DC con will always remind me of my friend Krista Martin. Last year, it was her last con, and the actors and the rest of us tried to make it as special as humanly possible. I hope we did; I think we did. But being back in that same hotel brought back a lot of memories for those of us who were her friends, so the con had an extra emotional edge to it. I’m often emotional at Supernatural conventions, but this one, more than usual. It’s also one of my “local” cons, so I got to drive instead of fly, yay! I picked up my friend Rita and we drove down together, stopping for lunch along the way and getting there just as rush hour hit – but we made it in one piece! (I am not a big fan of driving on crowded highways at rush hour, but oh the things we do for the show we love.)
I was on my own in the vendor room for a lot of the weekend, so I wasn’t able to catch too many panels, but I was able to see some of Alaina Huffman on Friday. I’ve really enjoyed my interview chats with her, and I think she did an amazing job with Abaddon, so I was glad I caught some. I love her sense of style!
Alaina: I don’t get recognized as much as some of my friends. At Comic Con my Supernatural friends all got recognized more. Then when they asked one fan who their favorite was, they said Abaddon!
What would she give Abaddon as a gift?
Alaina: A whip. For me too, we’re not that different…
Let’s hope that’s at least partly not true…
Alaina said she’s still pursuing directing, saying she’s forging her own path.
A fan asked if she would shave her head for a role.
Alaina: Depends on the paycheck!
Smart answer.
I also had to watch some of Adam Rose and Matt Cohen’s panel. The two of them together are both sweet and hilarious, and so very entertaining! It’s a great example of actors who didn’t even work together on the show, but are just a great duo in person. When I came in, they were talking about the time Adam did a TikTok with Jensen Ackles wearing the famous blue cardigan.
Matt: Jensen put on the blue cardigan and it literally had an orgasm.
Adam: I made a mistake letting someone so good looking put it on…
Matt was still recovering from the infamous Adam slamming his finger in a car door incident, but that didn’t stop him from pretending to be one of the characters in the animated ‘Cars’.
Adam: I feel like your finger injury is impacting your brain…
I am a big fan of General Hospital (since my literal childhood) so I was happy to hear Matt answer a question about being on GH. He said when he had to play a neurosurgeon, he had to say lots of big words in his dialogue – so he wrote them on his hand!
I can’t remember the story but this is Matt telling it and Adam playing a pregnant Rihanna.
I told you their panels were hilarious!
Both Adam and Matt have been doing karaoke on Fridays, and I love having them there – they add so much enthusiasm. Adam promised to sing his awesome version of Son Of A Bitch with Matt singing backup (and yes, they did!)
A fan asked Adam, what’s it like living in the shadow of the blue cardigan?
Adam: Characters are always more famous – and I’m okay with that!
Matt: My life is full of unhinged moments. No hinges found!
Matt is truly one of my favorite people. You can read about his unhinged life in the chapter he wrote in Family Don’t End With Blood – he’s pretty special. In fact, stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Matt in which he breaks the news about some really exciting projects coming up that involve the Supernatural cast!
Lisa Berry also did a panel that I caught some of. Someone asked about her audition.
Lisa: Jensen directed me in my audition, so I left saying “I totally worked with Jensen Ackles!”
(Lisa was a passionate Supernatural fan even before she got the job)
They asked her if she could sing and she said yes, then they told her the song (O Death) and she was like OMG I watch the show, I know this song!!!
Lisa: I loved Supernatural, but I didn’t know there were conventions. I was like oh wow, there are other people who love it too!
She talked about the importance of representation, and how it has to be all kinds of roles.
Lisa: We need people representing in all kinds of different roles, not just super competent but a mess or whatever.
A fan asked what she’d take from her character.
Lisa: Something I’d take from Billie is their stillness. It’s such a powerful energy to sit in.
On what she’s doing now and why:
Lisa: In acting roles, I knew how to go deep, but not always how to get out. Now acting and being a coach, I feel like I’m living my life’s purpose.
That night I had a great dinner at the outdoor food court across from the hotel, which was so lovely, with some good friends. Yummy Thai food and a beautiful night! Then it was time for karaoke.
The theme was Circus and I have to say Liz and Kristen went ALL out for this one – the stage was completely decorated and all the actors had their circus best on, most of them wild animals and Lisa and DJ Qualls as ringmasters. Lots of fans dressed up too, which added to the fun.
Samantha Smith, Alaina Huffman, Matt Cohen and Adam Rose all made fierce (okay, adorable) wild animals.
Adam and Matt sang Sonofabitch as promised!
Friday night Creation decided to heat up social media by having Jared and Jensen model their new Creation tees and hoodies, which we all appreciated greatly. Putting them here so we can all appreciate them all over again.
Saturday I saw some of the R2M panel, one of the traditional ones from way back – Richard Speight Jr, Rob Benedict and Matt Cohen.
Rob and Rich said they would love to do a live podcast of SPN Then and Now at a con, which I think all of us would love too.
I don’t know what this was about, but here’s Matt attempting to answer the “what he wants to see a man do with a log” question…
As you do.
It was Rob’s birthday con, so we celebrated all weekend long. Like, repeatedly.
Poor Rob could not escape all the adoration.
All three were very excited that Red Lobster is back. Not a fan of shrimp fest though apparently. They referred to it as showing “the grisly side of humanity”.
Richard was also nostalgic for record stores. (Understandable).
Some questions were hard – and odd. The astronaut or caveman one was the latter. Here’s Rob struggling with his answer.
Richard: If you combine them, would it be assman??
Matt had some good advice from his own life experience.
Matt: If there’s an open door, walk through it. And don’t be afraid to walk back out again.
The ladies panel began with – what else? – a happy birthday song for Rob!
It’s always great to have so many of the ladies of SPN with us – Lisa, Alaina, Samantha, Kim and Briana!
They were thoughtful about the characters they’ve played.
Alaina: The character, the actor and the writer are intertwined, so the character becomes more like the actor over time.
Kim said she’d like a holiday where you have to find someone different from you and just listen. Wouldn’t that be interesting?!
Sam: I’d like a holiday to celebrate tiaras. (Valid)
Alaina said that she once asked her agent about doing Hallmark roles.
The agent replied, “you’re not….soft…”
They were enjoying DC. Sam said she went to the Spy Museum while she was there.
Kim as always had some words of wisdom.
Kim: Privilege is being able to ignore the uncomfortable things that are happening.
I almost leapt out of my seat and yelled YESSSSSSS at that one.
Lisa: In our little free time, I like to hang out with friends. Even if someone only has eight minutes, let’s take eight minutes.
Kim also shared the news that one of the pigs she helps take care of had 2 piglets. Maybe originally a few more, but eventually…two. She sent Sam photos.
They all talked about losing beloved pets – for Alaina it was recent, and she teared up sharing.
Samantha has unusual pets – two sugar gliders. Which are nocturnal…
That afternoon it was time for Misha Collins panel as always. Misha was oddly on time, then noted “I don’t feel comfortable unless you have to wait for me” lol
He also wanted very much to give Rob a birthday kiss.
Love Misha in faded jeans – that’s what he was wearing on that memorable night that Kathy and I first met him, but they were vintage “bell bottoms”. I was impressed.
Misha, as most of us know, has been very involved in politics again.
Misha: When I worked at the White House, I thought it would be full of the best and brightest minds…
He told the hilarious story about how when he worked there, he kept saying he lost his security lanyard so he’d get another one, then he kept them all and made a mobile of 100 of them. Which was apparently not exactly legal!
A fan asked what songs he’d never skip?
Misha: Led Zeppelin…the Band…. (and he also likes some Billie Eilish)
He reminisced a bit about GISH (which I did many times and kinda miss), saying he’s still a little traumatized by all those creative renditions of Carry On that people did.
Understandable.
Misha, as always, is never afraid to be controversial.
Fan: Have Jared and Jensen ever gone too far with you?
Misha: What, like full penetration?
Then, more seriously, because it’s probably very true.
Misha: At one point, all of us went too far!
Misha said he tried to watch Supernatural with his kids, then realized it was too traumatizing.
What has he been watching?
Misha: My dad and I just watched a documentary on aging in Hollywood.
Audience: groans
Misha: OMG that was unanimous!
He also shared that he’s about to have a planet killer asteroid that NASA has to constantly monitor named after him!
Misha: So potentially there could be a time when that asteroid could threaten life on Earth, and it’s like AHHHHH Misha Collins is coming!!
Also Misha: I just have like a carousel of things I can’t talk about in my mind…
He also told another hilarious story about the time his brother meant to write a note that their dad had passed out twice at Burning Man, but he unfortunately left out the “out”…
Oops.
Maison, his daughter, is obsessed with salt, he said. How very Supernatural!
He also said, for some reason –
Misha: I like industrial dirty places. It’s my kink…
Hmmm.
Another round of happy birthday Rob, another lovely dinner, and then it was Saturday Night Special time!
We got birthday shenanigans here too, with Ruth Connell channeling her inner Marilyn Monroe and crooning “Happy Birthday Mr. Benedict”, much to Rob’s great enjoyment. So cute!
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1837670509774807070
Rob: Ruth, please don’t throw any of that away, I might wanna see it again…
Kim Rhodes joined the band for a song (look how happy Billy is listening to her).
She also was the mom she is and wiped Ruth’s lipstick kiss off Rob’s cheek. Awwww.
We haven’t had the pleasure of photographer extraordinaire Chris Schmelke and his bass playing skills on stage for far too long – we got lucky at this con!
Briana Buckmaster also joined the fun singing “It Pleases Me” – she’s got a great CD fyi if you haven’t gotten it yet. And an amazing voice!
Lisa Berry had everyone singing along to “Proud Mary” next, along with some bass player Richard Speight, Jr.
Jason Manns joined Billy and Rob for beautiful harmonies on “Hallelujah” with all of us singing the chorus, which is always hauntingly beautiful in the large ballroom.
I know I’ve said this before, but I continue to be SO happy to have Mark Sheppard back at the cons and back to playing drums like he used to at the cons years ago. His joy at playing with Swain again – and at living his best life after surviving multiple heart attacks – is infectious.
And that gave us a chance for Norton to get out from the drums and join Mike singing backup too.
Richard joined the band again for a Station Breaks song. He’s so hard to get good photos of, usually in a hat – this time repping his El Mar Margarita brand – but I love the mischievous look on his face in this one.
We got some Dick Jr. and the Volunteers music too – which I love!
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1837678593985360106
Fandom had planned to honor Krista on this anniversary con with all green finger lights, so when the band and Rob sang ‘She Waits’ it was a sea of green for him to look out over.
Same with ‘Amazing’ – look at the whole ballroom lit up with them!
I especially missed Krista during Mama’s Jam. For so many years, she was the first to jump up out of her seat and wave at the rest of us impatiently until we stood up to join her in dancing. It’s like a Pavlovian response now, I want to just jump right up, but I can see her (usually sitting right in front of me) every time I do.
We also got an audience participation rendition of “Medicated”, with Rob up on a chair to sing it.
The encore was With A Little Help From My Friends, which was a perfectly relevant choice. It was like the old days with many of the actors sticking around to the end and joining the band to sing the chorus – I miss that when it doesn’t happen, even though I get it, we’re all 15 years older than when these cons began and need our rest, both actors and fans!
Great show, everyone!
I went back to the room to crash, finding a post of how Jared and Jensen had spent their evening – in their own little world playing chess with each other on their phones while sitting right next to each other. Much to Clif’s #thirdwheel consternation.
I confess it made my night to know Jared and Jensen love playing chess against each other (on their phones). And that they’re dorky enough to do it sitting right across from each other.
And then it was Sunday – J2 day!
Jared and Jensen took the stage and gave each other props, as they always do. I love that they have traditions and stick to them in just about every panel they do. In a world that’s constantly changing in sometimes horrifying ways, the little things that you can count on in life start to feel very good. (Now don’t switch it up, J2!)
Jensen was pretty tired, but he made it to the con anyway.
Jensen: I worked an all nighter filming (Countdown) so I was tired yesterday.
Jared: But he had his makeup (from filming) still on so he looked great!
Awww. I love a supportive bestie. This is a running joke they’ve had going on for literally decades.
(Yes, this prompted wank because this fandom has become ridiculous – though that makes it even more fascinating to study than ever…)
Someone asked about Christian Kane working with them again or coming to a con.
Jensen: We might see Chris at a con. We were just talking about this!
Unusual question – what would they put together power points on?
Jared: Mine would be on watches.
Of course it would!
Jensen: Mine would be on sleep.
Again, of course!
Fan: What’s your earliest memory?
Jared: I remember swimming in a sea of millions…
Jensen: (giving a voice to little pre-Jared swimming upstream…) I got this, I got this!!
I love how they immediately go into a skit together and how much they both are amused by it every single time.
They tried to talk about their earliest memories, which for Jensen came out sounding painful.
Jensen: I remember the first time I got swarmed by hornets.
Ouch.
I know they’ve been asked this before, but I still enjoy their answers. What would their drag names be?
Fan when they hesitate, giggling: You have to say the first thing that comes into your mind!
Jensen (blurts): Jolissa. You said say the first thing! Is there a wrong answer here??
Jared: I’m gonna go with the trick of what your adult porn star name would be. Bootsy Larkletter. And you (Jensen) have a good one.
Jensen: Pudgy Midway. It’s a solid one.
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1837873736881508479
Lol
They got some questions about their new characters too. What would their new characters drink?
Jensen: Hmmm
Jared: I’ll say this. I know what he (Camden) would drink, because I have a scene. Beer and tequila. I didn’t complain.
Jensen: I don’t know, not a fancy guy…
Jared: White Claw?
Jensen (laughing): Probably very cheap beer…. Pabst…
Jared: PBR…
Jensen: Schlitz…Old Milwaukee…Busch Lite…
Jared: So like drunk tonight, diarrhea tomorrow?
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1837921570964058167
Someone asked a more serious question about how they deal with conflict. Jared gave a very thoughtful answer, adding that he liked to sleep on it.
Jensen: Pick your battles. I always try to tread lightly and be respectful in a conflict instead of engage defensively.
Ummm, louder please? So social media can hear you?
He said that initially he didn’t know if pursuing acting was the path for him, but thought he’d give it a shot. We’re all very grateful he did!
Jared: Similar. I’ve had a lifelong relationship with doubting myself. I at first ran away from it (acting).
I respect them so much for being willing to put their doubts and vulnerabilities right out there for everyone to hear and see. It gets them bullied too sometimes, but they still do it – and it inspires a lot of people.
They said they both do breath work to change their negative moods or to calm themselves down.
They are also careful to say that they’re not professional therapists, which I hope everyone listens to. Sometimes the questions they get skirt that line, and they always try their best to be helpful.
Mutual pats on the back and side hugs for a job well done as they left the stage.
There were photo ops and hugs after that, and I caught a little bit of the Mark Sheppard panel.
He reminded everyone, if you see someone who needs help, put your hand out.
Regarding his heart attack:
Mark: Let’s see what I do with it.
I love that he’s determined to do as much as he can with the life he thankfully still has.
Then later that afternoon, the main panel with Jared and Jensen. They leapt onstage per usual, though Jared wisely took it easy on his knee.
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1837958327441281283
Within minutes they were telling some of their favorite jokes, including the explosion at the cheese factory in France (the brie was everywhere ie debris was everywhere) lol
Jensen told a heartwarming story about worrying about when he will no longer be the center of hid kids’ universe, relating that when he went to LA to film, JJ told him “I miss you so much I can’t function”.
Jensen: I guess I have a few more years of being the center of her universe.
Awwwww
There was another therapy-like question from a fan whose daughter is getting painfully bullied. Both Jared and Jensen had some heartfelt things to say to her, in part from their own experience.
Jared: I have bullies right now on Twitter. It hurts.
(That hurt to hear him say that, and to be right there to see the expression on his face when he did. I don’t quite understand how people can post such hurtful things about a real person on social media, knowing they can see and that it genuinely hurts).
But he went on to say that he tries to remember that “hurt people hurt people”. I’m a bit in awe of his empathy in the face of online bullying, but that is a helpful thing to remember.
Jared and Jensen both talked about getting tattoos when they were well into adulthood – both feel they’re very meaningful now.
Jensen: Tattoos are like the story of your life.
Jared: They’re like a journal written on you.
I love that one of their life stories (and tattoos) is a shared one, with Jeffrey Dean Morgan too – that big part of their life that made them Winchesters.
They reminisced a bit about the convention episode of Supernatural, The Real Ghostbusters – even remembering the right title!
And they talked about another favorite meta episode, The French Mistake – which is also one of my all time favorites.
Jensen: I can count on one hand the number of times we had a meeting about an upcoming episode, they didn’t do it very often, but that was one because they were using our life and our real names and they kinda wanted to make sure we were cool with that. And I just remember he and I kinda thinking about it and being like wow, this sounds like a horrible idea. But our response to it was as long as we’re playing Sam and Dean and we never deviate from who those characters are, you can put us in any universe you want. And they certainly did that throughout the series!
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1837962869041729583
Jared: We had Jared and Jensen playing Sam and Dean playing Jared and Jensen playing Sam and Dean. (Jensen nodding and gesturing along lol). That’s not just jumping the shark, talk about meta. I don’t wanna speak for Ackles but it was so nerve wracking. I was like, are we trying to get cancelled?
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1837964149072318802
One of the answers that Jared gave was I think about favorite special effects – it was a quip about the Michael and Lucifer wire fight, which is a sore subject for Jensen.
Jared consoled him with a reassuring pat on the shoulder after.
Jensen (singing): If I could turn back time…
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1837962906111238524
I love when they crack each other up. Especially when they get laughing so much that they both put their heads down, still giggling.
Jensen reminisced about a couple of times when Jared got spit on, because he very much does not like being spit on (I mean, who does really?)
Jensen imitated the look on Jared’s face when it happened, much to Jared’s (and our) amusement.
Jensen: The spit came out of his mouth and hit him and his whole demeanor changed. He’d been like (grrr) and then he just goes (freezes) get it off get it off!
Jared: I have a really bad reaction to being spit on. Totally irrational, I’ll talk to my therapist.
He said there was another time when something was supposed to drool on him and he was like, nope!
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1837964148472160443
They love to talk about all the good times on set, including with the Impala. Jensen said they basically had to make the car Jared and Jensen proof after they messed with literally everything. Look how repentant Jensen looks (not).
Jared told a story of when the Impala actually got into a crash on set when being driven by a crew member and a part got stuck – scary!
And when Dean had to take a hammer to Baby, Jensen said “that hurt Jensen.”
Ouch.
They talked a little about their new roles – Jensen said that unbelievably he is once again partnered up with someone freakishly tall on Countdown.
Jensen: I look like a baby!
Jared: hehehe
They both had warm words for fandom, in spite of the online bullying that happens.
Jensen: I wish these communities of fans existed when we were young. I’m glad they do today.
There was a question about what other type of hero they’d like to be, and other than Batman, they mentioned a Jedi. Or Boba Fett.
And I don’t recall the context at all, but at one point…
Jared: I’m Ballsy, he’s Rin Tin Tin.
We even got a SalmonDean reference, which resulted in Jared being all proud of it and Jensen facepalming.
Priceless.
One of the most heartwarming (and very Sam and Dean) moments happened when Jared mentioned off mic to Jensen that he was thirsty, wondering if there was water. Jensen gestured to the bottle at their feet and then without missing a beat got up to get it for his friend and held it up.
Jared immediately went into what was clearly a familiar riff, waiting to be “fed” – which big brother Jensen complied with without spilling a drop (after grinning and admitting how tempted he was to maybe be a little less careful, also big brother typical).
Jensen: Ohhhh I want to so bad… lol
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1837971342202667167
Everyone: awwww
How would Sam and Dean spend their birthdays?
Jensen: I can see him waiting behind some kid playing a game he wants to play. (grins) You can imagine. And also I think Dean would just kill Dance Dance Revolution (both laughing)
Jared: Reboot!
Also Jared: I think Sam would probably read, sit outside… (Jensen rolls his eyes). I think Sam and Dean had a relationship like I have with a lot of my friends, like oh yeah, thanks dude, carry on. I think Sam would research the lore.
Of course he would!
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1837970693562007854
Another heartwarming moment was when a fan asked how Sam and Dean felt about being soulmates, which is something only Jared and Jensen can really answer I guess!
Jared: I think it’s pretty obvious that Sam and Dean could do things together that they couldn’t do without each other, know what I mean? Everybody has their own definition of religion, of God, of soulmates, whatever, and I think it’s pretty obvious that Sam and Dean are meant to work together, and so I think they were like, “Okay, we’ve found out weirder shit, so let’s keep going.”
Jensen: Yeah, like it was, “I guess we ARE codependent”! No, I think Jared hit it on the head, I think that’s exactly right, they knew it, and it being presented to them as actual truth, I think it just made sense, and they were like “okay, then we’re doing what we should be doing, and we’re doing it the way we should be doing it, which is together.”
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1837971518556656019
That sums up Sam and Dean pretty well! (Have I mentioned lately how much I miss them??)
It was last question time shortly after.
Jared and Jensen thanked the fans and each other, Jensen gave the ‘direction’ to go sign the banners as always, while Mark Sheppard filled in for Norton on drums.
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1837973695123370173
They gave each other pats on the chest and said their goodbyes to the fans.
https://x.com/FangasmSPN/status/1837973934462967921
I packed up as quickly as I could and Rita and I hit the road again, managing to make it out of the worst traffic before the sun completely set, so yay!
There’s nothing better than a con with all of J2M there, so this was a real feel good experience for a passionate Supernatural fan like me. Grateful.
Til next con!
– Lynn
You can read chapters by all three of
the Supernatural stars – Jared Padalecki,
Jensen Ackles & Misha Collins – in Family
Don’t End With Blood and There’ll Be Peace
When You Are Done. Info and links at:
Lovely recap. See you in Orlando