Gonzai Gallery

I just looked at the calendar and realized...it's exactly one month until Farpoint. And I have done no art. Not since before Shore Leave, in fact. Nothin'. Nada. Uh oh. Must...try...to...make...something...new...And do it with an achy-breaky hand. Time crunch!

Just finished watching this week's episode and I'm having my own deja vu. Although we didn't actually say much about the show at Farpoint (mostly just discussed Lorenzo's history in music) the one thing I did learn is that the US LoM will resolve the how/why thing differently than the UK one did, so watching the UK won't necessarily spoil the US version. So I decided it was safe to start watching the UK version now, even as I'm watching the US version. I'm starting to rethink that idea. The main reason being, I watched the first 3 eps of the UK Wednesday, but was too tired to stay up for the US version that night so I taped it and watched it tonight. If I'd watch them both Wednesday, I think I'd have freaked. UK 3 and US11 used the same song ('Ballroom Blitz') and entire chunks of verbatim dialogue. It's weird even with the 3 day separation!

Anyway, about the shows themselves...I never saw the UK version before this week, so I didn't have the 'compared to the original' problem with the US version. However, I almost didn't watch it because the advance word was so poor, plus the recasting and redoing the first ep. But I did watch it mostly out of obligation to give genre shows a chance. The first few eps - slow and confusing. Then it started picking up, and it's come back from break running at full speed. I love the pairing with Lost, I think that helps a lot. It took a couple of eps, but I am now certain that Jason O'Mara is a total hottie. (Shades of Alex O'Loughlin last year, who went from 'they gave that guy a lead role?' to 'drool' in a couple eps.) I'm not a fan of Michael Imperioli, and I'm meh on Harvey Keitel, but I'm fine with both of them on this show. I'm sucked in. Meanwhile, watching the UK version - yes, it's first rate. But it's not THAT much better than the US one. At the beginning, yes, but I think the US one has caught up in quality. And I have to give the US one a big advantage - I can understand what the heck they're saying. The Mancurian accent is downright deadly. And did I mention I really like O'Mara?

Back home now, as I'm not much of a masquerade person and certain of my muscles are engaging in protest against various things. Mostly my shoulders objecting to holding up a camera to photograph and film Alan Tudyk's presentation. But I have gotten a few things transferred to the computer to share.

On the left is the new Farpoint mascot, Sasha, with her Mommy aprilvalentine . She's a Schnauzer puppy, about 10 weeks old, and sporting a 'My First Farpoint' t-shirt. Very quiet and well behaved mascot, esp. for such a small pup. On the right is one of the best costumes I've seen at a con. The alien even sounds like the film critter. And believe me, it's a little unnerving when he comes up behind you!



I took a lot of pics during the beginning of Alan's presentation (spent the rest of it in line to ask a question) and this is my favorite. I printed out an 8x10 of it tonight to be signed tomorrow, time permitting.

So the draft Farpoint schedule has been posted and...I swear, they think, hmm, when would Gonzai be least able to participate? and then schedule what I want to do for then. I don't work at Farpoint, I hang and check in the art Friday before the con starts, and check it out Sunday morning. For the fourth year in a row, a panel I really want to go to is scheduled against art show auction and checkout Sunday morning. And the Firefly panel is against Alan Tudyk's autograph signing (WTF?). And Alan himself is against the BSG panel, another one I'd really like to see. And CJ's last class is that day at 4, so I was hoping to be done by 3...instead, nothing at 1 or 2, but the Lost panel is at 3. *head desk*

At least Friday and Saturday should be manageable - maybe even underscheduled. (More time for socializing!) But Sunday will be bananas.