Nerdgasm time. For those of you not sure what Comic-Con International is, think of it as a four-day Bacchanalia / costume party / nerd Prom of fans who come together to celebrate their obsession(s) of every conceivable genre on multi-platforms (comics, graphic novels, games, TV, film, webcomics, webisodes, collectibles) in sunny San Diego.
Hey co**su**ers...Ian McShane - at the Con tomorrow!! © Solarpix / Photorazzi
It was originally founded as the Golden State Comic Book Convention in 1970 by Shel Dorf and a group of classy San Diegons.
Traditionally the Con is a four-day event (Thursday through Sunday—though a four hour preview night on Wednesday is open to guests pre-registered for all four days) held at the San Diego Convention Center by the sea.
Comic-Con International gave birth to WonderCon and the Alternative Press Expo (APE), both held in San Francisco, California.
The convention consistently is the largest of its kind in the world, filling to capacity the San Diego Convention Center with over 125,000 attendees in 2007.
Here is what is on deck for SMALLSCREEN Comic-con events for Thursday:
10:00-11:00 Click & Clack’s As the Wrench Turns — Behind the scenes at PBS's hilarious new primetime toon, based on the famous radio show Car Talk, direct from Car Talk Plaza! Catch a sneak peek of a new episode, plus Q&A with the creators: Tom Sito (The Lion King, Osmosis Jones), Bill Kroyer (Tron, Garfield the Movie), Stephen Silver (Kim Possible), Floyd Norman (101 Dalmatians), Helen Jen (TMNT), Tom Minton (Pinky and the Brain), and executive producer Howard Grossman. Extra bonus feature: a special message for Comic-Con from the real Tom & Ray, the Tappet Bros! Room 2
10:00-11:00 Kings: Exclusive Sneak Peek of the Pilot Prologue Screening and Q&A with Cast and Executive Producers— Kings is a contemporary re-imagining of the timeless tale of David and Goliath, an epic story of greed and power, war and romance, forbidden loves and secret alliances, and a young hero who rises to power in a modern-day kingdom. Be the first to see the prologue from the two-hour pilot. Moderated by Greg Grunberg (Heroes), with Q&A with creator/executive producer Michael Green (Heroes), director/executive producer Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend), executive producer Erwin Stoff (I Am Legend), and the cast: Golden Globe winner Ian McShane (!!!) (Deadwood), Chris Egan (Resident Evil: Extinction), Sebastian Stan (Gossip Girl), Susanna Thompson (Star Trek: Voyager) and Allison Miller (Seventeen Again). Room 6B
10:00-11:00 The Gene Roddenberry Legacy: Roddenberry in the 21st Century — Building on his father's legacy with Star Trek, Rod Roddenberry and Roddenberry Productions are bringing the Roddenberry philosophy into the 21st century, through their work on the forthcoming feature documentary Trek Nation, as well as the development of original content in webcomics such as Rod & Barry and Gene's Journal. This panel features exclusive Comic-Con looks at new Roddenberry content and projects currently in development. Featuring Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, Trevor Roth (COO of Roddenberry Productions), and Allen Holzman (Emmy Award winning editor). Room 10
10:30-11:30 Tripwire — The staff of Tripwire and some friends discuss Tripwire Annual 2008 and the future of genre fiction, with special panelists Pat McGreal, Jamie McKelvie, and others. Moderated by Joel Meadows (editor-in-chief) and Andy Grossberg (associate editor, U.S.). Room 3 Categories: Comic Books | Fandom | Movies | Television
10:30-11:30 Freaks, Geeks, and Tiny Toons — Warner Home Video brings the hit animated television series Tiny Toon Adventures and Freakazoid! to DVD on July 29. This panel features Bruce Timm (storyboard artist, character designer), John McCann (Douglas Douglas, Hero Boy story editor), Paul Rugg (Freakazoid writer), Sherri Stoner (writer, producer, story editor), Paul Dini (writer, story editor), Jean MacCurdy (executive producer), Rich Arons (producer, writer, director) and Andrea Romano (voice director). They're tiny, they're toony, they're all a little loony! Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Tiny Toon Adventures is a Daytime Emmy Award animated series that spawned a whole new generation of madcap Looney Toons characters, including Buster Bunny, Babs Bunny, Plucky Duck, and Hamton J. Pig, among others. Freakazoid! aired for two seasons. Also executive produced by Spielberg, this Daytime Emmy Award–winning series chronicles the adventures of Freakazoid, a manic, insane superhero who battles a vast array of supervillains. Room 6A
Noel Neill
10:30-11:30 Spotlight on Noel Neill — She's celebrating her 60th anniversary as America's favorite superhero sweetheart! Comic-Con special guest Noel Neill first took on the role of ace reporter Lois Lane in the 1948 Superman serial from Columbia, and she went on to provide the definitive depiction of the character in the popular 1950s TV show, Adventures of Superman, with George Reeves. Superman historian John Field interviews Ms. Neill about her life with the man in the cape and the rest of her amazing career! Room 7AB Categories: Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes | Television
11:00-12:00 Professional Writing: Threat or Menace?— Let's talk writing, creativity, and selling (and selling out), and what the world of professional writing is like. Questions that you've always wanted to ask? Creative blocks bugging you? Wondered what the H*O*L*L*Y*W*O*O*D life is really like? Show up and get answers to those questions. This no-holds-barred talk is moderated by J. Michael Straczynski. Room 5AB
11:15-12:15 30th Anniversary Battlestar Galactica Panel — Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek/Apollo), Bear McCreary (BG composer), producer Tom DeSanto (Transformers, X-Men), Dr. Kevin Grazier (science consultant), and surprise guests present an in-depth discussion of the Battlestar universe from the classic to the re-imagined and beyond, including BSG trailers and Q&A. Room 6B
Justin Bruening
11:45-12:45 Knight Rider: First Look at the New Series and Q&A with Cast and Executive Producers— On the heels of NBC's hit sequel movie based on the iconic 1980s television classic, Knight Rider has been reinvented as a supercharged action series showcasing the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand). Be the first to see exclusive footage from the new series. Moderated by Television Week deputy editor/columnist Josef Adalian, who participates in a Q&A session with executive producer/showrunner Gary Scott Thompson (The Fast and The Furious, Las Vegas); executive producer David Bartis (Heist, The OC); and the cast: Justin Bruening (Cold Case), Deanna Russo (NCIS), Sydney Tamiia Poitier (Veronica Mars), Paul Campbell (Battlestar Galactica), Yancey Arias (Kingpin), Bruce Davison (X-Men) and Smith Cho (Blades of Glory). Room 6A
12:00-1:00 The New Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s: English-Language World Premiere— Be the first on the planet to see the English language version of the new Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's television series. Plus, meet the team behind the show, including—straight from Japan—producer Teruaki Jitsumatsu (Transformers: Robots in Disguise). Yumi Hoashi of Konami, and representatives from UpperDeck, 4KidsEntertainment, and Playmates Toys will also reveal what's in store for Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's fans and, while supplies last, offer a few surprises for lucky attendees! Room 5AB
12:00-1:00 Doctor Who — Writer Russell T. Davies (Doctor Who), executive producer Julie Gardner (Torchwood), and writer Steven Moffat (Doctor Who) discuss their creative process and experience working on the BBC’s Doctor Who—Britain’s most successful sci-fi franchise—with exclusive clips and a Q&A session. Ballroom 20 Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television
12:30-1:30 William Katt: Greatest American Hero Comic — Join Alex, Justin, and Pete from Pulp Secret for one of the biggest announcements at this year's Comic-Con, an event that's been 25 years in the making. Catastrophic Comics' William Katt (Greatest American Hero), Christopher Folino (Gamers), and Derek McCaw (Fanboy Planet) along with Arcana Studios' Sean O'Reilly (The Clockwork Girl) are on hand for an interview and Q&A. Room 7AB
1:00-2:00 Torchwood — Writer Russell T Davies (Doctor Who), executive producer Julie Gardner (Torchwood), writer Steven Moffat (Doctor Who), and actors John Barrowman (!!!) , Gareth David-Lloyd, Naoko Mori and Burn Gorman discuss their creative process and experience on working on BBC America’s highest-rated show ever—Torchwood— followed by a Q&A session. Ballroom 20 Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television
1:15-2:00 How to Tell a Story — Get a deep insight into the craft of storytelling from these masters in the field: David Gerrold (TV writer, author of 30+ novels), William F. Nolan (TV and film writer, author of over a dozen novels), George Clayton Johnson (Twilight Zone, Star Trek, Ocean's 11, Logan's Run), John Truby (owner, John Truby's Writer's Studio, author, Anatomy of Story), and Marc Scott Zicree (TV writer, executive producer, Sliders; author of The Twilight Zone Companion). Moderated by Chas Holloway with Shadowstar Games president Mark O'Bannon. Room 4 Categories: Comic Books | Gaming |Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television | Writers & Writing
2:00-3:00 The Middleman — Creator and executive producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost) and The Middleman actors Matt Keeslar (Dune) and Natalie Morales (CSI: Miami) discuss the bizarre world of The Middleman. Based on the graphic novels by Javier Grillo-Marxuach, The Middleman follows the surreal life of twenty-something Wendy Watson as she gets recruited by a top secret agency to fight comic book-esque criminals under the guidance of her straight-laced boss, The Middleman. Room 5AB Categories: Comic Books | Television
3:00-4:00 DVD/Blu-ray Producers 2008 — Bill Hunt, Todd Doogan, and Adam Jahnke (The Digital Bits.com, Geek Monthly) discuss the latest DVD and Blu-ray Disc developments and look ahead at upcoming releases. Panelists include Javier Soto (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy II: The Golden Army), Charles de Lauzirika (Blade Runner, Twin Peaks), Andy Mangels (The Real Ghostbusters, Slimer), Cliff Stephenson (Rambo, Crank 1 & 2), and Robert Meyer Burnett (Shoot ’Em Up, Free Enterprise 2). There will be lots of Q&A, so be sure to bring your questions! Room 5AB
3:00-4:00 Wizard’s First Rule — A first look at the upcoming action-adventure series Wizard's First Rule with book author Terry Goodkind and show executive producers Robert Tapert (Xena: Warrior Princess), Kenneth Biller (Star Trek: Voyager) and Sam Raimi (Spider-Man). The one-hour weekly television show premiering late fall is inspired by Terry Goodkind's bestselling epic fantasy series: The Sword of Truth. The story follows the journey of Richard Cypher, a simple woodsman, as he discovers the magical powers he holds within. With the help of a mysterious woman and a powerful wizard, he must use his newfound abilities to stop a ruthless tyrant from unleashing an ancient evil and enslaving the world. Join Terry, Rob, Ken and Sam for a moderated interview and audience Q&A session! Room 6B
4:00-5:00 TV Costume Designers — Characters created by writers and comic book illustrators are made real for the screen via the artistry of costume designers. Meet the women and men who are the costume designers on this year’s most popular television productions. Panel moderator Jacqueline Saint Anne (Quantum Leap), past president of the Costume Designers Guild, Local 892, hosts costume designers Shawna Trpcic (Firefly), Roland Sanchez (Lost), Amanda Friedland (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), and Cynthia Bergstrom (Buffy, The Vampire Slayer). Room 4
4:00-5:00 Star Trek Without a Blueprint : How Books and Comics Keep Expanding the Boundaries of the Star Trek Universe— Andy Mangels (moderator and Star Trek author), Margaret Clark (executive editor, Pocket Books), Andy Schmidt (senior editor, IDW) and Star Trek authors Kevin Dilmore, Dave Mack, Scott Tipton, Wil Wheaton, and Dayton Ward discuss the future of Star Trek publishing. Room 32AB
4:30-5:30 HBO’s True Blood — Based on the popular Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris, True Blood is created by Alan Ball, creator of HBO’s Emmy-winning series Six Feet Under. The series takes place in the not-too-distant future, when, thanks to the invention of synthetic blood, vampires no longer need humans for their fix and can walk freely, if not yet comfortably, among their living counterparts. With their integration into a small Louisiana town causing a stir, a love story ensues between Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin, the X-Men films; Academy Award winner for The Piano), an innocent waitress with the unusual ability to read minds, and vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer, The Starter Wife). The series also features Ryan Kwanten (Summerland), Rutina Wesley (How She Move), Sam Trammell (Judging Amy), and Nelsan Ellis (The Inside). True Blood debuts September 7 exclusively on HBO. Room 6CDEF
4:45-5:45 "SCREAM" Like a Girl — Spike loves women. And the coolest women on the planet are the ones who destroy aliens, defeat serial killers and battle evil villains with their superpowers! In honor of Spike's ScreamAwards 2008—the first and most important televised event that celebrates the genius creative talent behind the powerhouse Hollywood genres of comic books, science fiction, fantasy and horror—Spike brings you a candid discussion of these genres from the women they love, who are poised to rule the fanboy's universe! Moderator Kevin Smith (Clerks), the brilliant writer, director, and comic book genius hosts an all-female panel of actresses, artists, writers, directors, and producers, including Gale Ann Hurd (Terminator, Terminator 2), Lucy Lawless (Xena, Battlestar Galactica), Jaime King (The Spirit, Sin City), and Pia Guerra (Y: The Last Man), in a discussion about working in these genres from their unique point of view. Twenty lucky panel attendees will win tickets to the 2008 Scream Awards. Ballroom 20
5:00-6:00 The Pitching Hour — Michael Polis (WildBrain Studios, YoGabbaGabba), Jermaine Turner (director, Disney/ABC Cable Networks Group), Jill Sanford (manager, original series, Disney Television Animation), Sam Humphries (MySpace Comics), Paula Gould (PEG PR), Jeremy Love (writer/producer, Gettosake Studios), and moderator Dan Evans (freelance development exec) will take an idea from conception through production for various media. This process will include creating a pitch document, obtaining agents, and getting a pitch meeting. The panelists will explain, through hypothetical example and humorous stories, the process that new creators should adapt to make their way into the Hollywood creative battleground. Knowing that each project is unique, there will be a Q&A to allow the audience to really hone in on the solutions to obstacles they may encounter. Also on hand will be IP lawyer Brendan McFeely to give creators insight on protecting their ideas as they navigate Hollywood! Room 5AB
5:45-6:45 Showtime: Dexter — Showtime presents exclusives from the set of the highly anticipated third season of Dexter. Moderator Kristin Dos Santos (E!) presides over this revealing interview and Q&A session with the top stars and executive producers of Dexter, featuring Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Clyde Phillips, and John Goldwyn, plus a special guest! Room 6CDEF
6:00-7:00 Life, Death, Life of Star Trek — You've heard a lot of hype about sci-fi's first franchise lately, now it's time to see what it's all about and celebrate an illustrious 40 years of boldly going with this regular panel of unpaid, uncensored Treksperts, who pay homage to Trek's past and future with some special surprises and exclusive audio-visual treats you'll only see here. Daren Dochterman (ST: TMP Director's Cut Special Edition), Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise), Jeff Bond (The Music of Star Trek), and moderator Mark A. Altman (Free Enterprise) talk Trek like no one else can...or will. Room 2
7:00-9:00 Comedy Central TV Funhouse with Robert Smigel— Creators Robert Smigel (Saturday Night Live) and Dino Stamatopoulos (Morel Orel) and producer Tommy Blacha (Metalocalypse) reunite to discuss and show highlights from the most groundbreaking show to ever hit (and subsequently disappear) from basic cable. Join the guys (along with the Anipals and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog) to relive the glory of the best show you barely remember in conjunction with the long anticipated release of the series on DVD. Room 6CDEF
7:30-8:30 Geek Roundtable Live — Be a part of a live podcast with the guys from GeekRoundTable.com, the coolest geek podcast on the Internet. The guys will discuss the latest and hottest in comics, movies, television, DVDs, and games. Put your two cents in and get free prizes to boot, and maybe the guys will let you sit in the empty chair! Featuring Ned Cato Jr., Jesse Lopez, Chris Sturhann, Mary Sturhann, Matt Jeffery, Wesley Strawther, and Johann Joseph starring as himself. Room 10
USA
Your Talkback on this Story