General thoughts- My Experience at the Creation Stargate Convention in Chicago 2010
Chicago Creation Convention 2010- General Thoughts
While I was at Chicon, I got to meet several of my favorite people. Obviously, Dan Shea and Robert Picardo were my two favorites of the weekend. The memories those two gave me will be some of my favorites until I die. Words can’t explain how grateful I am to them, nor how awesome it was to around them. Another of my favorites was David Hewlett. That man personalized every autograph and talked to every person that came through his line even though convention officials told him not to do so. I even got to have a short conversation where I told him that he reminded me of Quentin Tarantino. He smiled and played it off a bit, laughing.
“Of course you are much more handsome!”
“Well, I wasn’t going to say anything but…”
Add in how much fun he seemed to be having and he was a great guest.
It reads "Connie: Great Choice in Film. Thanks! Love, David Hewlett" So sweet!
I love Michael Shanks. Not to the extent that Pip does but nevertheless, I adore the man. I really enjoyed his panel and the quick kung fu/karate thing we did after we both moved in opposite directions during my photo op session. Short but entirely memorable. During the autograph session, I granted him full permission to be vulgar and obscene on the cover of my copy of “The Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon.” He wrote, “Cheap Ass Shit,” then drew a frowning crying face instead of his trademark smiley face. That cracked me up!
Oh how he hates this movie!
Christopher Heyerdahl was just effing gorgeous! I was not at all prepared for how good looking and good smelling that man was. Also- GOOD GOD IS THAT MAN TALL! During his panel with Andee Frizzell, the two were hilarious, jumping around, at one point, Chris even did a happy dance. It was great! Most of my memories with Heyerdahl come from the Karaoke party. When Pip and I started singing “The Time Warp”, Chris was bobbing and grooving along with us. He very nearly came on stage, though in the end, he decided against it. Later, she and I went over and said hi to him to which he responded in an eastern European accent, “Good. Very good.” He then proceeded to tease us about how at the end of “The Time Warp” everyone is supposed to fall down. I responded with, “Well, we aren’t drunk enough and we don’t want to hurt ourselves.” He laughed and nodded and I made my way a few rows up. I sat down beside the Wraith Queen herself, Andee Frizzell. As Heyerdahl was walking up to the DJ for something, I happened to look up at him and he winked at me. I giggled shamelessly. I’m not afraid to admit it. Though, at this point, I was on fan girl overdrive.
About five minutes later or so, I worked up the courage (read I finished my beer) to go up to him again.
“I don’t have a camera but can I have a hug?”
“Of course love.”
He then proceeded to give me one of the best hugs I have ever had. The lapel of his jacket hit me in the head and I made some crack about being short. He laughed and started to bend his knees so he was down at my level. He pressed his face to mine right as some wonderful person with a camera named Craig snapped a photo. And I have to say again, that man smelled AMAZING!
Stooping to my level! Courtesy of Craig!
Andee Frizzell was nothing but a complete nut job! And I mean that in the nicest way. She had me rolling during her panel and the way she interacted with Chris and the fans was fantastic. At one point during the karaoke party, we were having book club with her, talking about the various books we had read, were reading, or wanted to read. She was really down to earth and really nice. I’m glad I got the chance to meet her in person. Plus, her stories from the Cabaret show were to die for!
Joe Flanigan was not my favorite going into this convention and I am sad to say that this convention did nothing to change that. Let me explain, I don’t dislike him but I don’t really like him either. I’m truly indifferent towards him. I was hoping that would change but it really didn’t. This isn’t to say that he was a bad guest. On the contrary, I think he did a good job playing off David Hewlett and to his fans. He just didn’t win me over the way others did. I know it was a miracle that Flanigan managed to be in Chicago and I am happy for his fans that he pulled it off. I just didn’t experience any of that Joe Flanigan charm. Maybe my charm receptors were faulty or had been overloaded by “Alphonso.” I don’t know. Still, his joint panel with David Hewlett was hysterical. However, in the autograph line he seemed completely blasé. Maybe it was me. I don’t know.
I for one was very happy to see the SGU cast members that made the trip to Chicago. I love the quick chance I got to speak with Elyse, Brian, and Alaina at the Gold Breakfast Sunday morning. While our time with Elyse was short, she seemed like a very happy individual. Brian was a cut up who I reminded about him the message on Twitter I had sent, asking him if he signed body parts. His response, “That was YOU! Yeah, okay, I’ll sign your bruise. I’m not gonna hurt you, am I?” He laughed and sure enough, when the time came for autographs, he signed my bruise, being very careful not to hurt me. It made me smile. He is such a sweet guy. Alaina Huffman teased me when I told her that I loved the storyline between her and Colonel Young. I said I couldn’t wait to see how that ended and she said, “No, no the saga continues. It’s gonna go on for a while, I think.” I can’t wait to find out what she meant. The TJ/Young storyline is one of my favorites in SGU and I can’t wait for the new season. Their panels were kind of bland and I think that’s because of how careful the Creation people were being about not wanting SGU hate to get splashed on to the actors. I respect that but I really don’t think it would have been that big of a problem. Still, I enjoyed the panels and the actors, particularly when they were all up together.
One body part signed, courtesy of Brian Jacob Smith
So those are my general thoughts on my first convention ever. I enjoyed the hell out of it! Really! I don’t know if anything will ever top being serenaded by “Alphonso.” I am so happy I went. I made some awesome friends and got to meet some kick ass people.
If anyone is interested, @SwimChicSQ and I have started a Dan Shea fan group. We call ourselves the “Wrenches.” We accept all people as members provided you adore Dan Shea. I have also started a fan group for Robert Picardo. So far I am the only member. As of right now, I am calling the group the Pussycats after the song he sang during the Cabaret show, though I am open to change. Everyone else is on their own! XP
So here, I leave you with some random pics from Chicago! Good night everybody!
Squaring off with the enemy!
Me and DD! Canucks fans come in all sizes! Courtesy of Pam!
Gazing up at "Alphonso"! Courtesy of Becky Landis
Setting up the "schedule"! Courtesy of Becky Landis
And that’s all folks!
Thanks for your report!
I,m sorry you did,nt find Joe charming, I met him at MK in the Uk i Had 2 boys with me aged 6 and 9, he was fantastic and spent a great deal of time talking to them about his boys…….he was nothing but polite, his photoshoot with them was as tho he,d known them all his life, a memory they still talk about…..as for me he was sensational talking smiling and very genuine…..
Joe flanigan was not blasé. He was exhausted. He filmed a movie at Ireland for a month. Could not attend the Glasgow con because of the new project. Was at home maybe for two or three days. Almost could not attend Chicon. Did ‘meet and greet’ , two photo ops , panel with David Hewlett and had to catch a plane to Toronto. So there was not much time for autographs. It may be anything but blasé
Glad you had a great con experience!
(and I second the opinion that Joe was just plain exhausted and worn out, I think he even was getting a bit of a cold, judging by the handkerchief of doom that David was ribbing him about!) Hope you get to see Joe again someday when he’s more on his game, I think you are right, it was a miracle he was even able to show up at all, given the shooting schedule of his projects.