We were given the amazing opportunity to release an exclusive clip from the upcoming thriller 30 Miles From Nowhere, starring Carrie Preston, Rob Benedict, Cathy Shim, Seana Kofoed, and William Smillie. The film was written by Seana Kofoed, produced by Kelly Demaret and directed by Caitlin Koller.
30 Miles From Nowehere tells the story of five friends (and one new girlfriend) who travel to the Wisconsin summer home they frequented together in their 20s, after the untimely death of their old college friend. When a storm moves in, effectively trapping them all in the woods and “30 miles from nowhere”, they “find themselves faced with the ultimate human dilemma, to kill or be killed, in order to make it to morning.”
One of the achievements they’ve already received is a ReFrame Stamp which represents supporting Women in Film.
With gender-balance and diversity as one of its core missions, 30 MILES FROM NOWHERE had a female director, writer, and producing team, and a diverse and 50% female cast and crew.
We got the chance to view the film, and you can see our review of it and how much we loved it here.30 Miles From Nowhere is set to be released on March 5, and you can pre-order it now on Amazon. Watch the exclusive clip below! Be warned: the clip is NSFW due to language.
Broadway’s Corey Cott (Bandstand, Newsies) has joined the cast of a new FOX series pilot called Filthy Rich. This series was written and will be directed by Tate Taylor, writer and director of The Help, and is based on the New Zealand series that shares the same name.
…a larger than life Southern Gothic dramedy which revolves around two strong, sharp women who will go to any length to protect their loved ones and get their due. When the wealthy CEO of the world’s largest Christian network dies in a plane crash, his wife and adult children are stunned to discover he has grown, illegitimate kids who are also in his will. When the steel azalea matriarch of the family tries to pay them to go away, these newly legitimized heirs have very different ideas and insist on not only staying in town, but becoming part of the family empire.
Cott will be playing Eric Monroe—husband, father of two, and Senior Vice President of Operations at the network created by his parents. Filthy Rich will also include Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City), Aubrey Dollar (Battle Creek), Benjamin Levy Aguilar (Black Spot), and Mark L. Young (The Comeback).
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, the next adventure in the Pokémon RPG universe has just been announced! In the games, you’ll get to explore a brand new region – the Galar region, which, according to Pokémon, “is filled with idyllic countryside and contemporary cities—vast plains and snow-covered mountains.”
In the game, you will get to choose one of three starter Pokémon, which were also announced today. They are Grookey, the chimp Pokémon, Scorbunny, the rabbit Pokémon, and Sobble, the water lizard Pokémon.
No official release date has been announced, only that they will be available in late 2019.
The OA might be Netflix’s best kept secret. With romance, horror, and a whole lot of science fiction, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, always wanting more. Season one was released on Netflix in December of 2016, and since then, only one teaser trailer was ever released about the possibility of a season two… Until now.
Netflix dropped an unexpected trailer for The OA Part II, and BOY does it look like a mystery and action-packed ride. All of the usual suspects are back, plus a few new faces that are guaranteed to only add intrigue to the story.
Check out the trailer below, and plan a day soon to rebinge season one – Part II comes out in just one month!
If you missed last week’s recap, check it out here.
This episode first takes us to the airport where a couple is standing in line. An airport security officer asks the couple to step out of line so he can help them at the next window. They thank the man and proceed. The officer asks what brings the couple (Angela and Russell Chambers) from Montreal to Washington D.C. The husband says it’s to visit her sister and it’s also their babymoon. Suddenly, the couple arrives at a very run down, abandoned area and they get out of the car. Her demeanor has totally changed as she happens upon an operating room where the doctor says she looks like she is about to pop and if she had any problems on the way. She says no but she just wants him to remove it. She goes into surgery, and the doctor removes what looks like a placenta from her stomach. He cuts it open and it’s not a baby, but bags of drugs. He opens a bag and what looks like crystal meth. The doctor calls a man named Sarkany and says “it’s a boy.”
Sarkany is on the other line saying that he will celebrate its safe arrival “like a proud papa.”
Reddington is in his cell with lookout Vontae Jones, who we met in episode four this season. He finds the phone from the pipe in his cell and calls Dembe. Dembe said he looked at Dr. Nikkila’s files and found an address to where something was sent, and a name — Michael Falkirk — an alias in London, who Raymond orders not to do anything to unless they know what he plans to do with the toxin. Raymond says he may be able to use the information about the toxin in exchange for his freedom. Suddenly, Vontae warns Red of guards on their way, and he hangs up on Dembe, telling him he needs to go. There is commotion by their cell as many men are throwing punches and fighting. Vontae is worried soon there will be a riot.
We hear Liz’s voice as she exclaims she found Marguerite Renard. Liz has pictures of her walking her dog in an upscale neighborhood, which a normal nurse practitioner wouldn’t be able to afford. Jennifer asks if Liz spoke to her, but Liz says that she probably wouldn’t talk to a random stranger, especially if she changed the identity of criminals. Jennifer asks what their next steps are. Liz says that since they can’t use the FBI but they need to ask her what she knows. Jennifer asks, “Like, kidnap?”
Liz explains that this woman was in the room when the Reddington we know, was not who he says he was before. “She knows who he was. She knows everything.”
Jennifer is clearly against the idea, but Liz persuades her because their plan is working and they just need answers to know the truth. Jennifer agrees and asks what she has to do, but Liz says she will take care of it — all she has to do is drive.
Reddington and the warden are having a chat, and the warden says that he has been accommodating Red, and he feels Red should now accommodate him. Red asks if it has to do with the fighting that transpired earlier and the warden says that two rival gangs are brewing a war. One gang is a motorcycle club called “The Cyclops.” He continues that one of their younger members, Oscar, did some gambling with someone from a group of southern inmates called the “Rock River Crew.” Apparently, the man from Rock River never paid his debt. Now, Cyclops has to hold up their reputation.
“If someone doesn’t mediate, more people are gonna die.” Reddington says that he is too busy preparing for trial and others respect him because he minds his own business. The warden says that if Red isn’t gonna help, as he picks up the classical music record, that he isn’t gonna get and he slams it against the jail cell.
In Baltimore, Liz and Jennifer are in the car watching Renard walk her dog. Liz asks if Jennifer is okay and she states she will be when this is over. Liz gets out and asks Renard for directions and as Renard begins giving the directions, Liz pulls her gun and tells Renard to get into the car. She yells for Jennifer to drive when a car stops them in their tracks. A man with a gun tells them to get out of the car and he breaks the window and grabs Jennifer. Another man grabs Liz and throws her to the ground. Renard gets out and gets into the other car as Liz is being choked and she shoots the man. The car drives off with Jennifer and Renard.
Liz walks up to an apartment, with blood on her hands and knocks. It’s Ressler and she says that she is in trouble and needs to show him something outside. Hannah, Ressler’s associate walks up to the door to see Liz standing with blood on her hands. Ressler tries to explain and he introduces Liz as his partner. Liz says it might be a while and Ressler explains he will grab his coat. As Ressler and Keen leave, Hannah tells him to be careful. As they are walking down the hall, Ressler asks what’s going on. Keen says she has a stolen van downstairs, with a dead body inside.
Ressler and Keen are inside the stolen van as Keen is explaining everything. Reddington isn’t who he says he is and he is an impostor. Ressler said that since she turned him in, he is in jail and facing the death penalty. She said that if she had gone to the FBI, then Red would’ve found out about Jennifer and Liz knowing the truth. Ressler asks how she is sure that he doesn’t already know and Liz whispers that all she knows for sure, is that he will do anything to keep people from finding out the truth. Liz reminds Ressler of Hans Koehler, the plastic surgeon. Liz tells him that Koehler is the one that changed the imposter into Reddington. Ressler remembers Red giving them the files of Koehler’s patients, but Liz tells him, “Yes. Every file except his.”
Ressler asks how the dead guy in the back of the van is connected and Liz fills him in on finding the nurse, and getting jumped by two armed guards, one who took Jennifer, and the other one who is dead. Ressler connects the dots which include, Tom’s death, the bag of bones, Kaplan’s suicide, and Liz says in the process to find the truth, she lost her sister. Ressler says that they will find her. Ressler gets out of the car and Liz asks her how they are going to find her sister. Ressler gets a fingerprint off the car and says that they will do what they always do, find evidence.
Ressler and Keen scan the fingerprint through the system to see what they get for matches. Liz exclaims that she tracked her sister’s phone and she is on a plane. Her phone stopped tracking as they got higher altitude heading over Vermont. Ressler is glad that it sounds like she is still alive. Keen is tracking every private plane that has left some specific areas in the last few hours. Ressler asks about Renard saying that he wonders if Reddington had her guarded. Liz answers and says that she doesn’t think it was Reddington. Ressler gets a match on the fingerprint matching it to a man named Tristan, a Hungarian that works for Marko Jankowics, our Blacklister. Marko is Hungarian and there was a joint DEA Taskforce dedicated to tracking down Jankowics. He moves LSD because in order to make the drug, he needs a special kind of fungus, which he can come by more easily in Hungary. Marko moves LSD from Montreal to the U.S. He is also called Sarkany, a name from Hungarian folklore about a multi-headed dragon.
Jankowics walks into a room and Jennifer is sitting, tied to the chair. Marko asks Jennifer questions about who she is and who she works for. She gives him her name but she is hysterical and scared. He has her phone and says it should give him plenty of information about who she is. She begs and pleads with him that she doesn’t know anything about him as he leaves the room with some guards.
Ressler brings information for what they had about Marko. They discover that Marguerite Renard is Marko’s girlfriend which explains why she had guards and why she could afford her penthouse. Ressler says that the plane must be headed to Montreal since that’s where Jankowics has ties. The plane has most likely crossed the border and could be anywhere now. Keen says that she needs to call it in and talk to Cooper. Ressler says that that’s what she should’ve done from the beginning but they’re way past that now. Ressler suggests that she goes should go to Reddington since Jennifer is his daughter, too. He says that Reddington runs a criminal empire and if anyone can find Jennifer, it’s him. Liz says that she can’t lie, but Ressler reminds her of what she has been doing for months and that Red cares about her. He says if Keen asks for help, Red will do anything.
A guard wakes up Reddington and tells him he has a visitor. Liz’s seen sitting at a table as Red is brought into the room. Red is surprised to see her at three in the morning, and he tells her the good dream he was having. Liz tells him that she needs his help. Red asks her what is going on. “It’s Jennifer. She’s been taken.”
Liz explains to Red that Jennifer was kidnapped by guards working for Marko. Red is astonished to know that Jennifer and Liz were still in contact. Liz tells him that they weren’t and she hadn’t heard from Jennifer in months. She says that Jennifer called her the night before, crying, saying that she was on the run and scared. Red asks if she was running from Sarkany. Liz leans forward and asks if he knows him. Red asks about Jennifer’s drug use and Liz states that all she knows is that Jennifer was stranded at Federal Hill in Baltimore. Liz continues that before Jennifer could thank her for picking her before a SUV blocked her car. She shot one guard and the other took Jennifer before she could save her. Liz tells Red about the print she got off the car from the dead guard and his fingerprint shows that he works for Jankowics. Red seems suspicious and asks what she isn’t telling him. She says that what she told him is all she knows. Red says that Sarkany distributes LSD and is in Europe, even if Jennifer was using, it wouldn’t be worth Sarkany’s time. Liz persists that she doesn’t know anymore. He says that he usually minds his business when it comes to drugs but other inmates do not share his view. He says he will ask around. Liz asks if they might know where to find him or how to contact him and he says that he hopes so for Jennifer’s sake. He also is having a bit of a tough time with the warden so this might be what he needs.
A guard escorts the warden to Red’s cell where Red tells him, “I’ve decided our interests have aligned.” The warden seems satisfied and Red continues. Red asks for Oscar Sandoval to meet him in the mess hall, which is fairly early since Liz just woke Red up a short while ago.
Oscar is seen sitting and as Red walks up, Oscar asks if their meeting is about the money. Red says that it is somewhat the reason for their meeting. Oscar explains that he doesn’t want to kill Salinas because if he does, he will never get out. He just wants to do his time and then have a life, a family. Red asks if Oscar knows who he is. “Everyone knows.”
Red says that they can help each other. Red has a problem and if Oscar helps him with his, he will take care of Salinas. Red gives him the information that leads to Federal Hill in Baltimore. He says that they should be able to follow the lead from there.
Back to Jankowics and Jennifer, she looks slightly beaten up. He tells her that he found her last contact to Elizabeth Keen, an FBI agent. Jennifer explains that Keen is her sister and that their father is Raymond Reddington. Jankowics states that Raymond is in jail and that the authorities aren’t looking for him anymore. She tells him that her and Liz were looking for information about who he was, before Renard changed his identity. This angers Marko as he tells her to stop lying, his girlfriend wouldn’t do that. Jennifer says that it’s true and Renard must have been lying to him. He punches her and she yells out in pain.
Oscar shows up to Red’s cell and tells him that Sarkany owns a place in Baltimore, but doesn’t live there. Red asks who does and Oscar says that his girlfriend does. Some French lady, really fancy name, and he is finally able to spit out the name Margeurite Renard. Red pauses after the name is spoken. Red asks what else he knows, but Oscar wants to make sure that after he solves Red’s problem, that Red will solve Oscar’s. “Because based on what you’ve already told me, I’m deeper in your debt than you could ever be in mine.”
In London, Dembe is seen breaking into a house by taking out the glass in a window and he finds a desk with a computer and files laying on it. He looks through them and then takes a picture of the files. All of a sudden, a man in a black hoodie is seen in the reflection of the computer screen. A shot is fired at the computer and Dembe and the man fight. The man has Dembe on the ground but Dembe gets out his knife and stabs the man in the side. The man hobbles away and makes a getaway from the window Dembe came in. Dembe grabs his gun and follows the man’s trail, watching him out the window crossing the street and getting away.
Dembe is on a plane and is on the phone with Raymond. He found a Blackchain wallet ID and sent it to Tadashi who accessed the account. Five million dollars was sent to Axion Cryptosolutions. Dembe asks Red if he wants him to look into the company. Red says that he has something more urgent for him to address. “Elizabeth knows.”
He says that she knows he was once a different person but doesn’t know who and that Dembe needs to get to Renard before she does. Dembe ponders how she even found out about Renard but Red says he doesn’t know and they don’t have time to find out. After Red finds out how to locate Renard, he is also going to tell Elizabeth. Red tells Dembe that Jennifer was taken possibly the same place that Renard is located and it may be the only way to save Jennifer. “You’re doing the right thing,” says Dembe. Red says while that may be true, Dembe needs to get to Renard before he regrets it.
James Spader in ‘The Blacklist.’ Image courtesy of NBC.com.
Red tells Liz that the way to find Marko is through a woman named Alexandra Ivers. She is a courier and she is arriving at the airport to deliver product.
Liz and Ressler are at the airport as Ivers is seen walking. They try to get her attention but she walks swiftly before she falls. It makes a scene but Ressler shows his badge and says that they need to ask her some questions but try to make sure her and her “baby” are okay. They arrest her and take her to Ressler’s apartment and zip tie her hands. Keen asks about Marko and where to find him as Ressler’s girlfriend walks in the door. Ressler tries to explain that it’s for work as Keen is still interrogating Ivers. Ivers tries to maintain her alias but Liz knows better. Liz tells her that they have her sister Jennifer. Liz finds her phone and takes a picture of her and finds a number saved on speed dial. Hannah tells Ressler to call her when he is done and she leaves the apartment, upset. Liz shows the number to Ressler and says that if Marko trusts Ivers for making deals, he might be willing to trade Ivers for Jennifer. Keen tries to reassure Ressler that Hannah will be okay but he disagrees.
Marguerite is brought into the room where Jennifer is being held and she is being escorted by a guard. She arrives and asks Marko what is going on and ask about Jennifer. Marko asks her if she ever worked for Hans Koehler, she hesitates and says yes. Marko seems disappointed as she says it was a lifetime ago. Jennifer chimes in that she must know Reddington and who he was before. Renard asks how Jennifer found her and Marko says that she didn’t, the FBI did. A few seconds later, Marko gets a call from Alexandra. He says that Marguerite better hope the FBI didn’t get her as well. After Marko leaves to take his call, Renard tells Jennifer that she never talked to Reddington or the woman who arranged the surgery, a Russian woman. Jennifer asks if that woman was Katarina Rostova. Renard doesn’t say anything as Jennifer asks again and again.
Marko answers the phone but Ressler says that she can’t come to the phone. He tells Marko that he took a friend he has Alexandra. Simultaneously as the phone call continues, Alexandra is burning up. Liz says that they need to get her to the hospital because she may be in labor. Alexandra tells her that there is no baby. She tells Liz that when she fell at the airport, the bag inside her must have ruptured, so she is overdosing. Ressler is talking to Marko about a meeting place but he needs to know that Jennifer is alive. Marko assures him that she is as Liz yells for Ressler. Liz tells him that he needs to cut her open and grab out the plastic bladder of drugs before she dies. She begins puking as Ressler cuts open the stitches and pulls it out. Unfortunately, she doesn’t make it as Liz gets 911 on the phone.
In the prison, Vontae brings a man to Reddington who is the big boss of Rock River. Reddington tells him that he needs the war between them and the motorcycle gang to stop. The man says that it has nothing to do with Reddingon. Red says that Vontae said he was a reasonable man and not making his associate pay “a legitimate debt is confounding.” He tells the man to have his associate pay the debt. The man looks at Reddington and thinks but finally says, “I’ll see what I can do.”
Liz and Ressler are in the stolen van with Alexandra’s dead body as Ressler says there was nothing more they could do. Liz says that this monster, who used this poor woman, has her sister. Ressler reassures her that they have 50 million dollars of his product and that they will get Jennifer back. Liz asks about Hannah and how serious his relationship is to her since she has a key to his apartment. He says that not everything is as it may seem and he gives the example that he chased Reddington for ten years, not knowing he was an imposter the whole time. Liz says that she can relate because she thought Tom (her deceased husband) was just a school teacher and that Reddington was her father. Ressler tells Liz that Hannah is an actor from Alter Ego that he paid to be his girlfriend and take to his cousins wedding. As soon as they end that conversation, Marko pulls up.
Megan Boone, Diego Klattenhoff, and Arnold Vosloo in ‘The Blacklist.’ Image courtesy of NBC.com.
Marko steps out saying that he usually avoids the FBI but it looks as though they don’t want the FBI knowing about their meeting. They ask about Jennifer and he orders his guards to bring her out of the car. Marko asks to see Alexandra but Liz explains her bag ruptured in her stomach and they tried saving her. He asks about his product and Ressler says he will get it as soon as he hands over Jennifer. He agrees and Liz runs up to Jennifer, putting her in the car. Jankowics orders his men to grab Alexandra’s body and put it in the car. Ressler grabs the drugs and hides his gun behind it. Marko says that in case they decide to tell the FBI, he can’t let that happen so he grabs his gun and prepares to shoot but Ressler shoots first. Keen and Ressler kill the rest of the associates.
Back at the jail, everyone is sitting in the mess hall when Oscar is stabbed. Reddington walks in and asks what he has done. Red explained that he had it handled and the man was going to pay. The gang member explains that he couldn’t get it done so they took him out because he brought disrespect. Vontae exclaims, “This is nuts.”
As the gang member warns Vontae, Raymond gives him a warning of his own. “In fact, I’d keep all three of your eyes open. You never know when you’re going to run into a hero with a flaming stick.” The inmates are escorted out of the mess hall.
Ressler and Keen put the bodies in the trunk with the drugs and closes the trunk. Liz goes to talk to Jennifer and Jennifer says that she talked to Marguerite Renard. She continues that Renard never talked to Reddington but knows a Russian woman who set up the surgery. Liz asks if it was Katarina but Jennifer says that Renard couldn’t confirm. Renard knows more than she is saying and Jennifer says that Liz needs to get to her, and she knows how.
Ressler, Keen, and Jennifer arrive at the mansion where Jennifer was held but Renard is still. There was guards but they might have heard the word about Jankowics so they split. Keen says that once they do this, it will all be over and they will know the truth. Ressler asks where Renard is and Jennifer said she is in a back bedroom. Jennifer thanks Ressler for saving her and he says not to thank him yet. Ressler and Keen get out of the car and head inside. Ressler is seen looking but we hear Liz call him and he comes running. He walks in to Liz standing in the bedroom, and Renard is no where to be found.
Reddington is walking to his cell as the warden greets him. The warden says that since he accommodated him, he will accommodate Red. Red sees his cell and hears classical music playing as his cell has been upgraded with new accessories. Raymond tells him that a man is still dead, the man he was trying to save and the warden tells him that he talked to Anton, the leader of the Rock River to have him change his mind. “You lost the battle, you stopped the war. In my book, that’s a win.”
Red says that he could prosecute Oscar’s killer but the warden says he is already doing life without parole. Red thanks him for his new cell. Before the warden leaves, he asks if Red needs anything else. Red wants a job in the kitchen and the warden says it will be done.
Liz and Jennifer are talking in Liz’s apartment and she says that without Marko, Renard won’t have the resources to run so they will be able to find her again. Jennifer disagrees and says that she can’t do this anymore. She is afraid of what Reddington is turning her into and that’s why she spent her life avoiding him. Liz says that they are so close to finding it but Jennifer asks what that is. Liz says she knows how Jennifer feels, but Jennifer persists. She asks where Jennifer will go and she says she has a friend in Long Island where it’s peaceful. She apologizes to Liz and they hug. “This will end. And when it does, I’ll find you.”
Hannah and Donald are seen sitting at a restaurant where she explains that she never should’ve gotten involved with a client. Ressler wants to tell her but he can’t. She says that she knows all about secrets from her job working for Alter Ego but she can’t deal with them in her personal life. She takes off the key to his apartment from her keychain, sets it on the table, and leaves.
Keen and Ressler are seen chatting about their eventful weekend where Jennifer left her and Hannah left him. Suddenly, Aram walks in, turns on the lights and tells them they got their early. He comes over to have a bagel and wants to tell them a story about his weekend.
Dembe is talking to Reddington on the phone and he tells Red that he has Renard. Red asks if she said anything and Dembe says that she told Jennifer that Katarina arranged the procedure. Dembe says that is the only thing she said but Raymond says it’s already way too much. Since she mentioned Katarina, Liz will stop at nothing to find Renard. He tells Dembe that he knows what needs to be done and he hangs up with Dembe. Dembe walks over to Marguerite to pet her dog and asks her if she has ever been to Scotland. He says its a beautiful place to be and she’s never been.
Reddington is in the kitchen watching for Oscar’s killer. He decides that he needs to wipe down the tables. As he walks out with the bucket and the rag, under the rag is a thermometer, a sharp one that is used for turkeys. In slow motion, we see Red walk right by the killer, stabbing him in the chest and continuing on to clean the tables. There is commotion as the killer hits the floor and others gather around him but Red continues to mind his business. The camera closes in to the thermometer in the man’s chest and it says “well done.”
The second half of this two part finale will be coming soon so stay tuned!
The wildly popular film Alien will be celebrating it’s 40th anniversary, and will be released on 4K Ultra HD on April 23! A limited edition 4K UHD™ steelbook of ALIEN 40thAnniversaryEdition will also be available exclusively at Best Buy.
In the film that birthed the wildly successful ALIEN franchise, the crew of the deep space tug Nostromo awaken from stasis during a voyage home to Earth when their ship’s computer detects what is believed to be an alien distress signal coming from the desolate nearby moon, LV-426. While investigating, one of the crew, Kane (John Hurt), is attacked by an alien creature that latches to his face and he is rushed back to the Nostromo to receive medical treatment. Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), the ship’s warrant officer, advises against Kane’s return due to quarantine regulations – but her orders are ignored by Ash (Ian Holm), bringing the Nostromo under threat from a mysterious, extraterrestrial apex predator with violent and lethal survival instincts.
The film was restored in 4K in 2018 by 20th Century Fox at Company 3/Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, supervised by Ridley Scott and Pam Dery, with the 4K scans were done at EFilm.
ALIEN 40th Anniversary Bonus Features:
1979 Theatrical Version
2003 Director’s Cut
2003 Audio Commentary by Ridley Scott and the Cast & Crew
1999 Audio Commentary by Ridley Scott (1979 Theatrical Version Only)
Final Theatrical Isolated Score – Dolby Digital 5.1 (1979 Theatrical Version Only)
Composer’s Original Isolated Score – Dolby Digital 5.1 (1979 Theatrical Version Only)
Deleted Scenes
Make sure to check it out when it releases on April 23!
Coming off of 4 Oscar wins for Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen with Adam Lambert have announced a documentary about their time working together. Entitled The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story, this documentary will premiere on ABC on April 29, 2019, ahead of a North American tour.
Queen first performed with Lambert on American Idol in 2009, and officially teamed up with him in 2012. The Show Must Go On will document their time together, starting with Lambert’s American Idol audition. The Show Must Go On will also provide interviews with the band and people close to them.
Wanderlust Unknown’ album cover. Artwork by Seattle artist Ten Hundred. Courtesy of Blake Lewis’ Twitter.
Blake Lewis’ new album, Wanderlust Unknown, is set to be released May 10th. This is his fourth full length album and the first time he is producing it himself.
According to Blake, Wanderlust Unknown is a “mixture of ClassicJazz, Hiphop & with a little bit of Soul.” You can pre-order the album on Indiegogo and get other perks such as vinyl, apparel, beatbox Skype lessons, all access pass, and even an acoustic concert in California! This campaign will help the album get mixed professionally. You can check out the Indiegogo campaign here.
MegaCon Orlando has been rolling out the guests, and have announced some more big names to their lineup!
They’ve already announced guests such as Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Tom Wilson, David Harbour, Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, and Michael Rosenbaum.
Now, they’ve also announced that Zachary Levi, Ben McKenzie, Rose McIver, Tyler Hoechlin, The Boy Meets World cast (Ben Savage, Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle and Rider Strong) will be attending! Voice actors such as Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, Linda Larkin, Steve Weinger, and Patricia Summersett have also been announced.
This is one of the best lineups that MegaCon has ever had, and they’re not done announcing guests! Stay tuned for more guest announcements – this is one convention you definitely do not want to miss!
For more information on guests, tickets and more, visit MegaConOrlando.com
The recent Supernatural convention in Seattle, WA is definitely one for the history books. While Thursday and Friday’s events remained as originally scheduled, Saturday and Sunday’s activities unfortunately were canceled due to extreme weather for the area. This led to some interesting activities and panels that will likely never be seen at another Supernatural convention again. Let me take you through this crazy weekend from the perspective as someone attending.
Thursday, as usual, is a day that most people tend to forget about, yet it is actually one of my favorites. This is the day when most people arrive in the city where the convention is being held; you get to see so many of your friends that you rarely get to see and hug in person, and if there is time, hopefully go exploring around the host city. Most of the places where conventions are located are fun and interesting, but those attending, unfortunately, hardly ever get to see much of what the city has to offer since the convention is so packed full of activities. I greatly enjoy getting to spend a small chunk of time going on a little adventure – like looking out over the bay on the Seattle Ferris Wheel or visiting the Pike Place Market.
Pre-registration gives attendees the chance to get their wristbands and lanyards, verify PDF tickets as needed, and purchase other photo ops or autographs not sold out. The chance to do this early before the rest of the con-crowd arrives makes the entire registration process smoother and less stressful. The Vendor’s Room – my favorite place to hang out during a convention – is open and ready for people to take part in all of the incredible forms of art (paintings, jewelry, clothing, support pillows, books, and more) that this talented fandom is capable of. Thursday night also includes the PJ Party with Kim Rhodes and Briana Buckmaster, which is ALWAYS a ton of fun and belly laughs. Anyone who has ever been to a PJ Party will tell you that it is the most fun event of the entire convention.
The 300th episode of Supernatural aired on the Thursday of the Seattle convention. Creation Entertainment was kind enough to have a special airing of the show in the theater for fans. It was especially special to have the opportunity to watch such an important episode with fellow fans who love this crazy show as much as I do. We all were able to yell, hoot and holler, laugh, and sob uncontrollably together at the spectacular performances on the screen. I was extremely grateful for the chance to be able to share this moment with my fandom friends.
Friday’s events started as they always do, with Louden Swain rocking it out on stage with Richard Speight, Jr. playing bass in place of Mike Borja who unfortunately was unable to attend the convention. Rich and Rob Benedict talked about how amazing ‘Friday People’ are during the opening monologue with the two jokesters teasing about the incoming snow storm potentially trapping all the ‘Friday People’ there and no one else able to make it to the convention. Little did they know, their prediction would come true.
The first panel was a new one that included Rachel Miner, Alaina Huffman, and Chad Lindberg. This Q&A was fun and interesting because none of their characters had ever interacted on the show before and each person had very unique points of view on the questions asked. Next, while some meet and greets and photo ops were happening, Jason Manns hosted the Yes/No Trivia Game for the first time. An entertaining game ensued with Jason’s hard questions actually being easy and the easy questions stumping a large chunk of players. Jason also had the panel following intermission where he played songs while answering questions in what he has dubbed a ‘quoncert.’ My favorite was a mash-up of Jason’s cover of “Kiss” mixed with “All About That Bass.” Station Breaks, the band made up of Jason, Rob Benedict, and Billy Moran, started and ended the panel with Jason singing songs that the fans all love to hear.
After another brief intermission, Kim Rhodes and Briana Buckmaster took the stage. Energetic, hysterical, and insightful as these two always are, the fan favorites helped kick off the weekend with a bundle of laughs. After them, Jim Beaver was last to talk for the day in what is a rare Creation convention appearance.
Just because the panels were done for the day, does not mean that the rest of the activities were over – the best part of Friday at a convention was still to come – Karaoke! As we waited for Karaoke to start, con-goers continued with autographs and photo ops. Some people lined up to get front row for Karaoke, others browsed the Vendor’s Room, and a few went to play in the snow that had begun falling in the early afternoon.
With the Seattle convention being the first time that Karaoke was being hosted by only Matt Cohen instead of both Matt and Rich, we were all very excited that the evening was as much of a blast as it has always been. Chad Lindberg, Alaina Huffman, and Jim Beaver all came out to sing and dance. Jim, stoic as ever, boogied down for a few songs before saying his goodbyes. Alaina was a dancing queen beautifully twirling on stage. And Chad was a full-on rockstar with the best air guitar seen the entire night.
The vast majority of those taking the stage were all phenomenal performers. Even if they were not best singers, they brought such passion and energy to the stage that it was hard to not be impressed. A few special individuals were so spectacularly talented that everyone’s jaw was on the ground and phone flashlights were in the air praising and encouraging them to continue being as amazing as they could be. Members of the Nerds and Beyond staff, Hailee, Emily, and Illy, went on stage together with friend, Steph, to rock out to the classic one-hit wonder “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba.
Overall, it was the perfect end to a fantastic Friday and wonderful start to what was going to be an incredible convention weekend…. until Mother Nature decided otherwise.
Saturday
Saturday morning started with quite a bit of confusion and rumors. Many attendees were stuck or unable to make it to the convention, and rumors were flying that the guests would be unable to attend the day’s scheduled events as well. With fans ready and waiting to start the day with meet and greets and others beginning to file into the theater, Creation staff made the announcement that for the moment everything was paused while they tried to determine how to proceed after the state of Washington had declared a State of Emergency due to the snowstorm. Soon, Creation team leaders came to inform everyone that the scheduled events for Saturday had been canceled due to weather in order to maintain everyone’s safety. There would be a “free day” with panels by Rachel Miner, Megan Padalecki, and Chris Schmelke, all who were already at the hotel and the Vendor’s Room would remain open all day.
Courtesy of Creation Entertainment
As expected, everyone was devastated that all of their hopes and plans for the convention had come crashing down. Both staff and those attending were scrambling to form a plan to rescue the day. A new Snow Day schedule was released which included the new panels, more trivia, music videos, costume contest, and an additional screening of the 300th episode.
Though subdued, the atmosphere of the convention continued to be positive even after the news came that Sunday would be canceled as well. Fans were running around trying to figure out how we can make this now one of a kind convention even more special, but in a better way. The panels were very relaxed with people able to sit anywhere in the theater and the microphone being passed around instead of getting up to ask questions. Rachel started the morning off by declaring the convention now be known as “RachelCon.” Questions ranged from long discussions about Dungeons and Dragons to how to better achieve inclusivity in our society for anyone deemed ‘other’ with Rachel telling everyone that we are all “perfectly imperfect.”
Close to one-thirty in the afternoon, fans truly showed how we earned the name #SPNfamily. At every convention, Louden Swain will come play a few songs in the Vendor’s Room in what has become known as the Vendor’s Room Jam. A small group of fans decided that we would have our own Vendor’s Jam and grabbed a guitar, practiced the songs, and got ready to play. It started with the small group playing an older Louden Swain song, “Fifteen,” and then moved into a crowd favorite, “Like the Heart Goes.” Near the end of the second song, the crowd around the ones playing parted and Billy Moran, lead guitarist of the band, ran up with his guitar and joined in! Everyone was so shocked and excited because Billy was supposed to be stuck like all of the other guests. When the song finished, Billy asked what we had already done, surprised when told the fans had pulled out such an old song, and asked what we wanted to do next. Encouraging the group who had started the jam session to continue playing and singing with him, we moved into “Poptart Heart,” and people whipped out their kazoos to end with “Medicated.” The Vendor’s Room Jam, already an intimate time between the band and fans, morphed into this incredibly special moment of everyone joining together to have fun and be part of this family together.
Soon after the impromptu Vendor’s Jam, Misha Collins sent out a tweet saying that he apologized for being unable to make it to the convention, but he sent something to those that were there to “help keep [us] warm.” And when we walked into the theater, we were greeted with 70 Domino’s pizzas (including ones with pineapple) waiting for us with a sign saying, “Courtesy of Misha Collins.” The pizza had the intended effect of keeping us warm, because all of our hearts filled with gratitude for the fandom’s angel and our forever pizza man, Misha.
As we all lined up to get our pizza and settle in for the panel with photographer, Chris Schmelke, an announcement was made. Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki had sent a video to the fans apologizing for the convention being canceled. They said that they missed us and were looking forward to talking to everyone about the 300th episode, but sadly, the weather could not be controlled and this was “an act of Chuck.” Jensen summed it all up perfectly by closing out the video, “When in doubt, blame Benedict.”
Chris’s panel was particularly entertaining because not only is Chris extremely talented and fun to listen to, but Billy Moran joined him onstage. A Xbox was set up and while Chris talked and answered questions, Billy played a game called “Starwahl” against members of the audience as the controller was passed around. At random moments, you could hear people in the crowd yell out oohs and ahs in response to the video game on the screen, and Chris would not even pause in what he was saying, rolling along with whatever was happening in the background. It was the most relaxed and interactive panel that I have ever been to.
With the end of Chris’s panel, came the end of the convention for most people. Some hung around until the Vendor’s Room closed, a few caught the second showing of the 300th episode, and a very small group remained for an impromptu karaoke party. Throughout the day, the majority of fans and all of Creation staff managed to keep calm and make the most of a terrible situation. It continued to feel supportive and exciting and inclusive despite most of the guests being unable to join in the activities. A few fans put it best when describing their experiences at the convention:
Alana: Even though ‘Supernatural’ Seattle ended the way it did, I’m grateful for the experience. It honestly gave me a greater appreciation for my ‘Supernatural’ family. Seeing cast members, Creation staff and fans band together to try and make the most out of a tough situation was inspiring. I saw so many acts of kindness both in person and online. Everyone was doing their best to take care of each other, and that was beautiful to see.
Steph: While what happened was super disappointing, I was really proud of the way fans handled it in stride, turning the weekend into an impromptu Seattle vacation. I saw lots of groups of people exploring the area, seeing the sights, and enjoying as much as we could given the circumstances. I was also extremely impressed with the way Creation handled everything. It was obvious that they were just as disappointed and even as stressed as the guests, but they handled everything so professionally and with care. They did everything they possibly could to make the situation better, and it gave me more confidence about going to cons in the future. Also… it was cold.
Creation staff managed to keep everyone safe and as happy as possible with the situation they were given. We could not have asked for anything better than the way that they have handled the disappointment from fans and the hassles of refunding tickets. Stephanie Dizon, VP of Talent and Production at Creation, and a well-known face at all Supernatural conventions was kind enough to share her thoughts on the history-making event:
It was an unfortunate situation that no one could control and Seattle isn’t equipped to deal with the snow. In my 20 years of event producing experience, I’ve never had a situation like this. I’m glad everyone is safe. I’m most proud of the fans who took the news so well, both online and in person. It was really hard delivering the bad news, but the fans were so supportive and understanding. Since we were all stuck there together, we decided to create a day of alternative programming, which included a Q&A with Megan Padalecki, Q&A with Chris Schmelke and a Round 2 of Karaoke by popular request.
Many of the guests who were supposed to attend, sent out apologies on their social media accounts asking everyone to be safe and promising to make up for missing out on what would have been a wonderful convention.
Though we ended up being ‘con-blocked’ and snowed in, the fans, staff, and guests all worked together to make this event as amazing as possible with the extenuating circumstances. Supernatural Seattle is definitely one that those who were there will continue to talk about, and we will never forget to always ‘Blame Benedict.’
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
