Classic Christmas TV episodes: ‘Amends’ (‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’)

Show: “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (Season 3, episode 10) Airdate: Dec. 15, 1998 Overview: This episode is the structural midpoint of the franchise; it’s sort of a backdoor pilot for “Angel” and it introduces the First Evil. It’s also a great Christmas episode, as an inexplicable higher power intervenes in Buffy’s and Angel’s little lives, allowing

John’s favorite TV shows of the Aughts (Commentary)

Next, here are my top 10 TV shows. Some started in the ’90s, but for this list, I am just showing the years they aired during this decade. This top 10 is front-loaded (the most recent shows ended three seasons ago), reflecting the downhill trend as the decade wore on. 1. “Once and Again” (2000-02, ABC) — Remarkably,

A ‘True Blood’ primer for ‘Buffy/Angel’ fans: 10 differences between the vampire mythologies (TV commentary)

I’ve watched most of the first season on DVD, and I can safely say I’m a fan of “True Blood.” Being a huge “Buffy/ Angel” fan, I have trouble liking other vampire stories because I compare them to Joss Whedon’s work.But I like Alan Ball’s “True Blood” because it’s its own thing — the iconic vampire show of the late-Oughts