"Live Long And Prosper"

[white avenger]

(Is there anyone in the audience not familiar with that phrase?)

On the way home today, I was listening to an interview on PSR with actor/singer/poet/director/just about anything else that you might care to mention, Leonard Nimoy. One of the questions put to him was, "Do you ever regret playing the character of Spock?"

His answer was, "No, even to this day, wherever I go, invariably, people approach me and tell me how much they enjoyed my character, as well as the entire show, and what a great influence it has been in their lives."

So, my question is this? Will there still be fans of the Buffyverse half a century from now? Will there still be Spuffies and Bangels, and people who wished Faith and Spike could somehow have hooked up, if only for a little while? Will people still love Willow, Tara, Giles, Fred, Gunn, Mal, Cloe, Jayne...all the people from the shows that we have come to know and love as though they were actual members of our families? Or will Buffy and her friends simply slip into obscurity like so many other fictional characters?

 

[palabravampiress]

Good question.

My answer is simple: superior writing prevails. Joss Whedon is an amazing storyteller. I think we'll always love Buffy just like the Janeites still love them some Darcy, the soap opera fans still obsess over Luke and Laura, and the Trekkies still love them some Spock. Heck, even Beowulf never went away. Helen of Troy is still a household name. Some stories live forever.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

"Will there still be fans of the Buffyverse half a century from now? "
No, I do not think there will be. What sustained the Star Trek franchise was not the television series but movies, as well as the subsequent 'sequels' of Next Generation etc. Half a century is a long time. I think 50 years from now Buffy will be but a blip.

 

[Tueuse de Vampires]

Well, most of us people here will hopefully still be alive in 50 years and will have passed on the Buffy love to people all around them 😀

But seriously, I believe that Buffy is one of these shows who has the chance to stay. Comics aside, the actual show ended over 5 years ago, and just look at how many of us are still around. And it's not like the current of Buffy love people is going down...how often do you read something in 'Check In' like "I'm new to the show"? This proves that the love continues even though the show is over.

Also, Buffy is one of these shows that already has a bit of a myth status. I mean, even if people don't watch it, everyone knows what it is, it gets referred to on other shows a lot etc. And now there are also still the comics.

Imo Buffy also fits the pattern for something that can be around for some time. Call me crazy, but I think it's mostly the shows that are maybe not the total hit at first, that stick around in the end. Star Trek the original series wasn't that succesfull at first. But the people who watched it knew what they were doing. Same with Buffy. It's mostly the shows that gain instant popularity, like Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy etc. that I'm sure will go down as quickly as they arrived after the last episode airs (well, unless they get some actors that get really popular to keep them going, like George Clooney was to Emergency Room, David Hasslehoff to Knight Rider, Pamela Anderson to Baywatch).

 

[white avenger]

"Will there still be fans of the Buffyverse half a century from now? "
No, I do not think there will be. What sustained the Star Trek franchise was not the television series but movies, as well as the subsequent 'sequels' of Next Generation etc. Half a century is a long time. I think 50 years from now Buffy will be but a blip.

We have two comic book series now, several books still on publication, and still the solid hope of sequels, either of the spin off, sequel, or "next generation" variety, plus Joss' assurance that he still has stories to tell in the Buffyverse in some form or other. As far as that goes, future future Slayer/Demon entertainment doesn't even have to depend on Whedon. A lot of the best Star Trek episodes weren't written by Roddenberry, and quite a few were even made after his death. The Buffyverse doesn't HAVE to depend on specific actors/writers/directors to survive. Dr Who proves that, as do James Bond, Tarzan, Sherlock Holmes, Zorro, Superman, Batman...the list is virtually without limit. Buffy, or at least the Slayer line in general, COULD still exist.

 

[Kean]

If the fans have anything to say about it, which we will, then yes 50 years from now Keanoite III will be here fighting Bangel's corner🙂

As PV and Cangel have said already, good writing prevails. People will always enjoy a good story told well. The reason Star Trek has hung on so much is because it's fans cared, they wanted more. The same applies to us. Name me one other show that was out around the same time as Buffy that has a fan base as loyal as us? Who campaigned for more of the tale to be told and actually got their wish?

Buffy isn't just some show that came anad went. It became part of people's lives, how else did we end up on these boards? There isn't another show on the planet I would frequent a forum for. Buffy is a one off, and people are gona want to know about if for years to come.

 

[Schillaci]

I don't think there will be anything new Buffyverse-wise 50 years from now. But I have no doubt there will be purists that try to convince their friends to checkin to the local media library and watch something a little bit different.

Honestly, the world could be so different in 50 years. No doubt though, they will still be peddling that Star trek crap to another generation in a new format.

Ill stop this post here, coz my loathing of Star trek knows no bounds and I don't want to frighten the kiddies.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

We have two comic book series now, several books still on publication

But you cannot count the limited appeal of comic books and paperbacks in comparison to television shows and movies. I mean there is a new Star Trek movie coming out soon which will only serve to highlight TOS more.

The only hope of Buffy still being a force in 50 years is movies or spin-offs. And you put it best in the post, all we have on that front it "hope"

I think it will be looked back on as one of the better or best serials in its time (and possibly after) but to think the fanbase will still be there in 50 years, I just cant see it without movies or additional episodes.
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the world could be so different in 50 years.

And much of what made Buffy Buffy, was the pop culture references. Star Trek, for the most part was/is timeless, yet the very thing that makes Buffy special also dates and limits it. In my opinion.

 

[Fake Shemp]

keep passing on the dvds!

i was thinking about this actually whilst watching some star trek movie the other day... how it was unfair that we got the movie first and not a line of movies afterwards... time will tell... and i hope wer all still here and that new fans come to it all the time. even if it goes away it would be nice to periodically have something buffy related out to keep it alive and fresh for new people and us too.

star trek had next gen, ds9, voyager and erm... enterprise (wtf?) lol buffy had angel.... at the same time-ish.

 

[white avenger]

If the fans have anything to say about it, which we will, then yes 50 years from now Keanoite III will be here fighting Bangel's corner🙂

And the White Avenger IV will be right here being the thorn in her side.

 

[MSchett]

I'm betting that one day far in the future theres gonna be a recreation or spoof of BTVS! Just look at the movies of today(Starsky and Hutch, Duke's of Hazzard, etc.)

 

[white avenger]

For my birthday recently, because of my love of old westerns, I was given Season 1 of "Have Gun-Will Travel" and the entire series of "Wanted-Dead Or Alive." They were aired back in the 60's, so they fit into the "50 years later" category. If they're still around now, there's no reason whatsoever that Buffy and the gang won't still be around in 2060, with people still watching and loving it on their virtual reality holographic viewer interaction plasma projection plasme powered z-pod-XXI. Of course, by that time,they won't be called "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," an "Angel," they'll be known as "The Spuffy Hour" and "The Adventures of Coedelia, Wesley, and That Other Vampire."

 

[white avenger]

Comments on this post
Keanoite agrees: I'm sure they will....but by that time Buffy and Angel will already have lived happily ever after so I really doubt WA IV will have a leg to stand on😛


I would never deprive a beautiful lady her fantasies, even if they are only that. Dream on, my dear/

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

But seriously, I believe that Buffy is one of these shows who has the chance to stay. Comics aside, the actual show ended over 5 years ago, and just look at how many of us are still around. And it's not like the current of Buffy love people is going down...how often do you read something in 'Check In' like "I'm new to the show"? This proves that the love continues even though the show is over.

In terms of figures, the Check In pages here are a trickle at best.
While there will be people who still remember it (there are people alive today that think The Tick was a great TV show and join forums to profess this - doesn't mean in 50 years it will be remembered) I don't see, as the Whedonverse stands right now, there will be any serious recollection of the show.

Also, Buffy is one of these shows that already has a bit of a myth status. I mean, even if people don't watch it, everyone knows what it is, it gets referred to on other shows a lot etc. And now there are also still the comics.

Yes, now. It is known by people now BUT that doesn't mean a show that has been off air for 50 years will endure.
This kind of question on this board is ALWAYS going to attract biased answers because its a show that is dearly loved by the people here, but even these few aren't great numbers in the scheme of things.

Call me crazy,

OK, you're crazy.

but I think it's mostly the shows that are maybe not the total hit at first, that stick around in the end. Star Trek the original series wasn't that succesfull at first. But the people who watched it knew what they were doing. Same with Buffy.

Well I think you have missed the point severely on many levels here.

Star Trek is a bad example from the start.
The Studio commissioned The Motion Picture based on the success of Star Wars. They wanted to cash in on the Space faring films and looked in the back catalog and found this.

Can someone please name 5 TV shows that have been cancelled but due to FAN popularity have come back on air MORE than 10 years later?

Also, I find the comment quoted a little offensive.

Buffy ran for 7 years, production closing mainly because the lead and the creator both decided they wished to move on.
It spawned a successful 5 season spin-off, numerous books and comics.

Its viewing figures were generally quite competitive SO I would call it a hit.

Your comment suggests that you don't view it as a hit.
If you do, then you cannot use the Star Trek model as comparison.

We have two comic book series now, several books still on publication, and still the solid hope of sequels, either of the spin off, sequel, or "next generation" variety, plus Joss' assurance that he still has stories to tell in the Buffyverse in some form or other. As far as that goes, future future Slayer/Demon entertainment doesn't even have to depend on Whedon. A lot of the best Star Trek episodes weren't written by Roddenberry, and quite a few were even made after his death. The Buffyverse doesn't HAVE to depend on specific actors/writers/directors to survive. Dr Who proves that, as do James Bond, Tarzan, Sherlock Holmes, Zorro, Superman, Batman...the list is virtually without limit. Buffy, or at least the Slayer line in general, COULD still exist.

The fact that the 'list is virtually without limit' makes for the argument there would be no need for Buffy.

No one can take into consideration future trends and while I agree that it doesn't need Whedon to continue it, that still doesn't mean anything.

This thread is more about wishful thinking/hoping than anything else.

No one can say what will happen tomorrow and we can't use past instances to try establish rules for tomorrow.

Will Buffy endure with fans? Probably to an extent.

Will Buffy have a life on TV/Movies in the future? Not sure BUT based on what we have now - probably not.


Ohh and the Spin Offs - I wish people would let that go. How many times has that been promised, looked very plausible then BOOM nothing happens.
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I would like to add though, I HOPE that in TV form there is something continued in the Buffyverse and that its writing et al is up to the same talented levels it WAS when it was on air.

 

[Veyron]

Movies are the only way to go as far as extending the Buffy / Angel legacy. Without successful box-office hits the show will ultimately die a slow and lingering death (much as I hate to say that).

Spin-offs have a good chance of extending the time-frame that Buffy or Angel will live on to (see the Star Trek spin offs), but as we all know, the 'powers that be' that control television programme scheduling are fickle at best and those people can and do cancel shows for any reason; but mainly due to dropping viewing figures - giving shows a chance to improve their numbers isn't viable anymore.

Spin-offs that come from high grossing movies are the only way that in 50+ years Buffy or Angel will be as popular as it is now or was back in the day.

 

[Girl with Sword]

I'm gonna be alive in 50 years! And I'm going to give Buffy to my children, and hopefully they're going to give it they're children. And give it to your friends. Spead Buffy to those you love. That's how you keep it alive. That's part of our duty as fans. Just doing this, typing this as I am now, is keeping Buffy alive. You want it to be here in 50 years? Keep it growing. Buying the dvd's and comics aren't enough. You have to contribute. Even if that means when your 60(and Spuffy has sorted itself out!:tongue05🙂 you still sit down and watch Once More With feeling. You still post on forums, you still write fan fics or make fan art. You still help it grow.

 

[InsaneMystic]

"Will there still be fans of the Buffyverse half a century from now? "
No, I do not think there will be. What sustained the Star Trek franchise was not the television series but movies, as well as the subsequent 'sequels' of Next Generation etc. Half a century is a long time. I think 50 years from now Buffy will be but a blip.

The first Trek movie was made about a decade after TOS went out of production (and much as I love Trek - excluding "Enterprise", of course 😛 - it was an excellent replacement for a sleeping pill :lmao: ), and TNG started about another decade after that. So, assuming the world does not end in 2012, Joss still has a chance to have the Buffyverse step into Trek's shoes. Sure, I wouldn't bet my money on it happening, but it is still possible. 😉

 

[Kemy]

The first Trek movie was made about a decade after TOS went out of production (and much as I love Trek - excluding "Enterprise", of course 😛 - it was an excellent replacement for a sleeping pill :lmao: ), and TNG started about another decade after that. So, assuming the world does not end in 2012, Joss still has a chance to have the Buffyverse step into Trek's shoes. Sure, I wouldn't bet my money on it happening, but it is still possible. 😉

The Original Series: 1966-1969
The Animated Series: 1973-1974
ST1: 1979
ST2: 1982
ST3: 1984
ST4: 1986
The Next Generation: 1987

And so on. The largest gap was the animated show to the first film, 5 years off the air. Enterprise went off the air August 2005, as of May 2009 with the 11th film thats nearly 4.

Buffy has been off the air going on 5 and a half years now with no new live action stuff in sight.

 

[InsaneMystic]

The Original Series: 1966-1969
The Animated Series: 1973-1974
ST1: 1979
ST2: 1982
ST3: 1984
ST4: 1986
The Next Generation: 1987

And so on. The largest gap was the animated show to the first film, 5 years off the air. Enterprise went off the air August 2005, as of May 2009 with the 11th film thats nearly 4.

Buffy has been off the air going on 5 and a half years now with no new live action stuff in sight.

Ah... I forgot the Animated Series! (Well, to my defense - if you ever watched what German cut & dub did to that one, you would have gone into denial too. ::dead:: )