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Anonymous writes...

****Blaise walks in.**** Hello again Mr. Weisman. Sorry to ask a second
set of questions before my first set is answered (I strive to avoid that
so I don't bog you down with endless questions), but I have a few things on
my mind that I wanted to get down before I forgot. First of all, I won't ask
about the HOBGOBLIN OF LITTLE MINDS ep because a bunch of other people
have asked about it, and it would be redundant. Next, I can understand
your...disconcertion (?) with revealing suprises (like Merlin's
parentage). That's pretty much why I try my best to avoid asking questions about the
future in GARGOYLES and try to focus on the "Why and wherefore" (or
whatever) of the show (I don't ALWAYS succeed). So, I come to my Q's.
Both are pretty much about the show's evolution from the "comedy" development
into what we have today.

1) First, Elisa Maza: a) When the Archive first came out, you gave a
very nice explanation on why you made the name change from "Elisa Chavez" to
"Elisa Maza." However you never explained why you changed it from the
original "Morgan Reed," or where the surname "Bluestone" appeared in
there, nor why you made those changes. So, why those names and why the changes?
b) In addition to her name, Elisa went through a lot of concept changes
as well: school teacher, firefighter, museum worker (or something), mother,
descendent of Princess Catharine (please excuse my spelling on that),
etc.. Why so many changes and why those particular changes.

2) Now for Xanatos's original: Originally, Xavier was supposed to be a
descendant of the Magus (or whatever his character was called at the
time), and was supposed to be rather petulant; "Captain Hookish." Why the change
from this to the Machavellian, arguably Edmundish villain with no ties to
the Magus today?

3) Now Owen's first, Mr. Owen: An aardvark? What prompted that? I know
that the "comedy" development was a "no-go" and it's all pretty much a
moot point now, but I'm still curious. I mean, I like finding out something's
origins and seeing how it evolved. See you later, and I hope my questions
aren't too much of a bother. Have a nice day! ****Blaise dissolves.****

Greg responds...

1. Morgan Reed was part of the comedy development. It pre-dated
Goliath's inclusion and therefore pre-dated any Beauty/Beast thread to the
series. When Goliath entered, Morgan's name switched to Elisa for purely
aesthetic, sonorous reasons. Meaning, I just liked the sound of it for the
new way the character functioned in the show. Chavez was her working last
name, because I intended to make the character hispanic and again I liked
the sound. When we cast Salli Richardson, we dumped Chavez, because Salli's
not Hispanic. Paul Lacy compiled a short list of possible Native American
surnames, including Bluestone, which was my bosses' early pick on my
recommendation. Later, he changed his mind and we went with Maza.
Obviously, for the hell of it, I wanted to preserve all the old names in one
way or another. So our beat cop became Officer Morgan. Maggie was Maggie
Reed. Maria was Maria Chavez. And Matt was Matt Bluestone (which is also a
Jewish name).
2. Like Elisa, he was put through the prism of Goliath. The old
traits fell away, and he emerged as Xanatos. It was a process, but it felt
right.
3. Aardvarks are funny, don't you think? When you're developing a
comedy, you don't need much of a better reason.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998

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Anonymous writes...

Hey, Greg. I just wanted to start out by saying that I loved Gargoyles.
Still do. Unfortunately, I'm not in your target age range. But there's at
least one college student who raves about the show regularly. I especially
enjoy the mythology you've weaved into the series. I haven't seen all the
episodes yet, but I plan to eventually.
Now. On to the questions.

1) Here's my stab at the Arthurian survivors. Seven, right? 1) Arthur 2)
Merlin 3) Fisher King 4) Lady of the Lake 5) Morgan le Fay 6) Nimue 7)
Galahad

2) a:You've mentioned that you've tried to get Gargoyles in other media.
I'm curious. If you had the option of using any medium, TV live, film live,
books, comic books, TV animation, film animation, which would you pick?
I'm aware that in real-world terms, you take what you can. But if you had the
choice, which would best fit your story? b: Along similar lines, do you
see parts of the master plan changing depending on which medium you get? I
read a novelization of Batman's Knightfall thread, that said that it changed
some stuff because the different media required different pacing and other
stuff.... Any similar changes for you that you can see? If there are, care
to elaborate on those?

3) Have you even seen all the episodes of TGC? I haven't, myself. Though I
found out I have one on tape.

4) Would Disney allow you to do Gargoyles on another medium anyway? I
thought they owned everything related to Gargoyles...? Do you think they
would have a reason to not let you write a Gargoyles book or something if
you got the opportunity?

Greg responds...

1. Nope.
2a. Given my imaginary and otherwise-non-existent druthers, I'd
like to go right back to TV Animation, though I'd rather be in prime time
with one hour episodes. After that, I think comics would be fun, but I
might prefer to just go the novel route.
2b. I don't see the basic plan changing, but what I chose to depict
would definitely be effected by the medium.
3. Not counting "The Journey", which I've seen a few times, I've
seen the other 12 each exactly once.
4. I would think that Disney would let me do anything that didn't
damage the property and which generated some income for them. They're not
going to let me do anything without being compensated. And I don't blame
them.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998

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Anonymous writes...

Dear Mr.Wiseman
I am a Gargoyle fan ever since watchng gargoyles! maybe before that I
have now started to look into gargoyle history and learn more aboutt hem as I
can even try t get some from the show. I was wondering if the Gargoyles
series would have still been on today would you have the seris branch off into
diffrent direction's?(example TGC Focus on the gargoyles and human's
living together, Gargoyles focus on Elisa's and Goliath's relationship)
Also I was wondering where did you get the main Idea for Gargoyles? cause
heard certian thing's how gargoyles came to be. But I was wondering if any
of the main Idea's that helped you along came from a book. If so what
book?

Greg responds...

That's Weisman, not Wiseman.
Most of the Gargoyles mythos is my own invention. Inspired by
hundreds of disparate sources, but not by any one book or whatever. I'd
have loved to explore, as I think we did, all sorts of different themes and
relationships, but Elisa/Goliath would have always been one of the prime
dynamics.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998

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Anonymous writes...

Hi, Greg! I'm glad I found this one, and to find I'm not the only
Gargoyle-fan in the world (and not the ony one in Germany!). So here are
some questions of me (trying to be short):

1. Not knowing if the ratings went down with the 3rd season or before - if
they were already down in the second season, why DID Disney want a third
season made?

2. One concerning your (possible) future work on the spin-offs - where did
you want to take your time for all those things (and possibly even write
more eps of the original Gargoyles)? Or haven't you planned anything for
this case?

3. Just if I'm guessing right - I know that female Gargoyles are fertile
once every 20 years, and I know that Gargoyles mostly die in battle (or at
least get killed somehow before getting old). Am I right that those
females, besides of that 20-year-rhythm, are fertile until they die, even when
dying of age? If not, at what age ends their fertility?

4. You answered one time that Tom had centuries to learn one or two little
spells, like the one for the boat he used. Perhaps it really was not
complicated, because Goliath learned it by hearing Tom cast it. But
couldn't have Tom or one of the Gargoyles living on Avalon learned some more spells
from the Magus (who actually remembered some without the Grimorum)? Or if
casting spells IS that complicated, how could Goliath do it that easy (he
even was able to control the Phoenix Gate - well, control is perhaps the
wrong word, should be something like invoke or use, I guess)?

5. Finally (for now) a question about this wonderful phenomenon named
"time". The past cannot be changed. But when Brooklyn arives 2158 in
TimeDancer, 1996 IS past and cannot be changed. Sure, he returns there
(then - whatever), but having at least partially seen the past, can he
change the future, and so change the past from the 2158-point-of-view?
Thanks for your time both making the show and answering the questions.
Hope the movie will come and Disney will get you back to make us happy again
with new eps. Until next time!

Greg responds...

1. The 2nd season ratings didn't go down, per se. They just
weren't as high as some people at Disney had hoped. And it was ABC that
wanted Goliath Chronicles. WDTVA and BVTV were prepared to let Gargs fade
away after two years. (Different divisions have different agendas, no
matter how hard the Uber-Corporation strives for synergy.)
2. I know you're trying, but I'm not sure if I understand the
question. If you're asking how I could possibly have supervised the writing
on seven separate series simultaneously, the obvious answer was that I
couldn't. But I never thought that all seven would go. I was really hoping
for two: Gargoyles and any one of the spin-offs (Bad Guys/Redemption Squad
being my first choice, but any of them would have been fun). Of course,
they wound up doing nothing but Goliath Chronicles, and they wound up making
that so unattractive an offer that I didn't do those either. (Of course,
now I regret that tremendously. Live and learn.)
3. I don't think it's endless, but I don't want to be pinned down
now.
4. Some spells are easier than others, but all take some effort and
concentration. And a large amount of desire. Others take years of study.
5. Brooklyn's new 2158 friends make a concerted effort to keep the
past from him. Brooklyn cooperates. Exceptions to that effort would be
interesting to explore. But it won't change the basic rules of the
Gargoyles Universe.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998

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Anonymous writes...

[1] Are the Illuminati aware of Alexander Xanatos' unusual
itage? -1a) By extension, would they then also know about Owen
Burnett's and Anastasia Renard's secret identities?

[2] Why is Fox half-Oberati (hehe, that -does- sound like an Italian
sports car! :P), if Titania is supposed to be fully human in her Anastasia form?

Greg responds...

1. Not yet.

2. The magic is always present, no matter the biology.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998

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Anonymous writes...

[1] What would Merlin's new form have been? :)

[2] You said in an old "Ask Greg" that Puck was 'pretty old. Over five
hundred years at least.' But 1998 - 995 = 1003. I'll bite: why not
'over one thousand, at least'?

[3] How does the Phoenix Gate 'know' how history really went/goes/will
-3a) Is the Phoenix Gate what most people would deem as sentient?

Greg responds...

1. Not saying.

2. O.K. Over one thousand at least.

3. Who says the Gate "knows" anything?

3a. I don't think so.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998

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Anonymous writes...

Oh, and another one: Did the NOs' meeting with Elisa significantly affect
their attitude towards her race?

Greg responds...

It had an affect.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998

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Anonymous writes...

Eeee! Run away! More questions! ^_^
[1] How did the museum know enough about Titania's Mirror so that they
could publicize it (as such)?

[2] Given that there would be only twelve clans by the time of the
"Future Tense" spinoff, what effect would the comparatively limited gene pool have
on the survival of the gargoyle race?

[2] About how long does it usually take for a gargoyle egg to be laid
after its fertilization? i.e., is there some kind of gestation period? (I know
next to nothing about biology, BTW. :P)

[3] What happens to eggs that are left unfertilized?

[4] Do gargoyles all over the world (excluding the Avalon clan & the
TimeDancing Katana, maybe) operate on the same 20-year fertility
le? -4a) Okay, what about Angela?

[5] Here's a horrible morbid question -- have gargoyle eggs ever been
filched in order to make giant breakfast omelets? :9

Greg responds...

O.K., but no more food questions.
1. From the Museum's point of view, it was just the traditional
name for this ancient work of craftsmanship. They weren't aware of any
magical properties.
2. They'd be on the verge of a minor comeback thanks to some
careful planning.
2 #2. I haven't yet established the internal gestation period of a
fertilized egg. I imagine unfertilized eggs go through some process akin to
menstruation. But I haven't given it any thought.
3. No number 3.
4. Yes. 4a. Angela will have attuned to the normal gargoyle cycle
by 2008.
5. Omelets? I doubt it. Food, probably.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998

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Anonymous writes...

Thanks in advance for putting up with me-- I mean, *us* :)-- and our
endlessly inane questions, Greg!

[1] Do the other London gargs also exhibit heraldic characteristics? And
if you feel like revealing it right now, what sort of fauna would they
have taken after?

[2] We were discussing various eps of TGC in the Comment Room a while
ago. One of the topics that came up was Taurus' shocked reaction to the
meat-packing house in "Seeing Isn't Believing". It amused many of the
commenters, but I felt that it seemed entirely out place and that the TGC
writers simply couldn't resist sticking in that little joke. I'm aware
that you didn't supervise the production of the other 12 episodes, but I'd like
to hear your take on it.

[3] Of course, the question of anthropomorph cannibalism in animation
soon (and perhaps inevitably :P) arose. F'rinstance, examples of Donald Duck
happily munching on roast turkey legs and such are rife throughout various
Disney cartoons. I'm curious to know how this apparent lack of taboo
might apply to "Gargoyles", a much more serious show. Would Taurus necessarily
object to gnawing on a big ol' tasty chunk of top sirloin? And would it
repulse any of the London gargs to eat their respective animal
ounterparts? --I'm guessing unicorns, lions, and griffins aren't too
common around the English countryside, but it's still something to wonder about.
^_^

[4] Are the Guatemalan gargs vegetarians (if they eat anything at all)?

[5] Totally unrelated to the theme I got going here, but oh well: Do you
care to relate any details about the little clocktower-fixing ep idea that
you scrapped after "Hunter's Moon"? I love those little story bits that
you have every now and then!

Greg responds...

1. I think we showed a pretty fair cross section.
2. I don't know. I don't feel very strongly about it.
3. I haven't thought much about eating habits. I guess it doesn't
interest me too much.
4. I don't know.
5. It was just a notion that the city keeps sending someone to try
and fix the clock and the chimes. The gargoyles keep disabling the chimes
because they're deafening them. Might have made a good Vinnie episode.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998

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Anonymous writes...

Hello Mr. Weisman!!

1) Can I call you Greg?

2) I was really in a little weird spell when I watched Hunter's Moon.
Demona, apparently, had been collected artifacts over a course of 500
years. First the Midichi (I probably didn't spell that right) Tablet in Italy and
then the Praying Gargoyle in France and then the CV-1000 and DX stuff in
the 90's. What I'm wondering is, obviously, the CV-1000 and other thing
wouldn't have been developed when Demona started stealing the stuff for her master
plan, and (unless she invented it) she couldn't have expected them to be
developed, so do you have some explanation for that that I missed?

3) How do you do it?!?!? I've watched gargoyles since it first came out.
There might be a single line mentioned in the first ep that comes back to
haunt us in the second season. For instance, in "Temptation" Demona
mentioned that she had watched Humanity evolve, but we didn't learn what
she meant till "City of Stone" or the mentions of Oberon in "The Mirror," it
made me, personally, see Oberon as some non-corporeal, all-seeing being
who created and de-created with the wave of a hand. But then we meet Oberon.
The moment I saw him, even before I heard his name (but I got a few hints from
the "Previously, on Gargoyles .. .") I knew who he was. Just the way you
design the series. You can't miss one episode without missing a huge story
line. How do you plan it like that?

4) Do you think fanfiction is a good idea Thanx for your time, bye-bye for
now!

Greg responds...

1. Please.
2. Demona gathered lots of stuff, including the Praying Gargoyle
and the Medici Tablet. She figured it would come in handy eventually. She
was right. I never said she had that specific plan for all that time.
3. Well, I think you can miss episodes, it's just more enjoyable if
you don't. As to how... well, it helped that you had one guy, me, in charge
of story for 66 episodes. Thus with all the multiple voices that come into
play, you do get a single voice providing consistency. Also, to be honest,
it helps just to keep your eyes open and remember what you've done. Michael
Reaves sticks a line about the Illuminati into a 1st season script. I
decide to bring that to life. Also it helps to plan ahead and listen to
your people for good ideas. I had a lot of help. And I had a lot of ideas
for this thing. It came together pretty well, don't you think?
4. I have mixed feelings about fanfiction as I've stated before.
But if it keeps people interested in the show, then I'm all for it.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998


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