Latest / CONversations with Coffee / Episode 11: How Big Bang Theory (and TV) Made Comic Con Mainstream

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Episode 11: How Big Bang Theory (and TV) Made Comic Con Mainstream · CONversations with Coffee

• Liz: Hey! KENT: Hey Liz, how you doing? Liz: I'm Fine Kent and how are you my dear coffee drinker? KENT: I am just getting caffeinated. I've been up since Liz: Mm-hmm. KENT: five thirty this morning. And so Yay to coffee. Ode to coffee. Liz: And yay to T! KENT: Tea. look at you got the Bahamas. I got the rusty red cup, the yeti cup. The yep. It's a yeti red. Nah, I just I Liz: Well, hopefully not rust, hopefully not rusty. KENT: I when I was making the coffee, I was like, I'm just grabbing my old faithful, you know, it's a big mouth and It's a Yeti and stuff like that. So yeah, the big mouth. Ha ha Liz: That works! KENT: ha. Liz is pulling out Liz: Why don't you put a stick? KENT: jokes. Look at you. You must have been well caffeinated today. Liz: No, actually this is my first one. But KENT: Alright. All right. Liz: why don't you put, you know, con stickers all over it? KENT: 'cause then you can't put it in the washer. Liz: You can dishwasher those. KENT: Well, yeah. Well, this you can wash. You can just stick it in the wash machine, put it upside down, and it washes and stuff like that. But if you put stickers, they get wet and then they get all soggy and stuff. I put all my con stickers on my laptop. I just actually I see. Now if you would have told me that, I would have had my laptop right here. I'd have show my new sticker I just got at the Amazing Art Expo. It's about dumpster fires. You can prevent Liz: I think I got one of those or maybe KENT: Yeah, it's Liz: I got a pin. KENT: they had a couple, but yeah, they had a thin one, so I put it on the top of my laptop, but it was you can prevent dumpster fires. Liz: Yeah KENT: And the funny thing is is that will live on forever. It'll be a meme, a sticker, or whatever. I was there in San Diego when that dumpster fire happened. Liz: there was actually a dumpster fire. KENT: yeah. There was a dumpster fire. Like they had to evacuate s the area. Liz: Not a, not a, a, an apocryphal one or whatever, but an actual. KENT: Real dumpster fire happened at San Diego Comic Con. You can Google it. You should Google it. It's in the news. It was on the news. It was everything. They had to evacuate the area. Yeah, yeah. They thought they were Liz: So when was that? KENT: they thought they were gonna have to shut down the Comic Con because of the fire. Liz: But where, I mean, when? And, well, like, just in the loading dock or something? Really? KENT: my gosh, 2017, 18, like I don't know. It was a while ago, but and speaking of coffee, I know I'm going back to my coffee. Like, you know, cheers to you, but you know, I I made the fainting goat coffee that I've been telling Liz: Yes? KENT: you. And you know what? I found the bag. Liz: Yes, that's very cool. KENT: Look at that. Isn't look at the design on that. Like you got the X Wing. I don't know if I showed you this or not, but look, you got the da-da okay. All right. Well, you got the lights Liz: I think you did, but it's wonderful to see it again. It is so... KENT: there. I'm like, see, I I I can't I'm getting sold, I forget what I talk about. Liz: No comment. KENT: Yes, okay. Well, you know, if it's a repeat, well, our one subscriber saw it on the video. And if not, it's it's this really cool Star Wars that says, May the goat be with you. So Liz: So silly, but very creative and fun. KENT: It is. It is. It is fun. I actually just took somebody some of this coffee and they were like, this is really good. So you know, speaking of coffee, I'm going to be heading out of town in about a next weekend towards Knoxville. And of course, you know, on the way is Bucky's. So I'm gonna have to give me some Bucky's coffee. Liz: Bucky's. I've never had coffee there. I only get a weird soda whenever I go there. KENT: yeah, yeah. Try the coffee, you'll like it. Liz: Okay? And the sandwiches are some of the elves. So nice. Sandwiches. KENT: Sandwiches. Sandwiches. Yeah. You got the pulled pork and the brisket. Fresh brisket on a slab. I don't think I could do that job. And you can tell the people that have been there for a long time, because the new ones are like just full on yelling it out. Fresh biscuit on the slab. like that. And that and then you the employees that have been there, fresh biscuit on the slab. You can tell they don't want to say it, but they have to say it. Liz: Mm-hmm. KENT: And that meat comes out like every 15 minutes or so. Can you imagine saying Liz: Yeah, amazing. KENT: that four times an hour? Liz: for eight hours or whatever it is. Yeah. KENT: Well yeah, full shift. I'm like, all right, I'm gonna be the restroom attendant making like eighty thousand dollars just being the restroom guy. I'll I'll clean the cleanest bathrooms around. Liz: Hmm well no no that was a thoughtful yeah yeah I was like KENT: Wait, why why you why are you rolling your eyes there, Liz? She's like, job opportunity. Let's see. Go clean some bathrooms. Kind of like a green room. Nice and speckling clean. Liz: I like it. KENT: There you go. There you go. How about you? What are you? Are you drinking your PG tips? Liz: Right, Dad? KENT: that generic English coffee. Look at that. Liz: It's Tay! KENT: Hi. Liz: Tay! It's Tay! KENT: Bland tea. It is it green tea or black tea or what? Liz: it's black tea. That was the only kind of tea I knew. was just kind of tea. KENT: T. That's it. Liz: So when I came to America and there's, you know, blossom bliss and all these flavors, I mean, I'd heard of tea and I'd heard of Earl Grey tea. That was it. KENT: Uh-huh. Gotcha. So my question is do you do it the British way or the Liz way? Liz: well. Bussy! KENT: And for those of you that don't know what the British way is, they pour milk into their tea. Liz: Well, yes, I was going to say the whole brewing thing, the whole warm up the pot and use boiling water and use loose beef and all of that stuff. I don't bother with all of that usually. KENT: Press it. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Liz: But I always bother with milk and some kind of sweetness. Sugar or, you know, whatever chemical is to hand that tastes like sugar. KENT: I I'm more of a I I like Stevia. I just stick with Stevia. Monk fruit, whatever. Just I don't go into the blue or pink packages. Stuff like that. No. That's okay. Liz: and yellow. KENT: No judgment. This is a no judge free zone. I it's okay. Our one listener. Actually, you know what? We we always joke about having one listener and it which is awesome. I was talking with my buddy Joe, who lives in Australia. And he was like, my gosh, you guys are having a podcast? I'm like, Yeah, we're we're we're launching it, we're doing all the stuff, we're getting everything out and stuff like that. He goes, you know, when it when you get it out there, let me know. And I was like, we will Yeah, Liz: We might have an international listener. KENT: yeah, yeah. We're gonna have we'll have one here in the States and we'll we have one in Canada and then we'll have one in Australia. Do we have anybody do you have any British friends still over in the UK? so we look, we have Liz: family. got KENT: That would be four. Liz: one in Spain. KENT: okay. So we got five, five listeners, but they're one for each country. So we have one listener in in a country. Liz: My brother also lives in Australia, so we could actually outweigh the US contingent with the Australian contingent. KENT: so two listeners in Australia. Wow. We are that is Liz: It could happen. It could happen. KENT: that's like huge growth overnight. Liz: Yeah Yeah, I won't hold my breath but I hope KENT: Yes. Liz: we have listeners at some point. Listeners, watchers. KENT: Have what listeners? Well, they have to follow conversations with coffee. Liz: YEEEESSSS KENT: And we have all the socials. I I was working on our link tree and stuff like that. So, you know, we got the the Facebooks, the Liz: And that's Cons with Coffee. KENT: cons with coffee, because you know, you can't do it's too long. Conversations with coffee. So we just shorten it. Cons with coffee. That's our Instagram, our Facebook or TikTok or Liz: and Gmail. KENT: Gmail, yeah, everything. Everything, any social media, YouTube is everything is cons with coffee. So and as I was at a con this weekend, it was people are interested in wow, you guys talk about cons and and how to maneuver through them because each con is different. I was at an art expo, which is kind of like a con, but it's not, you know what I mean? 'Cause it doesn't have the vendors, it doesn't have panels, it doesn't have the but they have a cosplay contest, Liz: Yeah. Yeah. KENT: which I mean a lot of people showed up for that. That was crazy. yeah, and then Liz: which you wouldn't expect for an art show in general. KENT: No, in general, but people showed up for it. It was crazy. Yeah, yeah. I was in the DC area doing the two hundred and fiftieth celebration. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was crazy. Liz: Did it all look nice though with the flags everywhere and... KENT: They had flags. A lot of it's been barricaded off the plaza, the the mall, or whatever they call it, that whole strip all the way up Liz: Yeah. KENT: to the capital. That's called the mall area. It's kind of barricaded right now because the state fair is there as well. So Liz: No. KENT: I was like, wow, state fair is there. Liz: Hang on, does DC get a state fair? It's not a state. KENT: They have a state fair. Yeah. Which is a good fact. DC is not a state, but they have a state fair in DC. Yes. But it was. Yeah, I mean, Liz: So they took someone else's steak fare and nicked it. KENT: I might have a picture or two I could show you, but yeah, it you know, when you go to a state fair, I I was joking with the talent I was with because I was like How is this really a state fair if they only got like one ride? Yeah, yeah. Like it's up fair as well. But yeah, see like see if that focuses Liz: The Great American State Fair. Okay. KENT: Yep, that's that's it. Like they just got a barricaded. I'm showing the wall, the fencing wall of the great American State Fair. yeah, it I was not impressed. And that's just me personally. just because it was a Ferris wheel. I'm like the traveling carnies have more rides than the state fair. And that's Liz: Yeah. KENT: what I was telling the talent, like, my gosh, like. here's another picture of the great American see. It's just Liz: they've just walled everything off. KENT: Yeah, they just walled it all off. on the other side those buildings is Smith o Smithsonian. which I got to go to the aerospace one. That was pretty cool. Yeah. I mean, if you've never been, you should go. It's free. Liz: You know, I have never, I've been to the Smithsonian, but that was decades ago, but I have never been to a state fair. KENT: See, I lived in San Diego, Liz: I imagine they have them. KENT: so the San Diego State Fair. I live grew up in Colorado, so it was always the Pueblo State Fair. So yeah, I mean, Liz: yes! KENT: I love fairs are fun. It's food and rides and chickens and cows and all kinds of stuff. Like you you just, you know, all those things that you saw on TV, you can buy at the state fair. Like not this one. I was like, I was literally asking a friend, I was like, where are all the rides? And they're like, That's it. The Ferris wheel. And I was like, That is not a state fair. Liz: No. KENT: Just I'm like, the travel and Carnies have more rides than that. It was like, Yeah. Liz: Yeah. KENT: sorry, Washington. I was not impressed. Sorry. Liz: well, I don't know, maybe they're gonna add some more or something, who knows. KENT: If you're listening from the Washington, DC area, tell us what you think of the state fair. Yeah. Anyways. Liz: Ha KENT: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So yeah, just got back. from that. That was fun. I had Trina Nishimura. I think that's how you say the last I am bad at last names, like but attack on Titan. Liz: okay. Hang on, KENT: Big fan. Liz: was she an original Japanese voice or an English dub voice? KENT: English dub voice, even though she has like an Asian last name, because somebody came up and they're like, you're the and she's like, No, I'm the dubbing side. So, but she's been doing it for like 23 years. Yeah, very impressive. Just the stat of everything she's done. should look Google her and look her up. She's awesome. Like, if you get to meet her, she is a ball of energy. my gosh, loved working with her. Like Liz: I like full of energies, full of energy. KENT: my gosh. Everybody, hi hi dear. How you doing, lovely? you know, fist bump here. How you know, look can I do the voice for you? I was like, who is this person? Like, my gosh. Like you and I have worked with a lot of talent, and you're just like, wow. I I I was like, I want to work with her again. It was so much fun. Like, just the ball and just everything, you know, the glass is half full, not. Half empty, half full. Just everything, you know. just excited to see everybody. there was one special guy, Chris. a little high functioning, but he wears a captain's hat. He comes up, he's showing us videos and stuff like that. my gosh, I love that guy. I've seen him at other shows. just he knows he just Always is purchasing he gets a photo or he'll get an autograph, but then he'll he was showing us some videos of different Comic-Con things and just a ball of energy, and and he always brings a bucket of candy. So he's like, Hey, you want more? Like he just he hands out treats Liz: I see. KENT: and stuff like that. Just you can see him coming because he's a big guy, but he just brings a lot of energy and you know. Trina would match his energy a hundred percent. And I was like, Wow, this is awesome. Gotta love stuff like that. You know how it is. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Liz: Yeah. yeah. You do get attendees that go to many, many, many shows. And there was this one chap called Blake who I met, I think, in Denver. You know, attendee, just, KENT: Yeah, yeah. Liz: you know, met him in the line. I was doing line control at that time. And just kind of came every year KENT: Yeah. Liz: and I got to be friendly. And then I saw him in Salt Lake City. I was like, what are you doing here? KENT: Mm-hmm. Liz: And so chums then. And then I just saw him a few weeks ago at Denver and it was just great to see him. Yes, Brandon. KENT: Yeah, like Brandon, Brandon the Redhead. Brandon the Redhead, we love him. If you're listening, Brandon, we love you. he just shows up, he's just a ball. He brought his mom this year to Denver Comic Con and introduced her to all the different talent that he knows. So I thought that Liz: Aww. KENT: that was awesome. And of course the talent is like super excited to meet the mom because they know Brandon, because he comes to all the shows and just an amazing kid. Liz: Yeah, yeah, it's always lovely to see him. Yes. KENT: Good all-around human. Yep. I that's you know what, Liz? Here's what we need to do. We need to make a ribbon, like Liz: Yes. KENT: something that we can give to good people, all around good humans like Brandon or Chris or whatever for their badges, like a badge that says good human or spe Liz: Mm-hmm. KENT: special loving human. Just we need to create a ribbon for those people. To acknowledge them and just be like, all right, you know what, you you brighten my day, you get the special human badge, you know, little ribbon or whatever. Let's come up with that. And then that way, you Liz: Yeah. All right. KENT: know, when we get special humans that are, you know, go above and beyond, that brighten our days, that you know, high functioning, normal, it doesn't matter if they are that type of person, we have that. We'll have that ribbon for them. See, I'm gonna write it down. Liz: Yes. All right. In your ideas file. KENT: How many I I don't know about the listeners listening, but Liz, how many ideas do I run by you all the time? Liz: I don't know, quite a few! KENT: I run by a lot, but that's just how I Liz: Well, you are KENT: am. Liz: an ideas person. just, you. KENT: Let's write it down and if we can make it happen, we my my mentor is always the answer is yes, and we'll figure it out. Liz: Yeah. KENT: Yeah. awesome. Well, you know, speaking of Comic Cons, you had brought up a a a topic that you wanted to talk about, and I was like, my goodness, this would be a good one. Like, because I always say Comic-cons have grown because of this. The Liz: UGH! KENT: I I feel that certain of these have been mentioned enough that because of them, people go, what's that? And they Google it or they look it up and stuff like that. What was what is this? Liz: Yes. Or just, just. KENT: What is it that you wanted to talk about, Liz? Because I'm like, all right, I'm ready for this. Liz: the representation of Comic Cons in TV and movies. And of course, Big Bang Theory. KENT: Yep. My that's my number one go to. Liz: Yes. So it not only tells you what they're like, that kind of tells you what to do, what not to do. If you can have dinner with James Earl Jones, great. But they did. he or Shelton, Shelton goes up to KENT: Did they do that in a big bang theory? my gosh. They had so many special guests on that. my gosh. Liz: him, you know, in a restaurant because he just is dying to meet him. And he says, KENT: Yeah, yeah. Liz: I know. you're probably sick of people asking you questions about Star Wars, but... James O'Jones says, no, I love talking about Star Wars. KENT: Huh. Liz: Let's talk about Star Wars. Come on, join me for dinner. KENT: Let's talk about Comic Con in that deep voice of his. Liz: And apparently Sheldon gets so inundated with Star Wars stuff that he actually is looking to get away from James Earl Jones. So, yeah, yeah. So very good natured. In fact, we could KENT: They flipped the script on him. my gosh. Yeah. Liz: start with the Comic-Con episodes where actual celebrities have guest starred. KENT: Mm. Yeah. Liz: So I was thinking there's that old Futurama. I did. KENT: Liz did her research. my goodness. She did her research. I Googled like a couple real quick, but she did her research. Huh? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Liz: But in Futurama, they had an episode, let's see, where no fan has gone before. And KENT: Mm. Liz: they had the main Star Wars, Star Trek cast, the heads of the cast in the show. But KENT: Mm-hmm. Mm. Liz: I looked up the cast and it was William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. It was in 2002, so. KENT: Okay, so back in the day, yeah, yeah, yeah. Liz: quite a while ago. But it was funny how they represented cons in that show. had panels and autographs. Yes. KENT: This is Star Trek, not Star Wars. Liz: did I say Star Wars again? KENT: You said well, it's all right. You're you Liz: way to go. KENT: So good. Liz: But it was fun to have the cast actually guest on the show. KENT: Mm-hmm. Liz: And then one of my favorite episodes of Psych has George Takei in it. KENT: Well, before you go on to psych, I've Liz: Yes. KENT: worked with John DiMaggio, who is Bender. he there's a certain character in Star Wars that he does not like. And so he'll say it in Bender towards the other robot. And it's it's funny. It's funny. I can't say it. I just can't say it. But if you ever get to see John DiMaggio, who is Bender, the robot in Futurama, ask him Liz: and a million other things. KENT: yeah, ask him what he thinks about the robot in Star Wars. Enough said right there. I'll just leave it there. Liz: Oooooh! Right. KENT: All right, so psyched. Liz: So, Psych, in Psych, they are investigating a murder at a Comic Con KENT: Ooh, okay. Liz: and George Takei is in it as kind of a side character. KENT: my Liz: my, is right. But he's very fussy and the main character, Sean, manages to get himself appointed as George Takei's assistant. KENT: Okay. Liz: And George wants blueberries from North Carolina. And everyone's like, my goodness, we don't have blueberries from North Carolina. What are we going to do? And it becomes this whole thing where Sean is blaming Gus and all of this stuff. So it's all very KENT: Mm-hmm. Liz: silly. And of course they solve the mystery. So I was... it's... KENT: nice. I've never seen that show, so it I s little over my head. I'll have to watch it. I'll put it on my list of things to do. Liz: So I was going to, I think, Conn in Oklahoma City, KENT: Okay. Liz: and George Takei was gonna be there. KENT: Sure. yeah, I remember that. Liz: And also some of the psych cast was there as well. So the week before that, I was in Virginia visiting family, and I was talking about that one episode. And they said, huh, we're like 10 miles from North Carolina. And I went, KENT: wow. Liz: yeah! I went to North Carolina, I bought blueberries and I took them to Oklahoma City and gave them to George Takei. KENT: Did he get the joke? Liz: Sort of. But the KENT: Sort of okay, yeah. Liz: psych actors got a huge kick out of it. KENT: That's funny. Liz: So that was me kind of geeking out, but it was sort of a joke. KENT: Yeah, yeah, no, that's good. Hey, you drive ten miles for blueberries. There you go. I like that. my gosh. Liz: I did, I did. KENT: Now I know that I mean I did a Google search and I know Comic Con has been mentioned in several things, like Big Bang. Like of course Big Bang, I feel has been the the catalyst of it all because they're those scientists, the geeks, the nerds, the And they, I mean, if you look at Sheldon's shirt, it's always a superhero shirt every Liz: Yes. KENT: single time and stuff like that. but they mention San Diego Comic Con, they mention Comic Con, they even have an episode going to Comic Con and breaking down the car and they're in their Star Trek outfits and stuff like that. Liz: Hahaha! KENT: It's like super funny, but I feel like because of them, Comic Cons have grown. Because people watch the Big Bang Theory and then they hear a Comic Con, they're like, What's that? And they Google it and they're like, I want to check that out. And then they go to one that's local to them. But it it's also been mentioned in supernatural community. And then, like you said, Futurama. Yeah. So Liz: Yeah, was actually community. That was a funny episode, because it had, I don't know if you've seen him, it's in Spectacon. KENT: Inspectacon. Liz: It's basically a sort of Doctor Who convention, but there's a character on there who plays this weird attendee who seems to want to take over a friendship. KENT: Mm-hmm. Liz: with one of the characters and he's played by a British comedian called Matt Lucas. KENT: Okay. Liz: You might recognize because he's hairless. He has that condition where you have no hair at all. KENT: Yeah, yeah. It's called bald. That's kidding. I know I I I get it. I get it. Liz: No, it's actually, no, I mean, no eyebrows, no eyelashes, nothing. So he's on this thing as this kind of creepy guy. And then by, I don't know if it's connected, but a few years later, he was on Doctor Who as a guest, KENT: wow. Hmm. Liz: as a guest star, you know. KENT: Yeah. Liz: I thought that was irony of ironies. KENT: It's crazy. Now, Comic Con also has appeared in pop culture as well. So Paul, the movie Paul in 2011. it wasn't filmed at San Diego Comic-Con, but the opening of the movie is basically they're at San Diego Comic-Con. another I know, Liz: Okay, I saw that movie but it's been a long time. KENT: I'm throwing old school movies. the movie Entourage. They Liz: is that? KENT: at Comic Con too. Yeah. There was Liz: Was that a movie or a TV show? KENT: well, the movie came first, then the TV show. Yeah, yeah. Liz: okay, I didn't ever see that. And then of course you got Galaxy Quest. KENT: Galaxy Grass. Liz: My grass-thrower's hammer. I think that it, that may have been a lot of an early exposure to Comic-Con life for a lot of KENT: Uh-huh. Liz: people. I'm not sure I actually was familiar with the concept, except you know what I think before I became involved in the world, I thought it was a Trekkie thing. That there would be Star Trek conventions. and you'd hear about those years before I ever heard about the more general ones. KENT: Well, they have a large com Star Trek convention in Las Vegas every year. And that's been going on. And I remember hearing about it. I never went until about I want to say seven years ago, seven, eight years ago, because it was always San Diego Comic Con. And then like the next week was Las Vegas Star Trek. And it was like and that was another five day. And I'm like, my gosh. And people would go. And and finally I had to work one. actually, I actually was in Vegas for a work trip and my friend was there and he's like, Hey, come on by and so I went by and I'm like, Wow, they actually do have a convention for Star Trek. I was like, Okay. Like and then the following year and I got to work it. Liz: Well, I'd heard about them, I'd heard about the Star Trek one or ones... ago. Oh yes, very nice. KENT: I'm just showing a Star Trek pin. I mean, this is a magnetic one. This is like heavy duty, like it's not gonna fall off your outfit because it's got the magnet in the back and stuff. Liz: Mm-hmm. KENT: See, I got again all this stuff on my desk. Just crazy stuff. I don't know. Liz: Yep, lots of stuff. KENT: Anybody want to buy it? I'm selling it. Liz: Ha ha ha! KENT: I have so much stuff. Anyways. Liz: So, yes. just Galaxy Quest. mean, was... KENT: Yeah, go ahead. No, no, no, no, you get to talk 'cause Yeah, yeah, yeah. Tim Allen. Liz: Yeah, no, I was just saying it was kind of dismissive a little bit. KENT: Mm-hmm. Liz: You know, the idea of the, you know, has-been actors doing this because they can't get another job kind of thing. KENT: Mm-hmm. Liz: But in the end, they ended up all being very heroic, which was just lovely. KENT: That is true. Liz: And then, another one. Did you ever see Con Man? It was, KENT: Conman? Liz: yeah. It's Alan Tudyk, KENT: Yeah, yeah. Liz: the 10 minute story chunks. KENT: Yep. That little chunk he did. Yeah. Well they had they also had comic book, the movie, and that's all filmed in Sandy at San Diego Comic Con. Yeah. Liz: Okay, is that a Kevin Smith thing? KENT: I wanna say it is Mark Hamill's Mark Hamill directed not once. So yeah. no, that's not the Kevin Smith one. Liz: I know there was the Kevin Smith one that had, it was like a documentary from the KENT: Mm-hmm. Liz: Morgan Spurlock, that guy. KENT: Yep. Yep. Yep. Liz: And it had Kevin Smith and Stan Lee and Joss Whedon and KENT: Yep. Liz: it followed a bunch of attendees at San Diego. Now, to be fair, KENT: They didn't follow us, they should have. Liz: to be fair, I have not seen it because it's paying. It's not just showing up on Netflix or something. KENT: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Liz: I'd like to see it because it seems to follow the journey of like a cosplayer, autograph hunters, collectors, comic book guys. So I think it's a, I imagine it's very good documentary. If any of our listeners, listener has seen that film, we would very much like to hear what you think of it. KENT: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, and if you want to even go you're talking about Kevin Smith and his movies and his nerdism and go back even further to nineteen ninety seven, you got Chasing Amy, where they actually have several scenes set at a comic convention. yeah, which is pretty crazy for the n that was in the nineties that you know, Liz: Well, you had said that didn't... When did the San Diego start? KENT: my gosh, in the 80s. I don't Liz: 70s, 80s? KENT: know. it's been a long time because when I first went in ninety-two, it was at the San Diego Convention Center. But before that, it was in the Mission Valley Convention Center, Liz: So KENT: which is in Mission Valley area, by the eight eight five and the five split and the eight goes east and west. So Yeah, it was down in Mission Valley. It wasn't even downtown and it was basically comics at that time. So yeah, I Liz: Yes. Well, that is the mother chef, isn't it? KENT: It it Yes, it's the mothership. but yeah, I mean San Diego Comic Con's been going on for a long time. Yeah. Liz: Yeah, so the changes in the con world have gone from a few tables with comics trading to this massive industry of a dozen cons every weekend at a town near you. They're just everywhere. KENT: So yeah, so because I like to know this information, I just quick said, when did San Diego Comic Con start? It started March twenty first, nineteen seventy. Liz: 70 KENT: Yep. Yep. the dry run. yeah. Liz: Hang on, so it would have had its 50th? Would it have had its 50th in... KENT: yeah. I I got a program guide from thirty-five years, so it's getting towards fifty. Yeah. Yeah. Fifty-five. Fifty-six. Yeah. Liz: No, it's past 50. V50... 56? Wow. KENT: It first launched as a one day mini con called San Diego Golden State Comic Minicon. It drew about A hundred attendees to raise funds to gauge interest for a larger event. And then the first full convention was the Golden State Comic Con held later the same year, August first through the third, nineteen seventy. And that event brought in around three Liz: That is wild! KENT: hundred fans. Liz: Which is not bad for a tabletop convention, mean really. Wow! KENT: And the and the guests there were Ray Bradbury and Jack Kirby. Yep, there you go. Liz: Rape Radbury. KENT: Yes. She's looking confused or shocked or I don't a misbelief. Liz: No, I am in disbelief, shock, awe. Yeah. KENT: Yeah, yeah. Do you want to tell everybody who Ray Bradbury is because you're in such shock and awe? Liz: one of the greatest science fiction writers ever KENT: There you go. Liz: Fahrenheit 451 KENT: Mm, there you go. Liz: something wicked this way comes I think was his Okay, show up my ignorance. Go on, look him up. Look him up. He's done. KENT: No, I I I will in a minute, but yeah, and then Jack Kirby was here and it and it brought in roughly 300 fans. Com I mean, which nowadays that's a small Comic Con. Very small Comic Con. Liz: It is, but... KENT: But that yeah, so the name Evolution too. 1970, it was called Golden State Comic Minicon. And then of course, then when they launched it in August, it was Golden State Comic Con. Then in 1972, it became San Diego's West Coast Comic Convention. That's a mouthful right there. And then in nineteen seventy-three, it officially renamed San Diego Comic-Con, known as SDCC. Liz: Yes. KENT: but then in nineteen ninety five, it renamed its current corporate title to Comic Con International San Diego. Liz: International, yes. Yes, which is also a big mouthful. Nobody calls it that. KENT: Yeah, well, I didn't know that. Well, I'm actually supposed to go to Spain for a Comic Con in October, I think it is. Yeah, it's for my during my birthday. And the Comic-Con is hold on. Ma Magala M-A Malaga. Yeah, Liz: Malaga. Malaga. KENT: Malaga, it's Comic-Con Malaga, which is an offset from San Diego Comic-Con. Liz: So it really is Comic-Con International. KENT: Yeah. I I didn't know that until I Googled the Comic Con. Then I was like, so it is a international Comic Con. Wow, that is crazy. I was like Liz: Do you need a handler for your handler? KENT: I am the handler. Liz: Yeah, but you need a handler to look after you, is what I'm saying. KENT: are you saying I can't handle myself? Liz: No, I'm saying I want to go. How fun would that be? my goodness. KENT: Yeah. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. It's been a good year. I I am not complaining. this will be my first international trip, which I'm excited about. I got to do a cruise this year. That was on my bucket list. So yeah. I if you think it, it can happen and you know, you however you can't just think it and it's gonna happen. You gotta work to get there to do that late. Yeah. I've been doing this a long time and it's my first time doing that, so Liz: Yeah, that's exciting. Exciting. KENT: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So yeah, comic cons in TVs and movies. my gosh. Liz: Yes, there was, let's see, another one. KENT: What what else did you research on? Liz: Well, there's The Middle, which is a show I discovered last year about a family in one of the flyover states. That's why they KENT: Mm-hmm. Liz: call it The Middle. But they go to the Planet Nowhere Comic Con. yeah. KENT: Planet Nowhere. Liz: And the dad refuses to buy the expensive collectible. the refillable cup. Which I have to say that has an element of truth. There are collectible cups, are refillable and they cost a fortune. Did you ever get one of those? KENT: No. Liz: You know, the metal cups. KENT: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Liz: Yeah, I inherited one. KENT: You inherited one? Liz: Yeah, somebody left it. KENT: nice. Liz: So I accumulated it. But yeah, those things, those cups, something like $35. Yeah, yeah, yeah. KENT: The metal ones? Shees. That's crazy. Liz: And so that was brought up that had definite ring of truth to it. KENT: I have a couple of people that have them and I just tell them to bring them. Liz: so you can use them. KENT: So I can use it. Yes. Yes. Liz: less. KENT: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. my gosh. I was I was trying to you know I'm s I'm surprised like the Simpsons or American Dad or Family Guy. I mean, if you're if you're listening to this podcast and they have referenced Comic Con in any movie or TV show, put it in the social media that you're Liz: The Simpsons. KENT: Yeah, it's the the Simpsons gotta have a Comic Con, like Yeah, okay. Liz: They do. In the 32nd season. KENT: Holy cow. Liz: Yeah, apparently Bart gets a job as a voice actor and KENT: Ha ha ha. Liz: plays a princess. KENT: Okay. Liz: But he, yeah, KENT: Plays a princess because of his voice. Liz: which seems a little strange. But then the character... KENT: No, no, that's not strange because we know live act we know voice actors that are female that do guy voices. Liz: Yes, like Bart. So his KENT: Yes. Liz: voice is voiced by the... KENT: Well, Serenatatochi does the voice of Ash. I mean Liz: Yeah. so there's lots of them. It's just Bart's voice is, you know, it's kind of a gravelly lower register. KENT: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Liz: And then the thought of him being a princess is just hilarious. KENT: That is fun that is hilarious. Liz: But in that episode, the comic book guy, who is a regular on the show, goes to Comic-a-Loser. KENT: I I like that. Liz: and is trying to hook up some deal with Marvel or something and gets utterly humiliated. So again, haven't seen that one, but it's represented in the longest running show in TV. KENT: see now you're now making me think of an amusement park that has a Comic Con reference into it. Liz: that be. KENT: give me a second while you talk to the fans about Liz: Well, let's see. I think I had mentioned before there is a fun store in London, I think it's still there, called Forbidden Planet. And it's, you know, the ultimate geek store. It has figurines, t-shirts, comics, all kinds of everything. But the ultimate irony for me was when I went in there and found action figures. for the Big Bang Theory cast. And I thought that was absolutely hysterical. Just having them represented in the store that they would have gone to. KENT: That's funny. So I was trying to look it up. And it's it's at Universal Studios. And I could it Google's not giving me what I'm looking for, but there is an I want to say Evil Con. it's the reference it's a ride, it's one of the minion rides or whatever, but you go through evil or evil con. It's it's it Liz: because for superher- I mean for villains it's their own Comic Con. KENT: For villains. Yeah, villain villainscons or something like that. Yeah, yeah. I just remember that. Liz: what a great idea! KENT: Yeah, I just remember that. I was like, there's actually a beautiful reference at an amusement park. Liz: what a great idea. KENT: Yeah. Liz: And that's so Minions, you know, with Gru and KENT: So minions. Liz: everything. That's funny. Yeah. What KENT: Who knew? Who knew? Yeah, yeah. Liz: that, that's a, that's a lovely note to end on, I think, that, KENT: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Liz: that it, that it's actually made its way full circle back to the creator of the entertainment that we go to cons for. KENT: Yeah. I mean that I I love it. I mean, I was taking pictures and I was putting it on Facebook or into my stories and people are like, what convention are you at? Well, I've never heard of that convention. I wanna go. I was like, I'm just at Universal Studios. Florida, yeah, yeah. Liz: Was that in Florida or Los Angeles? Yeah. KENT: Yeah, it it's f if you ever get to go, you've been there. You have because of MegaCon. Liz: And also I did once go pre-cruise. I went on a cruise once and just went by myself because I wanted to and it was very fun. And I got KENT: Well, there you go. Liz: to jump lines because I was a single rider. It was great. KENT: Single writers. Single rider. Yes, that's for me. my gosh. So the listeners hear our stories. We're sharing about you know, cons within TV and movie and stuff like that. What can we what advice can we give the people going to the comic cons? Besides cash. Cash is king. my gosh. I will tell you what. Yes. Go ahead. Liz: That's always, always the advice. Well, I was going to say on the theme of cash, you you're going to spend wads of money whether you, I mean, you needn't, but you do. You know, if you want to buy autographs, you want to buy photos, but there's always so much stuff on the vendor floor. KENT: Mm-hmm. Liz: the mystery boxes, the t-shirts, the art, comics, toys, Legos, you name it. jewellery. And you end up just, you can't resist these little bits and pieces. For me, it's earrings. You know, if I'm gonna find teenage Newton Ninja Turtle earrings, I'm gonna buy them. You know, but, you know, maybe think about budgeting. for those extra little things that you can't resist. KENT: Mm-hmm. Yes. And I'm gonna make this note because even though I was at the Art Expo, there were people that would stand in line to meet some of the guests. and then when they get up there and you would tell them the price of the autograph, they were a little, I wouldn't say shell shocked, but shocked that they had to pay for an autograph. Does that make sense? Liz: Yes. yes. KENT: So If you're a listener and you're a first time attendee to a Comicon or never done one and you want to go, which I recommend, just know that It's their business. the guest there is doing a business. If they're not in the studios, they're not working. So for them to be there, they are obligated by the promoter or the show to sell autographs because they are showing up so that you can meet them and greet them and take pictures and stuff like that. Now, if they give you a free autograph, that's on them. But Ninety-nine point nine nine percent of the people that are signing autographs will charge you for the autograph or the selfie. So just be prepared to pay for an autograph or a selfie. It's not free. Liz: And if you can find somebody with an autograph that costs $40, KENT: Yes. Liz: you should be on Cloud9 because that is the lowest we've ever, ever seen. I would expect to pay... KENT: Yeah, the average forty to sixty right now, and this is two thousand twenty six, right now the average is forty to sixty dollars for an autograph. Liz: I'd say 80 would be the average. KENT: Nah. No, I would say 40 to 60. Yeah, but see, you're working, Liz: I don't know, because you've got so many people that have topped 100 now. KENT: you're work, you work with some higher name people. I'm talking on average because certain people we know are forty to sixty dollars. Now, are there more? Liz: I'd say there's lots that are. There's lots that are 40 to 60, KENT: Yeah. Liz: especially like in the voice acting realm. I'd say 60 would be usual. KENT: Yeah. Well and then of course you get the higher names, the you know, the Rookers, the Kevin Smiths, the Cheech and Chongs, any any of the Lord of the Rings people, Marvel people Liz: rings, those guys. They're gonna be right around 100 these days. KENT: are gonna be well above a hundred. Yep, yep, yep. Liz: Yeah. So if you do get a $40 autograph, then you are golden. You've done great. KENT: Well, and again, it's it's doing your preparation. You know, you don't go into a job interview without preparing yourself. Well, why would you just walk into a Comic Con not knowing anything? And that's why we share this, because a lot of people do walk in and then they'll look like deer in headlights. And we don't want you to have that experience. We want you to have a great experience. And so we're sharing this with you. And so, you know, if you're going to a Comic Con. Look up the website. Find the website for the Comic Con because a lot of times they'll tell you who the guests are. So you can look at the list. They'll also tell you how much a photo is or an autograph of that person. So you can look through the list and go, okay, this one's 40, this one's 60, this one's 150. And then you can budget. And then that way your experience is more fun. Also, if you know you're gonna walk up to a celebrity. Be prepared on what you want to ask them because a lot of guests are are there and when people walk up, they hear, my gosh, you're my you're my favorite guest. You're the only reason I came here. And they're like, well, do you have a question for me? And then they're like, Liz: Ha! KENT: Like that, yeah. So, you know, be prepared, you know, because again, it's gonna be a conversation with them, and they're just as excited to meet you. You are a fan, you watch their stuff, you've seen them, you follow them on social media. They want to connect with you, they want to know you and what drives you, what what did they do that motivated you? What did they do that? made you lose 300 pounds. What did they do to get you to watch 14 seasons of Attack on Titan? You know, things like that, you Liz: Yeah. KENT: know? So come prepared. That that's that is my advice for anybody. It's just when Liz: Mm-hmm. KENT: you're going again, I do this, I go to the show sometimes, I don't even look at who the guests are. I just know who I'm working with. And I've literally lately just been like, you know what? I need to be Better prepared to know who's at the show because I might bump into them in the green room. And if I bump into them, that's my few minutes to say hi or whatever. But I need to know what I want to say versus, I like your work. You know. Liz: Yeah, or, or I liked you in that thing. What was it? I don't remember. What was that thing you did? I've done that. KENT: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. I was just think I was just I had that experience in Denver. my gosh. I can't even think of his name. He is in Better Call Saul. And my gosh. I just well. Anyways, he was just sitting outside of the hotel having a cigar and and I bumped into him in the Liz: Cool. KENT: green room. And so Liz: Robert Patrick? You had said he was... KENT: I was thinking of somebody else, but yes, Robert Patrick. And I bumped into him. And you know, I I mean everybody talks about Terminator. Everybody, because that's what they know him from the blade coming out and stuff like that. I actually flipped the script and it was like, you know, one of my favorite things that you've been into in was a TV show. And he looked at me and he goes, Really? What TV show was it? And I said, Scorpions. I said, because my friend actually is the one that created that TV show. because Walter O'Brien, who they base the character off of, is a friend of mine, and he's super wicked smart. Like he created the TV show so he could recruit other super smart people. And he's like, Yeah, Liz: Really? KENT: he d and and so Because I knew that, and Walter O'Brien is a good friend of mine. I I I I I should pull out his business card. I'll have to bring it up one time. It's it's a gold medal card. That's his business card. And I just said I loved I I thought that was one of the greatest shows. I thought you did a great job as the FBI agent. And he was like, you know what? That was my favorite show of all time to work on. And he goes, thanks for bringing back that memory. He goes, I haven't been on set or talked to those people in a while. But he goes, I love that show. And I was like, I well there I felt good, you know. Because I prepared myself that Liz: Yeah, yeah, that's a very, yeah. KENT: if I bumped into him, I would know what to say. Liz: Yeah, that's terrific. KENT: Yeah. So there you go. Anyways, whoa, look at the t Liz: we went way over. KENT: No, I think you went over. I I I I kept it on track. Like that's how I am. She's giving the if you're Liz: Whatever. KENT: not if you're just listening, she's doing the W, like whatever. You know, give me that Liz: Yeah. KENT: instead of the finger. So we're we're she's trying to keep it PG. If you're listening, you gotta watch the YouTube video of this. Yeah, just the eye rolls and the just in disgust that I get from Liz. It that would be just pure entertainment right there. Liz: Yes, I'm very good at eye rolling. Lots of practice. KENT: Ugh. Yes you are. Lots of practice, lots of practice. Will is anything else you want to talk about? Liz: I don't think so. Just KENT: Well awesome. Liz: just listen in next time on our stupid conversation. KENT: No, it's not stupid. It's actually it's entertain. I think it's entertaining. I mean, it's very helpful for especially for people. Liz: hope so. I do hope so. KENT: Well, it's it's helpful for people that have never been to a Comic Con and you know, just learning tips and tricks, or my gosh, I didn't think about that. You know, I love that you brought up the cons and TVs and movies because I talk about that all the time, especially Big Bang Theory. I'm like, shh. Liz: Mm-hmm. KENT: They are the reason I feel comic cons have grown to the Bohemian growth that they are at. Liz: Yeah. KENT: So thank you for bringing that up. Like craziness. Awesome, awesome. Liz: Alrighty, well, so I will see all of you next time. see we've got the fireworks holiday coming up. KENT: We do and we have a special guest next week too. So Liz: We too. KENT: sh you're gonna have to wait and listen or watch us next week when we bring in our special guest. Yeah. Ooh, I'm gonna have to I'm Liz: Yes, yeah, looking forward to it. KENT: gonna have to pull up some music for that one. Ooh. yeah. Yeah. Liz: Ooh, yes. And we know what kind of music, don't we? KENT: Yes. Liz: Hahaha! KENT: Awesome. Well, I'm Kent, your host, and this is Liz: British Liz, your other host. KENT: And I drink coffee, she drinks tea. We are so excited that you're listening to us, watching us, and following our social media. and thank you for being our one subscriber. You know what? Liz: Yes, another eye roll. KENT: I would do you know what? If we only had one subscriber, I'd still do this because I get Liz: Yeah! KENT: to talk with you each week, Liz, and just catch up and you know, our perspectives. You'd Liz: and I get to try and rag on you. KENT: you you'd you'd attempt to do your best. That's I'll give you kudos for that. Good effort. Yeah. Liz: Good effort, good effort. KENT: Tea for tomatoes. Liz: Yeah KENT: Awesome. Well, you guys have an amazing day. go out there. Be the rock star that you are. Liz, it was great talking with you. And we'll see you next week. Yes. We'll see you next week with our special Liz: Super talking to you. Yes. With our guest. KENT: guest. Liz: Yes. Alright. Take care guys. Bye. Bye. KENT: Alright, talk to you later. Bye.