Buffy the Vampire Slayer
(1996–2003)
Buffy suspects that a ventriloquist's dummy may be harvesting organs from classmates performing in a talent show.
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Title: The Puppet Show (05 May 1997)
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Cast
| Episode complete credited cast: | |||
| Sarah Michelle Gellar | ... | Buffy Summers | |
| Nicholas Brendon | ... | Xander Harris | |
| Alyson Hannigan | ... | Willow Rosenberg | |
| Charisma Carpenter | ... | Cordelia Chase | |
| Anthony Head | ... | Rupert Giles (as Anthony Stewart Head) | |
| Kristine Sutherland | ... | Joyce Summers | |
 |
Rich Werner | ... | Morgan Shay (as Richard Werner) |
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Burke Roberts | ... | Marc |
| Armin Shimerman | ... | Principal Snyder | |
| Lenora May | ... | Mrs. Jackson | |
| Chasen Hampton | ... | Elliot | |
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Natasha Pearce | ... | Lisa |
| Tom Wyner | ... | Sid (voice) | |
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Krissy Carlson | ... | Emily (Dancer) |
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Michelle Miracle | ... | Locker Girl |
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
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Storyline
Mr. Snyder, Sunnydale High's new principal after the devouring of fatherly Mr. Robert Flutie, believes in order and discipline to instill school spirit, so he orders Giles to produce a talent show and punishes the absentee trio by forcibly enrolling them as candidates. Then dancer Emily is found with her heart cut out, but demons don't usually use a knife, yet one was found next to her, so the human student contestants are screened. The weirdest suspect proves to be gifted ventriloquist Morgan Shay, who treats his inseparable wooden dummy Sid as real, in fact takes orders from it in private, and if it is as Giles suspects one of seven demon who take possession of human bodies, anybody may be turned bad by it... Written by KGF Vissers
Plot Keywords:
ventriloquist's dummy | reference to the usual suspects | library | heroine | female protagonist |Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
5 May 1997 (USA) See more »Filming Locations:
1800 Stewart St., Santa Monica, California, USACompany Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
StereoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1
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(uncredited)
Written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed
Performed by Charisma Carpenter
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Did You Know?
Trivia
This episode reveals some fears of the Scooby Gang, which will be featured in the next episode, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Nightmares (1997): Buffy Summers is afraid of dummies, Xander Harris is frightened by a mime with clown makeup, and Willow Rosenberg is afraid to introduce herself in front of an audience. See more »Goofs
As Giles is announcing 5 minutes until the power circle, the violin player behind him is very obviously 'playing' the violin with the bow 2 inches from the strings. See more »Crazy Credits
The scoobies do their talent show theatrical scene during the closing credits. See more »Alternate Versions
The original US WB broadcast had a sequence where Buffy, Xander and Willow performed their theatrical scene in the talent show during the closing credits, but it was removed for re-runs and syndication. The season one DVD box-set restores the original closing credits sequence. See more »Soundtracks
The Greatest Love of All(uncredited)
Written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed
Performed by Charisma Carpenter
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Episode 9 of the first season of "Buffy" is probably the funniest of the show so far, and it has also one really neat twist in a show that, in this respect, has not been particularly original.
There is a high school festival but, again, someone seems intend on killing the students. Buffy and Co. suspect that the dummy is doing it.
The episode does a great job in poking fun at the fact that students keep dying on the premises of the high school (who would want their children to go there after the first couple of episodes?) and also does a great job at playing the 'dummy' card. We all know the dolls are scary, but "Buffy" turns this upside down offering a very funny take on it, with a very tongue-in-cheek approach to the plot. It is also has a very nice pace (an upgrade after the previous one's stilted one) and the acting fits perfectly with the mood. Buffy, Willow and Xander's horror at having to take part on the festival is the perfect mood setting for the rest of the episode.
All 'horror' shows have to have one episode with a dummy in them, and this one does the trick for "Buffy". In a really funny way. A winner.