CAST/CREW NEWS - SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR

SCOOBY DOO - IT LOOKS TERRIBLE

01.03.01 - Despite some fans seemingly believing that Scooby Doo is going to be a smash hit, some of us were unconvinced, and although this shot of SMG as purple goddess Daphne doesn't look too bad, click here for a short behind the scenes look, including Freddie Prinze Jr. wearing possibly the worst wig in the history of film.  Back to the top

BUFFY FINDS HER PRINZE

21.02.01 - Sarah Michelle Gellar has found fame worldwide as the angel-faced heroine of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  But does Buffy's hectic filming schedule allow her any spare time for romance?

A magazine poll recently voted you the sexiest woman in the world.  How do you feel about that?

It's an honour, but they obviously don't know me, or see me first thing in the morning, before people come to fix my face and hair!  I hate it when people say that I'm successful because of my looks.  I would never think of myself as beautiful.  I think of myself as smart!  Some people might think, "Look!  Another cute little actress", but that's not who I am.

What do you find sexy?

I love guys with shaved heads - I think Bruce Willis is real sexy.  If I was single I'd date a bald man as I like it when their hair comes back and you can feel the stubble on the back of their heads.  Also, the movie stars of the 1940s and 1950s were so sexy.  They positively reeked of sex by only hinting at it.

And you've found love with your own movie star, Freddie Prinze Jr...

Yeah.  Freddie and I had been friends for four or five years before we become romantically involved, so we knew a lot about each other, and had a real foundation of affection that was built way before we committed to a relationship together.  We're very comfortable together, which is nice.

Is it serious?

I'd prefer not to discuss that in public.  People can take pictures of us together, but they can't take pictures of how we really feel about each other.

How do you balance your relationship with two busy careers?

It's hard.  When we first go together [while filming I Know What You Did Last Summer], I was not used to being in a relationship - between Buffy and the movies I had done, I'd been working for three years straight.  A couple of years ago, I was finally able to take a break from work and realise that I still had to remember to be a person, too.  That's when Freddie and I started our relationship.  I must say that since he's been around, I am much happier and more settled - and once in a while, we even get to go to the movies on a Saturday night!  But it can be difficult because of the insane hours I work on Buffy.  I can go for three weeks and not speak to anybody!

When did you hear about the birds and the bees?

Some kid in the classroom told me when we were six.  I went to my Mom, and said, "Mom, what's this all about?"  Of course, she freaked out, because no child should be telling other children this at that age.  But then we sat down and had a really open conversation, and after that, there was nothing I couldn't discuss with her.

So does that mean you were an early developer?  These days it seems everyone's had sex by the time they're 12.

I don't know what to think.  My God, when I was 12, I hadn't even done any kissing, let alone anything else!

Source: www.zoom.co.uk.  Back to the top

GELLAR KISSES A GIRL...GROSSE

19.02.01 - Locking lips with Sarah Michelle Gellar in Friday night's episode of the Beverly Hills, 90210 parody Grosse Pointe didn't faze Lindsay Sloane, who plays Marcy, one little bit.  In fact, it was her friendship with Gellar that made the real-life Buffster a Grosse Pointe guest (as herself).  "We were trying to figure out a way that we could be in every scene together, and that only happens if you're playing someone's love interest," Sloane told TV Guide Online.  "So she was like, 'Well, all right then - I'll just have to play your love interest.'

"We told that to [creator] Darren Star," she continues, "and he came up with a very funny story using that."

Unfortunately for Sloane, the scene didn't generate the same heat as Gellar's Cruel Intentions smooch with Selma Blair.  "I thought it was going to be a little bit friskier," Sloane sighed.  "It was so simple, like a hello kiss."

And how does Gellar rate?  "Oh, Sarah's definitely a 10.  Even just from watching her in other things, I know she knows what she's doing."  Back to the top

POINTED REMARK

15.02.2001 - From TV Guide Online:

Newly single Tom Cruise may want to avoid Friday's episode of The WB's Grosse Pointe featuring guest star Sarah Michelle Gellar.  In the installment - shot prior to the actor's high-profile split with wife Nicole Kidman - Marcy, Hunter and Courtney are sitting around gossiping about the Buffy the Vampire Slayer star's sexual orientation.  When Courtney says she thought the actress was in a relationship with Freddie Prinze Jr., Hunter sarcastically replies, "Yeah, and Tom Cruise is married to Nicole Kidman."  Ouch.  "We just watched a tape of the episode for the first time last night," Lindsay Sloane, who plays Marcy, tells TV Guide Online, "And I was like, 'Eww, are we going to have to change that?  Are we going to have to loop that line?'"  Apparently not.  A Grosse Pointe spokesperson says that in spite of recent events, the episode - written and directed by series creator Darren Star - will air as-is.  Jokes Sloane: "I guess Darren Star knows what's going to be happening before it happens.  I'm going to be reading the scripts now to see what's happening with my future."  Star declined to be interviewed for this story, and Cruise's spokesperson, Pat Kingsley, did not return our phone call by press time.  Back to the top

"DID SMG HAVE A FEW DRINKS BEFORE SAYING SHE WOULD LEAVE BUFFY?"

01.02.2001 - A few more comments on the "I'd quit if Buffy moved" story:

Talking to E! Online, David Boreanaz said "You're going to hear those kind of comments until it's settled where the show will end up.  Everyone's going to be throwing daggers.  So, I really have nothing to say about it because I don't want to get involved in a pissing match."

Wanda's column for 29 January included this question:

Did SMG have a few drinks before saying she would leave Buffy?

No.  She's smart girl [so, err, why say it in the first place then?].  Unfortunately, she was right about her bosses getting "pissed" at what she told me.  And I'm assuming when push came to shove, she had no choice but to backpedal.  Back to the top

FOX  WOULD SUE IF SMG QUIT

31.01.2001 - Further to the "I'm off"/"I'm staying" story below, Inside reports that Sarah's initial comments to E! Online surprised and angered Fox executives - hardly surprising since she's under contract to the show until 2003.

If she was, in fact, announcing a serious intention to bolt the show if it switched networks, Fox's bargaining position over The WB's renewal would be seriously undermined, and it wasn't about to face that prospect without a fight.

The studio quickly sprung into full damage-control mode.  First, insiders say, Joss Whedon expressed his displeasure to Gellar in a personal conversation.  Then Fox chief Sandy Grushow, rang up Gellar's attorney Debbie Klein - whom he has known since they were classmates in the fifth grade - and reminded her of the little matter of her client's contract.

If Gellar left the show, one studio insider said, "she would be sued for breach of contract and (if the studio won the suit) every penny she's made would be coming back to us."

Klein, according to sources familiar with the situation, conferred with Eddy Yablans, Gellar's agent at ICM, who in turn spoke with her publicist, Marisa McGrath.  While it's unclear what happened next, apparently Gellar or her people decided she needed to calm the water.  (Yablans, though an ICM spokesperson, disputed this version of events, but declined to comment further, as did McGrath.  Klein could not immediately be reached for comment.)

A Fox publicist arranged for Gellar to call the LA Times reporter who writes the "Morning Report" column.  What followed was a wholesale retraction from a "contrite" starlet.  "I'm not going anywhere, and I can't stress that enough," Gellar told the paper.  Explaining that she had made the remark about leaving "in passing," she added that "Fox has been very good to me.  I intend to stay with Buffy no matter what."  Insiders say that Gellar was shaken by how quickly a supposedly offhand comment of hers had turned into another flash point in the ongoing battle between The WB and Fox.

Meanwhile, the Buffy renewal talks - which officially started 15 January - drag on.  The WB has until March to clinch a deal, and the network also retains the right to match other bidders' offers after that.  Back to the top

ATKINSON FOR SCOOBY DOO?

27.01.2001 - According to the Hollywood Reporter, Blackadder star Rowan Atkinson is in negotiations to play the lead villain in Warner Bros.' feature film version of Scooby Doo.  As we reported earlier the film, which begins production in Australia on February 13th, is set to star Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne, Matthew Lillard as Shaggy and Linda Cardellini (Freaks and Geeks) as Velma.  Back to the top

WB PRESS RELEASE ON GELLAR'S GROSSE POINT APPEARANCE

27.01.2001 - Extracts from The WB's February Sweeps press release:

Sarah Michelle Gellar visits Grosse Pointe, along with Jason Priestley, Kristin Davis, Elizabeth Berkley & Dweezil Zappa

Burbank, CA (January 25, 2001) - On the heels of record-breaking fall ratings, The WB Network will roll out a line-up of not-to-be-missed original episodes and primetime specials during February sweeps.

The WB's biggest sweeps news will be revealed on Friday, February 16, when in a special one-hour episode of Popstars (8.30-9.30pm ET), the five women are finally chosen from the thousands that auditioned.  As the drama unfolds, it's not just the pop-star wannabes that are in for a surprise, but the judges must grapple with new developments.  The episode will be followed by Grosse Pointe (9.30-10pm ET) airing on a special night and featuring a provocative guest-starring appearance by Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).  Back to the top

"HUMILIATED" GELLAR SLAYING PUT

26.01.2001 - "I'm not going anywhere, I can't stress that enough," a contrite Sarah Michelle Gellar told The LA Times on Wednesday, quickly retrracting her previous comments.

Gellar claimed that she was "humiliated" over the reaction to comments (read: someone gave her a bollocking over the subject) that she made to E! Online that she'd leave the series if it moves from The WB to another network.

"I just said it in passing, and it was only meant to show my appreciation and support for The WB.  But Fox [the show's producers] has been very good to me too.  I intend to stay with Buffy no matter what."  Gellar, who has at least one more year on her contract after this season, added that she "absolutely" hopes to continue doing the show even after that.

Links: Buffy off to Fox?  Back to the top

GELLAR ON GROSSE POINTE

25.01.2001 - The WB's Sunday night comedy Grosse Pointe features an all-star list of guest stars in February, including - as we reported back in December - Buffy's Sarah Michelle Gellar - although she might like to make the most of it, since if she carries out her threat to quit the show should Buffy leave The WB, Fox might be able to block her from starring on TV for the remaining two years of her contract.

The 4 February episode guest stars Sex and the City's Kristin Davis, while Beverly Hills, 90210's Jason Priestly will act in and direct the following week episodes and the 25 February season finale features Dweezil Zappa (as himself) and Showgirls' Elizabeth Berkley.

SMG stars in the 18 February episode, Passion Fish, written and directed by executive producer Darren Star.  Marcy (Lindsay Sloane) takes advantage of her casual friendship with SMG to ask her to guest star on the show.  To everyone's surprise Sarah agrees, but has one condition - that her role includes a kiss with Marcy's character.

The picture right shows SMG at Sunday night's Golden Globe's.  E! Online says: "Prime-time vampire nemesis Sarah Michelle Gellar knows how to kill 'em softly, as evidenced by her red-carpet appearance at the Golden Globes.  Leaving behind her Slayer threads, she's a real winner in her red and white Valentino halter dress.  She completes the look with dazzling Bulgari, Fred Leighton and Cathy Waterman jewels."  Back to the top

GELLAR: "IF BUFFY MOVES, I'M OUT"

24.01.2001 - Despite reports that Buffy is being sought by other networks, Sarah Michelle Gellar is adamant she's not going anywhere.  "I will stay on Buffy if, and only if, Buffy stays on the WB," she told E! Online at the Golden Globes ceremony.  "The WB has been so supportive, such a great network over the past four years.  It feels like home.  I don't want Buffy to move because I that we belong on The WB.  It's where our fans are.  If Buffy leaves the WB, I'm out.  You know what?  My bosses are going to kill me, but print that.  I want them to know."  Back to the top

NO GOLDEN GLOBE TRIUMPH FOR SMG

22.01.2001 - Sarah (pictured right at the ceremony with Freddie Prinze Jr) didn't pick up the Golden Globe for Best Actress - Drama last night, which was won by Once and Again's Sela Ward.

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