The 2014 FOX Fanfront Event

Today, as I was already in New York, I attended the FOX Fanfront. It's similar to the official Upfront presentation because it takes place a little earlier/at the same time, is held adjacent to the Beacon Theater where the advertisers and press journalists were watching, and showcased much of the same talent.

Jonathan Bredemeyer

But, it's also a very different experience. Rather than a cushy theater, you're under a tent in the heat.

Jonathan Bredemeyer

Jonathan Bredemeyer

The bulk of the time, it's just the "red carpet" portion before any event - actors answer questions for reporters as they make their way in, cast by cast. But, it's 2014, so each celebrity was encouraged to tweet about being there, and they were also taking selfies with audience members and signing autographs for the fans. There were a few special presentations, including a three-song concert performed by American Idol contestant Jessica Meuse (who came in 4th in the currently-running season).

Jonathan Bredemeyer

Jonathan Bredemeyer

Then, another triple treat from Glee's Darren Criss. 

Jonathan Bredemeyer

Pitbull was also around, and although we cheered for him, it seems he just went straight to the "real" event. Honestly, the best pre-event part was actually watching an episode of Riot, which was really pretty amusing. But, more on that another time.

If you weren't in the first couple of rows, or even in the first section of bleachers (which was mainly filled with those who camped out overnight or were waiting since at least 6:30am), you couldn't really interact with the talent, nor even see them that well, as FOX wasn't utilizing their screens to help others see what was going on in the very warm room. At least we were kept happy with bottled water and snacks, including a soft pretzel that was just perfect. Others were busy going gaga over the various actors coming in...

Jonathan Bredemeyer

Jonathan Bredemeyer

Jonathan Bredemeyer

Jonathan Bredemeyer

Jonathan Bredemeyer

Jonathan Bredemeyer

One surprising negative was that the room didn't even quiet down when trailers for the new series were shown. Now, I'm more of a Marvel fan than DC, but I would have appreciated being able to hear the Gotham trailer. A plus, though, is that this is the second time FOX has let the public attend such an event - the Upfronts are so advertiser-focused that TCA members don't even get invitations. Actually, I'm kinda intrigued with how a single journalist might cover the Upfronts when two networks present on the same day, as this morning's NBC presentation was at the Javits Center was two miles from the Beacon. In LA you just drive it, but in NYC, that's either a multiple-subway trip, a 40-minute walk, or a cab ride that could potentially take 15 minutes, given how traffic seemed this morning. But, I digress. All in all, it was interesting to attend, and I'm glad I have some pictures to share with all of you. I mean, where else would you see this guy?

Jonathan Bredemeyer

Jonathan Bredemeyer

We'll actually weigh in on the new series of FOX and the other broadcast networks in the near future, so look forward to that as well.

Oh, and a random bonus shot... walking back to the hotel we came across this taking place...

Jonathan Bredemeyer

Midseason Check-In: What Will Happen to the Rookies?

[original comments from 2/21/14; final update: 5/10/14]

Shows have come and gone, both for me and for everyone. Many mid-season replacements are moving along now, and others are coming back from Olympics hiatus, so let's take a short look at how the new network programs have done based on what has premiered so far...

What I Planned to Watch:
The Goldbergs (ABC): 15 episodes in, 7 more to go in the first season. I'm willing to bet it'll get renewed, which is great, because I enjoy it. RENEWED!
Lucky 7 (ABC): CANCELLED after 2 episodes.
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC): Full season ordered, but I quit after 3 episodes. It'll likely be renewed. RENEWED!
Intelligence (CBS): 7 of 13 in, and I gave up after the pilot. Numbers are decent, but there are other factors in play for a second season. CANCELLED!
The Crazy Ones (CBS): 15 episodes have aired so far, and it may or may not be renewed, but I quit after 5 episodes. CANCELLED!
We Are Men (CBS): CANCELLED after 2 episodes.
Star-Crossed (CW): only one episode in, so it's too early to really tell. CANCELLED!
Dads (FOX): its season of 18 episodes has finished airing, and many believe it will be cancelled. I quit after 6. CANCELLED!
The Michael J. Fox Show (NBC): CANCELLED after 15 episodes; I quit after 8.
Sean Saves the World (NBC): CANCELLED after 13 episodes; I quit after 5.
Welcome to the Family (NBC): CANCELLED after 3 episodes, though a few more are available on Hulu.

The Others:
Back in the Game (ABC): CANCELLED after 10 episodes. 
Super Fun Night (ABC): It will only run 17 episodes, and it's not looking good for renewal. CANCELLED!
Trophy Wife (ABC). It will have a full season, and has 8 episodes to go, This one actually won me over, but nobody else, and it's not likely to be renewed. CANCELLED!
Betrayal (ABC): It has finished its 13-episode season, and I'll bet it's canceled. CANCELLED!
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (ABC): You CAN have too much of a good thing, and this is an example. 8 episodes have aired so far, and probably only 5 more will. CANCELLED!
Mom (CBS): 16 episodes so far, 8 to go, and it looks like renewal is a distinct possibility. RENEWED!
The Millers (CBS): 10 episodes aired so far, and more should come this year and next. RENEWED!
Hostages (CBS): It ran 15 episodes and is not likely to get any more. CANCELLED!
The Originals (CW): RENEWED!
Reign (CW): RENEWED!
The Tomorrow People (CW): 13 down, 9 to go, and although this one could go either way, I'm betting against it. CANCELLED!
Almost Human (FOX): 6 episodes aired so far, and the horizon is bleak. CANCELLED!
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX): 16 down, 6 to go, it's doing well, but could do better. RENEWED!
Enlisted (FOX): 5 out of 13 episodes have aired, and the ratings are just abysmal. CANCELLED!
Murder Police (FOX): CANCELLED without airing.  
Rake (FOX): 5 out of 13 have aired, and the audience is steadily declining. CANCELLED!
Sleepy Hollow (FOX): RENEWED!
The Blacklist (NBC): RENEWED!
Chicago P.D. (NBC): 5 out of 15 episodes have aired, and it's a toss-up at the moment. RENEWED!
Dracula (NBC): It got its 10 episodes, and although it's not looking great, a renewal is not impossible. CANCELLED!
Ironside (NBC): CANCELLED after 3 episodes.

What are your predictions at this point in the season?

Photo Recapping 2013 Comic-Con: The Costumes

Friday: me with Vanellope and Fix-It Felix! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Though we did do daily wrap-ups of the excitement that is San Diego Comic-Con (follow everything here), there's still so much more to share and say! I have at least six articles in the works (ranging from recaps and quotes to advance pilot reviews and analytical nitpicks) but I wanted to share some of the fantastic photos that were captured during the event. This is the second year that TheTalkingBox has had a separate photographer at the convention, and most of the images will be credited to him, though there are some that I took with my boring phone because I was in the right place at the right time! Of course, this only reinforces the idea that one person's cosplay interest is not another's, but hopefully you'll find something you enjoy amongst the two dozen selections below! So, without further ado, let's take a look:

Thursday: Wolverine, Batman, and Iron Man meet. At first I thought that
WAS Hugh Jackman! but he's not big enough. by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Thursday: Link sits in line. by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Thursday: a group of something! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Thursday: a group of superwomen! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Friday: probably the coolest mask I saw all SDCC! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Friday: Jessica Rabbit! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Saturday: a kid meets Iron Man AND Bumblebee! by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Saturday: a rare shot of half of the Rescue Rangers!
Gadget & Dale! by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Saturday: Ninja Turtles vs. Ghostbusters in a battle from the 80s! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Saturday: Princesses and their Plumbers. by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Sunday: an incredibly impressive Edward Scissorshands.
by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: toads and princesses come in all
shapes and sizes! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: The one and only Dick Tracy! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: you gotta watch some battling! They're so intense! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: I don't know what these are but they match!
by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: Sleepy Hollow's Headless Horseman. by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: Talk about attention to detail! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: so life-like I stopped in my tracks! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: Up characters were a popular this year! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: Wreck-It Ralph! by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Sunday: Another Wreck-It Ralph! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: Wreck-It Ralph's Vanellope von Schweetz in
both forms: racer AND princess!! by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Sunday: Alvin, of The Chipmunks. by Jonathan Bredemeyer

There were thousands of other costumes, of course, but we couldn't capture all of them, nor were all the shots that great, thanks to other people always trying to get the same picture. Plus, we've all seen stormtroopers and wookies before, so I didn't include those, although we have them! Stay tuned for more Comic-Con articles and photo recaps to come!

TV Highlights at Comic-Con 2013

Over the 4th of July weekend, SDCC released the schedule for the upcoming convention. Between comics, movies, video games, television shows, and countless other pop culture phenomena, hundreds of panels will take place between July 18th and 21st. Let's take a look at some of the television highlights. Check back this week for the schedule we will attempt to follow this year with two staffers at the event.

Thursday, July 18
Intelligence: 10 a.m. in Ballroom 20. It's the CBS thriller where a man has been implanted with a super-computer microchip so he can help the government by quickly hacking internet, telephone, and satellite data.

Star-Crossed: 11 a.m. in Ballroom 20. It's the CW drama where Aimee Teegarden is in love with an alien who is part of "The Orion 9," a group that has been in an internment camp since landing.

Beauty and the Beast: 12 p.m. in Ballroom 20. Back this year are Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan for CW's cult favorite.

Psych: 1 p.m. in Ballroom 20. Always a hit panel, James Roday, Dule Hill, and Maggie Lawson will be on the panel for this USA series.

The Blacklist: 3 p.m. in Room 6A. A new NBC drama, this police procedural will have a wanted criminal turning himself in, offering up all his colleagues, and then demanding to work with a rookie FBI agent.

The X-Files 20th Anniversary: 3:30 p.m. in Ballroom 20. The reunion of Mulder and Scully from the long-running FOX thriller. 

Dexter: 6:30 p.m. in Hall H. After several appearances at Comic-Con, it's time for this Showtime series to say goodbye with Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, David Zayas, and James Remar.

Hannibal: 6:45 p.m. in Room 6A. With one season in the books, this serial killer series makes its first appearance at SDCC.

Friday, July 19
The Big Bang Theory: 10 a.m. in Ballroom 20. What's interesting here is that the focus is not on the actors but on the writers for this CBS ultra-hit.

Adventure Time: 11 a.m. in the Indigo Ballroom at Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. The Cartoon Network cult hit's creator Pendleton Ward and some cast members.

Veronica Mars: 11:15 a.m. in Hall H. With a highly-anticipated film in the works, creator Rob Thomas and several stars (including Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, and Chris Lowell) will be available to show exclusive footage and answer questions.

Nikita: 11:30 a.m. in Room 6BCF. It's the end of the line for this CW cult series starring Shane West. Catch it one last time

Bones: 12:30 p.m. in Ballroom 20. Rather than giving up new scenes, CBS's Bones will share never-before-seen footage, coupled with some teasers.

The 100: 12:45 p.m. in Room 6BCF. Another of the CW's new dramas, this dystopia is based on not-yet-published books set 97 years after nuclear war destroys civilization. Can you handle another futuristic apocalypse drama?

The Walking Dead: 1:35 p.m. in Hall H. The line will surely be long for this one! Stars Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, and others will be in the room alongside the creative team to discuss what's ahead in season four of this AMC series.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1:45 pm. in Ballroom 20. Another highly anticipated panel will feature Joss Whedon and surprise guests to discuss the new ABC series.

Game of Thrones: 2:50 p.m. in Hall H. If you make it into the room, you're probably in for a treat. GoT has had hugely appreciated panels in the past, and with HBO's Emilia Clarke, Richard Madden, and Peter Dinklage around, it should be epic once more.

The Following: 3:15 p.m. in Ballroom 20. Last year, the pilot was shown to attendees, so be sure to see what's in store for Kevin Bacon during season two of the FOX serial killer thriller.

Sleepy Hollow: 3:30 p.m. in Room 6A. FOX is bringing out the pilot for a screening!

Almost Human: 4 p.m. in Ballroom 20. It's J.J. Abrams' new FOX futuristic police series, featuring robot assistants.

Bob's Burgers: 4 p.m. in Indigo Ballroom Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. FOX's non-MacFarlane, non-Simpsons animated show will return to SDCC with more never-before-seen footage and a Q&A with the creator and several of the voice actors, including Dan Mintz and Kristen Schaal.

Falling Skies: 4:30 p.m. in Room 6BCF. Previous Comic-Con goers are likely after the killer swag from this panel, where TNT stars Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton, Drew Roy and more will tease the remainder of season three.

Archer: 5 p.m. in Indigo Ballroom Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. A screening and Q&A from FX's covert operations cartoon, featuring voice actors H. Jon Benjamin (yes, it's poorly timed as he's also a voice for Bob's Burgers!), Aisha Tyler, and Judy Greer, among others.

TV Guide Magazine Fan Favorites: 5:15 p.m. in Ballroom 20. A real crowd-pleaser, this year's hot actors include Candice Accola, Joseph Morgan, Tyler Hoechlin, Henry Ian Cusick, Danai Gurira, Clark Gregg, and Blair Underwood.

Animination Domination High-Def: 6:45 p.m. in Room 6DE. FOX's anti-Adult Swim comedy block will preview two new series: Axe Cop and High School USA!.

Saturday, July 20
Bates Motel: 10 a.m. in Room 6A. Cast members Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore, and others will participate in a Q&A as well as show some new footage from the A&E horror series.

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland: 10:15 a.m. in Ballroom 20. Premiere screening of the ABC spinoff, need I say more?

Once Upon a Time: 11 a.m. in Ballroom 20: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, and others will be available to discuss the upcoming Neverland episodes.

Futurama: 12 p.m. in Ballroom 20. Futurama is another show at the end of its life, so as Comedy Central waves goodbye, join voice actors Billy West, John DiMaggio, Katey Sagal, and more as they perform from "Last Episode Ever." Plus, Matt Groening will be there to showcase some of his excellent cartooning!

How I Met Your Mother: 12 p.m. in Indigo Ballroom Hilton San Diego Bayfront. The CBS comedy has never been to Comic-Con before, but the whole cast Josh Radnor, Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, and Alyson Hannigan) will be in the house to promote their final season, as well as creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas!

The Simpsons: 12:45 p.m. in Ballroom 20. After 25 years on the air, the FOX animated family comedy is still going, here to show never-before-seen footage. Also, you can hear "We Put the Spring in Springfield" performed live.

The Originals: 1 p.m. in Indigo Ballroom Hilton San Diego Bayfront. Possibly the CW's most-promising pilot for fall and spun off from The Vampire Diaries, check out a preview and do a Q&A with the stars.

Family Guy: 1:45 p.m. in Ballroom 20: Fans can expect to see Seth Green, Alex Borstein and some surprise guests... if you can handle a twelfth season of this FOX feature.

True Blood: 3:30 p.m. in Ballroom 20. With a new showrunner Brian Buckner, the series returns to Comic-Con with a chunk of stars to preview what's next for the HBO vampire series. 

Revolution: 4:55 p.m. in Room 6BCF. Season two of the NBC post-apocalyptic drama will move to Wednesdays, but here you can see an exclusive first look, as well as take part in a Q&A with actors and producers.

The Tomorrow People: 5:55 p.m. in Room 6BCF. Watch the pilot for the CW's new drama, based on a UK series where people are evolving to possess the powers of teleportation and telepathy. Several actor will also be in attendance.

Sunday, July 21
Supernatural: 10 a.m. in Hall H. Another CW series, this panel will combine an exclusive video presentation with stars Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins, and Mark A. Sheppard answering fans' questions.

Doctor Who: 12:30 p.m. in Hall H. Why this panel is always on Sunday is beyond me, but BBC America is celebrating the show's 50th anniversary, so it's sure to be crowded in line!

Community: 1:50 p.m. in Hall H. NBC actors and showrunners will be around for this one, the show's first time in "the big room." Look for Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Ken Jeong and more.  

Under the Dome: 2:15 p.m. in Room 6BCF. The CBS summer hit series makes its debut with several actors and producers around, including Mike Vogel, Dean Norris, and Rachelle Lefevre. 

Sons of Anarchy: 3:50 p.m. in Hall H. The FX biker drama panel will include the full cast for a fun way to end Comic-Con.

Looking Ahead: FOX's Comedies and Dramas for 2013

During their presentation, the big thing FOX mentioned was the goal of year-round programming. This means that the 22-episode season that runs from September to May isn't their primary agenda anymore. Shorter seasons, year-round premieres, and some show-juggling will all occur to make this happen. On the one hand, it's innovative and will probably get people watching, especially couch potatoes who are always upset that nothing "good" runs in the summer. On the other hand, less episodes rarely satisfies fans, and not having a steady schedule can be confusing to those without DVR or Tivo.

Head's up - in a nutshell, I'm not huge on any of FOX's upcoming works... I might try one of the comedies, but none of the dramas or other works. And, honestly, that worries me!

COMEDY:
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (previously the untitled Dan Goor/Mike Schur comedy) may sound like a drama (or at least it does to me), but with Andy Samberg as part of the cast, it has to be a comedy. The series is based on a group of NY detectives in which there's a slacker who learns to mature and play by the rules. Not my cup of tea, but it could find an audience.

Dads is the Seth MacFarlane project that's keeping his reboot of The Flintstones off the air, or so it seems. Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi are BFFs whose respective fathers move in with them on short notice. I love Ribisi as much as the next person (or perhaps more), and that's the only thing that might convince me to tune in. MacFarlane is sure to sell at least a few episodes to viewers, though!

FOX

Enlisted is the new home for Geoff Stults. As you might imagine, it's a military show about three brothers who work together on an Army base in Florida. I was willing to check it out for the Floridian in me, but after taking a look at the trailer, I just have no interest in this comedy.

Murder Police is an animated comedy about am "inept" detective and his colleagues. Jane Lynch will do some voicework for the series. People who suck at their jobs are a pet peeve of mine, so I'll gladly be turning to something else. 

Surviving Jack (once known as I Suck at Girls) is based on a coming-of-age book where a boy becomes a man and a man becomes a father. I can't look away quickly enough on this one, and feel that FOX might not have been the best network for it.

Us and Them (previously Friends and Family) is yet another BBC ripoff, but with Jason Ritter and Alexis Bledel. The premise is basically that you can have all the friends and family in the world but still struggle with relationships. I'm not impressed.


DRAMA:
Almost Human (previously Human and The Untitled Bad Robot/J.H. Wyman project) is a futuristic police series with robot assistants. On the surface, it's not worth a second thought. The fact that there are no huge names in it, either, doesn't help.

Gang Related is pretty much like it sounds. A young member of the Gang Task Force in LA is teamed with a veteran to take down the three most dangerous gangs in the city. The catch is that rookie has ties to one of them. I'll pass due to lack of interest, but be aware that we're actually looking pretty far into the future here, as it isn't set to debut until next May.

Rake examines a criminal defense lawyer reminiscent of Dr. House, as he's "brilliant but self-destructive." The series is ripped off of an Australian show and we're looking at a January premiere. I absolutely believe that there is an audience for this one, and we might have a contributing author cover it here, but it's not for me. 

Sleepy Hollow is a modern version of the novel, with Ichabod Crane resurrected to find the apocalypse forthcoming. He will buddy-up with a female police officer to save humanity. Now, besides the fact that it's a really rather ridiculous idea, how does one make a series out of this??

OTHER:
24: Live Another Day is the much-anticipated miniseries sequel to the hit show of ten years ago. It'll run twelve episodes, each encompassing an hour like the original drama, but some hours will be skipped. While the idea behind 24 always fascinated me, I never got into the Jack Bauer stuff and will be passing this time around, too.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey is a 13-part docu-series that's basically just updating Carl Sagan's original. As much as I love documentaries, space isn't really my thing, so I'm out. 

Wayward Pines is the midseason miniseries from M. Night Shyamalan, focusing on the disappearance of some federal agents in Idaho. I'm not one for a lot of "thriller" stuff on television, and Idaho isn't the most exciting place to me, so I'll pass.

What do you think you'll try?

[quick links to the other networks: ABC, CBS/CW, NBC.]