If you were part of the PBS generation, or were just alive for the last 40 years or so, you remember Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. I was so excited for this panel that you wouldn’t believe. David Newell or Mr. McFeely the deliveryman with the utmost speed told expectedly heart-oozing tales about working on the show. He regaled us with memories of Fred Rogers as well as some of his work on other programs which led to a new animated show on PBS, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, based off a character Rogers was the puppeteer for on The Children’s Corner.

Let me preface by saying I was doing church tears the whole time: desperately batting my eyes with a crumpled tissue, trying to be cool when realizing that I don’t see anyone else having this issue.

Normally I hate educational television because who wants to learn and be entertained, but Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood dealt with fundamental childhood development from the mundane subjects of understanding time, cleaning up and that you simply can’t fall down the drain, to complex issues of death, divorce and people with disabilities. He did so with a straightforward clarity that was personable and borderline philosophical.

 He was a mover and a shaker so pretty much all my inside photos look like this

David Newell discussed the history of the show from its origins in Canada (which this one obstinate teen who simply refused to grasp it could have started anywhere other than the U.S.) as well as how Mr. Rogers’ background in children’s education helped inform the way he approached television. He would map out episodes with intricate planning but allowed room for (slight) improvisation or things that would be discovered during taping. One of those clips was of Chicago folk singer, Ella Jenkins, teaching a clapping game that Mr. Rogers couldn’t follow, showing kids not to get frustrated and couldn’t grasp it because even adults are capable of making mistakes too.

There was a girl telling Mr. Newell, “I thought it was such a boring show when I was a kid, but I kept watching for some reason.” A lot of children’s television these days is about animated graphics, over-stimulation and keeping them entertained constantly, but it doesn’t engage them on a normal human level. Newell kept discussing the importance of their audience who is about pre-school age, that don’t understand the difference between reality and fantasy so it was important that Fred Rogers made this distinction with the Neighborhood of Make-Believe separated by a trolley ride from his home. Though it’s important for kids to deal with elevated emotions, Rogers understood that much younger children need a gentler voice.

But there were still things that could be taken in by older kids, the concept of an organized routine is much more realized in this pace: he creates a daily, repetitive sequence of tasks that enables children to reiterate the consistency in their own schedule. I can definitely attest to that as I remember mornings as a kid, always running late, putting on my shoes with Mr. Rogers. He actually taught me to tie my shoes when nobody else had the patience to teach me.

Fred Rogers was known for having people pause and considering how long a minute or even mere seconds actually are on his show and his famous Emmys acceptance speech which moved even the most jaded of audiences.

I’m Irish-Catholic so we have a tendency of saying things like this too often of our mothers and our priests, but Fred Rogers was the closest thing to a living saint. And he was a Presbyterian so that makes it double rare. For all of our desperation to find the truth or rather the ugliness inside people, you’ll be damned to find anyone who will say otherwise about him. His legacy will hopefully be continued in the new show, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, to provide kids with a voice that is compassionate, patient and approaching difficulties with an affable sense of humor and a song or two.

David Newell was such a softie. He’s the other kind of “total dad” character that can tell endless stories and wants to meet everyone to hear their connection to the show. He told the panel how one person came to the signing on bended knee with Newell’s high school class yearbook that belonged to the man’s mother that she never got signed by him in high school. A very modest “who knows how I got here!” kind of guy.

The other person of the Fred Rogers Foundation had drafted a random panel-goer to make sure Newell didn’t get too caught up in signing after the panel and miss his flight. 

He brought King Friday XIII and Lady Elaine!

I didn’t talk much with him because like most people I’m awkward especially around strangers but I asked him if we could take a photo with his “Speedy Delivery” hat and he said “Oh of course!” and instead put it on my head.

I was beyond ecstatic and the whole panel totally made up for what an awful day I had. I’m pretty sure the drafted volunteer thought I was weird, he kept asking about how good of a time I was having. It was like reliving my childhood, only now my socks match.

Freakin’. Awesome.

(I have no idea why l have open fists, l just never know what to do with my hands).

Other articles on Fred Rogers:

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/5943

(Although he was red-green colorblind, not blue-yellow as it states in the list. Meaning he could never see the exact color of his famous red cardigan.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/10/arts/still-around-neighborhood-mister-rogers-ends-production-but-mr-rogers-keeps-busy.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

• Tags
• Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood
• Fred Rogers
• C2E2
• Mr. Rogers
• King Friday
• David Newell
• Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

I was so ecstatic when I got to sit 3^rd row center for this event. I love The League so much I have even contemplated their costuming.

It’s one of the few shows that is set in Chicago and at least tries to show actual scenes of the city even if they’re unchanging stock shots.

Dot Com (a.k.a. Kevin Brown) as the opening act was an awesome surprise because chances are if you don’t watch The League, you’ve at least seen 30 Rock. His deadpan innocence when he recites his stuffy academic lines on the show always gets to me and his sadness when the characters just look down on him disapprovingly.

His dating comedy doesn’t always relate to me as I am a lady without a dick and don’t wear peep toe shoes, but when he talks about a broke ass woman’s messy apartment, I’m there living the dream.

Everyone would agree the best part is when he asked for the most palpable way to say the lady’s treasure box or “going downtown” on a woman and the guy in front of me, shouted “Sarlacc pit!”. Watching Kevin Brown try to pronounce it while the guy tried to help him and then Brown denouncing us with “you’re some fucking nerds in here”.

Steve Rannazzisi was very much of his character Kevin as far as the material was concerned, though that would make sense considering the main actors all write the show together. I think he manages to deliver comedy about his kids, a subject that almost undoubtedly occurs as a comedian is in his coasting slump years, and made it incredibly hilarious.

Although the jokes were mostly about his son, it was definitely weird some guy brought his own young son, guaranteeing a future as a drag stripper or a really stoned pizza delivery guy. He also gave some hookup tips to a ferocious catwoman and her possibly bisexual man on their first date fresh off the Speed Dating event.

I normally don’t care for stoner jokes (though I enjoy Doug Benson), not because I’m straight edge but because they’re often the same shit time after time. Yet Rannazzisi made it much more accessible with his stoned pizza guy, the way you’d regale your friends at a bar as opposed to some quips about eating stale bugles you found under your couch.

To top off the night, you were able to wait in line and meet Steve to get something signed.

It helped that I got to meet the Pee Wee Herman cosplayer who even had his own Globy while on line. If you knew me, you’d know how hard I tried to get tickets for Pee Wee’s Playhouse puppet show in CA, so this was for real awesome.

Though my picture came out rather blurry (never trust the Black Panther to take a photo, he’s busy with Afrikaa), I did get to have another completely irrelevant item signed by an entertainment star. All I had to justify it with was “please sign this, there is a unicorn on the cover.”

I think I’m starting a library of miscommunication between authors and actors.

But don’t fret, although you were probably just shrugging and watching more Full House reruns, I also got a photo with Dot Com the next day at his booth. I bought some pins from his booth I had signed for me and my other lovely ladies back home in their Christmas grab bag this season.

Whew, slowly but surely getting to that third day of C2E2, it’s almost there.

A few other outtakes:

Drunk ladies at the cluuuub

Air handjob to the face

• Tags
• C2e2
• Steve Rannazzisi
• Dot Com
• Kevin Brown
• The League
• 30 Rock
• Stephen Rannazzisi

I know we’re mostly a television blog but this was an event that I felt was worth mentioning.

This panel is exactly why I still try to maintain faith in comic conventions. I know C2E2 is for entertainment too, which I also have a huge stake in, but the entertainment section isn’t really a community so much as a mashing of people.  I didn’t have to wait on some line at 4 in the morning nor did I have to deal with anyone who didn’t know exactly who they were there for. It was a ridiculously small group for someone so legendary in the field, but it was a relief after all the insanity I was combating earlier.

 It was the usual cast of mostly men, some of their girlfriends, random senior citizens and that one weird guy who probably follows the main speaker like a groupie would for Phish on tour.

Neal Adams is like your dad. You idolize him yet you also get really mad at him when he tells you the truth and you want to go upstairs, slam your door and blast Motley Crue. I understood the points (and agreed with a few) that he made on the forever-bitter subject of Roy Lichtenstein being a thieving hack and The School of the Art Institute, my present school, as pretentious while praising/similarly laughing at School of Visual Arts students.

He was cracking some fun jokes with the audience, then he got into his Art History 101 lesson of weaving, which yes, was used primarily as decoration during medieval times, but he agreed with how stupid and pointless it was. I can take critiques on Lichtenstein (one of my favorite artists) and my school, but please don’t say something without minding the craftsmanship and artistry that weaving can have. When you’ve spent 16 hours straight on a loom operating on orange juice, Easter candy and fear, you’re going to be defensive about that subject.

He also made some general comments on Renaissance painters that have been said countless times and I could understand, but they came off arrogant on occasion. It felt like he was a step away from decreeing comic artists as gods sometimes, it was a little too strong for me.

He was self-aware, pulled himself back and covered his bases to remember that despite his dismissive comments, people are capable of extraordinary things in those fields. Though I know I shouldn’t have taken the comments all too seriously in the first place, they’re things that are close to my heart and even the steel can be sensitive to heat.

In a very dad fashion, Adams then unfurled his wise tales of the business and how comic artists have to stand up for themselves, not referring to free speech and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, but that comic artists are often willing to accept being underpaid which is worse considering they don’t even have health benefits. Of course someone brought their kid who was forced to hear some cursing, but Adams apologized that he was quoting a boss and that’s just how they used to speak back in the day. I’m mad I couldn’t find his booth to get my things signed and a picture with him, I was just hella lost all weekend even with a map. Oh those ladies, right?

In the end, I still love & respect him and the influence his work has had on me. Even with that groupie guy who talked down to me, trying to explain Neal Adams’ work to me while I had one of his early issues of Green Lantern tucked in my camera bag (and we were both in a Neal Adams panel). Of course that type of scenario happened to me A LOT that weekend which will be brought up in my “girl geek debacle” article in the future.

• Tags
• C2e2
• Neal Adams

Note: All the lighting in panel rooms were extremely heinous. Though for a paranormal themed panel, almost intentional?

WE’RE NO ANGELS: The Leading Ladies of Paranormal/Urban Fantasy was a panel fit for fantasy romance enthusiasts and potential writers alike.

The core of the discussion dealt with how to write in such a specific niche field where creatures like vampires, shapeshifters, angels, etc. all have historical connotations but also require the writer to be able to craft these worlds in their own frame of reference and bring new context to these characters. They have to be authentic by some aspect and allow the characters to have the same vulnerabilities and limitations as any living substance.

Let’s be real here, at least half the audience had to be here for Charlaine Harris. Her Sookie Stackhouse series is a major television show and she has been a top New York Times Bestseller on more than one occasion. She could’ve just showed up with a folding fan in wicker chair and been silent if she felt like it.

But of course she became the Latrice Royale of the women (or Sophia Patrillo if you prefer), punctuating her points as quick witted one liners that made everyone laugh. When the group was discussing the “Mary Sue” generic character debacle, some authors were talking about how they’d never let their audience influence their plot and depths of artistic grandeur, Charlaine Harris said “As long as you buy my books, you can call her whatever you want.” That’s not to say she’s swayed by the fickles waves of readers’ whims because she has to be the overall judge of the story’s intent, but she keeps in mind that this is not a self-indulgent exercise and her books are meant for her readers.

Christina Henry was cute as a button though, as a Chicago writer who out of the whole panel, does not write about vampires and the other in vogue topics for the genre. She writes about angels, ghosts and a gargoyle here or there. Henry provided that other voice to keep the authors from being unified in the same subjects, she is still very much in the paranormal romance world, but she knew that vampires weren’t her thing and wanted to find something different that was still fantastical. Also knowing that if a zombie apocalypse broke out, locking yourself at Costco is the way to go.

Karina Cooper was like the spunky kid of the group, I think she reminded people on the motive of sensuality which was interestingly left out of the title of the panel when all of them had romance within their books as a main element. I don’t say that to limit them as romance novelists only out to get their readers hot and bothered, but they are women writing predominately for women and sexuality is another inherent part of the living condition. Admitting her husband as her sugar daddy probably garnered her extra respect among the audience.

Pamela Palmer offered a certain rationale to her being an writer. She hadn’t intended to be a writer, which people who do often start off with the identity of their own creativity as an artist comfort blanket persona; she was an engineer who sought imagination in a tangible world. But she became an author anyway in realizing her impulsive need to tell stories. Something about this background probably influenced her stories and their primal settings.

Jeaniene Frost is also a NYT Bestseller so she had a good pull among the crowd as well. Frost brought out the horror element of the topics and how readers would send her letters asking if her characters were some type of wish fulfillment of her main character who completely slaughters people on a regular basis. She seemed to fill that stereotype of adorable women who end up writing the most gore out of anyone else. She didn’t need a black cape or anything.

Is it weird to say Kerrelyn Sparks was having some Grace Under Fire moments? A goofy mom who sort of stumbles about when they write, finding their own path to make it there. Y’know, minus the husky voice and alcoholism. Sparks was the most cavalier of the group, admitting when she gets stuck in her work she just fakes it until she makes it. I feel like she could have her own local coffee talk show.

Chloe Neill is the definition of site specific writing, the John Cusack of paranormal-urban-fantasy-romance-in-Chicago-with-humor. I think l’m making half this stuff up as l go along but l haven’t had any caffeinated tea. Anyway, Neill’s work has by far the most reference and reverence to Chicago as a haunted city with it’s own noir vibe comparative to NYC or Boston. Her books are the epitome of urban fantasy as they are a tribute to the lesser-known sites of Chicago.

She helped emphasize the research aspect of the paranormal/fantasy genre because it has such a well-known reputation in culture from Shakespeare to Dracula to Leslie Nielsen as Dracula. A great question was asked about how to deal with these types of historical limitations of the paranormal while keeping the story with it contemporary. The answers ranged from picking and choosing what you know about the creatures while using some kind of unifying factor (environment, vampires sleeping during the day, etc.).

A lot of it was very girl power pow wow and saying things that seem self explanatory to the writing process but sometimes people need the affirmation of professionals to clarify what they already knew.

“You and me. Midnight. Abandoned cemetery smothered in fog. Keep wearing that shirt you’re not wearing, I won’t tell my husband.”

• Tags
• C2e2
• Charlaine Harris
• Chloe Neill
• Christina Henry
• Jeaniene Frost
• Karina Cooper
• Kerrelyn Sparks
• Pamela Palmer

The cosplayers were out in full swing, not kicking ass or taking names, but they had some nachos and took some pictures.

Personally l’m rarely obligated to take photos of them because there’s an overwhelming number of people, but l did it for you guys and put on my tardis magnifying glass especially for Doctor Who people. It wasn’t hard considering they all seemed to have fezs (fezes? fezees?… ) on like a shriner gang. Some were a little too UCLA 1967 History professor for me so l tried to narrow it down to people who were H-to-T, head to toe in the game.

You do it, Cindy Lou Who!

This guy was so nice AND giving out Swedish Fish. For the future, guys: candy forgives any trespasses.

My friend Maegan posing with the Ghostbusters, we were both pretty excited about them. If you’re going to do something that’s classic/not modern, you’ve gotta commit like these guys. I saw so many store bought Halloween costumes that it was exhausting.

Don’t worry, she loves The Who too. And possibly the band.

His costume was pretty sweet and would’ve glowed more if the lighting weren’t so harsh.

There was a drag Storm that looked suspiciously like her.

I think they could start their own girl group. Leave a comment of a good name if you can think of one.

This Daenerys Targaryen was a great sport about multiple people jumping her, she couldn’t walk two feet without people stopping her. But she looked adorable AND, shoulder dragon!

That’s the end of the costume cavalcade, peace to the Middle East, I’m out!

(But still more C2E2 posts to follow of some great panels/events.)

• Tags
• doctor who
• cosplay
• game of thrones
• C2e2
• batman
• tron

For anyone who’s been to a convention: Friday is the hangover day. Come in late, Risky Business sunglasses with Bel Biv Devoe pants and grab a whole bunch of junk you’ll keep forever stored in your free Hello Kitty bodybag. lt’s the American dream (my tone implies sarcasm but l say this with sincerity; free stuff is my overlord).

Luckily the Nerdist signing was at 3-4 though l showed up like, halfway in.

My camera was a bit testy without it’s Baby Bottle Pop cut with black tar heroin, so bear with me.

Nevertheless the line was in full swing!

I didn’t have a chance to get a personal, non-blurry picture with Chris Hardwick and the gang because of my tardiness. Also it was cutting close to the discussion as they went over time to make sure each and every fan got something signed.

And like the true professional l am, in the mere minutes before my turn, decided between a program, a warm container of yogurt or a copy of Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own. It’s vaguely relevant right? Stuff about female writers, gender roles in fiction, some flowers near a foamy brook.

It was indeed his better work.

Then the discussion!

Reserved seats for nobody. They ended up letting us move forward but people kept reserving seats for like 3 people who weren’t there.

I just have to say that when you do that in a line for more than one person: Everyone hates you.*

* This opinion is not endorsed by The Daily Hey Now team, just one disgruntled writer.

Basically it was a discussion about The Walking Dead, new segments on Nerdist and to promote Tower Chronicles, an upcoming comic for IDW Publishing. Also banter about the growing geek community, vivid recollections of Attack of the Show and inevitably, Shipmates.

Guests included G4/Attack of The Show’s Alison Haislip (who you may be watching on Hulu’s Battleground, or most likely not because you don’t have Hulu Plus) and guys I LOVE and have unfortunately never seen live in NYC, Justin Tyler & Alex Zalben of main trio of Comic Book Club (live!). They make comics and comedy, guys. Comics of comics. I already apologize for that joke.

The first order of business was announcing new business on the upcoming first issue of Tower Chronicles, from rising Editor-in-Chief at IDW Bob Schreck.

Jim Lee (The Uncanny X-Men) did the cover for Tower Chronicles which was revealed for all! It appealed to the tween goth forever trapped in my appendix.

I have about 20 shots that resemble this bemused expression.

Among the new segments I was excited about, I was beyond ecstatic when they mentioned un-aired Kids in The Hall clips and interviews. Like picking your favorite Spice Girl, you had to choose your favorite kid wisely. Mine will forever be Dave Foley.

<3 <3 <3

Fond memories of space camp.

Alison’s appearance ended up being used mostly for tawdry witticisms (which was fine with me, she’s good at it) and a knock on Olivia Munn.

I will go on record and say I don’t jump on the begrudge Olivia Munn bandwagon just because it’s easy to do. It may be groan worthy to say it, but don’t hate her because she’s beautiful.

The questions were mostly the same ones you always hear:

1. Why is Walking Dead so inaccurate? That’s not how zombies walk. And it’s not like the comic so it sucks.  (side note: I’ve admittedly been too lazy to watch the show version. I’m only up-to-date on episodes of Crossing Jordan.)

Luckily Chris took this dead on with a “how the hell do you know how zombies walk?” philosophical rant as well as addressing a show will always differ from the original text. Not everything in print translates to the small screen, or any screen for that matter. It’s a completely different medium that requires different approaches and just allowing people to do what they do rather than judge before they’ve even shellacked on the silicone.

2. So, um, I loved you on Shipmates. Why did they cancel Shipmates? How do I get a copy of the show to plaster in my Boy Meets World shrine/murder barn?

Shipmates was hilarious. It’s still hilarious in memory form. And it is hard to ask original questions, but man, not contributing anything new, people.

3. Geek girls are so under valued. Where are they on your show, Chris, WHERE??

I literally groaned as soon as I heard a geek girl question. Doesn’t it seem like every week an article is coming out like “Geek Girls Exist, GUYS! Deal. With. It!” and they’re just a rehashing of the same women who keep cosplaying as sexy hipster Ninja Turtle pillowcase dresses or just have glasses.

Diane and I had a discussion on this trend and to help we’re going to contribute our OWN annoying article as well as a Ladies vs. Men battle on Film Thrasher about an upcoming show!

Stay tuned for updates on C2E2! Also if you’re in NYC -

Comic Book Club – Live!
Tuesday, April 17th – 7:30pm
Tickets: FREE!
Pianos NYC
158 Ludlow Street
Between Stanton and Rivington

WITH GUESTS:
BILL HADER (Saturday Night Live)
KEVIN CONROY (Batman: The Animated Series)

• Tags
• c2e2
• Nerdist
• Chris Hardwick
• Bob Schreck
• Tower Chronicles
• Justin Tyler
• Alex Zalben
• Alison Haislip