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Gallifrey: Friday
No jet lag at all. Is it possible that one’s body can remember physical changes that happen only once a year, and decide that it’s fine that suddenly, every February, for five days, one is going to have one’s internal clock reset by eight hours and have three of one’s vital fluids replaced by beer, huge breakfast foods and good coffee?
The Gallifrey convention in L.A. this year is big. Bigger on the Friday night that we’ve seen on some of the Saturdays in the past. This is the tenth time I’ve been here, and the second time in this new hotel, with a vast underground Ballroom area in which the convention lives like its a post-apocalyptic city, with a sports bar and a Starbucks perched on the floor above like an apocalyptic sports bar and Starbucks.
Best Panel of the Day (That I Was On): the blogging panel. Me and salonista Tara O’Shea, plus Greg and Graham, old friends from a mailing list I used to be on, and an enthusiastic audience all hollering about adventures, good and bad, in the blogworld. Greg tells us that the city of Naples rose up against him when he blogged about what a bad time he was having there. Thanks to my blog, Gray would like to see Faringdon. Suggestion for a new civic motto: ‘It’s better than Naples’.
Best Panel of the Day (That I Wasn’t): the Big Finish audio dramas year in review panel. Me and Big Finish owner Jason Haigh-Ellery went and sat in the front row. No pressure.
Best Speech: Steven Moffat’s Hello and Thank You For Having Me onstage consisted of one word: ‘Hugo’.
Best Gameshow Like Totally Pwned By Colin Baker: I ran a version of Just A Minute live on stage, purely in order to give the comic writer Mark Waid nightmares, as he was the sole representative of the USA against Sixth Doctor Colin Baker, Davros actor Terry Malloy, and audio companion (and lovely, lovely grand and wise lady) Maggie Stables. Colin scored more points than everyone else on the panel put together. Mark got two. ‘They ought to have more games like that,’ said Colin afterwards.
Best Drinking: stayed out with Tara, Mark (who I met today, being as he’s one of Tara’s carefully-chosen network that only consists of witty creative dudes from vastly differing walks of life), Javier Grillo-Marxuach (the very funny writer from Lost who’s now on Medium) and a varying cast including the guys from the charity auction dinner.
Best Party: the Evil Geniuses Party on the first floor, with a room decked out in decadent splendour, champers on tap, and evil snacks (all blazing hot) in every corner.
Most Looking Forward to Today: the Fifteen Years of Bernice Summerfield panel and the animated Blake’s 7 preview with the gloriously cutting and jetlagged classic Who writer Ben Aaronovitch. Ben, so far at this convention, looks like a man who’s had his bicycle stolen. Or perhaps is trying to remember if he had one.
Best Panel Title Today: ‘The Coming of Torchwood’. Okay, it’s a narrow subject, but there’s lots to talk about. I shall have to take a stopwatch.
Caroline, the poor thing, has spent much of the time back in the room finishing up her thesis, which is due in a couple of weeks. She was so shell-shocked in the evening that I’m sure people must think I keep her chained in a cupboard. Hopefully she’ll be able to get out and about a bit more today. Until tomorrow then, cheerio.
The Gallifrey convention in L.A. this year is big. Bigger on the Friday night that we’ve seen on some of the Saturdays in the past. This is the tenth time I’ve been here, and the second time in this new hotel, with a vast underground Ballroom area in which the convention lives like its a post-apocalyptic city, with a sports bar and a Starbucks perched on the floor above like an apocalyptic sports bar and Starbucks.
Best Panel of the Day (That I Was On): the blogging panel. Me and salonista Tara O’Shea, plus Greg and Graham, old friends from a mailing list I used to be on, and an enthusiastic audience all hollering about adventures, good and bad, in the blogworld. Greg tells us that the city of Naples rose up against him when he blogged about what a bad time he was having there. Thanks to my blog, Gray would like to see Faringdon. Suggestion for a new civic motto: ‘It’s better than Naples’.
Best Panel of the Day (That I Wasn’t): the Big Finish audio dramas year in review panel. Me and Big Finish owner Jason Haigh-Ellery went and sat in the front row. No pressure.
Best Speech: Steven Moffat’s Hello and Thank You For Having Me onstage consisted of one word: ‘Hugo’.
Best Gameshow Like Totally Pwned By Colin Baker: I ran a version of Just A Minute live on stage, purely in order to give the comic writer Mark Waid nightmares, as he was the sole representative of the USA against Sixth Doctor Colin Baker, Davros actor Terry Malloy, and audio companion (and lovely, lovely grand and wise lady) Maggie Stables. Colin scored more points than everyone else on the panel put together. Mark got two. ‘They ought to have more games like that,’ said Colin afterwards.
Best Drinking: stayed out with Tara, Mark (who I met today, being as he’s one of Tara’s carefully-chosen network that only consists of witty creative dudes from vastly differing walks of life), Javier Grillo-Marxuach (the very funny writer from Lost who’s now on Medium) and a varying cast including the guys from the charity auction dinner.
Best Party: the Evil Geniuses Party on the first floor, with a room decked out in decadent splendour, champers on tap, and evil snacks (all blazing hot) in every corner.
Most Looking Forward to Today: the Fifteen Years of Bernice Summerfield panel and the animated Blake’s 7 preview with the gloriously cutting and jetlagged classic Who writer Ben Aaronovitch. Ben, so far at this convention, looks like a man who’s had his bicycle stolen. Or perhaps is trying to remember if he had one.
Best Panel Title Today: ‘The Coming of Torchwood’. Okay, it’s a narrow subject, but there’s lots to talk about. I shall have to take a stopwatch.
Caroline, the poor thing, has spent much of the time back in the room finishing up her thesis, which is due in a couple of weeks. She was so shell-shocked in the evening that I’m sure people must think I keep her chained in a cupboard. Hopefully she’ll be able to get out and about a bit more today. Until tomorrow then, cheerio.
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Gallifrey
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sounds like a cool convention :D i ain't bin to one in years.
I dont suppose you could help me alert people of this important matter of life and death:
There's a petition going on to change the national anthem to "Gold" by Spandau Ballet, your support would be appreciated
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/goldanthem/
jack.
I've always wanted to attend more cons. That sounds like the sory I'd like to go to. Posted a flagrant appeal to your better nature on your Gallifrey One thread, by the way, nice Mister Cornell.
jackooo... wouldn't "Gold" make a better anthem for somewhere a bit more, well... French? Say, for example, France. I can definitely imagine hordes of Frenchmen drunkenly chanting that song, wreathed in clouds of garlic. I think perhaps "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba could happily usurp "God Save the Queen" - I've never been too sure about that "...and with a mighty rush, rebellious Scots to crush" bit...
Speaking of Scots, Steven Moffatt was notable for his absence from the "best drinking" bit - clearly not doing his bit to uphold the Glaswegian stereotype. I'd have thought Colin Baker could put away a pint or too, as well...
I'm *told* there was Moffat drinking. He claimed there was. The Thursday night was a bit blurry for me, so it could well be true.
but i think "Gold" would make an english olympic winner liven up the ceremony when they have to sing it :D
Hurrah! for radio 4 geekery!
* scurries off back home to LJ like a good little anony-mousie *
Just so you know, Gray isn't the only one who wants to see Farringdon on account of your blog, you've ensnared me as well. The tourism board, if Farringdon has one, should absolutely underwrite this blog, or at least offer to foot your tab at the Portwell.
If only Oxford offered Masters degrees in Library Sciences.
If Faringdon had a tourist board, I'd be knocking on their door, Maggie! But you should come over and see. As should everyone.
It's all true! Naples is horrible. Here's the infamous post in question that actually got written up in a Naples newspaper: http://www.gregmce.com/2006/12/19/why-i-hate-naples/
Greg vs. The Neopolitans. This time it's not ice cream.
Hey Paul! I'm honored you liked my Big Finish year-in-review panel. I spent a couple hours the day before going through all of the releases this past year to make a list for the panelists. I was also happy you and Jason were there to bounce questions off of. I'm sure the other fans there appreciated it.
-Erik
Thanks very much, it was a good panel. Hope we didn't cramp your style.
You didn't cramp my style, but Jason has to work on his people skills. ;0)