Memorial Day Weekend in Phoenix is going to get a lot geekier with Phoenix Comic Con. This year promises to be the biggest one ever for the fan-friendly event, including a slew of Star Trek guests and fan panels. William Shatner will be there along with Star Trek: The Next Generation stars Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirits, Wil Wheaton and LeVar Burton. TrekMovie.com will also be there holding our own panel, plus covering the event. More details below.
Shatner, TNG stars and TrekMovie headed to Phoenix Comic Con
Phoenix Comicon kicks off Thursday night for a preview with most of the programming in multiple tracks starting Friday morning and running through Sunday evening at the Phoenix Convention Center. The con features big celebrities like Shatner, Star Trek TNG stars and others including Battlestar’s Jamie Bamber, Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno, Walking Dead’s Jon Bernthal, and Casper Van Dien & Dina Meyer from Starship Troopers.
There are also tons of fan panels (more details below) and cool events, including Cosplay contests, "Quarks Bar" drinks, a "Geek Prom," "Geek Speed Dating" and much more. Prices can still be purchased at the door (Friday $25, Saturday $30, and Sunday $20).
"Star Trek vs Star Wars" PHXCC Commercial
(NOTE: mentions Patrick Stewart, but he had scheduling conflict and had to drop out)
There are multiple tracks at Phoenix Comicon covering all sorts of interests, inlcuding a number of Star Trek related panels and events. I will be hosting my own panel, like the one I did at Phoenix Comic Con in 2011. My "Star Trek Universe Update" panel kicks off the show on Friday morning at 10:30 (room 124B). I will also be on the panel for the "Star Trek 101" (Sunday 10:30 AM, room 128AB) and "Star Trek Lives Again!" (Sunday 4:30 124B). I may also sit on some of the Saturday Trek fan panels. See below for a full list of the Celebrity and Fan events for Phoenix Comicon.
STAR TREK PROGRAMMING AT PHOENIX COMICON
FRIDAY
TrekMovie.com Star Trek Universe Update
Friday: 10:30am – 11:30am – Location: 124B
Join TrekMovie.com’s Anthony Pascale and a panel of Treksperts to discuss all things Star Trek! We will discuss progress on the sequel to J.J. Abrams 2009 movie (shooting now), plus all the new comic books, games, fan films, and merchandise that are available.
Spotlight on Levar Burton
Friday: 12:00pm – 1:00pm – Location: 121
Join Levar Burton in kicking off the 25th anniversary celebration of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Meet Marina Sirtis
Friday: 1:30pm – 2:30pm – Location: 121
Meet Marina Sirtis, recognized worldwide as the sexy and cerebral Starfleet Commander Deanna Troi of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek feature films.
Stump Vic: Star Trek Trivia
Friday: 1:30pm – 2:30pm – Location: 227BC
Vic Mignogna is an avid Star Trek fan. Can you stump him? Bring your best trivia and win a prize if you can. But be warned, it won’t be easy.
Movie Mash Up: Star Trek Animated Series
Friday: 3:00pm – 4:00pm – Location: 124B
Star Trek the Animated Series gets a do-over by the cast of comedians from the award winning National Comedy Theatre. Join us for an improvised comedy Mash-terpiece!
Meet Michael Dorn
Friday: 4:30pm – 5:30pm – Location: 121
Qapla warriors! Join Michael Dorn and hear of the battles fought and won by the Legendary Whorf son of Mogh!
Larry Nemecek: The State of the Trek
Friday: 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Location: 128AB
How much longer will movie rumor, past nostalgia and product news pass for an active Trek fandom? How and what would new TV Trek look like? Join author/historian/producer LARRY NEMECEK and a sharing crowd.
The UFP’s Sci-Fi Jeopardy!
Friday: 6:00pm – 8:00pm – Location: 122
Join members of the United Federation of Phoenix, our local Star trek fan club, for a game of Jeopardy! designed around Star Trek and general media science fiction questions. Prizes awarded to the winning Team!
SATURDAY
Star Trek: The JJ Abrams Discussion
Saturday: 10:30am – 11:30am – Location: 128AB
Is Lens Flair really that awesome? What’s with an alternate Reality? Is having 2 Spock’s just too amazing? There is still quite a bit of controversy regarding the new Star Trek reality. Come discuss the details amongst fellow Trekkies.
The Star Wars vs. Star Trek Debate
Saturday: 12:00pm – 1:00pm – Location: 124B
The Ultimate Geek Rivalry Comes to battle in a All-Star Debate. Set in a debate forum with a team for each Franchise. The audience chooses which questions are asked and in the end you will get to choose the Winner and settle this once and for all.
William Shatner
Saturday: 1:30pm – 2:30pm – Location: 120
Renowned actor, musician, author, producer, director, celebrity pitchman and Emmy Award winner, William Shatner first took us all boldly "Where no man has gone before" as Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series and 7 films
Larry Nemecek’s Trekland: Between the Cracks
Saturday: 3:00pm – 4:00pm – Location: 129A
A Phoenix update of Larry’s yearly behind-the-scenes picfest and tales, including his documentary THE CON OF WRATH.
Eureka!
Saturday: 3:00pm – 4:00pm – Location: 120
It’s a Eureka cast and creator reunion. Join co-creator Jaime Paglia with stars Colin Ferguson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Debrah Farentino and Wil Wheaton as they talk about the fantastic and far out future of the little town called Eureka.
Best of the Bad
Saturday: 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Location: 128AB
Romulans,The Borg, and Q. Oh my! Which Star Trek baddie caused the most trouble for the members of Starfleet and holds the title of Best of The Bad. Share your opinions about your favorite villains with fellow fans.
Storytime with Wil Wheaton
Saturday: 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Location: 122
Be entertained with “Storytime with Wil”, featuring a performance from "Memories of the Future Volume 1" that Wil promises will be unlike anything he has done before. "Storytime with Wil" requires a special registration of $10
Dr Who & Star Trek: Making of Cultural Icons
Saturday: 7:30pm – 8:30pm – Location: 128AB
They weren’t always the favorite shows that they are now. Some even expected them to fail, and both bave been canceled before. Now they are cultural icons, lets explore the journey.
Meet the UFP: Phoenix’s Star Trek Fan Club!
Saturday: 7:30pm – 8:30pm – Location: 124B
The United Federation of Phoenix is the second-longest continuously-running Star Trek Fan Club in the USA. Join members of the UFP to learn about us, our activities, and how to join.
"THE CON OF WRATH" MEET-UP with Larry Nemeck
Saturday: 9:00pm – 11:30pm – Location: 128AB
After his Friday/Saturday panels and tabling, come meet Larry Nemecek for some "off hours" gnoshing and help preserve one of the most amazing and wacky tales in Trek history by supporting his documentary in the best live crowdsourcing way. You get two hours of Prize trivia rounds, rare Trek videos, sneak peeks of "Con of Wrath" clips, and best of all any late-night tales and quotes from Larry you ask about –and would NEVER get "on stage" … all for a $20 donation, which like any CON OF WRATH gift gets you screen credit and, in this case, the $25 thank-you gift package.
SUNDAY
STARFLEET: International Star Trek Fan Assoc.
Sunday: 10:30am – 11:30am – Location: 124B
Come find out more about STARFLEET: The International Star Trek Fan Association, one of the world’s largest Star Trek fan organizations. We’ll be talking about who we are, what we do, and how we can make your Trek fandom experience more FUN!
Morgan Gendel’s Journey To The Inner Light
Sunday: 10:30am – 11:30am – Location: 128AB
In this multimedia presentation screenwriter Morgan Gendel, Hugo-winner for ST: TNG episode “The Inner Light,” intertwines reminiscences about the TNG development process with Picard’s own experience as an outsider on Kataan. Plus, a sneak of future episodes of his graphic novel sequel, “The Outer Light.”
Star Trek 101
Sunday: 12:00pm – 1:00pm – Location: 128AB
Ready to beam aboard The Enterprise for the first time? Get an introductory look at one of science fiction’s most popular and long lasting series and take one step closer to boldly going where no man has gone before.
Star Trek: The Next Generation Anniversary
Sunday: 1:30pm – 2:30pm- Location: 120
Join LeVar Burton, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn and Wil Wheaton in our celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the longest running show in the Star Trek pantheon.
Star Trek Lives Again!
Sunday: 4:30pm – 5:30pm – Location: 124B
Alternate reality? Star Trek online? Netflix? Star Trek has seen a surge in fandom recently. What is causing this revived interest and what could it mean for us trekkies?
More info on the event at phoenixcomicon.com.
“Sounds like fun!”
Yeah, but does anybody remember when it would not cost a $1000 dollars to see and do everything you wanted at a Star Trek convention?
Vic is hard to stump. Good luck.
Can’t wait for you guys to see him as Kirk in Star Trek Continues. Teasers coming soon.
Whoa….
I’ll be there doing local media coverage, hope to meet up with some of you guys!
Great weekend AP… I’m waiting for the news… ;-) :-)
My wife and I holding out for San Diego Comic Con. Got the hotel/tickets all booked. Can’t wait…
“To hell with the Phoenix….” (just kidding, Arizonans ;-D)
I can’t wait to hear “the Legendary Whorf”. Does that include Sapir?
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Typoes from convention organizers are such a joy.
AZ has gone so far off the deep end, I don’t think i could support the economy there. Even if it was for Star Trek.
Arizona, where a crazy lady Governor can point her finger angrily in the President’s face… put that on your bumper sticker.
@9, or in the mirror… where a brave lady Governor can point her finger tersely in the crazy President’s face.