NEWS
EVENTS
Television fan conventions...where shows live on
Other | Friday 22nd November 2013 | Toni
Once upon a time, there were events being held by fans of certain popular films and television shows…and yes, the genre of these was usually found in the sci-fi family. It is mainly for this reason that for a long time fan conventions were ridiculed with humorous connotations by those on the outside.
The very idea that adults who usually fell into the ‘nerd’ or ‘geek’ category, would dress up as their favourite ‘Star Wars’, ‘Star Trek’ or Marvel character, bond with other like-minded people, and get to meet their favourite actors and creators of such productions; well this made onlookers and stand-up comedians alike offer running gags about conventions that would spawn decades.
However, times have definitely changed, because in the past few years especially, fan conventions have never been so popular or so global. With conventions like ‘Supernova’ and ‘Comic-Con’ bringing the entire convention idea to a new audience on a worldwide scale, where everyone had something that would appeal to them whether it was comic books, popular film and television, anime, collectibles, video games and the like. No longer were conventions just the domain of these so-called sci-fi ‘geeks’ people were used to making fun of.
Even more so now, there is and has been a growing trend for television shows of all genres to participate in events such as these, as well as holding their own fan conventions. These conventions are not just being held in the USA, where majority of these have been produced but in faraway places like Australia and Paris too. These conventions offer fans question and answer sessions, giveaways, photo ops, autograph signings, and meeting room experiences for smaller groups with the actors of some of televisions best and most popular series to date. Some of these shows ended many years ago, and some are still active on tv screens right now. But regardless, these conventions highlight just how much of a demand some series are receiving from their fans, and in some cases further seasons are being ordered to keep them alive for another year…and another round of conventions. Networks are clearly taking note.
Television series like the CW's 'Supernatural' is one such show. Not only has it recently entered its 9th season (which surprised even some of its most devoted fans who saw it as being on its final legs in season 8); it also has a pilot spin off prepared for the 20th episode later in the series. 'Supernatural' also has the most number of conventions of any current television show with 8 ‘Salute to Supernatural’ events in the US and Canada throughout 2014. It is pretty easy to see that fans are not willing to give up on this show and looking at the sheer amount of conventions being held in the next year, it is clearly working for them.
Other active CW shows like 'The Vampire Diaries' with 6 events in the US and Paris in the next 12 months, and 'Pretty Little Liars' with 2 ‘Keep A Secret’ events in Paris within the next 2 months; remind us just how well this network is faring at maintaining fan interest in its productions. Recently also, one of its longest-running teen dramas 'One Tree Hill' which ran for 9 seasons, held its second convention, 'From Wilmington to Paris', in Paris in October 2013, with 8 of its former stars appearing even though it ended in April 2012. Organisers have already put tickets up for a 2014 convention, following this success.
As a fan of 'One Tree Hill' myself, I went along to this convention parting with over 600 Euros to buy the Platinum Pass and the added extra Pass Pack. This entire package enabled me to have a 5th row seat during the Q and A’s, an autograph and a photo with all 8 stars at the convention. This was an amazing experience and I was happy to spend even more just to have this opportunity. To meet people who starred in one of your favourite television shows is a dream come true. The friendliness that these stars offered fans during one on one moments was wonderful, and to hear all of the behind the scene stories from when the show was filming made me love this show even more. But more than anything, this convention allowed me to connect with the people involved and thank them for being part of a show that changed my life. Am I glad I spent hundreds of Euros on this experience? You bet! I’m already saving for 2014!
'One Tree Hill' isn’t the only show to be brought back from the dead. The 'Star Trek' tv franchise which began in 1966, spawning 6 different series lasting until 2005 has 5 events being held across the US in 2014. The 'Stargate' franchise which ended in 2011 with 3 separate series and the spinoff of 'Hercules', 'Xena: Warrior Princess' lasting 6 seasons until 2001, both have conventions soon in the US also. There has also been talk of a 'Xena' movie in the near future as a result of fan pressure too. The biggest convention however for these deceased shows, has to be 'Charmed' another Warner Brothers hit. Ending over 7 years ago, most of the former cast, including Shannen Doherty will be in Paris in March 2014 to meet fans who have waited many years for a chance like this to come along.
So what does this all mean for the future of television shows? If these fan conventions continue at the pace they are moving, current and deceased shows (as well as their stars) have a chance to continue them long after they are finished. Shows never have to end, and fans and their idols have the chance to maintain an even longer legacy for these productions. Although it doesn’t come cheap for fans (though most of us would pay a small fortune for this experience anyway); the stars make a lot of money out of it, so why wouldn’t they continue to say yes for one weekend of work (and possibly a free trip to Paris)?
If only we could get more shows on the convention band wagon like 'Seinfeld', 'The Office' and 'Friends'...that would be a dream in tv heaven now wouldn’t it?
