The Success of BTVS

[Primal Slayer]

I was just thinking to myself about how successful Buffy The Vampire Slayer has been. It amazes me that the show that came from TheWB has come such a long way during these past 10 years.

I mean if you think about it, what hasnt the Buffy franchise done yet? We have had a movie, a television series, a spin-off, it was adapted into a comic, several video games, board games, a brief animated show, several books, magazines, toys, and probably a lot more than I cant think of.

There arent that many tv shows that have done what Buffy has done.

Thoughts? Comments? on Buffys success during these past 10 years

 

[The Ferg]

Well,it seems huge to us, but not really to everyone else. Like everyone at my school either says, "What's that?" or "Buffy... That just sounds stupid, so I never watched it."

I do, personally think that Buffy has accomplished SO much, but as I said, it's only a cult-hit. Which makes me sad that a majority of people in the world have missed out on such a phenomenal... well... phenomenon.

 

[Kali]

It's kinda up there with Star Trek and Star Wars in terms of the breadth of franchising, though not the depth and length of time. Having said that, Harry Potter and LOTR are both probably equally as franchised and have a greater reach (much less cult, I think), are huge to their respective fan bases, and I've never been into either.

Amongst its peers I think it is probably unequalled, but as much as I love Joss, I can't say it is A league in terms of a money spinner or its success. Still a remarkable achievement for what is essentially quite a silly concept. It's a testament to it's writers really, that is was such a success, and is so well loved.

 

[Perny]

Success is in my opinion when everybody knows about it. Like the Simpsons, or Friends.
Sadly, even though the show has a loyal "fanclub" I wouldn't call it succesful. Yes, most people know about it, and there are spin-offs and dollies, and other mass production junk put there, but lots o shows has that now. I still experience, when I tell people my interest, that they go "huh? What show is that? She slays vampires? Lame."
And to me it kinda sends the signal, that maybe it wasn't THAT big a succes to the rest of the world(aka buffy muggles)

 

[Washburne]

Success is in my opinion when everybody knows about it. Like the Simpsons, or Friends.
Sadly, even though the show has a loyal "fanclub" I wouldn't call it succesful.

Wow. You crave a lof for something to be successfull. Comparing BUffy to The Simpson and Friends is ridicoous in terms of success but to that to mean that Buffy wasn´t successfull is just wrong in my eyes. It got 7 years on the air and could have gotten more. It wasn´t even cancelled.

And to me it kinda sends the signal, that maybe it wasn't THAT big a succes to the rest of the world(aka buffy muggles)

Not THAT big of a success compared to Simpsons and Friends no, but still a success. That it didn´t get nearly as big as it should here in Scandinavia is sad indeed but it´s not like we´re the whole world. Not being a great success here doesn´t mean it´s not a success in other places or as a whole.


To me the success comes from a great creator (of course), great characters, great writers and having the right actors to play the characters. To be perfectly honest. I could have seen the show being cancelled after the first season. It´s good but not great in any way even if it sure has it great moments. But after the second season the ball got running big time. Why all the merchandice and spin offs and cartoons? The loyal fans. The fanbase might not be huge but it´s very loyal and if there´s money to earn someone will do their best to earn them. I don´t think Joss is doing it for the money but the industry as such is like that. Money to earn and someone wants to.

 

[LizzieRainbow]

It got 7 years on the air and could have gotten more. It wasn´t even cancelled.

I toally agree unlike many shows that air now, Buffy didn't get cancelled and went out on top!.
i think Buffy has accomplished so much. i saw the movie first and didnt like it too much but the tv show is just amazing. And for there to still be a forum (Buffy-Boards) this popular even after the show has finished is an accomplishment in itself.

I mean its true there are so many things for buffy that have been and are still getting made. They could ahve easily stopped making computer games but no they are making a new game for the ds. Okay so they only have an episode a day on FX but at least the show is still on daily.
One of the main thinsg i liked about buffy was the way in which it went through the characters lives. We got to see all the characters develop from high school, to college and jobs and we got to see their confidence build and get to know new people. Tv shows like teh simpsons are based around teh same places (home,work, moes etc) and have been the same since the beginning and will be the same at the end.

 

[Fake Shemp]

/me agrees with lizzie

i didnt like how "fans" reacted to season 4... or later to 6.... "oh they're outta high school" well YEAH! i couldnt have, but i would have 😉 watched a show where the kids are 35 and in high school, wheres the progression? i loved season 4 to begin with and it makes the show feel so real compared to as lizzie has said the simpsons.

i mean i watched a simpsons ep not that long ago, where they showed marge and homer being young... but this time it was the 90s... oh come on! i *squuued* a lot at the 90s-ness and refrences and all but it ruined it as i watched it in the 90s and the show was around before that and on the tracey ullman show... so in no way was the 90s when those two were young. more boring dull you can dip in and out type shows *not pointing fingers at the CSI sorta thing* is because anyone can watch it at any time and get something from it.... now ive seen the discussion of someone whos already into buffy but wants some college friends to join in and asking what to show them to get them into it... FROM THE START!! the show builds up characters and even from the very first episode theres clearly history... every character comes with a rich history.

thats successful to me the ranty shempy

 

[Ripper 08]

it may not have the sucessful across the world as the likes of star wars etc but it did and still does have a huge cult following which spreads worldwide

there was huge maketing for it as mentioned theres been a movie, a television series, a spin-off, it was adapted into a comic, several video games, board games, a brief animated show, several books, magazines, toys,

also to be included are sticlers, collectors cards, books, bobble heads, callenders, collectors plates, glasses/mugs/shot glasses, easter eggs, bedding and curtains, replica weapons, jewellery (and probably still more i cant think of)

and yes as mentioned already it wasn't canceld at the point when it ended, and for joss to then carry on both buffy and angel as comics following on from where the tv sereis ended shows there is still a market for both shows

the likes of how busy this boards are also show just how hard core the fans of a cult show can be

another example i will use and please correct me if i'm wrong but firefly thats a cult show and although it was canceld after its first season the fans proved to joss there was still something to give hence the production of serenity

i think this also show that although we may be as common as fans of things such as star wars there was enough of a cult following to make the show a real sucess and obvioulsy keep both buffy and angel a sucess now in the form of comics

in my opinion you can see a huge growth in how the brand progressed from the film to the tv sereis and now to the comics, the quality was improved greatly and it was always/is trying to out do itself as it goes on

in my opinion buffy was a success and there is no doubting that

 

[slayerpower]

Something does not have to be popular to be successful.

Buffy ran for seven years and is critically acclaimed and considered to be one of the best tv shows of all time. Doesn't all that make it a success?

 

[IdiotJed]

It was definitely a success in terms of having such a loyal fanbase. However, to compare it to something like Star Wars is just plan cruel. The fact that Buffy had such an odd name and many people didn't give it a chance, allowed it to become a cult hit which I think if it were to have been more popular wouldn't have the same loyal fanbase as it still has now. I'm someone that likes to go against the grain which is initially why I gave the show a chance and it's still why I love it. It's a whole world that a lot of people know about but very few understand and I'm so very thankful to be one of those few. It will never be a Star Trek or Star Wars and for that I am thankful.

 

[PurplePoof]

Success is in my opinion when everybody knows about it. Like the Simpsons, or Friends.
Sadly, even though the show has a loyal "fanclub" I wouldn't call it succesful.

It's sort of unfair to compare Buffy to The Simpsons or Friends...because those have much more mainstream appeal and are shows pretty much everybody can sit down and watch. BTVS is much more of a niche show with more of a specific audience...it's not something that's gonna have the mass appeal of something like Friends. Considering it's a show about a teenage girl who slays vampire and it has an incredibly silly title, I think it's accomplishments have been phenomenal. It has its place in history and its fanbase isn't going anywhere in the near future.