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Anonymous writes...

A thematic question that I've been wondering about for some time. In the
series, many characters were "immortal", including Oberon's Children,
Demona, and Macbeth. Oberon's Children were, for the most part, a petty,
arrogant, and often downright nasty lot, who treated mortals as mere
playthings. Demona was a crazed and ruthless genocidist and Macbeth did
his own share of shady things such as stealing the Scrolls of Merlin and
capturing the gargoyles to use as bait for a Demona-trap. Not to mention,
furthermore, that the "immortal-at-last-Xanatos" of "Future Tense" (even
though it turned out that it wasn't the real Xanatos but an illusion of
Puck's) was far more evil and ruthless than the original Xanatos ever was.
What I'm wondering is: was this intended as a major "moral" of
"Gargoyles"?
That immortality (or rather, physical, bodily immortality) is a corrupting
influence?

Greg responds...

1. Eh, I don't know about that. Macbeth has his moments, but he's not
such a bad guy. I rather like Coyote. A trickster, but with a more
clearly positive bent than some of his fellows. Citing Oberon, ignores
Titania. Citing the Sisters ignores the Lady of the Lake and Grandmother.
I think you're assumptions are a bit flawed on this one, Todd. Hey, Todd
and I disagree. That's got to be a first.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998

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Anonymous writes...

A quick question about gargoyle evolution that you might of answered. Ok,
I've noticed that Goliath's clan, the Japanese gargoyles, and the
Guatemalan gargoyles(excluding that snake like guy whose name escapes me) all look
like retiles(the wing structure more than anything), while Griff, Leo and Una
all look like birds(their wings have feathers/ploomage). Then there are people
that say the birds evolved from reptile, or dinosaurus, and Goliath's
little wing fingers look like the ones on a Peradactyle(I have no idea how to
spell it, the flying ones). I can understand how Goliath and Co. might have
missed out on 1,000 years of evolution(not that it would be much), but not
Japan's gargoyles. So I guess London's gargoyles just evolved differently, can you
clear this up for me?? And I guess this is question #2: Are there more
than three gargoyles in London?? Thanks for your time.

Greg responds...

1. Superficial and cosmetic differences are easily influenced by local
forces.
2. Yes.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998

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Anonymous writes...

Hello! I'm a rather informal person, so may I call you Greg? Or should it
be Mr. Weisman? Oh, never mind. I've got a few questions for ya (like you
don't know.)

1. Where did the idea of putting a few Shakespeare bits here and there
come from?

2. I read in a magazine (Comic Scene) that five episodes in the Avalon
world tour were possible ideas for spinoffs (I think they were "Pendragon," "New
Olympians," "Bushido.." can't remember the other two). We already know
about Pendragon. Were these really plans, or Comic Scene mess up? (the have
been known to do that, but don't tell them _I_ said that!) and

Greg responds...

1. Me. And Greg's fine.
2. There were only two that were sort of INTENTIONALLY made as
back-door pilots. Those were THE NEW OLYMPIANS and PENDRAGON. One might
argue that WALKABOUT and BUSHIDO were both precursors to BAD GUYS, in that
they introduced characters that would have appeared in that spin-off, but
it's a stretch to refer to them as pilots. I mean for starters, Yama was a
late addition to the Bad Guys cast. And if you count them, why not count
HUNTER'S MOON, which introduced Robyn Canmore? What else could have been
referred to? "Future Tense" was definitely not a pilot for the FUTURE TENSE
spin-off. Two totally different takes on the future. There was no DARK
AGES back door pilot. No TIMEDANCER pilot either. So I think that brings
us back to THE NEW OLYMPIANS and PENDRAGON.
3. Uh, which part?
4. You're slo-mo must not work to well. Our composer was the
talented Carl Johnson and his credit's clearly visible on every episode.
5. I've answered this in some detail in the archives. I like
almost all of them.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998

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Anonymous writes...

Hello again, Greg, I have just a few more questions to ask ya. I'd also
like to tell ya that I'll be using this site more often because I'll never
get to see ya in person(I can't go to New York for the Gathering which
makes me so @#^%$ mad!) I'd also like to beg forgiveness if any of these
questions have been asked before. So here we go.

1) How long before the Eyre Building was built did Demona know Xanatos?

2) How long exactly did it take to build the Eyre anyway?(I've heard it
was six months but I find it hard to believe that a skyscraper that big could
be built in that short of time.) And two personal ones:

3) Do you ever get tired of answering our questions?(Sorry I had to ask
that one. Considering you've already answered a zillion of them.)

4) How would I go about getting my fanfic on the internet? (I've only had
the internet for a short time and I'm still learning how to use it.)

Greg responds...

1. I haven't done the math.

2. The whole skyscraper or just putting the castle on top?

3. No.

4. I have no involvement in fanfiction.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998

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Anonymous writes...

Hi! I've enjoyed "Gargoyles" ever since it brightened up TDA's darkest
days in 1994. I do have a few questions which I hope have not yet been asked
here. Here they are:

1) In "Enter Macbeth," Xanatos has October 31 circled on his calendar as
the day he's released from jail. However, in "Double Jeopardy" the computer
date on the log shows Noember 15 and Xanatos is still in jail. Since the most
Xanatos got was a six-month sentence, he couldn't possibly have been in
jail November 15 of any year.

2) Is Jon Castaway one and the same as John Canmore? It's been my theory,
but he looks and sounds quite different.

3) Is Duval, the leader of the Illuminati, immortal? I believe you said
somewhere that he was, but that didn't mean he couldn't die. Huh?

4) If "Timedancer" had been produced, what would have happened to Brooklyn
in the "Gargoyles" series? Would he not be on it as he was time traveling?
And when he returned would he be older than Broadway & Lexington on
"Gargoyles" as well (I know he's already older, but I mean considerably).

5) Where can I obtain a copy of your "Master Plan?"

6) What other Disney shows have you worked on? I know "TaleSpin," and I
think "Darkwing Duck." Any others?

Greg responds...

1. Haven't I answered this?
2. He doesn't look very different at all, since we used the exact
same model, changing only his clothes, the way his hair is styled and added
a mustache. As to sound, we even tried to duplicate that with a different
accent. Yeah, it's the same guy.
3. Right.
4. He's not "already" older than Broadway and Lexington. They all
hatched at the same time, give or take a day or two. Brooklyn would have
returned from ALL of his timedancing a mere five minutes after he departed.
He'd be forty (or twenty) years older, but he wouldn't have missed any of
the GARGOYLES adventures.
5. I don't know. Gore, can you just duplicate it below once and
for all. (Last time I suggested this, Gore ignored me.)
6. Geez, I worked on a ton of them in one capacity or another. I
was at Disney for seven years, most as an executive in charge of either
current programming or development. I worked on Pooh, Gummi Bears,
DuckTales, Rescue Rangers, Talespin, Darkwing, Goof Troop, Bonkers,
Marsupilami, Raw Toonage, Schnookums & Meat, Little Mermaid, Aladdin, the
Duck Tales Movie, A Goofy Movie, Mighty Ducks, Timon & Pumbaa, at least. Am
I leaving anything out from that era? Oh, yeah, Gargoyles and Goliath
Chronicles.

(GDW / 7-22-98)

Response recorded on July 22, 1998

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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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