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David Boreanaz (Angel/Angelus)
David Boreanaz
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David came on stage to an energetic and enthusiastic welcome. Before he took questions he took the time to thank and personally applaud all the fans for the love and support they had showed over the five years of Angel being on the air. The obvious topic that almost everyone wanted to hear David's opinion on was the end of an era, the Angel finale and how it felt now that it was finally over. Rumors were rife that Amy Acker took the news particularly badly but it must have been an emotional time for everyone, "Well it was hard and yeah Amy was crying a lot," David tells the audience, "The tears were falling. You know when you work for a show for that long a period of time, you know a lot about each other, you become a family and it was tough, it was hard. I kept fighting it, 'I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry' - I won't go there. We ended up shooting in an alleyway which we kind of started the show in an alleyway and some amazing things happen in that alleyway. Kelly Manners, who was the producer of the show, and I just hugged and cried and it was very emotional. It was 4:30 in the morning so we were all tired I think because of the exhaustion of the scene. I'm really proud of the way they ended it. It was a very emotional time."
The news of Angel's cancellation went public on Valentine's Day of all days and many fans feel that this didn't give the writers enough time to end the series in a way that would give justice to the show. Joss Whedon in subsequent interviews however clearly stated that he stayed true to his original plans for the final episode of Season Five and that the events that were to unfold would have happened anyway. "I think that's what's great about Joss and David [Greenwalt] is that this is the way that Season 5 would have ended," David confirms, "Of course, they didn't tell you how it was going to end but this was the way it would have ended with maybe a few minor adjustments. I think that they stood strong to their convictions. This is really about redemption of the show and you're fighting for redemption and that's what Angel's character is about. That's pretty much what happens in some sense but they weren't going to change much of anything." On a personal note it is curious to see how David would have liked the show to end and what he would like to have seen happen in a potential Season Six. "Well, I think what they planned, the way that they ended the series is....", David is suddenly interrupted by a multitude of voices pleading with him not to give away the storyline of the finale (Flashback Weekend happened before the last episode aired the following Wednesday).
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"I had this episode that I pitched in my mind where James and I had to dress up as women! It'd be cool. I could wear a pair of heels, baby!"
~ David
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He sees this as his opportunity to play a little and comes up with a finale of his own, "You know it's... I'm not going to give away the ending but I will say that there's a big tank, a demon tank with big huge teeth and it chases me around. I have this ongoing nightmare of Godzilla chasing me and Joss found out about it! I can't beat him up! Erm... what was your question again? Oh yeah, I can't talk about Season six, I think the best thing about this show for me has always been I didn't really kind of think of it as going on into the next season. I would prescribe to the show when I got an order to do 22 episodes that's it. When 22 episodes were done I considered the show over until we get the order. That was pretty much my proclamation to myself as an actor because Hollywood is very discombobulated and excuse my French, f***ed up. So if it had gone to a sixth season I would have let the writers continue with it." The highlight that came from Season 5 for David was definitely the reluctant allegiance Angel had formed with his long-time thorn in the side, Spike. The bickering partnership between the two characters had become a parody of a kind of old theatre comedy duo, something David loved and would have liked to have done more of, "I think that's one area that I do really wish was a better relationship between Spike and Angel", he admits, "I think these two characters are pretty much doing like 'Who's on First?', I mean they're just so sad! They're just the saddest two characters and they try so hard they can't grasp it, you know?" He may have made reference to the famous Abbot & Costello baseball sketch but if he had his way it would be another infamous on-screen duo that he would have the two soulled vamps imitating, "I had this kind of episode that I had pitched in my mind and it goes kind of like Some Like It Hot where James and I actually had to dress up as women! It'd be cool. I could wear a pair of heels, baby!"
David enjoying a good time with the fans
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In an attempt to soften the blow of canceling a series that was one the most popular on its network, the WB hinted at the possibility that there may be Angel TV movies in the offing in attempt to appease the disappointed Angel faithful. However it isn't something that David is too keen on. "I'll be honest with all of you because I'm that type of guy. I don't see myself going back to do a television movie with these characters," he says, although he does not shut the door on ever playing Angel again as some publications would have you believe. "I would like to see a film be done. I think a big screen version would be fascinating. I think that the way they shot Angel with the scope of it, shot in Los Angeles and the effects that we did for what we did in eight days; if we had two months or three months, we could really blow some sh** out of the water. I would love to do that, that would be an extremely great challenge." David obviously likes to try his hand at different things. When he first moved to Los Angeles from his native Philadelphia, David has admitted that he was looking for work behind the camera and during the Season 5 episode Soul Purpose he got the chance to realize that ambition, "That was again another experience that I really enjoyed and something that I looked at as a big challenge for me to take on," he says of his full directorial debut, "I've always wanted to get into the director's chair and the cast made it very easy for me. I think my perspective on it was to go out to do what they wanted to do. I think that they know what they're doing. It was challenging and I operating the camera a few times, I did some shots and had a good time."
BITTER SWEET SYMPHONY
Angel may be over but from what started as a spin-off series had a successful five-season run with over 100 excellent pieces of television history to look back on. Fans wanted to know David's answer to perhaps one of the hardest questions they've ever asked themselves and that is to name a favorite episode. "Oh, that's tough," he groans trying to think of an answer, "Well, the first episode that comes to my mind, as far as favorite episodes are concerned will be the first - very first - episode because it was a challenge to kind of separate yourself from a show and prove that you can take the show on. We really didn't know what we were doing for 12 days and we did a lot of things wrong but through that you learn. Subject outline, season 2, I think it was episode 3 where we go back to the 50's hotel. That's one of my favorite episodes just because of the time and clothing. We shot at the [Griffith] Observatory and I remember the crew going, 'There's a James Dean statue over there that's cool to hang out over because, it's James Dean!' But there are so many episodes that I have enjoyed. I do an episode, I live where I live and space out and for me I was always going on to the next episode. So now that they're all done maybe one day I'll sit down with Jaden [his son] and I'll watch them until my next job; that's when I'll really have a chance to look at them." In over 100 episodes of Angel, was David relieved that Joss never made him do a musical episode, "God forbid!" he exclaims at the thought, "I would have to hold a tune, because I actually can!" he reveals. The audience smirk as David hints at something, "Well you know, the season finale is really a musical with me and the puppet f***ing singing," he laughs, "and that's all I'm saying." David is really amused about the whole singing charade and shares with the crowd a scene from the yet-to-be-filmed Mr. Fix-It. "I gotta to do this movie," he says, "and I had to sing karaoke and it's bad!" He points out the irony as he continues, "It's written 'he gets up on stage and sings karaoke poorly." David's face is a picture as he brags, "Oh, I can do this, I had to really stretch for that one!"
"This is how I got cast," (tap tap tap), "I give good brood!"
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David knows how to ridicule his most famous character to. A lady begins to make comment on how much Angel broods and before she even has time to finish her question David hangs his head and begins tapping his head with the microphone. He pauses, looks thoughtful and then continues to 'brood' banging his head against the microphone all the time. As the crowd begin to laugh at his very amusing stature, he tells everyone, "This is how I got cast," (tap tap tap), "I give good brood!" Finally he allows the lady to continue with her question, which basically asked if the real David is like the broody Angel or more like the giddy Angel we witnessed in the presence of baby Connor. "Well, there's a big side of me that nobody really knows. It's funny because I'm in an interesting spot in my career right now and in my life and there's some big plans for me going on. It's exciting because I have the opportunity to kind of not be so close to fit a project in a hiatus where I had two months left to do something which was very hard to do because Angel took 9-months to shoot the show. So in a way it's bitter sweet for me in that it's opening up to do other roles and challenge myself as an actor but for the fans it's horrible because you guys are great and we love telling stories for you of course, at the same time it's just that give-and-take kind of weird. But there is a big side of me that nobody really knows and I'm excited to share that with all of you in the future and that's I'm really kind of silly and stupid and off the cuff. I'm really not that broody in person like the character."
One of the projects David has in the pipeline includes a trip across the water to UK shores to appear in the very play that Alyson Hannigan has just completed a successful stint in. With a heavy British contingent in attendance it was left to Karen Taylor from the very popular and professional TotallyDavidBoreanazUK website to ask if the rumours were true about his lead role in When Harry Met Sally. "Well, the question for those who didn't hear," David clarifies, "She asked me about an upcoming potential role in a play in the West End, which for me would be a great thing to do. They wanted me to go over in the summer for the summer run but it's been so mad and so crazy that I probably couldn't have to come to Chicago so I didn't want to do that [rapturous applause in appreciation of his decision], but for me to go back to theatre would be a big welcome in my world right now and I think they have Melissa Joan Hart cast opposite me to play Sally, which would be a great move. You know theatre is something that I thrive on and something that I really love to do and if the show doesn't go dark in the summertime then that's where I'll be heading pretty much." As time ran out on his all-too-brief time on stage, there was only one thing left to say. It was said by one but echoed by all and that was, "Thank you. Thank you for 5 really, really great years." David left the stage to a standing ovation and then a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday, which was strange considering his birthday wasn't actually until the following day!
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
As soon as David left the stage, the Ultimate ticket holders were taken two the aptly named 'Love Room' for another close up and personal moment with the guests. Just like the previous evening, the hospitality of this party included complimentary food and drink and those present were asked to leave the obligatory spare chair. David entered and made his way around the room leaving personal touches with those he encountered. On one table he showed pictures of his son from his wallet, on another he explained the origin of his tattoos and another he explained exactly why he was wearing his t-shirt inside out. It wasn't long before David hit the Brits table to find that Karen (TDBUK) and her friend Ruth had bought him a very special birthday gift in the form of a very expensive bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Label. David looked genuinely taken aback by their generosity and thanked them for their gift, admiring the intricate design on the box as a potential pattern for a tattoo of the future. He admitted to being in a good mood because his hockey team had won their game proving like most men his mood depends on how well his favourite sports team performs, "You know this is a touchy month for me because of the play offs," he says defensively, "It's NHL, of all sports I love hockey and it's the best run of the playoffs this month; it's heavy so I'm very emotional. My wife's crazy, she watches all the games and Jaden has started saying Flyers [the Philadelphia hockey team] now."
"It doesn't fit. Did you get it pressed?" "No, I washed it."
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At this point there is a shriek of screaming as the 5 burly security guards who have been looking after the guests all weekend begin to start posing for a photo. Stephanie can't resist and poses with them and when David catches a glimpse of them he starts yelling, "Take your shirt off! Take your shirts off, will ya!" Unfortunately they didn't take his advice but then again neither did David when asked to do the same, although he did tease by revealing an excruciatingly tiny piece of delectable flesh. He talked about enjoying the event and his plans for the next one supposedly in England, "I'm going to do one more with James. I just want to do it one for the show and I want to say thank you. I think it's important, I really do. Hard core fans are great to the show and great to all the characters and supportive to Joss. There's nothing better than being able to first, give you guys shows, some shows are a lot better than other ones, and then come and see you and see how you guys have reacted to that because everyone has different lives and different agendas. My favourite thing about acting, especially, is I love seeing people enjoy it, families and relationships. If I can hold relationships together, I've heard some stories about that, I think that's great, it's a great thing." He then started to talk a little bit about his forthcoming film. "It's a comedy and it's pretty wacky," he explains, "It's about a guy, his name's Mr. Fix-It aka Lance and he owns an agency called the Mr. Fix-It Agency and he repairs relationships that have fallen apart. So girls that have dumped their boyfriends he ends up dating those girls but the guys come to him for help and he gets all the information about them, what their likes and dislikes are and first and foremost what did you do for her to dump you. So he knows all this stuff going into the relationship and he gets the girl. Secondly, once they become good friends he turns it around so the guy can come back and save her so it makes it look as though those things that he had wasn't so bad. It's funny and I liked it because it's an Italian director, an Italian casting director, the story's very funny and it's different. We start in Los Angeles, 18th of June." Would it make a nice change to shoot during the day for a change? "Well I did before," he laughs, "but it was indoors."
CoA mentioned to David how impressive the set of Angel is, "It's a cool set, the fifth season set was amazing," he agreed, "They really worked hard on it, it's beautiful. The office was great and my penthouse where I slept in, that was a tough set. It was kind of, Joss said a little eurotrashy, that's how he describes it." From comments made by guests in the past and from witnessing some of the frivolity of the cast for themselves, David was asked about the humour on set especially in light of the Season 4 DVD commentary for Spin The Bottle where it appeared Alexis Denisof and David couldn't control themselves. "We really couldn't stop laughing," David admitted when talking about the scene where Liam returns to the hotel after being confronted with the shiny demons, "Couldn't do it, we did I think about 35 takes. I came running in, he was laughing at my face so I'd just look away. And his face, well he's always funny and you'd come to one spot in the scene where you would always crack up because you keep doing it over and over and over again and that's what happened." All too soon David was taken away to make someone else's day but not before posing for a couple of photos for those quick enough with their cameras.
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