Principal Bob Flutie (Ken Lerner) VS. Principal Snyder (Armin Shimerman)

[Mr Trick]

So of the two original Sunnydale high Principals which one was your favourite either as a character or as a Principal?

On the one hand you have Flutie the well meaning, but over bareing and stuffy one who is easily builed.
And on the other the sinister, but also wimpy Snyder who as it turns out may or may not have far more power than his predcessor?

Its Snyder easily for me. There are some fun little scenes involving Flutie such as when he is reading Buffy's report from her previous school in Welcome to the Hellmouth😀 but he just floats in and out of the action too much without having much effect on the story. Also it is much more fun and logical to have a cold hearted Principal such as Snyder in a show like Buffy. It leads to so many more storyline possibilities and gives a bigger comedy payoff when he comes undone.

Also Shimeraman gives a far more convincing performance than Lerner, and is great in many scenes, the best being when he is putting down the students to Giles and also his involvement in Graduation Day before dying is priceless too😀

So which is your favourite? And what scenes do you enjoy most involving that character?

 

[Taake]

While I like Flutie I think he served his purpose on the short amount of time he was on the show. He was bumbling, well-meaning and just kind of there. He wasn't much of an authority figure all in all.

Snyder works better on so many levels - firstly his wit is perfection for the tone of the series at the time, secondly it's absolutely believable that he'd be aware of the goings on in Sunnydale and in cahoots with the Mayor, he's a small man (figuratively) who wants more authority and is willing to bend to more powerful people to get it. I never felt that kind of power-hunger from Flutie and wouldn't have believed in any of these things coming from him. Also Snyder's adversarial stance towards Buffy is very entertaining, sometimes frustrating, but fits very well with the "high school is hell" premise.

Snyder is also more charismatic. Flutie is very much a background figure that one could easily have forgotten about - if it hadn't been for his memorable end - where as Snyder is very memorable in and of himself.

So for me, between the two, Snyder is a clear winner but I'm pleased that we didn't get him from the start because the contrast between him and Flutie only enhances his role on the show.

🙂

 

[Mr Trick]

While I like Flutie I think he served his purpose on the short amount of time he was on the show. He was bumbling, well-meaning and just kind of there. He wasn't much of an authority figure all in all.

Snyder works better on so many levels - firstly his wit is perfection for the tone of the series at the time, secondly it's absolutely believable that he'd be aware of the goings on in Sunnydale and in cahoots with the Mayor, he's a small man (figuratively) who wants more authority and is willing to bend to more powerful people to get it. I never felt that kind of power-hunger from Flutie and wouldn't have believed in any of these things coming from him. Also Snyder's adversarial stance towards Buffy is very entertaining, sometimes frustrating, but fits very well with the "high school is hell" premise.

Snyder is also more charismatic. Flutie is very much a background figure that one could easily have forgotten about - if it hadn't been for his memorable end - where as Snyder is very memorable in and of himself.

So for me, between the two, Snyder is a clear winner but I'm pleased that we didn't get him from the start because the contrast between him and Flutie only enhances his role on the show.

🙂

Yes this is spot on for me. While I wasn't a massive fan of Flutie I can see your point about needing his character to provide the later contrast with Snyder.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

While I like Armin as the principal, the best one was Stephen Tobolowsky.

 

[thetopher]

Snyder all the way.
I agree that Flutie was needed to begin with so we would have a nice contrast, but authority figures make for good antagonists in Buffy. Teachers, the Mayor, the Watcher's council, the Initiative- they're all in the wrong to some extent or other. Snyder just opitomises this.

Both these two were better than Principal Wood though.

 

[Mr Trick]

While I like Armin as the principal, the best one was Stephen Tobolowsky.

I love Tobolowsky as an actor but for some reason his one appearance as principal just didn't grab me.

Bet you think that Lazenbly is the best Bond too😛 

Snyder all the way.
I agree that Flutie was needed to begin with so we would have a nice contrast, but authority figures make for good antagonists in Buffy. Teachers, the Mayor, the Watcher's council, the Initiative- they're all in the wrong to some extent or other. Snyder just opitomises this.

Both these two were better than Principal Wood though.

Never really considered Wood a Principal. Always understood it that he just did it for cover, which does beg the question how he got the gig but thats a different story. But you are right he did come across as quite dull in that role.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I love Tobolowsky as an actor but for some reason his one appearance as principal just didn't grab me.

He didn't have much to go on. The pilot was rather underwhelming. I wonder if he opted out or if they recast. I cant imagine they would recast, honestly.

 

[Mr Trick]

He didn't have much to go on. The pilot was rather underwhelming. I wonder if he opted out or if they recast. I cant imagine they would recast, honestly.

Guess it would be interesting to see who they cast should there be a Principal in the new film.

 

[GwenRaiden]

I totally forgot Stephen Tobolowsky was in the pilot!

I think Snyder worked better, if even as a smooth transition to the introduction of the Mayor. He's definitely memorable for me for both his rampant hatred for Buffy, especially in Becoming part 2, and in contrast, his wacky, geeky younger self in Band Candy.

I felt bad for Flutie! But man, Buffy must've hated Dawn - Buffy really didn't have the most attractive of principals.