Comic-Con 2013: TV preview

Subject: Comic-Con 2013: TV preview Fri 05 Jul 2013, 12:29 am

TV has been a relatively new component of the annual San Diego Comic-Con, which once again takes over all of that lovely city's downtown area from July 17 to July 21. It's only with the explosion of genre TV in the last few years that the producers of those TV shows, and the networks behind them, have realized that Comic-Con can offer them the same kind of exposure that the movie studios have enjoyed there.

In fact, television -- both cable and network -- has become a very big deal at Comic-Con, with TV panels moving gradually from smaller conference rooms to larger ballrooms to even the massive Hall H itself. Crowds for TV panels have become as sizable as those for the big movie presentations, and displays and exhibits for TV series and networks on the main convention floor have become as spectacular as any mounted for movies, gaming or comic book publishers.

With all that said, we expect to see quite a comprehensive lineup of TV panels at this year's convention, and we'll break them down below by network/cable channel, including returning shows and new ones (TV shows do individual panels and are not part of group presentations like the movies are). So put down the clicker and come to San Diego!

CBS: Like clockwork, you can count on seeing "The Big Bang Theory" at Comic-Con -- after all, tens of thousands of those guys attend the convention for real. "Person of Interest" is confirmed to return as well, as the sci-fi/crime show continues to grow in popularity. No word yet on whether "Elementary" will come back, but "How I Met Your Mother" will make its Comic-Con debut with a panel featuring stars Josh Radnor, Cobie Smulders, Jason Segel, Neil Patrick Harris and Alyson Hannigan. As for new shows, the upcoming "Intelligence" will make its case with "Lost" alumnus Josh Holloway starring as an intelligence operative with a microchip in his brain, and we certainly hope to see the newly premiered "Under the Dome" show up as well.

NBC: The mythology-based "Grimm" is coming back to Comic-Con, while the always controversial "Community" will also encore in the wake of creator Dan Harmon's triumphant return to the show. Look also for victory laps and second-season previews for this past season's "Revolution" and "Hannibal," both confirmed to attend. Creator Bryan Fuller, star Hugh Dancy and director-producer David Slade are confirmed for the "Hannibal" panel, which will take place on Thursday, July 18, at 6:45 p.m. As for new programs, NBC will give us a first look at its "Dracula" series with Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, but there's no word yet on whether "Believe," the highly hyped collaboration of J.J. Abrams and Alfonso Cuaron, will turn up.

ABC: With Marvel already in the house at Comic-Con on the movie front, the studio will also be bringing Joss Whedon's eagerly awaited "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." to the convention. Expect to see Whedon, Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson) and other stars at what's sure to be a standing-room-only Friday panel. The hit fairy-tale-based show "Once Upon a Time" is also coming back, and this time it's bringing its new spin-off, "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland," which will make its on-air premiere this fall. Look for a double-header for those shows on Saturday. "Castle" won't have a panel this year, but we're sure Nathan Fillion will be there anyway.

FOX: The fourth network is bringing a ton of shows to Comic-Con this year -- although "Glee" will not be one of them. The network's twisted new animated cop comedy, "Murder Police," will star in a Thursday panel ahead of its 2013-2014 debut, while Friday will be a big FOX day, with no less than three panels: "Sleepy Hollow," the time-travel show that puts Ichabod Crane in the modern world; everyone's favorite forensic anthropology comedy "Bones," with star David Boreanaz and the executive producers bringing previously unseen footage; and the animated comedy "Bob's Burgers." The FOX parade will continue on Saturday with a triple decker of panels on "American Dad," "Family Guy" and "The Simpsons," which will celebrate its 25th anniversary. Also confirmed: the macabre hit serial killer show "The Following," which is certain to draw a large crowd, and "Almost Human," the upcoming sci-fi series starring Karl Urban as a future cop who's teamed with an android (this one will get a panel and pilot screening).

The CW: With "Arrow" a huge hit, the DC Comics superhero saga will make a triumphant visit to Comic-Con this year. Expect a huge crowd, stars galore (lead Stephen Amell is already confirmed to attend) and teasers for Season 2. The network also has four new shows coming to the convention ahead of their fall-winter premieres: "The Tomorrow People," about a new breed of humans with highly evolved powers; "The 100," about a ship of juvenile delinquents sent to re-colonize a post-apocalyptic Earth; "Star-Crossed," which sounds like a "Twilight" knockoff, except this time the human girl falls in love with an alien boy; and "The Originals," a "Vampire Diaries" spin-off focusing on the Mikaelson siblings. "Vampire Diaries" itself will also return (Paul Wesley, Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder are all confirmed), as well as Comic-Con perennial "Supernatural" (stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles are confirmed to attend again).

HBO: It's all about "Game of Thrones." The show is coming off a massively successful, acclaimed and genuinely shocking third season, and is one of the series that can now easily fit into Hall H and pack the 6,000-capacity room. Some of the show's stars should be on hand, along with author George R.R. Martin and showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. With Season 4 yet to start production, they won't have much to show us, but it's not like fans of the books don't know what's coming. The annual "True Blood" panel should be back as well, although things will be different without series creator Alan Ball to lead things. Still, we've caught this gang's act before and if they do come to the convention, you can look forward to the usual fun and jokes on the stage.

AMC: "The Walking Dead." The show packed Hall H ahead of Season 3 last year, and with ratings skyrocketing, they may have to move the thing to nearby Petco Park if this keeps up. Filming is underway now for Season 4, so there's always the chance we'll see some new footage, but also look for new showrunner Scott M. Gimple to introduce himself and smooth over Glen Mazzara's controversial exit at the end of last season with help from creator Robert Kirkman. Cast members likely to show as well are Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes), Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon), Steven Yeun (Glenn), Lauren Cohan (Maggie Greene), Danai Gurira (Michonne) and David Morrissey (The Governor). As for other AMC shows, you might see a panel on "The Killing" and possibly a farewell appearance for "Breaking Bad."

BBC America: There are two questions for BBC America: Will Matt Smith attend his final Comic-Con as the Doctor, and will the new Doctor be announced right there in San Diego? We'd say the odds are strong for the former, less so for the latter, but you never know. In the meantime, the line is probably forming already for Smith's goodbye appearance, which is another shoo-in for Hall H if the schedule permits. With "Orphan Black" on the rise as well after a solid first season, we expect to see that show's creative team and breakout star Tatiana Maslany in the house as well.

Syfy: We know that "Defiance" and "Haven" are confirmed to appear in San Diego, but most likely the whole gang will be in town. That means panels on "Being Human," "Lost Girl," "Continuum" and "Warehouse 13" are all strong possibilities as well. "Defiance" is a huge priority for the channel, so expect a large push for that, and "Being Human" could even be a contender for Hall H status. As for new shows, we're not sure if the new horror anthology being produced by Jamie Foxx will have anything ready in time to show us, and other newly announced programs like "Helix" and several reality shows are also in various stages of readiness. Look for more soon.

Miscellaneous: There are numerous other cable networks offering up series that are likely to show up at the San Diego Convention Center, and FX leads the way with three shows confirmed to be there and a fourth that's almost a lock. The FOX offshoot will present panels on "Sons of Anarchy," "Wilfred" and "Archer," and while an "American Horror Story: Coven" appearance is not confirmed yet, we would be surprised if creator Ryan Murphy didn't want to preview the new/old cast and all-new storyline in front of thousands of eager fans.

On the Showtime front, we're sure "Dexter" fans are hoping for a farewell panel, but nothing has been announced yet. Look also for an early preview of "Penny Dreadful," an eight-episode series starring classic monsters like Frankenstein's creature and Dracula.

Other programs either confirmed or likely for panels or the convention floor are "Futurama" (Comedy Central, Saturday panel confirmed), "Brickleberry" (Comedy Central, Friday panel confirmed), "Banshee" (Cinemax, Friday panel set), "Vikings" (History), "Hemlock Grove" (Netflix), "Psych" (USA), "Falling Skies" (TNT), "The Last Ship" (upcoming on TNT), "Black Sails" (Starz, no panel, but a screening of the pirate drama's pilot is set for Thursday), "Da Vinci's Demons" (Starz) and "Bates Motel" (A&E).

Subject: Re: Comic-Con 2013: TV preview Fri 05 Jul 2013, 12:42 am

Should be intresting looking forward to hearing about what all is gonna happen there.

Subject: Re: Comic-Con 2013: TV preview Fri 05 Jul 2013, 1:18 am

Can't wait to see the CW brings for Arrow 2 and some of there other shows look intersting.

Subject: Re: Comic-Con 2013: TV preview Fri 05 Jul 2013, 4:13 am

It should be a good Comic Con!

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