Dolly Parton’s Buffy involvement goes way back to the beginning before Sarah Michelle Gellar played the perky teen slayer. Dolly Parton’s Sandollar Productions produced the 1992 film starring Kristy Swanson as the titular hero and Luke Perry as Oliver Pike. Joss Whedon, the series creator, was initially involved in the film but bowed out because he didn’t agree with the changes that were made to his screenplay.
Gail Berman, who was a producer at Sandollar, saw Whedon’s original work. She enjoyed it and believed it could be turned into a TV series. This got the wheels turning and led to what would eventually become The WB’s biggest hit, all thanks to Dolly Parton’s keen ability to recognize talent.
Berman went on to serve as an executive producer for both Buffy and its spinoff series, Angel.
