How Dolly Parton Helped Get Buffy the Vampire Slayer On the Air

If you're a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you have Dolly Parton to thank, at least in part. The iconic singer was an uncredited producer on Buffy, through her company Sandollar Television. Though it's hard to know the full extent of Parton's involvement, it's clear she championed the show early in its existence.

In an appearance on The Tonight Show, Sarah Michelle Gellar confirmed Dolly Parton's role in the early history of Buffy's run.

Parton supported the cast and crew from a distance, and according to Gellar, was also a fan of the show. This is one more lasting mark Dolly Parton has made on American pop culture in the past 60+ years.

Dolly Parton's Production Company Sandollar Television Played A Role In Getting Buffy The Vampire Slayer Made

Sandollar Partnered With Kuzui Enterprises, Mutant Enemy Productions, And More

If you've sat through the end credits of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode, you've glimpsed the "Sandollar Television" logo, next to the logo for Kuzui Enterprises, the company founded by Fran Rubel Kuzai. As fans know, Kuzai directed the Buffy movie, which predated the show, and later executive produced the TV series.

Fran's name, along with that of her husband Kaz, are burned into the brains of every Buffy fan, because they appear prominently in the credits for the show. Not credited are the founders of Sandollar, producer Sandy Gallin, and, yes, Dolly Parton. Yet their contribution was essential to getting the franchise off the ground.

Sandollar was involved in the production of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the movie, and subsequently had a stake in the sale of the TV rights and the development of the Buffy show for the WB network. Dolly Parton's role in this process was indirect, but she did make her presence felt on set early on in one way.

Sarah Michelle Gellar: Dolly Parton Supported The Buffy Cast From Afar With Gifts Early On

Parton Was Later Reported To Be A Fan Of The Show

According to Sarah Michelle Gellar, the cast "never saw" Dolly Parton. She didn't visit set, and she certainly didn't try to exert any influence on the production. Instead, Gellar explained that the cast "would get Christmas gifts in the beginning with her name," as a show of support, but beyond that Parton's role was minimal.

Gellar did tell Jimmy Fallon that her performance as Buffy Summers eventually got the Dolly Parton seal of approval, saying Parton "complimented the show and [her] performance." Parton might not have been actively in the mix with Buffy's production, but her behind-the-scenes involvement does make plenty of sense, considering its protagonist.

Buffy is an ass-kicking blonde woman who is a singular talent in her field. Sound familiar? It's not that Buffy was modeled after Dolly Parton, but it tracks that the production company Parton helped found would develop material that reflects her place in pop culture. And, in fact, Buffy and Dolly actually share a birthday: January 19th.

Buffy Is One Of The GOAT TV Shows Of The 1990s; It Is Sandollar Television's Crowning Achievement

What Else Did Dolly Parton's Production Do?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer had a major impact on TV in the 1990s. If X-Files popularized the idea of mixing standalone "Monster of the Week" stories with episodes that advanced an overarching plotline, Buffy perfected it. The show deserves more credit as a bridge between traditional TV and the era of elevated TV ushered in by its contemporary series, The Sopranos.

Buffy was also thematically advanced for its time, and progressive in its focus on an empowered young woman as its protagonist. It's unclear if Dolly Parton ever saw much of a return on her investment in Sandollar Television, financially, but at least it resulted in a groundbreaking TV show that she could be proud of.

Sandollar has some other memorable film credits to its name, especially during its heyday in the '90s: Father of the Bride, Kicking & Screaming, the Albert Einstein rom-com I.Q., as well as a number of Christmas films starring Dolly Parton herself. Yet, by far, its biggest contribution to pop culture has been the Buffy franchise.

Dolly Parton Has Had A Huge Impact On Pop Culture; Buffy The Vampire Slayer Is Just Icing On The Cake

Parton Helped Change Music, And Indirectly, TV

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the most enduring franchises of the 1990s. It is finally receiving a TV continuation after many years of fans clamoring for a return to the Buffyverse. It remains to be seen if the Sandollar Television logo will appear in the end credits, but even if it doesn't, the show wouldn't be possible without Dolly Parton.

Parton has never asked for credit for helping get Buffy the Vampire Slayer on the air. Still, it's an important part of the show's history that isn't acknowledged enough. The fledgling series could have failed way back in 1997, but the investment of companies like Sandollar, the support of the WB network, and the positive reaction of audiences made it a massive hit.

Indirect as it might have been, Parton's role in Buffy's early production is a testament to her betting on herself, and seeking to expand her influence beyond music, and behind the camera. Parton might not have become a powerhouse producer in Hollywood, but she still has a formidable footprint in the industry, with Buffy the Vampire Slayer being the foundation.