-- Dana Snyder during our super-secret drinking conference.


The day was finally at hand: The ATHF signings as well as the [adult swim] panels later at night. But first on the agenda: Tomicon (the Tim and Eric minicon) held at Dick's Last Resort... sort of a "theme" restaurant where the employees are deliberately... well... are dicks. Anyways, we were running late (sounds like me,) so Rebecca and Chuck managed to save me a seat... Chiclo and the girls hung out on the other side. I was semi-sad about it, but Becca couldn't have picked me a better seat. Upon sitting down, I noticed I was right next to a bunch of [as] staffers including Thom Foolery, Merrill from as.com, Nick Ingkatanuwat (production assistant for ATHF as well as provider of voice overs, including one of my fav ATHF characters, Uncle Cliff,) and another gentleman I didn't recognize at first, but later introduced himself as Matt Harrigan (producer of Perfect Hair Forever as well as executive producer for many other shows, among them Tom Goes to the Mayor.) We chatted for a bit in regards to ATC as well as Site 2 (a.k.a.: Perfect Hair Central.) Then we were all served drinks and snackages. Tim and Eric held a trivia contest for some Tom swag, and then it was time to rally the troops for the parade to the Convention Center. About a block into the march, we caught up with Squee who handed me what little ATC.com stuff she had left which unknowingly, left me a good couple of blocks away from the parade. I tried catching up, but it was futile after hearing constant cries from Squee to "slow down." We then caught up with everyone at the [as] booth, and went our seperate ways. Chiclo went to go look at more Trekkie stuffage, while I stayed with the girls at the [as] booth, after dragging them down to the other side of the convention center to hunt down one of the last DVDs on my list to get (Dr. Tran by Lone Sausage.)

Screenshot The rather tall and noticable Eric Wareheim beings to rally the troops for the Tomicon parade to the convention center.



Screenshot [as] booth Day 3: Decked out in Jerseyland colors. I felt right at home. (Not really)



After the long, exhausting walk back, we hung around the booth again as we had the day before. We ran into Ned briefly as he went to sit down at the booth to talk with Cartoon Network VP and [as] panel moderator Keith Crofford. Then we decided to get on line for the second Jackson/Doc signing. We were successful at getting sigs this time, I even managed to get some sigs for MrBeanTroll, who asked me to do so for him after he put in some money towards the ATC.com swag. We hung around a bit longer, then the girls got on line for the Moral Orel signing. At first I wasn't too interested in joining them (I mean I watch the show, but it's on so late that I pay half a mind to it most of the time.... something that would change later on during the panel.) After fearing that i'd be banished once again to the lobby by unruly security members, I decided to get on line... something i'm glad I did. The Moral Orel guys were awesome... and also somewhat drunk... Before signing my postcard, creator Dino Stamatopoulos asked if I knew what the main characters name is. Assuming I was being messed around with (as I usually think,) I jokingly took a long hard thought and said "Uhh... Orel?" He then explained that most people think his name is Moral (I'm guessing not so different from the space cadets who frequent the ATC forums and can't spell "Err.") I then had Scott and Jay from Moral Orel sign, both were equally as awesome (if not more awesome) as Dino. After we were finished, some [as] staffers announced that they would take us back around for the Aqua Teen line. Something I was whole-heartedly awaiting...

Screenshot The Moral Orel crew. L-R: Jay Johnston, Scott Adsit, and Dino Stamatopoulos. Completely drunk out of their minds as we found out during the [as] panel.

 

Screenshot  At long last, the meeting of the minds. And when I say minds I mean Dave Willis has two minds.... mine was out to lunch.



The [as] staffer took myself and the girls to the line in the lobby... Chuck and Rebecca joined later on as we noticed them a few people back in the line. We sat down for a bit since Dave Willis and Jim Fortier hadn't arrived yet. I then tossed out the remainder of the ATC.com swag to some people on the line... one guy of whom had brought his own portable DVD player complete with ATHF DVDs and was not only watching them but quoting (even the most obsure stuff) from them. Then the line started moving... it was suprisingly shorter than expected, but we managed to get up to the table to meet the legendary Dave Willis... one of the two men (Matt Maiellaro being the second) who made a show about talking milkshakes even possible. I have to admit I was a bit nervous seeing as how not only was I meeting one of the top guys, but I had about a bajillion things to sign for him... I was going in with just the Vol 4 DVD... then Smaddy and Squee agreed that I should have him sign one of the numerous postcard books for an upcoming fan art contest, as well as Squee leaving me with her own sig for Dave, as well as a Squidbillies postcard that I was going to have Jim Fortier sign, which Dave also signed... Needless to day, I was thrilled to hear Dave say that he was a big supporter of the site... and it really made my almost 4 years on working on the site seem completely worthwhile when Dave said "I love what you guys do." Of course I couldn't help saying the same thing to him. In addition, he asked me to leave my home addy with one of the PAs and told me he'd send some stuff (possibly from the movie.) Did I mention Dave was frickin' awesome? :D


Screenshot Talk about serious fan dedication. This dude was quoting even the most obscure stuff from episodes including the f-bombs from Frylock's comp by Carl in Total ReCarl.

Screenshot He was also heavily equipped for the guys to sign his DVDs.


After I got done with Dave and Jim, we bumped into Dana once again (prior to his signing with Carey Means,) he was once again looking for his wife... I couldn't help say to him "You lost your wife again???" We then followed the [as] staffers back to the lobby for the line to the Dana/Carey signing. We waited what seemed forever... and as it was getting closer to panel-time, they told us to only have 1 item prepared for signing... sadly I was hoping Dana could sign both my DVD (as Dave did), Squee's postcard, and the prototype Signal Shake I got from eBay (which I dragged all the way from Jersey and now has 3 lights falling off instead of just the 1 x_x.) Smaddy then informed us that it was getting severly close to panel-time and we should probably get going if we wanted a good seat... We all agreed and raced upstairs to the meeting room. They ended up taking us through a maze of corridors, but we finally made it. They sat us down and we prepared for..... The 4400 panel? Yes, apparently they decided to throw everyone into another panel (I guess to make that panel seem important or something?) Needless to say it was exremely hilarious to hear one woman who works on their show say "I can't believe how many people showed up." I couldn't help turn to Smaddy and say "Someone should tell her..." After waiting a good half-hour for what I like to call the "Misfits of Science ripoff" panel, we moved up to the front and waited a few for the [as] panel to begin. Here's how both panels went down:

 

Panel One:

Minoriteam: Adam De La Peña, Todd James, Peter Girardi
Tom Goes to the Mayor: Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim
Squidbillies/ATHF: Dave Willis, Jim Fortier

Clips: Minoriteam, Tom Goes to the Mayor, 12 Oz. Mouse, Squidbillies, ATHF: The Movie

Items of interest:

  • Tim Heidecker shows up dressed as the Incredible Hulk. Argues with Eric who he claims was supposed to also be dressed. They then spot someone (Doug) also dressed as The Hulk and all the people who attend Tomicon start singing "The Incredible Hulk" song.
  • Tim and Eric discuss the voiceover sessions with Gary Busey. Adam from Minoriteam chimes in, having been in Busey's presence from the Comedy Central show he did.
  • Dave tells us that ATHF: TM will be availible in 2010 at your local Best Buy.

Panel Two:

Robot Chicken: Matt Senreich, Seth Green
Moral Orel: Dino Stamatopoulos, Scott Adsit, Jay Johnston
Metalocalypse: Brendon Small, Tommy Blacha
Venture Bros: Jackson Publick, Doc Hammer

Clips: Robot Chicken, Moral Orel, Metalocalypse, Venture Bros

Items of interest:

  • Since there was only enough room for people at the panel table, Jay Johnston from Moral Orel stood behind, Scott Adsit sat, and that left Doc Hammer (who was at the very end) to make his own nametag for the table.
  • Prior to starting, Dino begins to pour vodka into his water pitcher, Keith Crofford prompty takes it away. Later, Dino explains that he must apologize to everyone in the room, individually.
  • The Robot Chicken and Venture Bros guys get the majority of the questions, everytime someone asks the MO guys a question, Dino grabs someone else's mic, until towards the end they have 4 different mics and he decides to scream obscenities out.
  • Various costumed individuals fielded questions. Among them a Stormtrooper named Kevin who had his question stolen by another, Scott from MO then asked if he was here for the Con. Two guys dressed as Dean and Hank Venture asked if they'd ever find out who their mommy was. Doc Hammer gave the same answer that Dr. Girlfriend gives in an episode: "I'm not your f**king mommy!"
  • aaa
  • Dino got a phone call during the panel and threw his phone into the crowd. Doc Hammer suggested that it was probably Ken Plume.

    Someone threw Moral Orel panties onto the table. Jay Johnston then put them on, jumped up onto the table and proceeded to put a microphone near the face on the panties.

    Speaking of Jay Johnston... someone asked a question regarding the "hookers and blow" money each cartoon gets... Jay then proceeded to throw a chair across the room and scream "HOOKERS!"

For more info on the Panels: Go here.





Screenshot Eric and the Incredible Tim argue at the panel over costumes and eventually lead their Tomicon troops in song.



Screenshot Dave and Jim Fortier (representing Squidbillies and ATHF respectively) were obviously bored as they listened to Tim and Eric's bickering.



With the panel over and done with, we proceeded outwards... [as] staffers passed out free owl watches for us as we left. It was now time to see what Dana had planned for our meeting... of course we tried calling and he didn't answer. Then outside we spotted Jay and Ned making a beeline to their respective mode of transport... I figured it was best if we called Dana once we got back to the car. We did this, and he told us to meet up at his hotel, they had a bar downstairs in the lobby and it was completely empty... with the exception of [as] people of course.

After being lead around by the rather sultry, dirty, and lying GPS system, we made it to the hotel... exhausted and hungry... but personally, that didn't stop me from having fun. Not only was Dana there, but among the [as] personalities: Ned Hastings, Jay Edwards, and Kim Manning were all there upon our arrival. In addition Dana's wife and buddies, B. Studler (Professional Novelist), Josie, Ethan, and Pierluigi were there. As Dana got us all seats, many other [as] people passed by including Vishal Roney, Matt Thompson (from Sealab and Frisky Dingo), Scott Adsit, and Jackson Publick. Schooly D (composer for ATHF) also joined in on our "Super-Secret [adult swim] Drinking Conference (as I now like to call it.) We talked of random things, sort of how we talk in #Carl'sPool, from ATHF/[as] stuff to George Takei (Mr. Sulu on Star Trek) as Dana was doing his best impression ("Oh my!") to stuff like The Simpsons and Chappelle's Show. Much fun was to be had... even Dave Willis showed up for a brief moment and brought along a little friend (pictured below) We even spotted Lou Ferrigno from "The Incredible Hulk" who was apparently drunk out of his mind... even going so far as to wrap a cloth napkin around his head, but failing miserably.

Screenshot Dana with Schooly D: A man so bad-ass, he puts his used gum on dimes.



Screenshot Dana's buddies B. Studler (Professional Novelist) and Josie Nutter (Systems Designer) mess around with cameras. Background: Ned Hastings and some other dork looking unimpressed (or just really tired.)

Screenshot Our own super-secret drinking conference. Among those in attendance: Dana, Lady Shake, Ned, Jay Edwards, Chiclo, Schooly D, and Smaddy.... part of my head also exists somewhere in there.



Screenshot The item currently known as "Unnamed Comic-Con Artifact." I call him Petey for now.... at least until they give him a name.

Screenshot After a long night of drinking and chatting it up... we all hug Dana goodbye and wish him safe travels back to his palatial estate in Hollywood.

After all was done we went back to the hotel, watched Dethklok, and went to bed. The next morning we had breakfast with our entire crew (The four of us, Becca and co., and Squee and co.) then it was time for me to leave, as Becca and Chuck were my ride up to L.A. for the second half of my trip... so it was farewell to all and to Comic-Con... at least until next year. :)

 

In conclusion i'd like to say that words cannot express the fun and excitement I had in San Diego. I honestly haven't felt more of a responsiblility to this site, you fans, etc. I feel as though i'm finally on my way to carving my niche in this crazy world. Also... I can't wait til next year. :)



 The End... until 2007

Photo Credit: Smaddy, Chuck, Ethan Applen, B. Studler (Professional Novelist), and of course, your's truly.