Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an American television series created by
Joss Whedon under his production tag,
Mutant Enemy Productions with later co-executive producers being
Jane Espenson,
David Fury,
David Greenwalt,
Doug Petrie,
Marti Noxon, and
David Solomon. The series premiered on March 10, 1997, on
The WB and concluded on May 20, 2003, on
UPN. The series narrative follows
Buffy Summers (played by
Sarah Michelle Gellar), the latest in a line of young women known as "Vampire Slayers", or simply "Slayers". In the story, Slayers are "called" (chosen by
fate) to battle against
vampires,
demons, and other forces of darkness. Like previous
Slayers, Buffy is aided by a
Watcher, who guides, teaches, and trains her. Unlike her predecessors, Buffy surrounds herself with a circle of loyal friends who become known as the "
Scooby Gang".