Episode Trivia
‘A’ foreign exchange student
details | add a comment | suggested by Meghann
The following is from 1.07 Angel:
Buffy: “And ‘A’ doesn’t even stand for ‘Angel’ for that matter, it stands for… ‘Achmed’, a charming foreign exchange student, so that whole fantasy part has nothing to even do with you at all…”
In 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, Buffy is assigned a foreign exchange student named Ampata Gutierrez.
A Summer Place (Theme to)
details | 1 comment | suggested by Jess
The theme song of this 1959 movie was written by Max Steiner and became a huge hit. In 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, Oz tells Devon what it takes for a woman to attract him,
“Well, it involves a feather boa and a theme to A Summer Place”
In 7.06 Him, the theme is used whenever a girl becomes attracted to R.J.Brooks.
All twinkied out
details | 1 comment | suggested by Jess
Both Nicholas Brendon (Xander), and Ara Celi (Ampata), had to eat up to ten twinkies each for the scene in when they are eating lunch in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl.
Ampata
details | 5 comments | suggested by Jess
Ampata was an Incan princess who was mummified. A protective seal over her body was broken and she came alive, though she was forced to drain the life from people to stay alive. She pretended to be an exchange student staying with Buffy and fell in love with Xander. She eventually crumbled to dust after Buffy stopped her killing any more people (2.04 Inca Mummy Girl).
Ara Celi
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Ara played the Incan princess Ampata in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl. Ara is originally from El Paso in Texas. She was a former Miss Texas who turned her hand to acting. Ara appeared in Saved by the Bell: The College Years, Nip/Tuck and played Raquel Dion Santos in All My Children (which also starred Sarah Michelle Gellar and Michelle Trachtenberg). Ara played the title role in The Hangman’s Daughter (a film which was cast by Buffy casting director Marcia Shulman) and appeared in Bruce Almighty and American Beauty.
Buffy’s moving door
details | 3 comments | suggested by Mel
The front door of Buffy’s house changes in different episodes. In the season one episode 1.07 Angel, when Buffy is trying to close her front door on The Three, you can see that the front door opens on Buffy’s right. In the season two episodes 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl and 2.06 Halloween, we see that Buffy’s door now opens on her left.
Later in season two, when Cordelia talks to Norman Pfister in Buffy’s hall in 2.10 What’s My Line? (Part Two), you can see that the door handle of Buffy’s front door is on the left. But when Xander let Cordelia in the house in the previous episode (2.09 What’s My Line? (Part One)) the handle was on the right!
Demon magnet
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Xander’s relationship with the praying mantis in 1.04 Teacher’s Pet is joked about in several later episodes, such as 1.08 I Robot, You Jane, 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, 3.01 Anne (in which Cordelia says of Xander, “He’s always been attracted to monsters” and later mentions Ampata from 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, calling her “some hot little Inca mummy girl”), 2.10 What’s My Line? (Part Two) and 4.09 Something Blue, when Willow says,
“Let’s look at your bio: Insect Lady, Mummy Girl, Anya… you’re a demon magnet.”
In 7.14 First Date, Xander says, “Another demon woman was attracted to me” after his date Lyssa turned out to be evil.
Devon
details | 1 comment | suggested by Jess
Devon was a dumb but likeable lead singer with Oz’s band Dingoes Ate My Baby. Also Oz’s best friend, for some reason. He briefly dated Cordelia in season two’s 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl and Halloween.
Dingoes Ate My Baby
details | 5 comments | suggested by Jess
Dingoes Ate My Baby were a rock band, fronted by Devon with vocals, and Oz, who played lead guitar. They played on various occasions at venues including the Bronze (2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, 2.16 Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered and 3.16 Doppelgangland) and Buffy’s house (3.02 Dead Man’s Party - where they played ‘Never Mind’, ‘Sway’ and ‘Pain’). The band were mentioned in the unaired pilot, when Xander said, “They don’t know any actual chords yet, but they have really big amps”.
In 3.18 Earshot, Freddy Iverson writes a bad review of the band in the school paper (”Dingoes Ate My Baby play their instruments as if they have plump polish sausages taped to their fingers”) but Oz thought it was fair. Cordelia briefly dated Devon (2.04 Inca Mummy Girl).
The band’s name comes from a famous Australian outback incident, in which Lindy Chamberlain was accused of killing her baby, which had actually been taken by dingoes. The Dingoes’ music was provided by real-life band Four Star Mary, with whom James Marsters has occasionally performed. Four Star Mary themselves appeared in the season four finale 4.22 Restless.
The Four Star Mary song “Pain” became one of the signature tunes for Dingoes Ate My Baby. It was heard in 2.16 Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered (performed in the Bronze), 3.02 Dead Man’s Party (performed at Buffy’s house) and 4.02 Living Conditions - on the stereo in the dorm when Willow moves in suggesting that the Dingoes had recorded a CD.
Four Star Mary
details | 2 comments | suggested by Jess
The music for Oz’s band Dingoes Ate My Baby was provided by real-life band Four Star Mary. James Marsters has performed with them on stage (off screen) a few times. The band themselves appeared in the season four finale 4.22 Restless, as the band who play with Giles during the Exposition Song.
Four Star Mary songs can be heard in the following Buffy episodes:
- 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl - The songs ‘Shadows’ and ‘Fate’ at the Cultural party in The Bronze.
- 2.16 Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered - ‘Pain’ is heard in The Bronze.
- 3.02 Dead Man’s Party - The Dingoes mime to ‘Pain’, ‘Nevermind’ and ‘Sway’ at Buffy’s party.
- 3.05 Homecoming - we hear the song ‘She Knows’ at the dance - it’s the song Oz wrote for Willow.
- 4.02 Living Conditions - ‘Pain is heard when Buffy and Willow move into their dorm room.
- 3.06 Band Candy - the Dingoes mime onstage at The Bronze to ‘Violent’, when the adults are acting weirdly.
- 3.07 Revelations - Dingoes Ate My Baby perform ‘Run’ in The Bronze at the start of the episode.
- 4.03 The Harsh Light Of Day - ‘Dilate’ is played at the Bronze at the start of the episode.
- 4.07 The Initiative - Riley gets the song ‘Fate’ turned off at the party as it upsets Willow.
Frog fear
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In 2.09 What’s My Line? (Part One), Willow revealed to Giles that she has frog fear (”don’t warn the tadpoles”). This is a phobia known as ranidaphobia. It was used to Buffy’s advantage in 2.18 Killed By Death when Willow created a distraction for Buffy to get away by screaming that she had frogs all over her. In 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, Willow has a toy stuffed frog, so her fear obviously only relates to the real thing!
Gil Birmingham
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Gil played the “Peruvian Guy” in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl. Gil has appeared in Gentle Ben 2: Danger on the Mountain with Jack Conley, who played Cain in 2.15 Phases.
Gutierrez
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Ampata’s surname - Gutierrez - is the same as Joss Whedon’s personal assistant: Diego Gutierrez. According to the original script, Ampata’s surname was originally going to be Duarte.
Jason Hall
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Jason Hall played Devon, the lead singer of Oz’s band Dingoes Ate My Baby. British fans might be interested (or appalled) to know that Jason appeared in an episode of the British TV sitcom Birds of a Feather in 1992, playing a gas man. He also appeared in an episode of the TV show Love Hurts and in Goodnight Sweetheart. Jason appeared in and co-produced Me and Will.
Joey Crawford
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Joey Crawford (also known as Clayne Crawford) played Rodney Munsen in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl. He has also been in Thief, The Great Raid, A Love Song for Bobby Long, Trespassing, Gas Station Jesus, Swimfan, A Walk to Remember and One Blood Planet.
Joss on Oz
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Joss Whedon says of Oz:
“The only character that was really ever based on somebody I knew is Oz. There was a guy in college I knew, who was short, played guitar, very quiet, incredibly cool, named Oz, and somehow I sort of extrapolated from that and worked him in as a character on the show.”
Kristen Winnicki
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Kristen Winnicki played Cordelia’s friend Gwen in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl and 2.16 Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered. She has also been in Lola’s Game.
Milky nose
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The following lines were deleted from 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl:
Ampata: “He has a way of making the milk come out of my nose.”
Buffy: “And that’s good?”
Mommie Dearest
details | 2 comments | suggested by Jess
Mommie Dearest was an autobiography by Christina Crawford about her abusive mother, the movie actress Joan Crawford. It was made into a movie in 1981, starring Faye Dunaway. Buffy says in 1.03 The Witch:
“So mommie dearest is really… Mommie Dearest.”
In 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, Buffy says:
“Ok, I’ll still get Xander before he gets smoochy with Mummy Dearest.”
In 4.08 Habeas Corpses, Cordy says:
“Listen up, Daddy Dearest”.
From 6.10 Wrecked:
Dawn: “Buffy called. She said she was going straight from the Magic Box to do some patrolling.”
Willow: “Oh, did she need help?”
Dawn: “No, she was just calling to check in. For like the tenth time today. I think she’s feeling all Joan Crawford ’cause of the other night.”
New York Islanders
details | 4 comments | suggested by The_Slayer
In the episode 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, we see Oz (in his first appearance) wearing a New York Islanders (a hockey team) t-shirt.
Pretty mummies
details | 3 comments | suggested by Mullsen
In 5.15 A Hole In The World, when Fred is first infected by Illyria, she worries about becoming a mummy. Spike tries to comfort her by saying:
“I’ve fought plenty of mummies, and none of them were as pretty as you. Almost none.”
This could be a small reference to the gorgeous mummy Ampata in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, though Spike never fought her.
Rodney Munsen
details | 1 comment | suggested by Jess
Rodney was a rebellious boy at school with the Scoobies who used to bully Xander. He tried to steal the seal of the Inca Princess but broke the curse and became her first victim in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl.
Sad overalls
details | 6 comments | suggested by lydston
There seems to be a continuing theme that Buffy wears dungarees (overalls) when she’s sad. She wears them in 2.11 Ted after she thinks she killed Ted; in 2.22 Becoming (Part Two) before boarding the bus to run away; in 3.12 Helpless when arriving, sans her power, to save her mother; and in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl when she wears them to hunt Ampata instead of going to the dance.
Seth Green
details | 6 comments | suggested by Jess
Seth Green played guitarist and werewolf Oz in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Like many of his Buffy co-stars, Seth started acting as a child in commercials. Seth then appeared in a few movies including playing the boyfriend of Alyson Hannigan’s character in My Stepmother is an Alien. Jodie Foster’s production company, Egg Pictures, is named after Green’s character in The Hotel New Hampshire, in which she also starred. Seth became famous playing Oz in Buffy and playing Scott Evil in the Austin Powers movies. Seth was the voice of Chris in the cartoon Family Guy, for which he also sang the theme song. Seth has also been in Idle Hands, Pump up the Volume (with Juliet Landau), Can’t Hardly Wait, America’s Sweethearts, Rat Race, The Italian Job, Greg the Bunny, Party Monster and Without A Paddle. Seth appeared in several episodes of season 7 of That’s 70’s Show as the character Mitch.
Seth contributed guitar tracks on Velvet Chain’s The Buffy E.P. for the song ‘Buffy’, and appears in the album credits. Seth Green has also performed with the band on stage.
Alyson Hannigan starred in the film My Stepmother is An Alien, and Seth played her on-screen boyfriend. Jim Doughan, who played the Driver’s Ed. teacher in 1.03 The Witch also had a part in the film.
Seth appeared in the original Buffy movie, but his scene was cut out. He can still be seen in a small picture on the back of the video box.
Seth co-starred in Stephen King’s mini-series It (1990) in which he portrayed the younger version of the character Richie Tozier, whose greatest fear in life is werewolves.
Along with Matthew Senreich, Seth created a stop-animation TV show called Robot Chicken using toys as the main characters. Stars who have provided voices for the show include Seth’s friend Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Spaghetti Western
details | 2 comments | suggested by Mel
In 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl Xander says the line,
“I’m from the country of Leone. It’s in Italy pretending to be Montana.”
This is a reference to ’spaghetti westerns’, films from the mid 60’s which were financed and usually filmed in Italy. The Leone part could be a reference to Sergio Leone who directed maybe the most famous of the spaghetti westerns - The Man With No Name trilogy starring Clint Eastwood.
Speccy Oz
details | 2 comments | suggested by Jess
Oz was originally going to wear thick black framed glasses inspired by the lead guitarist of Weezer. At the last moment, Joss decided they were too tacky, and the idea was trashed.
Sven
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Sven was a Scandinavian exchange student who stayed at Cordelia’s house in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, and was heavily patronised and bossed around by his host.
Sweet J
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Oz’s guitar is inscribed ‘Sweet J’. Seth Green starred as Scott Evil in the Austin Powers movies. His best friend in the movies is called Sweet Jay.
The museum
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Buffy’s class go on a school trip to the museum in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl. The scenes were shot at the Natural History Museum, at 900 Exposition Boulevard near the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Sunnydale Museum is also seen in 2.21 Becoming (Part One) (where Acathla was examined), 4.11 Doomed (where the gang studied the Word of Valios) and 6.09 Smashed (when the nerds stole the Illuminata diamond).
Using words for good
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These lines were cut from 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl:
Giles: “You’re twisting my words.”
Buffy: “No, I’m just using them for good.”
Where’s Angel?
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2.04 Inca Mummy Girl was the first episode since 1.10 Nightmares which does not feature the character Angel, even though he is credited in the opening titles.
Who’s that girl?
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Oz first noticed Willow in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl when she wore an eskimo costume to the dance. In 2.06 Halloween, Cordelia bosses Oz around, then when she walks away, Oz says (sarcastically):
“Why can’t I meet a nice girl like that?”
He then turns and bumps into Willow, wearing her ghost costume so he doesn’t recognise her. At the end of 2.06 Halloween, Oz saw Willow once again, this time in her very non-Willow Halloween costume. They didn’t meet properly until 2.09 What’s My Line? (Part One), in which they are both picked out for special treatment by software recruiters, and bonded over finger food.
World Cultural Fair
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In 5.19 Tough Love, Tara was attacked by Glory at the World Cultural Fair in Sunnydale.
There was previously a cultural exchange programme at Sunnydale High in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, the highlight of which was a dance where students dressed in the costumes of different countries.
WP (Widespread Panic)
details | 17 comments | suggested by Jess
A black and white oval sticker with the letters “WP” can often be seen in Sunnydale. The sticker is for a band called Widespread Panic. Examples of episodes in which this is seen include:
- 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl: behind Xander when he says to Ampata, “Why’d you run away?”.
- 2.06 Halloween: next to Cordelia when she’s dressed as a cat and talking to Oz (on Oz’s locker door), and when Willow walks into the library when she’s a ghost, there is one on the bulletin board to her right. There is also a sticker on the bathroom wall, seen behind Buffy’s right shoulder when she an Willow look through the book.
- 2.05 Reptile Boy: at the beginning of the episode, behind Xander’s left shoulder in Buffy’s room.
- 2.12 Bad Eggs: behind Jonathan’s right shoulder on the locker when he is being attacked.
- 2.13 Surprise: on the locker behind Cordelia when she is talking to Xander and behind Xander when he calls Giles a party weasel. A colourful Widespread Panic poster can also be seen behind Joyce in Buffy’s dream.
- 2.15 Phases: when Buffy is in the Bronze looking for the werewolf, a WP sticker can be seen on a pillar behind her right shoulder.
- 2.16 Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered: poster in Xander’s room and behind Xander when Harmony tells him he should learn a second language so more girls can reject him. A sticker can also be seen on the locker behind Cordelia when Harmony is telling her off for breaking up with Xander.
- 2.22 Becoming (Part Two): at the beginning of the episode, when the cop is arresting Buffy in the hall, you can see a WP sticker on the lockers behind her.
- 3.02 Dead Man’s Party: on a guitar case behind the drums during the party.
- 4.12 A New Man: behind Giles when he’s at Buffy’s party.
- 4.06 Wild At Heart: a colourful WP poster (not the sticker) can be seen to the right of Oz’s bedroom door.
- 4.20 The Yoko Factor: in Buffy and Willow’s dorm room.
- 5.03 The Replacement: on the payphone that Xander uses to call Buffy.
[Goof] Bad museum
details | add a comment | suggested by Jess
In 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, why is a delicate and expensive exhibit like an Incan mummy not protected at the museum? People can easily touch the mummy, and it shouldn’t be exposed to the air like that.
[Goof] Completed seal
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In 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, Giles has not yet completed the seal but when Ampata attacks him, she picks up the seal, which is now whole.
[Goof] Disappearing bag
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When the bodyguard attacks Ampata as she is sitting with Xander in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, a bag gets knocked off the seat. But when Xander gets up to chase the bodyguard, the bag is back on the seat.
[Goof] Extra extra
details | add a comment | suggested by Jess
In 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, we see a scene showing Cordelia and Devon walking out to Devon’s van. Cordy’s exchange student, Sven, tries to interrupt the two and Cordy says to him, “Sven! Momento! Needa!” If you look behind Sven, to the left, as he reacts to this, you can see a couple, both wearing black, walking down the stairs. Then, when Cordelia walks past Sven, saying, “Sven! Come?” the couple can be seen walking down the stairs again.
[Goof] Lipstick
details | 2 comments | suggested by Jess
Ampata claims she has no lipstick in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl, but we saw her put some on earlier in the girls’ bathroom at the school.
[Goof] Moving corpse
details | add a comment | suggested by Jess
Buffy opens Ampata’s trunk in 2.04 Inca Mummy Girl and we see the corpse is lying there. Buffy gets called away but when she later opens the trunk with Giles we see that the corpse has moved.