BookCon, a great random, and lots more in NYC

Around the same time at BookCon I found a space event featuring Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins. Already have Neil and Buzz so it made sense to try for Michael as my shot with him is completely invalid when I went for him at a book signing years ago. Coupled with Book Con and other stuff, I was NYC bound. 

I arrive the evening before the Michael Collins event, try an easy "show" spot for actor Michael Stuhlbarg (Doctor Strange). When he exits the people tell him stuff like "great job" but I'm literally the only one that asks him for the almighty combo. After this I do some non-combo related errands for the rest of the evening, go to my free parking spot, and sleep. 

Michael Stuhlbarg


I go to the Michael Collins event and try for people going in. I get astronaut Scott Kelly and others. When it's time for Michael he completely ignores me and one other person as he walks into the event. I join Greg for actress Robin Weigert and she is nice as can be as she enters her event.

Go back to the Collins event and as he leaves there's more people and I botch the chase with Greg. In the evening I do an "easy" show spot and finally get Maggie Siff and some of her co stars. Then I try City Winery for some original members of Blue Oyster Cult but it looks like they are long gone.

Maggie Siff

Full list of photo ops


Next day, my second ever BookCon! With my first one being the first ever BookCon. Wow it's been so long. My main want there is actor Neil Patrick Harris, someone who I've failed on multiple times. Once I got an auto only the other times he blanks (and on the street he normally has shades and/or hat). So to have him in a setting where it's actually in writing that he is doing photo ops? I set my goals on him. Throughout the BookCon I got to hang with markedout board member Ira, his fiance, and his step child! 

Meet Ira and family at the John Cena photo op session. I have multiple ops with Cena but if I could get another shot if right there then why not. I got the photo op. Sad it is not even in high rez. I even tried contacting the publisher for a high rez shot they said it wasn't even taken in high rez to begin with. To be fair they were very nice and very prompt in addressing my concerns but truly a problem that low rez pro ops are becoming a trend like that. This is the modern day forced Polaroid. Obviously not a big deal for me in this particular case as I have a few shots with Cena.

Moving on Marcus Samuelsson from Iron Chef is sitting on a table doing combos. No idea who that is, but when in Rome. Went to his table and got a combo. Now I stand in the Neil Patrick line while Ira is going for actress Evangeline Lilly whom I got already. Eventually he joins me. We then go up to Neil Patrick Harris, we buy our books. I made out my book to Ira's step daughter and gifted her the book as I finally score my white whale in Neil Patrick Harris. He actually did photo ops leaving the venue but he was wearing shades so I definitely made the right move getting him here.

We then all went to EL James, author of Fifty Shades of Grey. I bought the book she was promoting and she was happy to do photo ops. Said my goodbyes to Ira and family then explored the area a bit to see if there were more people I could get. But everything I saw I dubbed as "too much money and effort for too little".

Back in the streets of NYC I try to get Santino Fontana from Frozen. Many of his barely valid co stars come out but he does not. I would try again later in the evening. Next to his show is the show of Jeff Daniels. Didn't need him but 75 year old actress Phyllis Somerville is there. Santino comes out and I score the photo op. Then I go back to the Jeff Daniels spot I see Phyllis walk out without stopping for fans. I follow her and ask for the photo op. She is nice but says she doesn't look good. I told her that she looks great and I hope to look as good and be as healthy when I'm her age. Actress Celia Keenan-Bolger came out and I got her too.

Now one thing I had lined up was the producer of Rocky, Goodfellas, and many other movies Irwin Winkler. My initial plan was to go for him this day. Somehow I completely forgot to go. Now missing him was not the big deal cause he has another event in the exact same spot the next day, but two great randoms showed up this evening. One was an older Godfather producer and the other were both Shane and Marrissa McMahon! Never got Marrissa and the dual op would have been cool! 

Kevin Kline is supposed to be there next day, but I have him. The combo had had truly punished me! OR SO I THOUGHT! More on that later.

Neil Patrick Harris

EL James

Autographs

Full list of photo ops



Wake up the next day this time I won't forget Irwin. But first I go to a spot for Benjamin Walker. I got him before but my shot is bad. So I needed an upgrade. I see him enter with his wife and child, ask for the op, and he is nice as can be. After he enters it hit me that his wife is actress Kaya Scodelario! FaaaaaaK! I wait in the hopes of a miracle and they somehow exit! I ask her for the op she uses the baby as an excuse and shakes my hand. Apparently a photo op will scare the baby. That was heartbreaking. 

Now to the Irwin event. A few of us are waiting. It's off to a good start as I get a photo op with his wife Margo Winkler. She was in Goodfellas and other movies and has a wikipedia page so she is valid. Don't get much more for a while as both Irwin and Kevin Kline apparently went in early. But as exits happen I get an update with Kevin. I then wait in line for Irwin's book signing to be done and score my photo op with him. 

As I exit who do I see mingling? None other than the wife of Kevin Kline, Phoebe Cates! WOW WOW WOW! Phoebe Cates from The Germlins movies, Fast Times at Richmond High, Drop Dead Fred, and many others! I couldn't believe it! I asked for the op and she was actually nice! Turns out me forgetting about the event the evening prior was the best thing that could have happened to me as I got my greatest score for the week and my best random of 2019! Thank you combo Gods!

Back to midtown and wait at a pre party for an event. I get up and coming 18 year old actress Sophia Anne Caruso. I anticipate she gets big and becomes hard. She definitely has the good looks for it. I also see a very suited Andre De Shields and ask him. He insists on a group shot with his "girls" as he puts it.

Then it's time for the event which is sub par but I do get a nice upgrade with Phylicia Rashad (she has a hat in my shot). 

Phoebe Cates

Sophia Anne Caruso


Andre DeShields


Phylicia Rashad

Full list of photo ops

I chose to stick around one more day to try an event I hadn't tried in years just to see what it's like and how it's become. Jennifer Lopez was there but sadly she would end up sneaking out. On exits it was chaos and basically a free for all. Got Heidi Klum but I had her. Got plenty of models who knows some may make it. One funny shot I got was singer Teyana Taylor piggy backing on her husband Iman Shumpert (never heard of either of them before that). 

I did get one good movie name, namely Yahya Abdul Mateen II who plays Black Manta in Aquaman. So being here wasn't a complete waste. But I doubt I'll try this event again.

Teyana Taylor and Iman Shumpert


Yahya Abdul Mateen II

Full list of photo ops part 1

Full list of photo ops part 2

Some misc movie and music meets in May

No rest for the weary. Driving down from NYC after a grueling television week I stop by an airport on the home for a crack of dawn flight for Robin Thicke. He takes a photo op with me. I also run into a very rare and legendary music name in Dean Torrence! He was Dean in Jan and Dean. Super nice guy. Couldn't finish the drive home so I would nap in the car for yet another evening. 

Robin Thicke

Dean Torrence


Next up an even which featured members of the Go Gos, Don Felder of the Eagles, and more! The two Go Gos members coming are Charlotte Caffey (never met her) and Jane Wiedlin (also from Bill and Ted, who I needed an upgrade from). Another name slated was Andrea Martin. As I googled that name it looked like that was the older actress from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which I was ecstatic for (or so I thought, more on that later).

I managed to find a flight for Charlotte the day prior to the event. She was difficult to spot but super nice and did the photo op.

Next day I try an event and to my bad luck one of the workers recognized me from previous events. Got a prep talk from him and of course I had to be nice and polite. We were about a handful of people waiting. Thankfully I get on the board real quick as the Go Gos arrive and I upgrade my Jane shot and get an auto from her. Told Charlotte I met her yesterday at the airport which she remembered. But she insisted on another photo op since she is all made up according to her. I had no interest in another shot as she was wearing shades. But she wanted to do it so I got one. I think the only other case of anyone proposing an op when I didn't ask was Natalya Neidhart.

Then got a shot with Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals (an update so did nothing for me) and got blown off by Paul Freeman who did ops with others just not me (doesn't matter as I have him). Next up, the heartbreak. Don Felder of the Eagles came but did one photo op and went inside. Also never saw Andrea Martin. Could we have missed her? Did she sneak in? Did she cancel? No one knew.

Me and two female combo hunters then go inside the actual event via our free tickets. Of course I have to be on the lookout that one guy who recognized me from earlier. We all sit down and help ourselves to the buffet, mooching some food and drinks alongside the political elite. We also get word that all the celebs are eating. I discussed with one other combo hunter trying to find Don and getting a photo op. Said she was afraid to be escorted out of the event. I replied that we'd get escorted but have a Don photo op in our camera. I asked her what would be the issue there but she is afraid of the "embarrassment". I shook my head and again I reiterate what would it matter if the Don photo op would be in our cameras. She suggested I go first if we find him.

We looked around and finally located Don. And by some miracle he does photo ops! I couldn't believe I got this hard to get photo op! This marks my second photo op with a member of the Eagles (sadly I don't anticipate I'll ever get more).

We then looked around a bit more, got Kany Garcia apparently a Peurto Rican singer I never heard of. Then got Desmond Child who wrote many hit songs for Cher, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, and more. 

Then I tried investigating what in blazes happened with Andrea Martin. I asked around and one guy pointed to her direction. Turns out that there's a black woman pop singer named Andrea Martin. Like, what in the hell? Rather than pokemon some more I elected to simply walk out of the event while I'm ahead. There was a concert I could have stayed for, but since the lead singer of the Go Gos and Eagles were not present I didn't think it was worth staying.

Charlotte Caffey

Jane Wiedlin

Don Felder

Jane autograph

Full list of photo ops


Next up, and event with Sam Elliott, Patti LaBelle, and others. I have a Gettysburg laserdisc I need Sam on (already signed by Jeff Daniels). Got a flight on him, go to the airport and he signs for me but doesn't do ops. It's ok I got one before.

Next day do the event where Sam doesn't sign but does ops. So I got another. Then got Gavin DeGraw (upgrade), Patti Labelle (upgrade), Joe Mantegna (update). I got Patti to sign my vinyl album. 

Went back to this spot the next day and as I arrived I scored actress Amber Riley (fresh).

Then moved to another spot away from hotel security and got country singer Justin Moore, Alyssa Raghu of American Idol fame, and actress Mary McCormack (upgrade). Also saw Sam again and got him to sign an 8x10.


Sam Elliott

Patti LaBelle

Autographs

Full list of photo ops

Festivities of the Televisions: The Aftermath

With the the dead and injured remaining for the festivities of the televisions I went to the spot of last night to see if there's anything left. I got actress Maddison Jaizani then called it figuring most everyone is gone.

I joined 2 girls I had met during the week and did some of the "easy" shows with them. First spot my main goal was an upgrade with actress Ruth Wilson as my previous shot is a bad railing shot. Got that and was happy. From then on it was bonus mode at this spot. Glenda Jackson came took photos but before I could get one she denied and I got yelled at by a staff member (later on I would get a story from another combo hunter on how he yelled at him too). No big deal I got her already. Got update with Pedro Pascal as well. 

Then in the evening went to a spot for Brian Cranston and Tony Goldwyn. The 2 girls needed him but I wanted the smaller name Nicholas Guest from National Lampoon. I wait and get Tatiana Maslany update, then get Guest, then another shot with Nick Wyman of Die Hard fame. Everyone lined up and Cranston and Goldwyn did combos but I didn't partake in that. 

Tried for a spot with Maggie Siff but she was gone. This ended the night. Did some sight seeing in NYC then dropped girls off to airport. 

Ruth Wilson

Full list of photo ops


Next day I wait for Maggie Siff again but never see her. So I rush to Bookends for a Sean Kanan book signing where Greg was. I get a book and meet him and the author of the book. Then it was off to East Coast Comic Con! 

I get Dr Demento, Diane Pershing AKA Poison Ivy, Sid O'Connell who I know from Gotham, Ross Mullan from Game of Thrones, and scored free ops from some of the barely valid Star Wars names.

As I was walking I noticed voice casting director Andrea Romano. When I looked her up she was part of lots of things I liked. So I decided to get a photo op. Kevin Conroy then photo bombed us. I then got a non photo bomb shot. 

Back to NYC to try more "easy" show spots. Go for actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Got her and her co star. She was super nice. Then back again for Maggie Siff but never saw her (spoiler, I would get her in the future). This ended my time in NYC after 7 nights of car sleep as I drove away! 

Andrea Romano with Kevin Conroy photobomb

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Full list of photo ops

Sean Kanan Autograph

New York City: The Festivities of the Televisions

Around mid May it was time for a week of the year that I dread. To boot, the forecasts showed lots of rain. Despite that, I decided to embark on this. But I would do one endeavor in the evening before the start of the festivities. Let us begin.

Arrived in NYC and started with an evening spot for actress Emma Thomson whom I never met before, the Jonas Brothers, and potential randoms. Two things that would be a huge factor were rain and crowd size. Thankfully I have perfect shots with two of the Jonas bros so that helped me a lot. Needed a Kevin upgrade. When they came with Priyanka Chopra I couldn't get anything but when they left I got Kevin and I got a Priyanka Chopra upgrade as well. 

Emma took care of the crowd and I got a photo op. Got actor Adam Pally, Max Greenfield who I would see several times that week, and a basketball name I never heard of. 

Actor, Tye Sheridan, a want of mine whom I missed last year, left and didn't do anything but another combo hunter managed to somehow break him down and I got a photo op. 


Emma Thompson

Priyanka Chopra

Tye Sheridan

Full list of prelude photo ops

Day 1


After some sleep wake up and start the wait. It's dead at first but I start off with actor and football player Joe Namath (whom I got a horrible shot with at CSA show). Managed to score Dax Shepard whom I failed on in prior years. After a few more arrivals like Gerald McRaney (Major Dad) and others went to the next spot where I apparently missed Oliver Platt who stopped going in but blanked leaving! 

The spot was chaotic but thankfully I had a lot of the people so I could just stand down rather than deal with the chaos. Managed to get Jimmy Smits upgrade and finally got Kal Penn who has eluded me for years (I actually know him best from Superman Returns). Back to the previous spot where I got more people. Sadly this spot has bad lighting so ops didn't always turn out the best especially at night. But I did get actress Halston Sage and others. This lighting issue would be most apparent towards the end of the night when none other than Jamie Fox shows up and we are only 3 people. He does one op then as he's trying to get away and the hotel employee is trying to pull him I manage to snag a valid shot! Though not without a few flaws due to the lighting, sadly. Failed to get Hector Elizondo that evening which would be a recurring theme (though I would eventually score).

Dax Shepard

Kal Penn

Halston Sage

Jamie Foxx

Full list of Day 1 photo ops Part 1

Full list of Day 1 photo ops Part 2

Day 2

I start at a spot for Jessica Alba, but she wasn't there that day. Jamie Foxx was though! I try to improve my shot but to no avail. Rather than wait for him to leave I join NYC combo hunter Josh for a Paris Hilton spot where I am likely to get stuff. Get actress Angela Robinson and wait for Paris to leave. She is nice as can be as she signs and does photo ops. Back to the television festivities spot where I manage score a huge want of mine, Jennie Garth from Beverly Hills 90210! Although I would end up getting a much better shot later on that day. Got more photo ops then decided I needed a nap real bad so I went back to the car and got a power nap. While doing so people got Triple H and Stephanie at another spot. Could have used autographs but never thought they'd be gettable in that venue (I guess the rain weeded out the crowd).

Skipped the yearly park spot due to rain but apparently there were 3 people waiting (namely board members Greg and Joresky and NYC combo hunter Josh) and Hector Elizondo stopped! Yikes I miss him again! Go back to the original spot and got more names then went to an indoors spot which was God sent due to the weather. Also was unable to get Hector.

Back outside, checked out another spot within walking distance, then back to the original spot, then called it a night. 

Paris Hilton

Gerald Mc Raney

Tim Allen

Jennie Garth

Paris Hilton Autographs

Full list of Day 2 photo ops Part 1

Full list of Day 2 photo ops Part 2

Full list of Day 2 photo ops Part 3

Day 3

Started this day with an early morning spot for Jessica Alba and Shaggy. Figured if nothing else I'll get Shaggy who is known to be friendly. Sadly Alba blanked I did however get Shaggy who was super nice. Go to the spot to wait for Hector Elizondo and finally manage to get him to stop in my presence. With that I moved on to the next spot. 

Got lots of names throughout the day but sadly lots didn't stop. AJ and Aly sisters didn't stop. And the most painful thing was seeing Ed O'Neil enter the place in the evening and blank (though not exactly shocking). I even gazed into the hotel from the outside just to catch a glimpse of Al Bundy, something at this stage of the game is such a rare thing for me. It was very heartbreaking to say the least. Of course equally heart crushing is when most of the fans going for him know him from Modern Family and not Married with Children. Truly makes you feel old.

Unrelated to the event the band Judas Priest were staying there and got photo ops with them.

Hector Elizondo

Full list of Day 3 photo ops Part 1

Full list of Day 3 photo ops Part 2

Full list of Day 3 photo ops Part 3

Day 4

I start at a spot for actress Laura Dern. I got her and actor Jack O'Connell. Laura blanked going in but was super nice leaving. Went to another spot where I had hoped to get AEW wrestlers (who stopped early morning going in) but sadly they all snuck out. I got some names like Geraldine Viswanathan from Blockers and others. Then went to another spot where I saw Judas Priest again. Then to another spot where it was so crowded but I missed actress Kaley Cuoco stopping earlier on (spoiler, I would make it up the next day).

Of to the next spot where we all fought for railing spots only for actors to not come out that way. Got a few names including an upgrade with Julian McMahon. Then went to the final spot for the day where Kaley went inside and stopped again. Never saw her but got others.

Geraldine Viswanathan

Julian McMahon

Full list of Day 4 photo ops Part 1

Full list of Day 4 photo ops Part 2

Day 5

The day would be off to a bad start. I bailed on a spot to wait again for Kaley Cuoco. Saw her but she blanked. I missed a ton of names at the spot I left. I would make up most but not all of them throughout the day. One that I never saw because he left the city is Jared Padalecki who I never met before.

I join markedout board member Greg at the Mario Lopez signing. My previous shot with him has no flash plus I had an 8x10. So I bought the book and he was nice. Back to the spot I make up some lost names. While waiting I get a call that Kaley was stopping a few blocks away. I run there and get a photo op with her! Finally! Then back to the spot to make up more lost names. Got a much needed upgrade with Lucy Hale (previous shot had hat and shades). Mario Lopez was also staying there but thankfully I didn't have to chase him down like others.

At the spot where I met Kaley, Mayim Bialik was coming out. And one girl who didn't know her away around NYC like I do wanted her. So I had her follow me to the spot so she could get Mayim and I myself got an update. Back again to the spot and got more names and would wait there the entire evening. Roby Rose was also around I needed an upgrade with her but she didn't stop. This was the last day of the Festivities of the Televisions.

Mario Lopez

Kaley Cuoco

Lucy Hale

Full list of Day 5 photo ops Part 1

Full list of Day 5 photo ops Part 2

Mario Lopez autographs