Sadly, it appears that Eliza was unable to attend the Buffy PaleyFest reunion. 
If there was any doubt that the panel for Buffy the Vampire Slayer was the most eagerly-anticipated event at Paley Fest ‘08, it was erased by the mile-long line of fans that snaked around Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome last night. Luckily, the event — which reunited the cast for the first time since the show ended in 2004 — more than lived up to the hype. Of course, that’s not to say there weren’t a few hiccups…
Participants: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Charisma Carpenter, Emma Caulfield, Seth Green, Amber Benson, James Marsters, Michelle Trachtenberg, David Greenwalt, Marti Noxon, Joss Whedon and TV Guide’s own Matt Roush.
MIA: Alyson Hannigan (?!?), Eliza Dushku and David Boreanaz (so much for that taped message).
Applause Meter: Whedon, natch, got the most enthusiastic reception from the packed house, followed by Gellar, Marsters and Carpenter.
Party Crasher: Less than five minutes in, it was painfully obvious that Brendon had suffered a recurrence of ericbalfourism, an affliction that causes actors to hijack panel discussions with erratic behavior and unfunny banter. (Brendon was first diagnosed with the debilitating disease at the 2005 summer press tour while promoting Kitchen Confidential.) The first sign of the relapse came while Gellar was eloquently discussing the positive influence Buffy had on young women – including her. To which Brendon replied, “You mean it wasn’t Susan Lucci?” If Gellar had a stake, I’m pretty sure she would’ve driven it through his heart.
Music to our ears: Whedon said he’s spent “time daydreaming” about bringing Buffy to the Great White Way someday.
Dark Buffy: Gellar admitted that both Whedon and Noxon had to “talk her down off the ledge” a few times during the controversial sixth season, which saw Buffy morph from a butt-kicking heroine into a dark, bitter basket case. Ultimately, Whedon agreed that the real Buffy had “been gone to long” that season.
Quote of the day: Summing up the appeal of writing for a show like Buffy, Greenwalt said, “There’s nothing like taking all your pain and misery and shoving it into good-looking people’s mouths.”
Nickname game: Unbeknownst to Gellar, Whedon and Greenwalt would refer to her as “Jimmy Stewart” in the writers’ room. Whedon leaned over to tell a confused-looking Gellar that the nickname “was a compliment.”
Choose or lose: Roush asked Gellar to once and for all choose between Angel and Spike, to which Brendon cracked, “Given the comic book, I think Willow.” OK, I’ll give him that one. Speaking of Buffy’s lesbian tryst in the recently-published Season 8 comic book, Whedon said “it’s not a giant life change. It’s not Willow. It’s someone who is young… with a lot of time on her hands.”
Behind the tears: Caulfield at long last revealed what was going through her mind when she delivered that emotionally gut-wrenching monologue in the acclaimed “Body” episode: “I had to go to the bathroom!”
Unsung hero: Gellar agreed with Whedon’s assessment of Kristine Sutherland (aka Buffy’s mom) as one “of the most underrated” actresses working today.
Source: Ausiello