The Road to SDCC: Friday Schedule

We’re starting to get to the thick to the programming as we cover the Friday Schedule for San Diego Comic-Con! At this point even more attendees are lining up to the convention after finishing their regular work weeks or get out of school. The numbers today are going to get high, you’ll clearly see the difference in attendance numbers from yesterday‘s schedule. Come see what’s hot on Friday at SDCC!

Friday looks like big TV day, lets start our lineup with the number one slot…

1. Firefly 10-Year Anniversary Reunion

   Friday July 13, 2012 12:30pm – 1:30pm @ Ballroom 20

   Calling all Browncoats to unite! It has been 10 years since the crew of the Serenity took flight in the now infamous show Firefly. Science Channel will reunite, for the first time ever, Captain Mal Reynolds and the crew from the ship. Join Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, and many more for a trip down memory lane, some special surprises, and exclusive Science Channel giveaways. SHINY.

   To celebrate 10 years of Browncoats Joss Whedon gets the band back together again for one more get-together. With the nearly the whole cast coming out to talk about the much beloved show, it’s tough not to see how this is gettig so much attention. Nearly 2000 attendees are coming back on this trip to the black.

2. Game of Thrones Panel and Q&A session

   Friday July 13, 2012 2:45pm – 3:45pm @ Hall H

   Based on the bestselling fantasy book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, HBO’s Game of Thrones series concluded its 10-episode second season on June 3. Created and executive produced by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the series follows kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and noblemen as they vie for power in a land where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime. Season 2 of the hit series told an epic story of duplicity and treachery, nobility and honor, conquest and triumph, set in an enthralling world of intrigue, seduction, and magic. Based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, production of season 2 also took place in Croatia and Iceland. Some of the cast featured in the second season and appearing on this panel are (in alphabetical order) Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen, Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark, Kit Harington as Jon Snow, Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, and Richard Madden as Robb Stark. George R. R. Martin, who also serves as a co-executive producer and writer on the series, moderates with executive producer Carolyn Strauss.

   Game of Thrones once again rides in to play in the Game of Lines! I think the only reason this panel didn’t make the top of Friday’s chart is that Peter Dinklage isn’t listed on the program. Even so we get the bulk of some of the characters we love to hate, including Cersei and Theon; plus the Know-Nothing Jon Show! A little under 1900 people are coming south of The Wall to play the game.

3. AMC’s The Walking Dead

   Friday July 13, 2012 1:25pm – 2:25pm @ Hall H

   Andrew Lincoln, Sarah Wayne Callies, Norman Reedus, Laurie Holden, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, and introducing Danai Gurira as Michonne and David Morrissey as The Governor join executive producer and showrunner Glen Mazzara, executive producer Robert Kirkman, executive producer Gale Anne Hurd, executive producer Dave Alpert and special effects makeup supervisor and co-executive producer Greg Nicotero in a panel moderated by Chris Hardwick (The Nerdist, Talking Dead). The panelists will discuss the wildly successful second season of The Walking Dead and what to look forward to in season 3, debuting this fall on AMC. Join the panelists for a one-on-one Q&A session and an official sneak preview of season 3.

   I am a little surprised that this made it this low on the list but if you consider the competition it makes sense; though I will say the presence of The Walking Dead this year at SDCC is greater than either. I would guess that this is where that hidden crowd I mentioned yesterday that doesn’t use MyShed might come into play but the number itself helps provide a good measuring stick. This panel brings in all the major players, including Chris Hardwick from The Talking Dead, for a solid look at season 3 and a Q&A to follow. Plus we get to see Michonne! The Walking Dead shuffle in around 1700 walkers.

4. The Big Bang Theory Screening and Q&A

   Friday July 13, 2012 12:05pm – 1:05pm @ Hall H

   Boldly go Big Bang Theory! For the first time ever in Hall H, the mega-popular TV series returns to Comic-Con for a special screening and a lively discussion. Will Howard (“Froot Loops”) Wolowitz return from space? Where do things stand with Penny and Leonard? And will unscheduled handholding affect “The Relationship Agreement”? From Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, The Big Bang Theory airs Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS. The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Fifth Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 11.

   This one seems a little curious in that no guests are mentioned in the listing. Of course I am not going to complain if they screen a clip from the new season. I can’t wait to see what will come out of this panel, stay tuned! This panel weighs in around 1500 attendees.

5. Community: School is Back in Session

   Friday July 13, 2012 10:00am – 11:00am @ Ballroom 20

   Joel McHale (The Soup), Gillian Jacobs (The Box), Danny Pudi (Chuck), Yvette Nicole Brown (Family Guy), and Alison Brie (Mad Men) from the hit Sony TV comedy have graduated to the Convention Center in advance of their fourth season. Join your favorite Greendale study group for a panel and Q&A to find out firsthand what surprises are in store for the show’s return to NBC this fall.

   I’ve been very curious about this show. Dan Harmon leaving was a shot to the arm and I will be paying very close attention to the materials given out at this panel. I honestly do hope they are able to keep things going as well as they were with Harmon at the helm but only time and this panel can really decide that. School is back in session with a little over 1200 students welcoming the panel back this year.

As expected, numbers took a huge spike. The largest pane we had on Thursday was a Disney line-up at around 1000 people and Friday’s smallest panel ranked in around 1200. An interesting observation though, note Hall H’s activity across Big Bang Theory, to Walking Dead, and to Game of Thrones; the numbers trend higher as we go later in the day. While we can’t say for sure this measures the exact amount of people actually attending we can guess that it will be harder to get a seat later in the day and it might be a better option to go well in advance of Big Bang Theory to be able to see Game of Thrones. I suspect we’ll see more of this sort of trend in our Saturday report, stay tuned!