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A children's programme, a teen drama, aimed at the 18-35 age group. These are different people's opinions as to what age BUFFY appeals to. So what's going on? Why can't the TV schedulers get it right? The fact is, no one really knows what age group the show is aimed at. As said by Joss Whedon, BUFFY's creator, The WB doesn't even know how to handle the programme. I even doubt the fact that programme schedulers (BBC take note) have ever actually watched an episode of BUFFY. I think the reason for confusion is BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER stars good looking young people, the characters are young people and the premise is young people. The 16-18 age to be exact. It seems any programme with characters of this age will be a teen drama or even a children's programme as said by the BBC. For example, DAWSON'S CREEK, SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH, HOLLYOAKS, (did I have to say this one!) and HEARTBREAK HIGH. Another closer and better example of this stereotypical behaviour is ULTRAVIOLET. Though I never watched the show when it was first broadcast, it's probably the closest show to Buffy you can compare. But the difference is, ULTRAVIOLET stars actors that aren't in their teens, and therefore it's taken much more seriously and is actually called an adult drama. Shows like BUFFY, or any shows for the matter starring teenagers, or teenagers aren't taken seriously enough. But that's my opinion. Maybe I'm wrong. But take this idea. Imagine a show about aliens, the FBI, government conspiracies, starring adults. Now put it in a 6.45pm timeslot. The BBC would say no. But why would they say that? Would it be the plots or the actors? Personally, I still think it'd be the actors. Most of you reading this by now (apart from being very tolerant) have probably recognised that my example is THE X FILES. No one could imagine THE X FILES in a 6.45pm timeslot. It should be the same with Buffy, but it isn't and that's because BUFFY stars young people. Another slant in my view is experience. People seem to think (I'm thinking more of media critics) that young actors are inexperienced and pretty rubbish and older actors are more experienced and can actually act. This is not necessarily so; BUFFY is a prime example. I think Sarah Michelle Gellar is one of the best actresses I've ever seen. For those of you who have seen PROPHECY GIRL, BECOMING and DEAD MAN'S PARTY you'll definitely agree. But TV channels like the Beeb aren't giving young people a chance, so everyone else will go on thinking that young actors are awful until shows like BUFFY are given a decent time slot. The BBC don't seem to think that adults, who seem to be the only people watching after 9pm will watch a show with young people in but they are so wrong, most BUFFY fans I know are aged 30 or above. But the BBC seem to be completely ignorant to this fact (and also completely ignorant to everything else!) This is not just restricted to TV though. Twentieth Century Fox are doing it too. The first BUFFY videos are now on release but they're not in order, they're not even from the same series. Fox's explanation for this, to quote them: "That it will appeal more to teenage girls." I was pretty angry about this at the time but I also completely forgot I'm a teenage girl as well! For those who don't know, I'm actually 14 years old, hard to believe? But does this change my view? Does it make my opinion any less valid? It shouldn't, but it does. A new show is beginning in America this fall called ROSWELL, which is like THE X FILES and BUFFY. A bit of a mixture of aliens and young actors. But no UK TV channel will show it after 9pm and the reason for this? ROSWELL stars young actors. After all I've said here I almost forgot the exception to the rule, ANGEL. Perhaps this will be the show to chagne things. Then I remembered, it may star young actors but their characters aren't of the 16-18 year group. Angel is 244years old, Cordelia may start to look a little older than she was in BUFFY as she is no longer a high school student and the new character Doyle is not exactly in his teens. Then there's the possible love interest of new character Kate who will probably be in her 30s. Also, there's a major point that ANGEL isn't set in the backdrop of a high school. So nothing will change. Personally I think the fault lies with TV and film critics. They have moulded us to what we should like and what not to. Take a film like CRUEL INTENTIONS, starring Buffy's very own Sarah Michelle Gellar as well as the lovely Ryan Phillippe and others like Reese Witherspoon and Selma Blair. They all played characters in their teens and the film was based around teens in high school. It received mixed reviews, but those who gave the film bad reviews (no names mentioned) gave the weak excuse for it being awful because it stars another brat pack. This is the name seemingly given by critics to teen (looking) actors in films. I think it's an awful stereotype given to a range of actors and actresses like SMG, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ryan Phillippe, Neve Campbell etc, just because of their age. It's a form of age discrimination. So, there you go, I've now linked BUFFY with age discrimination! Maybe I've read too much into this. But if you think about it, it's all true. The next time you watch a fictional TV show, compare it with another that's the complete opposite of what you've just seen. Think of the time slot and the ages of the characters. Then you'll see what an age discriminative society we really are. BACK TO THE TOP |
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