Stalking Joss Whedon

It started innocently enough.

I, like many of you, recently watched Mr. Whedon's made-for-the-web musical dramedy (wait -- scratch that -- what's tragedy+comedy? Tramedy?) in three acts, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Also like many of you, I enjoyed it enormously. And like a few of you -- people I'd lovingly call My Fellow Weirdos -- it became, oh, something of a crazed obsession, something I felt compelled to watch again and again. And again. And? AGAIN.

In my case, I'd had a stupendously rough week, and Dr. Horrible served as a kind of tonic for my soul, its songs and its characters becoming somehow emblematic of my own troubles and sorrows. Dr. Horrible, as corny and cheesy as it sounds, somehow made me feel less alone during a dark and lonely hour of my life.

And then it got a little weird.

I can't explain it really, but at some point last week I decided I NEEDED to interview Joss Whedon, and since then that one thought has become a singular internal driving mechanism. I mean, I haven't started thinking about how I need to impress him by shooting world leaders or anything, don't get me wrong. After all, I HATE firearms. But I have caught myself thinking things along the lines of "If only Joss knew the real me, why OF COURSE he'd jump at the chance to let me interview him." Not quite at the level of true creepiness, but perhaps a bit too, errm, personally involved?

But it's hard to not feel personally, emotionally invested, when I've spent a broad televisual swath of my adult life marinating in Whedon's work. I was an old skool Buffy fan (holla!) starting back in the 90s, and to this day I'm annoyingly evangelical about that show, forcing anyone who crosses my path to view it that hasn't. It's a show that naturally turns viewers into zealots with it's rich narrative, the depth and endearing goofy-sweetness of its characters, and just how perceptive and smart the writing is about life generally and the period of life that is growing up and into adulthood specifically. God damn, I love that show.

This probably isn't helping to dispel the aura of burgeoning creepiness, is it?

Anyway, back to the narrative at hand: yada yada, I fell in love with Dr. Horrible. But being a blogger of independent, non-corporate means (throws fist in the air) with no press contacts to speak of (sheepishly retracts thrown fist), how would I even go about reaching our dear Joss?

Good question. Anyone here have any connections? Because honestly I could really use...

Ahem. Right. So, first I contacted Fox, using a general email address for press found on their corporate site. Which, you know, IRONIC, because wasn't it just a few months back that they stole a photo of my dog and broadcast it on national television? OH YEAH. HA. I initially thought perhaps I should contact the folks at Fox I dealt with during that debacle, but they were all Fox Sports division, not Fox Television. AND SO USELESS TO ME. And they probably hate me anyway. Oh yeah, that too.

My email requesting the interview got bounced along an email chain until it finally reached the Director of Publicity at Fox (oooh! FANCY!), who promptly put me in touch with the underside of his boot:

Hi:

We are preparing for the series to go back into production now that the big push at Comic-Con is over.  Since the show doesn’t premiere until January – we are going to hold off on additional interviews for the moment.  I will keep you updated when there will an opportunity to be on a conference call with him closer to the show’s premiere.

Thanks for your interest and support.

He's of course talking about Whedon's forthcoming series Dollhouse here when he mentions "series." And fine -- that's where Fox's interest and investment lies, and I get that. But I wasn't deterred.

Next I managed to finagle the email address of Whedon's agent. Please don't ask how. If I told you I'd have to kill you. (Or at least give you a really bad wedgie or something.) I then proceeded to write said agent a very personal (but not at all creepy! I swear!) email about how I was a long-time fan and public supporter of Joss's work, and see, I have this here pop culture blog that's got a pretty big audience with the ladies, and would you consider... could I just... would he... what about groveling? Would abject supplication help? OH PRETTY PLEASE?

I have no shame. For the record.

I got this back from the agent:

I am copying Joss' assistant on this. She will ask him but I can tell you he is very busy at the moment.

Thank you very much for your interest.

Which, okay, not much return there on the dollar-amount's worth of self-degradation I'd invested, but at least we were getting somewhere, right? PROGRESS, PEOPLE.

So I'll admit it: at this point, I started to get my hopes up. This assistant person? Why, surely he or she would be able to see my sincerity, my earnest and heartfelt connection to her boss's work, and so would speed my request to Joss, presenting it to him during his leisure hours on a sterling platter beside a sifter of brandy and a cuban cigar, so that he could linger over my lovingly rendered words while lounging in front of his ornately carved marble fireplace, the light of the fire's flames lapping gently over his face as he drank in the linquistic fruit of my hope and adoration.

Okay, now I'm just making shit up. I haven't heard anything back.

But I'm not giving up. Because that? THAT would be what a sane person would do.

PS: Joss? CALL ME!

...Stay tuned for future installments of Stalking Joss Whedon, which may or may not include a spiraling descent into madness and addiction. Fingers crossed!

. . . . .

ETA: Our friends over at Whedonesque understand me.Think I'm an actual scary stalker. My sense of humor again goes over like a lead ballon. Sigh.

Comments

[The Muse]

Why am I feeling "My Date with Drew" deja vu here? I mean, in a good way. :)

[Sara]

If you haven't, you really should watch Firefly. I go back and forth on whether it's even more awesome than Buffy -- I think it is, but I became so attached to the Buffy characters in seven years of watching + six years of fangirling that I just can't admit it -- but regardless of the Awesome Scale, it rocks. Also? More Nathan Fillion. There is never enough Nathan Fillion.

[Snarky Amber]

I extol your brave efforts, Sweetney.

BRING JOSS TO MAMAPOP! AND NPH! THE PEOPLE WILL IT SO!

[Middle-Aged-Woman]

Has anyone else noticed that "I'm Stalking Joss Whedon" has the same meter as "I'm F*ing Matt Damon?" (or Ben Affleck depending on if you are Sarah Silverman or Jimmy Kimmel).Waiting for the song and video...

[Bonnie]

I agree with Sara. Firefly is Joss - Joss is Firefly. Awesome show. Buffy is my hands down favorite from the Whedon universe. I can't wait for Dollhouse.

[Kat]

Good Luck with getting the interview. Firefly totally rocks!

[catnip]

Are there really people left who've never seen Buffy? That's just not right.

[rebecca]

Don't stone me...but Angel totally rocked my world. I adore Buffy, 'once more with feeling' never leaves my car stereo...but Angel had charm of its own...
and SPIKE? LOVE YOU AND WANT TO HAVE YOUR VAMPIRE BABIES. my husband says its ok.

[Nosaby]

I too sing the praises of Buffy, Angel, et al to anyone who will listen and have been known to buy season 1 of Buffy for people. Just to get 'em hooked. It works every time. One day Whedonites will rule the universe.

Good luck getting your interview.

[Her Bad Mother]

Right there with you in stalkery, lady. RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.

[Heather]

You (and this post) are awesome.

[Michal Dillon]

OH! MY! GAWD! I hear you on the Buffy... and the Angel... and the Firefly. Let us just say the the first music my daughter could identify and sing along with was from "Once More With Feeling". I have no shame when it comes to talking Buffy, I will make anyone listen to me as I extole the virtues of plot/character development. Pleas continue stalking Joss - it's not weird at all (okay amybe I am not the best judge of that but, hey)

[baltimoregal]

I will take a shift stalking if it means we can stalk Nathan Fillion next.

[Kim]

Oh, man, it's so great not to be alone on this one! After Joss made a wee quip about not getting coverage in a crochet magazine, I've been falling over myself trying to get the online crafts community to create enough buzz that he'll grant me an interview for CrochetMe.com. I've tried very, very hard not to be creepy. Good luck to you!

[jamielynnlynn]

BWAhahahahahahahahaha. Good luck, may the force be with you.

[sweetney]

Oh noes, the Whedonesque people apparently think I'm *actually a stalker*. HUMOR, PEOPLE.

What, am I the only person who finds me HILARIOUS? snort.

(shoots self in face)

[Amy]

THAT'S what Joss Whedon looks like?! Just not what I pictured at all...

Anyway, I have you to thank/blame for my Dr. Horrible obsession. I have had "I cannot believe my eyes, how the world's filled with filth and lies, but its plain to see, the evil inside of me is on the riii-ii-iise" looping in my head over and over and over and over for days now. Awesome.

Good luck lady!

[korkster]

It's very sad, yet oh so true. I definitely felt the "stalking" vibe these past couple of weeks, but luckily for me, I'm not well-informed on how to track down e-mails of personal assistants. I wish you luck, and thank you for showing me that there should be some distance between my hero and myself. :)

[WendyB]

Uumm...I mightbe kicked from the MamaPop world for this but I have never seen Buffy...

hello? anyone still here? hello?

Now I do admit a love for Firefly, which is not solely based on Nathan Fillion, but he doesn't hurt! Buffy just came out in a time in my life when I lived years without a TV. My husband quickly rectified that and I have been attached at the hip to Tivo ever since.

Hopefully I'll still be welcome around these parts and until you show up in his driveway I don't think it's stalking.

[Naomi]

Dude, I hate Tara. And Dawn. Anya should have had her own spin-off. Just saying.

[Snarky Amber]

WendyB,

http://www.amazon.com/Buffy-Vampire-Slayer-Collectors-discs/dp/B000AQ68RI

For under $200, you too can redeem yourself.

My husband purchased that boxed set for me on my most recent birthday and agreed to watch a couple to see if he liked it; he was hooked after only a couple episodes. His soul has now found grace as I had before him; I will now pray for your salvation.

[sweetney]

There is no excuse to not be indoctrinated with Buffy by now, people!

HULU HAS THE FIRST TWO SEASONS! AVAILABLE NOW FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE! FOR FREE!! ALL CAPS!

See: http://www.hulu.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer

Invest the time. You won't be sorry.

[Her Bad Mother]

Naomi - Anya, and Faith. No, Dollhouse is not enough. Want FAITH.

[jodifur]

WendyB-I can run up you. I've never seen Buffy, Firefly, Angel etc.

I did watch Dr. Horrible and didn't get it.

Tracey is totally firing me.

[Reb]

Heh! Just got back from Comic-Con where I was NOT able to interview Joss, but did get to exchange verrrrrry brief bandinage while in Dr. Horrible signing line. He smiled at my kid. The thrill was enormous, naturally. Then we proceeded to continue our stalking of Felicia Day of Dr. Horrible, who also writes/stars in the funniest web show all about stalking, The Guild. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grCTXGW3sxQ