Gearing up for the launch of the new CW network means having to lead UPN and the WB out back and put two merciful shots in each of their heads. You can't move on until you've buried the past. And while UPN is going out with a whimper (Shasta McNasty marathon perhaps?), the WB is trying to remember days of yore by re-airing some of the defining shows' pilots from the network that was once called "The Frog". Stay tuned for a breakdown of the new CW schedule (set to launch on Wednesday, September 20) sometime next week. Until then, here's a look at what "classic" pilots the network will air on its last night of Broadcast, Sunday, September 17 on the WB (sorry, Birds of Prey is nowhere to be found).
5 PM - Felicity
Say what you will about the constant whispering, the scandalous haircut and the presence of the Pink Power Ranger, this show had a lot of merits. While most people stand on either side of a very distinct love it or hate it line in the sand, I was the very rare casual Felicity watcher. Sure the love triangle was sort of one-sided (did anyone REALLY think Felcicity would end up with Noel?), but it was a smartly written, well-acted show. And it helped JJ Abrams establish himself, so all you WB snobs out there repeat after me: If there was no Felicity, there'd have been no Alias, and if there was no Alias there'd be no Lost. And then nerds around the world would have nothing to do, four toed statues wouldn't exist, Evangeline Lilly would still be making Phone Sex commercials and there'd only be one Bennifer. I cringe at the thought.
6 PM - Angel
I'm so pleased that this show got picked for spotlight, because it was a spin-off and spent most of its 5 seasons in the shadow of it's sister show, Buffy, before being unceremoniously cancelled before its prime. But now we have a chance to rewatch the Pilot episode, when Cordelia was still a hell on wheels bitch from Sunnydale, Angel was still nursing his broken heart over leaving Buffy, and Doyle was alive (in fact, not only has Doyle since passed on, but his portrayer Glenn Quinn killed himself in 2002). This was the show as it was just starting to find its rhythm, which it eventually did, in Season's 2 & 3. It might not have been the most revolutionary of WB shows, but it's earned it's place in the pantheon. Although there isn't nearly enough Cordelia butt-kicking, take a look at her and please, please PLEASE find a way to e-mail Joss Whedon about casting her as Wonder Woman. Sure, they have an, umm, prickly working history (she was MIA for much of season 4 & all of season 5 -save for the 100th episode), but she's way better than Jessica Biel or, gross, Kate Backinsdale.
7 PM - Buffy, The Vampire Slayer
At first, my not-so-inner nerd was worried that when they aired all these pilots they'd only put on the first hour of Buffy's two-hour pilot. But geeks of the world rejoice! All two hours are here in their entirety, complete with Eric Balfour. Thank God, they killed him off in episode one, or else Buffy would've never had the opportunity to become the cult classic it did. Now I know there are people out there who never got into Buffy (besides Freddie Prinze, Jr., of course), and it's easy to dismiss this show as just another fanboy wet dream. But in actuality it is just simply: ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS EVER ON TELEVISION. For anyone, even the casual fan, take a look at where Buffy, Angel, Cordelia, Willow and Xander start out in this pilot and then think about who they are when their respective series' have wrapped up. Plainly, Joss Whedon is a genius. Oh and it has one of my favorite lines ever, courtesy of Cordelia Chase: "What is your childhood trauma!??!"






Comments (8)
It's kinda sad. Who'd have thought Michelle Williams would be the break-out star out of Dawson's Creek and be the one with an Oscar nomination?
1 of 8 | Posted by mizta
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Posted on September 15, 2006 5:14 PM
Goodbye, Michigan, old friend.
2 of 8 | Posted by boomersmommy
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Posted on September 15, 2006 7:43 PM
Cordy as Worder Worman: one word...Perfect.
3 of 8 | Posted by boomersmommy
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Posted on September 15, 2006 7:45 PM
I heard a rumor on the American Idol newsgroup that Katherine McPhee is also in the running for Wonder Woman. I feel like Daffy Duck after arguing with Bugs for hours, "Shoot me, shoot me now!" No way in HELL would I pay to watch that movie. Katherine is a good enough singer. Don't get me wrong. She may be the poster girl for "Big Sexy Hair" or whatever the ad may be. She certainly has the "Diva" tude down pat. "I can't sing and join the tour until it's almost over but I can go on vacations with my over the hill boyfriend and have a grand ole time" until American Idol productions almost threatens to sue her butt, then all of a sudden she's better enough to join the tour. She had way too much drama surrounding her to even be considered for Wonder Woman! Ugh!!
I miss Angel being on. Buffy I never got into as much, but on the off chance I did catch it, I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED me some Spike, and when he switched over to Angel, I was in lurve even more. I hated when the show was cancelled. My only consolation prize is watching David Borneaz(sp?) in Bones and hoping to catch James Marsters in Smallville. My life is over. Wah!! Too bad we can't have some kind of crossover and have James come on Bones either as an FBI agent pal, or Booth's brother or something, anything. Producers, are you listening. (Yes, I know, it's rhetorical. LOL)
4 of 8 | Posted by Happy Homemaker
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Posted on September 16, 2006 7:16 AM
I met one of the stars of Shasta McNasty once (Dale Goldboldo). That random reference combined with the random "Hoku" reference in the DWTS review has made me feel very at home here.
And, you're right about Buffy. It was one of the best shows ever. For those who don't know, FX reruns it every weekday morning at 7 a.m.
5 of 8 | Posted by kristin_d_l
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Posted on September 16, 2006 10:27 AM
I can't watch old Buffy episodes, for the most part; the dark overtones make them hard for me to look at. I've come back around on Dawson's Creek, though, due to reruns on the N, and yeah, I agree with your Felicity assessment. Angel should've lasted a season longer than Buffy, or at least had a Spike spinoff.
Defined my childhood, wouldn'tcha know. What shows am I going to miss from UPN, though? Homeboys from Outer Space? Moesha? That one with all the black people in it (don't act like you don't know which one I'm talking about)? Anyone?
6 of 8 | Posted by JohnEDowney
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Posted on September 16, 2006 9:20 PM
I never did "get" Felicity; that girl was a stalker!
7 of 8 | Posted by Ubiquitous
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Posted on September 18, 2006 8:06 AM
I caught every single pilot yesterday and did feel a little nostalgic. Aww how I loved that Buffy - Scooby Squad. Loved it when Willow was still straight and in love with Xander, loved when Buffy wasn't taking herself so damned seriously, and loved me some Giles (always did have a thing for the English).
At least the finale of Buffy had more hope to it than the abomination of a finale Angel got.
8 of 8 | Posted by TinkerbellAPixie
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Posted on September 18, 2006 11:32 AM