Supernatural was the second panel that we went to on Sunday- conveniently enough the panel was in the same room as the Smallville panel which was right before it. Both panels were packed with about 2000 people per session. We sat toward the back so that I had a good view of the dias where the panel was sitting- most of my panel video coverage is of the stage, with only part of it taken shooting at the screen when idiots in the aisle would not sit down while waiting to ask a question. Grumpy a little? Yes. To the woman who would not sit because she had on a micro-mini- DO NOT WEAR clothing you cannot sit down in to a convention. You made yourself very unpopular.
Now to the panel and Comic Con . Eric Kripke , Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Sara Gamble and Ben Edlund were all in attendance at the panel. The boys seemed tired , Jared giggled a lot and Jensen looked like he needed more coffee. Jared’s teeth are beginning of the season blinding white again- am sure a few month sucking down java with Jensen will take care of the glare as it usually does by mid-season 
Love knowing the boys do some grooming maintenance between seasons.
Jensen’s movie Bloody Valentine was well represented in the exhibit hall at the Lionsgate booth with big posters right next to a new Nicholas Cage movie. I couldn’t get a poster as they were always out of them. Jared stayed after the panel to do the Friday the 13th panel and promote his film. Both of them were signing autographs in the afternoon at the WB booth. I have photos from the panel and signing in the MV Gallery if you click here.
The panel started with Kripke announcing that instead of a clip montage he wanted to share with the fans the first 5 minutes of season 4!!!! Huge applause- and we cut to video.
The clip as you can see shows Dean waking up in a coffin and rising from his grave- very much an ode to classic zombie films. What you cannot see in the clip is that the lighting is amazing- almost a flat light, so bright it hurts. We usually don’t see daylight this way on Supernatural- I think the point to it is that Dean is seeing daylight for the first time in months and we are meant to have the light be almost painful as it certainly is for him. Once picking himself up he heads to a small gas station with a little store.
Dean breaks in and cleans up, drinks a ton of water and examines himself. Last memory Dean has is being torn apart by Black Dogs. He lifts up his shirt- thrilling the ladies - and sees no marks or scars - the tattoo is in place though on his upper right pec. He then lifts up his right shirt sleeve revealing a big giant series of red welts. You can’t see this in the sneak footage but it was apparent. I thought it looked like a huge handprint. My first thought was “DEMON MARK”. In the Kim Harrison paranormal thrillers demons leave scars on those who owe them- and remove them when paid back.
After checking himself out Dean goes out and starts refueling. He grabs what look like powerbars and candy bars then sees something else he wants in his supply bag—- the print version of Asian Busty Beauties. This goes in with the water and food supplies for hitting the road. While cleaning out the cash register the radio and tv come on with strange music playing and static. Dean hears a supersonic sound and grabs salt and madly begins salting the windows– as he does this the sound peaks and the windows shatter telling him something is out there. This ends the clip.
I have the entire panel loaded online for you to view right here- or go to VEOH and download it as DIVX avi or iPod format.
If you prefer to listen to the panel- ODEO has it up in MP3 audio format you can download.
The panel covered the good and the bad from last season and Eric Kripke promised a strong season 4. I particularly liked his laughing about the spoilers he put out about a love interest for Sam as something just to stir up the fans!
The big news that came out of the panel is that we will see our first Supernatural spin off as the Ghost Facers get an online series- most likely to air on TheWB.com . The GF team first introduced in the season 1 joke episode made a repeat performance this season. A.J. Buckley, Brittany Ishibashi and Travis Webster all attended the big EW SciFI Channel party this week cementing their presence as SciFi realm participants! Any of you watched TV this spring will recognize A.J. as playing the guy who is chasing down Scarlett in the ads for the Scarlett TV’s by LG which were directed by David Nutter.
There were a number of interviews with the cast after the panel- I have them posted in my video channel HERE. along with clips from the panel portion of the session before the Q&A started.
Final bit from Comic Con- Kristin DeSantos on EOnline has an excellent spoilery interview with the guys and lots of good news!
OK, count me in as Comic-Con’s latest convert, because not only do the panels and the swag rule (I love you, Dexter bobble head), but I also got a little one-on-one time with the swooniest brothers the small screen has ever seen (sorry, Bo and Luke Duke): Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles of Supernatural.
Boss Eric Kripke was also on hand to tackle my Q’s, and the three of them spilled lots of scoop, including where the new season is heading, talk of a Ghostfacers spinoff and a 7-foot teddy bear, so click in for some Super scoop!
Where Season Four Begins: We’re joining up with the Winchester boys four months after we saw Dean hanging from chains in that blistering-hot place run by that dude Beelzebub (aka hell). Too bad for Dean, though, as hell seems to run in dog years. So what’s on deck for these poor, miserable souls? Nothing good…
Welcome to Rock Bottom: Over the first half of the season, we will learn what Sam did while he was by himself and what Dean endured in hell. “Sam’s turning a little reckless now that his brother is dead,” Jared revealed. And during his four months alone, Sam has cut off contact with everyone and has become wildly suicidal in his hunting attempts.
The Bromance Is Splintered: The boys used to have an open relationship, but “now they have secrets from each other,” dished Kripke. The good news? If you’re looking for that great (smartass) Dean charm, Jensen reassured us: “He’s still the same shoot-first-ask-questions-later kind of guy, but he’s trying to figure out how he got back from hell.” So it looks like Dean’s mystery will be a large focus this year. Kripke added, “The big question is not does he get out, but how he got out.”
More Ghostfacers! A.J. Buckley, Travis Wester and Brittany Ishibashi showed up to the Comic-Con panel, so you’d better believe we’re going to see more of the Ghostfacers in the future. Said Kripke, “We’re always looking for ways to bring the Ghostfacers back in the actual series…We’re working on some new material, either webisodes, potentially cell phone content or basically an off-network Ghostfacers’ series.” He likes the idea of them actually going to real haunted houses, though it seems the actors aren’t too keen to be around the non-CGI ghouls.
Now for the Five W’s, Supernatural’s Fourth Season:
Who’s Coming Back This Season? Nicki Aycox will be returning for at least one episode to reprise her role as Meg Masters. Also, we’ll get more John and Mary Winchester. Still, fellow Jeffrey Dean Morgan fans, don’t get too excited—we’re going to be seeing them at age 18, when the lovebirds met.
What About the Brotherly Love? Looks like this is the season of individuality; Sam and Dean aren’t going to be as close. Sniff.
When Does Season Four Premiere? It’s slated to return Thursday, Sept. 18, so prepare for what is said to be an “apocalyptic” season.
Where’s the Horror? Sometime this season we’re going to get a classic horror-film-style episode set in black and white. It’s said to be an homage to Dracula and Creature From the Black Lagoon.
Why Is There a 7-Foot-Tall Teddy Bear Roaming the Streets? Just another day in the life of Sam and Dean, really. However, this stuffed toy isn’t going to be fun to play with.
So how do you think Dean got out of hell? And what do you think of the boys’ relationship being splintered? Sound off in the comments…
