Amber Benson credits?

[ladyparasyte]

I don't know about anyone else but I always thought it very strange that Amber didn't get included in the opening credits. Well, that is until her character was killed off.
It seemed very strange since Seth Green was on the show for nearly the same amount of time ,as Willows love interest, and he got credits.Riley wasn't even on as long as Amber and he got credits.
This bother anyone else?

[Ethros]

I think she *would* have been added tothe credits in Season 6 had Whedon not being planning to kill off from the beginning. In fact it was meant to happen in late Season 5 btu he delayed it a year.
I say he knew exactly what he was doing; gets all the fans wondering why she wasn't in the credit sequence, then FINALLY add her, and quickly kill her off!
Guys a genius

[Matthew]

Yes it saddened me so much to see her in the opening credits and then see her die in the same episode! I was so happy that she was in the opening credits! It did shock me though! I had read somewhere that Amber Benson was on the show in seasons 4,5, and 6. So I thought she was going to die. Then, she was on the opening credits and I was like, "Maybe she just leaves the show." So I was shocked and it happened so fast we didn't even get to go to a funeral... The part where Willow goes to Tara's grave is so sad though!

[commandercool]

It never bothered me a ton, but it is kind of silly. It's not like she didn't get recognition, though.

[meghann]

This is from a Buffy Magazine interview with Amber. There's a mention of a discussion with Joss about the credits. It's brief, but thought you may enjoy reading it.

"I knew at the beginning of Season Five that Willow was going to go bad and that I was going to be the impetus for that, but I wasn't 100 percent certain about the dying until the very end of last season. I mean, I wasn't at all surprised when Joss finally told me when were shooting the season finale last year [The Gift]. He was all excited about it. In fact, I even knew I was going to be in the main credits just for the one episode [Seeing Red]. Joss was like, 'I want to put you in the credits,' and I'm like, 'That's so evil! How can you do that to the fans?'

"As much as I hate the fact that she died, I think that it was needed. I know they were really worried about making people unhappy, but it was the only way to take Willow to another level. It furthered the plot and made it possible for Willow to go bad. This was the only thing that could have pushed her over the edge. I was all for me being maimed and coming back, but it wouldn't have been enough. I feel as upset about it as the fans do. I know it was necessary, but still, 'No, don't kill her, I love her! She's part of me!' I thought I was going to be dead in the 16th episode. They just kept pushing it back, so I didn't know when I was going to be dying, because they switched around the episodes."

[Lukee]

It never rally bugged me that she wasn't in the credits. I don't think it even effected the fans really that she wasn't in them. She was still one of the most loved characters on Buffy. I don't think it really mattered that she wasn't on them.

[SlayerLV]

I always thought it was odd like Ladyparasyte said Riley and Oz got at least one season where they were in the credits, why not Tara? I mean she could have at least got season 5.

[MawdurnBukanier]

I hadn't even consciously noticed it until I read this post. Since there's that scene of her blowing the dust from Family I kinda just took that as her part in the intro, I didn't even think about it not saying her name.

[buffysmglover]

Definitely by Family she should have been in the credits.

[barryshaft]

It's a contract thing, Series regulars are paid significantly more and they're the ones in the credits. Amber Benson was paid as a recurring guest star, most likely so a) they didn't have to pay her more and b) so they didn't necessarily need to include her character in every episode, which for the most part they did anyways.

Seth Green was contracted as a Series Regular after Season 2 so that's the reason for his inclusion. Same with Marc Blucas.

[Rachster]

i never really noticed this before but i just had a look and i cant believe joss did that its sad just when u think shes staying shes gone before you know it...

[Slayer489]

It was a really clever thing of Joss to do to put Amber in the opening credits of Seeing Red and kill her off at the end. He fooled me. And she went back to being a guest star in Villains when her body was shown in a few scenes.

Does this mean that Amber got paid more for Seeing Red because she was credited in the opening?

[henzINNIT]

Never bothered me. She was never planned to last out a full season. Also Joss wanted to do the shock credit thing planned for Jesse but couldn't because of budget.

[Wyndam]

Tara not being in the opening credit's is a bit like Lorne not being added until later on as well. Lorne could have essentially been in the opening credits from Season 3 on (or even halfway through Season 2), and Tara could have been in the credits since Season 5. Like most have said, I am sure it was a budget issue.

[barryshaft]

slayer489 said:

It was a really clever thing of Joss to do to put Amber in the opening credits of Seeing Red and kill her off at the end. He fooled me. And she went back to being a guest star in Villains when her body was shown in a few scenes.

Does this mean that Amber got paid more for Seeing Red because she was credited in the opening?

Naw not likely, they're not getting paid more because they're in the credits, it's just that the credits are generally reserved for those with series regular contracts. I don't imagine it was too difficult sliding Amber in for one episode aside from actually editing a seperate set of credits.

Interestingly enough this goes back to the very beginning of Buffy when Whedon wanted to put Eric Balfour in the opening credits to make his death in the pilot more of a shock.

[Joe]

I am very disapointed Tara didn't get put in the credits. Just to let you know, she appeared in more episodes than Oz, and Riley and she wasn't in the credits much. In season 6 she was in all but 2 episodes until her death in "Seeing Red". She could have easily been a regular in the sixth season, if not even the fifth.

[meghann]

From all I have read, it wasn't a money issue. It was a consious decision on Joss' behalf to only include her within the credits of Seeing Red.

As for Andy, I cannot recall which commentary, but I know it's mentioned briefly how they had to fight to get him included in the credits. I cannot remember what was exactly said right now. I don't remember them explaining why. I only remember it being brought up. I'll return with the info.

[barryshaft]

I remember that, it was a network thing, they didn't want the series to have someone so weird looking right in the cast credits as they didn't think it helped sell the show... They usually contrasted that by having Lorne pop up within the credits montage in Seasons 2-4 (until they finally included him) a few times.

[pesk]

Joyce summers was in twice as many episodes as tara, yet no one is asking why she wasn't in the credits.

[Whedon Fan]

Joyce wasn't in every episode though and she was never even going to be on the show, neither of Buffy's parents were but Joss obviously chnged his mind. It was always Joss plan to keep Tara out of the credits. He was going to kill her and do evil willow in season 5 but post poned it till season 6 which is why we see alot of build up to dark willow in S5.....BAG OF KNIVES!! Anyway he kept her out so fans would wonder what is up then finally add her in and kill her.