2014 Comic-Con: Saturday's TV Fun

Saturday was a lighter day as far as panels go, but we still managed to fit in a nice variety of television activities. Two pilots, an off-site experience, two state-of-programming television evolution discussions, another behind-the-scenes writers' session, and a scavenger hunt of sorts filled the day. Included below are some highlights from these events - look for more in-depth articles in the future. And, be sure to follow us on SmugMug, on Twitter or on Facebook for the latest throughout Comic-Con!

Why Not Serious? Comedy vs. Drama in Animation, with Craig Miller, Ted Biaselli, Brian Hohlfeld, and Jim Krieg.
- comedy episodes are more re-watchable than drama or adventure installments.
- sometimes descriptions don't translate well when animators are from a different region. Example: there aren't marshmallows in Spain, so there's a scene around a campfire with someone toasting a piece of bread instead!
- Mickey Mouse is a lot like SpongeBob... both are exuberant and love the world.

photo: Amy K. Bredemeyer

Inside the Writers' Room: Earth's Mightiest Writers Re-Assmble, with Chris Parnell, Michael Narducci, Steve Holland, Sarah Watson, Bill Harper, Christine Boylan, Ashley E. Miller, Steve Melching, Jose Molina, and Mark A. Altman.
- The Vampire Diaries and The Originals allow support staff to submit scenes. If the make it into the script, they get a credit, and some even wind up joining the staff!
- Series that the panelists really enjoy currently include Game of Thrones, Justify, The Americans, Orphan Black, Orange is the New Black, Korra, Adventure Time, Penny Dreadful, The Good Wife, The Walking Dead, The Leftovers, and Fargo.

photo: Amy K. Bredemeyer

NBC's Off-Site Constantine
We also went off-site to check out the Constantine experience (if you're looking out from E lobby, across the train tracks, it's the blue dome near the Omni). At the time, the wait was about 25 minutes, which was definitely worth the unique four minutes you watched the trailer. It was similar to a theme park atmosphere, actually, as there were 4D elements such as fans blowing wind.

photo: Amy K. Bredemeyer

The Digital Revolution: The Convergence of Television and the Internet, with Daniel Alter, Jasmine Andrevos, Adrian Askarich, and Jeff Krelitz.
- you can be raunchier in an online format like Hulu, Amazon, or Netflix.
- The way the digital age affects television may show up again in the near future, as people don't want to deal with the hassle of driving to a movie theater if they can have a good time at home.

photo: Amy K. Bredemeyer

The Strain Screening
- During specific times throughout Comic-Con, you could stop by three booths (FOX, Dark Horse, and Harper Collins) and collect wristbands promoting The Strain. Then, you could take them to a specific theater downtown and see what could have been done better. We scored autographed The Strain comic books and had our faces morphed so we'd know what we'd look like if something similar happens. After photographing a few of the props that were places around the room, we bailed on viewing episodes 2 and 3 in favor of hitting something more closely aligned with our interests...

photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

Warner Bros. Television and DC Entertainment: The Flash, Constantine, Arrow, and the World Premiere of Gotham, with ~35 members of talent on the stage at once! *We'll discuss the pilots later, but here are some highlights from the panel itself:
- Arrow will bring in Wildcat this season, who will interact with Laurel.
- Grant Gustin likes to dig as deep as he can with the emotional rawness of The Flash.
- Jesse L. Martin is excited to play a detective who actually gets to shoot people, as he apparently never did that in his ~200 episodes of Law & Order.
- Constantine's basic plan is to try a spell, fight, con, kick, then run away... he's no Superman! 

photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

** find more pictures of these panels, plus others, the exhibit floor, and off-site events at our SmugMug site! 

My 2014 Comic-Con TV Panels

In a week, it'll all be over. San Diego Comic-Con (known by many simply as "Comic-Con") begins on Wednesday night at 6pm and runs until Sunday at 5pm. Plans for the convention begin over a year in advance, and the dates for the subsequent event are generally known before the current one ends. Online pre-registration for badges takes hours. Determining your hotel order for the lottery is a lengthy process. But what really takes time and effort is planning how you'll make the most of those four days... from panels to see to booths to visit, from autograph possibilities to sorting through shopping exclusives, from to sifting through film schedules to discerning the best off-site activities, the work involved is great. [flashback to our previous SDCC schedules: 2011, 2012, 2013.] And that's considering you've been before and don't need to learn how to get around San Diego, where to eat, and how the logistics of attending work.

Because of the amount of work involved (note that I haven't even mentioned the hours spent in lines yet), outsiders don't think Comic-Con is worth the hassle and expense. It is a pricey event (for starters, the vast majority of hotel options come in over $180/night), but it's also one of a kind. Repeat attendees share a camaraderie like no other; once you've been initiated into SDCC, you understand. You share a kindred spirit with all who swarm upon the San Diego Convention Center, whether they be comic book collectors, zombie fanatics, wannabe filmmakers, creative cosplayers, or another variety of pop culture junkie. Folks at Comic-Con appreciate the passion everyone has for something, regardless of whether there's overlap in interest, and that's what makes the ambiance of the environment truly special.

All of that said, I've painstakingly narrowed down my selections and made my schedule for how I will spend Comic-Con this year. I still have twelve television panels on my list, but I'm not going to be camping out in Ballroom 20 or 6 BCF all day to maximize my TV program exposure. Why? Because I have other interests, too, and can't wait for my geek-out moments, which inevitably happen (like after the Disney Afternoon panel last year).

So, without further ado, here are the television panels I'm hoping to see, tweet, and report on this year:

Thursday, July 24th
10:30-11:30am: Legends of TV Land (Indigo Ballroom, Hilton Bayfront), featuring Betty White, among others, who will answer questions about making history on television. Plus, a look at the animated episode of Hot in Cleveland.

11:30am - 12:30pm: Dig: A USA Network Event Series (Indigo Ballroom, Hilton Bayfront), an inside look at this fast-paced international thriller, with actors participating via satellite from Israel.

8-9pm: Psychology of Cult TV Shows (Room 23ABC), will feature several scholars and scientists and examine the cult followings of shows like Doctor Who, Firefly, and Buffy. As someone who has studied Rocky Horror cult fanatics, I'm especially interested in the scholars.

Friday, July 25th
11:30am-12:30pm: iZombie Pilot Screening and Q&A (Room6BCF), for the new CW series that will premiere midseason.

1:30-2:30pm: The Chair: One Script, Two Visions, One Winner (Marriott Hall 2), for the new Starz series. Both directors and the creator will be there, and scenes from the movies and the series will be shown. I've already written a little about this show, and look forward to more.

4:30-5:30pm: Falling Skies: Season 4 Panel (Room 6BCF), for what may very well be the final panel for this post-apocalyptic television show. I've seen the three before this one (2011, 2012, 2013), and while they're not groundbreaking and tend to show you a clip from the very next episode, they're a goof time.

5:30-6:30pm: Roar Comics: Saved by the Bell, Punky Brewster, and More (Room 8), because I love that some of my favorite characters are in serialized narrative format. Some announcements are also promised, so perhaps more television shows are going that way?

7-8pm: The Unexplained Files (Room 7AB), from Science Channel, will be taking a deeper look at stuff you can't believe. It's as simple as that, but still truly fascinating, plus there will be scholars, eye witnesses, and prizes.

Saturday, July 26th:
10-11am: Why Not Serious? Comedy vs. Drama in Animation (Room 9), caught my eye because I hadn't thought about how little action and adventure is in cartoons. I grew up with Danger Mouse, and The Awesomes is around, but the big 80s/90s X-Men, Batman, and the like aren't really there anymore, so I am interested in the theories as to why not.

5-6pm: The Digital Revolution: The Convergence of Television and the Internet (Indigo Ballroom, Hilton Bayfront), will hopefully offer more information than I've already been learning lately about how ratings are changing and people are "cord-cutting."

8-11pm: Warner Bros. Television and DC Entertainment: The Flash, Constantine, Arrow, and the World Premiere of Gotham (Hall H) may be too tough to get into, as the Gotham pilot is very highly anticipated, plus a full viewing of The Flash will also entice people, but I'm game to try.

Sunday, July 27th:
10:15-11:15am Sesame Street & Pop Culture: 45 Years of Spoofs on the 'Street' (Room 6A) is near and dear to by heart. Two new parodies (on Comic-Con and Star Wars, no less!), plus looking at how popular culture has influenced the iconic show, with muppeteers on the panel.

Yeah, you probably noticed that there are quite a few gaps in this schedule... so what else am I planning on seeing, panel-wise? Well, Thursday features a Hanna-Barbera offering I don't want to miss, plus a Goonies discussion, and a look at retro 90s stuff. Friday and Saturday I'll hit a little of the Film Festival for a little bit of old-time Disney magic, plus take in a few how-to sessions about writing television shows. And Sunday I'm back at my old scholarly ways with an anthropological study panel, plus the making of the LEGO movie. Keep checking back as we report on the many distinct facets that make up Comic-Con!

2014 Comic-Con: The Bag Designs!

San Diego Comic-Con begins in less than a week, and today Warner Bros. has released the bag designs. There will be 13 different looks this time, and a bag will be randomly given to attendees when they pick up their badges at registration. They are again designed like backpacks, but will not feature the "cape" addition that was popular at the 2013 convention.

All bags will have an image of the San Diego Convention Center on one side:

But the other sides will vary from popular live-action shows Arrow, The Following, The Originals, Supernatural (which I forget is still around), and The Vampire Diaries...

         

to animated series Teen Titans Go!...

to upcoming programs Constantine, The Flash, Mike Tyson Mysteries, iZombie, and Gotham...

and even a few to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Batman. 

Many Con goers trade bags to get the one they want, and you ca also donate blood during the Convention to get an extra bag. Which are you hoping to snag as your premiere souvenir from this year's event?

2014-2015 Season: NBC Drama

Seven dramas: seven swings, and seven misses. I think NBC probably takes the award for most characters in their dramas this year, and there are many returning faces popping up all over, which could be great for fans. However, not one pitch had me on the edge of my seat, fascinated at where it was going. This response isn't uncommon for me, given that my history of enjoying NBC's previous dramas includes just Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (but after its original run), though I put up with Crossbones a couple of times, and some of Smash and Revolution. I guess I'm just hoping for the click I had with the network's ER, though perhaps at this point I should give up that dream. I mean, do you see any series below that would fill such a void?

Red titles I'm not interested in. Green titles I'm going to try out. "Who" covers actors, writers, creators, etc. "Where" covers the location of the series. "What" describes the basics of the premise.

First, the fall premieres:

The Mysteries of Laura
Who? Debra Messing (Will & Grace), Josh Lucas (Jake on Sweet Home Alabama), Janina Gavankar (Shiva on The League, Luna on True Blood)
Where? NYC
What? A homicide detective works for her soon-to-be-ex-husband while juggling twin sons.
My Thoughts: It's a police procedural, and there will undoubtedly be sexual tension and perhaps even will-they-or-won't-they moments between Laura and Jake. The kids might be cute, but they're young, so they won't be in a whole lot of scenes. No draw for me, so pass. 

State of Affairs
Who? Katherine Heigl (Izzie on Grey's Anatomy, 27 Dresses, Knocked Up, Wish Upon a Star), Alfre Woodard (Betty on Desperate Housewives)
Where? Washington, DC
What? A CIA analyst is in charge of briefing the President daily on security issues, but is also trying to get to the bottom of the death of her former fiancé – the President’s son.
My Thoughts: Politics don't intrigue me, and the addition of a little murder-mystery doesn't make it any better. The political focus being security briefings also seems particularly odd. Plus, I don't think I could take Katherine Heigl on a weekly basis... she irks me. (yes, I understand people like Grey's, but my experience with her is through her films.)

Constantine
Who? Lucy Griffiths (Nora on True Blood), Harold Perrineau (Link in The Matrix movies, Augustus in Oz, Michael on Lost)
Where? Hell, and all over the country
What? A comic book adaptation of “Hellblazer,” there's a guy who heads to the dark side after he's damned to hell anyway. He's out to save an old family friend who can predict the supernatural. After that, they learn to work together.
My Thoughts: No supernatural for me, thanks. It's nice that the show is designed to stay closer to the comic books than last decade's movie did, but I'm not going to get into it, and I think the demographic for comic book lovers is over-saturated, so I don't know that it'll last.
 
And, the mid-season debuts:

Odyssey
Who? Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Mr. Eko on Lost, Simon on Oz), Anna Friel (Chuck on Pushing Daisies), Peter Facinelli (Dr. Fitch Cooper on Nurse Jackie, Jimmy on Six Feet Under), Treat Williams (Benny Severide on Chicago Fire, Andy on Everwood), Daniella Pineda (Sophie on The Originals), Nate Mooney (Ryan on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Jim True-Frost (James Woodrow on Treme, Prez on The Wire, Jake Robinson (Bennet on The Carrie Diaries)
Where? We know the lawyer is in New York...
What? A soldier, a lawyer, and a young activist join forces to expose a war conspiracy. The soldier is the only witness to the truth, the lawyer is working on a merger with a company funding jihadists, and the activist knows a hacker.
My Thoughts: This screams movie, or maybe mini-series, but certainly not ongoing television show. It seems rather heavy, there are tons of characters, and I'm not a war drama person.

Aquarius
Who? David Duchovny is the only one cast so far.
Where? 1967 Los Angeles
What? A cop's daughter goes missing, and when he can't get answers out of hippies, he partners with a chill cop... only to discover there's a cult leader who is out to get young women... and he'll later become Charles Manson.
My Thoughts: It's a freaky concept if ever I read one. I think that there is certainly a potential viewership (period, historical, Duchovny...), though it's not me.

Allegiance
Who? Hope Davis (Nina on The Newsroom), Margarita Levieva (Amanda on Revenge), Annie Ilonzeh (Joanna on Arrow, Nicole on Drop Dead Diva, Lana on Switched at Birth), Kenneth Choi (Henry Lin on Sons of Anarchy, Captain on Ironside), Scott Cohen (Harlan on The Carrie Diaries, Nico on Necessary Roughness, Max on Gilmore Girls)
Where? not sure, though Washington, DC seems likely
What? A young CIA agent learns his parents are Russian spies, and want him to be one, too.
My Thoughts: It's different. It's kinda random. There are quite a few characters, but it seems like an awkward collage of familiar faces, which might not gel. Regardless, it's outside my scope of interest, though it might find a reliable crowd. 

Emerald City
Who? no cast yet.
Where? Midwest/Oz.
What? 20-year-old Dorothy steals a K-9 dog and winds up in Oz, wondering about the identity of her biological mother.
My Thoughts: This series is obviously way off (probably next summer, if I had to guess), so there's not very much to go on. I'm not a fan of German Shepherds, and I think that fantasy lands are better done on the big screen, so I will preliminarily pass, but that could change once more information is released.
[NBC canceled this project on 8/23/14]