Oh, I guess Grammer holds the *comedy* record for that, duh. I guess, in the most technical sense, being both 1 hour dramas, Matt still takes that crown(it just feels funny thinking of them as the same thing cause they feel like different planets) And all their murders? Stone dunkers.

Gunsmoke takes the cake for years, but Belzer's got everyone beat for being the same guy on the most shows. Hell, he's been a regular on different shows, not to mention his guest gigs.

the WB — cut back on the level of violence during TV's so-called family hour, between 8 and 9 p.m. For the WB, that's due almost entirely to losing one program, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy : And they say one person can't make a difference.

I'll tell you, I'd have felt a lot more worried if the Fundies had liked the show and gotten its highly moral themes.

I'd like to see someone do a content warning guide to the Bible sometime, just for comparison's sake. It has nudity, incest, sodomy, prostitution, murder, war, magic and supernatural creatures, and would probably rank as extremely offensive on those context-free sin-o-meters.

What I don't get is:

The story talked a lot about ... the lack of consequences

D'you think they bothered to watch the show and check out the consequences that were visited on the characters?

[link]

I'll tell you, I'd have felt a lot more worried if the Fundies had liked the show and gotten its highly moral themes.

Start worrying, Matt.

Grace, redemption, and agape

The show's handling of complex themes works on a grander scale as well. Entire seasons work around a central point, and long-term character arcs chronicle particular struggles. This is what makes the show tick: Realistic characters who grow, learn, and face the ramifications of their actions and ghosts of their past. Problems and temptations don't vanish each week when the music swells.

One of the series' frequently visited topics is redemption. Angel, Buffy's first love, is a century-old vampire plagued by guilt for the wrongs he committed. (Humans lose their souls when they become vampires, which makes it more convenient for them to commit brutality.) Decades ago, Angel was cursed with getting his soul back while still having the temptations and memories of a savage. In a constant search for redemption, Angel (now on his own WB show) does good deeds and fights for the wronged.

Other character developments and actions do not fit as nicely with Christianity. But to the show's credit, issues such as sex and witchcraft are handled (usually) honestly and without glorification.

As for witchcraft, last year's season finale capped off a long-running storyline tracing Willow's budding fascination with magic. At first, the bookworm found it innocent and enticing. Over a few years however, simple tinkering (like levitating pencils) led to darker business. Witchcraft consumed her and hurt those around her. A personal tragedy sent her off the deep end. She killed a human (something taken seriously on Buffy) and threatened others. Willow, with black eyes and dark clothes, raised a pagan temple to use its powers to end the world.

But someone stopped her. It wasn't the chosen one with her super strength. Nor was it someone fighting her witchcraft with more witchcraft. Instead, a friend since kindergarten stood in her way—not armed with a crossbow, but with love.

"You've been my best friend my whole life," Xander told her. "If we are all going to end, where else would I want to be? I know you are in pain and I know you are about to do something apocalyptically stupid but … it doesn't matter, I still love you."

Hatred, vengeance, and witchcraft turned Willow evil, but Xander's unconditional love showed that no sinner is beyond grace. Moments like this explain why Christians such as myself watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

(Note: I realize the classification of witchcraft as evil is going to be offensive to a lot of people here. I also realize the writer either doesn't get, or is writing as if he doesn't get that the show didn't actually promote the idea that witchcraft=evil, but rather, that abuse of power=evil. Still, he got a lot of the themes. No idea if he's literally a fundy, but I'm not sure how literal Matt was being in using the term, either.)

I realize the classification of witchcraft as evil is going to be offensive to a lot of people here

Baby steps, Cindy. At least the whole thing of Willow being gay was a non-starter in the evil race.

He didn't seem to mention that Xander's a carpenter, or that he was sent by the wise father figure (Giles) to save the world. I'm not saying that "Grave" was pure Christian allegory (I'm not even really a Christian myself; don't ask me what I am, I'll let you know when I figure out), but the parallels are there.

I realize the classification of witchcraft as evil is going to be offensive to a lot of people here.

I actually get rather amused by the seriously wacky ideas that fundies get about witchcraft, as if left unattended, people will be raising demons and flinging fireballs around.

It makes me want to ask them if they've been taking their meds.