DB to Tape an Appearance for the Buffy Reunion

[shipperx]

Why does this amuse me?

Is it the mental image of him thinking up this way to not have to deal directly with SMG...even though I have no proof of such a motivation?

It's just that the thought amuses me so.

TVGuide's report on DB

Please let this thing be balanced and not devoured by Bangels.

ETA: It's evil, I know. Petty and childish too.

I don't care. >:)

Comments

Enlighten me?

[selinde2.livejournal.com]

I had the impression DB and SMG got on quite well. I guess I just haven't followed the goss. Any pointers/ links?
Thanks for the touch of intrigue...

[rahirah]

I'm actually surprised he's doing that much, since he's very vocal about his complete lack of interest in such things.

Re: Enlighten me?

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

It's old stuff. There probably are some rumors still floating around somewhere but I wouldn't know where to look. The old story/rumor went that SMG/DB were 'involved' once upon a time, during DB's first marriage, and that the said 'involvement' had some impact on the dissolution of that marriage (this was prior to her marriage to Freddie Prinze). Ever since he married wife #2, he's kept his distance from SMG (at least as rumor/gossip goes). There has been some implication that by the time that they were floating the concept of an AtS, that relations between SMG/DB had cooled considerably, to the point that it was seen as quite a good thing that they could spin him off into another show as it made everyone's lives a bit easier.

That's all rumor/gossip. Dunno how much of it is nailed down. But it was what was floating around at the time.

What is more substantiated is that by the time of the Angel guest appearance during Season 5 (right after Joyce's death) that SMG/DB didn't get along. At all. To the point that it was openly known and a problem for the crew having to work during the graveyard scene. Spoiler people at the time had connections to crew (hence the ability to spoil) and apparently the experience of filming that episode was rather hellish for the crew who had to deal with the decidedly chilly atmosphere between the two of them. (Then again, generally speaking, SMG has a string of on-set feuds with co-stars, so who knows if it really goes back to the rumored affair or whether it's just part of her general pattern.)

Other than that there's been DB's noted surliness whenever questioned about doing any sort of BtVS/AtS reunion (muchly documented by Ausiello on TVGuide). It'e frequently noted in the press that bringing up the vampire show is a way to make DB not too happy.

As for the last stuff I heard about the issues surrounding SMG/DB. There wasn't much love during AtS Season 5 when the show kept trying to get SMG to show up for a crossover and she wouldn't agree to one... at least not until the cancellation. Then she wanted to appear in the finale at which point she, Fox, Mutant Enemy were in negotiations and her demands (story prominence, airtime, money) were such that Fox walked away from the table saying they wouldn't meet any of her demands. So it pretty much ended up with DB, after having been pressured to guest appear in the BtVS finale had an instance where SMG didn't see fit to return the favor (unless she got things her way).

All in all, the lasting impression is that the two of them have had an increasingly chilly relationship after some nebulous point during Season 2 or Season 3 of BtVS. How true the reasons for it are, dunno. I'm realitively certain that stories of crew misery due to the visible antipathy between DB and SMG during the filming of "Forever" is true.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I actually am too. To be perfectly honest, he doesn't need it. He's got a pretty good thing going these days with Bones. I wonder whether it's playing nice with FOX. Still, I'm more surprised that he's making the effort since he has a relatively successful show as opposed to SMG whose profile could use a little raising these days) (Not at all surprised by JM's showing up as going to cons is something he's all too up for. It was always SMG and DB who shied away from any contact with the fans).

Re: Enlighten me?

[shapinglight]

If you're evil, I'll be evil along with you. Been too badly bruised recently to be all forgiving.

[paratti.livejournal.com]

I suspect its a showing willing thing with Fox for Bones promotion too. It's not a show with ratings so good he can't afford to show willing on.

Re: Enlighten me?

[selinde2.livejournal.com]

Say thanks for that long and thoughtful summary - I didn't mean to set you to so much trouble, but I feel slightly less stupid now, which has to be a good, right? Poor DB. Who is now apparently happily married and has ongoing respected work on a great new show. While SMG? Hope she is growing up - it's a pity to be snotty with people you have to work with. Life is so short, why waste it.

[mlgm.livejournal.com]

I believe Bones is on the bubble for renewal, so perhaps DB is making nice for Fox.

[bluekaty.livejournal.com]

Dear me! I didn't know anything about this antipathy between DB and SMG, as a matter of fact I thought they got on OK. I've never been particularly interested about the actors behind the characters, with the exception of JM, but I must say that SMG's seems quite an unpleasant person on the whole :(

[(Anonymous)]

The crew didn't nickname her "The Duchess" for no reason on BTVS.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

The stories going back to her soap days are pretty legendary. And hers and Allyson Hannigan's dislike of one another after about Season 2 was a common story given out by crew as well. Especially after Hannigan started getting movie roles.

[bluekaty.livejournal.com]

I'm really surprised to hear it. I thought that at least at the beginning she got on well with the cast, if I remember well JM seemed alwasy quite complimentary about her, I guess he's just too nice!

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

JM has somewhat consistently spoken well of her, but even by SMG's own interview in Seventeen, JM was the only actor on the show that she spoke to very often by the end of Season 7.

AH and SMG were reportedly close during the first season (the whole cast was) but the AH/SMG feud got really big and very, very cold by the latter seasons.