Thursday , March 28 2024
The top 10 panels two attendees are hoping to see on Saturday.

San Diego Comic-Con 2015: A Preview of Saturday’s Programming

BC correspondents Shawn Bourdo and Gordon S. Miller highlight the panels they are most looking forward to attending at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

Written by Shawn Bourdo

It’s Saturday, July 11th, and the Con is both in full bloom and finishing up.  I’m at my most ADD on the Saturday of the convention.  I will not spend too long waiting in line to get into a panel.  I will choose an open room or go wander the convention floor.  It’s also easy to play panel potluck because there are so many quality options.  I’ve narrowed it down to five that I might actually stand in line for at Day 3.

1.  LAND OF THE LOST SERIES REUNION (Room 29AB) (10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.)

I’ve attended all of the Krofft panels in my 20+ years of Cons.  Sid and Marty are two of the most entertaining speakers I have had the pleasure to see. They aren’t listed for this panel but they are still bringing the nostalgia big time.  This is an all-star reunion of the cast of one of their most beloved series.  Wesley Eure (Will), Kathy Coleman (Holly) and Phil Paley (Cha-Ka) are all due to appear.  I might need to pull up a front row seat.

2.  TV GUIDE MAGAZINE: FAN FAVORITES (Ballroom 20) (11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.)

This panel seems made just for me.  I’m not optimistic that I will be able to get into it but there is a all-star cast inside.  David Anders from iZombie will make an appearance.  That would almost be enough for me.  But then actors from just about all the shows I watch will be there – Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones), Ming-Na Wen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead).  The highlight of all of these for me is Wendi McLendon-Covey from The Goldbergs.  She’s the funniest character on live-tv as Beverly Goldberg.  Let’s hope for a random short line.

3.  SID & MARTY KROFFT: A LOOK AT THE FUTRE, PRESENT AND THE PAST (Room 5AB) (12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.)

Here’s my yearly check-in with the brothers that brought so much happiness to my Saturday mornings.   I know that each year we hear about plans and mostly they are just plans.  Not everything has come to fruition but I love seeing these guys while they are still able to make it to the Con.  Eventually the kids won’t know anything about their shows and I’ll be sad.  I expect we will hear more this morning about a new Sigmund and the Sea Monsters from Amazon and the oft-talked about Electra Woman and Dyna Girl film.

4.  ANYTHING GOES WITH JOHN BARROWMAN (INDIGO BALLROOM) (3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

Sometimes the schedule just writes itself.  If you  read any of my previous round-ups of the Con, then you know this hour has been the most belly laughs I have had the past couple years.  Many of the stories I can’t repeat in a family-friendly crowd but that makes it even better.  John is on a roll this year with his Arrow developments.  But I can guarantee there will be just as many Torchwood questions before the hour is over.

5.  THE MUPPET SHOW COMING TO ABC (Room 6A)  (3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

Then there are the Sophie’s Choices of each Con.  The point and time when two of the things you want to see the most are playing against each other quite a ways apart.  This is the worst-case scenario of this Con.  I’ve been looking forward to the return of this show for decades and now that it’s here I will have to make a last-minute decision to see this or John Barrowman.  There will be Muppet performers there, which makes it even more desirable.  But that’s the way Con goes sometimes.  You look over the schedule and you pick out your favorites but circumstances put you in other rooms than you planned on and despite the 15 panels I’ve picked for the past three days I might find a new favorite gem in a far off room I never thought about.

The end of the day on Saturday brings my Con experience to an end mostly.  Sunday is moving day and I’m off to the airport with little time for the panels.  I hope the results are even half as interesting as my anticipation.

Written by Gordon S. Miller

1.  THE LAST MAN ON EARTH (Indigo Ballroom) (10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.)

Will Forte and his cohorts created not only one of the funniest sitcoms of last year, but one of the most original.  I hope the tease they offer for the second season is substantial but it won’t be enough to keep me satisfied until I get more.

2.  CHILDHOOD’S END (Indigo Ballroom) (11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

I’ll stay right where I am at to learn about Syfy’s miniseries based on the Arthur C. Clarke novel.  I know its the home for Sharknado, but I expect all involved will do the novel justice.

3.  ODDBALL COMICS LIVE (Room 7AB) (4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.)

Cartoonist Scott Shaw! delivers a hysterical presentation of some of the strangest and most ridiculous comics, characters, and covers in the history of the industry.  If it doesn’t leave you laughing, you might be an oddball.

4.  THE 70S PANEL (Room 5AB) (4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)

It’ll be great to relax and take in stories of the decade when some of my favorite comic books were written.  The line-up features Chris Claremont (X-Men, Wolverine), Bob Layton (Iron Man), Steve Lieber (Superior Foes of Spider-Man), Don McGregor (Black Panther, Sabre), Dean Mullaney (Eclipse Comics). Mark Evanier is the moderator.

5.  WARNER BROS. TELEVISION AND DC ENTERTAINMENT SCREENING BLOCK (Hall H) (8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.)

This is great way to get a jump on next season.  There’s a screening of the Supergirl pilot along with a Q&A with stars and producers, plus individual special video presentations and Q&A’s with stars and producers from Arrow, The Flash, and Gotham. In addition, there is is going to be a special Q&A with cast and producers of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and a peek at the new digital series Vixen.

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Formerly known as The Masked Movie Snobs, the gang has unmasked, reformed as Cinema Sentries, and added to their ranks as they continue to deliver quality movie and entertainment coverage on the Internet.

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