A couple of quick cons and a fresh prince

First off, I went outside a venue with markedout's adelta to meet DJ Jazzy Jeff AKA Jazz from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air tv show. He came out and we got combos. Nice guy.

DJ Jazzy Jeff

Autograph

Next day I would go to FairPoint Con in Hunt Valley. I would split ops and hang out with markedout's CMShowstopper. 

Arrive and both Maisie Richardson Sellers and Sam Witwer are not at their table. I met Sam before but he had a horrid beard in my photo op. So I thought I'd upgrade to no beard. 

While we wait I get a free photo op with Shannon McRandle, who was the model for Mara Jade, one of the most popular characters in the now invalid Star Wars Expanded Universe. 

Maisie and Sam return, and I get ops with both. Sadly with Sam he had a glass pane, but the way the photo was taken honestly makes it the most acceptable form of a virus era photo op. It was taken from the SIDE so it looks ok. Had it been taken from the front zero chance I would have done the shot. 

Shannon McRandle

Maisie Richardson Sellers

Sam Witwer

And I also attended a small con called Fairfax mini comic con. This is the same venue as CSA show, which is the easiest con venue for me to get to. So if there's one person I could get I'll go. Mask use was roughly about 50/50. Higher than I imagined. 

I enter and first name I go for is child actor Thomas Parobek who played little Johnny Lawrence on Cobra Kai. His parents were manning the table and seemed happy I was getting the op. 

Next up I try looking for Gary Cohn. I see a guy on a table with no banner and I ask if he's him. He goes "I used to be, this is what's left of me". He is a comic book writer and he wrote some of the early Masters of the Universe mini comics that came with the original figures.

I had 3 mini comics to get signed, already signed by the artist at a monstermania. When I pulled them out he tells the woman sitting next to him that he wrote like 6 of them and this is what he's most remembered for. Said he remembered being told about the character He-Man and thought to himself "they aren't even trying". Then goes on to say "But what do I know".

He signed them and I got the photo op. But his autograph, damn how horrible. There isn't much worse, and it's certainty the worst autograph I've ever seen from a comic book name at a con. I then asked him why he has no banner apparently the 2h drive was a 5h drive cause he got lost and he didn't want to bother bringing the banner from his car.

Thomas Parobek

Gary Cohn

Jason Keith

Autographs

In the bottom you can see the horrid Gary Cohn autograph. I realize free is free and I'm certainly not complaining, but damn it's a bad auto.

Two day endeavor for a couple of actors

So there was a 2 day show with a bunch of names. Mostly barely valid names. The biggest name was Vanessa Williams but I have her. Other names of note were LaChanze (who was a voice actress in the 1997 Disney movie Hercules) and Andrew Rannells (who was in the movie The Intern)

The first day I try after the show. Got a few people on the program and mostly mask shots. I see LaChanze who goes "oh wow" when she sees my 8x10 from Hercules. Sadly she doesn't remove the mask. 

One name of note that was super nice did no mask shots is Andrea McArdle who is pretty big as far as stage actors go. She played Annie on stage.

Sadly the venue said no one more is coming out due to COVID. Waited while most of the crowd left but saw no one else and didn't see Andrew. Checked out the hotel but just saw Andrea again.

Full list of Day 1 photo ops

Feeling a bit crushed on day 2 I would try a different approach. Entries into the venue, hotels after. Spoiler alert, this would prove a much better strategy. Start with entries and some have the mask some do not. Get more autographs on the program. LaChanze shows up with no mask and happily takes photo ops of people waiting. To show you how unpredictable combo hunting can be, this was someone who didn't want to remove the mask the prior day, and here she was showing up and taking photo ops like it was still 2019! 

Dr Fauci showed up to see the show but didn't stop when asked. Steny Hoyer also showed up though no one asked him (I actually have the op from long ago).

On exits I wait to see if I can get Fauci to at least sign but he declines. Then off to the hotel and wait. After a little while see Vanessa Williams walk in and ask her for an autograph. She puts on the mask and signs. Luckily I didn't need a photo op. Eventually Andrew Rannells shows up, we get no mask ops, and promptly exit the place so the hotel would have no chance to realize we were there. I would find out that at the venue they kicked everyone off citing COVID. So this time no one came out at the venue. 

Sadly it was more time than I wanted to put for these names, but at least I got no mask ops and some autographs. 

Full list of Day 2 photo ops

Autographs

First con of 2022: Baltimore Celebfest 3

I would attend my first con of 2022, Celebfest 3 in Baltimore. Thankfully I would have markedout's adelta to split many of my photos with. Otherwise I would not have gotten as many people as I did. 

First off, 2.0/Daniel Garcia photo op. I needed only Matt Lee of 2.0 so this good to split. Then I get my first ever member of Lucha House party, Lince Dorado. I'd seem them at airports in the past but they would never do ops because they were unmasked.

Then Ethan Page and Nick Comoroto of AEW fame, and Jessi Kamea of NXT fame.

adelta spots Judge Jeff Jones of ECW fame. I get a selfie. Honestly I don't think I ever got him so that's a nice bonus.

Then Lady Frost and Leila Grey. And after many failed attempts in the past, I finally got a good shot with Lana. The only time she ever said yes to a photo with me, she had hat and shades. Other times she declined. So that was a much needed upgrade. 

Ended this con with a photo op with masked Preston Vance (AKA Ten) since I got him unmasked already (that sounds so wrong in this day and age)

Lana

Full list of photo ops

First wave of 2022 celeb endeavors was largely a bust

The first wave of 2022 celebrity meets did not go so well. My first endeavor, my main goal was actress Tamara Tunie from The Devil's Advocate and other things. Keith David and Vondie Curtis-Hall (Coming to America) were there but I have them. I arrive there and it let out. I see Tamara. Got her to sign, but unfortunately she doesn't remove the mask. Off to a bad start.

Actor Dion Graham from The Wire is taking off the mask for photo ops and I get one. I guess that makes it my first celebrity photo op of 2022 (as I don't count mask shots). Although he's not even on wikipedia, just imdb.

I also get an autograph from Keith David on a They Live photo. Not bad considering this costs money at cons. Then I wait for Vondie Curtis-Hall since I printed for him. He comes out with a mask but thankfully I didn't need to ask him to remove it, so I get the 8x10s done he goes "you got a photo of me from every era".

I saw Christian McBride outside. I asked him for a photo and ask to remove the mask and he did. Sadly in all this mask talk I forgot to remove my beanie. 

While outside Keith David also took the mask down for photo ops, so I thought why not get an update.

I tried to wait for Tamara to come outside to try again for a no mask shot but never saw her.

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Next up, the comedy tour with Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes. I need Jason, have the other two. My first stop is the hotel, I see Jason up a driveway no mask, ask for an op, he declines. 

Next up try the venue. I am one one side of the venue while another combo hunter is on the other aside. I chose the side where we normally see celebs go in and out. Then I get a call that he was on the other side. I run and ask but he declines and goes into the venue! To boot he did one photo op no mask before putting the mask on and doing more photo ops. Had I been there I could have been the first to ask. Plus he signed! PUNCH. 

Will Farrell (who I have) was a surprise guest there. Wait for exits at the side where celebs usually come in and out from (ie where I was initially waiting). They all blanked. 

Then back to the hotel where I pleaded Jason for a photo op to no avail. Shockingly Will Farrell was being the nicest one. He signed blank photo paper for someone and took mask shots. Thankfully I have him so I had no need for a mask shot. But I figured I could salvage this with a Will Farrell autograph. So I ask for an autograph, he says he already signed for me which of course isn't true. I plead some more and say he didn't get me. He agrees to the autograph, takes my sharpie, then goes "oh that's just a blank paper". This was after he just signed one a minute ago! WTF!

First report of 2022 is All Elite!

I would kick off combo hunting in 2022 with AEW. This would also be my first time doing airports and hotels for AEW tours. First up, I start with the airport. I found a handful of flights so I would go there for those and also to see what else I find. 

First up, the Big Show. He was cool. Got him on the inside cover of the WCW book, WWE_E V4, and a trading card. Wasn't going to ask him for a photo op as I had a few of those already, but someone else asked and he removed the mask, so I thought why not get another shot. This marks my first full combo of 2022.

Next up, Sting flew in. He did one per I got him on a WCW magazine. Then Wardlow who was super cool and removed the mask. This marks my first fresh photo op of 2022.

Sadly it began to go downhill from here. I had both Adam Cole and Britt Baker on one flight. I have Adam but wanted Britt. They did a dual shot but wouldn't remove the mask. What a PUNCH. They signed and I got them on 8x10s. I even went outside to plead some more but she still didn't remove the mask.

Saw more people throughout, some removed the mask some didn't (you can see all in the photo op list). Charlotte Flair also flew in, not sure why. I got her on the WWE_E V4.

Besides those also saw Jerry Lynn and Chris Jericho, got them both on the WWE_E V4. Sadly Jericho went on the wrong page and started to sign over Christy Hemme before I freak out and could stop him. He then goes "sorry, I'm sure Christy Hemme won't mind". Also saw Taz but he refused to sign due to covid. And MJF was his usual asshole self.

Full list of airport photo ops (Bobby Fish mislabeled, it's Jeff Parker of 2.0)

Next day, go to the venue after the show. I see Captain Shawn and get the op. Then go to the hotel. There I would get Anna Jay with no mask (she refused to remove the mask at the airport). And I get Tony Khan who was nice. Sadly Britt Baker, no mask and all, refused to do anything at the hotel. Also improve my John Silver op from the airport, get an upgrade with Santana, among other things. I also got Ruby Soho on the WWE_V4. She even asked if I wanted Ruby Soho or Ruby Riott. 

Tony Khan

Anna Jay

Full list of day 2 photo ops

Day 3 of going for AEW was a good one. Got lots of names no mask. Matt Hardy, Red Velvet, Mark Henry, and others went on a van to go to a charity. Security said they needed to get in the van so I had to wait for the return. While waiting got quite a few people (you can see them in the full list). The only mask shot was Orange Cassidy who I have. Taz's son Hook who did not take the mask off at the airport did no mask shots no issue.

Austin Gunn remembered me from Wrestlecade last November and took a photo with me. He goes "is your camera working now" (the lighting was bad where they were vending). Rocky Romero was super nice and removed the mask. The next day after I got the shot he tested positive for COVID and had to be removed from his match! Thankfully a week later I have no symptoms. So I essentially looked COVID in the face and survived unscathed. 

When the van returned I got Matt Hardy to sign some cards and I got a Red Velvet photo op.

CM Punk completely ignored and kept walking when I asked. Jade Cargill kept declining and towards the end she said "come tomorrow I'll get you". 

Full list of day 3 photo ops (Nick Comoroto mislabeled, it's Toa Liona)

And finally I had to come back and see if Jade would keep her word. Saw Chris Jericho and got an update after more than 10 years. I tell him "my first photo with you in 10 years" and he goes "thank you".

At one point I saw a car with her family but she wasn't in it. Would have asked her husband but was waiting for her to come out and by the time I figured out she wasn't there he was in the hotel. Eventually she came in a bus and kept her word.

Chris Jericho

Jade Cargill

Now let us showcase some autographs

Signed 8x10s

Signed magazine and cards

WWE_E V4

Big Show
Chris Jericho
Jerry Lynn
Ruby Riot
Charlotte Flair

WCW book

Big Show (inside cover)

Last report of 2021

Coming up are the two days a year I dread most. They did not happen in 2020 due to virus, instead a largely virtual event took place in mid 2021. But the 2021 event did take place as scheduled, and it was sadly poisoned with masks and other bad luck. Despite this I managed to get solid coin. One positive is for most of them I didn't need the photo op. So that helped lessen the blow.

First off, before the event I had flights on director Cameron Crowe and singer Brandi Carlile. Sadly the Brandi flight would no longer be valid. So it was just Crowe. He directed Almost Famous, wrote Fast Times at Ridgemont High, among other things.

He was nice as can be. Others got the mask shot then I asked him if he could pull down mask which he did (then others mimicked me). He signed no issue.

Cameron Crowe

First official day of the event. 

Ellie Goulding did no mask shots. But that was only an improvement for my previous shot in NYC. And even then that would be worthless as I would get two much better shots the next day. She also signed and even liked the one photo I had her sign of her pregnant. She was probably the nicest celeb of all.

Justino Diaz did no mask photo ops. I got one.

Beanie Feldstein signed but wouldn't remove mask. So I focused on getting my 8x10s done. 

Berry Gordy signed but I couldn't get a good shot with him (handler was screaming for masks). 

Nora Jones signed but she kept the mask on.

Letterman signed and I got an auto. Didn't need a photo op.

Debbie Allen was there but had the mask on. Since I have her with a face shield I didn't bother.

Got autos from Kevin Nealon, Kenan Thompson, Pete Davidson. Out of those 3 I wanted a Pete upgrade but I don't think my shot is an upgrade. While he removed the mask he had a hoddie. Was not able to get a better shot the next day. Was not able to get Lorne Micahels autos.

Joni Mitchell did send ins and I got one. Bette Midler barely signed I got one sadly I botched it cause I didn't get my main item done. Upset at this. Neither one did ops.

Brandi Carlile didn't do ops but I managed to get autos.

Was not able to get Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon. Needed a Wiig op and an auto from both.

Full list of Day 1 photo ops

Day 2! The worst but not unexpected part of the day, both Paul Simon and Steve Martin did nothing for no one the entire time. Scarlet Johansson did nothing the whole time but I didn't need her. Others I didn't need that completely blanked, Smokey Robinson (even the prior day) and Michael Che. Billy Porter did mask ops but I didn't bother.

Dan Levy signed one each personalized. Saw Cameron Crowe and got him to sign some blanks.

Got another Colin Just photo op. It may be a slight upgrade from my previous shot. 

Stevie Wonder did mask shots. I didn't bother. We did send ins for autographs. Later that evening they came to us asking for our address. I don't anticipate we ever see these.

Got Jimmy Fallon and Seth Myers to sign. Also got another Jimmy op since he ended up doing no mask shots in the evening.

Barbara Hershey barely stopped but I managed to score an auto. Thankfully have the op form Chiller. Saw Debbie Allen no mask or anything and pleaded for the op she just blew me a kiss.

Bette Midler also blew me a kiss and declined as I showcased her my Ruthless People vinyl signed by Danny DeVito. 

Got nice upgrades with Andra Day and Ellie Goulding.

Got Yo Yo Ma to sign a blank for me. Didn't need the op.

Towards the end I also finally got Melissa Manchester to sign for me after many declines. She commended me waiting so long. She declined an op though thankfully I have one from before. 

During the day I barely got Goldie Hawn to sign as she didn't stop very much. Then I managed to end the evening with a combo from her. Pleaded and managed to get an 8x10 plus an upgrade photo op. A Goldie Hawn upgrade would end up being my last photo op for 2021, as after that I tried to plead Barry Gordy to no avail.

Goldie Hawn (Flashback to 2016 when I first met her)

Ellie Goulding

Full list of Day 2 photo ops

Now let us showcase autographs obtained: 

Day 0 autographs

Day 1 autograph prints part 1

Day 1 autograph prints part 2

Day 2 autograph prints part 1

Day 2 autograph prints part 2

Goldie Hawn autographs (day 2) and Bette Midler autograph (day 1)

 

Last video report of 2021

Google video link