Joss Whedon is finally receiving the widespread recognition he deserves as a writer, director, and producer. We have his hit 2012 flicks The Avengers and The Cabin in the Woods to thank for that. Before Whedon achieved mainstream success though, he already had a rabid cult following. His admirers endlessly analyze the television shows, comics, and films that he creates. Heck, my alma mater even has a class exclusively on his show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Leveraging Whedon’s devotees, Titan Books and the magazine Pop Matters have distilled fan commentary into a single book entitled Joss Whe...

Last week’s episode left me unfulfilled as Dean hadn't shared his secret, and instead chose to try to bury his head in the sand and his liver in alcohol. Luckily, for my sanity, “Shut Up, Dr. Phil” was lighthearted and unexpectedly charming, thanks sci-fi staples and “Angel” alums James Marsters (“Hawaii Five-0”) and Charisma Carpenter (“Burn Notice,” “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”).

The murder of Wendy Goodson, real estate agent, opened the episode. She reassured her client that selling the family home would punish her husband for his infidelities. For Wendy, who had indiscretions of he...

Happy Black History Month, everyone! Every since I graduated high school, Black History Month (and President’s Day) has had a tendency to slip past my notice. This month, however, I wanted to draw your attention to two of my favorite things: influential people, and television. And since it’s February, I wanted to give it an African-American history spin. Here is my list of five influential African-American television characters.

1. Clair Huxtable - The Cosby Show (played by Phylicia Rashād)
I know. When someone says “The Cosby Show,” the first person you think of is Cliff Huxtable, rig...

Howard Gordon has perhaps one of the most impressive resumes for a TV producer working today. His credits include Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, The X-Files, The Inside and 24. With 24 ending, you'd think he might finally take a vacation - but you'd be wrong. In addition to developing two new series, he also found the time to write his first novel. Howard reunited with me on Monday evening to talk about Gideon's War and what it's like to switch from TV boss to novelist.

What made you decide to write a novel?

It was actually a longtime ambition. In college, I was a creative writing m...

Americans would most like to ogle Jennifer Aniston and Matthew McConaughey on the beach, according to a new end-of-summer survey.

Aniston beat Jessica Biel and Kim Kardashian to land the "Sexiest Bikini Body" vote in the Parade magazine poll, while McConaughey was named Best Male Beach Bod ahead of Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron and David Beckham.

The summer 2010 poll also required readers to vote for the heroes and villains of the season.

Mel Gibson landed the "Most Tarnished Reputation" dishonor for his alleged fights with ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, while Lindsay Lohan was named the "Mo...

"Bones" star David Boreanaz has become the latest celebrity caught out by his womanizing ways - he and his wife of nine years are working on their marriage after the actor's cheating confessions.

Boreanaz, who played Angel in cult show "Buffy And The Vampire Slayer" and it's TV spin-off, has opened up about his bad behavior to the upcoming People magazine.

He reveals he has been unfaithful to his wife, Jaime Bergman, and the two are currently trying to save their marriage - after a former mistress threatened to go public with their affair.

He confesses, "Our marriage has been tainted wit...

Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon is close to signing a deal to direct The Avengers film, according to reports.

Bosses at Marvel have been hunting for a moviemaker to oversee the highly-anticipated superhero outing, which will see Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor and Captain America team up on the big screen.

Iron Man director Jon Favreau disappointed fans last year by confirming he would only be acting as executive producer and not taking full control of the film's direction.

However, Whedon - who also created hit shows Angel and Dollhouse - is ready to sign on to head up the bloc...

Joss Whedon has a fiercely loyal and loving fanbase, and it is occasionally an abusive relationship. He likes to destroy characters that the fans love so the pain is fresh and unique, and he likes to throw twists at us that stab our hearts. It happened all the time on "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," like when Buffy had to stab Angel, or Tara was shot through the window, or in "Angel" when Fred was turned into Illyria or Doyle sacrificed his life, or then in "Serenity" when Wash became a victim of the Reavers, and finally when the only sweet character in "Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" was accid...

So "Dollhouse" is back, but only as long as it takes them to get out the rest of the season since it has officially been canceled. The hilarious part of this is that they aired two episodes last week, and both were exceptionally well done. The show is finally getting it together just as it is canceled. How wonderfully cruel. Rather than do two recaps of the episodes, they basically blend together so this will be one big recap. Ready? Ready! Did I fall asleep?

Senator Perrin, aka the delicious Alexis Denisof, is making an aggressive push against the Rossum company and the Dollhouse. He go...

Well, as everyone expected, Joss Whedon's new show "Dollhouse" was canceled by Fox after just one season, causing fans to go completely crazy and ... what? Wait, it didn't get canceled? What is this madness you speak of? They put it on the Friday death slot and it barely had any viewers! There's magic in the air, and "Dollhouse" fans were given their biggest Christmas wish: one more season of this increasingly strong show. It had ups and downs in the first year, but by the second half things were ironing out and the return of Alpha was truly delightful. Now it's time to get back inside and ...

Has anyone else noticed that vampires are getting very, very trendy? There was a time in the 90s when Anne Rice's "Interview With the Vampire" came out and that inspired some great new versions of the old monster tale. Then there was "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" that brought pop culture and vampire horror together in a hilarious high school drama kind of way, and that show's spin off "Angel" continued the legacy.

Lately vampires have been booming in a big way thanks to "Twilight" and "True Blood," and now there's a new series coming to the CW for vamp-fans to salivate over. "The Vampire D...

The fall season is finally upon us, and that means television is worth watching again. The summer has a few hot shows, but it is really just a waiting station for our favorites to return in September. Soon the Tivo will be completely full, every night will be a new adventure, and all our answers from last season's cliff hangers will (hopefully) be answered. Take a look at 10 TV shows we can't wait to see this coming season!

Gossip Girl (returns September 14)

Season two had a few shaky moments, including the illicit teacher-student affair with Dan and Chuck's flirtation with the under...

Long ago, in a popular culture period far, far away, to watch or read science fiction was synonymously tied to the then derogatory term of 'geek'. Now that stereotype has somewhat weakened. One of the many reasons for this change was the Ron Moore reimagining of 'Battlestar Galactica' in 2004. 'BSG' was a hit not just amongst the typical sci-fi fan base, as it is most commonly discussed as a space opera, but to more non-traditional fans. When 'Heroes' debuted on NBC it was a break in network format. Many questioned why it was not to air on the sister channel, then, Sci-Fi, and spurred d...

Originally, this article was supposed to be the next installment in the internet battle between Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Twilight. There are countless videos online of Buffy taking on Edward, Buffy besting Bella, etc. Meanwhile, there are academics furiously typing away at feminist critiques of this battle. And many on team "Buffy" are ferociously against the poorly written "Twilight" narrative.

However, it isn't about just "Buffy" and "Twilight;" it really has become everything in literature and film relating to vampires and fantasy versus this one text. And, what we found qui...

With an eagerly anticipated Gossip Girl spinoff in the offing, as well as a number of other spinoffs and remakes, the 2009-2010 television fall schedule feels awfully familiar. Unfortunately, there's no rhyme or reason as to whether these spinoffs actually fly. For every Frasier, there is a Joey. The winners are shows that garnered critical acclaim and/or cult status. The losers are shows that destroyed the integrity of beloved characters and were generally poorly written and conceived.

Some of the more recent TV spinoff successes and failures:

Successes

Frasier - Who would ...

Fox tried something very interesting this season - a lineup that seems like the kiss of death for two unusual shows. The Friday night time spot is usually reserved for shows that have no chance of seeing renewal. However, Friday nights have been taken over by a two-hour block of sci-fi with Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Dollhouse.

T: SCC is in its second season and still has a loyal fanbase eagerly awaiting further character and plot development (I'm talking to you, Jameron shippers), and while "Dollhouse" is still in its infancy, Joss Whedon fans are intrigued to dis...

Actor and singer Andy Hallett has passed away, aged 33. Hallet, best known for his recurring role as Lorne in hit TV show Angel, died from heart failure following a five-year battle against heart disease.

He landed his first break after he was dragged on stage at a concert to sing with Patti LaBelle - the performance kick started his career as a singer-songwriter. Hallett was spotted during a revue at a Los Angeles nightclub by Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, who created the demon character Lorne in the show's spin-off Angel just for him.

The star appeared in 76 ep...

Joss Whedon is a legend in his own right, known both for his offbeat sense of humor and his knack for writing strong female main characters. It's been a few years since his era of television gold ("Buffy The Vampire Slayer," "Angel," "Firefly") was on the air, but now he's coming back in a big way on the FOX network.

"Dollhouse" premieres February 13, starring Whedon alum Eliza Dushku (also from "Tru Calling") and sci-fi favorite Tahmoh Penikett ("Battlestar Galactica").

"Dollhouse" is about a hidden facility which creates a secret group of people nicknamed 'Dolls' or 'Act...

Dig into a world of crime scenes, decayed remains, murder investigations and more with seven unlikely colleagues as Bones Season Three – Totally Decomposed Edition exhumes its way onto DVD November 18th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

The suspenseful procedural drama stars actress and co-producer Emily Deschanel (Glory Road, That Night) as Dr. Temperance Brennan, a brilliant, highly-skilled forensic anthropologist with a lack of social courtesy, and TV icon David Boreanaz (Angel) as F.B.I. Special Agent Seeley Booth, who despite mistrusting science and scientists, forms ...

"Amie what you wanna do?/ I think I could stay with you / For a while, maybe longer if I do," sings Pure Prairie League. Well, there are quite a few Amys that we're sure a lot of fans would like to stay with for a while. Check our our photo slideshow:

Amy Acker

Starred on Angel, Alias, Dollhouse

More Amy Acker Pictures

Amy Brenneman

Starred on NYPD Blue, Judging Amy, Private Practice

More Amy Brenneman Pictures

Amy Poehler

Starred on Saturday Night Live, Baby Mama

More Amy Poehler Pictures

A...

Occasionally one of the compelling lead actors of a show grabs attention both in character and out of it. David Boreanaz is one of those actors. Famous for starring in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel," the playful prankster now stars aside Emily Deschanel in the crime dramedy "Bones."

During the "Bones" panel at Comic Con on Friday, July 25, Boreanaz brought a bright energy and excitement to the crowd when they would usually be winding down after a long day. The panel consisted of Boreanaz, creator Hart Hanson, and actors Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor, and John Francis Daley. T...

The internet is usually a place buzzing about something - actually more like 10,000 something's - but for the week of July 14 through July 20 there was one buzz that took over: Dr. Horrible.

Brought to an Internet audience by Joss Whedon, he of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Angel," and "Firefly" fame, this approximately 45-minute dramedy musical starred the talents of Nathan Fillion ("Firefly," "Desperate Housewives"), Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother") and Felicia Day ("Buffy," online series "The Guild.")

The musical is officially titled "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blo...

Two of the most hyped up new shows on the FOX network were previewed on Saturday, July 26, the third day of the San Diego Comic Con, and there was a slow flagging sense of energy by the time "Fringe" began its panel. It was one of the later panels of the day, preempted by the overwhelming enthusiasm for "Dollhouse," "Chuck," and "Battlestar Galactica."

It could have been exhaustion setting in which made the audience thinner for "Fringe," or the lukewarm reports coming from early viewing of the pilot. In attendance was J.J. Abrams, Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, Bryan Burke, Je...

Monday, July 14

The Closer (TNT, 9 p.m.) - Jason O'Mara (Grey's Anatomy, the upcoming Life on Mars remake) returns as Brenda's stalker, pyromaniac Bill. This time around, he's helping Brenda out on an arson case.

The Middleman (ABC Family, 10 p.m.) - Are you still not watching this delightfully fun series? Would a helping of trout-eating zombies help convince you to try it out?

The Soup Presents (E!, 10 p.m.) - "Stuff Your Mother Won't Let You Watch," a.k.a. bad reality behavior and pissed off celebs.

Weeds (Showtime, 10 p.m.) - Nancy gets a retail job to cover her drug ...

All around us are stories of the paranormal and fairytale worlds. Recent big-screen films have focused on hidden doorways to far off places (Chronicles of Narnia), talented wizards (Harry Potter) and even a crafty kid with an animal spirit sidekick (The Golden Compass). We've been inundated with ghosts, goblins and, yes, vampires.

The recent cancellation of "Moonlight" caused outrage in fanboys and fangirls everywhere. Thousands of viewers signed petitions urging CBS to change its mind. Rumors circulated that another network may pick up the show for a second season, but that didn...

BURBANK, Calif. - Rocked by the mysterious death of Lionel Luthor and the sudden disappearance of his son, Lex, the town of Smallville will be put further on edge this fall with the arrival of two new villains.

Sam Witwer ("Battlestar Galactica") and Cassidy Freeman ("Finishing the Game: The Search for a New Bruce Lee") join the cast of "Smallville" as series regulars for the hit show's eighth season. Witwer will play Davis Bloome, a charismatic Metropolis paramedic who - when he isn't saving people - is forced to confront a burgeoning darkness inside of him that just might be a harbi...

Every year, the upfront presentations have a different theme. Ok, so that's not always the case, but it would be pretty cool if it was, right? This year, however, there definitely seems to be a theme emerging. NBC's presentation in April, which seemed to be heralding in an era of change, proved to be a red herring. As this week has shown us, the theme this year is not change. It is stability.

For CBS, leader in overall viewers for the past several seasons (although it is being challenged by Fox in that category this year), sticking with the status quo makes sense. Due to that fac...

CBS just announced its 2008-09 schedule with one glaring absence: "Moonlight." What are fans of the fanged persuasion going to watch now?

There are rumors the CW may step in to rescue the beleaguered series (which has a corporate connection to CBS), but it's a slim chance. It's happened before - "Roswell" aired on the WB and moved to UPN before cancellation and ABC just picked up NBC castoff "Scrubs" - so it could happen again. Oh, and what about "Jericho?" But maybe that's not a good example. It was canceled. Twice.

So what can a "Moonlight" fan do? Many have already poured thei...

The IGN theater at New York City Comic Con was bursting on Sunday, April 20, with two kinds of people: Those who were there to talk about "Moonlight" and those who were waiting for it to be over for "Harold & Kumar." It was clear to see the difference between the two by the sounds of screams in the air when a 12-minute clip show of the new vampire series was shown.

Although still in its first season, "Moonlight" has already managed to secure a group of loyal and intense fans, which is not unexpected for a show romanticizing vampires and the paranormal. The once beloved Joss Whedon sho...

With the distant memory that was the writers' strike slowly fading from the minds of TV viewers, everyone is preparing for the return of their favorite shows. Well, you better take the time to enjoy them because they might not all be coming back in the fall.

Although television will see more returning favorites than usual come September, there are a few shows in jeopardy. Following are the top five shows with uncertain futures and the already safe shows they should replace:

Save Jericho (CBS)

With a fanbase that literally sent peanuts to save this show, CBS gave it a second cha...