AMC: SMG AS KENDALL

[Kendall]

Even though I love AM as KENDALL and she could play cold hearted Bitch-- SMB is the Bitch from HELL and fantastic at it .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h0QLyDmB8w...feature=related

[DaytimeFan]

Just, generally, a talented actress. One of the greatest younger actresses daytime has ever seen.

I prefer SMG to AM, she was, in my view, much closer to the scheming selfish vixen from hell that SL's Erica was in her youth...AM is just...flat.

That said, the writing for SMG was MUCH MUCH MUCH STRONGER than what we see now, although I don't mind Pratt by any means.

[Faulkner]

SMG was so delicious as Kendall, especially when she was being horrible to Binky and Julia. Some people say she was one-note evil, but of course that wasn't the case at all. There was a creepiness and a mystery about her - like how crazy is this bitch? It was like SMG would channel Richard Fields every now and then just to spook and surprise us, and it was fabulous.

AM's only advantage is her stronger physical resemblance to Susan.

[Kendall]

I sorta agree but when AM first showed up as Kendall, her version of Kendall was more of a conniving/sassy 'VIXEN' and she was very good at.

AM years from 2002-2003 was the Kendall I can easily compare to SMG version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilVHVFdu_aw

[Kylie]

In that Kendall clip above, did she already know that she was Erica's daughter via rape? I liked Kendall, but the day she brought RF back and confronted Erica with him, basically calling her a whore, she pretty much died to me. I like AM's version, but I'll never like her.

[EricMontreal22]

Ah i loved her and Del.

SMG was perfect as Del--I remember as a kid when she first came on I was kinda surprised--"That obnoxious girl from that crap Swan's Crossing is on MY show?" but she quickly won me over. And I watched Buffy ONLY at first to see her (but became a huge fan). Unfortunately she hasn't really done anything to show off her acting chops in a LONG time... Although Southland Tales was an interesting mess in some ways.

[Cheap21]

LOVED SMG as Kendall. She was the best in the role. AM is great but SMG was so much fun. She had me hooked back when she was on. She was such a bitch and such a schemer. She kept things interesting and was so intriguing

[EricMontreal22]

Yes she already had. I dunno I loved all that--such drama, and Kendall realizing she was wrong

[JackPeyton]

SMG lost whatver she had, IMHO, around buffy season 4. She just stopped trying, and not just in buffy. In everything.

Southland Tales was an amazing mess. I love that movie. Mandy Moore/The Rock/Sarah Michelle Geller .. what an amazing triangle.

[EricMontreal22]

Hrmm I only thought it was amazing for brief bits but it was definetly a mess-and interesting...

I think something happened when she married ultra bore Freddie P, if I'm being mean That said, I knwo her probs with the Buffy staff, etc, and I agree she lost som einterest around season 5 but I think she still delievered on more than a few occasions.

[Cat]

The reason I started watching Buffy was for SMG. Not that I'm a uber-fan but I loved her on AMC and when they started doing Buffy promos, I was all "Hey, Kendall's blonde now. And she still kicks ass!"

I loved her as Kendall, although I like how AM has grown into the role. SMG may have played Kendall more evil -- actually, I'd say vengeful and angry, rather than purely evil -- but her Kendall was also vulnerable and relatable. She was a loner, desperate for affection but also deeply envious of what other people had. AM's Kendall is not a loner but a leader -- it's obvious that whatever characters may think about Kendall, Minshew is almost universally loved by cast and crew. That somehow transmits to the screen.

[EricMontreal22]

Hahah iwas not a fan of the Buffy movie and I remember when I saw promos I literally laughed outloud that it was a tv show, and starred Kendall--i couldn't wait to see it.

[Sylph]

God, did she suck or what.

[cct]

OK, SS lovers, please don't jump on me:

I was having this conversation the other day and I said, "How come we refer to nuBabe and Real Greenlee and but we don't call AM nuKendall or Fake Kendall?" I think we may have for a few weeks after she first came on, but not too long after that.

I loved SMG's Kendall. After a while, though, she became too pouty. I think it was good for her to leave AMC when she did, as the character was just starting to be a bit stale. (Could've been the writing for her, although she left during Broderick).

When AM's Kendall came on, she was feisty and determined. She had to grow a bit, but I thought it was a nice bit of casting. What's amazing about AM that SMG will not have is how much AM could actually be SL's daughter. I mean, even some of her facial expressions and head movements have shocked me in how close they resemble SL. Of course, SMG never had a chance to play close to SL (and of course, the behind-the-scenes tension prevented that), but AM and SL are much better at being a traditional mother/daughter than I feel SMG and SL would've ever been. Talk about translating to the screen.

IN order for the character of Kendall to grow, she had to mellow out. I don't blame this on AM. Although AM can be OTT and certainly can't cry worth a damn, I do not fault her for the direction of her character. I'd love to see a return to bitchy underdog Kendall. (We only got the "bitchy" in the weeks leading up to the tornado; it's the "underdog" that makes her vulnerable and likeable) It would be great if she lost her company and had to become the underdog again.

So, I like both versions of Kendall and each actress for what it's worth. Couldn't possibly imagine SMG playing the current Kendall. SMG has lost it.

P.S. I thought the same thing when I started seeing previews for Buffy. That movie? With a blonde Kendall? LOL! I wanted to check it out, but at the time we didn't get WB. I only joined the Buffy train at the end of season 4.

[Sylph]

I think Sarah Michelle's non-existent acting skills were precisely what the show like Buffy needed. It mashed so well and no other person could have played that role.

The true megasuperstar of that show will forever be Cordelia Chase. Magnificence.