Alyson Hannigan 1989, her first regular role on a TV series came when she was cast in the short-lived ABC sitcom "Free Spirit". As a teenager, Hannigan babysat for the children of her future "How I Met Your Mother" costar, Bob Saget. In 1997, Hannigan was cast to play Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Summers' best friend, on the television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". The show became a success, and Hannigan gained recognition, subsequently appearing in several films aimed at teenaged audiences, including "American Pie" (1999), "Boys and Girls" (2000), "American Pie 2" (2001), and "American Wedding" (2003). She also had a guest
Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) 2004, Whedon considered creating a "Spike" film spin-off. Canonically, the character appears in issues of the comic books "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight" (2007–11), "" (2007–09), "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine", "Angel & Faith" (both 2011–2013) and several "Spike" limited series, spinning off from both "Buffy" and "Angel". Currently the character is in the canonical comic Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eleven (2016–2017). Spike's story before he appears in Sunnydale unfolds in flashbacks scattered, out of sequence, among numerous episodes of both "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel". The first flashback occurs in "Buffy" Season Five's "Fool for