Comedy

Buffy – “The Zeppo” and “A New Man”

Comedy, Drama, Mystery / Leave a Comment

I’m a huge fan of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003). Although the show is highly regarded for a variety of reasons it is, and will be, pigeonholed in the teen supernatural/drama category with the likes of “Charmed” (1998-2006) and Kristen Stwewart’s “Twilight” film series (2008-2012) and be easily dismissed by many “serious” watchers. That’s a shame and in my twenties I was fairly obsessed with convincing others of the show’s genuine quality in just about every department and felt bummed they wouldn’t even give it a go. Just the name Buffy the Vampire Slayer was enough to dismiss it as pure nonsense. But thankfully those that did give it a go recognize how good a show it was. This had exceptionally good and layered writing and creative world building, a terrific ensemble cast and top notch production values, particularly after Seasons 1 and 2 had displayed the quality at work.

Sadly now three actors from the series have passed on. Michelle Trachtenberg played Buffy’s sister, Dawn Summers, and was introduced in Season 5. She was only 39 years old. In 2026 series regulars from the beginning, Nicolas Brendon and Anthony Stewart Head, passed on ages 54 and 72. This prompted me to re-visit two particular episodes that spotlighted the characters Brendon (Xander Harris) and Head (Rupert Giles) played as they were both huge fan favourites.

Deer Woman (2005)

Comedy, Drama, Mystery

Det. Dwight Faraday, who’s been relegated exclusively to animal attacks, gets the call and just can’t figure out how this happened. Upon examining the body he and spunky coroner Dana discover that the victim died in a state of arousal and the remains display a number of hoofprints.

Death Becomes Her (1992)

Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Horror

Fading stage and film star Madeline Ashton is struggling to draw a crowd in her latest musical. Old friend Helen, along with her fiancée Ernest, pays her a visit and introduces Madeline to her plastic surgeon soon-to-be. Madeline is smitten by Herman and swiftly steals him away from Helen. The scorn woman becomes an obese recluse and swears bloody vengeance on Madeline.

Teen Wolf (1985)

Comedy, Fantasy, Horror

Teenager Scott Howard has some growing pains. Living with single dad Harold and working part time in his hardware store; Scott is already fearing mediocrity and dreading it. He’s playing for the lousy school basketball team who haven’t won a game in years and pining for popular girl Pamela who won’t give him a second look. His lifelong friend Boof adores him but he doesn’t think of her in the same way. He just ain’t as popular or successful as he’d like to be.

Nothing But Trouble (1991)

Comedy, Horror

Financial advisor Chris Thorne takes a road trip headed for Atlantic City with sexy Diane and two Brazilian friends. On the way they take a detour and inadvertently wind up in a small town called Valkenvania. Chris is pulled over and the quartet is brought before the justice of the peace in Valkenvania. Then all hell breaks loose for the gang.

976-Evil (1988)

Comedy, Horror

High school underdog Hoax fills up the idle hours in his seedy little hometown fending of the local leather-jacketed thugs, avoiding his overbearing mother Lucy and dreaming of a date with trailer park temptress Suzie. But his quietly desperate life takes a terrifying turn when his cousin Spike introduces him to an unusual new hobby…

Night of the Creeps (1986)

Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi

“Night of the Creeps” is mostly comically driven, at least in the beginning, but once the threat becomes apparent there’s some grisly gore on display and a few well realized suspense set-pieces. It’s never really scary but it is well paced and has enough enjoyable lulls that add tremendously to the characters and it’s a gamble that more than pays off due to the terrific lead performers.

The Frighteners (1996)

Comedy, Fantasy, Horror

In the town of Fairwater seemingly healthy citizens are dropping like flies due to mysterious and sudden heart conditions. Frank Bannister, a fake psychic investigator, discovers that an entity resembling the Grim Reaper is literally stopping the hearts of people and carving numbers in their foreheads detailing it’s amount of fatalities…

Murder by Death (1976)

Comedy, Crime, Mystery

Eccentric millionaire Lionel Twain invites five of the most renowned and respected detectives in the world to his isolated mansion for a dinner and a murder. Greeting them is blind butler Bensonmum who only receives help from a hired deaf/mute maid who has a long list of things she doesn’t do; among them cooking. Before the night is over Twain promises that a murder will occur and the five best sleuths will be completely stumped.

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