React.com Chat

Interview at React.com
April 17, 2000

Nicholas Brendon, Xander from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, kept making us giggle as we asked him about his summer plans, his character's life in the basement and his musical tastes. Did you know he once tried to take over a third world country? He tells us what went wrong below...

React.com host: Let's all welcome Nicholas Brendon....
Nicholas: Hi everybody in the chat room, I'm generally happy to say hello to you, in the general sense of the word!

chris_coolgirl asks: What do you like best about your job?
A: Putting on makeup. Making people laugh. And cry. And shriek in pain. Only in my dreams.

whoserettefan_2001 asks: Hi Mr. Nicholas Brendon. What is it like to be in Buffy and what is it like to know Sarah Michelle Gellar...?
A: They are kind of symbiotic. It's awesome to be in Buffy. And it's more awesome to know Sarah.

krystalinna asks: Do you like horror movies?
A: They scare me a lot. Makes me tense. Develop an ulcer.

sparxxj asks: Do you believe that Xander will finally find a purpose to his life in season five?
A: I think he already has, he just likes to please people. He's a people pleaser.

smile1511 asks: Nicholas, what is your favorite candy? I heard you like Slurries.
A: There is a slurpie candy? I like the Caramelo, Rollo, throw in some Skittles and then I'll wash it down with some Jolly Ranchers. Apple.

ucfan1235 asks: I read somewhere that you have a twin brother that is also an actor, is there any chance you two will ever act together?
A: Sure. Maybe. If you want to see it. You can make it happen. Cause you guys have the power.

bl00dyh3ll asks: Is there something you don't like about your caracter?
A: His hair. Certain wardrobe pieces.

pttyc123 asks: What was your favorite episode to film?
A: Probably The Zeppo, the misunderstood Marx Brother, and this year's season finale.

kira_123_1999 asks: Nick, do you have any plans with new movies? ~kira
A: So far not this hiatus, but we're taking meetings and stuff like that. I just want to relax for a few weeks.

purechaos101 asks: Who's your favorite comedian?
A: Steve Martin. Probably, George Carlin.

sweet_baby2k asks: Do you see yourself as a hearthrob?
A: I see myself as a throb, not necessarily a heart. It's debateable, open for discussion.

purechaos101 asks: Who's the funniest cast member on the set?
A: Hmm. You know, probably have to be me, I'm the funniest person in the whole world. No, we're all funny for our different reasons. Probably at least one or two of us should be institutionalized in that funny way.

cardboard003 asks: Who is your role model?
A: You know, role model, I don't think I ever had a role model. That's a tough one.

sled599 asks: Do you miss Charisma and David on the show?
A: No not at all... of course I do! I miss them very much. Seth Green leaving was unfortunate, too.

serenity161616 asks: Is the next season gonna have more Xander in it?
A: Yes. I've been told firsthand that I'm going to be a lot busier.

purechaos101 asks: What were you like in high school?
A: Passive aggressive. A bed wetter. Liked to light things on fire.

purechaos101 asks: Do you watch yourself on television?
A: I do, with my beautiful girlfriend, we'll kick back and watch it, I do watch it, not myself so much, but the show.

purechaos101 asks: What's your favorite cereal?
A: Have to be Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

React.com host: Do you speak any other languages?
A: I can say "no" in a lot of different languages.

krystalinna asks: What was it like wearing vampire make-up?
A: Cool. Different. Getting my head cast was not so cool.

marstersfan asks: Do you have any bad habits?
A: Too many to mention. It would take 45 minutes.

tomasjryan asks: what is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
A: Learn the piano. We're moving right now. Learning how to surf. Travel. Writing, reading, poetry, walks on the beach.

Pinktricity asks: Have you ever caught a mistake you made on the show?
A: Every day there are bloopers. I catch a mistake every time I do it. And then they make me do it right.

maggs511 asks: Will you go to my prom with me, Nicholas?
A: As long as my girlfriend can come with us.

purechaos101 asks: What was your favorite toy as a child?
A: Hangers. The kind with the cardboard on the bottom, which I'd take off and use them as drumsticks.

cordymuch asks: So, Mr. Brendon, is it true that twins have a good twin and a bad twin?
A: Sure, I'm sure there are a lot of twins out there like that, we just happen to both be angels.

jmonique asks: Hello from the Aficionados! There's been talk of you playing Spider-Man in the movie, but I'm wondering what movie role would you want to play?
A: I'll take Christian Bale's part in American Psycho.

spikeygrrrl asks: Nick, first off, I just love Xander. How do you like this season and the developing relationship between Xander and Anya?
A: Good. She's a series regular, so she's a pleasure to work with. And she laughs at all my jokes so. ... She laughs with me, not at me.

ckangel17 asks: Do you like being called Nick, Nicky, or Nicholas?
A: Nicholas. It depends on the situation, though.

marstersfan asks: Are they going to have a Xander action figure? When?
A: Yes. Soon.

moonbeam_20_85 asks: How old were you when you started acting?
A: About 21. Then I quit for awhile. Then I started doing it seriously when I was 25. I did a lot of stuff in between. Waited tables. Script delivery guy. I dropped some pictures off at Don Henley's house, and I opened them up to see what they were.

krystalinna asks: Do you have an official Web site?
A: I don't think I have an official one, no, but apparently we are supporting the Nicholas Brendon Aficionados.

AngryAngel2 asks: Nick, do you do your own stunts?
A: A good portion of them. But I have a really good stunt guy. I used to be stupid. But now I don't like pain. I used to, actually, emotional and physical.

sled599 asks: Do you think Faith and Xander could get together again?
A: I really doubt it. I think Xander has an ego, I don't think he could allow anyone to abuse him like she did. Unless, of course, it was just quick sex.

maggs511 asks: What's it like when people call you by Xander?
A: They say, 'You're that guy, Xander, on TV,' but now more people know my name, and that's good.

litfanusa asks: When is your birthday?
A: 4/12/71.

buffygirl2001 asks: Will the season finale be exciting???!!!!!
A: It's very entertaining. Our season finale this year is more a coda episode. We did our season finale as episodes 20 and 21 and our finale is an individual creature.

brahma_bull200 asks: What sort of music do you like?
A: Eclectic. Jazz, country, that modern stuff, I think kids call it alternative.

jmonique asks: What's your favorite thing that a fan's ever done for you?
A: Hmm. Not punched me in the face. When people are nice and cordial and give you a compliment, that's the nicest thing anyone can do.

clickme69_99 asks: What influenced you to get into acting?
A: Initially, the need to eat. And then I just found the passion after acting had found me.

BRoks_true_girl asks: Boxers or briefs?? Gab, Ontario Canada
A: Briefs.

dizzy_girl1999 asks: Is there any actor/actress that you dream of acting with?
A: Harrison Ford would be pretty cool. Tom Hanks would be pretty sweet. I like Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon.

Font_Girl asks: How hectic is your schedule for Buffy?
A: Pretty hectic. Long hours. Five days.

NoPiano asks: I've heard that your co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar sneezes really funny. Is this true, and why???
A: Where are you hearing these things? Don't believe everything you sneeze.

y2kprep_2000 asks: What is your ancestry?
A: Kind of the whole European mutt. Thomas Jefferson is like an eighth cousin to me, and I'm related to Mary Queen of Scots somehow. They're both dead now.

smartiesqueen asks: Do you ever read your fan mail? And ever respond to it?
A: I do...

lu2986 asks: When is Psycho Beach Party coming out? I love you!
A: I don't know.

ucfan1235 asks: Who is the better kisser? Faith, Willow, Cordy or Anya???
A: Faith.

buffychicky_2000 asks: How much are you like your character Xander? :)
A: There are similarities. Because Xander is somewhere inside of my head.

angelus2125 asks: Are you ever going to be in a crossover episode of Angel?
A: I don't think so. There's really no reason for my character to go to LA. Xander and Angel got along so well.

sleepy76_2000 asks: If you could join any other show on the air, what would it be and why?
A: Hmm. I'm not watching a lot of TV right now. Law & Order is a classic. And The Sopranos. And hosting something on Animal Planet.

Font_Girl asks: What's your favorite thing to do for charity?
A: I guess giving time. I'm doing a pediatric AIDS thing next month.

xander4_99 asks: What do you think about N'Sync, BSB and all the other boy bands?
A: Kelly, my twin, has recently been playing me BSB and 'N Sync. My little brother Kyle was at the closing of Saturday Night Live last year and Backstreet Boys was performing, and he thought they were hot. And Kyle played Kelly 'N Sync, and now it's a family thing. They're kitchy.

megera_86 asks: Are all the actors on Buffy friends outside the show?
A: Yes.

x_x_sarah_michelle_gellar_x_x asks: Is James Marsters funny?
A: Yes, but he's always a very sweet man.

smartiesqueen asks: What does a normal day consist of for you?
A: Trying to get out of bed. Then working a lot of hours. That's pretty much it.

buffkt asks: Are you a fan of any other WB shows?
A: Oh yeah, my friend Jason on Rosewell and Josh Jackson on Dawson's Creek.

React.com host asks: Do you hang out with Josh and Jason a lot?
A: I wouldn't say a lot, I hung out with Josh last night until the wee hours of the morning because we were staying at the same hotel. And I see Jason about once a month.

buffkt asks: Did you and Kelley ever pull a fast one on any one of the cast members?
A: No. I'd lose my job.

highdesertlola asks: Where do you want the show to go?
A: London. Maybe Broadway. Make it a musical. Win some Tony awards.

Callie170 asks: If Xander could have a puppy, what kind of puppy would he have?
A: Probably a Rottweiler Lab mix.

dizzy_girl1999 asks: Is marriage in sight for you and your girlfriend?
A: It's not now.

x_x_sarah_michelle_gellar_x_x asks: Would you ever consider being in Dawson Creek?
A: I don't think they'd want me. I think I would turn things upside down. Dawson's Creek can't contain me!

janetk25 asks: What book has affected your thinking the most?
A: I'm reading the Nelson Mandela book right now. So once I'm finished with that book, I'll let you know.

andiepandie8 asks: Do you think this is fun?
A: Hell yeah!

mockingbird39 asks: Will Xander ever add leather pants to his wardrobe?
A: I don't think leather pants, but maybe leather briefs.

jenn33_1999 asks: What was one of the funniest things that happened on the set?
A: Let's see here. Probably when James fell through a wall once. Instead of laughing, he tried to play it off, but you can't fall through the set and just play it off. We got a laugh out of that.

svveety asks: Do you ever find yourself accidentally acting like Xander off the set? lyssia, PA
A: No.

SexyIrishStar asks: Are you religious or spiritual at all?
A: Yes, I am.

tamm106 asks: Did you think when you first started that the show would get so popular?
A: No. Because people would always laugh at the title. But after I saw the first episode, I was like, 'Ooo, this might not be bad!'

x_x_sarah_michelle_gellar_x_x asks: Do you think Xander will ever get a job?
A: He has a lot of jobs. This year he worked a Hotdog on a Stick, Power Bars seller, Ice cream truck driver, pizza delivery guy. And my favorite, a stripper at the ladies night club.

No1BuffyFan asks: What is your favorite magazine?
A: Probably Cosmo, I like to keep up with the ladies.

smartiesqueen asks: Do you have to memorize every line, or do you have cue cards or something?
A: I wish we could have cue cards! No, not really, I wouldn't want cue cards, you have to memorize.

dlm3wofan4ever asks: If you got script approval, how would you change Xander?
A: I wouldn't.

sparxxj asks: Do you think that Xander's role as the normal guy is important?
A: Not only do I think it's important, I think it's the most important. Because everyone else has powers and you need someone you can relate to.

BuffysBoy_2000 asks: Do you have any site on the Web that are your favorites?
A: My girl goes on, I don't get computers yet. We're learning slowly right now.

tweety_coolstuff asks: What do you think of the show's theme tune?
A: I think it's pretty cool. I have about ten of the show's soundtracks.

xander7777 asks: Would you ever dye your hair blue or green?
A: Sure.

cheergirl7559 asks: What do you consider the most important qualities of an actor/actress?
A: The eyes, the truth lays in the eyes. And also being really hot!

tricky_bass asks: hat type of food is eaten the most on the set?
A: Dairy. A lot of dairy.

kolor45 asks: How do you do live chats when you're so busy? Where are you right now that you are doing it?
A: I'm at home, I'm on my second day of hiatus, we're off work right now.

new_canadian asks: Who's your favorite woman in the world and why?
A: Betsy Ross.

btsvlovermore asks: What was the newest movie you have seen in the movie theater?
A: Call me in two hours and I'll say The Insider. Being John Maklovich.

angel514_2000 asks: Would you ever do a scene nude?
A: Only if it was tasteless.

priscilla5000 asks: What's the craziest thing you ever done?
A: I tried to overthrow a third world government once. My team of guerrillas wasn't as trained as they told me. I escaped the flogging and beheading, but I lost about half my men. Mostly to malaria.

crossflc asks: Would you ever think of writing an episode of Buffy?
A: I revere Joss so much that I just couldn't. I will learn from him. And take my show on the road.

elephant21122 asks: What cd do have in your player right now?
A: I've got a 25-disc changer. ... Sting, Garth Brooks, Stone Temple Pilots and Louie Armstrong.

krystalinna asks: Whats the most impulsive thing you've ever bought?
A: The house I just bought this weekend. That or the socks I bought this morning.

Willow_Rosenberg_in_uk asks: What scares you most about your acting career?
A: The fact that I'm an actor.

modifacation asks: If you could win or invent an Oscar what would it be?
A: I'd make it look more like an Oscar Meyer Weiner. And engraved under it would be "Who's the weiner now?

vinicha99 asks: What is your favorite romantic song?
A: Suddenly" by Billy Ocean, it makes me cry every time I hear it. And also some songs by Barry Manilow. "Mandy," and "Could It Be Magic."

sweetgirrl15 asks: What are your future plans?
A: My future plans, outside of buying our house, I'm taking meetings for projects. We have a production company, Frog Eye Sky. And really trying to find the vaccine for polio and cure cancer. The polio is tough. And I think it's right in front of me.

React.com host: Thanks for chatting with us, Nicholas!
A: Bye everybody, watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer! Thank you very much for your questions, and I will try to do this again soon!