Fun Friday: Real Ducks Do DuckTales

DuckTales has a catchy theme song.

It's a favorite of many, and had TWO sing-alongs at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con. So, it might not be very surprising that someone has taken the time to recreate those iconic sixty seconds with real ducks! I'm serious, take a look:

This begs the question: what cartoon theme song is next? Chipmunks do Alvin and the Chipmunks or Chip 'n' Dale's Recuse Rangers? Tiny Toons with rabbits, a duck, a pig, and a tasmanian devil? What do you think?

Fun Friday: "Let It Go," 80s-TV Style

Sometimes I wonder who has time on their hands to find clips and edit them into such things, but then I remember the kinds of things I did when I was 14-15. Granted, the internet was much younger then, but I spent hours upon hours building fan pages for Gummi Bears, Labyrinth, and other popular culture topics I can't even remember anymore. Of course, this was all on one of those AOL Hometown pages that bit the dust back in 2008, but, alongside SimTower, it was what I did for fun, backed up on 3.5" disks.

Digression aside, Jim Cliff has posted a video on YouTube with 60+ clips of 80s television shows spliced together to make out the lyrics to Frozen's "Let it Go." (a song which will, apparently, never actually go away.) It's done pretty well, and I laughed at multiple points, so thought you might get a kick out of it, too.
I'm not going to list all of the series I noticed, but keep an eye out for some greatness like Three's Company, Saved by the Bell, Cheers, ALF, Perfect Strangers, the original Beauty and the Beast, Knight Rider, Who's the Boss, The Cosby Show, The Wonder Years, DuckTales, M*A*S*H, Roseanne, and Dallas. Do you have favorite parts in this mash-up?

Photo Recapping 2013 Comic-Con: Gaming

checking out the DuckTales game for xbox! photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

If you've met me in real life, you probably know that I really enjoy board games. I grew up playing them constantly with family, neighbors, and friends, and, after grad school, I've been part of several groups that get together on a regular basis to play. I also enjoy video games, though I don't really carve out too much time for those anymore. Still, I made time for both during Comic-Con and had a wonderful time doing so! Check out some of my adventures! The one above is me completely mesmerized by how beautiful the new DuckTales game is!

Over at Dick's Last Resort, an off-site event,
"Break Invaders," had world records being
attempted on several games, including "Fix It
Felix Jr." photo: Amy K. Bredemeyer

Over at Dick's Last Resort, an off-site event,
"Break Invaders," had world records being
attempted on several games, including "Fix It
Felix Jr." photo: Amy K. Bredemeyer

Over at Dick's Last Resort, an off-site event, "Break Invaders,"
had world records being attempted on several games, including
"Fix It Felix Jr." photo: Amy K. Bredemeyer

this is what the Ps4 looks like! photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

near the DuckTales game, there was a bin set up of Scrooge's (stuffed) gold! photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

it looks SO different from the NES game! but SO awesome! by Amy K. Bredemeyer

the week before Comic-Con, Jonathan, our friend Jim, and I played a game of Settlers of Catan
so I could get an "action shot" for a contest. (take a closer look at my shirt!) this is the picture I
submitted... which, along with a short essay, won me a slot in the tournament! photo by Jim

near the end of the game. it's Star Trek Catan, which is really a nice adaptation! I didn't win,
but still got some great swag! photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

the winner from each game played in a finale with Wil Wheaton, who kicked butt. photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

At past Comic-Cons, I haven't really made time for games, and, honestly, for off-site events. This year we went to two parties and a few other off-site events, including the above tournament, and a screening for Black Sails, though we were too tired to stay by the time we learned we'd be seeing an 11:30pm screening instead of an 8pm! But, this about wraps up the gaming. Stay tuned for more photo recaps of Comic-Con!

SDCC 2013: The Tweets

Here's a collection of our tweets (@TheTalkingBox) from Comic-Con 2013! Be aware they are in reverse-chronological order. And, as we pointed out a couple of times, several tweets got eaten by the internet while we were there, so there are, sadly, a few gaps beyond Wednesday, when I was just over-excited and not thinking about sharing the experiences.

Sunday, July 21:
On the ground. #SDCC seems so surreal... I was trading swag 4 hours ago but now I'm almost home. 6 or 7 hours of shows on DVR... what first?
20 minute flight delay. Comic-Con just doesn't want me to leave! #SDCC 

That's a wrap, folks. We're headed to pack up the last swag bits and shuttle to the airport! More pics to come later! #SDCC 

Got an autograph from Jymn Magon on my #ducktales DVD set and I'm fighting back tears I'm so excited! #DisneyAfternoon #SDCC 

Gadget was the only character that stayed from the initial Rescue Rangers pitch. #DisneyAfternoon #SDCC 

We just had another #ducktales sing a long. I had goosebumps. #DisneyAfternoon #SDCC 

Someone in the room is dressed as a Beagle Boy! #DisneyAfternoon #SDCC 

Just saw the original pitch for Goof Troop! #DisneyAfternoon #SDCC

#DisneyAfternoon starts off with panelists statements. Voices in action! #SDCC

If anyone is there, good luck! RT @thenerdmachine Lets give away 10 Intel Core i7 Extreme processors right now at #NerdHQ Thanks @IntelEdge

That said, now in the room where Disney Afternoon will have its panel in 25 min! What was your favorite DA show? #SDCC

It always feels like you were walking forever to get to another #SDCC event, so when you arrive it's shocking to see it's only been ten min.
Did an hour on the floor, had some lunch, now back to the floor. Next panel at 2. #SDCC
A LOT of #Ducktales original gameplay was required to make the treasure locations match in easy, medium, and hard. #SDCC 

The #Ducktales game is banking on parents purchasing, not kids, as they don't know the characters. #SDCC

#Ducktales panel now featuring piano music in a special arrangement than what the credits feature. It was incredible. check YouTube! #SDCC

Special guest in the #Ducktales panel: Eric Bauza, Gizmo Duck! #SDCC 

If you played #Ducktales, you remember the pogo stick! Here's the look of Scrooge! ow.ly/i/2Fosi #SDCC 

The whole room just stood and sang the #Ducktales theme song! Magic! #SDCC

Also, for those who didn't check out my schedule, I'm doing Disney panels all day! www.thetalkingbox.com/2013/07/my-20… #SDCC 

Saturday, July 20th:

The girl who plays Charlie has REALLY white teeth. #Revolution #SDCC #Revolutioncon #WBSDCC (ridiculous hashtags!)

Seems that #Revolution is trying too hard this #SDCC with more hash tags than necessary... #Revolutioncon #WBSDCC 

This means that we will have #Revolution up next, which loyal followers know we love to hate! #SDCC 

Wait time was two hours WITH an appointment, so left and just sat in #6bcf #SDCC 20 Jul

Time to donate blood. It's a #SDCC tradition!

I'm always surprised that people don't know that voice actors usually don't sit around and all tape together... #SDCC #TheAwesomes

We're talking about #AllThat in here! Kenan can't compare it to #SNL to #TheAwesomes, but loves his job. #SDCC
Making fun of Real World and Kevin Smith. Such a funny panel! #TheAwesomes #SDCC 

#TheAwesomes just made fun of #walkingdead fans who aren't caught up. Love it. #SDCC

I actually really liked #TheAwesomes. On to the panel part, with Seth Meyers and Kenan Thompson, among others. #SDCC

We spent some time on the floor, but now seeing The Awesomes. Pretty good so far... #SDCC

Awesome! thanks for announcing! RT @jbtec Hey @TheTalkingBox there's definitely a Simpsons Futurama crossover...

Showrunners need clear visions. For #ER, it was "doctors are heroes." #SDCC 

Nice comparison of a showrunner to a start-up CEO. #SDCC 

Inside the room for Inside the Writer's Room. #SDCC

Now in line for the television writers' panel at 1130. Not as short as I was hoping... #SDCC

It's always interesting when more questions are for the producers than the actors. #BatesMotel #SDCC 

#Lost fans in the house! #BatesMotel #SDCC 

The most difficult scene for Vera to do in the first season was the admission of incest. #BatesMotel #SDCC

Norma's brother might show up in season two of #BatesMotel. #SDCC

Shelby dying was the original end of the first season of #BatesMotel. Then, network ordered four more episodes. #SDCC
Freddie has arrived. He speaks Arabic and Spanish, and spent the hiatus translating legal documents. #BatesMotel #SDCC

Friday recap for #SDCC: ow.ly/n9l9q #FallingSkies #RogerRabbit #Catan #AssassinsCreed #Marvel

#BatesMotel fans very excited for next season. Too bad Freddie Highmore isn't here. #SDCC 

Game on! #BatesMotel #SDCC

It appears everyone in line got into #6a so if you wanna come see #BatesMotel, you can probably get in. #SDCC 

I'm always amused by people who wait until the morning of each day to plan their panels... #SDCC #n00bs

I suspect we're having tweets lost in the internets again this morning... #SDCC

Autograph raffle ticket line today is enormous. Allegedly it has been cut off already. blame he who kills off all his characters... #SDCC

Have joined the line for Bates Motel in eighty minutes. should get in but it's growing quickly! #6a #SDCC

Later start than planned this morning, but starting in #6a so hopefully line doesn't suck yet. on shuttle back to #SDCC!

ANOTHER giveaway is up! This time, enter to win a #FallingSkies item! ow.ly/n3wja

there's a lot of posts going out with #SDCC going on, but be sure to check out out #GameofThrones giveaway! www.thetalkingbox.com/2013/07/givea…

Friday, July 19th:
So this party is just a club, essentially. sponsored by Magic:The Gathering. Taking a shuttle to the hotel. #SDCC
The DJ is playing "Let's go to the Mall." Seriously. #SDCC

Just noticed that quite a few updates never posted, especially during #fallingskies panel...

Hitting up to hospitality suite, because that's something at #SDCC I've never done before. Don't care about chips, dip, salsa, and M&Ms, tho

Can't stay for the entire thing, but in the first part of a panel on body image and women's issues in entertainment. #SDCC

Charles Fleischer (voice of Roger Rabbit) is really funny, guys. #RogerRabbit #SDCC

Noah Wyle made an #ER joke and the audience clapped. Five seconds later, Wheaton got it. #FallingSkies #SDCC

Wheaton's questions will focus on the theme of family. #FallingSkies #SDCC

Looks like I'll get to head to the fulfillment room after all. Let's hear it for #FallingSkies ! #SDCC

#FallingSkies panel will be starting late, apparently... #SDCC

Any predictions for the #FallingSkies panel? I hope for great swag! panel prizes have been weak this year... #SDCC

Next up is the #FallingSkies panel. Hoping for better than last year! Also, I hear there is now a line for #6bcf. #SDCC

Big minority superhero movie in the pipeline. #SDCC #MarvelSDCC any predictions?

More female team comics coming! #MarvelSDCC #SDCC

Don't forget about our photo stream! as current as WiFi allows! thetalkingbox.smugmug.com/Events/Co… #SDCC
It's gonna be a good year to be a Nick Fury fan. or a bad one, depending on your perspective! #MarvelSDCC #SDCC

Marvel panel heckles fan wearing Batman shirt. #SDCC #MarvelSDCC

There are technical difficulties, guys. sorry for the lack of tweets. #6bcf didn't let me access 4g. Better now and ready! #SDCC

Looked for line for #FallingSkies at 430 but walked right into #6bcf. Just saw a lengthy and phenomenal preview of Assassin's Creed IV #SDCC

This means I'll also see a Marvel panel! That's always a #win! #SDCC 

Well, I didn't make the finals but it was a good time. I like that adaptation, actually. Will be back later for party. #SDCC

I start in the Star Trek Catan tournament in ten minutes! #SDCC

we've got a #GameofThrones #GoT giveaway going on, so head on over and check it out! ow.ly/n3ulW 

Friday morning #SDCC update: yes, the #HallH line is as bad as you're reading. I have strong thoughts, will save for later. giveaway soon! 

Thursday, July 18th: 

change of plans. because line for #HallH is already 600 people deep, going to bed to distract husband less, who gets up soon to join! #SDCC 

stood in a line for a long time to attempt seeing #BlackSails. didn't work out. very draining. some write-up coming. #SDCC 

Learning why lightsabers wouldn't work is sad. #SDCC

Was never a #Eureka fan, but the writing process was fascinating! #SDCC

Now time for the Science Of Science Fiction! #SDCC also, just popped in fourth battery...

Spent some time in exhibit hall and now in a panel for anime. Broad interests for the win. #SDCC
in a session examining how to use comics to teach a freshman-level English course. while I love this stuff, only like 60 people here. #SDCC
Now catching the second half of the panel on how superheroes empower us and heal us. #SDCC 

Surprise! Special #Reign preview! #SDCC #b20 

Aimee Teegarden was drawn to the scifi aspect of #starcrossed. #SDCC 

Flashbacks in #starcrossed will show why the Atrians are on Earth. #SDCC 

No prize tickets given for either #Intelligence or #starcrossed in #b20. #SDCC 
#starcrossed pilot very teen. Expected that, but still. Three actors and a bunch of producers on panel. #SDCC 

Next panel will be on the CW's midseason drama #starcrossed. Early thoughts: www.thetalkingbox.com/2013/05/looki…

#Lost joke! #SDCC #Intelligence 

Both Meghan Ory and Mary Helgenberger would Gabriel's power to be smart. #Intelligence #SDCC 

#Intelligence star Josh Holloway a technophobe. #SDCC 

Just saw #Intelligence pilot. new CBS drama where a guy has a computer chip in his head. Previous thoughts: www.thetalkingbox.com/2013/05/looki… #SDCC 

#b20 first panel starting very late due to line still coming in. #SDCC 

First poster! Double-sided #reign #batb ow.ly/i/2E0K2 ow.ly/i/2E0N2 also, made it into #b20. #SDCC

#b20 folks around me getting antsy about not getting in by 10, but we started under the tents so I think it's just moving slowly... #SDCC 

Just popped in my second phone battery. Good thing I have four this #SDCC!
Also, we will try to keep our photo stream current as much as WiFi allows! thetalkingbox.smugmug.com/Events/Co… #SDCC 

Sitting next to a lifer in line for #b20. She's been going every year since childhood, thanks to an uncle. sweet! #SDCC 

#SDCC costume highlights so far this morning include Alvin, of The Chipmunks, Louise from Bob's Burgers, a Sailor Scout, Mario and Luigi. 

Up first, starting at 10 AM, will be the new CBS drama, #intelligence, followed by the CW's #starcrossed
Got in line for ballroom 20 about fifteen minutes ago and have a great position! #SDCC #b20
 

Wednesday, July 17th: 

such a busy day that I forgot to tweet very often! Don't worry, will do better tomorrow! #SDCC 

Badge lines at T & C still inside. Room about half-full right now and people pouring in! #SDCC

Comic-Con 2013: Sunday Wrap-Up

Today could have been called "Disney Day," at least for me. As I outlined originally, revisiting childhood classics was a big theme for the day. I had initially planned to go straight for the "Ducktales: Remastered" video game panel, but instead I made a hasty decision to visit the floor first, and I'm glad that I did. My husband told me that the video game was actually available to be played at the Capcom booth, so we rushed right over there, and the Xbox version was open, so I jumped in and played. It is a beautiful game. The same basic premise, settings, levels, and characters, but ever so much more phenomenal than 8-bit would allow. Like a fool, I selected the Himalayas level, which many probably remember as the "hardest" of the three worlds in the game (Amazon and Transylvania being the other two if you're not familiar). It took me a little bit to remember you could use Scrooge's cane to whack blocks and how to make him super-jump with his cane-pogo-stick, but it was fun. It was set on some sort of infinite lives, but I only played about five minutes, out of respect for the line. Afterward, I received a poster and could have had my photo taken in a "moneybin" replica, filled with stuffed coins. Instead, I headed off to the panel about the game.

The hour opened with a sing-along of the Ducktales theme song, and I had a big smile on my face as I belted out the lyrics. I was actually surprised at the number of people in the room who were there more in support of Capcom than Ducktales, but I didn't spend much time thinking about that - so many interesting tidbits were explained! More later, of course, but I was hoping that someone on the panel had worked on the original game, as it would have been pretty fascinating to hear about the original concept and execution as well. After the panel, I headed back to the floor and meandered around a bit more, though I didn't get any great swag. I did find most of the rest of the booths on my list, and passed a few more 3D printers along the way. I got shut out of the Once Upon a Time experience twice more, but I wasn't that upset, and I'll talk about that more later as well. I met up with Jonathan for lunch, and we ate while watching some medieval LARP action, which is always fun. When we separated, I cruised the floor a little longer, admiring the $8,000 hand-painted Disney original posters and the $175 cels from such classics as Oliver & Company and The Little Mermaid. I was on the hunt for Wreck-It Ralph stuff, but I came up empty. I wasn't able to find a single drawing or piece of merchandise anywhere, and I had been looking and asking for days. I'm still dumbfounded as to why nobody's making it!

I wanted to be certain to get a spot in the "Disney Afternoon" panel, so I headed up early and sat through the last 10-15 minutes of a fiction-writing panel first. I'm glad I went early, as the room filled up with the latchkey kids of my generation, all of whom squealed with delight and applauded loudly as the creators, voices, and other affiliated folks were introduced. The hour was amazing. While I would have preferred a Rescue Rangers sing-along to another Ducktales one, I understood, as we were treated to the tale behind the creation of the theme. We also learned about the history of Gummi Bears and a similar show to The Wuzzles, as well as how Gargoyles came to be. Every panelist was excited to tell stories and answer questions, and I think the highlight was watching the original pitch for Goof Troop, which contained quite a few differences from the show you and I know. When the hour ended, the room was quiet sad, but many of us crowded the hallway to talk to the panelists some more. I was able to compliment Jymn Magon on his creative brilliance as he autographed my Ducktales DVD set, and I was so happy tears welled in my eyes as I walked away.

If I hadn't gotten the autograph, I might have made it into the next panel on my list, which was about Disney Pin Trading. But, I'm happier I talked to Mr. Magon. When I arrived at what would be my final panel, the room was already at capacity, and there were several people in line ahead of me. Two more skipped me very intentionally, but it wouldn't have mattered, as I gave up after about 20 minutes and left. It was time for one last pass around the floor, this time primarily for swag-trading purposes, as there were a few items that we were after which we weren't able to get on our own. Surprisingly, we were completely successful, though I'm glad I had Jonathan to do the talking - I just spotted the items we were after, LoL.

I don't think I've ever felt so weird leaving Comic-Con before. As our shuttle pulled away from the convention center, I was hard-pressed to believe that it was already over - it just went so quickly! I felt the same way when I sat down on my living room couch four hours later... it seemed like the schedule was just released and yet the experience was over for another year. (more than that, actually, as the event has been pushed back to July 24-27 for 2014.)

New readers, thanks for checking us out. Everyone, stay tuned for more posts, photos, details, and pilot recaps as we get caught back up to life! All those television recaps that should have gone up at the end of last week will be appearing as well. And, don't forget about our giveaways!

My 2013 Comic-Con Plans

Can you believe that it's already time for the San Diego Comics Convention? It seems like this year is really flying by! As I did in 2012 and 2011, I'm going to share my planned Comic-Con schedule. Veterans know that these things don't always go as planned, both because of the constant surprises at the event and because the lines are unpredictable. Be sure to follow along on Twitter (@TheTalkingBox) for the play-by-play and to see how well I do at keeping to the plan! One big change from years past is that I'm including Wednesday in my schedule, as I actually have plans! Another difference is that I'll be sacrificing an unknown amount of panel time to participate in a gaming tournament, but more on that below. I've also only scheduled a couple hours for Exhibit Hall, so I'll need to squeeze in a few more at some point, plus figure out when I'll donate blood, so I imagine the recap of the plan may be quite different. Stay tuned, let me know where I'll see you, and have a great time!

Wednesday, July 17th: 
ASAP: heading to Town & Country Resort for badge pick-up.

6:30pm: Ender's Game Fan Experience. Tour eight elaborate sets from the movie, representing the most iconic environments of Ender's world. Throughout the experience, attendees will be able to see exclusive film footage on LED screens, interact with new digital content, integrate photos of themselves into the highly anticipated Battle Room, and register to win a home make over. Although this doesn't technically open until Thursday night, I won tickets to check it out early, courtesy of this contest.

After: If it's before 10pm when we leave the Ender's Game Fan Experience, I've RSVP'd to attend the Enchantment Under the SDCC: SDCCBlog 2013 Reader Party at Henry's Pub in the Gaslamp.

Thursday, July 18th (a mix of TV and Comics, with a little education)

10:00am – 11am : Intelligence   Ballroom 20 

Josh Holloway (Lost), Meghan Ory (Once Upon a Time), and Marg Helgenberger (CSI) and executive producers Michael Seitzman (North Country), René Echevarria (Terra Nova, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), and Tripp Vinson discuss CBS dramatic thriller. Holloway plays Gabriel, a high-tech intelligence operative enhanced with a supercomputer microchip in his brain. With this implant, Gabriel is the first human ever to be connected directly into the worldwide information grid and have complete access to Internet, WiFi, telephone, and satellite data. He can hack into any data center and access key intel in the fight to protect the United States from its enemies. Leading the elite government cybersecurity agency created to support him is Director Lillian Strand (Helgenberger), a straightforward and efficient boss who oversees the unit's missions. Strand assigns Riley Neal (Ory), a Secret Service agent, to protect Gabriel from outside threats, as well as from his appetite for reckless, unpredictable behavior and disregard for protocol. As the first supercomputer with a beating heart, Gabriel is the most valuable piece of technology the country has ever created and is the U.S.'s secret weapon. exclusive viewing of the first episode, panel discussion moderated by Debra Birnbaum, president and editor-in-chief, TV Guide magazine. 

11:00am – 12pm  Star-Crossed    Ballroom 20
Stars Matt Lanter (90210, Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights), and Grey Damon (Secret Circle, Nine Lives of Chloe King), along with executive producers Adele Lim (One Tree Hill), Meredith Averill (The Good Wife), Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec (Mission Impossible, Alias), and Scott Rosenberg (Gone In 60 Seconds, Con Air). get a first look at the futuristic epic romance tale, Star-Crossed. When an spacecraft crash-landed in Emery's (Teegarden) small town when she was only 6, whether the aliens came in peace or with more sinister intentions didn't matter: a fierce battle erupted as humans fought for control over their new rivals, an alien species called the Atrians. In the midst of the conflict, Roman (Lanter), a 6-year-old Atrian boy, found his way to a shed behind Emery's house, where she protected him from harm. In their brief time together, Emery and Roman forged a deep bond, but the authorities wasted no time tracking Roman down and capturing him. Emery has grown up believing that Roman was killed that day. Ten years later, in 2024, the Atrians have been acclimated to life on Earth, but they are interred in a heavily guarded camp known as the Sector to keep them separate from humans. Now, for the first time, a group of Atrian teens will enroll in a suburban human high school, with the goal of testing the feasibility of human/alien integration. The eyes of the nation and the whole world are fixed on this historical social experiment, an endeavor fraught with suspicion and fear. In the mayhem of the first day, Emery is amazed to learn that Roman was not killed by the authorities and is, in fact, one of the Atrian students. Their childhood bond is quickly rekindled. In a school and a society that distrusts everything about the Atrians, Emery and Roman have found each other again. However, their relationship is threatened by the small-mindedness of their respective communities and the political agendas of people in power. While the world around them rages with anger and prejudice, their bond becomes increasingly strong and increasingly dangerous. As an epic Romeo and Juliet romance unfolds, a violent encounter between their two families could threaten their relationship. Can Roman and Emery's love-and peace between the species-survive? exclusive first look at the series, followed by a panel discussion. 

1:00pm – 2pm  Comics Arts Conference Session #3: Crossover Series: Comics to College Writing   Rm 26AB
Writing instructors Rich Shivener (Northern KY U), John Silvestro (Miami U), and Alex Jenkin (Miami U) discuss how they incorporate Batman, Scott McCloud, Will Eisner, and select indie comics into freshman-level college courses with diverse audiences, even those who are not fans of comics, considering both comics and academic writing as different methods to express arguments, narratives, and ideas. how use academic writing to analyze, realize, understand comics; use comics to think about limitations of academic writing and what it can(not) show. 

2:00pm – 3:30pm  Comics Arts Conference Session #4: Teaching Comics   Room 26AB   Aaron Kashtan (Georgia Tech) discusses why and how instructors can use comics to make students more aware of the materiality of media, both when analyzing media artifacts and when producing media artifacts of their own. Jeremy Johnson (U Minn) describes empirical research on how teachers taught middle-school students about the Holocaust using comics creation to share a nonfiction, research-based story. Peter Carlson (Green Dot Public Schools, UCLA) and Antero Garcia (Colorado State U) share findings from their research on how comic books can serve as tools to foster dialogue and nurture relationships that empower students. 

3:30pm - 5:00pm: Hitting a little bit of Exhibit Hall. 

6:30pm – 7:30pm   The Science of Science Fiction    Room 24ABC
Balance the two for a TV show or movie? Panelists Amy Berg (co-exec prod, Eureka, supervising prod, Person of Interest, Leverage), Kevin Murphy (writer/exec prod, Caprica, Defiance), Kevin Grazier, Ph.D. (science advisor, Defiance, Falling Skies, Gravity), Nicole Perlman (writer, Guardians of the Galaxy), and Jaime Paglia (exec prod/creator/ writer, Eureka) dive into the issue of the struggle between accurate science and an entertaining story. mod Dr. Phil Plait (writer/host, Phil Plait's Bad Universe, Slate Magazine's Bad Astronomy Blog). sponsored by Slate Magazine and The Science and Entertainment Exchange (a program of the National Academy of Sciences). 

7:30pm – 8:30pm   Tournament of Nerds LIVE   Room 26AB
Hit comedy show from the Upright Citizens Brigade theatre. Who would win in a fight, Batman or Wolverine? Superman or Gandalf? two comedians against each other to battle it out in heated debate. Hosted by Justin Donaldson (Reno 911!) and Hal Rudnick (Screen Junkies) and featuring Jonah Ray (Nerdist), Marc Andreyko (Manhunter), Maddox (The Best Page in the Universe), Roger Barr (I-Mockery), Mike Carlson (Conan), and many more. 

8:00pm – 9pm    I Don't Know $#!+ About Comics with Jesse Snider   Room 5AB
Want to start reading but don't know where to begin? make the transition from "I kinda liked that Man of Steel movie" to "I know everything about Superman, including his SSN!" panelists Jesse Snider (Evil Ernie, Toy Story), Mark Waid (Daredevil, Kingdom Come), Rileah Vanderbilt (Team Unicorn), Tiffany Smith (GameGeek host), and mod Aaron Sparrow (Darkwing Duck) indoctrinate you into the unequaled storytelling and imagination of comics! 

Friday, July 19th (Gaming, Comics, TV, Movies, and Scholarship... a little of everything):
9:30am - ? Taking Part in Geek & Sundry's Star Trek Catan Tournament in the Gaslamp. Allegedly I'll get to meet Wil Wheaton, and possibly play with him, if I do well enough in preliminary rounds. I might be out of there by 11 or 12, or I might be there until like 3pm. So, the rest of the day is subject to change, but here goes...

11:30am – 1pm   Comics Arts Conference Session #6: Masculinities/Femininities   Room 26AB 
Sheila Malone (UCLA) investigates how Batwoman and Batgirl displace the male hero in order to fight crime and live out narratives that befit a superhero/ine in a contemporary non- hetero world where queer, disabled, and renegade motorcycling are super/powerful. Jaclyn Hymes (CSU Northridge) expands Sedgwick's theories of homosociality by applying them to Maggie and Hopey's fluid sexualities in Jamie Hernandez's "Locas" stories. Using the lens of queer theory, Eric Schlegel explores how Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman's distinct experiences of identity can help LGBTQ individuals, and then in turn society as a whole, understand our own identities. 

3:15pm – 4:15pm   Marvel: Cup O' Joe    Room 6BCF
Q&A with Marvel's chief creative officer Joe Quesada, for everything Marvel. a rundown on breaking developments in Marvel comics, film, and TV? the biggest new series of the year, Guardians of the Galaxy! Featuring panelists editor-in-chief Axel Alonso, talent scout C. B. Cebulski, David Gabriel (SVP, print and digital publishing), writers Rick Remender (Uncanny Avengers) and Brian Michael Bendis (Guardians of the Galaxy), other Mighty Marvel guests! 

4:30pm – 5:30pm   Falling Skies   Room 6BCF 
last year ranked as basic cable's #1 summer drama among young adults. Stars Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton, Drew Roy, Collin Cunningham, Sarah Carter, Conner Jessup, and Doug Jones for a Q&A session, along with executive producers Remi Aubuchon and Greg Beeman. exclusive, never-before-seen footage from the third season. Wil Wheaton moderator.

5:45pm – 6:45pm   Making Roger Rabbit: 25th Anniversary    Room 6BCF
making of. a world class panel of animators led by legendary producer Don Hahn and featuring a the voice of Roger Rabbit himself, Charles Fleisher. The panel includes animation masters Andreas Deja and James Baxter, animator/writer/historian Tom Sito, and special effx wizard Dave Bossert, along with incredible clips and stories from the making of this classic film. 

7:00pm – 8pm   All Shapes and Sizes Welcome: Body Image and Women's Issues in Entertainment   Rm 32AB
Outspoken actresses, models, writers, and entrepreneurs share their own journey with body image, discrimination, and the road to self-love. Panelists Miracle Laurie (Dollhouse), Adrianne Curry (America's Next Top Model), Helenna Santos-Levy (founder, Ms. In The Biz), Dani Lennon (Bite Me), Elisa Teague (editor-in-chief, Cupcake Quarterly), Gloria Shuri Nava (The Beauty Adjustment), and mod Leah Cevoli (Robot Chicken) discuss the sexualization of women in film and TV, beauty myths and mainstream media's perpetuation of them, eating disorders, and an acceptance for women of all shapes and sizes in the entertainment Industry, while inspiring others to get out there and live their best life. 

8:00pm – 9pm   'geekEd.' Celebrating Geeks in Education   Room 9 
panel of education professionals, including Andrea Alfi (ABC Unified School District), Alex Belisario (UC-Santa Cruz), Alfred Day (St. Mary's College), Eugene Frier (U of North Texas), Brian MacDonald (Rutgers U), and Emily Sandoval (USC), to discuss how to appreciate and celebrate the geek in all of us. Learn how colleges and K-12 schools can reach out to geeks, invigorate the learning environment, and increase educational success. 

8:00pm – 11pm   Hall H and Ballroom 20 Friday Panel Playback    Room 25ABC 
join assistant to the director of programming for Comic-Con, Tommy Goldbach, in this 3-hour block that rebroadcasts some of the day's popular panels. a show of applause on what to see. [Hoping for Inside The Big Bang Theory Writers' Room, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC, Dark Horse: Joss Whedon, and maybe the Almost Human panel and the TV Guide Fan Favorites.]

Saturday, July 20th (TV, Comics, Fandom, Comedy. also, I'm not married to this schedule, so I suspect this one will be the most subject to change):

10:00am – 11am A&E Bates Motel   Room 6A

Exec prods Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Kerry Ehrin (Friday Night Lights) release new footage from the highly acclaimed A&E drama series Bates Motel exclusively for Comic Con attendees. joined by the cast, including Vera Farmiga (Norma Bates), Freddie Highmore (Norman Bates), Max Thieriot (Dylan), Olivia Cooke (Emma), and Nestor Carbonell (Sheriff Alex Romero) to discuss the show's unique backstory and creation. Mod Tim Stack from EW. 

11:30am – 12:30pm  Inside the Writer's Room: Earth's Mightiest TV Writers Assemble  Rm 24ABC
Meet the writers, producers, and executives who make genre entertainment what it is today, get an insider look as they share their candid thoughts on how to make the series we love. Find out how to break in today's highly competitive broadcast environment; secrets of the writer's room; why network execs care about message boards. Javier Grillo-Marxuach (The Middleman, Lost, Helix), Ashley E. Miller (Fringe, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Amy Berg (Eureka, TNT Geena Davis pilot), Steve Melching (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Transformers: Prime), Gabrielle Stanton (Haven, The Vampire Chronicles, Arrow), Jose Molina (Firefly, Sleepy Hollow), Sarah Watson (Parenthood, The Middleman), Mark A. Altman (Femme Fatales, Castle), and guests. Mod Chris Parnell (senior VP, drama development, Sony Pictures Television).

1:00pm – 2pm     CBLDF's Comics on Trial, Part 3: War on Thought Crime: How Artists and Readers Are Prosecuted For Comics  Room 30CDE 
In 1994, a Florida jury convicted cartoonist Mike Diana of creating obscene material in his hand-made zine Boiled Angel. As part of his sentence he was forbidden from drawing in his own home. In the last decade, an increasing number of individuals, including Christopher Handley and Ryan Matheson, have been targeted and prosecuted by law enforcement for reading manga that the government claims is deviant and obscene material. In conclusion of CBLDF's Comics on Trial series, CBLDF exec director Charles Brownstein walks through the disturbing current battleground where individuals are being prosecuted for the ideas they draw and read. 

4:00pm – 5pm   Power of Geek: Superfandom & Why Brands, Media, World at Large Want In  Rm 28DE
Not long ago, only attention to geeks came from bullies. Today, age of the nerd-do-well, geeks are driving significant trends across all forms of entertainment, steering pop culture and being courted by corporate America. How did this happen, why is it important, what does it mean for the future? Join Bonfire Agency, the first marketing firm created to help brands establish & deepen connections with the superfan community in relevant, meaningful ways, as they explore, discuss, inevitably argue about our collective moment in the sun. publisher Ted Adams (IDW Publishing), writer/prod/comic creator Grace Randolph (host of Beyond the Trailer), entertainment marketer Francis Mao (senior director creative services, Capcom), author Rob Salkowitz (Comic Con and the Business of Pop Culture), and Bonfire founding partner Ed Catto. Mod Steve Rotterdam, former senior VP of sales & marketing at DC Comics & founding partner of Bonfire.

4:50pm – 5:50pm   Revolution Special Video Presentation and Q&A   Room 6BCF 

epic adventure from Supernatural's Eric Kripke and J. J. Abrams. season 1 finale at The Tower and the switch to turn the lights back on-but the mystery of the blackout is just the beginning. exclusive video, Q&A with series stars and prods. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Bad Robot Productions, Kripke Enterprises, and Warner Bros. Television, second season premieres Wednesday 8/7c time period on NBC.

5:55pm – 6:55pm    The Tomorrow People Pilot Screening and Q&A   Room 6BCF
stars Robbie Amell (1600 Penn), Peyton List (Mad Men), and Mark Pellegrino (Lost), along with exec prods Greg Berlanti (Green Lantern), Phil Klemmer (Chuck), and Danny Cannon (Nikita), Q&A to discuss this story of several young people from around the world who represent the next stage in human evolution. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions, FremantleMedia, Warner Bros. Television, and CBS Television Studios, The Tomorrow People will air Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW this fall.

7:15pm – 9pm   ComiKev 2013: Kevin Smith Uses His Mouth on You in Hall H

A middle-aged man who hasn't made a flick in years! flight-challenged writer/dir/podcaster/ author/actor Kevin Smith! Ask about the forthcoming Clerks III, or Jay and Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie, or his AMC show Comic Book Men! the Clown Prince of Comic-Con!

Sunday, July 21st (Gaming, Education, TV, Disney):
10:00am – 11am   DuckTales: Remastered   Room 25ABC

How do you take a beloved 24-year-old NES game and update it for today's gamers while doing your best not to ruin anyone's childhood? Go behind the scenes with Austin Ivansmith (director/designer), Matt Bozon (creative director), and Rey Jimenez (Capcom producer) for an in-depth look at how a great video game is made -- from design, to art, to music, and more. Followed by a Q&A session, plus maybe a surprise or two. 

11-12: last trip around Exhibit Hall. 

12:30pm – 1:30pm   Secret Origin of Good Readers Breakout Sessions  Room 23ABC

Utilize the best ways to incorporate comic books in your schools and libraries. Work with experts in the field of comic book literature in small groups with Anina Bennett (Boilerplate, Heartbreakers): How to use historical fiction and teach comics in high school/university settings; Karen Green (Columbia University): What to look for when selecting comic books for your research/academic library; Dave Elliott (Weirding Willows, Titan Books): How to use Weirding Willows in elementary through university settings; Jesse McCann (New York Times bestselling author, Shrek, Scooby Doo): Choosing the right all-ages comic books for your classroom or library; Nancy McCann (Comics Unlimited): Working with your local comic book stores, how to find them, what to ask for; or Bill McGrath. using comic books in Juvenile Court Schools. Limited educator goodie bags and Looking Glass Wars trilogy book sets courtesy of Frank Beddor for those attending both panels. 70-page The Secret Origin of Good Readers resource book and other useful materials www.night-flight.com/secretorigin, courtesy of XMission.com. 

2:00pm – 3pm    25 Years of the Disney Afternoon: The Continuing Legacy    Room 7AB
Life is like a hurricane! Spin it! When there's trouble, you call D.W.! It's been more than 25 years since Disney Afternoon debuted on television screens, and the impact of "the golden age of Disney TV Animation" is still felt today. Let's get dangerous with Tad Stones (creator, Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers, Darkwing Duck), Jymn Magon (DuckTales, creator of Talespin), Bob Schooley (co-creator, Kim Possible, co-ex producer Penguins of Madagascar), Rob Paulsen (voice actor, Darkwing Duck, Animaniacs), and Aaron Sparrow (Darkwing Duck: The Duck Knight Returns) for raucous recollections and never-before-heard stories! 

3:00pm – 4pm   History of Disney Pins: The Tradition of Disney Pin Trading and Collecting   Room 29A
A panel of Disney pin experts featuring actor Holland Hayes and pin author Austin Badgett. Learn about the history, variety, and culture of the miniature works of art at the heart of the most interactive of Disneyana collectibles. Moderated by Jennifer Colyn (PinPics event director)