Tag: Kim Rhodes

Supernatural Celebrates Its 21st Birthday in Orlando!

Supernatural Celebrates Its 21st Birthday in Orlando!

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As in, the Creation Entertainment Supernatural convention in Orlando, Florida last month. Happy 21st birthday, Supernatural!

Orlando was a hot con.

And by that I mean, hot as in we were all sweating our butts off – especially Jared and Jensen and all the fans who did J2 Baby ops outside! I did not have the stamina for that, but shout out to the “Baby sitters” and Clif, who were out there much of the weekend remaining unfailingly pleasant and helpful in spite of the heat.

My flight was miraculously on time and I had a chance to meet lots of new people in the vendor room.

If you picked up a copy of one of the books, or just stopped by to tell me that you’d enjoyed reading one in the past, it was great to see you! (If you didn’t, you can find the books with chapters by the Supernatural actors along with our other books on the show and ‘The Boys’ at the links on the home page here).

Friday I got in too late to catch any panels – but I did manage to catch a swim in the hotel pool, which was the perfect way to unwind after flying!

On Saturday, I caught Misha Collins’ panel as I always try to do – he began it with a tackle hug of Rob Benedict, which gave us these priceless happy making moments.

Then we got a surprise Matt Cohen appearance and more tackle hugs and kisses – and a reminder from Misha to watch Matt’s new movie ‘Exes’ on Tubi and Amazon!

If you missed it, my review of ‘Exes’ right here on the Fangasm blog. Check it out!

A fan asked, does Castiel ever influence what Misha says in real life?

Misha: Once the kids got up from the table and left their plates behind, and I said hey, don’t you think you should clear your plates? And my daughter said why should I do that? And I said, because (Cas voice) I’m the one who gripped you tight and raised you from Perdition… My daughter was like oh, that makes sense. And I was like, well, in some ways, that almost sounds a little like Cas. So there’s little things like that…

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I seriously enjoy Misha’s hilarious story telling abilities.

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Supernatural New Jersey 2026!

Supernatural New Jersey 2026!

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Last month’s Creation Supernatural convention in New Jersey was extra fun – one, because I could drive to it; two, because my friend Mary actually did the driving (fangirl roadtrip!); and three, because I missed the cast of my favorite show. Especially Jared Padalecki, who didn’t make the Creation cons in January. It had been way too long!

In between selling books and chatting with friends in the vendor room, I caught some panels with the rest of the best cast ever.

Ruth Connell said she knew she could play Rowena when she saw the line “it breaks my heart to see what a colossal pussy you’ve become” (later changed a bit).

She told some stories of her childhood, including loving the Kelpies, saying that her grandfather was a ‘horse whisperer’.

Perhaps the most heartwarming moment of Ruth’s panel was when she shared that Rob and Ruth’s young daughter Margaret is learning to swim, using Felicia Day’s daughter’s water wings.  #SPNFamily

Ruth, like so many guest actors on Supernatural, feels that her life was changed by being on the Show. She writes about that in her beautiful chapter in the book Family Don’t End With Blood  (and you can almost hear her accent in it).

Ruth: That’s what Supernatural is for me, that your dreams can come true.

Ruth also had some exciting news – she’s preparing to produce a film after securing the book rights! Congrats, Ruth!

Friday night Mary and I had an absolutely amazing dinner at a restaurant across the street which had a lovely outdoor porch. I have to say, the driving is so insane in this part of Jersey that it took us like ten minutes to finally navigate our way there when we could literally SEE the restaurant from the con hotel!

However? Worth it.

Saturday I caught Misha Collin’s panel as always, though I missed the beginning when everyone sang happy birthday to him.  Happy birthday, Misha!

His very first convention was in New Jersey, and he reminisced about how nervous he was during his panel.  (We were at that convention too and were the only familiar faces there for him, having just met and interviewed him on the set in Vancouver – on his first night at the con, he sat between me and Kathy on a couch in the hotel bar, a little overwhelmed by the whole thing. You can read that entire story in the book ‘Fangasm: Supernatural Fangirls!’ with more Misha chaos.)

I chatted with him later about it, both of us marveling that it was so long ago!

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Creation Supernatural Cons 2026 – Norfolk!

Creation Supernatural Cons 2026 – Norfolk!

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The second Creation Supernatural convention of 2026 was in Norfolk at the end of January. It’s a quick flight, so that part was good – lucky for me, because there was snow in many parts of the country and it made getting to this con extra challenging. In fact, many people couldn’t make it there at all – it reminded me of a long ago Seattle Supernatural con that ended up getting so much snow that Jared, Jensen and Misha couldn’t get there, so it was a one day con with the few people who had made it and then we all flew back home!

This wasn’t quite as dramatic, but it was different. My friend who I’d been looking forward to seeing flew in and had to immediately fly right back out thanks to snow and pets and lack of Padaleckis.  Jared Padalecki couldn’t make it, mostly due to his badly broken leg but I’m sure complicated by how ill advised it would have been to fly with that AND snow. I missed both of them more than I can say, especially because Jared wasn’t at the first con of 2026 in Vegas. I miss that guy! Glad he was taking care of himself and prioritizing recovery though, as he should be.

All that meant I had to be in the vendor room for most of the convention – if you came by to say hi or to buy a book about Supernatural or The Boys, thank you!  I did leave the vendor room to watch Misha Collins’ panel — to find him watching his old infomercial for the Navy! Baby Misha!

He had some stories about his kids, who are getting far too big far too fast – Maison went to her first school dance and her dad was emotional about it.

Misha had some snazzy red shoelaces, which he showed off and clarified that they were not a political statement.

There were some influence jokes, to my great delight. There’s nothing better than being part of a fandom that has in-jokes, especially ones that extend through many years. (Look up the Mishalecki panel at JIB one year where Jared and Misha were collapsing with laughter after their dirty jokes about ‘influence’)

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He ended with, “So there’s probably a lot of Dean’s influence in Cas…”

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Misha reminisced on the hilarity of him and Jared messing around behind the scenes on Supernatural, saying it was a fond memory.

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He just wrote a poem about the wormstache outtake!

Misha is a fanboy too, just not for a TV show like Supernatural – instead, he’s rather proud to be a fanboy of NPR.

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Supernatural Creation Cons 2026 – First up, Vegas!

Supernatural Creation Cons 2026 – First up, Vegas!

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Vegas was the first con of 2026. It had been a few months since the Supernatural fandom had been together with the cast, so there was extra anticipation for this one. It’s a long flight for me, which is never fun, and it was late, so I didn’t get there until later in the day on Friday, missing lots of the Friday fun unfortunately. Also unfortunately, Jared Padalecki wasn’t able to be there, and we were all missing him. (But excited that he was filming a movie!)

There were some guests we don’t usually get to see, including Emmanuelle Vaugier (Madison the werewolf).  Barry Bostwick, who was in the Supernatural episode ‘Criss Angel is a Douchebag’, was also there, signing autographs in the vendor room just a few tables down from mine. It was surreal having someone who starred in something so formative in my very younger days – The Rocky Horror Picture Show – hanging out and chatting. Curtis Armstrong (Metatron) was also in the vendor room right down the aisle from my table, and we got a chance to reconnect and share a hug.  We all hated his character, but I love Curtis – and I’d love to see him do a panel again too!

I caught a little of the ladies panel with Emmanuelle, Alaina Huffman, Kim Rhodes, Briana Buckmaster, Emily Swallow and Samantha Smith.

Samantha Smith: It wasn’t fully scripted when Dean and Mary look in the Impala. It was like Dean remembered being conceived there…

Briana said that her last episode on the show was surreal, because it was all of them not knowing when Covid would shut them down.

Sam is used to her character being controversial.

Sam: I have people come to my table and say, I hate your character!

Alaina: Sometimes people come up and say, you’re my hall pass, and I’m like um, nice to meet you?

Emily imitated how some people come up to her and recognize her and say “It’s the Darkness!!”

I did not make the trek all the way back to the ballroom, which was approximately 25 miles away, for karaoke, but I hear it was a good one!

Saturday was Misha Collins day. Misha said he’s trying to learn piano, but doesn’t want to practice. My thirteen year old self can so relate.

What would he like to be like if he was younger?

Misha: I have five children in my house a lot of the time and they’re always eager to learn, and I’d like that back.

He re-told the classic Jensen Ackles walks into an electronics store and the clerk just points across the room and there’s a table with a giant portrait of him in Skittles for GISH!

He tried to show the photo on his phone but it didn’t work out well.

Misha: I didn’t expect to have Jensen’s face in my crotch here…

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Last Supernatural Creation Con of 2025 – Nashville!

Last Supernatural Creation Con of 2025 – Nashville!

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The last Supernatural Creation con (on land anyway) of 2025 was in Nashville, as it usually is – but this time it was earlier than it has been in the past, starting on Halloween. I have too many little kids in the family to let me disappear on actual Halloween, so I flew in early on Saturday for a quick in-and-out weekend in Nashville.

Here are some highlights and photos (and some tweets with short videos of some of the panels too).

Made it in time to catch a glimpse of the lovely Felicia Day.

And for Misha’s panel!

Someone asked Misha for advice on how to keep going in these very difficult times.

Misha: You just have to keep doing what you can to fight for good. That’s what drew us all to Supernatural too.

He went on to say that we can pass down the stories that inspire us – like Supernatural.

Misha: So we can fight the demons in this world.

That is so much of what makes this Show so special, and so inspiring to so many of us.

Misha talked about his kids getting older – his son now answers his phone calls with “whaddya want?” But then he comes to him for comfort when he has a bad dream, so Misha takes solace in that. I can relate.

Misha shared his favorite memory of accomplishment – when he and Jared and Jensen were wrestling and Jared tapped out lol.

Misha: I guess the best moment I had in all the cons I’ve been to and all the time I was working on Supernatural, onscreen and off, a feeling of like vanquishing accomplishment that came from this moment, I believe an Orlando convention years ago, where we got drunk and wrestled and Jared tapped out, and it just felt so unbelievably good.

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Hometown Con! Supernatural Finally Comes to Philly 2025!

Hometown Con! Supernatural Finally Comes to Philly 2025!

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I have been waiting for a Supernatural con in my hometown for a very long time – finally Creation brought their The Road So Far tour to Philly in October. Yay!!!

It seemed extra special because we had just celebrated the 20th anniversary of the show’s premiere way back in 2005.

Credit: Barb LeVan

Philly gave Supernatural a warm welcome, the Philadelphia Zoo even posting an invitation to fans to come do a meet and greet with their very own Sam and Dean (hedgehog version).

Look how adorable they are – almost as cute as the real thing!

photos: Philly Zoo

Of course they’ve got their own Impala!

The con being local also meant I could set out on a leisurely half hour drive into the city each morning…. Yeah, no, that didn’t happen. The traffic was so insane that it took me three times that, and was nervewracking too. However, on Thursday I found a great spot in the hotel garage, so all was well.

I got set up in the vendor room with a little help from my friends and settled in to welcome everyone to Philly!

It turned out to be a great con, though my driving woes weren’t any less than when I’m going a long distance somehow. Friday’s drive didn’t go any better than Thursday’s, and when I got to the hotel garage there was not a single spot in the entire structure! I drove around, increasingly upset because frankly driving is just not my favorite thing… like at all… and was finally told by a parking attendant that there was one “over there a few rows”. It turned out to be a tiny sliver of pavement between a giant truck and a cement pillar, with a trash can chained to the pillar to make it extra challenging. After approximately 30 attempts, I squeezed my Honda in. Never mind I could barely get out and the trash can….well, it had a few dents. Sorry, trash can.

Saturday’s drive was better, but the parking was even worse. When I got there, the ‘FULL’ sign was already up. I was already late, and driving is not really one of my better skills, as I’ve mentioned, and my knee is dislocated, so the thought of driving around the city looking for another lot and then limping to the hotel was really not a pleasant one. I parked my car in front of the hotel and got out to ask if I could do valet parking and was told THAT was full too! WTF? I think a few tears might have rolled down my face at that point and the (very nice) man took pity on me when he saw my knee brace.

“I’ll find a place for you, ma’am,” he kindly assured me. “Just leave it there.”

I wasn’t able to see many panels this time since I was coming and going, but I caught some of the ladies’ panel, which I always try to do. This time we got Kim Rhodes, Briana Buckmaster, Ruth Connell, Samantha Smith, Alaina Huffman and Julie McNiven!

Ruth Connell talked about working with Alaina Huffman and passing on the importance of working WITH other women and supporting each other.

Alaina: I get to play and be supportive with people I love, I’m not competing with other women. That’s my circle.

Briana: I worked very hard to make everyone feel included.

Ruth and Briana and Kim all wrote insightful chapters in Family Don’t End With Blood, all about their journey to Supernatural and what they’ve learned from the fandom. Julie wrote a chapter in There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done, taking us behind the scenes of filming Supernatural and what it was like working with Jensen Ackles in that backseat in the Impala scene. (Spoiler alert, he was a gentleman).

They all talked about how powerful it is to meet fans in person, like they’re able to do at cons.

Ruth: Supernatural and this fandom are the gift of my life.

Julie talked about her young son, who at the holidays opens every present and exclaims “for me??” Awww.

Ruth told a story about little Margaret repeatedly calling for “Daddy” and when that didn’t work, calling: “Rob!!”

Awwwwww

Saturday was also Misha Collins day, as always.

He kicked off his panel stressing about trying to use up all the Asian pears from his pear tree and taking suggestions.

A fan asked, who slays the most?

Misha: Who slays the most? I hate to say it, but Jensen.

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Creation Supernatural Con Returns to Where It All Began – Chicago 2025!

Creation Supernatural Con Returns to Where It All Began – Chicago 2025!

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I always look forward to the Chicago Supernatural convention every year – it was the first Creation con for my favorite show and I still remember the off-the-charts excitement of being there, way back in 2007!

It’s also the con where I met one of my dearest friends when I got stranded there during a hurricane and she came to my rescue and offered me a place to stay during the storm. (We had met once, at the con, but we were SPNFamily so she drove over and rescued me from the dodgiest motel ever, the only one that wasn’t fully booked in the storm. She may have literally saved my life). Another of my dearest friends was also there with some of her besties, so the con was extra special.  So were a few other friends who I wish I could see more often. In between being in the vendor room and enjoying panels, there was lots of good food and drink and even better conversation. What more could you ask?

 

On Friday, I joined the Matt Cohen and Gil McKinney panel already in progress – which sort of explains why they were being feral raccoons at the time…

Matt: Every animal I portray ends up with Jensen’s bowlegs…

These two are a great example of two people who didn’t even work together on the show, but they’re a great onstage duo who are always amusing. What are their favorite made up words?

Gil: Dingleberry

Matt: Fuckery!

A fan asked for their help in naming her eighth (!) ferret.

Matt: Squoose (a combination of Moose and Squirrel). I’m brilliant!

Matt also, for some reason, told Gil all about the “geoduck” (pronounced, for some reason, gooey-duck). Creation helpfully put a photo up on the screen so everyone could … uh, marvel? The geoduck was a thing at cons about a decade ago, so it was amusing to see it make a triumphant return.

Matt to Gil: I’d serve it to you raw…

I also caught some of Sam Smith’s panel. A fan brought the actual nightgown that she wore as Mary burning on the ceiling in the pilot – which is actually not white, but pink!

Complete with blood stain. Hey, it’s Supernatural…

Sam said that when Kripke told her that she’d be back she was skeptical.

Sam to Eric: Ummmm you burned down the house!

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Supernatural Con Returns to Austin, Texas – 2025!

Supernatural Con Returns to Austin, Texas – 2025!

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Last year’s Creation Supernatural con in Austin was very memorable – for a few reasons. One was the Radio Company concert at Sagebrush, and the other was the fact that everyone there almost melted thanks to it being the most absurd temperature I’ve ever experienced.

Of course, I returned to Austin for yet another Supernatural con in the same month. Luckily it wasn’t quite as absurdly hot – and not so luckily, there was no Radio Company concert.

There was, however, a mini Radio Company “show” when Jensen Ackles and Steve Carlson and the Scott sisters joined Louden Swain at the Saturday Night Special, and a Radio Company panel with Steve and Jensen, so at least we got our Radio Company fix – without melting!

The flight there was uneventful but an entire box of books hadn’t made it to the con unfortunately. That meant I sold out of books by Saturday – my apologies to anyone who came by to purchase a copy of Family Don’t End With Blood or There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done and I didn’t have any left. Thanks to everyone who did come by – it was lovely to meet everyone!

I did a few more panels than I usually get to do since I wasn’t needed in the vendor room the entire time, so that was the silver lining.  One of the best things about a con in Austin is that I love the city. My son used to live in Houston and we’d pop over to Austin for the day, and I fell in love with its weirdness – and its delicious food. Thursday I had tacos and queso with my friend Sadie, and some good conversation to go with it. Another night after dark when it cooled off, I joined a friend at the hotel’s rooftop pool (best part about the con hotel!) to lounge poolside and catch up (though the lounge chairs were out to get both of us by periodically collapsing…)

Friday I caught most of Chad Lindberg’s panel because I just love Chad. I’ve known him since way back in 2008, when he was starring in a film called “My Big Break”. He introduced me and Kathy (my Fangasm co-author) to the filmmakers, Tony and Elizabeth, and we became fast friends. When they took ‘My Big Break’ on the road, we came along for some of the screenings along with Chad – which is how we ended up on Bourbon Street in the middle of the night for Chad’s first trip to New Orleans, and several other memorable adventures.

I also adore his character of Ash on Supernatural. Chad wrote a chapter for There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done all about portraying Ash, with lots of priceless behind the scenes insights.

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Adventures in Oklahoma City – SPNOKC 2025!

Adventures in Oklahoma City – SPNOKC 2025!

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In June of this year, we had the first Supernatural con at OKC – and yes, it was quite an adventure (for me, anyway!)

Getting to Oklahoma City from Philly (and back) was quite an adventure in itself – a little too much adventure in fact. After multiple delays in Charlotte (which were made more bearable with some good company from Creation’s Jen and Jenn, who I ran into in the airport), I finally arrived with barely enough time to get the vendor table set up – and just as an impressive thunderstorm hit. Our Lyft driver on the way to the convention center kept the three of us entertained on the drive there, though part of that was his repeated implication that a tornado was imminent.

No tornado, but he also couldn’t figure out how to drop me off AT the convention center instead of the hotel, so I ended up trudging up the street in a rainstorm getting wetter by the second and having no idea where I was going. To make things more challenging, the street was blocked off by an impressive number of law enforcement vehicles, which totally confused me because I’m not very good at following basketball so I had no idea there were big time basketball things going on. Finally in sight of the convention center, my way was blocked by a news reporter doing a live report about the big time basketball things. I was by this time in no mood to stand in the rain a second longer, so I cut through the shot apologizing but determined. I must have looked like a woman who should not be trifled with, because they didn’t.

I quickly got set up (trying not to drip all over everything) – at least it was a nicer convention center than NJ, though I will never be happy to be in a convention center. At least the books were dry, thanks to my friend Betty delivering them safe and sound!

I was happy to be there in time to catch some of Chad Lindberg’s panel. I’ve known Chad since way way back in 2008, and I’m thrilled to have him back at some cons this year.  He wrote a fascinating chapter for There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done  with all kinds of behind the scenes information about filming with Jared and Jensen and creating the character of Ash. And his mullet.

A fan asked what role he’d love to play.

Chad: I’d like to play an alien, ala Starman – like an alien love story.

Chad is known for being a ghosthunter in real life, as well as for playing Ash on Supernatural.

Chad: People ask, did Supernatural get you into ghosts? No, we lived in a haunted house when I was growing up.

How to de-stress from a ghost hunt?

Chad: connect with those you love. And a little weed. Okay, maybe a lot…

He said that filming October Sky was a very emotional experience – they got to know the real life rocket boys.

What monster would Ash love to be?

Chad: He’d love to be a werewolf. He’s already got the hair for it!

Seriously, nobody tells a ghost story like Chad. He put out a bell that senses spirits, and every time he mentioned the haunted Stanley Hotel, it went off!

Clearly he needs to go visit.

Two of my other favorite Supernatural actors were also onstage – Gil McKinney and Matt Cohen, who both wrote very personal chapters in Family Don’t End With Blood about their experience as actors and on Supernatural.

Matt Cohen talked about his new movie, Exes, also starring Briana Buckmaster, Mark Shepherd, Felicia Day and Ricky Whittle. He said his favorite scene to direct with Briana was a terrible tough limo scene of them getting beaten up and then it being finally over!

Mark plays an American, which should be interesting – I’m so used to his Crowley accent (or his actual real life one)

Gil portrays the Mad Hatter on Matt Cohen’s other exciting new project, the animated series Public Domain – along with lots of other SPNFamily.

Gil to a clowning around Matt: You are so weird!

(They are actually entirely amusing together onstage)

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Supernatural New Jersey 2025!

Supernatural New Jersey 2025!

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The Supernatural Creation convention in NJ is one of the few that I can drive to. With the constant cancellations and delays and pieces of planes falling off and near collisions recently, that made me very happy indeed. The drive wasn’t too bad in terms of traffic, and though I managed to get slightly lost when I was almost there (as has happened every single damn time at this venue), I made it not too horribly late. It’s not my favorite venue (bathroom line ten miles long, anyone?) so I’m glad next year’s NJ con is at a hotel, but it is one of my favorite cons anyway since some of my closest fandom friends are often able to come.

I mostly stayed at my vendor table (with very welcome food breaks from friends – thank you!) – but I didn’t miss Misha’s panel!

Misha Collins did his It Seemed Like A Good Idea one man show in the Big Apple the night before.

Billy Moran: It was good!

He got some questions about Castiel and Supernatural.

Misha: I think Castiel would do well in Star Wars because he has wings to teleport. But Sesame Street would also be great for him, he’d be learning right along with the kids.

Also Misha: But he’d probably have a rivalry with Big Bird, both are tall and feathered.

Lol

Misha was reminiscing about New Jersey being his very first convention fifteen years ago. You can actually read all about that con in ‘Fangasm Supernatural Fangirls’, since Kathy and I were there too, and tried to help a slightly overwhelmed Misha through it.

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