Regardless, I hope you enjoy:
Comic-Con wrap-up: the highs and lows!
6:39 p.m., July 24, 2011
That’s a wrap!
As Comic-Con 2011 comes to a close, we take a look back on some of the highs and lows of the pop-culture extravaganza that calls San Diego home.
HIGHS
Biggest name: No contest, über-director Steven Spielberg, who made his first appearance at the Con — and made it count.
In a moment not even Hollywood could make up, a fan at the “Adventures of Tintin” panel at Hall H approached the microphone wearing a T-shirt that read: “If possible I would love to meet Steven Spielberg just to shake his hand and say thank you very much.”
Spielberg not only obliged, but he and surprise guest Peter Jackson both took the fan’s picture.
Best also-rans: The appearance of Jackson, Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Soderbergh, to name a few, made Con 2011 the year of the A-list director.
Glitziest moment: The star-studded red carpet for the “Cowboys & Aliens” premiere, including Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford (with Calista Flockhart), Jon Favreau, Olivia Wilde and — upping the celebrity quotient! — Steven Spielberg. U-T red-carpet reporter Megan Telles captured all the glamour and excitement, see the video here.
Steven Spielberg (and Peter Jackson) make a fan's day at Comic-Con
Patrick Stewart being serenaded a belated "Happy Birthday" at the Con. — Associated Press
Sweetest moment: The 6,500 fans at the “Dorothy of Oz” panel singing a belated “Happy Birthday” to the ageless Patrick Stewart, who turned 71 on July 13.
Best bittersweet quote: “In the late ‘60s, there were the three B’s: The Beatles, Batman and Bond. It was immense (playing Batman). It was like being the biggest rock star in the world, and then it ends. And you have to build it back again.” — Adam West, TV’s Batman, who is building it back on Fox’s “Family Guy.”
Best tweet slap: “I have arrived @Comic_Con. The air is thick with smell of Cheetos and celibacy.” — Conan O’Brien poking fun at the fanboys (while seeking their approval at every turn).
Hottest cast: Do we have to choose? Tied for second have to be the cast members of “Snow White” and “True Blood,” with the hunky stars of “Immortals” grabbing the top spot. We admit having new “Superman” Henry Cavill on the roster gave “Immortals” an unfair advantage.
Most ubiquitous stars: Between panels, signings and press conferences, you couldn’t get away from “Torchwood’s” John Barrowman, “Game of Thrones” star Peter Dinklage and “Games of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin. And that was just fine with us.
Best fan interaction: When the secondary cast members of “Twilight: Breaking Dawn” came out to serve breakfast to the groggy throngs waiting to get into the movie’s Hall H panel.
LOWS
Worst (alleged) behavior: “Amazing Spider Man” star Rhys Ifans, who police arrested for misdemeanor battery for shoving a female security guard. Ifans, who police said smelled of alcohol, became “hostile and aggressive” when a member of his entourage was denied access to the convention center through a rear, VIP entrance.
Steven Spielberg (and Peter Jackson) make a fan's day at Comic-Con
Spreading false rumors about Stan Lee is positively un-American. — Associated Press
Worst rumor: Someone tweeted that comics icon Stan Lee had suffered a heart attack. Lee took to a mic in an interview with TMZ to insist he was OK (and that he had even just enjoyed an egg salad sandwich). Even in the made-up world called Comic-Con, that was rotten.
Least glitzy moment: The sad, C-list turnout for the SyFy/E! “celebrity” party at the Hotel Solamar’s pool deck.
Worst time-suck: The lines. The very, very long lines. The lines to get into lines. Even longtime, hard-core Con attendees grumbled that 2011 would go down as the year that the lines became unbearable. While waiting to get into the Friday “Game of Thrones” panel, the U-T’s Diana McCabe snapped a picture of a sign that read (wait for it), “Waiting time from this point: 2,000 people.”
Most disappointing no-shows: Faithful Gleeks loved hearing that some of their favorite stars won’t be leaving the show when they graduate — Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith will appear in future seasons of the hit show “Glee.” But none of those stars turned up for Sunday’s Hall H panel. Nor did beloved bad-girl Jane Lynch. Michele was also a no-show for the “Dorothy of Oz” panel.
Most predictable panel disposition: Kristen Stewart, returning to her usual sullen way at the “Snow White” panel. Stewart surprised “Breaking Dawn” fans when she appeared relaxed, charming and chatty. Had Bella finally took a satisfying bite into her fame? No such bloody chance.
A special shout out to the U-T’s dogged Comic-Con 2011 team of bloggers, tweeters, writers, sketchers, videographers and photographers: K.C Alfred; Steve Breen, David Brooks, Cristina Byvik, Nelvin C. Cepeda, Megan Dean; Nina Garin; John Gastaldo; James Gregg; Andrew Huse; Lily Leung; Howard Lipin; Diana McCabe, Nick Myers; Karla Peterson; Peter Rowe; Steve Schmidt; Arielle Sallai;, Brittany Taylor; Megan Telles and Lori Weisberg.
See you at Comic-Con 2012!
