New Buffy magazine: Interview with Amber

[helpful information perha]

JASD,



why compare to ep 6-19?



all the media critics provide data on change from same week of previoius year and change from previous week as the industry std bench marks. Heck if you were just going to pick an ep at random to compare the rest too then why not the season opener as the std, then you'd have to say the whole season is down



here are the numbers

from the Futon Critic

Last Seasons (Fall 2001-May 2002) Averages



Overall Buffy Lost 5.30% from season 5



It ranked = 120



National rating

final rating/share = 2.76 HH rating /4.38 share



Top 53 market

overnight rating/share = 3.55/5.26



average

viewers in millions = 4.31



In sum

Buffy’s season 6 numbers were down from season 5

with the change from last season series avg. from

Tues on WB (2.91/4.50) = (-5.30%)





comparing

National Numbers

2001-02..2000-01...chge from last yr

S6...........S5

rtg/sh......rtg/sh.

4.3/7.......3.9/6.......+0.4 Barg 1-2

3.7/6.......3.5/5.......+0.2 AL

3.5/6.......3.4/5.......+0.1 Flooded

3.5/6.......4.1/6.......- 0.6 LS

3.7/5.......2.3/4r......+1.4 ATW N Vs rep

3.4/5...... 3.9/6......- 0.5 OMWF

3.6/5...... 3.6/5........NC TR

3.4/5.......3.2/5.......+0.2 Smashed

3.7/6.......3.6/5.......+0.1 Wrecked



Buffy started off stronger on UPN than it had been on WB the previoius year



2.0/3r......2.6/4r.....- 0.6

2.4/4r......2.7/4r.....- 0.3

2.2/4r......3.2/5......- 1.0

1.3/3r......1.9/3r.....- 0.6

1.5/2r......2.6/4r.....- 1.1

3.3/5.......3.0/5......+ 0.3 Gone

1.6/3r......2.3/4r.....- 0.7

1.9/3r......3.1/5......- 1.2 repeat Vs new



but the repeats of the eps didn't play as well



3.5/5.......2.4/4r.....+ 1.1 DMN vs rep

3.3/5.......3.3/5........NC DT

3.1/5.......3.3/5.......-0.2 O&FA

1.7/3r.......3.4/5.......- 1.7

3.1/5.......3.5/5.......- 0.4 AYW

3.4/5.......2.2/3r......+ 1.2 HB New vs rep

3.2/5.......2.1/3r......+1.1 Nor New vs rep



numbers for new eps on UPN kept sliding



2.3/4r......1.7/3r......+0.6

1.8/3r......2.0/3r......-0.2

1.9/3r......1.7/3r......+0.2

1.9/3r......1.8/3r......+0.1

1.8/3r......2.7/4.......- 0.9 rep vs new

1.7/3r......3.0/5.......- 1.3 rep vs new



final block of new eps

2.8/5.......3.0/5.......- 0.2 entropy

2.7/4.......3.3/5.......- 0.6 SR

3.2/5.......3.2/5........ NC Vils

3.3/5.......3.4/6.......- 0.1 TTG/G 5/21



final block of new eps seriously sliding into the 2's and May sweeps well under performing last year





Looking at how Buffy performed over the year on UPN

National numbers for New Eps only

2001-02....................chge from prev week

rtg/sh.

4.3/7.......Barg 1-2.......NA

3.7/6.......AL..............- 0.6

3.5/6.......Flooded.......-0.2

3.5/6.......LS...............NC

3.7/5.......ATW...........+0.2

3.4/5...... OMWF........-0.3

3.6/5...... TR..............+0.2

3.4/5.......Smashed.....-0.2

3.7/6.......Wrecked.....+0.3

3.3/5.......Gone...........-0.4

3.5/5.......DM ............+0.2

3.3/5.......DT...............-0.2

3.1/5.......O&FA.........-0.2

3.1/5......AYW ...........NC

3.4/5.......HB ............+0.3 weddings fill the couches

3.2/5.......Norm..........-0.2

2.8/5.......entropy.......-0.4

2.7/4.......SR.............-0.1 killing lesbians doesn't

3.2/5.......Vils...........+0.5

3.3/5.......TTG/G.......+0.1



It took a serious slide (down 20%) from its fall performance (3.95 for first 4 hrs to 3.15 for its last 4 hrs)

[justastraightdog]

HIP, you're right, but if I compare 6x19 to 6x20 (+0.5) with 4x19 to 4x20 (+0.1) the conclusion would be that killing a lesbian is better for the ratings than confirming a lesbian relationship. I don't like that conclusion, therefore I skipped the 20th ep of both seasons to get +0.6 and +0.5. Simply because I prefer the conclusion of that comparison.



And I don't think that it is that wrong to do so. It's very likely that it was the cliffhanger that caused SR's positive effect for the ratings of Villains. In a way Tara wasn't dead before the "it is done" confirmation in Villains. But I have to admit that it would have been better to compare Villains with TTG and NMR with TYF. Well, both are +0.1, therefore the answer to the question if the killing was needed for the ratings is still a clear NO.

_________________________________
No safety or surprise, the end

I'll never look into your eyes...again

[helpful information perha]

you can't just pick numbers out of the air to use as a std for comparison

you have to use the industry bench marks



and it could have just as easily been the lesbian sex or the spuffy scenes that added or detracted as it could have been tara's death



the fact is whedon was going for spectacle/ WWE smack down buffy style as a ratings ploy and specticle picks up gawkers



none the less he was down from last years season ending ratings - ploys and all and well down from where the show was the begining of the year (by 20%)



and his summer reruns have been in the pits



he will be lucky if he has 4 million people watching his season opener this year



thing about spectacle

once the car crash is over

watching them sweep up isn't all that compelling

[xe39]

I just finish the scans, she is so beautiful, and cute might i add, it just I feel ait sad when she talks about the death of Tara, even after these long, i still have to say it makes me mad sometimes. I love amber so much, i think she is great, and cute too! and the fact they don't want to say if amber/tara goes back to the show or not drives me crazy!!!



ok...i am sure i am babbing here....sorry

[helpful information perha]

actually whedon has come out very clearly and said tara is dead - he killed her - her story is over - she isn't coming back



and he has also said amber but not tara will be back if her schedule allows



and amber has said she does NOT have a contract



to my mind it couldn't be any clearer



no more tara



and maybe amber in another role



can't get much clearer than that





and

which for me is unacceptable



its either tara or nothing for me



as far as I'm concerned its a slap in the face to the tara fans for whedon to think its enough to throw us a bone of amber as another character for an ep or two - thats just insulting

[EffieBlue]

I see the scenario going something like this..



JW..we'll throw them a bone....Amber back..but not as Tara....make life hell for willow a bit more...



AB...You mean torture the fans a bit as well??



JW..well duh!...of course...they need it.



AB...sorry...can't do that....



JW..so you won't do it??



AB...well duh!...NO!



JW...You really won't do it?



AB...nope.



JW..on phone to production assistant......."you know those season 7 promo's with Tara in........"

*****************
strange to say, I didn't really like carol singers. There was something rather eerie about people turning up unexpectedly around the door and starting to sing." Hannah Hauxwell. seasons of my life.

[Gatito Grande]

I was flipping through the mag at the bookstore today, and I noticed a really nice close-up of Amber dancing in "Under Your Spell." (The dress---and woman!---which redefines the term "form-fitting bodice" )



Rally, could you or some other Kitten-with-a-Scanner (my, doesn't that sound suggestive!) provide us techno-idiot types w/ a yummy scan?



GG Whoever did the ep guide in the mag seems to get almost as hot-n-bothered by Buffy/Faith scenes as I do! Out

[Iamyouknowyours]

For those of you US kittens who were looking, the Buffy Yearbook episode officially came out today (ok technically yesterday) While I felt a little bad for giving ME another chunk of my change, nothing was gonna keep me from having a copy of any magazine with an interview and yummy pictures of my girl! (By my girl, I of course mean Amber, who I intend to marry when she is undoubtably turned homosexual by prolongued exposure to lesbian arm stroking). All kidding aside, if the arm stroking theory is indeed correct, I suppose I should be put out that Willow and Tara zapped me gay like that. I guess I'll just have to track Amber and Aly down and punish them. Mistress of pain anyone? Oh wait, that last part was still kidding

Sex always leads to bad things on Buffy. Angel turned evil, Willow turned evil, Tara got shot, Buffy ended up dating Riley...

[Sheridan]

Saw the Buffy calendar in HMV in the UK. Wondering if it's the same as the US one? It seems to be a reprise of all 6 seasons of Buffy and uses the various cast photos and shots from eps. There are quite a few featuring Tara, though W/T seems somewhat absent.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Willow: ...I have to tell you....

Tara: No, I understand you have to be with the
person you l-love

Willow: I am

[Jaguar]

I don't know if it is me or my computer but this is the third time that I am trying to post this.

Anyway, thank you Sheridan for your info.

I'll have to check it out.

But no W/T ?!? Together?

Mind boggles.



Jaguar

[Nix42]

No W/T -what not even offensive arm touching?

Edited by: Nix42 at: 9/18/02 10:39:39 am

[umadamber]

I don't usually post here but i thourght that you might like to know that i got a copy of the BTVS mag today in the UK and it features the same interview with Amber as the US one. So nothing new unfortunatly.

Anya: Anyway, I took the money from working for Giles, then I tripled it.

Tara: Triple? Like first money, then money, money, money?

Anya: Yes, I'm thinking about buying something very expensive. Maybe an antelope

[Rally]

Quote:

---

Rally, could you or some other Kitten-with-a-Scanner (my, doesn't that sound suggestive!) provide us techno-idiot types w/ a yummy scan?

---

Um I might have some time on Friday, but not before then... bleeping job.

------------




Well officially, of course, I have to say that I have no idea what you're talking about.

[tyche]

Don't know if the US version had a different cover to the UK one - but the BBC has a photo of the UK Buffy magazine cover (which features both Willow and Tara):

www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/news/02092305.shtml.

[EffieBlue]

There's also a large centerfold poster of Willow and Tara in the UK mag. However it follows all other official mag pictures and they aren't touching or even facing each other. I've noticed most publicity pics of Willow and Tara have them back to back...must be very dangerous for them to actually face each other, who knows what might happen to our kids if they saw that.........

*****************

Will: I don't get it Buffy, haven't we done all this before?

Buffy: Someone said it's called season seven Faith has a name for it though...

Faith: It's called fucked up weird shit, Faith interrupted from the front... blatently plagarised from Mission statement by Bagheerra.

[marcenik]

Does anyone know...is the latest mag issue different from the yearbook? I picked up the yearbook with the "Goodbye to You" interview with Amber ....( So sad...but love the pics of her)...but I was thinking that the actual Mag issue was a seperate thing....let me know either way...thanks!!!

[DaffyQDuck]

No, that's the one. They said in the one that came out in May that the next issue would be the Oct yearbook. & in it they say they will be every other month from now on.

I'm Cletus the slack-jawed yokel - Willow

[Jherek5150]

I've read in two different magazines that Amber Benson has signed a thirteen episode contract for next season. Now whether or not Whedon is telling the truth or stepping on his dick again is open for debate.



On of the unfortunate side effects of being called a genius is that you start to believe it; start to believe that no matter what you do it is correct. Idiot...



"I now make a new vow, one weighed in experience and proclaimed with my eyes open: I will not raise my scimitars except in defense: in defense of my principles, of my life, or of others who cannot defend themselves."

[Kendahl897]

There were rumors last year that Amber signed a 13 episode option, which is much different from a contract..Do you have the names of the two magazines where you say you read that Amber had signed a 13 episode CONTRACT? Because until we have something more substantial than someone coming here posting she has a contract without quoting where they got it from, we will choose to remain skeptical...Sorry

[Jherek5150]

My apologies, I saw option contract and automatically assumed normal contract...if you could fill me in on the difference I would appreciate it, as my knowledge of this limited...



Anyway, one of the magazines was Dreamwatch, and I can't, unfortunetly, remember the title of the other one...again, sorry.



"I now make a new vow, one weighed in experience and proclaimed with my eyes open: I will not raise my scimitars except in defense: in defense of my principles, of my life, or of others who cannot defend themselves."

[jraff]

Basically, while a contract says "we hire you for X episodes..." or the like, an option says "we *might* want to use your services for up to X episodes, so we'll pay you some cash, and you'll keep yourself available to us, in priority to other projects..."



Ok, that's an overly simplified explanation, but I think it sums up the spirit of the option. I know it has been explained better before, tho, on this very board, so you can do a search if you need better details

. : j r a f f : . : t h e . d a i l y : .

"On really romantic evenings of self, I go salsa dancing with my confusion."

"Waking Life", a movie by Richard Linklater.

[BBOvenGuy]

You've essentially got it.



Where the "13 episodes" comes from is that's the standard initial order that networks place for shows. If the show's doing well, the network then picks up "the back 9" to fill out a 22-episode season. Therefore the time period during which those 13 episodes are being shot becomes a convenient duration for option/contract purposes, because if the option isn't picked up the performer becomes available again just as new deals are being put together. It does not mean the performer will be in 13 episodes, or any episodes at all, for that matter.

------------------------------------------------
"A man who fails well is greater than one who succeeds badly" - Thomas Merton

[Jherek5150]

That was very poor phrasing on my part. It was by no means my intent to spread misinformation or false hope. I'd love to have the character back for as long as possible, as I, obviously, love the character of Tara.



"I now make a new vow, one weighed in experience and proclaimed with my eyes open: I will not raise my scimitars except in defense: in defense of my principles, of my life, or of others who cannot defend themselves."

[Taz]

I just listened to a stream of Marti Noxon off Yahoo main page, giving a bit of info on all the characters next season. She says all she can say about Amber Benson is that Amber may be back but, that Tara will not.

[slayer747]

marti said that? how come it doesn't really do anything to me? are we supposed to be excited? hmmm... i'll pass.

------------
"Sometimes things happen between people that you don't really expect. And sometimes the things that are important are the ones that seem the weirdest or the most wrong, and those are the ones that change your life." - Jessie "Once and Again"

[tyche]

I was looking at the contents page today, and realised that it has a new (to me, anyway) photo of Amber from the season 5 publicity shoot. I've scanned it and put it up in my Yahoo! photo album (actually it's 2 photos - a cropped one, and one which shows the Tara pic in the original context of the page):

photos.yahoo.com/bc/ty2che?d&.flabel=fld1&.src=ph&start=1

(Click on the album - 'Buffy and Angel cast photos' on the top left hand side of the page, then click 'view all'. They're the last 2 photos in the album.)

[Willow] should have taken time out for a few minutes to slowly torture Xander for sounding like a Hallmark card on crack. - My fiance's review of the 'yellow crayon' speech.

Edited by: tyche at: 9/26/02 12:37:46 pm

[sheila wt]

Does anybody know how to get the British Buffy magazine here in the US? Do they have a website or something where we can order it from? I'd like to have that Willow & Tara poster...

Sheila

...................................................................


“Come and put the ‘hot’ in my tub.” Tara winked as she whispered. ("Bookmarks & Broomsticks" by The Rainbow Writers)

[urnofosiris]

Thank you so much Tyche

I had never seen that S5 promo pic before. It is the best of that lot by far, in all the other ones she looks so pouty. Why haven't we seen this one before?

As for the little Aly/Amber composite pic in the corner of the Amber pic, could you maybe make a biggish scan of that? Please?

I have not seen it before, it looks like one of the better composite pics, but I have not seen those particular promo pics either, the angle is slightly different from the other ones I think.

--------------------

Tara: "uh Willow?"

Willow: "No dancing naked, huh?...It just won't be the same."

Tara: "That's all right, we can save it for later" ----From Wilderness, the newest WT comic written by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden

Edited by: DrG at: 9/26/02 9:49:15 pm

[tyche]

Glad you liked the Amber pic Dr G. I, too, can't understand why they haven't used it before cause it's so nice. The composite pic of season 6 W and T back to back is actually the one that they used on the cover and for the poster - I'll scan that and post it later tonight.

[SJ]

I'll try and get a couple of copies of the magazine. Sheila WT would you like me to try and get you a copy?