Comic-Con 2017: The Best Classic TV Panels at This Year’s Event
San Diego Comic-Con is the place to see all of your favorite shows that are currently on the airwaves. But it’s also an ideal environment for strolling down memory lane, because the past is always present at SDCC. Tucked away amidst all the newer fare are panels and events that celebrate nostalgic favorites, often with the presence of the actors and creators who made them. Here’s Yahoo TV’s alphabetical guide to some of the coolest classic TV celebrations at this year’s Comic-Con.
Adam West Celebration
Michael Keaton was replaceable. So was George Clooney. But there will never, ever be another Batman like Adam West. The star of the dynamic ’60s TV series (and its 1966 feature film spinoff) passed away earlier this year and gets the heroic send-off he deserves from the Comic-Con faithful. Long time Bat-fans Kevin Smith and Ralph Garman anchor a memorial service you’d have to be… well, batty to miss.
Thursday, July 20, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m., Room 6DE
Avatar: The Last Airbender: Legend and Legacy
If you’re among the Avatar faithful, you’ll almost certainly be bending time and space — along with the air — to make sure that you’re part of this fan-generated event for the defunct Nickelodeon animated series, and its follow-up, The Legend of Korra. Artists and voice actors will celebrate alongside fans.
Saturday, July 22, 2017, 10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Room 25ABC
Batman: The Animated Podcast LIVE!
Batman: The Animated Series: Great version of Batman or the greatest version of Batman? We’ll leave it to you decide. What definitely isn’t up for debate is that this animated classic is turning 25 this year and is celebrating its birthday in style. The voice of the Bat, Kevin Conroy, joins Batman: The Animated Podcast host, Justin Michael, for a special live episode that will also feature some special guests…including (we hope) Arleen “Harley Quinn” Sorkin.
Thursday, July 20, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library
Battlestar Galactica Reunion
So say we all! Fresh off a recent get-together at Austin’s ATX Festival, the crew of the good ship Galactica docks in San Diego to share their memories and theories about what the Cylon plan was anyway. Showrunners Ronald D. Moore and David Eick will share the stage with Tricia Helfer, Katee Sackhoff, Mary McDonnell, Grace Park, Michael Trucco, and Aaron Douglas. Sadly, Edward James Olmos seems unlikely to be in attendance, but if anyone deserves a vacation, it’s Admiral Adama.
Thursday, July 20, 2017, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Ballroom 20
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Joss Whedon’s groundbreaking TV series celebrated the big 2-0 in March, and the birthday festivities are continuing four months later. On Friday, members of the show’s art department reunite for a behind-the-scenes look at how the show built such a convincing alternate reality on such a limited budget. On Sunday, authors Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman reveal some of the stories they’ve gathered for their upcoming Buffy oral history, Slayers & Vampires. And remember: Comic-Con ain’t over until the Slayer sings. That’s why an audience participation screening of Buffy‘s beloved musical episode, “Once More With Feeling,” is programmed for SDCC’s waning hours. That’s three different ways to get your stake on.
Reunion of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Art Department: Friday July 21, 2017 7 p.m. – 8 p.m., Room 29AB
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Two Decades With Feeling a 20th Anniversary Celebration: Sunday July 23, 2017, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m., Room 7AB
Buffy Musical: “Once More with Feeling,” an Interactive Whedon Musical: Sunday, July 23, 2017, 3:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m., Room 6BCF
Classic Doctor Who Panel With Lost Episode Preview and Q&A
Doctors 5 and 6, Peter Davison and Colin Baker, spend some quality time with ace companion Ace (Sophie Aldred) revisiting past adventures through time and space… including a previously lost Second Doctor story that’s been painstakingly reconstructed. We imagine they’ll have some pearls of wisdom for new Time Lord, Jodi Whittaker, as well.
Thursday, July 20, 2017 5 p.m. – 5:50 p.m., Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
The Guild 10th Anniversary Reunion!
Before she bedeviled the crew of the re-launched Satellite of Love on the current iteration of Mystery Science Theater 3000, Felicia Day created her own cult sensation in the form of the web series, The Guild. Day and her cast survey The Guild‘s beginnings a decade ago in the company of like-minded gamers and geeks.
Saturday, July 22, 2017, 6 p.m. – 6:50 p.m., Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Hanna-Barbera 60th Anniversary
Yabba dabba do… attend this retrospective panel featuring all the cartoon stars you remember from your childhood and/or your parents’ childhood. Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear, Top Cat, Huckleberry Hound, and Jonny Quest are just some of the iconic, if stiffly-animated, creations conjured into being by the Kings of Saturday morning cartoons.
Sunday, July 23, 2017, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m., Room 7AB
Lost Fans Unite With Jay and Jack
Still arguing about whether Lost‘s finale was an act of genius or betrayal? Then hash it out with Lost podcasters, Jay and Jack Glatfelter, who can’t stop talking about a show that’s been off the air for seven years.
Saturday, July 22, 2017, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library
Sid & Marty Krofft
The sibling duo behind such delightfully weird favorites as Land of the Lost and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters discuss their storied legacy and upcoming projects. C’mon folks: Let’s make these two household names all over again.
Saturday, July 22, 2017, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m., Room 23ABC
Through the Gate: Celebrating the Stargate Franchise
The Stargate brand was once powerful enough to power three different series: Stargate SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis, and Stargate Universe. So you can bet that the franchise’s minders will be keeping a close eye on attendance levels at this 20th anniversary celebration as they decide where and how the Stargate should reappear. Consider your presence a vote in favor of more trips to Gate-world.
Thursday, July 20, 2017, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m., Grand 1 & 2, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Star Trek
After several false starts, the first Trek series in over a decade, Star Trek: Discovery will finally be unveiled at SDCC. The franchise’s 50-year history is going to be the subject of much conversation as well. Gene Roddenberry’s son, Rod, will share mementos from his father’s extensive archive in a Roddenbery Entertainment-themed panel. Authors and professional Trekkies Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross will also be on hand to revisit notable moments in the show’s (future) history. Finally, Larry “Dr. Trek” Nemecek throws a 30th birthday party for The Next Generation crew, which debuted, rather inauspiciously, in 1987. But it got better!
Roddenberry Presents: Thursday, July 20, 2017, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Room 24ABC
Star Trek: The Next 50 Years: Thursday, July 20, 2017, 5 p.m. – 6 p.m., Room 25ABC
Larry Nemecek’s Trekland 2017: TNG at 30 and Discovery at T-minus: Friday, July 21, 2017, 8 p.m. – 9 p.m., Room 29AB
Wiseguy: The Show That Invented Binge TV
Before House of Cards, before The Sopranos and before Murder One, there was Wiseguy, network television’s early dip into the waters of serialized storytelling. Premiering on CBS in 1987, the crime drama followed deep cover FBI agent Vincent Terranova (Ken Wahl) across multiple cases, with a guest star roll call that included Tim Curry, Glenn Frey, and Kevin Spacey. The shows executive producing team, including David Burke, Stephen Kronish, and David Kemper will talk about who they foresaw the days of binge viewing when everyone else was still dining a la episodic.
Friday, July 21, 2017, 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Room 5AB
San Diego Comic-Con runs from July 20-23.
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