One would think with the long lines, tired paws, and over-heated attendees throughout the day that the mood throughout Comic-Con would be like the 405 fwy during rush hour…but in fact the awesomeness of all things Comic-Con combined with an over stimulation of celebrity availability mixed with a dash of ‘Free Hugs’ goonies like the guy dressed as a Ninja with a sign reading ‘Ninja’s need hugs too’ (which of course I did, hope he was legal) the CON is once again a beautiful and disturbing mix of all that’s right in the world.
Where else can you get up close and personal with icons such the likes of Leonard Nemoy and Lou Ferrigno as well as countless others in one trip?
Something new to the mix, or at least new to my experience, is the lining up in the early AM for a chance to get a ticket or wristband for high profile celebrity autographs. Its no longer 1st come 1st serviced…so the bitter pill of it is that the guy who showed up 5 min before the line closed gets a wristband because he drew a ticket with a turtle stamped on it, but you, who have been waiting mind you since before the sun rose, do not. Fair you ask? It depends…which person you were and for what line? Personally I was awarded a Charlaine Harris, famed author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels; wristband after waiting in line an hour and a half and then getting back in line 3 x’s and finally drew the right ticket. I then proceeded to jump in line for Adam West right before they closed it off and whallah another winning ticket. So my professional opinion, it’s a good idea because it gives the attendees who don’t have a team of 6 holding places in line just as good of a chance.
Charlaine happily signed at NO CHARGE up to 3 items of any origin and offered to take pictures with fans completely free.
Adam West, famed TV’s Batman and voice of Mayor Adam West from TV’s Family Guy, was not so giving. Not only did he arrive in the fashion of the late Michael Jackson disguised in hat, sunglasses and face mask, but they announced after 300 people who won tickets lined up to collect, that there were no photos allowed unless you paid $20 (sorry Adam but you made that call after I got snap-happy) 
plus any item to be signed was $40 and had to be pre-approved, and the DVD’s were $60. Of course the happy crowd reminded the coordinator that all celebs were required to sign 1 program page absolutely free. So I have Mr. West in TMZ style candids and a signed batman dedicated program page. Cost $0…SCORE!
Ballroom 20-or as I like to call it MINI Hall-H, because this year some of the larger and high profile panels were moved into this room. Panels such as TV shows BONES, DOLLHOUSE, FRINGE, TRUE BLOOD, V, and of course Sundays famed long line of death for DR. WHO. #1 problem…the room is not large enough to support the fan bases behind these shows as it only accommodates a fraction of the HALL H potential and as the lines all weekend proved there was definitely an audience clinging to Ballroom 20. Now as we all know they do not clear rooms between panels, which works both for and against us.
(I will briefly remind everyone on the Twilight fiasco of Thursday which screwed everyone NOT interested in seeing the cast of NEW MOON out of seeing anything else in HALL H that day-so much for the programming schedule).
However the ‘restroom’ passes are actually the god-send to this room as its central location allows for one to get in for a panel your NOT interested in, grab a pass immediately, go run and grab an autograph or whatever, then as long as your back before that slip cut-off time…BAM your in, like a ninja!
I’ve included some pics of the BONES, DOLLHOUSE, V, FRINGE, & TRUE BLOOD panels for your enjoyment…
Monday, August 31st, 2009
