Expert geeks and contributing cynics Luke Y. Thompson & Gary Hodges are covering Comic-Con for Deadline. The following is a list of panels that they consider to be of most likely interest to Deadline readers. As there are not enough hours in the day, a panel’s inclusion on this list does not necessarily mean they will report on it in more detail later. This covers official convention events only; numerous other things, like the Cowboys and Aliens premiere, will be happening but are not necessarily open to all badgeholders. Opinions and commentary are those of Luke or Gary alone, and do not necessarily represent those of anyone else at Deadline. (Remember, Nikki doesn’t do geek…) All panels are subject to change, especially if somebody gets stabbed in the eye again this year:
FRIDAY, JULY 22
10:00-11:00 – Torchwood: Miracle Day. Doctor Who alumni John Barrowman and Eve Myles join Mekhi Phifer, Bill Pullman, Alexa Havins, Lauren Ambrose, and writer Jane Espenson to discuss the fourth installment of the BBC/Starz show. I hope that means things will get wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey. (GH) Ballroom 20
10:00-11:00 – Conversations with Sid and Marty Krofft: A Look at the Past, Present and Future
Sid and Marty Krofft created a whole bunch of delightful, nostalgic childhood memories for us, so I guess it’s only fair to let them off the hook for that Will Ferrell Land of the Lost remake. (GH) Room 23ABC
10:00-11:00 – Conversation with Dragon Ball Z and Yu Yu Hakusho Voice Actor Greats
According to the Comic-Con blurb, the voice cast, writers and producer will be on hand to answer questions “on topics ranging from Goku to Spirit Detectives.” My first question: “Which one is Goku, again?” (GH) Room 24ABC
10:00-11:00 – DC: Mad about MAD
One of the highest-rated series on Cartoon Network. MAD magazine editor John Ficarra, art director Sam Viviano and Spy vs. Spy artist Peter Kuper, along with MAD series producers Kevin Shinick and Mark Marek, for highlights from season one and a sneak peek at season two. (GH) Room 25ABC
10:15-11:15 – Star Trek: The Captains
William Shatner is joined by fellow Star Trek captain Avery Brooks for a preview of the documentary, produced and directed by Shatner, in which he travels the world to interview all the actors who’ve played Starfleet captains. Moderated by Kevin Smith to boot, it seems like it has a lot of geek fixations covered. (GH) Room 6BCF
10:30-11:30 – Cartoon Network Comedy: Regular Show / The Problem Solverz and More!
Cartoon Network trumpets their Monday night lineup, featuring Regular Show creator J.G. Quintel, Bill Salyers, Sam Marin, Janie Hadad, and creative director Mike Roth, as well as The Problem Solverz artist and show creator Ben Jones and Kyle Kaplan. Because it certainly can’t hurt. (GH) Room 6A
10:30-11:30 – Locke & Key FOX Pilot Screening
Presumably a last-ditch effort to find a home for the gothic-sounding series, as FOX decided not to pick it up and gave up even trying to shop it to another network for a little while. (GH) Room 8
11:00-12:00 – Paramount: The Adventures of Tintin
Steven Spielberg, known to many geeks simply as The Beard, makes a much-ballyhooed visit to Comic-Con to win over those of us who’re skeptical about making Herge’s lovable comic books into 3-D motion capture. Maybe he can also finally, definitively tell us if it’s “Tin-Tin” or “Tintin.” (LYT) Hall H
11:15-12:15 – AMC’s The Walking Dead
Stars Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Laurie Holden, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, and Jeffrey DeMunn, series creator/writer/director/executive producer Frank Darabont, executive producers Gale Anne Hurd and Robert Kirkman (creator/writer of The Walking Dead comic book series), and makeup artist/consulting producer Greg Nicotero reflect on season one of the hit show and talk a little about the upcoming season 2 – followed by a Q&A session where you can pick their braaaaaaaains. Too easy? Well, whatever. (GH) Ballroom 20
11:30-12:30 – Locke & Key Panel
After watching the pilot for the maybe-doomed show at 10:30, you can listen to creators Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez, and pilot writer Josh Friedman, talk about it. Hopefully it will consist of more than just 60 minutes of heavy sighing. (GH) Room 8
11:45-12:45 – Nickelodeon & DreamWorks Animation: Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness
It seems Kung Fu Panda is popular enough to get its own series. Good for them! Sad, though, for the creative types who had to sit in a room and sign off on “Legends of Awesomeness” as a subtitle. (GH) Room 6A
11:45-12:30 – Adult Swim: The Venture Bros
Show creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer will discuss the series and screen an early premiere of The Venture Bros. Special — From the Ladle to the Grave: The Story of Shallow Gravy (premiering August 28th). The panel also features James Urbaniak (Dr. Venture), who will always be R. Crumb in American Splendor to me – can I get a hell yeah? No? Hm. That’s disappointing. (GH) Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
12:00-1:00 – ABC Family: The Nine Lives of Chloe King
Cast members Skyler Samuels, Amy Pietz, Grey Damon, Grace Phipps, Benjamin Stone, Alyssa Diaz, and Ki Hong Lee join executive producers Dan Berendsen and Gina Girolamo, hopefully to defend their involvement in yet another piece of entertainment involving people with powers. (GH) Room 23ABC
12:00-1:00 – ASIFA/Hollywood’s State of the Animation Industry
Join Tom Sito (Lion King, Hop), Ken Duncan (Tarzan), Allen Battino (The Smurfs), Sean Petrilak (KFP TV show), Kevin Grow (Resistance:
Fall of Man), and Brittany Biggs (KFP II) as they wonder whether anyone other than Disney/Pixar will make an animated movie that can get nominated for Best Picture (they’re thinking it, even if they don’t say it). (LYT) Room 32AB
12:15-1:15 – Relativity Media: Raven and Haywire
Remember when Michael Jackson was supposedly going to play Edgar Allen Poe? And then Sylvester Stallone? Sanity seems to have prevailed, as John Cusack is a way better choice, though by the sound of it, Raven isn’t exactly a biopic, but a serial killer thriller in which Poe tracks down and obsessed and psychotic fan. Wonder which character will get to use “nevermore!” as a one-liner? Director James McTeigue already ruined V for Vendetta, so it’s better that this is an original tale. Also featured will be the movie Haywire, Steven Soderbergh’s latest movie starring a female lead who, like Sasha Grey, has never “acted” before: MMA star Gina Carano. Soderbergh doing action is iffy, but not impossible. (LYT) Hall H
12:30-1:30 – The Big Bang Theory Screening and Q&A
Kaley Cuoco appears with the rest of the cast… because let’s be honest, she’s the draw. That, and to see what t-shirt hipster geeks are now obligated to buy because Jim Parsons wore it. Look, it’s a funny show and all but do you realize Googling “Big Bang Theory” lists the show before the actual, you know, big bang theory? In any case: there will also be a small, improvised betting pool in a corner of the ballroom to see which non-Kaley cast member will be asked the fewest questions by the audience. (GH) Ballroom 20
12:45-1:45 – Legendary Pictures: Preproduction Preview
Okay, big deal, Warner Bros. won’t be having a movie panel… but Legendary will, and all their stuff is WB anyway. Most of the movies being discussed here are in preproduction, so this really is a first look: Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim, Jeff Bridges in Seventh Son, Alex Proyas directing Bradley Cooper in Paradise Lost, and a big-screen adaptation of the video game Mass Effect. Biggest surprise: this isn’t in Hall H. Good luck getting in. Seriously. You’ll need it. (LYT) Room 6BCF
12:45-1:15 – Adult Swim: Pilots/New Shows/Additional Sundry Topics
Senior vice president Mike Lazzo, vice president of production Keith Crofford, and vice president of comedy development Nick Weidenfeld preview and discuss new Adult Swim programming. You know what also has three vice presidents? Honduras. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions. (GH) Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
1:00-2:00 – Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Runaway Roadtrip Exclusive
Executive producer Paul Tibbitt, creative director Vincent Waller, and writer/voice of Plankton Mr. Lawrence offer a behind-the-scenes look at some upcoming episodes and the next SpongeBob SquarePants special, Runaway Roadtrip. Moderated by Claudia Spinelli, executive director for Nickelodeon. I bet it’s fun to be on a panel moderated by someone who could fire you. (GH) Room 6A
1:30-2:30 – Screen Gems: Underworld 4 and Attack the Block
There’s gonna be a fourth Underworld movie? In 3-D? But of course. The franchise hardly anyone really loves but many of us are generally kinda-sorta okay with keeps plodding along, with Kate Beckinsale back in the lead role of Selene, even though the third movie that was mostly without her was actually the best one. Since she’s married to creator Len Wiseman, we understand any sentimental attachment here. Attack the Block, which it seems every movie blogger in the world has already seen and lavished praise upon, involves a gang of delinquent British street kids who suddenly become more sympathetic when they have to fight off an invading horde of glowing-fanged monsters. The UK street slang may cause issues for some viewers, but samurai-sword-on-critter action translates just fine. (LYT) Hall H
1:30-2:30 – Adult Swim: Childrens Hospital
Rob Corddry, Jon Stern, and cast members Malin Akerman, Lake Bell, Erinn Hayes, Rob Huebel, and Megan Mullally promote their satirical spin on medical dramas. Okay, someone explain the lack of apostrophe to me. Is it left out to be ironic? It can’t be a mistake, right? [Readers say the missing apostrophe in “Childrens Hospital” is an ongoing joke. The hospital is named after a former doctor named Arthur Childrens.] Anyway, the panel wraps with a sneak peek at Adult Swim’s live-action comedy, NTSF:SD:SUV::, about a clandestine team of government agents working to protect San Diego from… okay now wait, why are there TWO colons at the end of the show’s name? This is too much. (GH) Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
1:45-2:45 – Bones. Creator/executive producer Hart Hanson, executive producer Stephen Nathan, and stars David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel discuss the finale of season 6 and what’s to come in season 7, along with a Q&A. I know what I’m going to ask! – “Will they or won’t they?” What? They hooked up two episodes ago? Well, this show is doomed. (GH) Ballroom 20 UPDATE: The panel has been canceled due to the series’ stars inability to attend.
2:00-3:00 – Green Lantern: The Animated Series Video Presentation and Q&A
Warner Bros. Animation brings the Green Lantern to television in a new CG-animated action series that should compliment their recent CG-animated movie, staring CG-enhanced Ryan Reynolds. He’s not actually that fit, you know. No guy actually is. Real men have soft, gentle features, like me. (GH) Room 6BCF
2:15-3:15 – Exclusive Screening of ABC’s Newest Supernatural Series, The River
Executive producers Oren Peli, Michael Green, and Zack Estrin, along with cast members Joe Anderson, Eloise Mumford, and Leslie Hope present an exclusive screening of their new series about a documentary crew searching for a beloved TV explorer/wildlife expert lost in the Amazon. Apparently there will be some sort of giveaway for those who show up, too. (GH) Room 6A
2:30-3:15 – Adult Swim: Black Dynamite
Writer and star Michael Jai White will appear with other creators and voice actors to promote the animated series, which “further chronicles the exploits of Black Dynamite and his crew.” Do you think Michael Jai White is disappointed or relieved he’s got a gig where he doesn’t have to do karate on camera? I suspect relieved. (GH) Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
2:45-3:45 – DreamWorks: Fright Night
A 3D reimagining of the ’80s vampires-in-suburbia horror-comedy that had really cool creatures for its time, and added the wrinkle that crosses only work on vampires if wielded by believers. Dreamworks/Disney seems to be downplaying the fact that David Tenant (Doctor Who) is in this, and he won’t be at the panel, but Colin Farrell, young Chekov, and McLovin’ will be. Apparently a free screening is happening somewhere too. (LYT) Hall H
3:00-4:00 – Rendering the Galaxy Far, Far Away: The Digital Art and Light of The Clone Wars
What does it take to bring The Clone Wars to the screen? How is the feature-film-quality animation produced on a weekly television schedule? And is there pressure to not outshine live-action Star Wars films too much? These secrets are kept by the artists at Lucasfilm Animation. Supervising director Dave Filoni, CG lighting and FX supervisor Joel Aron, and other talents from Lucasfilm Animation will answer these pressing questions. (GH) Room 7AB
3:00-4:00 – Eureka
Colin Ferguson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Neil Grayston, and guest star Felicia Day join executive producers Jaime Paglia and Bruce Miller for a chat about the series. Moderated by Wil Wheaton, planted on this panel like a delicious, aromatic chunk of geek bait. (GH) Ballroom 20
3:00-4:00 – Bob’s Burgers
Creator/executive producer Loren Bouchard, executive producer Jim Dauterive, and cast members H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, and Kristen Schaal preview footage from season two, and host a Q&A. Probably no one will ask “Since you want to be Family Guy, and Family Guy wanted to be The Simpsons, wouldn’t it be easier to just want to be The Simpsons and sorta… skip a step?” (GH) Room 23ABC
3:15-4:15 – Falling Skies
TNT’s series about the survivors of a devastating alien invasion will be at Comic-Con, with cast members Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton, Drew Roy, Collin Cunningham, and Sarah Sanguin Carter (Shark) in a Q&A. They’ll also show a little bit of new footage… SPOILERS: the humans aren’t wiped out yet. (GH) Room 6BCF
3:30-4:30 – Entertainment Weekly Presents…Totally LOST: One Year Later
EW’s Jeff “Doc” Jensen and Dan “Dan” Snierson wax nostalgic about the past and discuss life after Lost. Seriously. (GH) Room 5AB
3:30-4:30 – ThunderCats Premiere Episode Screening and Q&A
Warner Bros. Animation unveils the new reborn franchise, and hopefully it will be good enough to justify all the ThunderCats t-shirts people still wear. (GH) Room 6A
3:30-4:15 – Adult Swim: Robot Chicken
Seth Green, Matthew Senreich, and Tom Root discuss the popular Adult Swim series. Be careful not to sit Seth Green next to one of the action figures he animates, it might confuse people. You see what I did there? That was a joke about Green’s height! Because he’s short. I’m funny. (GH) Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
3:30-4:15 – The Military in Film
Several genuine military people talk about helping out Hollywood productions. Sadly, R. Lee Ermey is not one of them. (LYT) Marriott Hall 2, Marriott Marquis & Marina
4:00-5:00 The Boy Who Loved Batman
Sorry there isn’t a Dark Knight Rises panel? Well, there sort of is: Nolan-Bats executive producer Michael Uslan is here! Probably not the big name you were expecting, but can’t hurt to ask him about the new one. (LYT) Room 4
4:00-5:00 Costume Designers: Designing For Television Production
Costume Designers Giovanna Melton, Jill Ohanneson, Jim Lapidus, Shawna Trpcic, JR Hawbacker, and Cynthia Bergstrom discuss their craft in this panel, facing out over a sea of people dressed in robot costumes they made out of cardboard boxes and tinfoil. Unconfirmed: at least one of the designers will have a panic attack. (GH) Room 9
4:00-5:00 – Comedy Central: Ugly Americans
Dan Powell, Aaron Augenblick, Devin Clark, and the voice talents Matt Oberg, Randy Pearlstein, Kurt Metzger, and Larry Murphy take you behind the scenes of season two. Also: “a live, in-character surprise table read.” Um, I’m not sure they totally get what that word ‘surprise’ means. (GH) Room 23ABC
4:00-6:30 – Sony
Most people have been talking about the Amazing Spider-Man panel, in which we see if a complete cinematic reboot can be pulled off so soon, and whether director Marc Webb was hired purely for the synchronicity of his last name. But it’s another Marvel character that’s way more exciting: Ghost Rider, who returns in a new movie, directed by batshit insane directors Neveldine/Taylor (Crank, Crank 2, Gamer) and starring a lead actor possibly more looney than even they are: Nicolas Cage. Trying not to get hopes too high here – after all, 3-D Nic Cage in Drive Angry coulda-shoulda been more awesome – but you know whatever they show will make it look like something-or-other on crack. Also: a Total Recall remake with Colin Farrell, directed by Underworld creator Len Wiseman and costarring his wife Kate Beckinsale? Really? This is insanity in a bad way, methinks, even though the claim being made is that it’s closer to the Philip K. Dick book…but if they can prove me wrong, so be it. Finally, the pizza-delivery comedy 30 Minutes or Less, from the director of Zombieland (yay!) and Danny McBride, who isn’t scheduled to show up (boo). (LYT) Hall H
4:15-5:15 – Warehouse 13
SyFy’s series about a government facility that houses supernatural artifacts, and the search to recover more of them. Did you know one of the items is Janis Joplin’s Woodstock pass? And that was only two seasons in. Maybe they’ll ask the audience for artifact ideas. (GH) Ballroom 20
4:15-5:00 – Independent Filmmakers Postproduction Panel Discussion
Avid, the company that makes editing equipment, has now made a 15-minute action movie, basically to use as a demo reel for their stuff. Wanna see it, and learn about editing? Come on down. (LYT) Marriott Hall 2, Marriott Marquis & Marina
4:30-5:30 – Marvel Television Presents: Anime on G4
Iron Man, Wolverine, The X-Men, and Blade as interpreted by the Japanese anime studio Madhouse, with a preview of The X-Men‘s first episode. These have been out in Japan for a while already, so the question now is whether people who haven’t yet scouted them out online are going to accept the very… imaginative reimagining of the classic characters. (GH) Room 6BCF
4:30-5:00 – Adult Swim: Eagleheart
Chris Elliott on hand to talk about his first lead television role since Get a Life, and not talk about how in the world his daughter, SNL’s Abby Elliott, is so cute when he is so… Chris Elliott. Does not compute. (GH) Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
4:45-5:45 – Phineas and Ferb
Brains behind the series Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, along with voice talent Vincent Martella, Ashley Tisdale, and Dee Bradley Baker show exclusive footage and discuss the upcoming TV movie Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension. What’s the consensus, is Ashley Tisdale hot or no? I don’t know what sort of snarky remark to make right here. (GH) Room 6A
5:00-6:00 – BBC America’s Bedlam: Exclusive U.S. Premiere Screening and Q&A
This creepy-sounding BBC horror series about a haunted apartment complex officially premieres later this year, but you can catch the first episode early at this panel. I would think living in a haunted apartment complex would make little things like a neighbor with a surround-sound kit, like, the last straw. (GH) Room 7AB
5:00-6:00 – Motion Picture and Television Illustrators
Sad there’s no John Carter of Mars panel? Hey, like with Batman, sometimes you just have to look carefully: storyboard illustrator Ricardo Delgado is here! (LYT) Room 23ABC
5:30-6:30 – True Blood Panel and Q&A session.
Having just recently kicked off its fourth season, the panel will include Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Ryan Kwanten, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Nelsan Ellis, Deborah Ann Woll, Kristin Bauer van Straten, Joe Manganiello, and Kevin Alejandro. Alexander Skarsgård will not be attending, as he had a planned prior engagement: doing lots of sit-ups. (GH) Ballroom 20
5:45-6:45 – Spartacus: Vengeance
Liam McIntyre, Lucy Lawless (oh, you’ll always be Xena to me), Manu Bennett, Dustin Clare, and Katrina Law join executive producer Steven S. DeKnight to discuss the upcoming second season, titled, Spartacus: Vengeance and the Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Blu-ray. (GH) Room 6BCF
6:00-7:00 – Hermes Press / Dark Shadows The Classic Series and the New Tim Burton Film
Lara Parker (Angelique from Dark Shadows), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans and Josette DuPres from Dark Shadows), Jim Pierson (consulting producer for the new Dark Shadows film), and Daniel Herman (publisher, Hermes Press) will talk about the long-running vampire soap opera that supposedly got both Johnny Depp and Tim Burton interested in gothic horror in the first place (um, thanks?) and inspired the current movie version they’re making. Some movie news is promised, but as early in the process as the film is, expect them to wait till the very
end and tease you with very little. If you like the show, though, they’ll talk plenty about it. (LYT) Room 4
6:00-7:00 – Alphas
Syfy’s new series about even more People With Powers, this time the twist being they solve crimes. David Strathairn joins “other cast members”, plus a few executive producers. Because nothing gets enthusiasts more excited than the possibility of talking to a producer. Room 6A
6:00-7:00 – The Hub: Batman: 45th Anniversary of the Original Series
For the first time ever, Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), and Julie Newmar (Catwoman, GILF) appear together at Comic-Con. The cast will share memories from the show and introduce and discuss their favorite scenes, followed by an audience Q&A. I refuse to insert any onomatopoeias, here – you can’t make me, 1960s Batman! Room 23ABC
6:00-7:00 – Girls Gone Genre
Marti Noxon (screenwriter/producer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Mad Men, Fright Night), Gale Anne Hurd (producer, The Walking Dead, Terminator, Aliens), and Marjorie Liu (writer, X-23, Daken: Dark Wolverine, Black Widow, Dirk & Steele novel series) will talk about what it’s like to be a woman telling stories in traditionally male genres. I’d make a joke here, but only half the readers would find it funny. (LYT) Room 25ABC
6:00-7:00 – Simpsons Collectors Group
This is a room where collectors of Simpsons merchandise can gather and discuss their passion. Hey, there’s that face again! Why do you keep doing that? (GH) Santa Rosa Room, Marriott Marquis & Marina
6:45-7:45 – RiffTrax Live
Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett continue to do that Mystery Science Theater 3000 thing, without actually calling it that so they can’t be sued. Live commentary is promised for a “classic short.” Just a short? Awwww. (LYT) Room 6DE
6:45-7:30 – At the Drive-In
Does anybody attending Comic-Con know what a “drive-in” is any more? Those that still exist: do any play stuff other than whatever was the new release six weeks ago? Perhaps a new name for this is in order, but readers of Joe Bob Briggs may get the idea, which would seem to be squeezing one panel out of two tangentially related exploitation flicks. Grave Hunters is a found-footage film that riffs on the notion of a TV ghost-hunting show gone bad. Its directors call themselves “The Vicious Brothers,” a moniker that needs to be earned before being fully adopted. Then there’s Tucker and Dale Versus Evil, in which a pair of well-meaning hillbillies get mistaken for murderous rednecks by a group of obnoxious preppies. Alan Tudyk, who should never (in a just world) play gay German ever again (28 Days, Transformers 3) will be appearing
alongside Eli Craig and Tyler Labine, who are less famous. (LYT) Hall H
7:00-8:00 – Teching Out with NCIS: LA
Creator and executive producer Shane Brennan, actor LL Cool J, and other NCIS: LA cast members discuss the real and imaginary surveillance technology from the series to an audience that includes at least 2 or 3 overenthusiastic, note-taking Megan Fox fans. (GH) Room 6BCF
7:00-8:00 – Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts
Check out clips from the upcoming feature documentary about the acclaimed writer who says the Matrix movies ripped him off. Bet he was happy the sequels made everybody mad. (LYT) Room 7AB
7:00-8:00 – Making Genre Movies from the Pen Up
Step one: realize that nobody writes scripts with a pen any more. They have things called keyboards now. Step two: listen to this panel of low-budget genre filmmakers (full disclosure: one of them, makeup artist Tom Devlin, is a friend. Even though he made me wear really uncomfortable contacts once). (LYT) Room 23ABC
7:00-8:00 – Sushi Girl
Heckuva cast, Sushi: Mark Hamill, Noah Hathaway (that kid from the original Battlestar Galactica and The Neverending Story), Tony Todd, Sonny Chiba, James Duval…nice. A group of friends reunites after a heist-gone-wrong to eat sushi off a naked girl. Great premise already. Probably something else happens after that, but if you’re not already sold, you ain’t gonna be. All the main cast members will be in the house. (LYT) Room 25ABC
7:30-8:30 – Death Valley
MTV’s horror-comedy-faux documentary series, in which vampires, zombies and werewolves start springing up all over the place. The cast and executive producers will be on hand to discuss “the challenges of bringing the comedy and horror genres together”. Because that’s never been done. (GH) Room 5AB
7:30-8:30 – Lost Girl
In this Canadian import, Anna Silk plays Bo, a succubus who feeds off sexual energy. Too much sex with her will kill you, but since she a conscience she tries to avoid that… yet like a vampire she needs to “feed” so there has to be at least some sex every now and then. She’s also bisexual, and thus makes out with attractive female costars once in a while. It will be interesting to see if this high-concept show finds an audience at Comic-Con. (GH) Room 24ABC
8:00-9:00 – Reign of the Dinosaurs
When Jurassic Park came out, I thought it would be cool if someday they made a faux nature documentary depicting the normal, everyday life of dinosaurs, behaving like real animals (hunting, sleeping, mating) rather than eating cars and opening refrigerators. It only took about 20 years to finally happen. The Discovery Channel is putting the finishing touches on their series, working closely with leading experts and artists. (GH) Room 6DE
8:00-10:00 – World Premiere: Batman: Year One
It’s easier to be faithful to comic books in animation, somehow… But do we really need to see the Batman origin story again, this soon? Frank Miller’s take on it was great, but Batman Begins used a lot of that stuff already. I’ll be happy if they get to Year 2 after this, though: The Reaper is one of the most underrated Bat-foes. Here’s the real deal, though: Eliza Dushku and Katee Sackhoff do voices in this DTV movie, and will be onhand afterwards for a Q&A. Now it all makes sense. (LYT) Ballroom 20
8:00-11:00 – Hall H and Ballroom 20 Friday Panel Playback
This continues to be a good idea. (LYT) Room 25ABC
8:30-9:30 – The Aquabats Super Show
Aquabats MC Bat Commander, Crash McLarson, Jimmy the Robot, Ricky Fitness, and Eagle Bones Falconhawk will talk about their new series coming this fall to The Hub TV Network. Attendees can also win tickets to the Aquabats concert on Saturday night, because then they know at least someone will show. (GH) Room 5AB
9:00-11:00 – Syfy Screening: Eureka, Haven, and Mercury Men
An advanced screening of the next all-new episode of Eureka, followed by an all-new Haven. And then the exclusive premiere of the new digital series The Mercury Men. I guess sitting and watching Syfy all night is more acceptable if you’re in a room full of other people. (GH) Room 6A
9:00-10:00 – Worst Cartoons Ever
Jerry Beck shows off his latest collection of terrible cartoons to people who really, really enjoy poorly done art. Is there a psychological explanation for this phenomenon? (GH) Room 6BCF
9:15-10:15 – Locke & Key FOX Pilot Screening Encore
A replay of the very same screening that took place earlier in the morning. (GH) Room 6DE
9:30-10:30 – Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Crackle.com: Issues
Josh Cooke, Matt Oates and Greg Grunberg discuss the series, which follows a psychologist whose clientele are all animated superheroes. The voice cast – including Seth Green, Ron Livingston, and Rob Riggle – will be there to discuss the series, along with the show’s creators. (GH) Room 7AB
10:00-12:00 – Spike & Mike’s Sick and Twisted
Yes, Spike & Mike still exist. They’ll be showing their latest bunch of tasteless, gross, offensive, and occasionally funny cartoons at Comic-Con,
including recognizable names like Happy Tree Friends. I’ll be curious to see what the overall lineup looks like though – when I first saw one of their festivals, what was most interesting about it was the fact so much of the animation was so conspicuously underground, amateurish, and novel… but as time has gone on, the pieces have become more polished and originate from big names. I hope at least some of the show hearkens back to those earlier days. (GH) Room 6BCF
10:15-12:00 – Encore Screening: Batman: Year One
Still awake? Didja miss it the first time? SWEAR TO ME you missed it the first time! (LYT) Ballroom 20
Must Read Stories
Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.