Robert Picardo
#TOCC17: ROBERT PICARDO, MICK & NOELLE FOLEY + CAST OF “GOTHAM”, “BONES”, “DEGRASSI” MORE AT TORONTO COMICON 2017
Now in its 20th successful year, Toronto ComiCon took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre South Building this weekend. The three day affair brought together over 25,000 Sci-Fi enthusiasts, Cosplayers and Artists together to celebrate their love of entertainment and comic book culture. Among the names to appear at Toronto ComiCon this year were the likes of Star Trek‘s Robert Picardo, Bones’ Michaela Conlin and T.J. Thyne, The Walking Dead‘s Laurie Holden, The Big Bang Theory‘s Kevin Sussman, Gotham‘s David Mazouz and Sean Pertwee, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Brett Dalton and wrestling icons Bret Hart and Mick Foley. Fans were delighted also to hear that some of the original cast of Degrassi including Pat Mastroianni, Stefan Brogen, Dan Woods, Stacie Mistysyn and Kirsten Bourne would reunite for their 30th anniversary too, giving fans a chance to partake in the super-rare opportunity!
As is the case every spring, we love that Toronto ComiCon brings out some of the most innovative Cosplayers to our City and more than ever this year, we saw almighty Disney front and center among many with costumes ranging from Moana to Beauty and the Beast‘s Belle to a BB-8-inspired dress!
Upcoming Films The Ghost in the Shell (Paramount Pictures Canada), Valerian and Power Rangers (the latter two eOne Films) also had interactive installations set-up allowing fans a chance to be a integrated into the set or witness up-close Film props.
See some highlights and click the right arrow the navigate the slideshows!
DAY 1 SLIDESHOW
DAY 2 SLIDESHOW
DAY 3 SLIDESHOW
Siobhán Rich and Justin Waldman from our Team had the pleasure of sitting on on some of Toronto ComiCon 2017′s hottest panels and they give us some of that insider’s scoop:
ROBERT PICARDO
Robert Picardo revealed at his panel that he was at Yale pre-med when he went to Vienna at 19-years-old to perform in a Leonard Bernstein production. Bernstein himself told Picardo‘s mother than her son should be an actor rather than a doctor.
Many years later, he got the call to audition for the role of a “computer generated hologram who was colourless and humourless” on the that would be Star Trek: Voyager. He breathed life into that character even during the casting process where he channeled the original Star Trek doctor, Bones McCoy, ending his audition with the ad-libbed line, “I’m a doctor, not a nightlight.”
He famously knew nothing about Star Trek before joining the Trek family, but now embraces the global fandom thanks to devout Trekkies.
BRET HART
Still known as one of the most iconic wrestlers of our time, Bret Hart spoke to fans at his panel. He told fans that it was his father Stu Hart, who inspired him to be a wrestler and originally he thought to himself “There’s gotta be a better way to make money”, after going through the daily grind in his 20s as a construction worker. “I took wrestling very serious”. He reveals also that he is quite the avid Table Hockey player!
Commenting on his famous match against Shawn Michaels (The Heartbreak Kid) as part of the 1997 Survivor Series, known widely as one of the most shocking moments in wrestling history, Hart calls out his opponent by saying “You were a real asshole throughout the whole thing!”. If you might recall, Hart was placed in a submission hold and the bell rang immediately, pronouncing his defeat.
MICK + NOELLE FOLEY
The father daughter duo took questions from an enthusiastic and raucous crowd of fans. Mick is a two-time New York Times bestselling author who has been known as Dude Love, Cactus Jack and Mankind in the wrestling ring. The hardcore legend’s 23-year-old daughter, Noelle, looks to follow dad’s footsteps.
When asked about his daughter’s chosen profession Mick commented, “Noelle has a beautiful swan neck and it’s not meant to go to Suplex city.” Saying the pain he experienced was worth it “some days,” Mick proceeded to share stories about the unusual origins of his famous “Mandible Claw” move, who he would come back to fight if his health wasn’t a concern, and the long difficulties his youngest son has believing in his championship career.
BONES (TJ THYNE & MICHAELA CONLIN)
In their first ever Toronto ComiCon appearance Michaela Conlin and TJ Thyne thrilled fans of the hit Fox show Bones from they moment they arrived on stage. Angela Montenegro and Dr. Jack Hodgins, as they are better known on TV, spent an hour fielding questions ranging from favourite memories to the series finale which will air later this month.
Thyne, who plays “bug guy,” admitted with a laugh that he is not a fan of creatures that creep, crawl, or slither. In testament to the great chemistry the pair have on the show, they shared quick banter and affectionate barbs back and forth. When asked about his favourite moment on the show, Thyne laughed, “Kissing Michaela Conlin! That’s easy” “I paid him to say that,” she replied. “I was paid to kiss you!” came the quick rejoinder.
DEGRASSI
You know it’s a Canadian con when one of the most anticipated panels of the convention is for the five stars of the iconic series Degrassi Jr. High. Long before anyone had ever heard of Drake, Pat Mastroianni, Stefan Brogren, Stacie Mistysyn, Kirsten Bourne and Dan Woods helped define what it means to be a teenager during their tenures on Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Jr. High, and Degrassi High. Toronto fans turned out in droves to cheer on five people who are still referred to more often by their characters’ names than their own. During the discussion, the stars discussed costars, plotlines, and what they’ve been doing in the years since graduation. And naturally, the gang all broke out into song to sing the Zit Remedy’s greatest hit!
Missed Toronto ComiCon 2017? Learn more about it for next year here.
And don’t stress, Fan Expo Canada will be here in the blink of an eye. More here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Justin Waldman/Siobhán Rich)
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