Scattered meets throughout April part 1

April kicks off with a venue for One Tree Hill actors and singers Kate Voegele and Tyler Hilton. Never met Kate before. After the show I get the opener Jesse Ruben and both Kate and Tyler do a meet and greet. Both were super nice. Tyler is an upgrade since my previous shot he has shades. 

Jesse Ruben

Kate Voegele and Tyler Hilton

Next up I go to a play to try for actor Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Notting Hill) whom I missed out on in the past. I arrive and wait for people to leave. I get an update with actor John Benjamin Hickey, the barely valid Craig Wallace, and a fresh photo op with actress Melanie Field (A League of Their Own). Never see Hugh we think he went out a different way.

Full list of photo ops

Come back 2 days later and this time we have a people watching every door. Eventually we spot Hugh casually walking to a nearby bar, and he is nice as can be. Get the photo op and autographs.

Hugh Bonneville

Autographs

After CSA Show and Awesome Con (already reported) I went to a play for actress Amy Brenneman whom I never met. Watched a door and never saw her. Got Noah Bean update and a couple of others. Also tried for Jeff Daniels at a spot to get some autographs but he was a complete dick. The day was a fail but I would go back for Amy 2 days later.

Full list of photo ops

Days later I decide to go for Randy Travis again. Already have him but he's such a legend gotta try for autographs. Plus other people could show up for him. He doesn't stop going in or leaving the event but we beat him to his hotel and he signs and does photo ops! Throughout the event got a bunch of names sadly no one I really heard of. Most notable are Meghan Linsey and MŌRIAH. Randomly we see Fran Drescher who stops but I already have her. 

Randy Travis

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Next day I check out a screening for "This is Us" but sadly no cast members show up. Fran Drescher however is a random and I get another photo op just because. Yes, two days in a row she is a random. Go to the spot for Amy Brenneman and this time watching all doors. She walks out and is nice as can be. Get the fresh photo op with her and autographs. Get a couple of others as well. 

Amy Brenneman

Fran Drescher

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Next day I want to get comedian and actor Faizon Love (Elf, Couples Retreat). Go to the venue and there's also a "2 Pauls 1 Show" act going on. I get both the Pauls. Later on I go to the Faizon Love meet and greet line and get him as well. Quick and easy success. 

Paul Farahvar and Paul Ollinger

Faizon Love

Next evening I go for the band War, best known for the song "Low Rider". Listen to the tune you 100% know it. Unfortunately, only 1 original member in Lonnie Jordan. Get a couple of the other barely valid members and Lonnie himself who is nice as can be.

Go to another spot hoping to see Kathy Sledge, CC Lemonhead of Quad City DJ's, and Larry Blackmon of Cameo but sadly only see DJ KSHMR whom I never heard of. Went to another spot see if I could somehow get Project Pat at his meet and greet but didn't appear so. So I called it a night. 

Lonnie Jordan

Full list of photo ops

Around mid April I would do a flight for Jonathan Cain of Journey. I had a flight for him and his wife Paula White (a televangelist who also works for Trump). I already have Steve Perry, Steve Smith, Neal Schon, and Ross Valory of Journey. So adding Jonathan Cain is a must. 

Both are nice as can be and sign and do photo ops.

Jonathan Cain

Paula White

Autographs

April Cons: CSA Show, Awesome Con, and Chiller Theater

In early April I would attend 2 cons in a single day. CSA Show and Awesome Con. First up I go to CSA show for actors David Lascher (Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Beverly Hills 90210, Blossom) and Oliver Cooper (Office Christmas Party). Got them both and while there I mooched some sports names. Namely Jim Palmer, Phil Simms, Harry Carson, and Ricky Williams. I later found out Jim Palmer was in the original Naked Gun movie so that's a nice bonus. 

Off to awesome con where my gets would be very minimal. Only name I would pay for is actress Liv Tyler (Armageddon, The Incredible Hulk, Lord of the Rings). Besides that I got TMNT comic book artist/writer Eric Talbot and a free update with Wes Johnson. Also got a free autograph/sketch from Eric.

Liv Tyler

Autographs

Full list of CSA Show and Awesome Con photo ops

Towards the end of April was Chiller time. I go there Friday only. I start off with Muse Watson from "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and its sequel. Then Hana Mae Lee from Pitch Perfect fame. After this I get George Lynch from the band Dokken. I heard he's not that nice on the street and I got other members of Dokken so I figure now is the time.

Then Haywood Nelson from What's Happening and David Joyner who physically portrayed Barney. I had gotten the voice of Barney at Galaxy Con so I figured why not. 

Then get a dual shot with Lydia Cornell and Jim J Bullock (Too Close For Comfort). Get a movie want of mine in Tomas Arana (Hunt For Red October, The Bodyguard). Then Maddie Corman (Seven Minutes in Heaven), and Gregory Harrison (General Hospital). 

I get another top want of mine from Chiller, Donovan Scott from the original Police Academy. I then sweep up free ops with a bunch of people from Day of the Dead, namely Lori Cardille, John Amplas, Taso Stavrakis, Michael Gornick, Mark Tierno, and Deborah Gordon. 

Then I get Terrie Snell which adds another name to my Home Alone and Home Alone 2 collection. I go to another top want of mine, Renoly Santiago from Dangerous Minds, Hackers, and Con Air. I go to the table I say hello to the person there not realizing it's Renoly transitioned. I ask here Renoly is and in the middle of he/she responding I realize it's actually him before he/she tells me it's him. I am floored. 

I then get Peter Kwong (Big Trouble in Little China) who died not long after doing this con. Final person I paid for at Chiller was Bitty Schram (Monk, A League of Their Own). After Chiller I saw Chuck Zito out and about doing free ops so I got one (I never paid for him in the past so this was fresh). 

Muse Watson

George Lynch

Donovan Scott

Full list of Chiller photo ops part 1

Full list of Chiller photo ops part 2

Scattered meets throughout March

In early March I would go for singer Tori Amos who was doing a book event with guaranteed photos. We got pre signed book and everyone lined up for photos. After the event I tried to wait out back to get some CDs singed but I was the only one waiting and the guard began to bully me. So that part was a bust.

Tori Amos

Autograph

Next up a screening which was pretty successful. First I get Al Franken (update) and then Eliza Coupe (fresh). It was slightly blurry, but I got a better shot when she left (which I had to fight for cause the handlers were being bitches). 

I get actress Uzo Aduba, Randall Park (Ant-Man and the Wasp), and Ken Marino all fresh.

On exit I also get director Paul William Davies and Uzo Aduba again due to a photo bombing security guard. 

Failed on Susan Kelechi Watson both going in and leaving but that's ok I have 2 ops with her.

Full list of photo ops

Later in the month I bit on the Burton Cummings (The Guess Who) meet and greet. I already have Randy Bachman and this is probably my last chance at Burton. After the show I get the photo op and autographs (which included one pre signed photo).

Burton Cummings

Autographs

Next up comedian Jimmy O Yang (Crazy Rich Asians). I waited and not 10 minutes later he arrived. Nice as can be.

Jimmy O Yang

Next day I wait for Brendan B Brown, singer of Wheatus (Teenage Dirtbag). Got him before his show and he was nice as can be.

Brendan B Brown

Next day I went to a reading for actress Victoria Rowell (Dumb and Dumber). Got the photo op and she was nice. Then went to a nearby spot for Phil Manzanera, the lead guitarist of the 70s band Roxy Music. Mooched during intermission where he did a signing and I got the photo op.

Victoria Rowell

Phil Manzanera

Next day I had a flight for Alexis Denisof and Alyson Hannigan of Buffy and Angel fame and of course American Pie. They arrived with their 2 daughters and were nice as can be. Got solo ops, dual ops, and autographs. Wish all were that easy.

Alyson Hannigan

Alexis Denisof

Alexis Denisof and Alyson Hannigan

Autographs

Next I wait for keyboardist of the band Yes, Rick Wakeman. He arrives and is nice. Get the combo. Then I went home only to get word that Haddaway (What is Love) is at a restaurant. So, I quickly rush there and wait for him to leave. He is nice as can be as I get the combo. Good thing too because his event was at a hotel and he was staying at said hotel.

Rick Wakeman

Haddaway

Autographs

Dave Batista is flying out. Already have him but for shits and giggles I thought I would get the anorexic Batista plus some autographs. Wait at the airport and spot him. He is actually nice. I get the op plus 4 autographs. One on a trading card and on his entry in WWE_E V2, V3, and V4.

Batista

Autograph

Later that same evening did a show letting out. I had most of the actors. I got Treach and Allen Payne again. Got some barely valids. My main want is actor Lawrence Hilton Jacobs but I never saw him. Eva Marcille and K Michelle both declined. Bust. Spoiler alert I would make up Lawrence Hilton Jacobs in the future.

Full list of photo ops

On the last day of March, I did a flight for actor Joe Manganiello. Already had him but wanted the upgrade plus autographs and a fresh photo op with his girlfriend Caitlin O'Connor.

Arrive at the airport and he does one per and the photo op. And his wife completely declines citing no make-up and doesn't even sign. PUNCH.

Go wait at an event mainly for James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli. Also expected were actresses Whoopie Goldberg, Erika Alexander, and Daneille Deadwyler. Wanted autos from Whoopie and never met the other two. On entry see Barbara and she is super nice signing and taking photos. I get her on an 8x10 and two Bond Laserdiscs, namely Golden Eye and Tomorrow Never Dies. I already have Pierce Brosnan on the cover and did not want to get a behind the scenes producer next to him. So for Goldeneye I got her inside the gatefold and for Tomorrow Never Dies on the back. Didn't see the other actresses but Whoopie Goldberg and Erika Alexander were confirmed virtual and likely Daneille Deadwyler was as well.

Joe Manganiello

Barbara Broccoli

Autographs

A host of comedy meets in March

Towards the end of March I would try for some comedy meets for an event centered around Conan O'Brien . 

The day prior I would try the hotel to see who I would see at check ins. A hockey team was staying there so I would get a lot of hockey players I never heard of. I also got actor and comedian Ian Karme. Saw Robert Smigel and got an auto and sketch. Had no need for another photo op.

Left the spot to wait for Shaq. I already have him but could have gotten a photo op. Made the dumb move of abandoning ship to try and get singer and actress Sy Smith in between shows so I can be done with that. That was worthless and I missed Shaq. But I did get Sy Smith after her second show and she was nice as can be.

Sy Smith

Full list of photo ops

I arrive at a spot the day of the event and no one there saw activity. I sadly missed Andy Ricther at the hotel. 

I reluctantly left the spot to go somewhere else to try for 91-year-old anthropologist Jane Goodall. Took a big gamble going there to wait for her coming in because not 10 minutes later she came in and she stopped. With that victory I left. Leaving I heard she took care of like 10 people. So many young celebrities are nasty and look at her 91-year-old and doing multi combos. AND healthy enough to do it.

Stop by the hotel and immediately see Sarah Silverman walking. I get another photo op. Back to the original comedy spot and shockingly no one saw anything since I left. At the hotel I again missed Andy Ricther and also Bill Burr. So, I abandon ship here because it turned out they were sneaking people. I go to the hotel and get actor John Mulaney (update), Tim Convy of Conan O'Brien fame, and actor Bill Burr (fresh). 

Also got Adam Sachs, Brian McCann, Ted Sarandos, Mike Sweeney, David Hopping of Conan O'Brien fame.

Got actor Will Forte (update). Saw a girl that looked like she could be someone and asked for an op. Turns out she is podcaster Alexandra Cooper. At one point Adam Sandler came out and declined photo ops but signed one each. I got him on a DVD already signed by Drew Barrymore. Thankfully I don't need another op with him.

Back to the main spot for red carpet arrivals. Sadly, I missed Bill Burr doing no shades photo ops. PUNCH. I got Reggie Watts, Kumail Nanjiani (update), and an autograph from Conan O'Brien (had no need for another photo op).  

On exits there was no access, so I had to go back to the hotel. Most people were not stopping. BUT I finally did get actor Andy Richter (fresh), and I got E Street drummer Max Weinberg (fresh). The evening ended with Sona Movsesian of Conan O'Brien fame.

Jane Goodall 

Andy Richter

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Galaxy Con in Richmond plus some music meets

Towards the end of March I would attend Galaxy Con in Richmond. My main want is Carl Lumbly from Mantis and I had splitters. So it made sense to go. First get is Jerry Trainor who I probably would have never gotten if I didn't have a splitter. It was shocking to see him have a huge line while legendary actor Alan Ruck was sitting by himself. 

Then I go for Carl Lumbly, Katie Leigh (Gummi Bears), Bradley Pierce (Jumanji), Bob West (Barney voice actor), comic book names Ron Wilson and Christopher Priest, and Reno 911 actors Carlos Alazraqui, Cedric Yarbrough, and Mary Birdsong.

Then get Kayvan Novak (What We Do in the Shadows) and comic book names Christopher Sprouse and Jim Shooter. Finally get actress Alex Kingston who I was putting off for the longest time cause she was pro ops only and I never had a splitter. This time she was doing table ops. Ended my time in Galaxy Con with the 95 year old Sid Krofft.

Carl Lumbly

Full list of Galaxy con photo ops

After Galaxy Con it was time to head to Maryland for an appearance by Chumbawamba guitarist Boff Whalley. They are best known for the 90s hit "I Get Knocked Down". Going there I hit probably the worst traffic I ever encountered to a point where I wondered if I would make it on time. Shockingly, his event was 90 minutes and not an 1h. As I parked it had just ended! Had this event been an hour like these things usually are, this would have been a miss. Thankfully he was nice as can be as he signed and did photos.

Now it was time to drive an hour away for the band Ambrosia. Touring were 2 original members, namely Joe Puerta and Burleigh Drummond. Actually had meet and greets that were gifted so was looking forward to that one. Sadly as we got there the meet and greet was long done. Burleigh Drummond was still hanging around so got the photo op.

Went out back in the hopes of seeing Joe Puerta but sadly only got 4 barely valid members. I guess the luck for Boff Walley translated into a 50% miss for Ambrasia. "Can't win them all" is a phrase that truly defines combo hunting.

Boff Whalley

Burleigh Drummond

unidentified barely valid

Doug Jackson

Mary Harris

Autographs

First New York City endeavor of 2025, first con of 2025

Around mid-March I decided to hit up NYC for the first time in 2025. There was a Peter Wolf book signing I could go to before entering NYC and Big Event was also taking place in Long Island. To boot, I needed quite a few people from the "easy" show spots. Most notably Calista Flockhart, a huge want of mine who has never done anything in all recent memories.

Sadly, I heard people have not been seeing her, so I kept my hopes low for that one. But even if I didn't get Calista there was still a lot to be had.

Day 1

This begins with the Peter Wolf book signing at Bookends in New Jersey. This was probably the most miserable book signing ever. He wasn't really trying to do photo ops but I barely managed to get a valid shot.  After this I enter NYC and go to my first spot of the evening. My targets here are actor Tobias Segal from the John Wick movies and actor Victor Williams. 

Wait for it to let out and I get both Tobias and Victor off the bat. These would officially be my first NYC photo ops of 2025. I actually didn't know I got Tobias because he had a beard and in all the photos I saw of him (including the show program) he had no beard. But when I asked people where he is they pointed to him. 

Next spot I have 2 main objectives. A Bill Burr photo op and an upgrade with Kieran Culkin. Unfortunately this was a bust because Bill Burr garaged out because he had a show in Brooklyn and Kieran Culkin was explicitly saying no photo ops. I got Michael McKean and Bob Odenkirk but I already had them. This ended evening.

Peter Wolf

Full list of Day 1 photo ops

Day 2

I woke up after about 10-12 hours of sleep. Just before I left for Bookends the prior day I was having sex so I guess between that and driving to NJ and NYC with combo hunting added to all that it really drained me. I wash up and start my day for actor Levon Hawke. When I finally saw him he was nice as can be. Told him I met his sister and father and he said "you have the whole family". I said no because his mother denied me and she needs to be nicer. He laughed. I also got an update with Billy Crudup and an update with Ella Beatty and I told her I met her parents. 

Next spot I go for George Clooney's show but not for Clooney. At that time he wasn't really trying to do ops and I have a good op from long ago so I didn't really need it. Plus I heard he wasn't doing merch. This spot is a success as I get Michael Nathanson (fresh, The Punisher), Paul Gross (fresh, Due South), Christopher Denham (fresh, Billions), Greg Stuhr, Fran Kranz, Joe Forbrich, Glenn Fleshler (fresh, The Joker), Andrew Polk, Aaron Roman Weiner, Ivan Kolesnikov, and Eric Dean Seaton. Then I went to one last spot and I got actress Sarah Snook. As I went back to my car I drove to Long Island to sleep close to Big Event.

Full list of Day 2 photo ops

Day 3

First stop is of the day is Big Event, my first con of 2025. I got NWA wrestler Mike George, Nitro girl AC Jazz, Lash LeRoux of WCW fame, and of course Japanese wrestler Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Even a signed trading card from him for $5, unheard of in this day and age. As a bonus I also got a free photo op with Sonya DeVille's wife Toni Cassano. Indy wrestler Cable Jones was walking around and I got him as well.

Back to NYC and I wait for Milo Manheim. Him and Elizabeth Gillies say they are not greeting the crowd between shows. When the crowd leaves Milo goes out for a walk and I get a photo op. Already have 4 photos with Elizabeth Gillies. For the next spot my main goal is actor Dan Amboyer. Wait it out and get actress Elizabeth A Davis and then Dan who is nice as can be. 

Now I have to decide if I hit up a spot with 5 actresses most of them fresh or try for Calista Flockhart. I decide to stay put where I am and try for the 5 actresses. As the show lets out and the crowd wait all of Alyah Chanelle Scott, Kathryn Gallagher, Kristine Froseth, Julia Lester,  and Havana Rose Liu stop for everyone. Most of those are fresh names for me. 

Head back to the Milo/Elizabeth show since my car is parked there. I see them both doing it for a line of people. I try to get a dual shot and also to upgrade my Milo shot without tinted glasses and he goes "we already got you" even though I only met him earlier. SMH. This ended my evening. 

Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Kristine Froseth

Full list of Day 3 photo ops

Day 4

This would be my final day in NYC for this round. It was supposed to rain but somehow I skirted the rain. I start at a spot for legendary soap actress Susan Lucci. She arrives and I ask for the op. She is nice. There were other actresses but I had them. So I left the spot. 

Now here is my setting. It's the afternoon, all the shows that day are in matinee so any tries would be in between shows. I have to decide if I am taking my chance at Calista Flockhart (which I was planning to do in the evening). On a whim I decide what the hell let's give the Calista show a try. 

I enter after it lets out and I immediately see Christian Slater in the lobby being his friendly self. I get an updated photo and 2 autographs on a show program. I also get actor Jeb Kreager. At this point I am not hopeful for anything but lo and behold I see Calista coming with a mask. I was floored. I beg for an op and ask if she can remove the mask. She claims to have a cold and wants her distant. I get a distant shot. A little disappointing but better than nothing. Then I see her taking the mask off and taking better ops so I try and ask for another and she does it. SCORE! I also get her to sign the 2 show programs. It appeared I got lucky cause she seemed to be greeting a specific entourage. That's probably why she came out.

I then see actor Cooper Hoffman not looking like he wants to stop and using the fake cell phone trick. I try to ask for the op and he says when he gets back. So I wait downstairs and when he comes back I get the photo op. 

At this point I have to decide if I want to try another show in the evening or head out. I decide to simply leave the city early while ahead. 

Calista Flockhart

Susan Lucci

Full list of Day 4 photo ops

Autographs obtained

Scattered meets throughout February part 2

After leaving CPAC I go to an event mainly for actor Michael Potts. I arrive and park not so legally and barely make the event as it is just letting out. I score actor Brian F O'Byrne (fresh), Michael Potts (fresh), and Chad L Coleman (repeat).

Brian F O'Byrne

Michael Potts

Chad L Coleman

Next up a music endeavor. My main goal is Martin Fry from ABC. Best known for the hit song "The Look of Love". I arrive and missed them all arriving by like 20 minutes. But I wait in the hopes they pop up for walks.

First I get Richard Blade. He is nice. Then I see Martin Fry and get the op! Score! He said he would do autographs when he returns. True to his word he did. I was in bonus mode and almost going to give up but then Howard Jones pops up and he said one per but I managed to get two. Had no need to ask him for another op. Sweeping success! 

Richard Blade

Martin Fry

Autographs

On another day I go for actor John Kani from Captain America, Murder Mystery, and others. After the show lets out he walks out and is nice as can be. Told him I liked him in Murder Mystery and I met Adam Sandler. He described Adam as "humble". I also get other people there. Ntebo seems to be an African singer. And I got Edward Gero who has a minor role in Die Hard 2.

John Kani

Ntebo

Edward Gero

Ended February by going for 2 actors in a screening. Namely, Tony Cavalero and Raul Castillo. Mooch into the q&a and after it is done they are all nice as can be. Also get producer John Hibey.

Raul Castillo

Tony Cavalero

John Hibey