TV News: NBC HEADS TO 2011 #COMICCON TO SHOWCASE NEW AND RETURNING SHOWS

Comic-Con sure has evolved in years past. I remember reading about it when it was just about the comic book industry and it has now morphed into this jugernaut, media frenzied yearly pilgramage for all genres including sit-coms, detective shows, and non-comic book related series. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been to at least five Comic-Con conventions and love the diversity but I am sure the true “fanboys” and “fangirls” of classic comics from Marvel, DC, or Dark Horse, may not be so thrilled with the additional booths. But Comic-Con is anything but dull! So if you love comics, there are plenty of booths dedicated to comics ranging from mainstream to indie; if you love sci-fi, there are plenty of Star Wars, Star Trek, and any other galactical pioneers awaiting to transport you to another universe; and if you just love a little of everything from sit-coms to vampires, well, I’m sure there are plenty of booths waiting for you, too.

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – July 18, 2011 – NBC will make a big splash at this year’s Comic-Con (July 21-24) in San Diego, showcasing several new and returning shows at the annual convention, including panel sessions and a series of off-site, fan-friendly interactive experiences. The network’s star-studded panel sessions include new dramas “Awake,” (FOX, Thursday, July 21 at 3:45 p.m.) and “Grimm” (Universal Media Studios, Saturday, July 23 at 4:15 p.m.), as well as returning comedies “Chuck” (Warner Bros. Television, Saturday, July 23 at 10 a.m.) and “Community” (Sony Pictures Television, Saturday, July 23 at 1 p.m.).

Additional information about the panel locations and participants is included below.

The network will take over a large portion of San Diego’s Tin Fish restaurant (170 Sixth Avenue), located across the street from the Comic-Con site at the San Diego Convention Center. The space will be transformed into a series of themed experiences, allowing guests to enjoy a glimpse of the NBC’s new dramas “The Playboy Club” and “Grimm,” as well as new comedies “Free Agents,” “Up All Night” and “Whitney.”

From the Pilot episode -- Pictured: (l-r) Amber Heard as Maureen, Naturi Naughton as Brenda, Leah Renee as Alice -- Photo by: Matt Dinerstein/NBC

Finally, on Saturday, July 23, NBC will host its annual “Blogger Party” at San Diego’s Hard Rock Café. The invitation-only event will spotlight talent from several of the network’s shows and will give writers and fans a chance to mingle with some of the network’s biggest stars.

“Comic-Con is a terrific venue to share our new series with fans in a way that gives them a rich, enjoyable experience and a unique look into what is coming this fall,” said Adam Stotsky, President, Marketing, NBC Entertainment. “We look forward to introducing viewers to our new shows at Tin Fish, as well as highlighting returning fan favorites ‘Community’ and ‘Chuck’ with attention-grabbing activities and food at The Hard Rock Café.”

GRIMM -- Pilot -- Pictured: (l-r)David Giuntoli as Nick Burckhardt, Russell Hornsby as Hank Green -- Photo by: Scott Green/NBC

On Thursday, July 21, Tin Fish will channel the glamour and style of NBC’s new drama “The Playboy Club,” whose cast includes Eddie Cibrian as the intriguing Nick Dalton, Amber Heard as the stunning and innocent Bunny Maureen and Laura Benanti as Carol-Lynne, an established star at the club. A 1960’s style Bunny will greet visitors at the door and welcome them to the exclusive space. Visitors can pose with the Bunny for photos, which will be printed on-site and uploaded to a micro-site on www.nbc.com where they can be shared with friends on Facebook, Twitter and NBC.com’s Comic-Con site www.nbc.com/comic-con. Bunnies with cigarette trays will be distributing Playboy Club keys, which visitors can have shaped into their own house keys on site.

On Friday, July 22, Tin Fish will take on the eerie, atmospheric look of the network’s new drama “Grimm,” a provocative police procedural with supernatural mythology, inspired by the classic Grimm Brother’s Fairy Tales. The new series hails from the writers behind “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (David Greenwalt) and “Angel” (Jim Kouf) and marks the new producing project of Todd Milliner and Emmy Award winner Sean Hayes. Complete with grassy, moss-laden décor, the restaurant will take on the lush feel of the forest featured in the series. At the scene of the crime, visitors can pose in front of a green screen and take a photo with a virtual “character” from the show. The photo will be printed on site and also uploaded to a micro-site on www.nbc.com, where fans can retrieve and share it with their friends on Facebook, Twitter and NBC.com’s Comic-Con site, www.nbc.com/comic-con. Fans will also have an opportunity to get a “Grimm” logo airbrush skin patch.

Switching gears, on Saturday, July 23, NBC will showcase three new comedies “Free Agents” (starring Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn), “Up All Night” (starring Christina Applegate, Will Arnett and Maya Rudolph) and “Whitney,” (starring Whitney Cummings and Chris D’Elia). Returning comedies “The Office,” “Community” and “Parks and Recreation” also are featured at Tin Fish with themed snacks and giveaways. The restaurant will be decorated with larger-than-life photos from each show, featuring the characters in precarious positions. Fans will be invited to suggest their own funny captions for the photos, which will be posted on a massive scratch pad. Each hour, the most creative captions will be chosen with five second place winners being rewarded a gift card — and one lucky winner per hour winning an X-Box.

The panel sessions scheduled for the network’s programs follow:

THURSDAY, JULY 21

“Awake”

3:45 to 4:45 p.m. Pilot screening, followed by brief Q&A

Room: San Diego Convention Center, 6A

Participants: FOX screening and Q&A featuring star Jason Isaacs (“Harry Potter”); ExecutiveProducers Kyle Killen (“The Beaver”) and Howard Gordon (“24”). Jason, Kyle and Howard will also be available to sign autographs at the FOX booth from 5 – 6:15 p.m. (# 4314).

AWAKE - Pilot Episode - Pictured: Jason Isaacs as Michael Britten -- Photo by: Lewis Jacobs/NBC

SATURDAY, JULY 23

“Chuck”

10 -10:45 a.m.

Room: San Diego Convention Center, Ballroom 20

Participants: Warner Bros. Television panel featuring stars Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Joshua Gomez, Ryan McPartlin, Mark Christopher Lawrence, Vik Sahay and Scott Krinsky with Sarah Lancaster and Adam Baldwin; Executive Producer Chris Fedak.

“Community”

1 -2 p.m.

Room: Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, Indigo Ballroom

Participants: Sony Pictures Television panel session featuring stars Joel McHale, Chevy Chase, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown, Danny Pudi, Donald Glover, Ken Jeong and Jim Rash; Executive Producers Russ Krasnoff, Dan Harmon, Neil Goldman, Anthony Russo and Joe Russo.

“Grimm”

4:15 – 5:15 p.m. Pilot screening, followed by Q&A

Room: San Diego Convention Center, 6A

Participants: Universal Media Studios panel session featuring stars David Giuntoli (“Turn the Beat Around”), Russell Hornsby (“Lincoln Heights”), Bitsie Tulloch (“Quarterlife”), Silas Weir Mitchell (“Prison Break”), Reggie Lee (“Persons Unknown”) and Sasha Roiz (“Caprica”); Writers / Producers: Jim Kouf (Writer/Producer, “Angel) and David Greenwalt (Writer/Producer, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”).

As always, NBC.com will go behind-the-scenes at Comic-Con offering video and photos from the convention floor, panels (24-hours after), and coverage of NBC’s “Playboy,” “Grimm” and the comedy showcase activities at Tin Fish. For Comic-Con schedules, online exclusive content, and interactive features, visit: http://www.nbc.com/Comic-Con/.

NBC.com continues to offer full episodes and interactive experiences for all of its popular series at www.nbc.com.

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Source: © NBC Universal

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.