The Disney/ABC Television Group (DATG) makes its mark at the 2009 Comic-Con convention with a diverse slate of series, including repeat favorites, new buzz shows, a hit animated series, an upcoming new holiday animated special, an author’s roundtable, futuristic action-adventure/sci-fi series and a cast reunion.
Perennial Comic-Con fan favorites, “Lost” executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, will participate in their final convention appearance for the series, and ABC’s highly anticipated new drama series “FlashForward” will present its first-ever panel, featuring executive producers David S. Goyer, Marc Guggenheim and Brannon Braga, as well as cast members Joseph Fiennes, John Cho, Courtney B. Vance, Christine Woods and Peyton List. Patricia Heaton, star of the upcoming ABC comedy series “The Middle,” makes her Comic-Con debut hosting a sneak peek screening of the series for her fans.
Additionally, DATG will showcase distinctive series across its various divisions over the four days of the event: panels with new ABC series “Eastwick” and “V”; returning Comic-Con favorite “Ghost Whisperer,” produced by ABC Studios, will feature a panel with the complete cast, including star Jennifer Love Hewitt, along with Jamie Kennedy, David Conrad, Camryn Manheim and Christoph Sanders, plus executive producers Ian Sander, Kim Moses and P.K. Simonds; ABC Studios’ syndicated action-adventure series “Legend of the Seeker” will unveil a sneak peek at their upcoming second season; ABC Family’s “The Middleman” will bring Comic-Con fans the first cast reunion since the series’ completion, as well as a table read of the lost 13th episode, “The Doomsday Armageddon Apocalypse,” which was never produced but has been turned into a graphic novel.
After last year’s standing room only panel, television’s #1 animated series for kids, Disney’s “Phineas and Ferb,” returns to Comic-Con. This year creators and executive producers Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, as well as cast members Vincent Martella, Olivia Olson and Tyler Mann, will participate in a Q&A session, preview a sneak peek of new episodes and offer the chance to win “Phineas and Ferb” prizes.
The holiday special “Prep & Landing,” ABC’s first-ever collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios, will receive a special preview at an animation panel headlined by Academy Award winner and executive producer John Lasseter.
New York Times best-selling author Eoin Colfer previews his highly anticipated book, “And Another Thing,” the sixth installment in the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” series, as part of the panel “The Care and Feeding of a Series.” He will be joined by panelists Brian Herbert, Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie, D.J. MacHale, Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi. “And Another Thing” will be published by Hyperion Books, the Disney/ABC Television Group’s in-house imprint, in October.
DATG joins an increased Walt Disney Company presence from past years that includes Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures‘ first-ever 3D panel with veteran directors Robert Zemeckis and Tim Burton and animation legends Hayao Miyazaki and John Lasseter. D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans and the Walt Disney Archives, will premiere a few never-before-exhibited artifacts from their collection of sci-fi, fantasy and adventure film costumes and props from “TRON,” “The Rocketeer” and “The Black Hole.” The display will be open throughout the event. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will also be in attendance, screening their new digital motion comic series Time Jumper from comic book legend Stan Lee.
To follow is a complete list of Disney/ABC Television Group panels:
THURSDAY, JULY 23:
THE MIDDLEMAN CAST REUNION AND LOST EPISODE TABLE READ
Creator Javier Grillo-Marxuach (“Lost”) and the complete cast, including Matt Keeslar and Natalie Morales, reunite for an exclusive table read of the ABC Family series lost 13th episode, “The Doomsday Armageddon Apocalypse,” which was never produced for television and will make its debut at Comic-Con as a graphic novel from Viper Comics, and to celebrate the July 28th DVD release of “The Middleman: The Complete Series” on Shout! Factory. Room 6A
LEGEND OF THE SEEKER
A sneak peek at the highly-anticipated second season of the action-adventure series “Legend of the Seeker” from executive producers Ken Biller (“Star Trek: Voyager”), Sam Raimi (“Spider-Man”), Rob Tapert (“Xena”), Ned Nalle (“Hercules”) and Josh Donen (“Drag Me to Hell”), and starring Craig Horner, Bridget Regan and Bruce Spence. Inspired by Terry Goodkind’s bestselling epic fantasy series “The Sword of Truth,” Richard, Kahlan and Zedd will soon discover that in defeating Darken Rahl, their victory is short-lived, as they inadvertently unleashed an even greater evil upon the world. Premiering in November, join executive producers Ken Biller and Ned Nalle, Bruce Spence and Terry Goodkind for a moderated interview and audience Q&A session. Room 6DE
FRIDAY, JULY 24:
CARE AND FEEDING OF A SERIES (MYSTERIOUS GALAXY)
Seven highly acclaimed authors discuss writing books in a series and the unique challenge of picking up a series where another author left off. Panelists: Eoin Colfer (“And Another Thing: Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”); Brian Herbert (“Paul of Dune”; San Diego Comic-Con International Guest of Honor), Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie (“Wicked: Resurrection”); D.J. MacHale (“Pendragon: The Solders of Halla”); Holly Black (“Ironside”) and Tony DiTerlizzi (“Beyond The Spiderwick Chronicles-A Giant Problem”). Moderator: James Frenkel, Senior Editor, Tor Books. ROOM 5AB
FLASHFORWARD
Be the first ones to see exclusive never-before-seen footage and scenes from upcoming episodes of ABC’s new series, “FlashForward,” presented by executive producers David S. Goyer (“Batman Begins”), Brannon Braga (“24”) and Marc Guggenheim (“Eli Stone”). Joining them on the panel will be cast members including Joseph Fiennes (“Shakespeare in Love”), John Cho (“Star Trek”), Courtney B. Vance (“Law & Order: Criminal Intent”), Christine Woods (“In Plain Sight”) and Peyton List (“Mad Men”). And did we mention there will be a surprise guest in attendance that you won’t want to miss! Room 6A
Additional activities at the “FlashForward” booth on the convention floor:
Cast autograph session at 2:00 PM
Contribute your own personal vision to the Mosaic Task Force online experience.
PREP & LANDING
Join Academy Award winner and executive producer John Lasseter for an exclusive first look at video clips from “Prep & Landing,” ABC’s first television special produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. The half-hour holiday special reveals the never-before-told tale of an elite unit of Elves known as Prep & Landing. Every Christmas Eve this high-tech organization ensures that homes around the world are properly prepared for the yearly visit from The Big Guy (aka Santa Claus). After working tirelessly on Prep & Landing for 227 years, an elf named Wayne (voice of Dave Foley, “NewsRadio”) is upset when he doesn’t receive an expected promotion to be the Director of Naughty List Intelligence. Instead, Magee (voice of Sarah Chalke, “Scrubs”), the North Pole Christmas Eve Command Center Coordinator (NPCECCC for short), partners Wayne with Lanny (voice of Derek Richardson), an idealistic rookie who has an undying enthusiasm for Christmas. During their Christmas Eve mission, Wayne and Lanny encounter unexpected challenges that push them to their limits. The animated special will air during the 2009-10 television season. Room 6DE
THE MIDDLE
Patricia Heaton (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) will make her Comic-Con debut to meet fans and fellow moms, and to introduce the special sneak peek screening of the upcoming comedy series in the Hilton Bayfront’s Indigo Ballroom.
SATURDAY, JULY 25:
EASTWICK
Be among the first to see the pilot of the highly anticipated series “Eastwick.” Based on the John Updike novel and the hit film “The Witches of Eastwick,” this sexy and bold comedic drama centers on three young witches whose powers are awakened when a mysterious man moves to town. Join series stars Rebecca Romijn (“X-Men”), Lindsay Price (“Lipstick Jungle”), Jaime Ray Newman (“Veronica Mars”) and Paul Gross (“Due South”), along with creator/executive producer Maggie Friedman (“Related”) and director/executive producer David Nutter (“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) as they answer questions from the audience after this exclusive sneak peek. Room 6A
LOST – The Final Season Begins with Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse
In appreciation of all the fan support through five seasons of “Lost,” co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and executive producer Carlton Cuse will pay homage to all of the fans at their final Comic-Con appearance for “Lost.” Questions will be answered. Fun will be had. And you won’t want to miss the surprises in store for the audience. This will be the must-attend event of Comic Con! Hall H
Other “Lost” treats at Comic-Con are:
“Lost” Magazine, a must-have for fans, available at Titan Publishing’s booth 5337
Free “Lost” promotional cards from Rittenhouse Archives.
“Lost” collectible bobble-head dolls from Bif Bang Pow! at Entertainment Earth Booth #2343
V
Already one of the most talked-about new series of the upcoming television season, catch a special screening of the pilot episode of “V.” The re-imagining of the groundbreaking miniseries will be followed by a Q&A with stars Elizabeth Mitchell (“Lost”), Morris Chestnut (“The Cave”), Joel Gretsch (“The 4400”), Morena Baccarin “(Firefly”) and Scott Wolf (“Go”), along with executive producers Scott Peters (“The 4400”), Jeffrey Bell (“Alias”), Steve Pearlman (“Related”) and Jace Hall (“Chadam”). Ballroom 20
As an added bonus, stop by the “V” booth and get recruited to be a Visitors Peace Ambassador.
SUNDAY, JULY 26:
PHINEAS AND FERB
The Emmy-nominated hit series’ panel, moderated by Eric Coleman, senior vice president, Original Series, Walt Disney Television Animation, will feature creators, executive producers and stars Dan Povenmire (Dr. Doofenshmirtz) and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh (Major Monogram), along with actors Vincent Martella (Phineas), Olivia Olson (Vanessa Doofenshmirtz) and Tyler Mann (Carl the Intern). Room 6DE
The panelists will be signing exclusive Comic-Con edition posters in the autograph area #AA3 from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
GHOST WHISPERER
“Ghost Whisperer”: Season Five — Everything New Is New Again. Join the cast and executive producers for an exclusive first look at video clips from the new season and a Q&A, with hints and revelations about the game-changing addition of Melinda and Jim’s new baby. Find out about how the new character will bring new powers, new challenges and new rules to our show, and how he will open doors to a whole new paranormal dimension — a dimension that will pit Melinda and her friends and family against entities darker and more dangerous than any she’s ever faced, thrusting her into a battle between forces of good and evil, forces which she never knew existed. Join cast members Jennifer Love Hewitt, David Conrad, Christoph Sanders, Jamie Kennedy, Camryn Manheim and executive producers Ian Sander, Kim Moses and P.K. Simonds. Room 6BCF
In addition to the panel, other “Ghost Whisperer” fan opportunities include:
Cast autograph session at 11:00 AM at IDW Booth #1705
Press conference, Sunday, July 26 at 12:15 PM, Room 1B