JPM: You must get a lot of fanmail regularly. What has been the most memorable/interesting fan letter you've ever received? (Memorable could be good or bad!)
NC: Actually, I had this really great letter from someone who said he was a vampire. He's very funny and friendly, and he's written into the magazine on more than one occasion. He has some issues regarding how vampires are portrayed on Buffy, which he gets quite upset about. That's probably one of the most memorable letters purely because of its content - but I get loads of letters each month that are really interesting - and I do read every single one. I've also had some very nice - and touching - letters, where people write in and tell me about how the show has helped them, or how one of the characters has inspired them - so they're always really nice to get, as well.
JPM: How are you planning on keeping the magazine fresh and interesting now that the series is over?
NC: Well, we try to get as many interviews with the major stars as we can - but now we tend to focus more on what they've been up to since the show ended, and any major projects that they may have coming up. I think the thing about a show like Buffy is that while you may be a fan of the show, and have your favourite character, you also become a fan of the actors that you're watching each week - so even though the show is over, all the fans are still just as keen to hear what their favourite actors are up to now.
We're also continually working on trying to come up with new and interesting features - so again, if people have ideas about something specific they'd like to see in the magazine, they're always welcome to write in and let us know.
Glenn: What types of experiences have presented themselves to you as a result of your job? Overall, what are the best moments and what are the worst moments?
NC: There are so many good moments that it's difficult to pick just one. Sometimes, I may get a letter from a reader that just says they've really enjoyed an issue of the magazine, so that's always nice. Then, there's the people that I work with on the magazine. The whole Buffy Mag team - writers and designers - are really great, so that's a nice experience that the job has afforded me. Then, there are the more fun aspects. For example, I got to go and review a press performance of the West End stage version of When Harry Met Sally starring Alyson Hannigan and Luke Perry. That was really fun - and it was great to see Alyson up there on the stage.
But I think that probably the best moment of my job so far was seeing my first issue, as editor of Buffy Magazine, all finally finished and printed and on the shelf in a shop. That was really rewarding, and I felt like all that hard work had paid off.
The worst moment was undoubtedly doing a radio interview - I was so nervous about doing it. Let's just say that I don't think it's an experience I'll be repeating!!
JPM: Much to the dismay of many television viewers, it looks like Reality TV is the new fad. At least that's where networks seem to be putting their money in. What do you think of the current direction of the television industry?
NC: Yes - there has definitely been a glut of Reality TV shows lately, but to be honest, I think that it's just another fad. Television always goes through different phases of favouring different genres. In the 80s, it was very much the big, lavish soap operas like Texas and Dynasty, then in the mid to late 90s, TV was actually very much sci-fi oriented. There were a couple of series of Star Trek, Buffy, Roswell, Dark Skies and of course The X-Files - one of the biggest shows of the 90s. Now, it does seem to be the turn of Reality TV - and while I think that there have been some really great and innovative shows in this genre, I don't think they can ever fill the void left by just a really good, creative and entertaining show - like Buffy or Angel! I'm sure that it'll be the turn of a new genre soon.
JPM: Are you a 'Bangel' (Buffy and Angel shipper) or a 'Spuffy' (Spike and Buffy shipper)? (I just thought I'd throw that in for fun)
NC: Mmm - the million dollar question. Well, actually I'm a Spangel… no - I'm only joking. That's quite a difficult question to answer - and it's actually something that we've addressed quite a lot in the magazine lately. Over the past few issues, we've had a lot of letters from different fan groups - B/Aers and S/Bers - who each claim that we give too much coverage to the other relationship in the magazine - in fact, some of the letters have been quite nasty.
It's difficult to answer because, as editor of the magazine, I have to be impartial so I can see both sides - but, as a fan of the show, obviously I also have my favourites. I really enjoyed the Buffy and Angel relationship, but I'd have to say my personal preference as a fan of the show is probably for Spike and Buffy - I really liked the dynamic between the two characters. That's not to say that I think Buffy/Angel fans are wrong - we're all entitled to our own opinion, we all like different things, and I think that's something that we should all respect.
