'ANGEL' STAR: "MY FIRST DAY OF UNEMPLOYMENT"

[Scott W. Davis]

Charisma Carpenter's role in ANGEL's fourth season was strange to say the least. When the finale aired, there was a big question mark over the future of her character. Speculation was that she would appear in a few episodes in the fifth season.



But that is not the case and as reports, no one is more surprised than Carpenter herself.



Carpenter originally auditioned for the title role on BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, back when it was a mid-season replacement few people had faith in. Everyone realized that Carpenter would be better suited to the part of Cordelia Chase. Throughout the first three seasons of BUFFY and the entire four season run of ANGEL, Cordelia has evolved from a self-absorbed rich girl to a virtuous hero to a superbeing.



"`I don't think you're ever prepared for that kind of situation," Carpenter told . "Seven years, that's a long time. I started that show. To not be finishing it is a pretty big deal for me. They went back to work on July 24th... On that day I thought, 'Oh, today is officially my first day of unemployment.'"



"It's sad in some aspects and very exciting in others," Carpenter went on to say. "Working with the same people for so long, you feel safe in your exploration of a character, but it's really exciting to work with a different group of people and wonder, 'What's my next assignment?' ANGEL and BUFFY are so special to me. None of the things that happen to me from now on would be possible without the experience on BUFFY and ANGEL. I'd never be able to carry my own show.'"



So what will happen to our beloved Cordy? The season ended rather ambiguously in regards to her whereabouts in the grand scheme of things. "I think it would be incomplete if it wasn't addressed but I don't know what's being planned... I haven't heard anything. As we speak today, there are no plans for me to come back." But it is unlike Joss Whedon to make such strange decisions about his characters. Whedon has a reputation for planning story arcs years in advance. "I haven't had that discussion with Joss. It's really none of my business, actually," Carpenter said. "I'm sure as far as storytelling goes, he will not disappoint. He wants what's best for his fans."



Well, Charisma, you've been a constant force in the Buffyverse and it won't be the same without you. ANGE: returns to the WB this fall for it's fifth season. James Marsters will join the cast as reformed vampire, Spike. In some good news, Vincent Kartheiser also will not be returning to the show.



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[I 30h resevil_08 I]Comment on Charisma Carpenter and her departure from ANGEL in our !

[Carmilla]

The thing that bothers me the most about this is the fact that during the past season Cordelia had a crappy storyline. Far from being Angel's partner, the heart of Angel Investigations, as she was once called, she became this shadow (evil or not, the interaction between characters was off last season).
It is said that she will return as a guest star during the fifth season, and that's something that should be done, to give the character closure (remember that Cordelia end up in a coma after Jazmine was born and she stayed that way until the end of the season).
Joss Whedon (series creator) once said that they had taken the Angel/Cordelia relationship as far as it could go (he was refering to the romantic aspect), and he probably has other plans for Angel's heart. However, Whedon & Co. should give the character a more respectable ending, IMHO, setting all romantic arguments aside if they will.
It's hard to imagine Angel (the series) without Cordelia. It's even absurd.

[JohnShaft]

I have to agree Carmilla, I was pretty stunned by the news too.

I'm actually only half way through the Fourth Season (here in the UK) so I'm not too aware of what happens later in the season.

This isn't the first strange character axing in ANGEL though.
I was equally puzzled with the death of Doyle (played by the late Glenn Quinn). Doyle's character was pretty refreshing imo, and it seemed he was only axed so they could rehash Wesley (when ANGEL had enough BUFFY characters already).
That decision now seems echoed as Cordy leaves for Spike.

Still I'd rather see ANGEL carry on for another couple of series sans Cordy, than be axed altogether.

And there's been no word of a replacement series for BUFFY as far as I'm aware either...

[Carmilla]

Not the first axing, that's true. However, Doyle's departure was more respectful (toward the character) than Cordelia's. But apparently this is not the only loss this season, since Vincent Kartheiser is not listed as a regular for next season.

Yes, rumours spoke of the Carpenter-out, Marsters-in move. Probably in order to keep 'Buffy' alive long enough (with the possibility of special appearances: Sarah Michelle Gellar and the rest of the cast) in order to come back with... "Buffy, the movie" (should I say Part 2??? - this time, featuring the series cast)

[JohnShaft]

Doyle's departure was more respectful, for sure Carmilla. It hit equally like a bolt out of the blue though. I know nothing about it before watching the episode.
When he decided he had to sacrifice himself I assumed it was a typical Buffyverse death, where he would turn up in another couple of weeks. I still thought that until the apperance of Wesley.

I'm still unaware why they did it, besides the usual "change of direction" line.
And I find it even more tragic considering the path that Quinn went on to take...

Buffy the Movie Part 2 huh? Not sure I'm that fond of that idea. Don't get me wrong it would be a plus.
But I'd get a hundred times the pleasure from seeing a new Buffyverse series start up...

Oh and as for the "loss" of Vincent Kartheiser I think Scott would argue that point. Scott just loves the guy! :lmao:

[Scott W. Davis]

Originally posted by JohnShaft@Aug 26 2003, 03:51 AM
Oh and as for the "loss" of Vincent Kartheiser I think Scott would argue that point. Scott just loves the guy! :lmao:
Oooh yeah, just fucking heartbroken about that one. You probably just coudln't tell because of my party hat and "in your face" dance. o:)

The guy was the very first person in the Buffyverse that I actually hated. I even tolerated Marc Blucas much more than I liked Vincent Kartheiser. I hear he did a good job in films like RICKY 6, but on ANGEL, his character was just a mess. A self-centered, obnoxious, androgynous, queerbait, whiny, gullible brat who continually sulked about his rotten life, always projected his insecurities by inflicting intense harm on others and pouted whenever he didn't get his way. I'm a sweet guy really. But just thinking about Connor makes me want to punch him. :rant:

As for the new BUFFY movie, it's certainly in the cards. But I wouldn't expect it for a long, long time. The spin-off will likely come before then, either in 2004 or 2005. The movie, they've just said they're open to it and nothing more. But speculation is high.

Personally, I'm wondering what happened to Anthony Stewart Head's RIPPER series for the BBC. He's had a high-profile career on the Beeb (what little we see in the States), including a starring role on MANCHILD (which I didn't really care for) and a recent guest appearance on MI-5.

[JohnShaft]

Originally posted by Scott W. Davis+Aug 26 2003, 10:33 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Scott W. Davis @ Aug 26 2003, 10:33 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>The guy was the very first person in the Buffyverse that I actually hated. I even tolerated Marc Blucas much more than I liked Vincent Kartheiser.[/b]Actually, after you waxed lyrical about how much you hated Vincent Kartheiser, I started to form the same opinion. As you mentioned Marc Blucas was just about tolerable. Kartheiser (or maybe just his character) adds nothing.

<!--QuoteBegin--Scott W. Davis@Aug 26 2003, 10:33 AM

Personally, I'm wondering what happened to Anthony Stewart Head's RIPPER series for the BBC. He's had a high-profile career on the Beeb (what little we see in the States), including a starring role on MANCHILD (which I didn't really care for) and a recent guest appearance on MI-5.[/quote]
I actually hadn't heard anything about Anthony Stewart Head's RIPPER, Scott. It sounds like a great idea.

Let me offer my token Brit opinion on Mr. Head. While you mention him as high-profile I think you'd be suprised with how people probably know him here. To most people he's probably still remembered more for the old 'Gold Blend' coffee adverts, and maybe "that guy of BUFFY". MANCHILD was barely a blip on the Radar here, and I must admit I didn't watch it at all. It just didn't seem like my kind of thing.
MI-5? I think that's what we call SPOOKS - renamed for the American market? (Though I will confess to having barely seen it either).
My guess is that he has a much higher profile in the U.S. than he did over here...

I have a real low opinion of the T.V. viewing public in the U.K. currently. We get so much Reality T.V. simply because it gets a lot of viewers. We've completely fallen victim to Warhol's "15 minutes of Fame" phenomenon.

There are a lot of great actors in England obviously. And most of them you barely get to see.

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As an aside I don't know if you're familiar with a superb English series called AUF WIEDERSEHEN PET (about a gang of English bricklayers). In a recent followup series, 15 years after the original, there was an excellent actor (Bill Nighy) who I had never seen before (the guy's in his 50's...). While surfing for images for UNDERWORLD I was pretty suprised to find "out of nowhere" he has the role of the Vampire Overlord 'Viktor' (He's pictured in the UNDERWORLD Contest)

As a further aside when filming on STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION TV series began the cast pinned a note on Patrick Stewart's door reading "Beware, unknown British Shakespearean actor". Looking at the roles the cast have been in since the series ended I guess he got the last laugh...