This Entertainment Weekly 'Buffy' 20th Anniversary Reunion is Evvverything!

If you haven't already watched the 44 minute Buffy 20th reunion video, really stop what you're doing and watch it here online RIGHT NOW on the People/Entertainment Network. It'll make your whole damn day.

Highlights: SMG and Joss are still Bangel 'shippers, Kristen Sutherland (Buffy's mom) has a killer Wednesday Adams-type style going on, Nicholas Brendon seems happy and healthy, everyone looks amazing (cough *Charisma Carpenter*) and more! Oh, and David Boareanz likes to rock a RHCP-eque cock-sock, or nothing at all. lolz!

See a slew of photos below of the cast reuniting from EW's corresponding photo shoot below. Issues are on sale this week!

Anthony Stewart Head didn't attend lol

No Really, Thank You.

On this great day, Sarah Michelle Gellar professed her love and gratitude for Buffy and it's fans on social media in celebration of the show's 20th anniversary and other cast members followed suit. She said:

"most importantly thank you to all of you, the fans. We made this show for you, and your unwavering support has kept this show going long past our seven years. You are everything. And always remember...'if the apocalypse comes, beep me'"

Aww.

Now go and watch along with us, our site-wide favorite episode: "The Gift".

'Cruel Intentions' Show - WTF Sarah Michelle Gellar?

So Sarah Michelle Gellar is reprising her role as Kathryn Merteuil in a reboot show of the 90's film she starred in named Cruel Intentions but not a Buffy reboot show of the 90's show (and film) of the same name. Yeah ok. What did we ever do to you, girl?

Best Gift of 2015 - The Stake Mic!

We received the most amazing gift from my brother! He MADE it: A professional microphone for us to conduct interviews that resembles a stake for the handle!!! Yeah! Dusting Vamps at Mother Effin Comic Con, yo! 

It's made out of real wood...so Buffy could certainly borrow our mic, if need be.

Happy Yule and Merry Christmas everyone! Hope your sibling is as kick-ass as mine and Santa gives you a gift as awesome as STAKE MIC is!

'Buffy's' Nicholas Brendon Returns to Dr. Phil After Storming Off

I know this is dark subject matter, dear Buffyfest readers, but Nicholas Brendon is one of ours and needs some support right now. Obviously he's ready to tell his story so we're ok with mentioning it.

Several months ago Nicholas Brendon stormed off the set of The Dr. Phil Show. At the time, he accused Dr. Phil of going for "the jugular" and forcing him to "lay the darkest parts of myself on national TV". Today, our Xander returned to the show after being arrested 4 times this year for various reasons (trashing a hotel room, pub;ic intoxication and most recently, a domestic violence incident with his girlfriend). On today's show, Nicky told Dr. Phil that he blacked out during most of these incidents. He has now checked into a 90-day depression program at a Florida rehab center in October (but was allowed to attend Toulouse Game Show, a French fan convention, last week.)

Nicky opened up about attempting suicide because of his substance abuse. "I cut my wrists with a steak knife," Nicholas Brendon told Dr. Phil McGaw, crying. "Did you want to die that day?" Dr. Phil asked. "I think I wanted to be heard. I think I wanted to be helped, you know?" he said. "Because I think there's a lot of good life to live."

He also insisted he did not choke his girlfriend. "I just felt at that time that my girlfriend shouldn't drive, so I tried to take her keys away. I held her down to get the keys."

"When you wake up in jail and you're not sure why you're there, that's a very, very lonely feeling," Nicholas says.

 He also delved into his childhood trauma of being molested by a music teacher, who went to jail in 1981, when he was about 10 years old. After the teacher was caught, Brendon said he felt "numb, and then the betrayal kind of came to fruition after it all came out, and then anger." "I think about it every day of my life and I wonder how it affected me … did I stop growing emotionally?" he added. "When you're molested for a couple years and you're blamed for it by the people who are supposed to be your protectors, there's going to be a lot of confusion and a lot of sadness."

At the end of the interview, Brendon checked into a dual diagnosis treatment center, HeadWaters at Origins. "Maybe I'm just done," he said. "Maybe I'm ready to be happy now."

See a clip below:

Good Luck, Buddy. We're rooting for you!

'Buffy: The High School Years - Freaks & Geeks' Announced at #NYCC

Just a short time ago, Dark Horse Comics announced a new Buffyverse graphic novel that will be released in June 2016 titled Buffy: The High School Years - Freaks & Geeks. The Dark Horse peeps told us this story will be set in season one (Yay Buffy, Angel & the Scoobs!) and have more of a YA angle. This story is executive produced by Joss Whedon himself. It will be written by Faith Erin Hicks with illustration by Yishan Li and the cover art will be done by Buffyverse veteran Scott Fischer. Check out the cover below, SO 90's!!:

Apparently, this idea was sparked all the way back in SDCC 2013! Long time Buffy fan Faith Erin Hicks had this to say on Twitter:

That was why this happened back at SDCC in 2013, lol. pic.twitter.com/hKkzZy3b85

— Faith Erin Hicks (@FaithErinHicks) October 9, 2015

The Mary Sue has an interview with Faith Erin Hicks. We'll have something from her too as we get closer to the release. Do you know she lives in Nova Scotia? Nova Scotia in the house!

In the mean time, check out some of the adorable sketches by Yishan Li:

And here are some of the preview pages of the book (click to enlarge). Really looking forward to this!

New York Comic Con - Day 1

Dr. Horrible Cosplayer

I think this is our 8th year covering NYCC as press and it truly gets better and better every year. It's grown so much since our first time attending - between the awesome fans in costumes, kick-ass panels and cute interactive branded things, like the vid made above at the Nickelodeon booth (located right when you walk in). They did facial recognition of my face and morphed it into Spongebob! So fun! If you're attending, definitely do that and also check out the amazing "Cafe 80's" - set to look like the spot from Back to the Future 2 where you can also pick up the coveted, real world version of "Pepsi Perfect". Sooooo good. This convention is the place to be for brands right now.

Now that NYCC is open to con-goers on Thursday (instead of just professionals as in the past) it's totally cray. I mean look at the crowds at 11am on a workday! I'd be shocked if they don't add a Wednesday "Preview Night" to the convention very soon ala SDCC. Maybe even next year?

Instead of waiting on long-ass lines to attend panels in the underbelly of the Javits center, this year Nerdist and Wikia decided to plop a stage right in the front hallway where the proceeded to conduct interviews all day. The same goes for the NYCC Live stage in "The Block" area. These are the easiest panels to get in ever! See our coverage of the panel with Eliza Dushku here.

 

Speaking of the Buffyverse, Sarah Michelle Gellar made a rare convention appearance at NYCC today. Out of all the conventions we've been to all over the country, we've only ever seen her one time at SDCC, so this was a real treat!

She was there, of course, to appear in the Star War Rebels panel to chat a bit about her new character in Season 2 named The Seventh Sister. During the panel she said her character is “a thinking man’s villain. She’ll toy with you and then kill you.” When asked who her favorite character in the Star Wars universe was she replied she "of course loves Han Solo" but if she could play any character it would be Anakin around the time of the Clone Wars. Sounds like she really is a fan! Finally, during the Q&A someone said to SMG "I’ve been waiting for 15 years. I’ve gone through so much struggle to be independent, and I'll ask myself “What would Buffy do?” In response, Sarah Michelle Gellar gave the girl a hug. 

The Dark Horse booth has the usual fantastic Whedonverse display.

More to come!

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alyson Hannigan Insta-crafting.

Smidge posted this Buffy/Willow pic on her Instagram and it's adorbs.

SMG writes:
So this girl (#AlysonHannigan) and her husband (#AlexisDenisof) know how to throw a party. I thought I was good with the crafts, till I went to this party #CraftMaster Thanks for having the #PrinzeFamily I've never seen a farm and pony rides in Santa Monica before #NowIveSeenItAll

Apparently they ran into each other at a Michael's store recently...which perhaps prompted this crafting play date? Who knows, but it seems they have buried any rumored hatchet that may or may not have existed from back in the day. They really look great and can very clearly play the late 20's/early 30's version of their characters! Who says they can't make a Buffy movie? Oh yeah, that's right…it was Smidge who said that. Damn :(

EXCLUSIVE IMAGES: 'Buffy' and 'Angel & Faith' Covers

Straight from the Dark's Horses mouth....How about some exclusive covers for the verse? Click to enlarge this fabulous artwork from upcoming trades and such.

Buffy Season 9 Library Edition (Hard Covers 1, 2 & 3):

Buffy: Season Nine - Library Edition vol. 3 Hard Cover
On sale November 11th 2015 (exclusive cover image)

Buffy Season 10 Trade Paperbacks 1, 2 & 3:

Buffy: Season Ten Vol. 3 - Love Dares You TPB
On sale September 9th 2015 (exclusive cover image)

Angel & Faith Season 10 Trade Paperbacks 1, 2 & 3:

Angel and Faith: Season Ten vol. 3 - United TPB
On sale October 14th 2015 (exclusive cover image) 

And there you have it! Beautiful aren't they? Which are your favorites?

Nick Brendon, You So Crazy - Part Two

Nicholas Brendon, slowly but surely becoming the Whedonverse's own Nick Nolte, was arrested for being a drunk, hot mess again at a Comic Convention in Boise, Idaho over the weekend. Just 2 weeks after getting married, he must have been still celebrating just a bit too hard.

Poor Nick, looking a bit bruised and worse for the wear in his mugshot on Saturday Morning, still turned up at the Tree City Con the next day...a delight to fans we're sure.

CNN reports:

Brendon was in town for the Tree City Comic Con. Police were called to a downtown hotel Friday after reports of a disturbance in the lobby, according a news release from the Boise Police Department. "When officers arrived, they found the suspect who showed signs of intoxication and repeatedly refused officers commands to stay seated while officers tried to speak with witnesses," the release said. "When the suspect continued to try and walk away, officers took him into custody for resisting and obstructing."

The hotel staff said Brendon had broken a decorative dish and they wanted to press charges. He was booked into the Ada County Jail and bonded out, police said. Brendon is charged with two misdemeanors -- malicious injury to property and resisting or obstructing officers. Police say additional charges are possible. 

Brendon remained on the schedule to speak at an event Saturday evening. His Twitter account thanked fans for their "love, support and positive vibes."

Haha! Broken a "decorative dish!" What the hell is this nonsense?

You might remember the first part of this story back in 2010 when Nicky got drunk once again and was very rudely tased by the po po! Keep your head up, buddy. We've all been there. Well not exactly there being booked in Boise and all, but you know what we're sayin'....the fans still love ya.

Parting Gifts from Scott Allie...

We got some exclusive previews for you! Here are 2 pages from Buffy #8 which are hilarious and mysterious, respectively. That issue of Buffy is on sale next week (Oct 22nd). Followed by art from Abe Sapien #17, which is on sale today! Thanks to Scott Allie! Click to enlarge:

NYCC Recap - Final Day: Amazing Cosplay, Super-Cute 'Firefly', Rapping Veggies & more!

The last day of New York Comic Con was a chill one. We basically just took in all the wonders.

Actually one of highlights of the day is a cosplay story to be told. It all started with a little Jayne Cobb running by, maybe 6 years old, complete with facial hair and Nerf brand Vera. What was this amazingness? "OMG!" I screamed, unable to move, and pointed in his direction, but the words wouldn't come out and he was running so fast. Luckily Ryan looked up, saw what was making me speechless and said, "Wait, no way, there's a little Kaylee too!" Without another word we just instinctively gave chase through the crowd, squishing through the packed Javits entranceway, down an escalator, and a full 5 minutes of running later we saw them all and just *gasped*. It was an entire Firefly family! Complete with caretaker Mal! When we asked to please please please take a photo they all got into like a rehearsed formation, complete with frickin River Tam signature double-weapon pose and we all *gasped* a second time. Could you not die? Check them out below.

So adorable. Speaking of cuteness in the Firefly 'verse, the QMX booth was previewing this cute Serenity plush - well more like a beanie - compete with detaching shuttles that pop out of the sides. I think I might need this!

Here's a slew of great Buffy Cosplayers from the duration of the convention all taken by Kevin. Check them out below!

Drusilla and Darla

Buffy & Giles

Eye-patch Xander - maybe you can't tell but he's mid-Snoopy dance.

Another Dru!

Season 1 Buffy!

Whedonverse coat of arms…pick out all of the Joss icons!

And a couple of us Buffyfest types, Tara & Kevin.

We still have a few more gems from NYCC to roll out, including our interview with Amber Benson, later this week. I'll leave you with these very entertaining rapping veggies called Super Sprowtz. Check out their YouTube channel. These guys were dedicated and look, it is important to eat your veggies you know.