Baltimore Celebfest 4 and the NYC Festivities of the Televisions!

The Festivities of the Televisions in NYC was a special time this year. First off, it's the first one since 2019 due to COVID shutting things down. And second, it would be my first time in NYC for 2022. But before going there, I would stop by Baltimore to get some wrestlers at celebfest 4.

My wants weren't very many. But I had read that Lio Rush canceled so I never looked for him turns out he was there. PUNCH! I ended up getting the following: 

Fuego Del Sol, Tay Conti, Toni Storm, Chris Van Vliet, Chris Bey, Mario Mancini, and Tasha Steelz. And I was gifted a Sting autograph. 

Full list of celebfest 4 photo ops

Signed WCW magazine

On to NYC and arrive at the first spot. It was crowded. Saw a lot of people including some WWE folks (Miz, Maryse, Bianca Belair). One notable miss was Raymond Lee and he stopped at the next spot where I should have been. PUNCH. I missed Sarah Hyland who stopped at the next spot as well but I made that one up the next day.

I got to the next spot eventually and eventually Shakira's car arrived. We all went to the garage, she went out of the car, and through struggle and hell I managed to score a selfie! 

After this left to another spot, got an op, and called it a night. Then I commandeered my free parking spot for the rest of the week!

Shakira

Full list of Day 1 photo ops

Day 2 would be pretty solid despite a lot of repeat names. That is sadly a big problem I have now. I have so many people that I see a lot of the same people. I start the day with some members of the new Fresh Prince cast. I get Sarah Hyland whom I missed the night before. I get Uli Latukefu AKA young Rock upgrade (my first shot was the evening prior).

To the next spot and got some got some good fresh names in Adrianne Palicki, Elodie Yung, Adan Canto, and others. Got a lot of repeats there but one notable repeat is Mike Tyson where he did a pretty damn awesome pose. Roman Reigns was at this spot but he did nothing for no one. It's ok I have a great shot with him. After this spot was done went to check out another spot but it had ended. This ended the evening.

Sarah Hyland

Adrianne Palicki

Mike Tyson

Full list of Day 2 photo ops part 1

Full list of Day 2 photo ops part 2

Day 3 would be the weakest of all. Despite a lot of people in town it was hard to get access to most. Passed by a spot, got a couple repeats, then waited to another spot where lots of combo hunters were waiting. Got child actor Walker Scobell who was in a movie with Ryan Reynolds. Got Meg Donnelly, got Bailee Madison again. I showed Bailee our old photo op from 2015 an she even knew when and where it was taken. 

Checked out another spot but the setup was horrid so I bailed on it. Went back to the previous spot then decided to check out a party. But there were too many people at the railing so I walked to another hotel and decided I'd take my chances here. Got some stuff there such as Lisa Ann Walter who was in the 1998 Parent Trap. And I saw Hilary Swank who I needed but sadly she didn't stop. That would have been an epic end to the night if she stopped. People also got stuff at the previous party spot. But I guess you can't be everywhere at once. Checked out one more spot then decided to call it a night.

Full list of Day 3 photo ops

Day 4 I would start at a spot away from the Festivities of the Televisions. My main goal is a rather ambitious one. Namely Jessica Alba. It was off to a good start as I got actress Elizabeth McGovern. Hillary Duff came in and said she would stop leaving. Does me little good as I have her. Alba came in and ignored all as she was being papped. Now there was a huge crowd waiting for Duff. I am hoping Duff comes out first and the crowd would be largely cleared for Alba. Indeed that happens. I get another Duff shot and wait for Alba. Sadly she comes out and ignores. I try for a selfie but get stopped and she is looking down in the shot.

Her car leaves and I run after it. I plead at the window. She does a roll down and SCORE! I get the op. It's not the greatest op, but it's valid and it counts. Hopefully I can upgrade it one day. After I got my op someone came up and asked for autos. She goes "thank you" and just rolls up.

While I was doing all this at another spot related to the Festivities of the Televisions both Andy Garcia and John Cena stopped for people. Thankfully I have both.

Go to a spot and see combo hunters waiting. We see a couple of randoms who don't do ops such as Rita Wilson and Allison Janney but I have them. Saw British politician and Downtown Abbey producer Julian Fellowes. He was cool. Then finally saw a want of mine I've missed over the years, Jared Padalecki.

Then off to another spot where for a change I get a great railing spot. Unfortunately it was largely for nothing as most nobody stopped. Kevin Costner and Sylvester Stallone came but didn't do anything. Pablo Schreiber who I needed did nothing. Got repeats in James Corden, Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain, and Anson Mount. A masked shot with Shanica (garbage), and soap actress Ilene Kristen (who?). To my shock Patrick Stewart came over and I got an autograph.

Move on to the next spot where ops were happening. I get Elizabeth Tulloch AKA Lois Lane among other things. This is a good fresh meet. Sadly while there Pablo Schreiber does ops at another party spot. The perils of this, so much stuff happening you can't decide where to be. 

Bail on this spot even though I wanted Brec Bassinger AKA Stargirl. I missed her due to going to another spot but I would make that one up the next day. Around this spot Adam Sandler is at a bar and leaves. He is the nastiest I've seen him. Though I have him already. 

Get a bunch of names here, some fresh some repeats, then go back to the previous spot. Stevie Wonder comes and does send ins. Despite seeing him many times I've never seen him do autos. So this is my first Stevie Wonder autograph. Then the cast of Pretty Little Liars come out of a car and I ask for a group shot. And a few of us gets the group shot with Mallory Bechtel, Maia Reficco, Bailee Madison, Zaira, Chandler Kinney, and Malia Pyles. A fine ending to the evening!

Jessica Alba

Pretty Little Liars - Mallory Bechtel, Maia Reficco, Bailee Madison, Zaira, Chandler Kinney, and Malia Pyles

Full list of Day 4 photo ops part 1

Full list of Day 4 photo ops part 2

Full list of Day 4 photo ops part 3

The final day of the Festivities of the Televisions was actually the easiest final day I've ever had since doing the event. And it was pretty fruitful as I got a lot in terms of quantity. And got a few groups shots. I got Brec Bassinger AKA Stargirl which was one I wanted. Got many fresh names and repeats as well.

With the Festivities of the Televisions coming to a close I check out another spot for singer and actress Rina Sawayama. But she's in. So I go back to the previous spot. Then when it's time to go back for Rina I officially bid farewell to the Festivities of the Televisions and that felt good. I cut it early cause at that point I figured not much else to get that was still in town. 

On to Rina and we are a handful of combo hunters waiting. We make a rookie movie and somehow she slips past us from behind and leaves in her van. Others got her who are not experienced combo hunters. What an embarrassing moment for us all!  

Go to the "easy" spots of NYC. Wow it's been a while due to COVID. I wanted an upgrade with Julianne Hough along with autos and a fresh shot with actress Suzy Nakamura.

I see Vanessa Williams with a mask and get her on the show program. I met her before so no issue there. I see Julie White get a socially distant shot. Again I have her. Julianne Hough is nice about the photo op but doesn't sign my merch despite my pleas. Cynthia Nixon is a random and I get another op. And finally Suzy Nakamura comes out and I get a combo. I try for actress Beanie Feldstein at another spot but she wasn't having it.

The final NYC spot is a spot with a bunch of models. Not sure who most any of them are but I did get Maye Musk AKA Elon Musk's mother. When that event ended, I ended my time in NYC. I stopped by for some dollar pizza which somehow resisted inflation, grabbed a couple of slices, went to my car, slept at a rest stop in NJ for a few hours, then headed out.

Brec Bassinger

Julianne Hough

Full list of Day 5 photo ops part 1

Full list of Day 5 photo ops part 2

Full list of Day 5 photo ops part 3

Full list of Day 5 photo ops part 4

Autographs (Stevie Wonder and Patrick Stewart)

AEW haul mixed with some music and movie meets

In early May I would have a huge AEW haul where I would get updates, upgrades, and fresh ops. And also filled up lots of autos on my WWE encyclopedias. 

The first night of AEW was a very successful one.

Saw Tony Khan but he was doing awkward looking ops so I didn't bother getting another. He told me hello probably recognized me from 3 months prior. 

Billy Gunn's kids and Preston Vance also remembered me. So did Max Caster (didn't like my camera so didn't take a photo op).

Big Show and MJF are some that didn't stop.

Fresh ops include 

Mercedes Martinez
JD Drake
Luther
Brody King
Jamie Hayter
The Butcher
Alex Abrahantes
Skye Blue
The Blade
BJ Whitmer
The Bunny
Satnam Singh (Damn he's huge)
Matt Martel
Cezar Bononi
Konosuke Takeshita
QT Marshall

Some notable repeat ops: 

Great shot with the Hardy Boys who took ops with the whole hotel staff.

15 year update with Justin Roberts!

Luchasaurus with no mask (my previous shot was at a con where he had his wrestling mask)

The Hardy Boys

Satnam Singh

AEW photos part 1

AEW photos part 2

AEW photos part 3

AEW photos part 4

Next day I wanted to try for the movie cast of Ghosted. On set are Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, and Dexter Fletcher (director of this movie but has lots of acting credits too). I have Chris but need the others. Also need Chris on a figure. Then I get flight info for Germany heavy metal singer Doro. So I elect to go to that and she is nice as can be.

Doro

Next up I hit up movie trailers but see nothing. Then I go to a venue where Jeffrey Skunk Baxter is playing. He was doing signings after his show so that was a good opportunity for a guarantee. Playing with him is CJ Vanston who composed music for some movies. I get them both and they are cool. 

CJ Vanston

Jeffrey Skunk Baxter

Music autographs (Baxter and Doro)

Hit up the trailers and still nothing. I would find out later they went to the hotels after the shoot. Head back to AEW and find out I missed some people going in including the Big Show who stopped. But from what I could tell no one that would have been fresh.

Fresh ops I got that evening include:

Eddie Kingston
Ryan Nemeth
Yuka Sakazaki

One notable repeat name is an awesome photo op with Y2J himself, Chris Jericho!

Chris Jericho

AEW photos part 5

Tony Khan autographs and signed AEW cards

All autographs obtained on WWE Encyclopedias

WWE_E V4

Adam Cole
Bobby Fish
Big Cass
Cash Wheeler (Revival)
Dax Harwood (Revival)
Frankie Kazarian
Jeff Hardy
Kyle O'Reilly
Matt Hardy
Trent Beretta
Leva Bates (blue pants)
Samoa Joe
Serena Deeb
Jim Ross
Justin Roberts
Taz
Tony Schiavone
Vickie Guerrero

WWE_E V3

Cash Wheeler (Revival)
Chris Jericho
Dax Harwood (Revival)
Frankie Kazarian
Matt Hardy
Trent Beretta
Leva Bates (blue pants)
Jim Ross
Justin Roberts
Tony Schiavone
Arn Anderson

WWE_E V2

Frankie Kazarian
Jeff Hardy
Matt Hardy
Serena Deeb
Jim Ross
Justin Roberts
Tony Schiavone

Next day I decide to do the hotel for the movie set in the hopes of getting Chris, Ana, and Dexter. This would prove fatal! Because both Chris and Ana came out of their trailers and two people got Chris (the trailers were far apart so you could only pick one, I would have picked Ana). PUNCH! So we wait longer at the hotel in the hopes of redemption. Dexter arrives and is nice as can be. Chris arrives and takes the garage. And we don't see Ana (she must have been staying somewhere else). The evening is largely a bust.

Dexter Fletcher

Wake up the next day and find out they are filming in London next. So I scramble to find a flight for Chris Evans leaving. Easier to look for Chris than to look for Ana, and my logic is if I find him I find Ana too. By miracle I score the flight of Chris Evans to London! 

Go to the airport and wait. Finally I do see Chris surrounded by an entourage wearing hat/shades/mask. One guy gets in my face to stop me. I simply run around him and go in front of Chris' field of vision and beg for an auto on my figure. He caves and signs for me. Sadly I don't see Ana and would later find out she didn't even go to London (so she likely flew back to LA). Didn't get what I truly wanted but at least a Chris auto is a $200 convention value.

Captain America signed figure

Couple of days later for a music fest, I get word that the band Skid Row checked in. The current line up has 3 originals and 2 barely valids. I already met the lead singer Sebastian Bach a few years (who isn't in the current line up and replaced by a barely valid). So I thought it would be cool to get the other 3. 

I arrive at the hotel and first get Davy Vain of the band Vain. This is an upgrade from my older shot. Also get Joel Proto of Vain (update).

First member of Skid Row I get is the barely valid drummer Rob Hammersmith. Then I get the 3 originals in Rachel Bolan (had to ask him to remove the mask, he lowered it), Dave "the snake" Sabo, and Scotti Hill. Score! Then finally the barely valid lead singer Erik Gronwall. 

Full list of photo ops

Chiller Theater Report

In April I would make a quick in and out for Chiller Theater. One of my main wants is Jamie Farr who is 87. I skipped a Steel City Con cause he was supposed to be at Chiller then he canceled that Chiller. So to get a third chance at someone that old is truly a gift.

On the negative side most prices at Chiller were insane. Even for lower names. I ended up skipping almost everyone on my "maybe" list such as the lower Back to the Future names and thankfully had splitters for almost everyone I did get. So I didn't end up spending a fortune. 

First off I get actress Mindy Cohn AKA Natalie from The Facts of Life. She had a huge line. Then actress Heather Thomas and then Jamie Farr who also had a line. Sad to say he looks like he's on death's door. But may we all look that good at 87 and be healthy enough to do combos. 

Then Maia Brewton from Adventures in Baby Sitting. And from there Tim Blaney AKA Johnny 5 from Short Circuit 1 and 2. Then to Kelly Packard from Baywatch. I was gifted a signed 8x10 of her. Then Lisa Whelchel AKA Blair Warner from Facts of Life. 

Deborah Foreman from Valley girl was reasonably priced and I got the op. Then went for Billy Redden AKA Banjo Boy from Deliverance. And he had the Banjo with him. So that was a nice touch.

Ended my time at Chiller with a dual shot with Amy Steel and John Furey from Friday the 13th part 2 fame.

Jamie Farr

Kelly Packard

Full list of Chiller photo ops

Autograph

Two days of comedy names

There was a comedy event, and not very much I needed. 

First I tried Steve Carrell on a flight. But it was a total bust as he only spoke to Radioman. I even tried to ask his wife Nancy Carrell (who is an actress) for an op but even she declined!

Next day I go to a pre party for the event. 

There it was successful as I got an upgrade with Oliva Munn and autographs. Also got Jon Stewart again and comedian Bassem Youssef.

Pete Davidson along with Kim Kardashian took the garage but Pete did send ins.

Ed Helms was a total dick and did nothing for no one.

I also spotted Robert Smigal AKA Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.  He was cool, signed and even did sketches! I begged him to bring Triumph to the event the next day, but sadly that didn't happen.

Full list of day 1 photo ops

Day 1 autographs

The day of the event, it starts on a good note as I got a fresh op. Namely Samantha Bee.  Also got autographs from her.

Olivia Munn was not taking the mask off and barely doing anything, thank God I got her the prior evening. Steve Carrel and Ed Helms would do nothing for no one again. Thank God I already have both or it would have really been upsetting. There was also a play and some barely valids let out and I got ops (they did socially distanced ops).

Op wise I also got an update with actor John Mulaney and another Pete Davidson shot.

Dave Chappelle arrives and isn't being so nice but I got autos. Didn't need another op. Also got autos from Jimmy Kimmel. 

Full list of day 2 photo ops

Day 2 autographs

NJ Horror in Atlantic City

With the cancelation of Randy Quaid from Pittsburgh, combined with many other things going on during the weekend of NJ horror and Steel City Con, I could only logistically work one of the two cons in. My wants in each were more or less equal, so I wound up choosing the one I had someone to share expenses with. And that was NJ horror. 

First I get Cathy Moriarty from Casper, Raging Bull, among others. Then go for the two members of Twisted Sister, Jay Jay French and Mark "The Animal" Mendoza. I got a group shot. Since I have Dee Snider and the drummer is dead, this completes Twisted Sister for me.

Next up America Olivo (F13th),  Sandy Johnson (Halloween), Beatrice Boepple (NOES5), and Whit Hertford (NOES5, Jurrassic Park). Rounded up the con with a suited shot of Paola Lazaro from Walking Dead.

Cathy Moriarty

Full list of photo ops

Some scattered meets in April - including an A list

Went to an event in early April with Tosin Cole and Courtney B Vance. I already have Vance but need Cole. Sadly as it's ending I see Vance but never see Cole. BUST.

Courtney B Vance

A week later an event with singer Taylor Dayne, the group Tag Team (whoomp there it is) and singer Freddie Jackson. I arrive and I see Taylor Dayne on a go cart. I ask for a photo op and she goes "absolutely". I try to get autos but she ignores this. Her handler says to wait and don't go away but sadly they walk away and forget about me. Meanwhile the area I got Taylor is sealed to the public. So I was waiting in another area. I see actor Laz Alonso sitting on a convertible. I get the op but this is a repeat op. I sadly never see Tag Team or Freddie. 

Taylor Dayne

Laz Alonso

Next up an event with a bunch of people from the TV show Black-ish. There were a bunch of people showing up from the show and 2 producers. I needed 3 actors. Older actress Jenifer Lewis and younger actors Marsai Martin and Miles Brown. Sadly traffic holds me back and I am late! As I arrive I see Jenifer Lewis mingling with the crowd. I park illegally and approach and ask her. She goes "don't sneak up on me" (she said that to everyone asking for an op). Security was trying to intervene but she goes "let him have it" and she took what she described as a socially distant op. 

After this success I go to quickly park the car. To my bad luck while I do that the two other people I need come in! Not all the other actors I don't need, but the two I needed! PUNCH! They didn't do ops but no one asked. With this heart breaking defeat I wait for others coming in just because. Tracee Ellis Ross wanted socially distant ops. I got one even though I have her. Got a repeat with Marcus Scribner. Also Yara Shahidi came but she was in a rush so I let others that actually needed her to get her.

Wanted to wait for exits but they put all cars in an underground garage. So I had to beat the cars to the next spot which was an easy restaurant right on a sidewalk. First person I see Miles Brown and he declines! Talk about lucky and unlucky at the same time! 

Doesn't end there, Marsai Martin declines. I plead some more she accepts. As she accepts she almost trips. Then goes inside. 

I wait for exists from that spot. Marsai Martin comes out and stops. Miles Brown comes out and declines again. Couldn't have been a calmer setting! Finally both Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross come out. Even though I have them both I get a group shot to salvage something. This marks my first post COVID celebrity group photo op on the street. 

Jenifer Lewis

Tracee Ellis Ross

Marcus Scribner

Marsai Martin

Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson

Next up, Johnny Depp. I have a photo with him but for a big name like that I thought I'd go for autographs. We were about 10-15 at his hotel. He didn't stop but he said to bring items up to his room. His people and the hotel employees brought us a cart and we loaded it with items. Five hours later our stuff came back signed. Then went to try for Kevin Bacon. Not too fond of my shot so I wanted an update. We wait and the cop tells us he's not coming out. A minute later he shows up and stops for us.

Johnny Depp autographs

Kevin Bacon

Next day I screw up not going for Depp as he stopped and did combos. But didn't take items in. The day after I go for him, we are like 25 people. He sneaks in. To salvage the day I go to the airport for Sergio Mendes. He is Jazz legend. Not the type of name I normally go for but he co wrote songs in the movie Rio which I enjoyed. He was cool, removed the mask upon request, and signed.

Sergio Mendes

Autographs

Scattered meets in March and CSA Show in April

So first off I went to meet actress Jane Kaczmarek from Malcolm in the Middle. I arrive at the spot, I get actress Alexis Bronkovic. I find out from her that Jane was not performing and it was her stand in. PUNCH! So I had to come back the next day. I even run into PA combo hunter Joe D, my first time seeing him since 2019! It was good to see him again and chat with him after so long. I see actor Eugene Lee and get the op. Then finally Jane is out and she is nice as can be and signs my four 8x10s.

Go to the next spot for actress Keke Palmer. I see Flo Milli come out and get a photo op. Then I see actresses Yvonne Orji and Issa Rae but none stopped. Never saw Keke go in so they must have snuck her in. Then I waited for exits but sadly only saw Yvonne Orji who didn't stop. Bust.

Jane Kaczmarek

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Next up I try for up and coming Asian actress Stephanie Hsu. She had a q&a. As she enters the building she is nice as can be about the op but declines autos saying she has to go in. So I attend the q&a and she does a meet and greet afterwards. I then get the autos. An unusually nice and easy meet.

Stephanie Hsu

Autographs

And CSA Show! I only needed two of the non-sports names from there. Namely actress Shawna Waldron from Little Giants and the little girl from Avengers and Godzilla, Lexi Rabe. First up I get Shawna and she is happy to meet people. Then I go for Lexi. I also get a dual shot with her mom Jessica Rabe. Her mom is a director and seems valid with an IMDB  and all. Though barely. This ended my time at CSA show.

Shawna Waldron

Lexi Rabe

Lexi Rabe with her mom Jessica Rabe