the news. The petite actor, who joined the show as brainy science geek Winifred "Fred" Burkle in Season Three, sits in a trailer on location in Hollywood and attempts to describe the melancholy mood of the set. "It’s strange; you sort of feel like this is your office," she notes. "You don’t really imagine not seeing these people every day. You realize this is how the business works and no show runs forever, but it’s still hard." Many tears had already been shed as she watched the people she worked alongside leave one by one. "Alexis [Denisof, who played her love interest Wesley] had his last day last week, and I was crying for two hours after I left work," she recalls. "All my friends are, like, ’It’s just a show.’ But it’s sad when you’ve been with these people for three years, 15 hours a day sometimes, five days a week. Even if you see people outside of work, it’s not exactly the same."
Acker’s tale of moving to Los Angeles and landing on a hit show is the stuff Hollywood fairy tales are made of. Born and raised in Texas, she had worked at a Shakespeare festival in Wisconsin and lived in New York before heading west. She had been in L.A. only one month when she won the role on Angel. "It was just an audition," she says simply of being cast. "I went on this audition where there were a lot of people, then went back the next day and there were only two people, and then I went back the day after and it was just me. So I thought that was a good sign." Even she seemed surprised by her luck, having heard so many stories about struggling actors. "Now is going to be the time where I’m going to have to suffer through all of the not working," she observes.
Word of the show’s cancellation came down in early February, not long after it aired its 100th episode and only a month after the WB spoke highly of the program at the annual Television Critics Association Tour. Acker was told in person by series creator Joss Whedon. "I’d gotten a bunch of cryptic messages on my answering machine from agents and managers, asking me if I had talked to Joss yet," she recalls. "I had just seen him the day before, and he had said he was going to dinner with [WB Co-CEO] Jordan Levin. I said, ’Call me if he cancels the show or something.’ He said, ’That won’t happen.’ Well, it did happen."
According to Acker, Whedon called her the next morning and wanted to meet up with her. "I said there was a Coffee Bean by our house, and he said, ’Do they serve alcohol? We need a bar,’" she recites with a laugh. "I said, ’I don’t think there are any bars open at 1 o’clock.’ He said, ’Do you have alcohol at your house?’ So we kind of drowned our sorrows at my place."
Ironically it was the second time in a year she thought her time on the show was coming to an end. Last year Whedon told her he would be killing off the character of Fred, but Acker would now be playing a bright blue demon goddess named Illyria that occupied Fred’s body. Reveals Acker, "He told me last October he was going to kill Fred. And then he told me I was still going to be on the show. I thought that was the end of me."
After Acker dodged the bullet the first time, it seems particularly cruel that the show would end up being pulled off the air just months later. Perhaps worst of all was the timing of the announcement. Asked if she had anything else lined up, she points out, "It’s been hard because we found out sort of halfway through pilot season. And it’s not really easy to run across the street to audition for a sitcom when you’ve got blue hair and a blue face." Still, she is trying to remain optimistic. "I’m hoping something good will come up," she says. "I think we’re all a little scared and nervous."
Which is not to say there isn’t any levity on the set, even if it is mixed with self-deprecation. As Acker sits in the makeup chair preparing to undergo her transformation into Illyria, a process that generally takes two hours, actor Gary Coleman appears in a commercial on TV. As the former child star speaks about how important it is to invest money lest you leave a hit program and end up bankrupt like him, her co-star Andy Hallet starts laughing. "Someone told me I’m going to be taping one of these commercials with him next week," he notes.
By Acker’s own admission, she’s playing things by ear. And she claims to look forward to auditioning and experiencing new roles. "It seems like there’s tons of good stuff out there," she said. "I’m excited to play a new character, and I’ll see what comes up. I’d like to use the auditions not only to get a job, but also as a chance to act." And though she has heard stories of some people who are actually relieved when their show ends, she’s not one of them. "People who are excited to move on," she says, "probably don’t have Joss Whedon as their boss."
07/06/04 Results of the SyFy Portal Awards
From Syfyportal.com - 2004-06-6th
Best Actor
David Boreanaz
ANGEL
Best Actress
Sarah Michelle Gellar
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Best Supporting Actor
James Marsters
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Acker
ANGEL
Best Actor/Movie
Johnny Depp
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Best Actress/Movie
Liv Tyler
LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Best Young Actor
Elijah Wood
LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Best Special Guest Star
Charisma Carpenter
"YOU’RE WELCOME" - ANGEL
Best Episode
"A HOLE IN THE WORLD" - ANGEL
Best Theme Song
ANGEL
Best Series
ANGEL
Best Movie
LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING
Gene Roddenberry Lifetime Achievement Award
JOSS WHEDON
06/06/04 Andy Hallett in the Hospital!
The ANGEL star has been taken to the hospital due to massive heart problems a few hours ago. Update.
Andy, who actually had to be present at a convention yesterday, was excused and it was published that he is in hospital due to heart problems (enlarged heart) and is being hooked up to an oxygen tank now. There isn't anything accurate to his situation, but if and when there is any further information, we will post it here.
"Get well soon!" and wishes Andy a fast and complete recovery!
A Letter From Andy Hallet About His Condition
From Andyhallet.com - 2004-06-6th
A Letter From Andy (06.05.04)
Hi everyone, thanks for checking up on my new site! I wish I had better news for you at the moment, however I am having a bit of a rough time right now, medically speaking. As you know, it would take a lot for me to miss a scheduled event (ya know what a ham I am...) but I’m unable to fly or travel at the moment. Last week I was hospitalized due to a minor viral infection that was complicated by exhaustion.
This minor problem turned “not so minor” quite quickly and was causing major problems with my lungs and breathing. I was in the I.C.U. At Cedars-Sinai Medical for the past 5 days under the care of wonderful doctors and nurses who I owe the world to. I am forever grateful for the care, concern, and unbelievable treatment given to me by all of them, but especially Dr. Sourpik Avakian. She was by my side every step of the way and gave me constant hope and lots of love. Thank you Dr. Avakian for everything...I owe ya one and I love you.
Doctor Avakian and I are both predicting and hoping for a speedy recovery, but I just have to rest, rest, rest, rest, rest, rest (as she says). I am very sorry if I disappointed anyone with my absence from this weekend’s event in the Poconos, believe me I’d be there if I could. I promise to make it up to you somehow.
So that’s it for now, I’ll keep ya posted as time goes on. Thank you again to the wonderful staff at Cedar’s, to my awesome circle of friends who have helped me immensely through this, especially Dayne Johnson, Mark Lutz, Matt Williamson, Dr. Avakian, Janet, Dr. J., Charlie, Reiss, Pat Brady, and my Mom and Dad. I love you guys very much. Oh and sorry to that little nurse I had to cuss out while in the hospital....I was kinda cranky that day....oops.
Hope to see you all soon.
Best, Andy
1/O6/04 New Information from Joss!
Joss reveals that he has more plans for Puppet Angel and always wanted Hamilton to be a metaphor for the WB officials acting in pretty the same cold way.
During the Nashville Conference the reporter Bianculli mentioned several helpful things he learned from interviewing Joss by phone prior to the finale.
1. Joss confirmed that Hamilton was supposed to represent the network suits.
2. Joss apparently also mentioned in the conference call that we “haven’t seen the last of Puppet Angel.”
3. Joss wanted to do more with Illyria, and Bianculli thought that a Spike/Illyria spinoff would be a great idea.
Bianculli noted that the rest of Angel’s group accepted that Illyria was here to stay when Spike nicknamed her.
4. Like apparently everyone else in the room, Bianculli enjoyed Spike’s moments in the finale, and he asked if people thought Spike’s addition to the show worked.
There was agreement it did. He said it was great to see Spike and Angel interact, the character seemed lost for a while, but he was great at being able to knock Angel down and cut to the chase with him.
The “briefcase” moment seemed to be an audience favorite.
To view the full report, please click on the source link.
http://www.livejournal.com/users/redsrule1/
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Joss Whedon's thoughts on the end of Angel.
Angel ended its acclaimed five year run in America last night with the episode Not Fade Away.
"The cancellation was a horrible blow. It was much more emotional than I thought it was going to be," Joss Whedon told journalists in a conference call earlier this week.
We're not going to tell you what happens in the finale - mainly because we haven't seen it ourselves yet. We do know, however, that we should expect a less upbeat ending than the last Buffy episode.
"I had restrictions [with Buffy's finale]. I had to go out on a happy ending ... With Angel, it's a darker tale, so I have more license to do what I want to who I want to do it to - to make the audience miserable and excited... It's not the end of all things. It's not a final grace note after a symphony, which I think Buffy was. But it is a final statement about Angel."
Whedon also discussed the financial reasoning behind The WB's decision to cancel the show.
"We were staring at a brick wall, which is the financial model the WB operates by. This is a really bad time for television and for television drama... I just felt we didn't have a shot, or I would have been outside the WB with a placard and bullhorn myself...
"Ultimately we were cult shows. We didn't make Friends. No one is going to use us as a financial model. If I had invented reality-TV, I would have had a greater impact. But then I would have to kill myself."
The goss from Joss
Joss thanks fans and hints at Buffyverse future.
As Angel drew to a close on The WB, Joss Whedon paid a visit to fan forum The Bronze Beta to thank his supporters.
"[I] wanted to say thank you one more time, to all of you except anyone who ever criticized anything ever at all."
"I came on these boards in Buffy's first year and the support - and even the criticism - has been more helpful than I can type," he added. "I set out in television with one simple goal: to purchase a Russian bride. Didn't work out. Immigration stuff - it's complicated."
Whedon also offered hope to fans, with the news that he is considering future projects:
"I had dinner with Tim Minear the other night, and we talked about what kind of show we want to make next... It always comes back to the same themes... people getting strength. People helping out. People being thankful for whatever they have, be it power, a decent life, or a fun-tastic Russian bride.
"I don't know if the Buffyverse is going to return to TV, but I hope so, and I know we'll be putting something out there. Maybe on HBO, 'cause I like me some cussin."
thanks to the BBC for these ......
"Angel" Signs Off...Or Does He?
From Eonline.com - By Jennifer Godwin - 2004-05-21st
Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s finale launched a thousand Slayers; Angel’s finale launched a thousand...fanfics? After five years on his own show, and eight years on the small screen, Angel’s swan song left fans more than a little uncertain about his fate.
The WB’s Angel ended without finally telling viewers exactly why Powers That Be picked Angel to help the helpless, if he got the girl in the end, or even if he managed to slay that pesky fire-breathing dragon. (He’s a champion--of course, there’s a dragon, silly!)
So what do we know for sure? Well...
Angel (David Boreanaz) signed away his Shanshu prophecy, leading fanboys and girls everywhere to worry that this meant he’d lost his chance to become human and marry Bridezilla, er, Buffy. In response, other fanboys and girls pointed out that in the Angelverse it’s actually very hard avoid to your prophesized fate. Angel’s kid Connor came back, and Angel told him that so long as he survived, Angel would survive. (One way or another.) So, Connor scampered off to carry on the family name--what exactly that family name is, we may never know... Wesley died a good death. Lindsey died a bad death. Cordelia, Fred and Doyle stayed dead. Lorne retired from Angel’s army of darkness fighters. (He’s more of a lover, you see...) Buffy castmembers Buffy, Willow and Giles were nowhere to be seen. Spike went to a poetry slam. (No, seriously, he did.) Harmony betrayed them all, but got a smashing letter of recommendation anyway. (Apparently it’s all part of the evil benefits package.) In the midst of all these character developments, things blew up and demons threatened armadeddon-ish stuff, and in the end, Angel, Spike, Illyria (the artist formerly known as Fred) and a mortally wounded Gunn did some loin-girding for a big ol’ battle (complete with dragons). And then the credits rolled, and they probably all died heroic and violent deaths. (Or did they?) The uncertainty left behind by the finale drew mixed reaction from fans. One Web poster wrote, "Well, that was the best first half of a season finale ever...what happened to part two?" Another wrote, "Enough loose ends to keep the fic writers busy for, oh, the next 50 years, and that’s the important part." Others didn’t dwell on the details and just mourned the loss of their favorite Wednesday evening entertainment: "Damn it, damn it, damn it. No more show. Show gone."
Whatever the fates of his characters, Joss Whedon and his cast won’t be MIA for long.
In two weeks, Whedon begins shooting Serenity--his big-screen directorial debut and celluloid rendition of his short-lived space opera Firefly. And after that? As E! Online TV columnist Kristin Veitch reported, the WB might try to compensate fans for the sudden cancellation of their cult-favorite show with a TV movie or two.
It’s all still in the rumor stage, but after the finale’s broadcast Whedon wrote to fans, "I don’t know if the Buffyverse is going to return to TV, but I hope so, and I know we’ll be putting something out there. Maybe on HBO, ’cause I like me some cussin’."
As for the actor who played the lunky, lurky hero? When ask if he would be interested in an Angel TV movie, Boreanaz said in interview with DarkCommandos.com, "No. I’m interested in a feature film, and it would have to be done right, it would have to be done with a higher bar. I’ve always thought this could be done really well as a feature film with the characters."
Movies, TV or otherwise, aside, the Buffy-Angel franchise should continue for ages with videogames, comic books and the upcoming Buffy: The Animated Series. Meanwhile, you can catch Boreanaz later this year as a slightly different dark avenger in Wicked Prayer, the fourth installment of The Crow series. While Charisma Carpenter’s TV pilot Cats and Dogs didn’t get a nod for the fall season from UPN, you can still get a glimpse of her on the cover of this month’s Playboy. And Andy Hallett brings his green genes (and hearty pipes) to a computer-animated feature called Geppetto’s Secret--he’ll be voicing the Cricket.
As for immediate future, fans and fanfic writers of the world, there’s a cue for you in the final words of Angel’s final installment: "Let’s go to work."
bravenet.com