Day two of the LA convention saw some real good times.

We were spoilt right from the get-go: some excellent music videos (including one everyone needs to look for on You Tube: “The New Face of Sexy” by the brilliantly talented Lsketch42) followed by onstage Q&A with Richard Speight Jr. He shared wonderful anecdotes from ‘Band of Brothers‘, the films he’s made (and helped to re-write) and, for the benefit of those of us seeing him for the first time, he also shared his story of him and Jared’s dogs (“So I walk into Jared’s trailer and the first thing I think is ‘oh God, I’m afraid of dogs!’ and the second thing is ‘this ain’t Jensen’s trailer!’“). His recounting of the great peanut campaign for ‘Jericho‘ was hilarious, not to mention very interesting… He fielded all of his questions with great humour and grace, and it’s easy to see why he’s become a convention favourite.

Then came a very funny, very enjoyable 50 minutes as Charles Malik Whitfield (Agent Henrikson) took the stage. So very different from his on-screen character, he was laugh-out-loud good. He recounted filming experiences, told anecdotes, and shared his disbelief of being his demon captor exorcised via a toilet bowl of holy water in the episode ‘Jus In Bello‘. His description of the scene and how it was shot, as well as his desire to believe that Henrikson didn’t actually die for good, kept all of us fans laughing and applauding. It was a real shame to see him go. And no, he didn’t need CGI or black contacts for the time he was possessed – he’s just that damned good…

Next guest: Samantha Smith (originial Mary Winchester). She shared her feelings on season four’s in the beginning episode, including Young Mary and how the whole deal went down with the demon. Quieter than Malik and perhaps a little shell-shocked, nevertheless she was funny and brought a welcome difference of opinion to it all. She spoke about how they manage to set people alight on ceilings, on not kissing Josh Duhamel in ‘Transformers 2‘, and how she got into acting from modelling. Engaging and relaxing, her hour sped by.

Next up was Jason Manns, singer/songwriter extraordinaire. He too was warm and funny, and much as I remember him from last year. You know when you meet someone and you have certain conceptions of what they’re like, and then you see them again and they’re nothing like that? Well he’s not different at all – he’s just the same and he’s still ace. I managed to get a t-shirt and a new live CD by him, so I was happy (and yes, he signed it too).

A quick trip for a photo with Jason, and then autographs with Richard Speight Jr and Charles Malik Whitfield later, and we were in Champions sports bar eating proper cheeseburgers (and the only thing I eat when I’m out, apart from lasagne, a Philly Cheese Steak). It was just two hours till the combined Jason and Steve Carlson concert, so we had to get food and alcohol down us.

Ok, skip back to the concert featuring first Jason Manns and then Steve Carlson (so glad to see others dancing too, it wasn’t just us!). It was excellent fun, and the whole thing sped by like Time was on rollerskates. After it started and finished late due to technical issues, we hurried round the corner to the next conference room to be seated for the dessert party.

It was Dean’s Pie a la Mode Dessert Party, and we could sit wherever we like in the massive ballroom made for 500 patrons. We found our two favourite Buckets In Training, brand new ace friends, and sat together. Apple pie with ice-cream and Official Soupdragon High-Octane Fuel (vodka) was in abundance, and then the guests arrived. Richard Speight Jr, Samantha Smith, Jason Manns, Steve Carlson, Charles Malik Whitfield and of course the reason everyone had hared round so fast to get their arse in a seat: Misha Collins.

Like speed-dating with the stars, each guest had two minutes sitting at each table, chatting freely with guests. Everyone was exceptional: funny, personable, hot. And the funniest thing: when Misha Collins does a man-chuckle he scrunches his nose up. As if the man could not get any more edible…

And that was Saturday. It was getting up to one or even two in the morning before we crawled into bed, happy and tired.

I have few rules in my life, because I believe in as little stress as possible. Pretty much the only rules I have are as follows:

1) Do not drink blue drinks.
2) Do not eat the green wobbly bit.
3) If it won’t give, kick it.
4) Do not brave a Sunday before at least noon.

The last rule was about to be broken; a breakfast including both Jensen and Jared was scheduled for 8am SUNDAY MORNING and I would just have to be there. Oh, but that’s another post…

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A quick on the spot report from LA, where the Soupdragon is currently vacationing. Y’know, taking in the sights (Winchesters and angels), listening to the stars (Tricksters, back-stabbing Jakes and innocent Obi-Wans/Andys) and general photo-taking, autographing and shopping mayhem.

It’s the LA SPN convention: day one.

A quick squiz round the vendors’ room to make sure we have autographing material later and we’re queueing for Gabriel Tigerman autographs. He’s a bouncy wee soul, very Andy-ish behind his desk. We bounce off to catch Julie McNiven (Anna Milton, A.K.A. Anna the angel) on stage. Very sweet and amusing, she was finally asked the question everyone really wanted to ask but were afraid to: “what was it like to make out with Jensen?”

“He was a perfect gentleman about it, and he just made sure I was as comfortable as possible the whole time.” The first inkling she had that perhaps kit-shedding was on the cards for her character was when she was told by the wardrobe department that she would need to be fitted for underwear. But hey-ho, that’s the job.

Later in the day we saw Alona Tal (Jo Harvelle), and she was hilarious. She was definitely up for sharing and dishing, and very funny and personable to boot. She talked about her dark scene with possessed Sam (“Born Under A Bad Sign”) and her enjoyment of the whole danger of what the scene could have turned into. She was quizzed on her work on Veronica Mars too, and it was clear she loved sharing info on the shows she’s been on and the stars ages worked with.

Autographs from Gabriel, Julie and Alona later and it’s time for a cup of tea!

The late night Purple Night karaoke party went ahead apparently without a hitch – as the sounds of people stumbling back to their rooms on our floor will atest.

Next post: Saturday’s guests, tea, famous people, tea, laughs and more tea. Promise.

And hopefully, I’ll be able to add some pictures at some point! When I can find a way to get them from my phone / camera over here…

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