Last season, the former stars of Melrose Place fought the FAA (Heather Locklear), a deranged pharmacist (Marcia Cross), and a disturbing lack of screen time (Doug Savant) to attempt comebacks. This fall, it's Buffy alums who are trying to resurrect their careers. Below, we rate how closely their new roles resemble their characters who lived on the Hellmouth.
ALYSON HANNIGAN
'Buffy' Role
Willow evolved from poorly dressed geek to slightly better-dressed
sapphic Wiccan by the show's end.
New Role
How I Met Your Mother's Lily evolves from poorly dressed singleton to
poorly dressed betrothed by the pilot's end.
'Buffy' Likeness
More American Pie than Willow, Lily chastises her fiancé for not
smacking her ass hard enough.
[1 stake]
JAMES MARSTERS
'Buffy' Role
As Buffy's foe-friend, Spike sacrificed himself to help save the world
from a legion of vampires.
New Role
As villain-college professor Brainiac, Marsters sacrifices his blond
locks to help Smallville in its new time slot.
'Buffy' Likeness
Marsters is at his best when he's nefarious, but we gotta remove a stake
for losing the oddly appealing dye job.
[4 stakes]
DAVID BOREANAZ
'Buffy' Role
After vampire Angel and Buffy did the nasty, he lost his soul, got mean
and fang-y, and landed his own spin-off.
New Role
Seeley Booth, the wiseass FBI agent on Fox's Bones, doesn't have
fangs — or enough charisma to hold his own spin-off.
'Buffy' Likeness
A stoic hero in dark clothing? Sounds familiar. But Boreanaz needs to
take a bigger bite out of the role.
[2 stakes]
CHARISMA CARPENTER
'Buffy' Role
Sunnydale High School's snob-and-a-half princess Cordelia Chase dated
older Watcher Wesley.
New Role
Veronica Mars' snob-and-a-half trophy wife Kendall Casablancas marries
some old dude who we presume gives her watches.
'Buffy' Likeness
Are we time-traveling? Cordy has grown up, married well, and is
tormenting a whole new gang.
[5 stakes]
NICHOLAS BRENDON
'Buffy' Role
Dorky but lovable Xander Harris was overshadowed by the more powerful
members of the Scooby Gang.
New Role
Neurotic but likable chef Seth on Kitchen Confidential is overshadowed
by a more powerful chef and an unfortunate bandanna.
'Buffy' Likeness
Seth is Xander-like in his lack of self-confidence, but not so much in
his choice of accessories.
[4 stakes]
SETH GREEN
'Buffy' Role
Vertically challenged werewolf and Willow-lover Oz left town because he
couldn't contain his inner beast.
New Role
Vertically challenged Four Kings lady-lover Barry leaves Queens because
he can't pass up a swank Manhattan co-op.
Add your comment
The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.