Chicago Convention report
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:56 pmThe Chicago Convention is now a memory! I'll get started with my report, but don't think I'll get through everything at once.
Day 1 - Friday
I arrived at the Westin O'Hare around 2:00. As I passed the bar to go check into my room, I observed Dominic Montogomery and Connor Trinneer together in the bar. Dominic took the stage at 2:30 He was hilarious! Lot's of colorful language (f bombs) and he called all the women ""luv." The time spent in the bar had him pretty loose. He looked great, was in great shape. I think the time in He said one of his favorite episodes to work on was Shuttlepod One, because of its simplicity. The episode was meant to be a cheap and easy episode for the network (I guess they like to slide those in when they can to save $), but it turned out to be hugely expensive because they had to rent huge air conditioners to make the shuttlepod ice cold. Cold enough to see their breath. They were really shivering there. He talked about how he got the part, and meeting John Billingsly. Very entertaining.
After Dominic's presentation, i went to the bar myself and had a glass of wine. I didn't know ANYONE there yet and wanted to loosen up a bit. BAD IDEA.
I'm a major light weight.
Connor Trineer was on Shortly after that He started off by talking about his knee surgery and how it led to a blood clot that was extremely painful and landed him in the hospital for a week. Then he said something about liking the painkillers a little TOO much, and how he was still on them at the Vegas con. He said he was going to the Art Institute of Chicago the next day and wanted to know where to get the best hot dogs in Chicago. Then he opened up for questions. Like an idiot I ran up to the mic. Instead of asking something reasonable, I decided to ask him if he could do a Chicago accent. Then I demonstrated mine. He said "Is THAT your question?" and then I said yes and sat down. OMG I am such a moron. 
I have NO idea why I did that. BTW, I'm an background actor/extra for movies and TV and I see celebrities all the time and I don't get flustered. Something about CT turned me into a blubbering idiot.
Anyway, them some sane people asked him questions. He talked about the scene in Harbinger where Jolene drops the robe, but it wasn't Jolene and that's why he had a weird look on his face. He said Jolene was totally NOT shy and it would have been less uncomfortable if she did it than this complete stranger who did not share her um..."assets."
He loved "Similitude." Liked the fact that the finale was all about Trip, but recognizes that it was a big F-U middle finger to the fans and that was no good.
He talked about "Terra Prime" and how he really lost it in that last scene because he just found out his wife was pregnant. He said Jolene was really sweet and went to hug him and make sure he was okay.
He didn't say what he was working on now.
Auctions, autograph sessions and photo ops followed. I only signed up for the autograph for "he who I humiliated myself in front of."
My husband (who was at a golf tournament) arrived at around 6:00 and we went to get our pic of CT signed. He was impressed when I told him CT was the voice of Nike Golf and Dominic, who was at the next table, did a voice in "Beowolf." CT was saying something about how people keep telling him he looked tired, and that he WAS tired because it was a long day. When we got to him, I immediatey appologized for asking THE WORLD DUMBEST question, and then he said something to the effect of "oh, don't worry about it, but it sounded really ugly," when I spoke that way UGLY?!? Groan. But he was smiling at me and I must admit there was something sort of charming in his admonition, so I felt a little better. And that was that.
We went to dinner, and then had another drink in the bar and watched a hocky game for a while. Connor and Dmonic and a couple of the Creation staffers came in and sat behind us and I could hear them (Connor mostly) laughing a lot!
Day 2
Breakfast in the restaurant net to John DeLancie (Q). Do you know he was in only 9 episodes in the 10 years NG was on? He sure left an impression.
Something kind of funny. My husband went to the room to get something, so I sat in a comfy chair outside the restaurant to wait. Johnathan Frakes walks by with his "handler" and I give him a big smile and say "Good Morning!" He stops, give me a big smile and says the same. Then he turns to his companion and says "who was that?' amd the guy said "I dunno."
Then presentations by John, and then Brent Spiner and Johnathan Frakes (together). They were absolutel HILARIOUS, and if you haven't heard Brent's impressioon of Patrick Stewart you really are missing something great. Side note - I saw Patrick Stewart at Comicon in August and he said one time Brent called up his wife pretending to be him and gave her some story how he was going to be late for dinner and she fell for it.
Nichelle Nichols, Brandon Braga, a Klingon Christmas Carol and Leonard followed, but I will get to them another time. I need to go to bed. I hope it's okay that I am sharing the same report to "Triaxian Silk," 'cuz I don't have time to do more than one review.
StarTrek.com has a complete review on their site, in case you would like to read more.
Louise
Day 1 - Friday
I arrived at the Westin O'Hare around 2:00. As I passed the bar to go check into my room, I observed Dominic Montogomery and Connor Trinneer together in the bar. Dominic took the stage at 2:30 He was hilarious! Lot's of colorful language (f bombs) and he called all the women ""luv." The time spent in the bar had him pretty loose. He looked great, was in great shape. I think the time in He said one of his favorite episodes to work on was Shuttlepod One, because of its simplicity. The episode was meant to be a cheap and easy episode for the network (I guess they like to slide those in when they can to save $), but it turned out to be hugely expensive because they had to rent huge air conditioners to make the shuttlepod ice cold. Cold enough to see their breath. They were really shivering there. He talked about how he got the part, and meeting John Billingsly. Very entertaining.
After Dominic's presentation, i went to the bar myself and had a glass of wine. I didn't know ANYONE there yet and wanted to loosen up a bit. BAD IDEA.
I'm a major light weight.Connor Trineer was on Shortly after that He started off by talking about his knee surgery and how it led to a blood clot that was extremely painful and landed him in the hospital for a week. Then he said something about liking the painkillers a little TOO much, and how he was still on them at the Vegas con. He said he was going to the Art Institute of Chicago the next day and wanted to know where to get the best hot dogs in Chicago. Then he opened up for questions. Like an idiot I ran up to the mic. Instead of asking something reasonable, I decided to ask him if he could do a Chicago accent. Then I demonstrated mine. He said "Is THAT your question?" and then I said yes and sat down. OMG I am such a moron.
I have NO idea why I did that. BTW, I'm an background actor/extra for movies and TV and I see celebrities all the time and I don't get flustered. Something about CT turned me into a blubbering idiot.Anyway, them some sane people asked him questions. He talked about the scene in Harbinger where Jolene drops the robe, but it wasn't Jolene and that's why he had a weird look on his face. He said Jolene was totally NOT shy and it would have been less uncomfortable if she did it than this complete stranger who did not share her um..."assets."
He loved "Similitude." Liked the fact that the finale was all about Trip, but recognizes that it was a big F-U middle finger to the fans and that was no good.
He talked about "Terra Prime" and how he really lost it in that last scene because he just found out his wife was pregnant. He said Jolene was really sweet and went to hug him and make sure he was okay.
He didn't say what he was working on now.
Auctions, autograph sessions and photo ops followed. I only signed up for the autograph for "he who I humiliated myself in front of."
My husband (who was at a golf tournament) arrived at around 6:00 and we went to get our pic of CT signed. He was impressed when I told him CT was the voice of Nike Golf and Dominic, who was at the next table, did a voice in "Beowolf." CT was saying something about how people keep telling him he looked tired, and that he WAS tired because it was a long day. When we got to him, I immediatey appologized for asking THE WORLD DUMBEST question, and then he said something to the effect of "oh, don't worry about it, but it sounded really ugly," when I spoke that way UGLY?!? Groan. But he was smiling at me and I must admit there was something sort of charming in his admonition, so I felt a little better. And that was that.
We went to dinner, and then had another drink in the bar and watched a hocky game for a while. Connor and Dmonic and a couple of the Creation staffers came in and sat behind us and I could hear them (Connor mostly) laughing a lot!
Day 2
Breakfast in the restaurant net to John DeLancie (Q). Do you know he was in only 9 episodes in the 10 years NG was on? He sure left an impression.
Something kind of funny. My husband went to the room to get something, so I sat in a comfy chair outside the restaurant to wait. Johnathan Frakes walks by with his "handler" and I give him a big smile and say "Good Morning!" He stops, give me a big smile and says the same. Then he turns to his companion and says "who was that?' amd the guy said "I dunno."
Then presentations by John, and then Brent Spiner and Johnathan Frakes (together). They were absolutel HILARIOUS, and if you haven't heard Brent's impressioon of Patrick Stewart you really are missing something great. Side note - I saw Patrick Stewart at Comicon in August and he said one time Brent called up his wife pretending to be him and gave her some story how he was going to be late for dinner and she fell for it.
Nichelle Nichols, Brandon Braga, a Klingon Christmas Carol and Leonard followed, but I will get to them another time. I need to go to bed. I hope it's okay that I am sharing the same report to "Triaxian Silk," 'cuz I don't have time to do more than one review.
StarTrek.com has a complete review on their site, in case you would like to read more.
Louise
