Joss Whedon

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

Joss Whedon began his iconic TV career with this mash-up of teenage high-school soap opera and bad-ass horror monster movie — but, you know, classier. Adapted from the far cheesier (and Whedon-scripted) 1992 feature film, Buffy starred Sarah Michelle Gellar as the titular slayer, the show’s literally-fighting-your-demons ethos made it a ripe and emotionally rich metaphor for high school and early adulthood. By the show’s seventh and final season, it had more than one TV critic hailing it as the best scripted television series, ever.

Angel (1999-2004)

This Buffy spin-off starred David Boreanaz as a private-eye vampire cursed to live his life with a soul, thereby morally incapable of embracing his inner demon, i.e. biting any human neck that came his way. Darker, harsher, and, at first, more episodic than Buffy, the show lasted five seasons until The WB rather unceremoniously cancelled it.

Firefly (2002 and 2003)

A sci-fi western — literally, the show’s opening credits ended with a ramshackle spaceship flying over a galloping herd of horses — Firefly launched the career of star Nathan Fillion, who played a rascally spaceship captain trying with his crew to make a living, honest or otherwise. Fox cancelled the cult hit series before all 13 original episodes had aired, a move that so gutted Whedon that he took the project to Universal and directed a feature film version, Serenity, in 2005.

Dollhouse (2009-present)

Starring Buffy favorite Eliza Dushku, Whedon’s latest series follows Echo, one of several ’’Dolls’’ who work for an underground company that implants them with specific personalities tailored to the desires of high-playing clients. The tricky premise won yet another cult following, but practically everyone (including Whedon) was surprised when Fox picked the show up for a second season (premiering Sept. 25).