I kep seeing his name come up in threads and I gather he’s got something to do with that movie, Serenity (which, from the trailers I’ve seen, looks like something you’d see on the Sci Fi Channel), but that’s like all I know. Who is this guy and where did he come from and why does he have a fan base already from one movie? Has he done something I should be familiar with? What DOES he do, for that matter? Is a director or a writer? An actor? help me out, here. I feel old and out of the loop.
Simples answer is that Buffy The Vampire Slayer (TV) is his claim to fame.
Wow – you’ve been an important part of the SDMB this long, and don’t know that Joss Whedon is the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, probably the most beloved Doper show of all time?
Just further evidence for my theory that there is no such thing as common knowledge.
It’s JOSS, not Josh.
He is the creator/writer/producer and director of several episodes of three much-loved TV shows: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, its spinoff Angel, and the sci-fi series Firefly. He most recently wrote, produced, and directed the movie Serenity, which is a continuation of Firefly.
Before that, he was a successful writer for the sitcom Roseanne, and wrote several screenplays (occasionally getting credit, and occasionally being one of many anonymous “chefs”): his own Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie (which pales in comparison to the series), Toy Story, Speed, Twister, and Alien: Resurrection.
He also writes the Astonishing X-Men comic book for Marvel Comics.
Before this “Firefly” thing ignited, I didn’t know who the fuck he was, either. Now that I know he’s the “Buffy” guy, my knowledge about him now exceeds my interest in learning more.
“Am I the only person in the world who has no idea who Josh Whedon is?”
Nope. And in learning who he is, I have to say, “Oh. Okay.”
I’m going to assume you’re being serious:
Joss (note spelling) Whedon was the creator/head writer for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly (the TV series on which Serenity is based). He was the director of Serenity, and is also slated to direct the forthcoming Wonder Woman movie. Earlier in his career, he also did some movie script work, notably early versions of the scripts for Toy Story and X-Men.
He has a fairly large cult following, primarily from Buffy aficianados. Many of these folk seem to think that Whedon is the most brilliant writer ever. Personally, I believe he’s a writer who is great at creating interesting characters and character dynamics, and is pretty much incompetent at pacing a story or maintaining consistency.
Ah…that whole Buffy thing. Now I get it. I’ve never seen that show but at least I know what it is. So that’s where the fanbase comes from. Thank you.
Did he write the original Buffy movie or did he just create the series?
He wrote the original movie, but didn’t have a lot of creative control over it, and was never pleased with the final product.
He came up with the concept of the movie. After that, it got out of his hands.
I thought maybe he was a character on Buffy.
My reaction is about the same as Hentor’s.
Precisely my thoughts. Though apparently this says very, very bad things about us.
Yes. Yes it does. 
Don’t sweat it (as if you would anyway). I feel the same way about anime, circumcision, or any number of other things the board obsesses about.
I’ve never seen his work but it’s probably noteworthy that what you cite as his strengths are probably the most important elements in a successful television series, where individual stories and an overriding arc aren’t as important as the characters and their intertactions.
That’s where ol’ Joss and I differ. Once you’ve seen vampire Peewee take fifteen minutes to die (if he isn’t still at it), you don’t need any more story about a vampire-hunting cheerleader.
A live-action version of Kim Possible might have been just the vehicle for Ms. Gellar.
I’ve never heard of him.
Oh, Whedon’s next project, post-Serenity, is to write and direct a major movie adaptation of Wonder Woman. With Joss’ history writing strong female superheroines and love of comic books, everyone expects good things from him, rather than another mockery like Catwoman or Elektra. And despite a comic book pedigree dating back to 1940 and a '70s TV series starring the gorgeous Lynda Carter, Wonder Woman is pretty much a blank slate that Whedon can “reimagine” to make her cool and relevant for modern times. No actress has been cast yet, but the strongest rumors keep mentioning Charisma Carpenter, Monica Bellucci, and Morena Baccarin.
Don’t you mean John Sweden?
You are not the only one, before reading this thread I didn’t know who this Josh/Joss Whedon person is.
Well thank Christ you checked in with this very important observation. I know I’ll sleep easier.