Depressed about Buffy, I turn to Highlander reruns for solace

May 3, 2003[Originally a Billie's Bytes column.]There are only three episodes remaining of Buffy, and possibly only one of Angel, since its fate has not yet been announced. In just a few short weeks, the finales will have finale'd (and I'll certainly be talking about them in my column). And then it will be summer. Or as I refer to it, the television wasteland.But there is hope. (No Faith, but

Angel gets shaken up, Enterprise gets sexy, and the Dead Zone returns

April 20, 2003[Originally a Billie's Bytes column]The Dead Zone aired their so-called second season finale a couple of weeks ago. The second season was supposed to consist of thirteen episodes, just like the first season, but if you were counting, they only aired twelve. I hear that one of the episodes, called "The Hunt for Osama," was pulled because of the war. I don't know about you, but I'm

We dress up for Bill Maher

April 14, 2003[Originally a Billie's Bytes column]Yes, I know I usually write about sci-fi/fantasy shows, but I had an interesting television experience this week and hey, it's my column.One advantage of living in the Los Angeles area is the easy access to the entertainment world. "One of these days," I kept saying to Dan, "we're going to go see a television show being taped." But it's not as

Spike moving to Angel?

April 2, 2003[Originally a Billie's Bytes column]With only five new Buffy episodes remaining before the end of the series, fans are in a major state of freak-out about the future of the franchise. That includes me, by the way.Although there have been no official reports as yet, rumor has it that plans for a spinoff have been permanently derailed by Eliza Dushku's defection to the proposed new Fox

Those anti-Spike hackers part deux, the Angel DVD, and Miracles

March 16, 2003[Originally a Billie's Bytes column]My column last week seems to have touched a nerve; I received several well-written messages of support, and one less well-written message full of exclamation points suggesting that I stuff it. I also heard that my opinion was slammed on a certain Buffy board, which is certainly their privilege... although the immortal words of William Shatner, "

Angel has Faith, and those anti-Spike hackers are at it again

March 9, 2003[Originally a Billie's Bytes column]We all knew it was coming, but did we know it would be this good? Eliza Dushku's character Faith returned for a three-episode run on Angel, starting this past week with an outstanding episode in which Wesley (Alexis Denisof) broke Faith out of jail so that she could save Angel. Well, actually, Faith broke herself out, in about fifteen seconds.

Is there life after Buffy? And can Star Trek be saved?

March 2, 2003[Originally a Billie's Bytes column]It's official; Sarah Michelle Gellar has quit her slay job to do movies. Movies like the Scooby-Doo sequel, I suppose. I wish her the best of luck; thank you for seven great years, Sarah.The big question for me is: can there be a viable spinoff, now that the proposed Faith-based spinoff has gone down the tubes?Right now, I'm hoping that the

Who is your favorite Buffy character?

July, 2003[Originally a Billie's Bytes column]Let me begin with an apology for not posting a column in, like, forever. I plunged into a serious state of depression when my favorite show ended. My favorite character died, too. Fortunately, he's coming back.N-Zone held a First Ever TVZone Reader's Choice Award poll recently, and Willow won "favorite Buffy character" by a huge margin. Willow has

May finales hit the reset button

May, 2003[Originally a Billie's Bytes column]May is finally coming to an end with the Memorial Day weekend, and I've been writing my fingerprints off. My friend Tara DiLullo and I have been working on a series of articles to salute the end of our favorite series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I got to hear the divine David Boreanaz burp at the Los Angeles Comic Book and Sci-Fi Convention (see my

Billie's Bytes Bites the Dusts

In the winter of 2003, I started writing a column called Billie's Bytes for the wonderful people at @N:Zone. It went pretty well and I enjoyed it, but after a few months, I got overwhelmed by all the other writing I was doing, and with a newly acquired appreciation for Dave Barry, regretfully called it quits.I've gotten a few requests for those pieces from time to time (especially my long and

Do We Have a Lack of Faith?

February 25, 2003[Originally a Billie's Bytes column]Welcome to my new column!My major obsession first:No solid news yet on the fate of Buffy, with only six episodes left and counting... but the handwriting is certainly on the wall that this is The End. Sarah Michelle Gellar is in negotiations to do a movie in August, after filming the (ick) sequel to Scooby-Doo, and August is when shooting on