(Gallery by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
One of the attractions of Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con 2012, a gathering of superhero, science fiction, fantasy and horror fans that takes place Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, will be a chance to meet seven members of the ?Star Trek: The Next Generation? cast.
LeVar Burton who played Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge, Michael Dorn (Lieutenant Worf), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Deanna Troi), Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data), Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher), John de Lancie (Q) and Jonathan Frakes (Commander William T. Riker) will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the popular television show that ran from 1987 to 1994. Unfortunately, Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard) is unable to appear as originally scheduled.
Where in the galaxy should they dine?
In a telephone interview on Tuesday, Nov. 27, Frakes, who played the Starship Enterprise?s swashbuckling second in command, said he was searching for the perfect New Orleans restaurant to host a reunion dinner for the cast.?
Frakes said that during the time he spent directing the movie ?The Librarian? in New Orleans two years ago, he came to love Cochon and Restaurant August, but foodie friends have also recommended Herbsaint, Stella! and other spots. He said he was worried that it might be too late to get a reservation for a large party. Possibly so.
Though I imagine someone will find room for an almost complete assembly of the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" stars.
Frakes said that despite the years, he and his starshipmates have remained close. Everyone is a godfather to another cast member?s kid, or attended a wedding, or stood by during a divorce, he said. Coincidentally, he said, his real life wife Genie Francis, who played Laura Spencer on General Hospital, is buddies with his fictional Star Trek wife Marina Sirtis. ?We value one another?s friendships,? he said.?That ongoing camaraderie may have been born of the ?incredibly loose environment? of the Star Trek: The Next Generation? set.
Cosmic Cut Ups
His role in the group dynamic was that of second-string comedian, Frakes said. The No. 1 class clown was Spiner (Lt. Commander Data). Quite unlike the un-emotive character he played, Frakes recalled that Spiner ?treated the bridge as a show room in Vegas,? bursting spontaneously into song from time to time. He wasn?t alone in his out-of-character crooning. Captain Picard and Worf sometimes joined in a little extemporaneous Gershwin or Sammy Cahn, Frakes said. When not singing, the interstellar officers passed the time performing ?bad impressions,? Frakes recalled.
New Orleans Comic Con 2012
- What: A lavish, three-day convention of comic book, science fiction and fantasy fans with celebrity appearances, collectibles booths, art and makeup demonstrations, fantasy card tournaments and other attractions.
- Where: New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd.
- When: Friday, Nov. 30, from 4 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Admission: One-day tickets for Friday and Sunday are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. One-day tickets for Saturday are $40 in advance and $50 at the door.
Three-day passes are $70 in advance or $80 at the door.
Special events: Some individual events require additional admission. The price to attend celebrity appearances varies. The "Star Trek" 25-year reunion event is $45 to $125. The CM Punk event is $175. The Eliza Dushku visit is $199. The ?Boondock Saints? event is $289.99. Stan Lee events are $200 to $499.99.
- More information: Visit the New Orleans Comic Con 2012 website.
- Comic Con 2011 revisited: Were you at Comic Con 2011? Read about my nostalgic trip to that Comic Con: "Peter Tork, Walter Koenig, Adam West, and more at Comic Con"?
Frakes said that a quarter century ago no one was sure "The Next Generation" would get off the launching pad, so to speak. It was two decades after the original "Star Trek" series was on the air, but some fans were resistant to seeing Kirk and Bones and Spock supplanted.
?We were received quite skeptically,? he recalls. But soon enough, the new show achieved its own iconic television orbit. In all, Frakes said, 182 hours of "Next Generation" were filmed, not counting the four spin-off movies.?
?It?s been a gift on so many levels,? he said.
Life after the Enterprise
Frakes has remained busy since his last voyage on the Enterprise. He?s boldly gone into directing, with high-profile behind-the-camera television series credits, including ?NCIS: Los Angeles,? ?Leverage? and ?Burn Notice.? These days, he regularly directs periodic episodes of several series. If there were one "Star Trek" gadget he could get his hand on, he said, it would be a transporter to cut down on the travel time between jobs. And, presumably, to make it easier to get in more summertime fishing in Maine, where he lives.
Considering the universal recognition his role on "Star Trek" provides and Frakes? flourishing directorial career, one might expect a somewhat swollen head. But Frakes has teenage children to continually refresh his humility. They hear about dad?s "Star Trek" star turn from friends sometimes -- or friends? parents ? but, he said, ?They have a healthy lack of interest.? When they watch an episode of the show, he said, they offer comments, such as: ?Look at you; your beard was black instead of gray.?
?They won?t admit that there?s anything cool about it,? he said laughing.
Is the future past?
From Frakes' kids? point of view, actual space flight is mostly confined to historic television too.
Things change in a quarter century. Back when "Star Trek" (1966-69) and "Star Trek: The Next Generation" were on the air, there was a robust manned space program that has now ? for various reasons ? largely slipped away. In their time, the "Star Trek" series were pop culture premonitions. That perspective may have now changed. They now seem more like nostalgic visions -- to me anyway.
Asked if he felt the change in the trajectory of history may have changed our perception of the classic television shows, Frakes said he doesn?t think the diminished manned space program will alter culture's take on science fiction. But he said he does wish it was possible to re-spark manned space flight. Reaching the moon, he said, ?was the coolest thing ever.??
How to meet 'Star Trek' stars
Comic Con attendees will find the "Star Trek: TNG" actors at a set of booths on the convention floor during most hours of the event. Note: LeVar Burton will attend Saturday, Dec. 1, and Sunday, Dec. 2, only.
The Star Trek: TNG Seven panel discussion
- What: The seven members of the ?Star Trek: The Next Generation? cast will appear in a 90-minute panel discussion and question and answer period.
- When: Beginning at ?approximately? 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1.?
- Tickets: General admission is $45; seating in the first five rows is $125. This is in addition to Comic Con admission. Admission is required for kids younger than 12, who must be accompanied by an adult. Photos for personal use are permitted. No autograph opportunities.
- VIP passes: A limited number of ?Star Trek: The Next Generation? VIP passes are available for $899.99. VIPs receive three-day admission to Comic Con, 30-minute early admission to the convention floor, guaranteed front five rows seating at the Star Trek: TNG panel discussion, autographs (including a lithograph pre-signed by Patrick Stewart), a photo opportunity with all seven cast members, plus souvenir badge and other perks.?
The individual actors will also participate in various limited seating panel discussions available at no extra charge during the event. See the list below.
SATURDAY, DEC. 1
- 11 ? 11:45 a.m. -- Question and answer with Gates McFadden, Jonathan Frakes and Michael Dorn (Room 265)
- Noon?? 12:45 p.m. -- Designing the next 'Star Trek' television show:?Interact with other fans who discuss what they would like to see in a new series (Room 272).
- 3 ? 3:45 p.m. --?'Star Trek': TNG Enterprise Bridge Restoration:?Come hear about the progress of New Starship, a nonprofit, fan organization is working to restore a Paramount built "Star Trek The Next Generation" Enterprise D Bridge set, and turn it into an interactive museum. ?(Room 279)
- 11 ? 11:45 a.m. --?Question and Answer with John De Lancie:?De Lancie, who portrayed Q, has co-founded an audio production company, Alien Voices, with Leonard Nimoy. (Room 265)
- 2 ? 2:45 p.m. --?Question and answer Levar Burton, Marina Sirtis and Brent Spiner (Room?265)
If William Shatner fought Darth Vader, who would win, Comic Con 2012 Actor William Shatner had top billing at Wizard World Comic Con 2012 in New Orleans. In this video, we boldly wandered the extraterrestrial crowd, seeking the source of Shatner?s popularity. Along the way, we asked Batman, Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Wonder Woman, Thor, Aquaman, Super Saint and others, 'if you fought William Shatner, who would win?' Watch video Source: http://www.nola.com/arts/index.ssf/2012/11/comic_con_meet_actor_jonathan.html
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