Rhode Island Comic Con 2023 report

Initially I wasn't going to go to RICC. There were several mid-level names I wanted. But nothing too great. Then they added Carrie Anne Moss. That tipped the scale for me.

Arrive in providence and start getting ops before going to the con the next day. I get some of the X-Men voice cast and more!

I get Cal Dodd (Wolverine, fresh), Harry Lennix (Man of Steel, update sadly as I have him), David Henrie (Mall Cop 2, fresh), George Buza (Beast, fresh), Lenore Zann (Rogue, fresh), and animator Larry Houston (fresh). Wanted to get a better op with TC Carson but sadly it came out blurry. No big deal. Saw plenty of other actors walking around such as Shannon Doherty, Seth Green, Robert Smigel, and many others. But had no need to get more ops with them.

While walking outside we run into Logic. He does ops! Don't know his work but I do know the name. This ended the evening.

Logic

Full list of day 1 photo ops

After I commandeer my free parking spot, I walk to RICC. I start with comic book names. First I get Jim Salicrup who did work for Marvel. Then Jim Lawson who worked for the TMNT comics and also created the Rat King. 

Then I get actor Jordan Elsass, the only actor there from Superman and Lois appearing that I didn't have. Then I got actress Katy O'Brian (Ant Man, The Mandalorian). 

I split the pro op with Carrie Anne Moss. Unfortunately I should have gone Sunday because she did table ops and her hair was down. Big botch!

I go for Star Wars prequal names Nalini Krishan and Mary Oyaya who played the Jedi Barriss Offee and Luminara Unduli. I was on the fence for them but since the price was so good and I have so many from the prequals I got a dual shot.

Then I got Rodger Bumpass of Sponge Bob fame. He was also in the Arnold movie The Running Man. Then it was off to more X-Men voice actors! I got Chris Potter (Gabmit), Alyson Court (Jubilee, Lydia in Beetlejuice cartoon, Clair in Resident Evil), Alison Sealy-Smith (Storm), Ron Rubin (Morph), Adrian Hough (Nightcrawler).

With the bulk of my meets behind me, I then get Dorothy Lyman (Mama's Family) and Lauren Tom (Futurama, King of the Hill). Then get another X-Men voice actor Chris Britton (Mister Sinister). 

Then go to Paige Turco AKA April O'Neil in the Secret of the Ooze. Unfortunately, I upset her when I was trying to direct a photo op that was splitable. It lead to an unpleasant scenario but I do it all the time with other celebs. As a paying customer you should have a say. Don't know why she got so upset with me. But I did get the op. Last op I got was with actress Kimiko Glenn. 

I went back to Jim Lawson to get an autograph (which was free). He normally sketches a turtle with his autograph but I asked him to sketch the Rat King. I wanted to get an op with Marvel artist Joe St Pierre but he wouldn't remove the mask making the op worthless.

Carrie Anne Moss

Lauren Tom

Full list of day 2 photo ops part 1

Full list of day 2 photo ops part 2

Jim Lawson Autograph

Post Chiller meets in NYC, including miracle info

With chiller done, it was off to NYC. I hit up the "easy" show spot. My goal is actor Sean McGinley who was in Braveheart. And he was super nice. I also get other actors before and after him. None I'm too familiar with. Namely, Raffi Barsoumian, Mary Wiseman, Oona Roche, Owen Campbell, John Keating, Erin Wilhelmi. Most of those are young and have been in stuff so the potential is there. In the case of Raffi he has his eye closed in the shot I asked for another take and he claimed it's his thing to close his eye when flashed. So my second shot is basically the same as the first. After this was done I tried for Melissa Ethridge again since there was nothing else I could do at that point but she doesn't come out. 

Now there was one final spot for the evening, but I didn't have the information. All my usual contacts in NYC were out of commission. I didn't know what to do at that point. Do I go to try and bust my ass off to get the info myself (and possibly fail), or do I call it a night, park my car, and sleep. Figuring I'm too old for this, I lean towards calling it a night. Before the final decision, I decide to go to Taco Bell to get some food. 

While in Taco Bell I run into a Master and his minion who just came from a successful Daniel Radcliffe rack fest (I guess I should have been there instead). I shoot the breeze with them and they tell me about a lady photog who is on her way to Taco Bell to eat. This was a miracle from the combo Gods, because this lady always has the info for that spot. So she arrives and I plead to her to share the info for the next spot. She goes "are you driving?" and I go "absolutely". The combo Gods sure looked out for me here! I walked into the right Taco Bell to get some food and I got the info I was looking for. This could not have been planned! After we all ate, it was off to the next spot. 

It is off to a good start as I get a photo op with HER. I know of her and saw her in a movie though I'm not too familiar with her work. She was very nice. Foo Fighters are out and about. Grohl does nothing. But I manage to score Chris Shiflett who I failed on in the past! This completes my Foo Fighters photo op wise. I actually neglected to bring my album which needed just him however he likely wouldn't have signed it anyway as he doesn't normally sign. I saw other Foo Fighters but had no real need to bother them but I got another op with (Nate Mendel.

Besides HER and Foo Fighters, at this spot I get Jeff Ross (update), Mikey Day (update), Punkie Johnson (update), Michael Che (update), Chloe Fineman (update), Michael Longfellow (fresh), John Mulaney (update), James Austin Johnson (fresh), Keegan-Michael Key (update), Andrew Dismukes (fresh), Padma Lakshmi (update), Marcello Hernandez (update), John Radzinski (fresh), and Sarah Sherman (fresh). 

While all this was going on Chris Rock came out. He was being nicer than usual. Since I didn't need an op I got an autograph but he was doing ops. HER also came out and I got an autograph from her. 

I'd say overall a solid haul to end the evening.

Sean McGinley

HER

Full list of photo ops part 1

Full list of photo ops part 2

Autographs

Next day would sadly be pretty lackluster. I try for Dominique Thorne and Lucy Devito but never see them. Go try Dianne Wiest exiting but she is nowhere in sight, probably snuck out. 

Since there is nothing else to do, I figured I'd go improve my photo with Eric McCormack. While it lets out turns out Jason Alexander is there. Great name but I have him. I get an update. While waiting for Eric I also get an update with Laura Bell Bundy plus other names. This ended my time in NYC.

Full list of photo ops

Chiller Theater Halloween 2023 report

In the end of October I would attend Chiller. Prices are sky high but with all kinds of splits with multiple people and skipping some names I managed to make it through Chiller. My main want there is Peter Billingsley AKA Ralphie. Unfortunately he is pro only which put a damper in things. I really hate pro ops.

First up I get Brett Butler (Grace Under Fire). Then another top want from the con, Kevin Dillon (Platoon, The Doors). After that a dual shot with Stanley Livingston and Tina Cole (My Three Sons). Then Darlene Vogel (Back to the Future II), Norbert Weisser (Hocus Pocus, The Thing), Michael Swan (F13th part 4), and Kristen Cloke (Final Destination).

I go to the Christmas Story room where I need RD Robb. He was also a voice actor in the He-Man and She-Ra Christmas special. Anyone vintage Filmation is awesome to get. I get the photo op. Then I get a free update with Ian Petrella of Christmas Story fame.

I then go to the pro op session of Peter Billingsley. I opted for the solo shot to save money since I have ops with all the other kids from the movie. There was also an event in NYC for Sofia Coppola that would have potentially conflicted with the Peter pro op, but thankfully I decided to sit that one out because Sofia did not stop (spoiler alert, I would try again for her in the future). After the con I got a photo op with Harrison Page (Lionheart).

Peter Billingsley

Full list of day 1 Chiller ops

Day 2 starts off with Swedish actress and model Christina Lindberg. Then Jeremy Davies (Helter Skelter), and Erika Anderson (A Nightmare on Elm Street 5, Twin Peaks). After this I go for a vintage Disney voice actress. Namely Mimi Gibson from 101 Dalmatians! Then Cynthia Pepper who co starred in a movie with Elvis. Then another vintage Disney name, original member of the Mickey Mouse club, Sharon Baird! I get a photo op with a Mickey Mouse Club book that I brought. 

On to wait for Emmanuel Lewis from Webster. Get a photo with him. Then it was off to the Willy Wonka room. I have ops with Peter Ostrum and Jule Dawn Cole but they are bad table shots. Since I had splitters no time like the present to upgrade. Also Peter has no facial hair and in my previous shot he has a mustache so that was another reason to upgrade. Ended my time at Chiller with Karen Grassle (Little House on the Prairie). 

Sharon Baird

Emmanuel Lewis

Peter Ostrum

Full list of day 2 Chiller ops

Scattered meets throughout October: Kevin Feige, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Paul Reiser, and more

Kick off October similar to how I ended September. With Martin Sheen. The reason I wanted to go was for actress Melissa Fitzgerald. I already have her and wasn't planning to hit up that spot. But in my op with Melissa she is squinting and I saw someone get a shot where she's not squinting. So I thought I could upgrade that and in the process get another autograph from Martin.

Wait for the spot to let out, Melissa is nice as can be. Sadly she is squinting again in my shot. SMH. I got another combo with Martin Sheen. 

Melissa Fitzgerald

Martin Sheen

Autograph

Next up to Books and Greeting in Jersey for Geri Halliwell. I got the book signed, a vinyl signed, and of course the photo op. This marks my second ever Spice Girl. Sadly this means I now started a project. ughhhhh! 

Geri Halliwell

Autographs

Then to a venue for singer Leigh Nash. She is the lead singer of Sixpence None the Richer who sang late 90s hits such as Kiss Me and There She Goes. She was nice and sweet as can be. 

Leigh Nash

Then another venue for an actor that has eluded me for years. I've either missed him or he denied me. Paul Reiser who was in Aliens and My Two Dads (in fact the only one of the main 3 of that show that I am still missing). Waited and came out barely did a combo per person. Success!

Paul Reiser

Autograph

On a day towards the end of October, I would hit up CSA show. There were 3 celebs there I could get. Kyle Davis (F13th 2009), Daniel Zacapa (The Sandlot), and Alexis Knapp (Pitch Perfect). Got them all no issue. I tried to mooch ops with sports names Bernard King and Allen Iverson (since they have been in movies) but to no avail. Though I would later find out Iverson did free ops outside after his appearance.

Go to the next spot where I'm waiting for Kevin Feige, producer of the MCU. While waiting we are told that Dave Filoni of Star Wars fame is supposed to show. This excited us big time! First up got composer Michael Giacchino (update), then finally Kevin shows up as is nice as can be. I get him on items already signed by the Russo Brothers. Then get director Michael Mayer. We wait for Dave and never see him so we assume he's not coming.

I go to the next spot for singer Martha Reeves (Martha and the Vandellas). She comes out and is nice even removing her hoodie for the photo op. 

Sadly I would later find out that Dave Filoni did indeed show up. PUNCH! He must have come through a different entrance. 

Alexis Knapp

Kevin Feige

Martha Reeves

Full list of photo ops

Kevin Feige autographs part 1

Kevin Feige autographs part 2

A few days later I go to another spot where you basically stand and see who shows up as you never find out who is there till the event has almost started. B52s were known in advance but never saw them (I still need Fred from that band). It is off to a good start as I get producer and former Disney chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg. Some great Neo Classics were done under his belt either as producer or chairman. Movies as The Black Cauldron, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Lion King, Shrek, Shrek 2, to name some. 

Unfortunately it was downhill from here. I got John Stankey (CEO of AT&T, who cares), actor John Leguizamo (already have a few ops), singer The Kid LAROI (never heard of him before I got the op), singer Vance Joy (never heard of him before I got the op), and John Kerry (have him and don't even care to begin with).

Jeffrey Katzenberg

Full list of photo ops

The week of multi events and multi cons in multi states

The week of New York Comic Con in October had tons of events and tons of cons happening all over. There was no way one could swing everything. No matter what route you go, you will miss something. I ended up doing what seemed both logistically and financially feasible and getting what I could get. 

No rest for the weary as I was just a couple of days after Bob Odenkirk at Bookends, I ended up back to Bookends for the Arnold singing. I had no ticket to meet him, but that's ok cause I have two ops with him and had no need for bearded old man Arnold. I wound up having someone get a book signed for me. Then it was off to NYC.

I get into the city to the "easy" show spot where I missed a couple of names a few days ago. Got Bobby Cannavale to sign for me (no need to ask for another op), I got Denis O'Hare to sign and do the op (fresh), and I got autos from David Hyde Pierce. The spot (and evening) ends with an update from actor Steven Pasquale. Director Joe Mantello remembered me from the other night.

Next day start up at NYCC. This year due to the strike NYCC was not very lucrative. A lot of paid meets and almost no free meets. So I decided to sell my 4 day pass for a profit. I then bought a Thursday pass off of ebay for slightly below retail. I start outside as I get an op with actress Diana Lee Inosanto. Considering she was on my list of people to possibly pay for, a good start. 

Went inside and stood in line for a free Futurama signing with a bunch of the writers from the show. The signing was nice and smooth as I got free combos with Peter Avanzino, Edmund Fong, Crystal Chesney-Thompson, Claudia Katz, Lee Supercinski, and David X. Cohen. Then via split I get an upgrade with Juliet Landau from Buffy and Angel (she has shades in my old op).

Then I go to the Animaniacs panel in an attempt to get a photo op with Tom Ruegger. But I fail on that front. Then I go to his table and manage to score a free op. Next up the panel with director Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger, Die Hard 2). I met him at a previous NYCC but I figured I'd get an upgraded shot plus autos. This went very smoothly as he was nice. Also got producer Courtney Solomon. Then I go back outside to wait for director Jason Blum. Manage to score him and get another photo op with Diane Guerrero.

I left NYCC and went to another spot to try and get Nathan Lane. Other people were present but no one I really needed. I arrive there and made it just in time. But sadly he blanks. I get yet another photo op with John Mulaney.

Go to the next spot to wait for Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz. It was either this or exits for the Nathan Lane spot. So I chose this. Wait and wait with a mob of combo hunters. Eventually they come in. Penelope does autos no ops going in and Adam stops for autos. By MIRACLE I get the only photo op Adam did! SCORE as he was the last big name I still needed from the sequel Star Wars trilogy! Waited for exits and got an update/upgrade with Penelope Cruz as Adam left and did nothing.

Go to the last spot for the evening and get some autos from JJ Abrams (no need for another op). 

Denis O'Hare

Juliet Landau

Adam Driver

Penelope Cruz

Full list of Day 1 photo ops

Full list of Day 2 photo ops

Autographs

Futurama poster

Arnold book

The next day it was off to Gettysburg, PA for actor Billy Campbell. Arrive at the first location where he and Stephen Lang are doing a signing. They were trying to forbid items outside of the movie Gettysburg. But Billy is nice as can be and Lang begrudgingly does one for me (didn't need another photo op with him especially the bad mood he was in).

To the next signing at a pub, I get a combo with Gettysburg director Ron Maxwell (on my laserdisc already signed by the main actors), actor Brian Mallon, and actor John Rothman. Then the next location I get actors Bo Brinkman and Patrick Gorman. Then the next spot I get author Jeff Shaara. And finally the last spot for Maxwell Caulfield and James Lancaster (have Maxwell but needed James) but the event was done by the time I got there. 

Off to King of Prussia, PA for the Ozzy event. I had no plans to spend money on Ozzy or his family (already have Ozzy and Sharon). All I got at this event were free ops with actor David Dastmalchian and horror publisher Jim Warren. 

I wanted to get the 2 girls from the new Exorcist (Lidya Jewett and Olivia O Neill). But they had a high auto price with free ops. In what is one of the most baffling experiences, I offered the handler half that price for only the op and she outright refused. The entire time I was there the girls were doing basically nothing, even leaving the table and playing around the con area. In fact the whole time I was there I think JOresky was their only customer. Yet they refused my hard cash for simply snapping a photo. Before leaving and as they were packing up I offered them one last chance to take my money and they declined. Doesn't seem like a good business decision on their part to let cash like that walk away.

At this point it was decision time. Do I go to NYC for one more day of NYCC or do I go home? I had a seller for a Saturday pass. But with the price of the pass coupled with expensive photo ops and practically no free ops and on top of that Chiller, RICC, and other stuff coming up, I decided to go home and live to fight another day.

Billy Campbell

David Dastmalchian

Full list of Day 3 photo ops

Autographs

Wake up next day and head to Nightmare Weekend in Richmond. My final event for the week in the week of a million events. My main goal is Joe Dante, director of Gremlins. First up I get actor Griffin Dunne to complete my American Werewolf in London laserdisc and get the fresh op. Then a free op with radio host Dave Schrader. Actor Ian McCulloch is sitting by himself, unlike the Exorcist girls he actually cuts a deal with me and takes half the price for an op only. 

The Chiodo Brothers (3 brothers who did a lot of puppets and effects for films) were there signing. I scored a free photo op with all 3. And finally got Joe Dante. I had a Gremlins laserdisc signed by Stephen Spielberg. But after much thought I decided to save money on the auto and keep the item a Spielberg only item.

Joe Dante

Full list of Day 4 photo ops

Signed laserdisc

I got SHOT THROUGH THE HEART in NJ and NYC in October

In early October I decided to try a spot for Bon Jovi. It was a big risk because I had no idea if Bon Jovi would even show up to the spot. But if he did show up, he has stopped for people waiting in the past. To add to all this risk, the weather called for rain. But I also had other stuff I could do including a Bob Odenkirk book signing. So after much thought I decided to take the risk. This plan meant I had to skip Stellar con in Maryland. 

Wait at the Jon Bon Jovi spot and I'm joined by markedout member Greg2600 and other NYC combo hunters. We wait and eventually he does show up and takes care of everyone on the railing. It was quite a surreal sight to see Bon Jovi, who is normally a dick, do multi combos for all waiting. It may be the most I've seen any big name ever do for free.

After this I head to Yonkers, NY for a bottle signing with Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day. Some signings included Rob McElhenney too, but Charlie Day (Horrible Bosses 1&2, Monsters University, Luigi in The Super Mario Bros movies, and more) was the only one I needed as I had the other two. Markedout board members Greg2600 and Lanza would join here. Go to the bottle signing, go through the line, stand next to Charlie, get the photo op! Success! 

I then head to NYC to a spot with actress/director Rebecca Miller and actress Marisa Tomei (the latter whom I have). My hope was that Rebecca's husband Daneil Day Lewis would show up. But sadly no luck on that front. Marisa came in and blanked and Rebecca came in and I got the fresh op. I should have been at this spot the prior evening as Anne Hathaway did combos and I need her on items (plus the op would have been a nice upgrade).

Next up, I hit up the "easy" show spots in NYC. First spot I wanted actress Marylouise Burke (Sideways, Meet Joe Black). The spot lets out, I get Christina Kirk and others and finally Marylouise Burke as she exits. She is nice as can be. 

Next spot has lots of names. I needed actor Denis O'Hare and others. I went inside not knowing at the time they actually set up a railing at that spot. There I spotted and got actress and singer Tracie Bennett. After this I saw they had it setup and sadly missed two names I wanted that already went through. Denis O'Hare who I never met and Bobby Cannavale who I met but had items for. But I got Micaela Diamond, David Hyde Pierce (repeat), Amber Gray, Rachel Bay Jones, director Joe Mantello, Patti LuPone, and Jeremy Shamos. I would have to come back in the future to get what I missed.

Jon Bon Jovi

Charlie Day

Full list of photo ops

Next day I attend the Bob Odenkirk signing with his daughter at Bookends in NJ. Never met Bob. This was quick and easy. Sadly he did extras and I stupidly had none. Maryland combo hunter Joe C kinda photobombed my Bob shot, so I got another. 

Bob Odenkirk take 1

Erin Odenkirk

Bob Odenkirk take 2

Autographs

Last round of September meets

The last day of September I would start with a flight for actress Lynn Whitfield (Stepmom, Head of State). She arrives and is very nice. Signs and does photos no issue. 

Then wait at the hotel for the band The Whispers. There's two originals and one semi original. Wait for them to leave for their show. First up are the twins, Wallace and Walter Scott. They are very nice and happy to do ops. Then Leaveil Degree who is also super nice. 

After this I go to another venue I wait for singer and actress Freda Payne. She comes out and is as accommodating as can be. Signs and does photos. This is sadly where the nice and friendly ends. 

Because I would try for actor/rapper Bow Wow at one spot and the venue employees were being assholes even trying to say they own the sidewalk. After a curse fest I leave this venue to go to the second venue. In this venue the staff is more civilized, but he declines 3 of us waiting. 

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Some scattered meets throughout September

Kick off September with Ben Gibbard, lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie. Unfortunately he is a complete dick. Had a mask, wouldn't remove it, and wouldn't even sign 8x10s I had only would sign albums. 

Distraught with this, I go to a theater for Tommy Wiseau from The Room. Not really someone I am a fan of, but so many love to meet him and I'm in town after the Ben Gibbard failure so I thought might as well.

He did nothing going in then at the merch table had a glass pane! WTF? TWICE covid reared its head in one day in September 2023?? HOW! BUT manage to convince him to come around. 

Ben Gibbard

Tommy Wiseau

Tommy Wiseau

Next up, a day for some music meets. First up, wait for Billy Idol. I have him but always good to get more autos from him. While waiting I see Steve Stevens and I get an update/upgrade with him. Billy Idol came and signs. Thankfully I have a perfect shot so could focus on autographs. 

Then to a venue where I try for Scott Stapp of the band Creed. After the venue lets out I get some barely valids and finally Scott Stapp who was nice.

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Then I go to a flight for actor Patton Oswalt. See him wearing a mask. Ask him to remove it for the photo which he does. Signs only one per. Then I head to a comedy venue for Gary Owen. Go inside and he is doing a meet and greet. Also grab the opener (whoever he is).

Patton Oswalt

Gary Owen

scrub

Autograph

Next up a flight for Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors. They were both super nice, I shot the breeze with them about the previous times I met them. I reminded Meagan about the Autistic French Canadian at NYCC that planted a kiss on her. She said she "vaguely" remembers that. 

On to an event for Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who are famous for holding a gun on blm rioters. Got up to them and they even had 5x7 photos that they give out to get signed. I told them that I had my own 8x10s. They told me how they get TTM requests from all over the world even Russia and China.

Then to a venue for 3 Soprano actors. Vincent Pastore, Michael Imperioli, and Steve Schirripa. Met Vincent need the rest. The venue is huge and has like 7 or 8 entry points. Could never figure out how they entered or if they entered before or after I got there.

Wait for exits, it was hell because it was raining. People exited. See Vincent exit from the same door as the audience and get a photo. Time passes and it's looking hopeless as the staff says they are gone. Not long after the other two come out a door the same side as the audience door and I manage to grab photos! It was a tough one especially since everyone got in regular cars.

Mark McCloskey and Patricia McCloskey

Full list of photo ops

Autographs part 1

Autographs part 2

Another flight, this time for Vonda Shepard, who song the Ally McBeal theme song. She had a mask on. I tried asking for a photo she denied. I explained that I wanted a selfie not a pap shot. She took the mask off and did a photo.

Vonda Shepard

And lastly, went for a Martin Sheen flight. This was to get an autograph since I have the photo. This flight was a rare occurrence as I would be joined by markedout member Greg2600 and former board member heelorton. While waiting we randomly see Herbie Hancock flying in. So we get ops. Finally, Martin shows up. He does photos and autos. I get an autograph.

After this I go to an evening show to try for actress and singer Katelyn Tarver. She does a meet and greet after the show. While waiting I see singer Jack Gray who. Not familiar with him but I get an op. Then get Katelyn who was nice as can be.

Herbie Hancock

Jack Gray

Katelyn Tarver

Katelyn Tarver

Autograph