Having attended Comic Con in San Diego over the last couple of years, I've frequently heard the wish that certain TV panels might be moved to Hall H, the biggest of the venues at the convention center. Typically, Hall H is reserved for movie panels, save the final day at the convention. But considering the massive line of people queued up, trying to get into the panels for shows like The Big Bang Theory, The Walking Dead, Fringe, True Blood, Game of Thrones and some of the other enormously popular TV shows, it seems logical that the convention organizers might try to move some (if not all) of those shows into the bigger hall this year. From the sound of it, that's what's happening, at least for a couple of shows.
While there's no word (yet) on whether or not HBO or AMC will manage to get their huge series into Hall H at Comic Con this year, Warner Bros. TV released some information about their series, which includes The Big Bang Theory and Fringe. The CBS comedy and the Fox sci-fi drama will both be featuring panels at SDCC this summer, and fans will find them in Hall H, as opposed to the smaller Ballroom 20. Fringe is being moved to Sunday, while TBBT's panel will take place on Friday. That's only part of the good news. The next bit of info involves the pilots that will be screened during Wednesday's "Preview Night." Last year, there were four series screened during preview night. This year, we get five! Those who attend Comic Con on Wednesday night (July 11) will be able to see the pilot episodes of 666 Park Avenue, Arrow, Cult, The Following and Revolution. That's quite a bit of TV watching for one evening, but it's also quite a solid selection. And it's usually easy to get a seat in there for those screenings, so that's a plus.
The studio has also released the schedule and locations for their other series (new and returning) panels. No specific times are mentioned, but it gives us a general idea of what's going to be there and where we'll find it.
THURSDAY, JULY 12• MAD (Mondays 8:45/7:45c Cartoon Network): Get a glimpse behind theMADness with MAD television show producers Kevin Shinick and Mark Marek. Room 6DE• Nikita (Fridays 9/8c The CW): Series stars Maggie Q, Shane West and Lyndsy Fonseca join executive producer Craig Silverstein. Room 6BCF6BCFFRIDAY, JULY 13• The Big Bang Theory (Thursdays 8/7c CBS): The Big Bang Theory gets even bigger —for the first time ever in Hall H! Series stars and executive producers will be on hand to answer burning questions (liftoff! handholding! was that really Mrs. Wolowitz?) and tease what’s to come in season six. Hall H• Cult: Things get scary on Friday the 13th with stars Matt Davis, Jessica Lucas, Alona Tal and Robert Knepper joining executive producer Rockne S. O’Bannon. Room 6BCF• 666 Park Avenue: Familiarize yourself with the luxurious, yet mysterious, New York City high-rise known as The Drake with series stars Terry O’Quinn, Rachael Taylor and Dave Annable joining executive producers David Wilcox (Fringe) and Matthew Miller (Chuck). Room 6BCF• Arrow: Chills turn to thrills in this session when Arrow cast members, including Stephen Amell, join producers for a special pilot screening and discussion.Ballroom 20• Childrens Hospital (returning in August, Adult Swim): Star/executive producer Rob Corddry and executive producer Jonathan Stern join stars Lake Bell, Erinn Hayes, Rob Huebel, Megan Mullally, Henry Winkler and Ken Marino. Hilton San Diego Bayfront, Indigo BallroomSATURDAY, JULY 14• The Vampire Diaries (Thursdays 8/7c The CW): Seductive stars Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder and more join executive producers/writers Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec. Ballroom 20• The Following: Series stars Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy join executive producers Kevin Williamson and Marcos Siega. Room 6BCF• Person of Interest (Thursdays 9/8c CBS): The stars and creators of this smash hit drama series discuss season one and give a sneak preview at what’s to come.Room 6BCF• Revolution: Series stars Billy Burke, Giancarlo Esposito and Tracy Spiridakos join creator/executive producer Eric Kripke and director/co-executive producer Jon Favreau. Room 6BCFSUNDAY, JULY 15• Supernatural (Wednesdays 9/8c The CW): Returning to Hall H are series stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, joined by recurring guest stars Misha Collins, Jim Beaver and Mark A. Sheppard, as well as new executive producer Jeremy Carver and consulting producer Ben Edlund. Hall H• Fringe (Fridays 9/8c FOX): Celebrating its upcoming fifth and final season,Fringe has its first-ever Sunday panel at Comic-Con … in Hall H for the first time. Series stars Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, Lance Reddick, Blair Brown, Jasika Nicole and John Noble join the show’s executive producers for the panel.Hall H• DC Nation (Saturdays 10:00–11:00 a.m. ET/PT Cartoon Network): Come get an exclusive sneak peek at what’s in store for this action-comedy packed programming block. Producers to be announced. Room 6BCF
We'll have to wait and see if The Big Bang Theory is the only TV show set for a panel in Hall H on Friday, or if this is just one of numerous series that will be moved to that location. Given the line for Ballroom 20 on Friday morning last year, I really hope we'll hear news of some of the other popular shows being set up in Hall H this time around. In the meantime, it sounds like Warner Bros. has a lot to offer TV fans at SDCC this year.
