Editing Angel (1999 TV series) (section)

==Production==

===Episodes===
{{Main|List of Angel episodes}}
{{:List of Angel episodes}}

===Origins===
Co-producer Greenwalt points out, "There's no denying that ''Angel'' grew out of ''Buffy''." Several years before ''Angel'' debuted, Joss Whedon developed the concept behind ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' to invert the Hollywood formula of "the little blonde girl who goes into a dark alley and gets killed in every horror movie."<ref name=blondegirl>Billson, Anne, ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BFI TV Classics S.)''. British Film Institute (December 5, 2005), pp24–25.</ref> The character Angel was first seen in the [[Welcome to the Hellmouth|first episode]] and became a regular, appearing in the opening credits during seasons 2 and 3. According to the fictional universe first established by ''Buffy'', the '[[Buffyverse]]',<ref>The term 'Buffyverse' is used amongst fans of ''Buffy/Angel'' online to describe the fictional universe established by ''Buffy/Angel''. It is also used in published materials such: Walton, Andy, "[http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/05/19/buffy.sidebar/ Slang-age in the Buffyverse]", ''CNN'' (February 18, 2004 ), and the book, Ouellette, Jennifer, [http://physics.about.com/od/physicsbooks/gr/buffyverse.htm ''Physics of the Buffyverse''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129150018/http://physics.about.com/od/physicsbooks/gr/buffyverse.htm |date=November 29, 2010 }}, ''Penguin Books'' (January 2007).</ref> Angel was born in 18th-century Ireland; after being turned into a soulless, immortal vampire, he became legendary for his evil acts, until a band of wronged Gypsies punished him by restoring his soul, overwhelming him with guilt. Angel eventually set out on a path of redemption, hoping that he could make up for his past through good deeds. In ''Buffy''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Graduation Day, Part Two|Season Three finale]], he leaves [[Sunnydale]] for L.A. to continue his atonement without Buffy. Whedon believed that "Angel was the one character who was bigger than life in the same way that Buffy was, a kind of superhero."<ref>Havens, Candace, ''Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy'' Benbella Books (May 1, 2003), p103.</ref> Whedon has compared the series to its parent: "It's a little bit more straightforward action show and a little bit more of a guys' show."<ref>Bassom, David, "Buffy, Angel and Me", from ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer magazine'' #12 (UK, September 2000), page 6.</ref>

While the central concept behind ''Buffy'' was "high school as a horror movie" in small-town America,<ref>'Said, SF', "[http://www.shebytches.com/SFSaidgb.html Interview with Joss Whedon by SF Said] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430050551/http://www.shebytches.com/SFSaidgb.html |date=April 30, 2009 }}", ''Shebytches.com'' (2005).</ref> co-creators David Greenwalt and Whedon were looking to make ''Angel'' into a different "gritty, urban show."<ref>Havens, Candace, ''Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy'' Benbella Books (May 1, 2003), p102 (quote from Greenwalt)</ref> Whedon explained, "We wanted a much darker show, darker in tone. It's set in Los Angeles because there are a lot of demons in L.A. and a wealth of stories to be told. We also wanted to take the show a little older and have the characters deal with demons in a much different way. Buffy is always the underdog trying to save the world, but Angel is looking for redemption. It's those two things that creatively make the shows different."<ref name="autogenerated2">Havens, Candace, ''Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy'' Benbella Books (May 1, 2003), p101-102.</ref>

Whedon and Greenwalt prepared a six-minute promotional video pitch, often called the "Unaired ''Angel'' pilot" for [[The WB]].<ref name="topping">Topping, Keith, ''Hollywood Vampire'', (3rd edition, includes Season 4) ''Virgin Books'' (2004).</ref> Some shots from this short were later used in the opening credits.<ref name="topping"/>

Early during the life of the series, some effort was made to slightly soften the original concept. For example, scenes were cut from the pilot episode, "City of", in which Angel tasted the blood of a murder victim;<ref>Hart, Maryelizabeth & Holder, Nancy & Mariotte, Jeff, ''[[List of Buffyverse guidebooks#"Casefiles"|Casefiles]]'', ''Pocket Books'' (May 2002), page 34.</ref> the episode that was originally written to be the second episode, "Corrupt", was abandoned altogether. Writer [[David Fury]] explained, "The network was shocked. They said 'We can't shoot this. This is way too dark.' We were able to break a new idea, we had to turn it over in three days."<ref>Hart, Maryelizabeth & Holder, Nancy & Mariotte, Jeff, ''Casefiles'', ''Pocket Books'' (May 2002), page 43-44.</ref> Instead, the tone was lightened and the opening episodes established Angel Investigations as an idealistic, shoestring operation.

A first draft script reveals that ''Angel'' was originally intended to include the character [[Whistler (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Whistler]], played by [[Max Perlich]], who had already been featured in two ''Buffy'' episodes, "[[Becoming, Part One]]" and "[[Becoming, Part Two|Part Two]]".<ref>Topping, Keith, ''Hollywood Vampire'', (3rd edition, includes Season 4) ''Virgin Books'' (2004), pages 18–19. Also see: Greenwalt, David & Whedon, Joss, [http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/angel/season1/angel-earlydraft.htm Angel pilot, early draft] ''20th Century Fox'' (1999).</ref> In an interview, Perlich said, "I never got called again. If they had called, I would have probably accepted because it was a great experience and I think Joss is very original and talented."<ref>Dilullo, Tara, "Where are they now? Max Perlich" in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Magazine" #62, ''Titan Magazines'' (July 2004 issue), pages 30–31.</ref> Instead, the producers created a Whistler-like character, [[Allen Francis Doyle|Doyle]]. [[Cordelia Chase]], also from the original Sunnydale crew, joined Angel and Doyle.

===Executive producers===
[[Joss Whedon]] is credited as executive producer throughout the run of the series.<ref name="whedonimdb">Various authors, "[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0923736/ Joss Whedon]", ''Internet Movie Database'' (updated 2006).</ref> Alongside ''Angel'', he was also working on a series of other projects such as ''Buffy'', ''[[Fray (comic)|Fray]]'', ''[[Astonishing X-Men]]'' and ''[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]'', which would later also lead to the film ''[[Serenity (2005 film)|Serenity]]''.<ref name="whedonimdb" />

For the first three seasons, David Greenwalt, who co-created the series with Whedon, was also credited as executive producer;<ref>Various authors, "[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339264/ David Greenwalt]", ''Internet Movie Database'' (updated 2006).</ref> during this time, he also took on the role of [[show runner]]. He left to oversee ''[[Miracles (TV series)|Miracles]]'', but continued to work on ''Angel'' as a consulting producer for the final two seasons. [[Tim Minear]] also served as an executive producer during the second season, contributing heavily to the season's story arc. At the start of the fourth season, [[David Simkins]] was made showrunner and executive producer, but after three months, he left the show due to "creative differences" and is not credited in any episodes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whedon.info/A-Brief-History-of-Mutant-Enemy.html|title=A Brief History of Mutant Enemy|work=Whedon.info|date=May 24, 2004|access-date=August 9, 2010}}</ref> Established ''Angel'' writer [[Jeffrey Jackson Bell|Jeffrey Bell]] took over for the balance of season 4 and became executive producer for season 5. After ''Buffy'' concluded, writer [[David Fury]] joined the staff as executive producer for the final season.

[[Fran Rubel Kuzui]] and her husband, [[Kaz Kuzui]], were also credited as executive producers throughout ''Angel'',<ref>Various authors, "[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0476900/ Fran Kuzui]" and "[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0476901/ Kaz Kuzui]", ''Internet Movie Database'' (updated 2006).</ref> but were not involved in any writing or production for the show. Jeffrey Bell mentions in his DVD commentary during the closing credits of the ''Angel'' series finale "[[Not Fade Away (Angel episode)|Not Fade Away]]" that two people were credited and paid for ''Angel'' without needing to ever step on the set.<ref>''Angel Complete Fifth Series'' DVD Boxset.</ref> ''Angel'' crew member Dan Kerns also revealed in an essay that two executive producers "received credit and sizeable checks for the duration of ''Buffy'' and ''Angel'' for doing absolutely nothing".<ref>Kerns, Dan, "Angel by the Numbers", from Yeffeth, Gareth (editor), ''[[Five Seasons of "Angel"]]'', ''Benbella''(October 2004), p25.</ref> Their credit, rights and royalties for the whole ''Buffy'' franchise, which includes spinoff ''Angel'', relate to their funding, producing and directing of the original movie version of ''Buffy''.<ref>See Kerns, Dan, "Angel by the Numbers", from Yeffeth, Gareth (editor), ''Five Seasons of "Angel"'', ''Benbella''(October 2004), p25, and Golden, Christopher, and Holder, Nancy, ''Watcher's Guide Vol. 1''. Simon & Schuster (October 1, 1998), "Gail Berman and Fran Kuzui came to [Whedon] to ask if he wanted to do the TV series" (p241). Also see ''Watcher's Guide Vol. 1'', pp246–249.</ref>

===Writing===
Script-writing was done by [[Mutant Enemy Productions|Mutant Enemy]], a production company created by Joss Whedon in 1997. The writers with the most writing credits for the series include: Joss Whedon, David Greenwalt, Tim Minear, Jeffrey Bell, [[David Fury]], [[Steven S. DeKnight]], [[Mere Smith]], and [[Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain]].<ref>Various authors, "[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162065/fullcredits Full Cast and Crew for ''Angel'']", ''Internet Movie Database'' (updated 2006).</ref> Other authors with writing credits include: [[Shawn Ryan]], [[Ben Edlund]], [[Drew Goddard]], Jeannine Renshaw, [[Howard Gordon]], [[Jim Kouf]], [[Jane Espenson]], [[Doug Petrie]], [[Tracey Stern]], [[David H. Goodman]], Scott Murphy, [[Marti Noxon]] and [[Brent Fletcher]].

Jane Espenson has explained how scripts came together for Mutant Enemy Productions series ''Buffy'', ''Angel'' and ''Firefly'':<ref name="espensonwriting">Espenson, Jane, "[http://www.fireflyfans.net/firefly/espenson.htm The Writing Process] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011095900/http://fireflyfans.net/firefly/espenson.htm |date=October 11, 2007 }}", ''Fireflyfans.net'' (2003).</ref> a meeting was held and an idea was floated (generally by Whedon) and the writers brainstormed to develop the central theme of the episode and the character development. Next, the staff met in the anteroom to Whedon's office to begin "breaking" the story into acts and scenes; the only one absent would be the writer working on the previous week's episode.

Next, the writers developed the scenes onto a marker-filled whiteboard, featuring a "brief ordered description of each scene."<ref name="espensonwriting" /> A writer was then selected to create an outline of the episode's concept– occasionally with some dialogue and jokes– in one day. The outline was then given to the show runner, who revised it within a day. The writer used the revised outline to write the first draft of the script while the other writers worked on developing the next. This first draft was usually submitted for revision within 3–14 days; afterward, a second (and sometimes third) draft was written. After all revisions were made, the final draft would be produced as the "shooting draft".

===Music===
{{Main|Music in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel}}
''Angel'' features a mix of [[orchestration|original]], [[indie (music)|indie]], rock and pop music.

The opening theme was composed by [[Holly Knight]] and [[Darling Violetta]], an alternative rock group that performed two songs during the third season of ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. Holly Knight was the music producer of the track. The next year, ''Angel'' invited bands to submit demos for the theme music to the show. They asked bands to use "dark superhero ideas" and "Cello-rock".<ref>AngelHART, "[http://websites.cable.ntl.com/%7Efraxis/the_ww/old/features/thomas.html Interview – Jymm Thomas of Darling Violetta – interviewed by Angelheart] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009171307/http://websites.cable.ntl.com/~fraxis/the_ww/old/features/thomas.html |date=October 9, 2006 }}", ''Watchers Web'' (1999)</ref> Darling Violetta watched pivotal Angel-related episodes of ''Buffy'' such as "[[Passion (Buffy episode)|Passion]]", "[[Becoming (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Becoming, Parts One and Two]]" for inspiration. Eventually, Whedon accepted Darling Violetta's interpretation of an ''Angel'' theme as that most suitable to the show. The theme has a slower tempo than the ''Buffy'' theme, as well as heavier use of acoustic instruments such as [[cello]]. In 2005, the band composed an extended version of the ''Angel'' theme called "The Sanctuary Extended Remix", which featured on the soundtrack of the series ''[[Angel: Live Fast, Die Never]]''.

The demon karaoke bar, Caritas, is frequently used to spotlight pop hits. There has also been a soundtrack album, ''Angel: Live Fast, Die Never''. The soundtrack mostly consists of scores created for the show by [[Robert J. Kral]] along with a remixed theme and four other songs from the show. [[Douglas Romayne]] scored 33 episodes of ''Angel'' in seasons 4 and 5, along with series lead composer, Rob Kral.

===Cancellation===
On February 14, 2004, the [[WB Network]] announced that ''Angel'' would not be brought back for a sixth season. The one-paragraph statement indicated that the news, which had been reported by an [[web site|Internet site]] the previous day, had been leaked well before the network intended to make its announcement.<ref>{{cite web |author1=KJB |title=Breaking News: Angel to End After 5 Seasons UPDATED |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/02/14/breaking-news-angel-to-end-after-5-seasons-updated |website=IGN |access-date=May 13, 2022 |date=February 14, 2004}}</ref> Joss Whedon posted a message on a popular fan site, The Bronze: Beta, in which he expressed his dismay and surprise, saying he was "heartbroken"<ref>Whedon, Joss, [http://www.bronzebeta.com/Archive/Joss/Joss20040214.htm Online post] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180643/http://www.bronzebeta.com/Archive/Joss/Joss20040214.htm |date=March 3, 2016 }}, ''Bronzebeta'' (February 14, 2004). Archived version.</ref> and described the situation as "Healthy Guy Falls Dead From Heart Attack."<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2004/05/21/why-buffy-angel-creator-ditching-tv |title=Why the ''Buffy,'' ''Angel'' creator is ditching TV.|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |last=Jensen |first=Jeff |date=May 21, 2004 |access-date=May 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014023413/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,637917,00.html |archive-date=October 14, 2007}}</ref> Fan reaction was to organize letter-writing campaigns, online petitions, blood and food drives, advertisements in trade magazines and via mobile billboards, and attempts to lobby other networks. [[UPN]] was a favorite target, as it had already picked up ''Buffy'', but the network declined.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/04/ign-filmforce-exclusive-angel-producers-confirm-upn-decision |title=IGN FilmForce Exclusive: Angel Producers Confirm UPN Decision |website=IGN |date=March 3, 2004 |access-date=February 28, 2024}}</ref> Outrage for the cancellation focused on [[Jordan Levin]], WB's Head of Entertainment. It was the second highest-rated program to be canceled on the WB.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whedon.info/A-Brief-History-of-Mutant-Enemy.html|title=A Brief History of Mutant Enemy|publisher=Whedon.info|date=May 24, 2004|access-date=May 17, 2011}}</ref>

Head writer David Fury "guaranteed" that if Joss Whedon had not requested an early renewal, ''Angel'' would have been back for a Season 6, saying Whedon's request for an early pick-up decision put Levin in a corner, forcing him to cancel the show, adding simply waiting would have gotten the show renewed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mikejozic.com/buffyweek6.html |title=MEANWHILE Interviews... Buffy Post Mortem |publisher=Mikejozic.com |date=September 2004 |access-date=June 16, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100511081943/http://www.mikejozic.com/buffyweek6.html| archive-date= May 11, 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| url-status=live}}</ref> Marsters made a similar statement, saying cancellation took the cast and production staff "completely by surprise".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/james-marsters-on-dudes-dragons-the-end-of-angel-an-1798246497 |title=James Marsters on Dudes & Dragons, the end of Angel, and having fun with John Barrowman |work=The A.V. Club |first=Will |last=Harris |date=April 10, 2016 |access-date=May 13, 2022}}</ref> He said in 2021 that Spike's addition to the show prevented cancellation after four seasons, although his request for a salary equal to what he was paid on ''Buffy'' caused Whedon to remove Carpenter from the main cast.<ref name="ioy20210930">{{Cite podcast |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4VyMNLJYxs |title=The CHARISMA CARPENTER Side Effects of JAMES MARSTERS Taking a Role in Angel  |website=Inside of You |publisher=YouTube |last=Marsters |first=James |date=2021-09-30 |access-date=2023-04-15}}</ref>

''Angel'''s final episode, "[[Not Fade Away (Angel episode)|Not Fade Away]]", aired on the WB on May 19, 2004. The ambiguous final moments left some fans hoping for the continuation of ''Angel'' and the Buffyverse in the future - hopes that came to fruition in November 2007 with the publication of the first issue of the [[comic book]] series ''[[Angel: After the Fall]]''. The series is [[Joss Whedon]]'s official continuation of the ''Angel'' television series and follows in the footsteps of the comic book ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]'', whose first issue was published in March 2007.