It's no secret that many "Supernatural" fans are also "Smallville" fans. Many found the former because it came after the latter. The two shows are an iconic sci-fi pairing that have managed to consistently perform well for their networks year after year after year. They’re now together again after a year apart for what is “Smallville’s” final season and it couldn’t be more fitting.
Vampires. It gets funnier every time I hear it.
Okay, I borrowed that line from Supernatural's Dean Winchester, but it does make a point. The world is vampire crazy right now, especially thanks to Twilight and True Blood. Why do we need another vampire show? Because when it comes to the blood-sucking creatures, the stories are endless. The Vampire Diaries, a new series on The CW making its debut Thursday at 8 pm, is based on the series of novels by L.J. Smith that came out starting in 1991, long before Twilight or True Blood.
Elena, a 17-year-old high school student, is starting to readjust to life again in Mystic Falls, Virginia after the death or her parents. She is taken with the new kid in town, Stefan Salvatore, and they are instantly drawn to one another. Oh, but he happens to be a vampire. What’s worse is Stefan’s brother Damon has followed him to town and this dude is evil. That sets up an intriguing little war between a good and an evil brother for not only Elena’s soul, but the souls of everyone in town.
"Any great vampire story is at the center an epic, beautiful sweeping love story," said executive producer Julie Plec at this summer’s Comic-Con during a roundtable press session. "Two people who have no reason to be together and yet fit so perfectly with each other."
When I first saw the cast of Fringe at Comic-Con in New York in February, they mostly seemed nervous and uncertain in the spotlight. The banter among the cast wasn’t all the smooth either. After taking in a few season one episodes, I could see why. Despite the promising premise of FBI agents dealing with growing unexplained scientific phenomenon, aka fringe science, this show still hadn't found its footing at that time.
Meet the new Spinal Tap! They’re a rocking Indian and a white dude with a keytar who are becoming larger than life all because some guys started snickering in a writers' room after way too much coffee and chocolate. Yes, I’m talking about Jeffster, made up by two dorks from the Buy More, Jeff (Scott Krinsky) and Lester (Vik Sahay). They aren’t some copy cat act though. Instead of “Big Bottom,” they rock the house with the quintessential classic, "Fat Bottomed Girls." Also... nope, that’s all I got.
Comic-Con has always been about bringing the artists and fans together, clearly evident by everything I saw on the Exhibit Hall floor on Friday. Comic book and collectibles dealers shared their offerings with rabid fans, fan boys and girls in costume constantly stopped to pose for pictures, artists talked their latest creation and gave autographs, geeks checked out the latest video games, greeting card animators met their adoring fans... um, wait, back up there a minute.
Next to our table was Kunal Nayyar, who plays Rajesh Koothrappali. The following is a few excerpts of our conversation with him.
Do you actually like grasshoppers or is that a cruel joke they slipped in there by making you drink that?
It would be fun if they were real grasshoppers on the show, but I’m sort of lactose intolerant so I get water — it’s disgusting, it’s water with artificial whitening powder and a little bit of green color.
On Friday I arrived for my first San Diego Comic-Con and it turns out, thanks to all the people-watching and fun walking through the Exhibit Hall, I only made one event. I was part of the privileged club that got into the press conference for The Big Bang Theory. This was my first press room, and I had no idea what to expect. The experience ended up being rather surreal.
We all rushed in when the doors opened, and the video cameras and TV outlets jockeyed for position in the front row. Print media (aka me) went to three back tables, hoping to get our turn with someone. While the marquee stars of the show never made it to our table, we did get the huge honor of getting 20 whole minutes with Bill Prady, co-creator and executive producer for the show. The conversation was so fascinating and thrilling for someone like me who gravitates more toward the creative minds of a show than the actors that instead of giving highlights I ended up transcribing the entire interview.
There’s so much to report and so little time, but I have to say, Comic Con so far has been everything I’ve expected, and nothing I’ve expected. Just like life.
Sure, I’m a San Diego Comic Con virgin, but not a Comic Con virgin. I did the much smaller one in New York. Still, I was told of the hazards of getting into events at this one, and it’s even worse this year. I couldn’t get into a thing. However, all it takes is a long walk through the exhibit hall and you know the allure of this con isn’t the TV and film panels, no matter how much Hollywood loves to hype. It’s the energy on the floor. The fans posing for constant pictures in costumes. The people of all ages pouring through the stack of old comics, posters, collectibles, and speaking with excitement with the artists involved. The gaming rooms and creative panels. This is what the spirit of the Comic Con has always been about. Everything else is just noise.
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