Buffy defection shocker
01/06/2001 . Source: Jessica Martin 

Is there anything more treacherous in this life than the perfidy of the bloodsucking vampire? How about the rough and tumble politics of US TV shows.

Buy Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the USA - or Buy Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the UK

Yep. Everybody's favorite demon-slaying babe, Buffy, is jumping ship from WB to UPN. Joss Whedon, the show's creator was said to be overjoyed at the news.

No surprise there. One of the main challenges he faced was how to keep the show at the top of the ratings now it's put to bed its fifth season. With the new commitment and infusion of direction from UPN, he can get busy without worrying about the series being retired early, or treading on any of the other political & ego do-do that builds up over time around mega-successful shows.

The spin-off series, Angel, is still - for the moment - being held onto by WB. Interestingly enough, the US's TV Guide reported that Angel star David Boreanaz had spoken more than a little 'off message' during a presentation to potential advertisers.

TV Guide printed that Boreanaz jokingly said 'This isn't the UPN' - causing WB official Jordan Levin to explain to the audience"We didn't write that."

TV Guide later sourced a comment from WB's Susanne Daniels saying: "Buffy will always be a show close to our hearts. But we saw the teen audience begin to erode, ... and we're confident in our ability to refresh our schedule (without Buffy - Ed)."

Other members of the cast are said to have backed Whedon in Buffy's defection, more than somewhat miffed that when the joint 100th episode and fifth season finale celebration came around, it was mainly Sarah Michelle Gellar who got thanked by WB.

The others got a belated pat on the back, possibly when Sarah pointed out there was some mighty bad feelings brewing on the hellmouth. And this time it wasn't vampire or voodoo inspired !

Never discount the nasty psychological impact of this kind of thing. I remember a similar incident when the High Command of a company I was working in at the time send a crate of champagne to our clueless and poisonous department manager.

They then arranged a personal thanks to said clueless manager to be posted for all 'his' hard work in the canteen. The posters were defaced with 'and team' being added after his name. Most of us had walked by a couple of months later. Blooming clueless.

UPN are proving a little more sensitive to the cast's feelings, as proven when some 'welcome aboard' UPN gift baskets filled with champagne, caviar and Cartier watches arrived for the talented team of actors.

Now if only I could write for a science fiction magazine that would send me an Omega when I joined !