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Top Five Most Anticipated Programs at Comic-Con International 2010

Once again, members of The Masked Movie Snobs are descending on San Diego for pop culture’s biggest event of the year.  Over the four and a half days, it’s impossible to see all the interesting things on hand and offsite because Comic-Con is jam packed, ranging from first looks at movies to sessions with comic-book creators.  To help sift through the schedule, here are the top five programs they are most interested in experiencing.

Choronologically, El Bicho’s list reveals he hopes to attend:

1.  DANNY ELFMAN – Elfman will be on hand to talk about his 25-year relationship with director Tim Burton from Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure to Alice in Wonderland.  A Warner Brothers Records executive will be on hand to announce plans to celebrate their Silver Jubilee but as a fan of his work for 40 years all I want to hear are plans for Oingo Boingo to reform for a Halloween concert this fall. 

Thursday, 10:30a.m Room 6BCF

2. PENN + TELLER: 35 YEARS OF MAGIC & BS! – I am expecting the fellows to do something spectacular that will have everyone talking and tweeting about what they just saw during this spotlight on their career and television series.  Hope the Magic the Gathering card-game players don’t get confused and show up.

Thursday, 7:30p.m Indigo Ballroom Hilton Bayfront

3. WORST CARTOONS EVER – Hosted by animation historian Jerry Beck (wish I knew about that job growing up), it’s a yearly tradition of mine to laugh myself near silly at the gawd-awful cartoon cavalcade.  Alleged to be on the bill this time are excercise-leading super-hero Mighty Mr. Titan, space cadet Johnny Cypher, and a canine crime fighter named Bat Beagle.

Friday, 9:00p.m Room 6BCF

4. THE VENTURE BROS. – I hestitate mentioning this because last year’s panel was filled to capacity…during the Fables panel which took place before it.  However, when the VB creative team gets together, the results are usually hysterical.  This year creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer are joined by Patrick Warburton (Brock Samson) and James Urbaniak (Dr. Venture) to provide a sneak peek of the upcoming season.

Saturday, 12:00p.m. Indigo Ballroom, San Diego Hilton Bayfront  

5. WITH GREAT POWER: THE STAN LEE STORY – Stan “the Man” Lee, one of the most important men in the history of comic books, is the focus of this feature-length documentary.  A panel with people involved in the film’s making, including Stan, will be in attendance.

Saturday, 8:30p.m. Room 6BCF 

Honorable Mention: LITTLE LULU FAN GROUP – I try every year and always fail, but I am achingly curious to see who the heck is still into Little Lulu after all these years.  Unfortunately, this year finds the panel bumped out of the convention center, so odds don’t look good.

Saturday, 2:00p.m. Santa Rosa Room, Marriott Hotel and Marina 

As Musgo Del Jefe prepares for another San Diego Comic Con adventure, here’s the things he’s looking forward to the most:

1. DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK – If you’ve read Musgo’s previous review of the original film – you’ll know that this is a very important film to him. The chance to meet and question Guillermo del Toro about producing the remake is probably tops on the list. I’ll be paying close attention to the crowd reaction of a bunch of teenagers who have no idea what the original film was all about.

Friday, 2:00 p.m. Hall H

2. COMMUNITY – This show grew more than any other show this past season from premiere until finale. By the end of the season, it was the first comedy of the NBC Thursday night lineup that I would watch off the Tivo. Mainly I’m just anxious to see both Chevy Chase and Joel McHale.

Saturday, 3:00 p.m. Indigo Ballroom Hilton Bayfront

3. THE WALKING DEAD – Not only is the comic a really engrossing and fun ride but you add in Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile) and I’m all over this zombie show. I’ve got much higher hopes for this than say The Prisoner from last year.

Friday, 11:30 a.m. Room 6BCF

4. SID AND MARTY KROFFT – The chance to see my childhood heroes? Priceless. Sid and Marty will be talking not only their shows from the ’70s but they’ll be talking Jack Kirby too. I’m antsy just sitting here thinking about it. I could listen to them for hours just talking H.R. Pufnstuf and Lidsville. This will be one panel that will pass way too quickly for my liking.

Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Room 24ABC

5. THE ANTI-HEROES OF SHOWTIME – Over the past couple seasons, Showtime has really captured the market of original shows that HBO used to have the monopoly on. This panel will bring together some of my favorites and my future favorites. The first hour will be Dexter‘s Michael C. Hall, Californication‘s David Duchovny and Weeds‘ Mary-Louise Parker. That will be followed by an hour of just Dexter. The only show represented that I haven’t gotten into yet is Nurse Jackie but I’m sure I’ll find enough here to become interested in that show too.

Thursday, 4:45 p.m. Ballroom 20

Honorable Mention: Dinner at LUCHA LIBRE GOURMET TACO SHOP – I’m planning on as many tacos as my dinner budget allows. And maybe a burrito the size of my forearm.

About Cinema Sentries

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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