Wizard World 2012 Cast A Spell On The Hook!

Yes, I know the title’s cheesy; just cut me some slack, I’m exhausted!

My day began at 7 A.M., Saturday April 14 but truly  at 9:30 when I entered the convention hall for this year’s Wizard World and ended when I rolled back into the driveway of Hook HQ at 8:07 P.M! But before that I made some keen observations about celebrities, my fellow fanboys, my own family and my best friend and his own family.

NOTHING COMPARES TO CONVENTION REUNIONS.

I haven’t seen my best friend Jack, in years and believe me, it’s been too long. He’s been living in Toronto and time flies when you’re busy working, raising a family, etc.

But with true friends time means nothing, and you rekindle old bonds immediately. Jack never ceases to amaze me; every time I lost sight of him in the crowd and I figured all hope was lost, I’d hear his voice behind me and realize I was hanging out with a true ninja! We met up with his lovely wife and two-year-old son at the end of the day and I have to admit it was surreal to think back to our high school days while looking at the modern-day versions of our lives; families and all!

You know you’re getting old when you start getting washed away by waves of nostalgia on a regular basis…

SPEAKING OF FAMILIES…

My own family held up well under the pressure of crushing crowds, blaring music and truly oddball creatures like this…

The highlight of VampireLover’s day was crossing paths with her darling Stefan Salvatore, “that cute vampire”. Unfortunately, she soon realized actors, even those who portray the Undead, are only human….

“He won’t even look at the crowd or even wave for a minute! And his bodyguard wouldn’t even let a couple with a stroller ride on the same elevator! Who does he think he is?” That was my daughter’s honest reaction to seeing Paul Wesley’s behavior as he made his way past a winding lineup of fans. We were anxiously awaiting to gain entry to the Being Human panel when Stefan sauntered by in full “rock star mode” – his Alice Cooper lookalike bodyguard even shoved a unsuspecting fan out of the way to clear a path for his celebrity charge!

Gaining access to the hotel adjoined to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre requires one to walk right past “Room A” – the centre of numerous panels and of course, numerous fans – and so a number of stars crossed our path within that hour.

Some were not so cool with the notion of interacting with fans for free – celebrities at these ‘cons charge for their time – while others were very cool indeed!

FAT, SWEATY FANBOY: Mr. Bakula, could I get a picture?

SCOTT BAKULA: Sure, but make it quick! Things are going to turn ugly soon!

You see? Some stars get it. Mr. Bakula charged for autographs but he was willing to wave at the gathered crowd and just be a cool guy. But you know who isn’t cool – at all? Jeri Ryan, formerly – very much so – of Star Trek: Voyager. Check out her prices, directly from the Wizard World website…

Amy Acker Autograph	CA$40.00
Colin Ferguson Autograph	CA$40.00
Jeri Ryan Autograph	CA$70.00
Paul Wesley Autograph	CA$40.00
Scott Bakula Autograph	CA$75.00
Sean Maher Autograph	CA$40.00
WWE® Superstar Edge® Autograph	CA$40.00

Yes, I know Bakula charged a ridiculous amount as well…. but at least he was cool! Jeri Ryan should have let her fans cop a feel for $70!

I REFUSE TO USE A CLASSY PIC! SHE CHARGES $70 FOR AN AUTOGRAPH!

As for the Being Human panel, it was incredible! The show  – an American version of a UK production, but filmed in Canada (!) – relies on dark humor and the cast does the same. My daughter couldn’t stop laughing for the entire forty-five minutes! For that, I am truly grateful.

And that, my friends is why millions of people flock to these ‘cons; not to spend their hard-earned dough for a scrap of paper with a scrawled signature or a glossy pic, but to simply escape their humdrum lives and have some good, old-fashioned fun.

While dressed as a dork.

BACK TO BUSINESS…

Here’s a snippet of the usual fare…

This week has been quiet and uneventful for the most part, with one glaring exception…

Corporate groups – straight from depths of the Underworld. We’ve had them all this week…

• A major fast food chain. Pizza, to be exact.
• A junk removal chain. They had tons of their own crap! You’d think they’d be organized…
• Multimedia “experts”.
• Duct cleaning.
• Bottled water.

They come here to do Satan’s bidding, under the guise of “corporate team building”, of course. It’s a great buzz-term, isn’t it? “Corporate team-building”, what a crock.

All theses corporate drones in cheap suits are building are walls between themselves and the rest of humanity. Most of them anyway; the truly humble and decent are few and far between – at least they were this week.

CORPORATE DRONE: I’m with – NAME WITHHELD SO I’M NOT SUED –  and I need own cart!

My colleague and I simply adopted the “deer caught in headlights” look for a moment and then I went onto explain the hotel’s protocol. The drone’s reaction was, not surprisingly, typical.

CD: Uh, well… that’s all right. I’ll be fine.

Buddy, you’re not even in the same solar system as fine, but whatever floats your cheap-ass boat, I guess. A few minutes passed, and I took a walk outside to see the drone and his lovely – and very petite – lady friend unload armfuls of crap from his company truck.

Funny thing, his girlfriend didn’t look too proud to be hooked up with such a loser…

AND FINALLY…

June 9. 2012 10 A.M – 7 P.M.
Scotiabank Convention Centre
Niagara Falls. Ontario. Canada

For full details, click here, fan boys and girls!

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