J.J. Abrams vs. Joss Whedon: Who's Your Icon?
by Ellen Kim
on March 26, 2010
Iconic TV Show With Cultlike Following
Abrams: Lost, which blew open the TV space-time continuum and actually stuck around for a (we hope) full-closure ending. (on a smaller scale, Felicity)
Whedon: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which was sorely underappreciated by the Emmys and spun off the also-successful Angel.
Geektastic TV Series Canceled Too Soon (or in Danger of Cancellation)Abrams: Fringe, which was (thankfully) renewed for a third season
Whedon: Firefly (R.I.P.)
Executing Ideas Anyone Else Would Be Stupid to Try
Abrams: Trying a new take on the Star Trek franchise; reinvigorating Mission: Impossible; and producing the crazily marketed, low-budget Cloverfield
Whedon: Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog (and setting the director commentary to music!); turning his canceled Firefly into a successful film (Serenity)
Female Leads Who'll Kick Your Ass
Whedon: Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Echo (Eliza Dushku) in Dollhouse
Usage of Nathan Fillion
Abrams: Lost (as Kate's policeman husband)
Whedon: Firefly/Serenity, Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, Buffy
...And He Composes! (AKA The Clint Eastwood Effect)
Abrams: Wrote the theme songs for Felicity, Fringe and Alias
Whedon: Wrote the theme song to Firefly (He wrote lyrics for Dr. Horrible but is not credited with the composing), Buffy's "Once More With Feeling" musical episode
Abrams: Greg Grunberg (worked with Abrams six times); Amanda Foreman (four times); Terry O' Quinn (twice, on Alias and Lost)
Whedon: Felicia Day (worked with Whedon three times); Alan Tudyk (twice, if you count Serenity and Firefly as one) Gina Torres (twice); Amy Acker (twice). Incidentally, Acker and Torres were also on Abrams' Alias.
(*note "underused" refers to actors who are not nearly employed enough to match their talent. there are, in both producers' cast lists, actors who have since been employed quite enough--or beyond--their acting level, in this writer's opinion. names will remain anonymous.)
Which is your favorite? --Ellen
WendellE on March 27, 2010 at 03:32 AM
"...And He Composes! (AKA The Clint Eastwood Effect)
Whedon: Wrote the theme song to Firefly"
Not to mention (though I will, since you didn't) 'Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" and "Once More, With Feeling", the musical episode of "Buffy" (which might also qualify as "Executing Ideas Anyone Else Would Be Stupid to Try").
Ptm368 on March 27, 2010 at 04:50 AM
Both are solid contenders, but I've gotta go with Joss... He always has amazingly strong secondary female characters (Willow, Fred), and frankly, I always thought "Lost" was the "Twin Peaks" of the new millenium; would have worked so much better as a mini-series...
And as far as musicals go, let's not forget the classic "Buffy" episode "Once more with Feeling", I believe Joss wrote all the music for that one as well...
So, Joss Whedon, FTW!!!
David Bruggeman on March 27, 2010 at 07:31 PM
Tudyk had a major recurring role on Dollhouse, so the twice doesn't have to be conditional.
Dan on March 28, 2010 at 12:20 PM
As noted above, Whedon composed Once More, With Feeling.
He also wrote Hush, and episode of Buffy with close to 30 minutes of NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE. Surely this qualifies for Executing Ideas Anyone Else Would Be Stupid to Try.
In the Keeping Underused Actors Employed department, Joss also gives us the lovely Christina Hendricks, not to mention Adam Baldwin twice (Firefly/Serenity and the final episodes of Angel).
Kin on March 28, 2010 at 12:32 PM
I'm not sure if she qualifies for a female lead, but she'll certainly kick your a$$, River Tam (Summer Glau, also a twofer as she had a cameo on Angel.)
Kin on March 28, 2010 at 12:34 PM
Oh...and as far as my vote goes? I must quote PvP http://www.pvpstuff.com/josswhedonmtee.html
Charles Collins on March 28, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Joss. Just because Firefly and Buffy are just better than Lost.
John on March 28, 2010 at 12:40 PM
For my money I want Bryan Fuller! (Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls and Pushing Daisies) For underused actors Lee Pace, Chi McBride and Stephen Root. He also had Kristin Chenowith sing in several episodes of Pushing Daisies including a duet with Ellen Greene. Ellen Muth was a Grim Reaper in Dead Like Me, so I am sure she can kick your butt. All thre shows were cancelled before their time and a fan demand resulted in a Dead Like Me movie. Also Bryan Fuller has several writing and consulting producer credits for Star Trek spin-offs.
John on March 28, 2010 at 12:42 PM
Dang, I forgot he also has had a big hand in Heroes!
Marcus on March 28, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Whedon by a landslide.
BM on March 28, 2010 at 12:49 PM
"Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" and "Lost" were both crap so they have that in common. I think Whedon wins on that account because he only wasted around an hour of our time on it while Abrams has wasted hours and hours on Lost.
W4LT on March 28, 2010 at 12:49 PM
Abrams, in a walkover.
Just count the eyeballs: combined TV ratings, tickets sold for feature film offerings, and DVD sales/rentals. It's not even close.
One of them has tapped into the zeitgeist, the other one is a player, but at the end of the day, just an also-ran
Bob Hawkins on March 28, 2010 at 12:52 PM
I have to go with Joss. Another EIAEWBSTT: the puppet episode of Angel.
Fred is a great character, someone trying to regain sanity when getting a grip on demon-ridden reality isn't really helping.
And he gave us Alyson Hannigan.
MIke on March 28, 2010 at 12:54 PM
WHEDON
2dreviews on March 28, 2010 at 12:58 PM
Girl or boy, when I have a child, Joss is a great name.
CylonCat on March 28, 2010 at 12:59 PM
Gotta go with Joss. Especially as the hits keep coming in the "anyone else would be stupid to try this" category: "Restless" (whole episode in dream sequences, and it actually worked); "Dollhouse" (the whole series, really); "Smile Time" (main character turns into a muppet).
Joss also gets props for the career boosts he's given to unknowns, such as David Boreanaz (Angel), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Andy Hallett (Lorne, R.I.P. Andy), and Enver Gjokaj (Victor in Dollhouse).
Dani on March 28, 2010 at 01:03 PM
Whedon by a landslide. [2]
Mace Moneta on March 28, 2010 at 01:18 PM
Joss Whedon, duh. He ruined me for regular television, and that's all that J.J. Abrams produces. If you think they are comparable, you're not looking close enough.
Runar on March 28, 2010 at 01:29 PM
And the Joss Whedon landslide has BEGUN! Come ooan! Joss has given us Buffy, Angel, Firefly/Serenity, Dollhouse, Dr Horrible (2 next year hopefully) and is going to bring us Cabin in the Woods and Goners in 2011. Now, Abrams is great, but if you watch Joss' work in all of them, it out-plays Lost by very very much.
Linnea1928 on March 28, 2010 at 01:30 PM
Joss is my master... er, icon. Hands down. Are they really even that comparable?
The only thing of Abrams' that is LOVEable is Lost, which as I understand it, is not really his and hasn't been for a LONG time. I mean, of Joss' creations, I LOVE BtVS, Angel, Firefly/Serenity, Dollhouse, and Dr.Horrible's. And Joss maintained creative control of all those projects. Just sayin'.
C. on March 28, 2010 at 01:31 PM
Joss Whedon! :'D
T. on March 28, 2010 at 01:35 PM
Even though I'm a big LOST fan, I gotta go with Joss. I've gobbled up and loved everything the man has ever done (including Dollhouse!), and would watch anything with his name on it without thinking it twice. Can't say the same for Abrams.
And I also agree with the Bryan Fuller love above. Wonderfalls is one of my favorite shows ever. There should be more Fuller shows on TV.
WitNit on March 28, 2010 at 01:44 PM
Joss is in a league of his own. All subsequent vampire shows/movies offer mere crumbs from Buffy and Angel's banquet.
Tone Luc on March 28, 2010 at 01:51 PM
Grrrr...Argh...
'Nuff said.
Jeanie TTF on March 28, 2010 at 02:00 PM
Joss, all the way.
Joss also used Summer Glau 3 times: in Angel & Firefly/Serenity, before she landed S.C. Chronicles & Dollhouse after SCC was cancelled.
Plus Joss not only saw the potential in gems like Alyson Hannigan, Felicia Day & Enver Gjokaj before anyone else mainstream did, he managed to pair Enver with Fran Kranz in some of the most stunning displays of acting talent I've ever seen. Enver BECAME Fran whenever Victor was imprinted with Topher. Genius!