This would only be my second Festivities of the Televisions since COVID hit. Because 2020 and 2021 none took place. 2022 I went to NYC and did solid at the Festivities of the Televisions. 2023 the writer's strike rendered them completely worthless, so I bailed on those plans.
In 2024, I decided to embark on the Festivities of the Televisions. But compared to previous years they would prove to be severely watered down for the most part. There was essentially one network that was good. This will definitely make me reevaluate my plans for them going forward. I still made out ok and also deviated from the festivities and got more people. But I think the pre COVID glory days of this event are gone.
Day 1
Before heading to the first spot, I decide to try the "easy" show spots. There were two shows side by side. First one, amidst a huge crowd I get Rachel McAdams, which is both an update and an upgrade. And I manage to score an autographs Good to know that despite aging, I can still hold my ground against a huge crowd and get a full combo.
In the next show my main target is a fresh shot with character actor Ronald Guttman and a no beard upgrade with Michael Stuhlbarg. Wait it out and get those no issue as they are super nice.
Now to the first spot of the festivities. I found out I just missed Shanola Hampton. But no worries the night is young. Don't get too much at that spot then go to the next spot where I score Shanola Hampton. I see other names but they were names I had. I get Mehcad Brooks, Jesse L Martin, and see others that I don't even bother asking or fighting the crowd for as I have them. Later we found out that no one more really came for this. Day 1 is sub-par and in the books. I commandeer my free parking spot for the rest of the week.
Full list of Day 1 photo ops
Day 2
This day is sadly not much better than the previous day. Start at a spot and get actor Joel Kim Booster. Then to the spot from last night and get Zachary Quinto and Michael Buble. Both sadly repeats. Go to the next spot get Corinne Foxx and Jane Krakowski, also repeats. Checked another place for System of a Down singer Serj Tankian but never saw him and quickly went back to the previous spot. Made it back on time as people were leaving. Get Olivia Culpo and Joel McHale, also repeats. Failed on Molly Parker but had her already. Needed actress Lauren Graham but she didn't spot. First major failure of the day, but not the last.
Go to a premier event where I have a rather ambitious goal. Namely, Ryan Reynolds. I knew he wouldn't stop, but I had to be there in case lightning struck. Nobody stopped going in. This included Ryan Reynolds, Emily Blunt, Steve Carell, Awkwafina, Matt Damon, Fiona Shaw, and Bradley Cooper. Needed Ryan and Fiona and some Bradley autos. Bobby Moynihan stopped somewhat but I didn't even bother fighting for it as I have him.
Exits were a little better but not by much. John Krasinski stopped but I didn't need him so I didn't bother. Ryan and others of course didn't stop. I got child actor Alan Kim. I got a much needed update with Cailey Fleming. When I got her at a con she was like 12 now she is 17. When I showed her the photo op she goes "oh my God look how little I was".
Went back to the spot for Lauren Graham but never saw her and gave up. Checked out another party spot but it was a dud. Back to the last spot for the night where I got Zachary Quinto. I see Jamie Foxx who declined. Could have used a better shot but thankfully I have him. This ended the night.
Full list of Day 2 photo ops
This day is where things would begin to turn around. I pass by one spot see Connie Foxx again get yet another op. Then to the spot where I would spend the rest of my day. Unfortunately I get a lot of repeats which is to be expected.
Autograph wise I get Charlie Cox, Ted Danson, and Vincent D'Onofrio plus updated ops.
Some fresh names include Dominique Thorne, Leah Jeffries, Kylie Cantrall, and Malia Baker.
Carrie Ann Moss did only one side and not my side. Would have liked a better op than my pro op at RICC. Sheryl Lee Ralph did nothing, but I have her.
Name quality wise one of the best I get there is Kathryn Hahn but I have a shot from long ago. So it didn't do much for me.
I needed actress Amandla Stenberg. Waited till about 2am never saw her. Apparently she came back around 4am. She did it at another spot but I was waiting at the hotel. I guess you can't win them all.
Got plenty of other names, updates and fresh (see list of photo ops).
Full list of Day 3 photo ops part 1
Full list of Day 3 photo ops part 2
Day 4
Back to the spot from the previous day where as it happened New Kids On The Block are checking in. I still need 2 members, namely Jonathan and Jordan Knight. Joey McIntyre checks in and I get another op. I get some check outs from the TV actors from the previous day. I get my score in Jonathan Knight but sadly Jordan doesn't stop. I see the other members of New Kids but have no need to bother them.
Carrie Ann Moss checked out but sadly did nothing. I made the mistake of not going to another spot for Wayne Gretsky. I don't normally get sports but he is the #1 hockey name so I wanted him to get the op for a well rounded collection. What's worse I never saw Amandla Stenberg so she must have left very early. I also get more names leaving the spot (see list).
I check out the "easy" show spots where the main target is actor Ben Cook. I get him and other barely valids in his show. Then to another show for actor James Carpinello (2004 Punisher movie). Then go to a venue for singer Andy Biersack. He leaves the venue pretty quickly but does ops with the 3 of us. Back to the original spot for the day to see if anything else can be had. I just get Jake McLaughlin again. This ended the night.
Jonathan Knight
Andy Biersack
Full list of Day 4 photo ops
Day 5
This day would be quite unique because I would end up making up for 3 blunders/failures from the past. The recent past and the distant past.
We will start with the recent past. I pass by a hotel to see what's going on and manage to find out that by miracle Wayne Gretzky is still in town. So, I decide to stand there to make up the blunder from the prior day where I didn't go for him. I heard he declined before I got there, and then I saw him go in and he was quick to enter.
When he finally left it was crowded with combo hunters and major chaos, but I manage to get a full combo from him! This is despite him telling me he can't do ops as I ask him. I didn't take no for an answer and begged and pleaded. Again, further proof that despite my age I can still come out on top in a crowd! It's not the best op but it's valid and I'll take it. This would be my last stand for the festivities of the televisions. Sadly, while I was waiting for Gretzky I found out a couple of girls managed to get Jordan Knight. I guess you can't win them all.
Went to another spot to see what could be had. Saw Peter Dinklage blank everyone and saw Common come in and do an op or two. I have them both, so I had no need to ask any of them.
I go to a fashion type spot where Kate Upton and many others were appearing. Now I think it was 2011, I saw Kate Upton outside an event. No one knew who she was. Saw her do a couple of ops, but didn't ask. Big mistake. Because I tried for her a couple of times since and failed. Ever since then I always ask for ops no matter. Because you just never know. Here I have a shot to rectify my Kate Upton blunder.
Huge crowd and barricade. I see Kate Upton; she comes and signs for people. I then plead and scream to get an op, and I manage to get a miracle selfie! Another blunder officially corrected! Some other graphers cursed me out because they blame me getting the op for her not signing for them. I don't know if that is true, but if it is, too bad too sad. That's just the way the cookie crumbles. There were plenty of times I didn't get my op because of their autos. Also got gymnast Olivia Livvy Dunne.
I step away from this spot and go to the "easy" show spots. My first target is actor Louis Ozawa Changchien from Predators (2010). I manage to score him, an update with Tala Ashe, and barely valid actress Gabby Policano. There were other people in the show that I already had so I didn't focus on them. Most everyone came out at once and it was chaotic. Glad I was able to focus on what I needed.
Next show spot, I seek to correct another blunder. Namely, Alfred Molina AKA Dr Octopus in Spiderman 2. In 2012 when I tried for him at the show spots he declined me. In this show stop he didn't come out the same door as most of the other cast. This included Steve Carrell. So I had to be sneaky to try for him. I figured out the door he uses, and so I wait there while the audience waits at the normal door. Sure enough he comes out. He declines an op but signs my item. I then follow him outside and continue to beg and plead till he relents and says "c'mon take it, it's not fair". SCORE! Wow, that turned out to be quite the night for correcting blunders. Then I went to the door where the crowd was at got an update with Steve Carell, Jayne Houdyshell (also update), and Spencer Donovan Jones.
At this point in the evening, I was in bonus mode. Go to the place I got Kate Upton and get more names (see list) including a better shot with Olivia Livvy Dunne. When the spot dried up it was off to go sleep.
Full list of Day 5 photo ops
Day 6
This would be my final day for NYC for the week. My first spot is for Pamela Adlon AKA Bobby Hill in King of the Hill. She did photos going in but said she would sign leaving, which she did. Also got Michelle Buteau (fresh) and Ilana Glazer (upgrade).
Go to see if by miracle Jordan Knight can be spotted, but sadly never see him. I got declined by singer Ingrid Michaelson and I got baseball player Torii Hunter. Next event is like a block away. This is where I got my bulk of meets for the day.
I got Nicole Ari Parker which upgrades my photo op even though she has shades. She took off shades then I tried pleading for another op but to no avail. Got singer/songwriter Kandi Burruss, an update with Leslie Odom Jr, another op with Corey Stoll, among others (see list).
Got another auto from Rachel McAdams. Jessica Lange actually signed one for someone. I attempted the photo but that got botched. Got declined by Gayle Rankin and Juliana Canfield. Saw Alfred Molina leave. Someone chased him down and he said he would do photos but not autos! What the hell? Quite the contrast from the night before where he signed and didn't want to do the photo until I had to run after him and plead. These people must really be bipolar.
Never saw Eddie Redmayne or Daniel Radcliffe who I didn't need. Never saw Betsy Aidem who I needed. Saw Sarah Paulson but didn't bother trying for her.
Decided to end my time in NYC with some more "easy" show spots. First one I need Phillip Boykin and Isa Briones. There's a front and back and I didn't know who would come out where. Phillip came out the back and Isa the front. I missed Isa doing it for the crowd while I was in the back but thankfully, she went back inside then walked out the front and I manage to get the op. Then to another show for actress Sandra Oh. As she exits, she is nice as can be. This ended my time in NYC.
Pamela Adlon
Sandra Oh
Full list of Day 6 photo ops
Now to show case some autographs obtained (blanks are Wayne Gretzky, Alfred Molina, Charlie Cox, Ted Danson, and Vincent D'Onofrio)
Autographs obtained part 1
Autographs obtained part 2
Doc Oct autograph
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