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Super Celebrities at the Super Megafest

Posted on Nov 24, 2009Feb 1, 2022 by Ken Gagne

The Super Megafest has become one of my many holiday traditions: the weekend before Thanksgiving, I head to the Framingham Sheraton for an unusual amalgam of sci-fi actors, classic celebrities, comic books, and cosplay. Though this year's event had fewer celebrities that personally appealed to me, those on the roster were ones I couldn't believe I'd have the good fortune to see in person. [photos after the jump]

Brent Spiner signs a photo for a fanUpon arriving, I made a beeline for the corner, where there was hardly no wait to meet Brent Spiner, who played Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Instead of a handshake, he offered a fist bump, citing a cold. Though I'm sure he was sincere, even if he wasn't, it seemed an effective tactic to avoid getting sick, given the number of fans I'm sure he was to meet at such an event. I had him sign a picture of Data as a poker dealer, though had I noticed that a shot of him as Sherlock Holmes on the holodeck was also available, I might've opted for that one. As he signed it, I told him how encouraging it was to grow up watching a show where an intelligent, socially awkward individual could be a respected and contributing member of a team. "Yeah, that's a neat thing they did there, isn't it?" he replied. While he next signed the insert from my CD of his 1991 album, Ol' Yellow Eyes Is Back, I commented that a film I rarely hear his fans mention is Out to Sea, a delightful 1997 comedy with Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, and Dyan Cannon in which he played a fantastic villain. "I thought that was a great film!" I told him. "So did I!" he agreed.

James MarstersI next got in a rather long line for James Marsters, best known as the undead Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. As with Mr. Spiner, I continued my trend of acknowledging the actors' lesser-known works, as I know from my limited experience in community theater that it's not always your best performance that's the one people remember. "I thought you were a great Lex Luthor," I told Mr. Marsters. He seemed genuinely surprised to hear that: "Oh! Thanks! It was particularly interesting to go back and do Smallville after that," he reflected, referencing his appearance on that show as Brainiac. He parodied a conversation with Michael Rosenbaum, that show's Luthor: "'So, you played my role, eh?'" Mr. Marsters told me he'll be doing more voice work on the Clone Wars animated series, though he doesn't yet know what part he'll play.

I hurried from Mr. Marster's table to the celebrity Q&A session, occurring every half-hour. I arrived a few minutes late to Mr. Spiner's session, at which point I was surprised to find fans asking not about his life on the Enterprise, but his life on the stage. Mr. Spiner is an accomplished stage actor, having appeared on Broadway before he did on Star Trek. He told us about his 1997 performance in the musical 1776: "We had the Tonies wrapped up… until Cabaret opened a week before the awards." Someone else also brought up Out to Sea, to which he said: "My life would be very different if people had seen that movie. My life would also be very different if Kevin Kline had never been born."

Mr. Spiner is a prolific Twitter user and spoke about the medium. "There is some Twitter pressure. If I don't write anything for three days, they have the cops looking for me." He asked my partner-in-crime, Gene, "Do you follow me on Twitter?" "I don't," he admitted, which prompted Mr. Spiner to ask: "What's wrong with you?"

Such acerbic commentary was surprisingly characteristic of Mr. Spiner's session. He badmouthed people he's worked for ("The Family Guy episode was awful. If I'd known I'd get three lines, I never would've done it. Couldn't Seth MacFarlane have given Patrick Stewart 43 lines instead of 47?"), expressed confusion over why people are so illogical as to wear shorts ("Because it gets so hot down there!" he sarcasticaly observed), and expressed no enthusiasm to reprise his role as Data ("I'm too old to be putting on that makeup. Do you remember what Harpo Marx looked like near the end? Maybe if they pay me $5 million.") But, like Don Rickles, he ensured "You know this was all in fun, right?" We did, and it was hilarious.

Surprisingly, the biggest laugh of the session didn't come from Mr. Spiner. Near the end of the session, I raised my hand for a question, and he called on me: "Ken, right?" I was absolutely shocked that he remembered me from an hour earlier. In that moment I was stunned, he explained, "I remember the names of everyone I've ever met. It's the strangest thing." I offered, "Wow — it's like you're a robot or something!" I thought it was a throwaway line, but the audience roared, during which Mr. Spiner stood there and silently glared at me. When he could be heard again, he turned to the back of the room, pointed at me, and called, "Security!"

But I did get to ask my question, and as I did the previous year with Jonathan Frakes, I told Mr. Spiner that I loved Gargoyles and asked what his favorite part of voice acting is. "I get to wear my own clothes, for one." But he confessed to not having seen not only JJ Abrams' Star Trek, but also most of TNG or any of Gargoyles. "The whole time I was recording that show, I had no idea what [Puck] looked like," he commented, referring to his character.

There were still several questions remaining when Mr. Spiner's time was up, so he quickly tossed out some answers: "When I was 14… It depends… and Mozart, I guess." What the corresponding questions might've been, we'll never know.

Peter Tork of The Monkees.Next up was Peter Tork of The Monkees, who was in attendance at Super Megafest with fellow Monkee Micky Dolenz. Mr. Tork's session was well-attended but a bit more subdued. I couldn't tell if he actually liked the attention or not, and when he spent five minutes retelling his favorite Bugs Bunny skits, it seemed like a diversionary tactic to avoid speaking his own mind. But when asked direct questions, he didn't shy from the truth — such as regarding the prospect of a Monkees reunion. "When hell freezes over," he was quick to reply. Who's the holdout? "I will not work with Mike [Nesmith]. He renegs — he doesn't keep his word."

Another fan asked what kind of music Mr. Tork likes nowadays. "I like singer/songwriter. I'll be spinning the dial and come across a country song that's truly inspired, and the singer has something to say… Then the next song will be, 'My girlfriend left me so I'm drinking myself stupid.' I don't care for that." As a country music fan, I appreciated Mr. Tork's willingness to separate content from style.

Mr. Tork closed by inviting an audience member from the audience to do the Monkee walk, creating a wonderful memory for one lucky fan.

Also in attendance at Super Megafest 2009 was Larry Storch, whom I was fortunate enough to meet at the 2007 event; and Cindy Morgan, with whom I neglected to reminisce about a time, six years and three thousand miles ago, when I said something that prompted her to punch Bruce Boxleitner.

My expenses at this year's Super Megafest were typical for such an event. Brent Spiner cost $40 per autograph, or $70 for two, including the glossy headshot. James Marsters was $40, plus $5 for the photo. Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz were $25 each; I took advantage of the former to have signed my DVD insert from The Brady Bunch Movie. New this year was a local studio offering professional photos with your favorite celebrity. I saw a few of the pics, and they were high quality — but at $40 a pop, not including JPEGs, reprints, or autographs, it seemed an unnecessary indulgence even to someone who's willing to pay for celebrity signatures. Unfortunately, the studio's exclusivity meant no more impromptu posed pictures at the autograph table, like I got with

A fan's starship
Nothing shows you're a geek like a vanity license plate.
Nothing shows you're a geek like a vanity license plate.
The Batcycle
The Batmobile was joined this year by the Batcycle.
The Batmobile was joined this year by the Batcycle.
Rorschach from The Watchmen
Rorschach from The Watchmen.
Rorschach from The Watchmen.
Who you gonna call?
A trio of fans dressed as Ghostbusters — working proton packs and all!
A trio of fans dressed as Ghostbusters — working proton packs and all!
Captain Malcolm Reynolds
A fan dresses as Mal from the TV show Firefly.
A fan dresses as Mal from the TV show Firefly.
Peter Tork does the Monkee Walk
Peter Tork and a fan do the famous Monkee walk.
Peter Tork and a fan do the famous Monkee walk.
Peter Tork of The Monkees.
Peter Tork of The Monkees. Also at SMF was Micky Dolenz.
Peter Tork of The Monkees. Also at SMF was Micky Dolenz.
Brent Spiner addresses the front row press.
Mr. Spiner introduced to the room Mr. Gene Simmons then took his question.
Mr. Spiner introduced to the room Mr. Gene Simmons then took his question.
Brent Spiner switches places with a fan and asks her a question.
Brent Spiner switches places with a fan and asks her a question.
Brent Spiner switches places with a fan and asks her a question.
Brent Spiner
Brent Spiner.
Brent Spiner.
Brent Spiner fields a question.
Brent Spiner fields a question.
Brent Spiner fields a question.
James Marsters
James Marsters, aka Spike the vampire from the TV show Buffy. He's also appeared on Torchwood and Smallville.
James Marsters, aka Spike the vampire from the TV show Buffy. He's also appeared on Torchwood and Smallville.
Brian, Gene, and Ken -- three geeks!
Brian, Gene, and Ken — three geeks!
Brian, Gene, and Ken — three geeks!
Brent Spiner signs a photo for a fan
Brent Spiner signs a photo for a fan.
Brent Spiner signs a photo for a fan.

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Related

Tags: Brent Spiner, Cindy Morgan, convention, Data, Framingham, Gargoyles, James Marsters, Larry Storch, Megafest, Micky Dolenz, Monkees, Peter Tork, Super Megafest, TNG

2 thoughts on “Super Celebrities at the Super Megafest”

  1. Chris Lackey says:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 4:33 pm

    I hope your definition of "working" proton pack is different from mine!

    0
  2. Steven Weyhrich says:
    Nov 24, 2009 at 7:34 pm

    Looks like it was fun!

    0

Comments are closed.

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