GraniteCon Hosts Avengers Reading with Voiceover Stars

Press Release:

GraniteCon hosts an event unlike any other on the evening of Saturday September 28th at 7:00 pm! We’ll be assembling our voice acting guests Grey DeLisle, Quinton Flynn, Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell, Jim Cummings, and Richard Horvitz to read selections from Marvel’s The Avengers in their character voices! Yakko & Wakko Warner as Thor & Loki? Winnie the Pooh as Tony Stark? You never know what’s going to happen! Please be advised this is a ticketed event! Tickets can be purchased at the door. VIP passes include entry into the script read!

PLUS the voice actors’ panel schedule:

20 Years of Animaniacs: Come celebrate 20 years of the hit show
“Animaniacs” with members of the cast itself. Join Rob Paulsen (Yakko, Pinky and more), Jess Harnell (Wakko) and Jim Cummings (Narrator and more) as they talk the impact of Animaniacs all these years later! Who knows? Maybe you’ll also hear a song or two! Ballroom A at 11:00 am Saturday.

Finding the Right Voice: Join Richard Horvitz (Invader Zim), Grey DeLisle (Scooby Doo) and Quinton Flynn (Final Fantasy VII) as they discuss the characters they’ve portrayed, how they got into voice acting and more! Ballroom B-D at 2:00 pm Saturday.

Saturday Night Voice Actor Script to “The Avengers”: Join our cast of voice actors as they read the script to “The Avengers” in the voices of characters they have brought to life in game, TV and movies! Could we see Yakko and Wakko as Thor and Loki? How about Tigger as The Hulk? Or maybe even Invader Zim as Nick Fury! Guaranteed to make you laugh and be a once in a lifetime event! This is a ticketed event. Ballroom A-D at 7:00 pm Saturday.

Voicing in Video Games: Join Quinton Flynn (Axel on Kingdom Hearts, Raiden on Metal Gear), Rob Paulsen (Gray Fox on Metal Gear) and Jess Harnell (Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon) as they discuss what it takes to voice in the gaming industry! Ballroom A at 11:00am Sunday.

Characters You Grew Up With, Past and Present: Join Jim Cummings (Darkwing Duck, Winnie the Pooh), Grey Delisle (Daphne on Scooby Doo, Azula on Avatar) and Richard Horvitz (Invader Zim, Alpha 5 on Power Rangers) as they talk about the various roles they portrayed for some of your favorite characters you grew up with! Ballroom B-D at 3:00pm Sunday.

Autograph Cost: First FAN provided item (DVDs, posters, comics, etc) they will sign FOR FREE! Each additional autograph, as well as photos, phone calls, video and voice recording will be $20!

Autograph Schedule:
Saturday:
10:00-11:00 – Quinton Flynn, Grey DeLisle, Richard Horvitz, Jim Cummings, Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell
11:00-11:30 – Grey DeLisle, Richard Horvitz, Quinton Flynn
12:00-1:30 – Jim Cummings, Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell
3:00-4:30 – Quinton Flynn, Grey DeLisle, Richard Horvitz, Jim Cummings, Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell

Sunday:
10:00-11:00 – Quinton Flynn, Grey DeLisle, Richard Horvitz, Jim Cummings, Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell
11:00-11:30 – Grey DeLisle, Richard Horvitz, Jim Cummings
12:00-1:30 Quinton Flynn, Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell
1:30-3:00 – Jim Cummings, Grey DeLisle, Richard Horvitz
3:30-5:00 – Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell, Quinton Flynn
4:00-5:00 – Jim Cummings, Grey DeLisle, Richard Horvitz

More information at the website: granitecon.com

ABOUT THE GUESTS:

Grey DeLisle
Grey DeLisle is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning and Annie nominated veteran voice actress who got her start doing the role of Reptar on Rugrats in 1994. Since then she has starred in hundreds of popular cartoons including The Fairly Odd Parents (Vicky), Avatar: The Last Airbender (Azula), Clone Wars (Asajj Ventress / Amidala), Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy (Mandy), Danny Phantom (Sam), Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends (Frankie), Batman (Black Canary), Green Lantern (Aya), Wow Wow Wubbzy (Wubbzy), Clifford the Big Red Dog (Emily Elizabeth), and most notably the voice of “Daphne” on Scooby-Doo since 1997.

Gamers may recognize her voice from such titles as Doom, Mass Effect, Star Wars Old Republic, and Monkey Island. She also played “Nova” in Starcraft, the “Female Wizard” in Diablo 3, and “Vicky Vale”/”Catwoman” in this year’s hugely popular Arkham City.

 

Quinton Flynn
Quinton’s voice has been burning up the voice over industry since he first arrived in Los Angeles from his native Cleveland, Ohio. He is an A-list voice actor, having played such famous animated characters as: Jonny Quest, Speed Racer, The Human Torch, Elmer Fudd, Timon & Snowbell, just to name a few. His animated television appearances include: Robot Chicken, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Animaniacs, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, My Life as a Teenage Robot, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, The Avengers and many more.

His best known roles in Video Game franchises have been his work providing the English voices of Raiden (Metal Gear Series), Axel (Kingdom Hearts Series), Kolyat Krios (Mass Effect), Henry (No More Heroes), Arlon & Rexus Ragespear (Guild Wars 2) and Reno in (Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children) the motion picture.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg in the Video Game world in which Quinton’s also portrayed: SPIDERMAN, VENOM, BANSHEE, ABYSS, MERRY, GOLLUM, CROIX & ORPHEN.

If you’re hip to the Anime scene you’ll know him as: Kon in Bleach, Iruka-sensei and Deidara in Naruto, Marcus Damon in Digimon Data Squad, Carl/Phantom in Blood+, Shingo Shouji in Initial D, Dr. Riddles & Victoreem in Zach Bell to name a few.

He is well known in the industry for his skills as an impressionist and improvisationalist, having played the role of Paul McCartney and tested for NBC’s Saturday Night Live and Comedy Network’s The Daily Show. Quinton is always happy to do the animated and anime characters he is known for when he performs “Live” and rolls out his favorite impressions and yours!

 

Rob Paulsen
The goal of bringing absolute believability to a fictional character, live-action or animated, is what every actor strives for. Those committed to their craft that combine experience, passion and skill are likely to succeed. Those gifted with exceptional talent who focus on maximizing their potential by finding their own niche, quickly break apart from the pack. After years of honing their craft and consistently delivering memorable performances in which the character impacts an indelible image on the viewer, the public and the industry take notice, singling out the best.

“I’m getting paid to do what got me in trouble in the 7th grade,” jests Rob Paulsen, who is one of the most popular voices in animation and won a Daytime Emmy in 1999 as “Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program” for Pinky and the Brain (WB). Though nominated twice previously, the victory was especially sweet due to the most formidable competition ever – fellow nominees Louis Anderson, Ernest Borgnine, Dom DeLuise, and Jeffrey Tambor. In addition to his Emmy, Rob won back-to-back Annie Awards in 1997 and 1998. “I absolutely love what I do and thank my lucky stars for twenty five years of full time employment in this business,” he admits. Interestingly, in those twenty five years, Rob now has the unique opportunity to have gone full circle with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series; having voiced Raphael in the original show, he is now voicing Donatello in Nickelodeon’s latest version of TMNT.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Rob “loved cartoons like most kids ” and aspired to be a professional hockey player. “Fortunately, I learned pretty quickly that I had neither the talent, temperament nor dental insurance to pursue a career as a pro hockey player”. Ironically, acting was something to “fall back on” and Rob has voiced beloved characters in several iconic animated series: Yakko Warner in Animaniacs and Carl Wheezer in Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, but may be best known to animation fans the world over as the voice of the boisterous and energetic laboratory mouse Pinky in two hit series Steven Spielberg Presents Pinky and The Brain and Pinky, Elmyra, and The Brain for Warner Brothers.

“It’s a treat to portray a complex character,” Rob explains about Pinky, a gangling mouse with funny teeth, a head filled with clouds and an inane imagination that is punctuated with a staccato laugh. “Besides… where else could I find a job where emotional outbursts and odd exclamations like ‘Egad!’, ‘Narf!’, ‘Poit!’, ‘Splonk!’, and ‘Zort!’ are allowed?” With over 2,000 half-hours of animation to his credit, Rob’s versatility shines in his starring roles as the voices of Yakko, Dr. Scratch’N’Sniff and Pinky in the Peabody and the two-time Emmy award-winning series, Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs also for Warner Brothers. Currently, he can be heard as Peck in Back at the Barnyard, Birdbrain in T.U.F.F. Puppy, Jack Fenton in Danny Phantom and various characters, including Mark Chang in Fairly Odd Parents, all on Nickelodeon, as well as a number of Disney projects including The Little Mermaid III; Ariel’s Beginning, Jacques and the Grand Duke in Cinderella and the role of Bobble in the Tinkerbell DVD series. For young fans of Play House Disney, Rob provides the voices of Al in Can you teach my Alligator Manners? and Ze Fronk in Tasty Time with Ze Fronk and Toodles in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Paulsen’s extensive credits include on-camera roles in numerous motion pictures including Body Double, Stewardess School, Eyes of Fire, The Perfect Match, and Warlock. His television acting credits include guest starring roles on MacGyver and St. Elsewhere. Additionally, he is one of the most sought-after voice actors in the commercial arena, performing in over 1000 of them including the voice of Mr. Opportunity on behalf of Honda automobiles from 2004 thru 2010. Rob is also the host of a successful podcast, Talkin’ Toons, available at www.robpaulsenlive.com and iTunes.

Realizing how fortunate he is and passionate about giving back, Rob supports various charitable organizations, particularly Operation Smile, The Wounded Warriors Project and cancer and Muscular Dystrophy research.

A certified “gearhead”, Rob is also passionate about sports cars and motorcycles in addition to being an avid golfer. He also still laces up the ole skates every now and then to scratch that hockey itch. Rob spends the majority of his free time with his wife, Parrish, son Ash and two Yorkshire terriers, Pooshie and Tala.

 

Jess Harnell
Peabody Award Winner and Emmy Award Nominee Jess Harnell has been named by Variety Magazine as one of the top ten voice actors in the world. With literally hundreds of roles in feature films such as all three “Transformers” films, all three “Toy Story” films and “Up”, animated series from “Steven Spielberg’s Animaniacs” to “Spongebob Squarepants” to “The Simpsons” and The Cleveland Show, thousands of promos and commercials and even announcing “America’s Funniest Home Videos” for the last fifteen years, Jess has done it all. His celebrity impersonations have led to him being featured on Entertainment Tonight no less than four times as the top voice match in the business. With a rock star look and huge vocal range to match, Jess had a stint singing lead with mega band Journey and now fronts the world’s first live metal/pop mash up band “Rock Sugar”, sharing stages with bands from Aerosmith to AC/DC to Kiss and logging millions of hits on youtube. And with seven new animated series currently in production and a worldwide summer tour with Rock Sugar, for Jess Harnell the best is yet to come.

Jim Cummings
“Tell the kid he’s got it,” said the legendary Mel Blanc with a smile, after listening to a young man’s first demo tape of cartoon character voices. The year was 1984, “the kid,” was Jim Cummings. Since then, the kid has gone on to give life and voice to some of America’s most beloved animal Characters, even a few of the late Mel Blanc’s, and he was even nominated for an Emmy Award for his work as the lovable Tigger on Disney Channel’s “My Friends Tigger and Pooh,” in which he also voices everyone’s favorite bear, Winnie the Pooh.

Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Cummings spent Saturday mornings riveted to the TV screen as he mimicked the characters in his favorite cartoons, all the while dreaming that one day he would voice them himself. At age 19, he moved to New Orleans, where he performed as a drummer, a singer, a deck hand on riverboats, and even designed and created Mardi Gras floats, all the while absorbing the rich characters and accents that would someday find expression in animation.

Years later, Cummings relocated to Southern California and managed a video store as he pursued his childhood dream. He gave his first demo to a customer who was also a movie producer, and the rest, as they say, is history. In 1984, Cummings landed his first role as Lionel the lion, in Disney Channel’s “Dumbo Circus.” During his illustrious career, he has worked extensively for the Walt Disney Studios voicing classic characters such as Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, King Louis, Kaa the Snake, Pete (formerly peg legged Pete), and more. His many other credits include Darkwing Duck, Bonkers, Fat Cat, and Monterey Jack on “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers,” Don Kamage on “Tailspin,” and too many others to mention here.

Cummings has done scores of voices for Warner Bros, as well, including Taz the Tazmanian Devil himself, Steven Spielberg’s “Animaniacs,” “Tiny Toon Adventures,” “Batman,” “Pinky and the Brain,” “Tazmania,” “Duck Dodgers,” and more. Other credits include “King of the Hill,” “Bump in the Night,” “Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,” “The Replacments,” “The Addams Family,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Star Wars Clone Wars,” “The Simpsons,” “Barnyard,” and “Catdog.”

Not Limited to the small screen, Cummings has acted in several blockbuster feature films for Dreamworks including “Shrek,” “Antz,” “Kung Fu Panda’s Furious 5,” “Hook,” “The Bee Movie,” “Balto,” and more. His credits read like a top-list of animated and live-action films. Credits include “Who framed Roger Rabbit,” “The Little Mermaid,” ‘Aladdin,” “Tarzan,” “Pocahontas,” “The Lion King,” “Babe: Pig in the City,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Brother Bear 2,” “The Princess and The Frog” to name a few.

Cummings’ uncanny ability to sing in character and voice match for stars who are, in his words, “great actors, just not great singers,” has led to many platinum and gold records for soundtracks like “Anastasia,” “The Lion King,” “Fox and the Hound,” “Pocahontas,” “Hercules,” and more. He was also AC, the lead singer of the famed California Raisins.

As of late, Jim is enjoying being the only American performer in the primary cast of “Gnomeo and Juliet,” where he plays the amorous garden flamingo, Featherstone. He is excited for the release on July 15th of the sequel to the animated Disney Classic, “Winnie the Pooh” in which he plays both Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, too! He will also be playing an evil African Warlord, Budzo, in the upcoming feature film, “Zambezia,” which is being released later this year.

Cummings’ work in voice over includes hundreds of television and radio commercials, movie trailers, promos, and videogames. “Pretty much anything involving microphones, music, noise in general, and padded walls,” jokes the affable actor, and “remember, only you can prevent forest fires,” so says Smokey the Bear, aka Jim Cummings. No matter how busy Cummings, schedule may be, it all stops when Famous Fone Friends of Make a Wish Foundation call on behalf of a very ill child and distraught family in need of a phone call from their favorite cartoon character. “Just bringing a respite, however brief, and perhaps a smile and giggle or two, means so much to the child and their family. I consider it a true blessing to be able to do that.”

Cummings is a proud father of four and resides somewhere in California with his beautiful two younger daughters Grace and Lulu Rose… and their critters.

Richard Horvitz
Fans of animation will recognize Richard Horvitz as the voice of many iconic characters, including INVADER ZIM, Billy from THE GRIM ADVENTURES OF BILLY AND MANDY, Daggett from THE ANGRY BEAVERS and Alpha 5 from the original MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS. In addition to Richard’s animation work, gamers will recognize him from his many video game roles in such classics as PSYCHONAUTS (RAZ), RATCHET AND CLANK series (Zoni, Pollyx, Zurgo) DESTROY ALL HUMANS (Orthopox) and SKYLANDERS (Kaos) to name a few. Richard began his acting career on camera and many may recall his role as Alan Eakian in Paramount Pictures 1980′s cult classic SUMMER SCHOOL. www.richardhorvitz.com

 

10 Years of Rock and Shock

Rock And Shock returns for their Tenth Anniversary show on October 18-20, 2013 at the DCU Center and Worcester Palladium! Guests include Robert Englund, Robert Patrick, Michael Rooker, John Ratzenberger, and many more! Featuring a Kevin Smith & Jason Mewes screening and performances by Danzig,  Twiztid with The R.O.C., Otep, Butcher Babies, and more!!

RSVP on Facebook!

The convention doors will be open to the public at 5pm on Friday, October 18 and at 11am on Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20 at the DCU Center located at 50 Foster St, Worcester, MA 01608.

Nightly live performances will take place at the Worcester Palladium, located at 261 Main Street, Worcester, one block over from the DCU Center. Door times for these events are listed below.
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Guests Include:
Robert Englund
Robert Patrick
Michael Rooker
John Ratzenberger
Katharine Isabelle
Jordan Ladd
Twiggy Ramirez
Kane Hodder
Andrew Divoff
Jennifer Jostyn
Lew Temple
IronE Singleton
Jack Ketchum
Joe Knetter
Sarah French
James Balsamo
Gangrel
Maria Kanellis
and more TBA!

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Performances by:
Thursday, 10/17 (pre-party) – Between the Buried & Me with The Faceless, The Contortionist, and The Safety Fire
Friday, 10/18 – Kevin Smith & Jason Mewes – Jay & Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie and Q&A
Saturday, 10/19 – Danzig with Doyle, Otep, Butcher Babies, Texas Hippie Coalition, Stolen Babies, and A Pale Horse Named Death
Sunday, 10/20 – Twiztid with The R.O.C., Blaze, Madchild, and Aqualeo
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VIP PACKAGE

VIP packages are limited and are available at tickets.com and the Palladium box office.

($175 advance only)
Includes:
*Access to the movie on Friday and the concerts at The Palladium on Saturday & Sunday, as well as ALL 3 DAYS of the Rock & Shock Horror Convention next door @ The DCU Center.
*Access to the 10/17 Rock and Shock Pre-Party Concert w/ Between The Buried And Me
*Special Seating at the Jay & Silent Bob Super Groovy Cartoon Movie on Friday, Oct. 18th (Note: THE MOVIE ON FRIDAY IS RATED R. People under the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian with them for this event.)
*Access to the After Party on Friday, Oct. 18th (takes place at the Palladium after the movie)
*Reserved Seating at the Q&A’s and Panels at the convention
*Special Laminate
*Exclusive R&S T-Shirt
*Swag Bag
*All VIP PACKAGE PURCHASERS WILL BE ENTERED TO WIN TICKETS TO MEET KEVIN SMITH & JASON MEWES
***Customers will be contacted via email about a week before the event with more info.***

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CONVENTION ONLY TICKETS

Convention ONLY tickets are available at Ticketmaster, DCU Center Box Office & Palladium Box Office

3-day convention (ONLY $50 advance, $60 day of)

Friday only convention ($20 advance, $25 day of)

Saturday only convention ($20 advance, $25 day of)

Sunday only convention ($20 advance, $25 day of)

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COMBO TICKETS – DCU CONVENTION CENTER & THE PALLADIUM

Combo tickets are available at tickets.com and the Palladium box office.

WEEKEND PASS – Convention / Movie / Concert ($90 advance / $105 day of)

***General Admission FLOOR Seating for the Movie on Friday, Oct. 18th Only, Saturday & Sunday events are both General Admission***

WEEKEND PASS – Convention / Movie / Concert ($80 advance / $95 day of)

***General Admission BALCONY Seating for the Movie on Friday, Oct. 18th Only, Saturday & Sunday events are both General Admission***

FRIDAY ONLY – Convention / Movie Combo – ($45 advance, $50 day of)

***FRIDAY ONLY GENERAL ADMISSION BALCONY SEATING *** Convention / Movie Combo JAY & SILENT BOB’S SUPER GROOVY CARTOON MOVIE and the JAY AND SILENT BOB GET OLD PODCAST w/ Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes

FRIDAY ONLY Convention / Movie Combo – ($35 advance, $40 day of)

***FRIDAY ONLY GENERAL ADMISSION FLOOR SEATING *** JAY & SILENT BOB’S SUPER GROOVY CARTOON MOVIE and the JAY AND SILENT BOB GET OLD PODCAST w/ Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes

SATURDAY ONLY (Convention + General Admission for Danzig – $35 advance, $40 day of)

SUNDAY ONLY (Convention + General Admission for Twiztid – $25 advance, $30 day of)

CA – Forever Evil Signing

Writer and Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics Geoff Johns appears at Beach Ball Comics on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm! He’ll be here to meet fans and sign the very first issue of this seven issue universe-wide series (featuring the art of David Finch!)

RSVP on Facebook!

Beach Ball Comics
3024 W Ball Rd Ste G, Anaheim, CA 92804

Robot Chicken Skewers DC Comics (But Mostly Aquaman)

This week Adult Swim and DC Entertainment release the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special on Blu-ray and DVD! Like a medieval jester speaking truth to power, Robot Chicken’s spoofs and irreverent humor allow them to point out the inconsistencies and flaws of the DC Universe. For instance, they bring Superman’s power to erase memories with a kiss to it’s obvious conclusion and what real nerds would do with the power of a Green Lantern ring. The show also makes several deep pulls from the DC mythology citing characters like B’dg and Mister Banjo (I had to look them up too).

While everybody gets lampooned at some point, the overarching theme of the special would be how much of a tool is Aquaman. All the hard work writer and Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns has done in the comics to establish Aquaman as a cool character is wiped away within the first ten seconds of the show. Which is especially perplexing since Johns is also a writer and executive producer of Robot Chicken.

The Blu-ray/DVD contains over two hours of bonus features including commentaries by the cast and crew, footage of the Robot Chicken team cosplaying for the special’s premiere, and a tour of DC Entertainment’s west coast office. Fun fact: Robot Chicken co-creator has an Arashikage ninja clan tattoo on the inside of his right arm.

Press Release:

This July, the Robot Chicken television series heads back to Blu-ray™ and DVD – and this time, the DC Comics universe is at the center of its Emmy® Award-winning stop-motion lampooning. Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, in partnership with DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, continues to build its repertoire of dishing out hilarious sketch comedy parodies in the all-new Adult Swim Blu-ray and DVD release, Robot Chicken DC Comics Special. The special, which boasts an all-star cast as well as characters Robot Chicken fans have grown to love, provides a unique take on some of the most iconic superheroes from the DC Comics universe – along with others whose powers can’t really be called “super.” It will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on July 9, 2013 for the suggested retail price of $19.98 and $14.98, respectively.

With more than two hours of bonus content created by the special’s producers, including deleted scenes, commentaries, outtakes and more, the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special Blu-ray and DVD is a must-own addition for fans of Robot Chicken and DC Comics alike. The special’s all-star cast includes series co-creator and executive producer Seth Green as Batman, Robin and the put-upon Aquaman; Neil Patrick Harris as Two-Face; Alfred Molina as Lex Luthor; Nathan Fillion as the Green Lantern; Megan Fox as Lois Lane; series and special writer/voice talent Breckin Meyer as Superman, plus Abe Benrubi, Alex Borstein, Clare Grant, Tara Strong, series co-creator and executive producer Matthew Senreich, series co-head writer/co-executive producer Tom Root, series director Zeb Wells and Kevin Shinick as co-producer, writer and narrator.

The list of special features included on the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special Blu-ray and DVD include:

· The Making of Robot Chicken DC Comics Special
· Robot Chicken DC Comics Special’s Aquaman Origin Story
· Chicken Nuggets
· Writers’ Commentary
· Actors’ Commentary
· DC Entertainment Tour
· Stoopid Alter Egos
· Outtakes
· Deleted Sketches
· 5.2 Questions

Executive producers for the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special include Green, Senreich, DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, Warner Bros. Animation’s Executive Vice President, Creative Affairs Sam Register, and Stoopid Buddies Stoodios’ John Harvatine IV and Eric Towner. Green directs the 23-minute special with a script by co-head writers/co-executive producers Douglas Goldstein and Root along with Robot Chicken series writers Green, Senreich, Mike Fasolo, Zeb Wells, Matthew Beans, DC Entertainment’s Johns, Men at Work and Franklin & Bash’s Meyer and MAD’s Shinick. Janet Dimon is supervising producer and Ethan Marak is co-producer.

Nerd HQ Returns to SDCC 2013

Press Release:

Zachary Levi and The Nerd Machine, a multimedia company that brings the best of apparel, accessories, and both long and short form video content to its global clientele, announced today that Nerd HQ will return to San Diego July 18th-21st in a new location, Petco Park (100 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101), home of the San Diego Padres.

Over the last three years, Nerd HQ has continually expanded and given fans a unique experience while in San Diego for the international comic book and entertainment festival. This year Nerd HQ will again provide fans with a home base where they can experience cutting edge technology and gaming showcases, exciting autograph signings, cornerstone events and exclusive parties, including Levi’s annual NERD Party.

“With the move to Petco Park, we can bring fans an even bigger, more dynamic experience during Nerd HQ 2013.” said Zachary Levi, Founder of The Nerd Machine. “Moving to the ballpark is a major step in the growth of Nerd HQ and will allow us to expand our tradition of offering exclusive access to new games, technology, and the opportunity for intimate conversations with some of the Hollywood’s most influential celebrities and creatives.”

Returning this year is the very popular philanthropic panel series, “Conversations for a Cause” which will stream through The Nerd Machine YouTube page, NerdMachineTV. Last year’s panels raised $140,000 for Operation Smile and consisted of some of the most talked about films, television shows and video games, including: “Chuck,” “Doctor Who,” “Grimm,” “NTSF,” “Robot Chicken,” “The Man with the Iron Fists,” “Expendables 2,” “Tomb Raider” and “Twilight.” Panelists included many of today’s top actors, actresses and film and game makers including Ashley Greene, Guillermo del Toro, Jason Ritter, Jared Padalecki, Joss Whedon, Kellan Lutz, Lucy Liu, Nathan Fillion, RZA, Seth Green, Stan Lee, Terry Crews, and Zachary Levi, among many others. This year’s panels, which will be announced in the coming days, are sure to bring fun surprises and intriguing discussions. Individual tickets will sell for $22, with proceeds benefiting Operation Smile. For more information, schedule updates and tickets please visit www.thenerdmachine.com.

Facebook: The NERD Machine, https://www.facebook.com/thenerdmachine, Twitter: @thenerdmachine,
Instagram: Nerdmachine, Vine: The Nerd Machine

ABOUT THE NERD MACHINE – The Nerd Machine is a multimedia company dedicated in bringing its global clientele the best of apparel, accessories, software, hardware, music, and both long and short form video content. We not only put a premium on customer satisfaction and input but also collaboration, as we believe that some of the very best ideas may come out of the very community we serve. Our goal is to nurture an environment where community interaction thrives, creating the best and most forward thinking products available on the market. And, philosophically speaking, spearheading a “mission of redefinition” that changes the global perception of what a nerd is, and thereby allow everyone to celebrate the nerd in themselves. The question is: What are you nerdy about?

CA – Robot Chicken Writers Panel

Come see the writers of Adult Swim’s “Robot Chicken” tell all in this night of storytelling on Tuesday April 16, 2013 at 7:00 pm. Are they as f*cked up as you think they are? Come to find out!

Rachel Bloom (Robot Chicken, Just for Laughs)
Matthew Beans (Robot Chicken, Mad)
Mehar Sethi (Robot Chicken, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
Erik Weiner (Robot Chicken, Boardwalk Empire)
Douglas Goldstein (Co-Head Writer of Robot Chicken)
Jason Reich (Robot Chicken, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart)

$8 online / $10 at the door

Meltdown Comics
7522 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

CA – 501st Legion Induction

Kevin Shinick, creator and main voice talent for MAD, the hit Warner Bros. comedy series airing on Cartoon Network, will be inducted into the legendary 501st Legion on Wednesday, February 27, at Meltdown Comics at 7:00 PM. Shinick earned an Emmy® Award and three Annie Awards for his work as a  writer/producer and voice talent on ROBOT CHICKEN, including a third this month for 2012′s ROBOT CHICKEN: DC COMICS SPECIAL.  Shinick has written comics for both Marvel and DC, and is also an actor with recent appearances on GRIMM and David E. Kelley’s MONDAY MORNINGS.  Shinick will be inducted into the legendary 501st Legion for his work on the ROBOT CHICKEN: STAR WARS specials and for his numerous MAD: STAR WARS parodies, including STAR WARS EARNED STRIPES, the reality series spoof that’s part of MAD’s upcoming season three finale airing Monday, March 4th at 8 pm on Cartoon Network. The Legion seeks to promote interest in STAR WARS through the building and wearing of quality costumes, and to facilitate the use of these costumes for STAR WARS-related events as well as contributions to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work. Meltdown Comics is located at 7522 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90046,(323) 851-7223.

Shinick proudly proclaims, “My happy place was definitely sitting in my room with a pile of comic books or in a darkened movie theatre watching films like STAR WARS,” and his early ambition led him to become a talented actor, writer/producer and showrunner who also creates his own projects and writes comic books. He starred in a slew of Broadway shows (thanks to his mentor, the late Tony Randall). He wrote the first SPIDER-MAN stage production that was a hit at Radio City Music Hall and subsequent sold-out 40-city tour. In 2012, he was Emmy ®-nominated in the same category he’d previously won but this time, for his own show, MAD. Shinick competed against himself at this month’s Annie Awards for both MAD and the RCDC, winning for the latter. Last fall, Shinick penned a two-issue arc of Avenging Spider-Man for Marvel comics. His humorous spin on the super hero featured Deadpool and the Hypno Hustler was a hit with both critics and fans. Shinick also spent two season as the host of PBS’ Emmy-winning series, WHERE IN TIME IS CARMEN SAN DIEGO?, a time traveling sci-fi quiz show that landed Shinick in teen magazines, onto trading cards and into his own action figure.

Now, the legendary 501st Legion inducts Shinick into their ranks. According to the 501st, “In appreciation of your contributions to the STAR WARS legacy, Kevin Shinick is welcomed as a honorary friend of 501st Legion fan organization. The Legion is an all-volunteer organization formed for the express purpose of bringing together costume enthusiasts under a collective identity within which to operate.

About the 501st Legion
The 501st Legion began in 1997 as a simple fan website called Detention Block 2551. Today, the term “501st” yields nearly one million results in a Google search. Among the 501st’s most notable events are annual appearances at Dragon*Con, San Diego Comic-Con, and Disney’s Star Wars Weekends. All 501st members operate on a volunteer basis, donating countless hours of their time to charity fundraisers throughout the world. The 501st Legion’s extensive list of Honorary Members includes the likes of Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Seth Green and George Lucas himself. In 2002, the 501st Legion appeared on stage during a No Doubt concert as the band played their own striking rendition of the “Imperial March.” Among the biggest collectors of 501st t-shirts are Star Wars actors Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett) and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca). Every 501st member is assigned a unique Legion ID number for life. Some members even have their number tattooed to show their passion for the Legion. Although Stormtroopers make up the majority of 501st members, other acceptable costumes types include villains such as Tusken Raiders, Bounty Hunters and Sith Lords. The 501st Legion’s worldwide ranks are organized into distinct units called Garrisons, Squads, and Outposts. An independent documentary film called “Heart of an Empire” premiered in 2007 chronicling the life and times of the Fighting 501st Legion. The 501st’s ongoing charity work includes such notable beneficiaries as the Ronald McDonald House, the Special Olympics, Toys for Tots, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The 501st Legion takes great pride in making dozens of hospital visits each year to brighten the lives of sick children. In 2005, LucasArts paid tribute to the 501st Legion by making them the central characters of the video game Star Wars: Battlefront II. In October 2005, starwars.com added the 501st Legion to its growing databank of officially-recognized characters with behind-the-scenes details recognizing the original fan organization. In 2006, Toy manufacturer Hasbro immortalized the 501st in plastic by producing an exclusive 501st Legion Stormtrooper action figure whose packaging was designed around the group’s popular trading card series. As early as 1998, the 501st Legion’s ranks included several female members dispelling the notion that a Star Wars costuming club would have a predominately male base. Today’s Legion boasts a 24% female membership. In July 2007, Lucasfilm and Hasbro produced an action figure of R2-KT, a pink Imperial droid honoring the memory of Katie Johnson, daughter of Legion Founder Albin Johnson. Subsequently, $100,000 was donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to make dreams come true for sick children. Emphasizing the fact that the 501st is a global organization, the Legion had an active member on each of the Earth’s seven continents in 2007—including a trooper stationed in Antarctica.

Meltdown Comics
7522 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

CA – Animated Voices of Christmas

Rachael MacFarlane (Hayley Smith on American Dad!) hosts a holiday musical revue to benefit Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles at the Catalina Jazz Club on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at 7:30 pm. Special guests include: Dee Bradley Baker, Alex Borstein, Corey Burton, Grey DeLisle, Anna Graves, Seth Green, Scott Grimes, Jennifer Hale, Jess Harnell, Kevin Michael Richardson, Tara Strong, Cree Summer, Kari Wahlgren and more!

$50.00 tickets available at the link.

Catalina Jazz Club
6725 W. Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone: 323.466.2210

Adult Swim Panels & Signings at NYCC 2012

Press Release:

Adult Swim will host panels and talent signings for fan-favorite series Robot Chicken, China, IL, The Venture Bros., Childrens Hospital, NTSF:SD:SUV::, and Superjail! at New York Comic Con at the Jacob K. Javits Center, Friday, October 12 and Saturday, October 13. See the full lineup below and please note all times, dates and locations are subject to change.

PANELS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2012

The Venture Bros.  Location: IGN Theater  Time: 5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.  Talent: Jackson Publick (co-creator) and Doc Hammer (co-creator)   Show creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer, perennial Comic-Con favorites, will discuss their original series, upcoming Halloween Special and answer fan questions. Launched on Adult Swim in August 2004, The Venture Bros. is an inspired spoof of 1960s action cartoon shows such as “Johnny Quest.” The animated series follows the bizarre misadventures of the Venture family, which includes world-renowned Dr. Venture, his dimwitted sons Hank and Dean as well as Brock Samson, their bodyguard assigned by the government to keep an eye on the family who is then promptly forgotten by the Feds.

ADULT SWIM: Robot Chicken  Location: IGN Theater  Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.  Talent: Seth Green (co-creator), Matt Senreich (co-creator), Kevin Shinick (writer and voice talent), and Clare Grant (voice talent)   Seth Green (co-creator) and Matthew Senreich (co-creator), Kevin Shinick (MAD), and Clare Grant (voice talent) discuss season six of their popular Adult Swim series Robot Chicken. Created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, the Emmy Award-winning Robot Chicken uses stop-motion animation to bring pop-culture parodies to life in a modern take on the variety/sketch show format.

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13

ADULT SWIM: China, IL  Location: Room 1A10  Time: 2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.  Talent: Brad Neely (creator), Daniel Weidenfeld (executive producer) and Hannibal Buress (voice talent)   Join show creator Brad Neely, executive producer Daniel Weidenfeld and comedian Hannibal Buress (The Eric Andre Show, SNL) as they discuss their new Adult Swim animated hit China, IL and preview what’s to come in season two. In the animated series China, IL, Frank and Steve Smith are brothers who teach in the history department of a state university. They also happen to be legends in their own minds who will often sacrifice facts, lessons and syllabi for the sake of being awesome. Created by Brad Neely and produced by Titmouse, Inc., China, IL is a reverse Animal House where the teachers are crazy and the students just want to learn.

ADULT SWIM: Superjail!  Location: Room 1A10  Time: 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.  Talent: Christy Karacas (creator and executive producer), Stephen Warbrick (creator and executive producer), Mike Carlo (animation director), Janine DiTullio (story editor), Richard Mather (layout artist and voice talent) and David Wain (voice talent)   Join show creators and executive producers Christy Karacas and Stephen Warbrick with voice talent David Wain (Wanderlust, Childrens Hospital) and layout artist and voice talent Richard Mather, animation director Mike Carlo, and story editor Janine Ditullio, as they discuss their Adult Swim series Superjail! and show never-before-seen footage! Fast-paced animation, flying guts, creepy underlings, and plenty of prison fights dominate the Warden’s chaotic prison in Superjail!. The blood flows like wine and the line between criminal and keeper gets blurrier by the minute. Picture a kaleidoscope of entrails meets Jon Waters meets Shawshank damnation plus a sweaty muscle woman minus primetime sensibility. You are hereby guilty of being given what you asked for.

ADULT SWIM: Childrens Hospital/NTSF:SD:SUV::  Location: Room 1A10  Time: 4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.  Talent: Rob Corddry (creator and star), Paul Scheer (creator and star), Jonathan Stern (executive producer), David Wain (director and star), Curtis Gwinn (co-executive producer).   Join the stars and producers behind Adult Swim’s live-action comedies Childrens Hospital and NTSF:SD:SUV::. Childrens Hospital creator and star Rob Corddry (Hot Tub Time Machine), executive producer Jonathan Stern (Newsreaders), director and star David Wain (Wanderlust), are joined by NTSF:SD:SUV:: creator and star Paul Scheer (The League), and co-executive producer Curtis Gwinn (Fat Guy Stuck in Internet) to discuss both series.

 

AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGS

Saturday, October 13

Robot Chicken Signing  Location: Room 1E17  Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Talent: Seth Green (co-creator), Matt Senreich (co-creator)

Venture Bros Signing  Location: Room 1E17  Time: 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.  Talent: Jackson Publick (co-creator), Doc Hammer (co-creator)

Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults. Airing nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET/PT), Adult Swim is basic cable’s #1 network with persons 18-34 and 18-49, and is seen in 99 million U.S. homes.   Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

CA – Avenging Spider-Man Signing

Writer Kevin Schnick signs at Golden Apple Comics on Wednesday September 12, 2012 at 10:00am.

Golden Apple Comics
7018 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038

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