Buffyfest Interviews Nicholas Brendon on His Appearance in Robot, Ninja and Gay Guy - Part 1

So there's this hysterical throw back to 70's and 80's retro sitcoms of yore on the internets called Robot, Ninja & Gay Guy (as illustrated by it's rad theme song). If you haven't seen it yet, we highly suggest you start right now. As if you need any more reason to tune in, that's right, Mr. Nicholas Brendon will be starring in an upcoming episode coming out on Tuesday, June 1st! How cool do you have to be to land Nick Brendon on your show? We had the pleasure of speaking to the fine people involved and today we're bringing you the first part of two interviews about this hilarious web series. This is definitely an OMG moment for us over here at Buffyfest.

Without further ado, the one-eyed, super-cool Scoob, much cooler than Taylor Lautner, the Xan-Man himself: Nicholas Brendon! (applause)

BUFFYFEST: How did you get involved with Robot, Ninja & Gay Guy?

NICHOLAS BRENDON: Eric Loya, the head writer, came to see me in the play that I was doing at the time, “Santaland Diaries.” He was a fan, and mentioned what he was working on, and I loved the title right away, without even seeing a script. I went and watched the show online and loved it, and I worked with Eric and [Producer/Star] Travis Richey for a couple months, on getting a way into the show, and when I saw the script that they wrote for me, I was blown away.

BUFFYFEST: Will you be portraying either a Pirate, Monkey or Zombie on the show?
NB: All three, actually. A zombified pirate-monkey. You know, because they test so well. Audiences can’t get enough of them. (laughs) Actually, I play the “nosy neighbor” in “Robot, Ninja & Gay Guy.” The series is basically a spoof on those mismatched-roommate sitcoms like “Perfect Strangers” or “Three’s Company”, and my episode also draws on all those shows like “ALF,” “Bewitched,” and “Small Wonder” where there’s always that neighbor who is almost about to discover the secret of the main character. Actually, “Three’s Company” was like that, too, with Mr. Furley and Mr. Roper.


BUFFYFEST: How was your experience working on a "webisode" as opposed to standard TV? What is your opinion on the importance of web-based programming in the future?

NB: My experience on the webisode was great, outside of Travis (laughs). No, seriously, it’s so much faster than TV, and there’s so much more artistic freedom in the web series, and in regards to turnarounds and things of that nature, it’s so much faster.

As far as the importance of web-based programming, I think it’s going to be epically important. It’s going to be so important that our unions are going to strike over it. You know, it’s kind of touchy right now. Everyone knows the importance of it, and what power online entertainment holds, but the people who pay the money don’t want to admit that.

BUFFYFEST: To follow-up, have you seen Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog? Were you surprised by the attention it received in the media?
NB: Yes, I saw it, and I loved it. I wasn’t surprised at all. Joss Whedon is an amazing writer. It was fantastic.


BUFFYFEST: Xander and Dawn are an item in the Buffy Season 8 comics these days? What say ye? Yea or nay?
NB: Ye say it’s kind of freaky. (laughs) Ye say it kind of makes me feel like a pedophile. But Ye say Dawn’s also hot, so… It’s just that in my experience with those characters, Xander and Dawn had a kind of Big Brother-Little Sister relationship, and you know, thinking of Michelle, when she joined the show, she was like, 13, so in that respect it’s awkward to think about.


And there you have it! Thank you so much to Nicholas Brendon for taking the time. Look out for part 2 of this interview on Tuesday where we talk to Robot, Ninja and Gay Guy's head writer Eric and creator Travis about RNGG, the Whedonverse, the much anticipated Nick Brendon ep airing the same day and more! Oh and don't forget to subscribe to their YouTube channel so you don't miss a single episode.