Started in 2013, “Behind the Mikes” is your weekly Podcast that covers everything Pop Culture.  Join MovieMike, Loaf, Loey and, when we can find him, Brett as they discuss the week’s recent movies, share some trivia and put their irreverent spin on everything Pop Culture.  It’s a little naughty… but a lot of fun!

Click here to listen in weekly: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/behindthemikes

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2017 New York Comic Con

Friday, October 6th 2017
Jacob K. Javits Center, New York, NY

Our Score: 3 out of 5 Stars

All things pop culture descended on New York City specifically The Jacob K. Javits Center as the sprawling complex once again played host to the annual New York Comic Con held on October 5th-8th. The event now in its 11th year was once again put on by the Connecticut based company Reed Pop a company who organizes some of the largest pop culture events around the country. 2017 proved to be no exception and despite having to deal with a smaller venue space due to construction the event still boasted an over whelming number of vendors and appearances by some of the biggest names in comics, film and television.

Day two of the four day convention this year seemed a bit lacking in the way of panels and events as compared to previous however that did not thwart our attempt to take in the massive show floors and numerous cos-players as the con is always one we look forward to attending each year. Right off the bat we noticed that the entry to the event was much easier than in previous years as there was now two different entries for single/multiple day pass holders. This dramatically cut down the once endless serpent like line which in previous years engulfed the outside areas of the center. Despite a quicker entry once inside you could instantly see that the construction taking place in several key areas of the center such as the section which normally houses artist alley was causing large bottle necks of immovable lines. For those wanting to meet their favorite artist or creator gone was the spacious, well lit corridor which was always a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the main show floors but instead this year creators and artist were relegated to one of the structures basement levels which caused for a less than pleasurable viewing experience complete with cramped/impassible walk ways and a heightened room temperature that at times almost took your breath away.

After a couple escalator rides we made our way on to the main show floors. This area also seemed to take on the brunt of less floor space in other areas as walk ways and vendor spaces seemed much smaller than in previous years. As always the Funko booth commanded a lot of attention as those fortunate enough to be selected in the lottery process waited in endless lines in hopes to purchase one of the sought after convention exclusives. During our time at the booth we had the chance to grab a quick autograph from WWE Superstar and Funko Enthusiast Zach Ryder who had stopped by to check out his NYCC exclusive Pop! figure. Other notable vendors were the Middle Earth “Shadow of War”  booth which featured a life size dragon which convention goers could have their pictures on and Marvel vs. Capcom’s replica Ultron and throne display both of which garnered long wait times just to get a glimpse of.

Before leaving for the day we made quick stop in the autographing area which as always is a popular stop for most attendees. Some of the big names this year included Michael Rooker, Peter Capaldi and Mark Hamill among a long list of others. With prices ranging from $40 to $300 per signature we did not spend a lot of time in this area but there were plenty of others anxiously awaiting to spend their hard earned cash to meet their favorite actors and actresses.

With more and more events/panels being held off site it makes me question just how much longer the Javits center will remain a viable location for the Con. With early attendance figures coming in at around 200,000 for the four days the event shows no signs slowing down. Hopefully the center will be back to full functionality for next year’s event as the lack of space definitely impacted all aspects of the event. Either way, we can not wait for next year.

New York Comic Con has become the premier East-Coast destination for all things pop culture and 2017 was no different. New to the convention floor this year was Fisher Price’s Imaginext toy  line which features a wide variety of multi-faceted play sets, figures and vehicles taken from the pages of the DC universe. As an exclusive for this year’s convention Imaginext creators brought a special themed version of their DC Bat-Bot Xtreme for a lucky few to purchase. Media Mikes had the chance to speak with designer Rob Hageman about the piece as well as what the brand has in store for this year’s holiday season.

Ian Lawton: How did you come up with the original idea for the original DC Bat-Bot Xtreme?

Rob Hageman: We actually started off by making a smaller version of the toy. It had all the same workable features and everything but when we got it all done we realized it would be cooler if we made it a lot bigger. The smaller version was great but once kids got a hold of the larger version that’s the one that everyone really enjoyed.

IL: Can you tell us about some of the feature on the Bat-Bot Xtreme?

RH: I think the best feature is when you turn one of the action discs as it opens up the wings of the robot. Once you do that you have access to the punching power triggers on each hand. You can also fire discs out of the fists as you punch. Across the top are a number of buttons which shoot several rockets. On the opposite foot of the robot is another action disc which opens up the chest of the robot to reveal an elevator which takes figures up into the head of the robot. Also featured is a voice changer which allows you to talk into the back of the toy and transform your voice in to that of a robot. There is a hidden bat cycle in one foot of the robot which can be shot out while the other foot features a jail for locking up any bad guys.

IL: The Comic Con version of the Bat-Bot Xtreme is different from the one in stores. Can you tell us about that?

RH: There is a comic book version of this robot that is much more metallic than the retail one. The retail one is still super cool but it’s done in standard blue plastic where the 300 we did for Comic Con have a special blue metallic paint job that is closer to what is seen in the comic. With this special version I really was trying to make sure it looked as close to the one pictured in the book. The exclusive version also comes with in special packaging featuring some really great art work, magnetic switches and LED lights.

IL: How do you decide which characters you are going to make into a figure?

RH: Each year all the designers get together and draw a bunch of concepts. We will take them to the team and give them our best pitches for each one. From there we work as a team to finalize designs and figure out which look the best, are the most relevant and will help Imaginext flush out the DC Universe.

IL: What other characters/figures are you set to release?

RH: We have Mongul and Green Lantern set to come out along with Black Canary and Night Wing around Christmas time. Also set to come is Steppenwolf as well as Swamp Thing and Survivor Batman. I think that’s probably one of our best packs we have done so far.

IL: How would someone go about becoming a toy designer?

RH: When I was a kid I loved to draw and it was something I always did. I would draw my toys along with other toys I may have wanted. I also drew a lot of robots as I love robots. When I got to high school a teacher of mine had a friend of his who worked for a toy company come to class. He brought in all the things he had worked on and told us it was his job to make toys. I knew then it was something I wanted to do. I kept drawing more and more and after high school I went to art school and focused on toy design. I am now doing what I wanted to do ever since high school.

IL: What has been your favorite toy that you have created/worked on?

RH: My favorite is the regular Bat-Bot which transforms from a tank to a robot. It was an uphill battle for me to sell that in as I wanted the transformation to be able to happen while the toy was still in the package. I wanted there to be two different forms while making things easy to maneuver and play with. The voice on it is really great as well.

Snootchie Bootchies! Kansas City Comic Con made three major announcements, all of them encompassing the popular View Askew Universe. First off, fans of the AMC television program “Comic Book Men” will be joining the convention for panels and more. Second, Jay himself, Jason Mewes, will be joining the Comic Book Men. And, finally, you can’t have Jay without Silent Bob! Kevin Smith, the creator of all things View Askew, and Mark Bernardin will be broadcasting their “Fatman on Batman” podcast LIVE from the Kansas City Convention Center.

The Kansas City Comic Con runs from November 10th through 12th this year. Among the already announced highlights will be a special 40th Anniversary Celebration of “Superman the Movie.”

More details can be found on their website here and their Facebook page here.

The game of Video Poker was first introduced in casinos (by Si Redd) in the mid-1970s when computers and monitors were first combined to form personal computers. The 5 card poker game has gained popularity across the world over the past years thanks to the latest mobile technology that allows gamblers to play real money video poker from the comfort of their homes.

Other than the simplicity and fun that accompanies this card game, players also enjoy hundreds of game variations, betting options, and low house edge.

Currently, there are numerous video poker variations both land-based and online casinos, hence, you must read and master the variation you want before diving in to play. Nonetheless, our guideline will help you to choose the best card variation, how to play it, how to win and where to play.

How do I play?

The logic of playing not hard to grasp as every player is given 5 cards. The player must choose which cards to play with by clicking on them on the monitor, the ones that are not used are discarded. Once you placed your betting stake (from $1-$5), you select a number of coins you want to wager on a hand. It is recommended to start with max coins because the chances of winning are high (payout of 800:1).

Alternatively, you can scale down to the quarter machine if you want to place low stake bets which offer as low as $1.25 per hand.

What is a Pay table and how does it work?

Winning in this card poker game is determined by the strength of your hand on the pay tables. Every pay table has 5 columns representing the total cards/credits used for winning. You will notice that all payouts are uniform irrespective of the number of coins selected except for Royal Flush which offers a payout of 250:1 on all bets, less 5 coins. The following is the standard pay table that you will find in how each hand is paid.

Explanation of Poker Hands

Sequential Royal: this is the highest paying hand in this card poker and it occurs when royal flushes appear in an order across the monitor e.g. from left to right.

Royal Flush: This is a straight flush but with the highest paying cards like 2, 8, 6 and 10 and it plays the role of the jackpot.

Straight flush: this hand is both a straight and a flush. It includes J, 10, 8, and 9.

Straight: this hand has consecutive ranks like 9 and 6.

Flush: this hand includes all identical cards like Q, 4 and 6.

What are the variations in this card poker game?

There are a number of variations you will find in this game like Tens or Better, Deuces wild, Jacks or Better and Double Bonus, but with Jacks or Better is the commonly used variation in casinos. In no particular order, this is the description of the variations;

Jacks or Better

This is the most played variation with giant winning chances to the gamers. Players in this game must hit a pair of Jacks for it to count as a win. On the other hand, you can opt to play 4 lines Jacks or Better where you will have 4 rows and you can bet concurrently to win handsomely.

Tens or Better

This is a variation of jacks or better whereby you win when you get a pair of tens or better.

Deuces wild

In this poker variation, Deuces wild can substitute any card to achieve a stronger winning hand with a high payout.

What is the Winning Strategy in this game?

Since video poker game is more or less like Blackjack, it is easy to come up with a plan that will guarantee you a win on every single hand. Nevertheless, it is good to remain faithful to your instincts and gut because, despite the strategy, gambling is based on chance.

Target the Max Coins

Playing with Max coins will give you a Royal Flush hand whereby you stand a chance to get a payout ratio of 800:1 whereas Min coins will grant you a low payout of 250:1.

Practise before real gambling

There are free demo games available on the internet today. It is recommended that you do some practice before starting real money gambling. This will help you to familiarize with the pay tables and other rules of the game.

Play within your limits

Money is sweet and if you don’t set your limits in gambling, you might end up bankrupt. If you play and loose consecutively, simply log out and live to fight another day.

Avoid Alcohol

Do not be fooled by Hollywood scenes where you see rich guys drinking expensive liquors while gaming. All winning strategies are bred in your brain. Stay sober and you will hit the jackpot.

Where can I play Poker Games?

Online casinos have become so many today and this can be dangerous to beginners who want to make some good money from the comfort of their homes. Some of these casinos are legit while others are mere online scams. Fortunately, our https://best10casinosonline.co.uk/ has top certified, safe and secure online casinos for both beginners and experts. These casinos offer video poker games together with other countless casino games you can imagine.

Verdict

This 5 card poker game has great opportunities for generating good income, although it is not for every Tom, Dick, and Harry. If you cannot withstand the pressure of making decisions that will determine your chance of winning, we suggest you stay away from Video Poker.

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Fans looking to escape the crowded New York Comic Con show floor this past weekend were taken care of by a pair of immersive ‘activations’ presented by Amazon Prime. On site at the Jacob Javits Center, the streaming service introduced two of its newest series, The Tick and Lore, in style. I was fortunate enough to spend time exploring both experiences with some friends over the course of the con weekend and needless to say, they got me hyped to check out the shows.

My first stop was The Tick’s massive Dangerboat installation on the upper level of the con. Dangerboat is not just the headquarters to the Tick’s nemesis, Overkill, but also has a sentient artificial intelligence all its own (on the show he’s played by geek icon Alan Tudyk). In keeping with that, NYCC’s Dangerboat was also talking and fully sentient and began immediately interacting with my crew when we boarded.

Both of Amazon’s experiences were connected to an RFID wrist tag that we registered before entering. In Dangerboat the tag was used to print out our custom Aegis database ID as well as getting our own tin of FO HAM. Thankfully the tin actually contained “NEAT!” Tick pins and not canned meat. Dangerboat concluded with a fun green screen video op that with yet another swipe of wrist tags was emailed or posted wherever we chose. All told, Dangerboat took my group about a half hour to fully interact with due to the level of options on the various screens, not to mention the funny rapport we developed with a sentient boat(!) which was pretty incredible as far as con setups go. Whomever was the mind behind Dangerboat certainly captured the humor and spirit of the show itself and provided some of the best laughs of the weekend.

About The Prime Exclusive Series, The Tick:
“Bursting with scabrous original storylines that turn on a dime, The Tick is a comedy with kinetic action, a wryly inventive visual style and crisply quotable dialogue. Heroes have flown among us for decades but mild-mannered accountant Arthur Everest (GRIFFIN NEWMAN) one day finds out there are also genuine bad guys in this new Amazon Original Series. He believes he has proof that The City, where he was born and raised, is actually controlled by a global super-villain known as the Terror (JACKIE EARLE HALEY). Destiny soon brings Arthur together with an eccentric, tall, blue-suited muscleman with a mysterious past and list of superpowers: The Tick (PETER SERAFINOWICZ). The title character serves as both the conscience and the unchecked id of the story. Citing the call of destiny, the Tick procures for Arthur a moth outfit with retractable wings and insists that he suit up as his sidekick. He and Arthur are the ultimate odd couple, but may just bring out the best in each other. In their quest to take back The City, the unlikely pair of heroes quickly sees just how complex the struggle between good and evil has become.”
The Tick returns to Amazon on February 23rd 2018

Descending down a level into the Museum of Lore was yet another unique RFID experience and definitely welcome this Halloween month. Based on the hit podcast, Lore sets out to retell the true life macabre stories that inspire some of horror’s most notorious tropes. In a series of interactive rooms, my group tromped through haunted dolls, magical mirrors and werewolves as presented by a trio of delightfully over the top actors. Utilizing our RFID bands, we were rewarded with messages from The Other Side and a cool photo souvenir over a pretty twisted werewolf buffet….

About The Prime Exclusive Series, Lore:
“Sometimes the scariest stories are true. Lore is based on the global, award-winning podcast sensation from creator Aaron Mahnke, and executive produced by Ben Silverman (The Office), Howard T. Owens (The Biggest Loser), Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead), Brett-Patrick Jenkins (Face Off), Glen Morgan (X-Files), Jon Halperin and Mark Mannucci (A Year in Space). Lore brings the podcast to life and tells the real life origin stories that have led to our modern day myths and legends, including vampires, changelings, werewolves, séances and possessed dolls.”
Lore is fittingly debuting on Friday October 13th.

It’s no secret that we at Media Mikes LOVE the film “A Christmas Story.” Mike G. is friends with both Ian Petrella (Randy) and Yano Anaya (Grover Dill). One of the best dinners I ever had was with Yano in Las Vegas and if you’re ever in Cleveland, you should visit the “Christmas Story” house (the one they used in the film). I mention all of this because, once again, our good friend and noted film historian Bruce Crawford has outdone himself by announcing that his 41st Tribute to Classic Film will be the 1983 holiday classic “A Christmas Story.”

The film will be screened on Friday, November 10, 2017 at the beautiful Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge Street, in Omaha, Nebraska and will begin at 7:00 pm. But wait – there’s more. No film is ever presented unaccompanied. This year, the 25th for the event, the screening will be proceeded by appearances by actors Zack Ward, who played bully Skut Farcas, and another long time friend of the Mikes, Scott Schwartz, who played the unfortunate flag pole victim Flick. The two will introduce the film, answer questions from the audience and sign autographs after the showing.

Tickets for the event are $24.00 and can be purchased at the customer service counters of Omaha-only Hy Vee food stores. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Nebraska Kidney Association.

For more information call (402) 932-7200 or visit www.omahafilmevent.com

MEDIA ALERT

Two sweet story opportunities this week:
The Americas Cake Fair to help raise awareness, stock supplies at
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida as demand rises

WHAT:
With a huge influx of new residents from Puerto Rico expected in the coming months and the Thanksgiving / holidays approaching, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida (SHFBCF)’s need for food donations is rapidly increasing. The Americas Cake Fair is conducting two community outreach initiatives to help raise awareness for SHFBCF’s services and stock supplies of local emergency food pantries. Both events provide excellent visuals and interview opportunities.

WHEN/WHERE:
Wednesday, October 4, 10:30 AM – A Baker Inspires Others

The Founder & CEO of Satin Fine Foods, Inc. & The Americas Cake Fair is meeting with students enrolled in the Second Harvest Culinary Training Program, which provides qualified, at-risk and economically disadvantaged adults with the culinary and life skills training needed to pursue a sustainable career in the food industry. Kevin O’Reilly will share his inspiring business story, from humble beginnings working in his family’s bakery in Ireland to creating a “better-tasting mousetrap” (Satin Ice) to establishing one of the largest fondant manufacturing companies in the world.

Where: SHFBCF Main Facility, 411 Mercy Drive, Orlando, FL 32805

Saturday, October 7, 2:00-4:30 PM – Drive-Through Food Drive at the Ace

Central Floridians can support their community and donate non-perishable, unexpired food items in exchange for ticket vouchers to The Americas Cake Fair. A donation of 10 food items entitles each consumer to one ticket voucher, with a limit of four vouchers (40 food items donated) per household. Vouchers can be redeemed at the Cake Fair registration window at the Orange County Convention Center, West Concourse, October 13-15, 2017. Vouchers are available on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last. Participants can simply drive into the large surface “car park” at Ace Cafe Orlando, stay in their cars, and volunteers will exchange ticket vouchers for donations, right through car windows; or they can park and enjoy a visit to the Ace.

Where: 100 W Livingston St, Orlando, FL 32801, corner Livingston & Garland

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For its eighth consecutive season Tag’s Summer Stage in Big Flats, NY makes a ghastly transformation as it shifts from upbeat concert venue to a dark foreboding home of the undead. Rated as one of the top 31 Must See Haunts by Haunted Attraction Magazine the sprawling facility is home to four different attractions this season. Along with long standing staples “Lectures Layer”, “Psycho Swamp” and “Jerkus Circus” is the newly constructed “Motel 666” a two story dilapidated motel which is said to be the home of long since deceased travelers who checked in but never left. Complete with its own frightfully, comedic desk clerk who welcomes visitors with open arms making the new attraction right at home with the other long standing haunts.

While taking a moment to catch your breath between scares visitors can partake in a variety of activities such as the “Escape the Precinct” escape room experience, a “Dark Shadows Maze”, the “Vortex” or meet with a Psychic or Tarot Card reader. If that still isn’t enough try your hand at a number of Carnival themed games while enjoying some of the fall themed food and beverages. Open weekends during the month of October haunt goers can visit http://tagsylvania.com/ for a complete schedule and to purchase tickets…If they dare.

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I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t know who Jerry Lewis was. As a kid in the 60s, I loved his films. As someone who liked music, I loved his son’s group, Gary Lewis and the Playboys. And, as I got older and was allowed to stay up late, I loved watching him every Labor Day on the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon he hosted every year. Monday is a sad day because Mr. Lewis won’t be a part of it. He died August 20th at the age of 91.

Born Jerome Levitch in Newark, New Jersey in March 1926, he was 20 years old when he was teamed up with singer Dean Martin and the duo became the most popular nightclub comedy act of the time. Capitalizing on their stage personas (Dean was the good looking singer, Jerry the spastic goof) they made a successful number of films for Paramount. The duo broke up in 1956 and the next year found Jerry starring by himself in the comedy “The Delicate Delinquent.” After success in a series of films created by others (“The Sad Sack,” “The Geisha Boy”) he decided to write and direct himself, beginning with 1960’s “The Bell Boy.” He worte and/or directed 10 films in 10 years including “The Ladies Man,” “The Errand Boy” and the film he was most closely associated with, “The Nutty Professor.”

Critics dismissed Lewis’ films but other cultures, notably the French, hailed him as a comic genius. Lewis was also technically brilliant as a filmmaker, developing the “video assist” system employed by most directors today, giving them the chance to see what they have just shot instead of waiting for the film to be developed. In 1972 he took on a personal project dealing with the Holocaust, writing, directing and starring in “The Day the Clown Cried.” The story of a former clown who is used to escort young children to the gas chambers, the film has rarely been seen. For many years Lewis kept the only print of the film locked up in a vault. However, in 2015 he donated it to the Library of Congress with the stipulation that it not be shown until 2025.

As his film career slowed down Lewis turned his attention more and more to finding the cure for Muscular Dystrophy, raising almost $2.5 BILLION when he stopped hosting in 2010. One of the highlights of the show came in 1976, when Frank Sinatra reunited Lewis with Dean Martin on air. To me it is one of the greatest live moments caught on television. Everything from Jerry muttering “you son of a bitch” to Sinatra to him wiping the tears from his eyes is genuine.

After a decade away from films, Lewis returned with a flourish, playing late-night talk show host Jerry Langdon in Martin Scorsese’s brilliant film “The King of Comedy.” Starring opposite Robert De Niro, Lewis received the best reviews of his life. He continued to work in film, television and theater through 2015. In 2009 he was given the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scientists for his 50 years of work with Muscular Dystrophy.

“Evil Dead” and “Army of Darkness” star and all-around screen legend Bruce Campbell will help the Kansas City Alamo Drafthouse celebrate their 5th anniversary by bringing his interactive game show, “Last Fan Standing,” to town on September 9th.

In conjunction with Rainy Day Books, those that attend the event will not only get a meet and greet with Mr. Campbell but will receive a copy of his latest book, “Hail to the Chin: Further Confessions of a “B” Movie Actor.” Tickets to the event are $65.00 and available here. 

About “Hail to the Chin: Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor”

It’s been 15 years since his first memoir but Bruce is still living the dream as a “B” movie king in an “A” movie world. Bruce Campbell makes his triumphant return from where he left off in “If Chins Could Kill” with further hilarious, gut-wrenchingly honest confessions. Bruce brings us through his life in the decade since his first memoir and his roles as varied as they are numerous- from his roles in the “Spiderman” movies to his self-referential “My Name is Bruce” to his role on #1 show “Burn Notice” and his new STARZ hit series “Ash vs Evil Dead.”

Over the last 15 years, Bruce has become a regular on the Wizard World convention circuit, has created his @GroovyBruce twitter account with over 400,000 followers and a Facebook page with almost 250,000 likes. His profile and reach is lightyears beyond where it was for Chins. “Hail to the Chin” will be bursting with pictures and the signature humor that Bruce brought to “If Chins Could Kill” and will be devoured by his legions of fans across the country.

About Last Fan Standing

Last Fan Standing gives the entire audience the chance to play along and qualify to be on stage—and attempt to be the Last Fan Standing. Through provided “audience response devices” (Clickers if you insist on getting technical), each audience member participates in a series of multiple choice questions, where the players with the fastest-correct answers advance to the Podium Rounds. The Podium Rounds bring the top four (4) players from the audience to a winner-take-all battle of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Superheroes, and Horror based trivia. After each round the player with the lowest score is eliminated, until there is only one….Last Fan Standing!

It’s a difficult experience to summarize, but upon arrival back home in Kansas City, I’ve told people that it felt like a nerdy rite of passage. MediaMikes has had the pleasure of attending New York and Kansas City’s Comic-Con’s, but for the first time, we can now add the honor of attending San Diego Comic-Con to that list.

There are inevitable growing pains for those who have never attended the San Diego Comic-Con, no matter how much research beforehand is done. And if word on social media was correct, there are continuous growing pains for regular attendees. The first hurdle was the agonizing wait time to see if we would be one of the lucky few to get into Comic-Con and then came the mad dash for available hotel and AirBnB space. Following that whirlwind is the announcement of events, panels, and celebrities. Some of them announce a few weeks out while others pop-up announce their intentions the day of.

However, that overwhelming spectacle aspect is put on the backburner for opening night on Wednesday. For a handful of hours, the massive vendor and exhibit hall was opened for the tens of thousands already in scenic San Diego. For those thousands, some had waited outside all day, while others, like me, walked in after the initial stampede. A sensory explosion of lights, sounds and excitement filled the halls as the talk on the floor was of SDCC specific goodies already being sold out. I spotted folks who already had multiple bags of merchandise in tow while others waited in lines for exhibits like “The Walking Dead” and “Star Wars.”

Despite the giddy joy within the SDCC halls, the 79 degrees and sunny skies made it hard not to enjoy the various outdoor exhibits around the convention center. They may as well be more popular than the convention center itself because you don’t need a pass and it’s free. Netflix, “The Walking Dead,” “Westworld,” SyFy, Adult Swim and others were on point with their outside exhibits. Not only did they offer up swag, ranging from shirts and bandanas, but some offered legitimate exclusive items along with fresh food and a refreshing bottle of water.

While talking with others exploring the sprawling nerdified cityscape outside, I began to understand the behemoth known as Hall H. For those who don’t know, Hall H is where Marvel, FOX, DC, and others unveil previews and have panels focused on the hottest shows and movies for nerdy pop-culture. When you crunch the numbers, around 5% of attendees are only able to squeeze into Hall H for a panel. Some were lucky enough to step inside, including our very own Lauren Damon. But for those on the outside looking in, waiting in a line to wait in a future line seems like pure insanity when there are other panels at smaller venues.

Because Comic-Con has grown so big, it’s hosting panels in a nearby library, while also packing over 15,000 people into the home of the San Diego Padres, PetCo Park. Multiple panels were even jammed into the nearby hotel meeting rooms, while the nightly festivities spilled into the nearby Gaslamp Quarter. My and Lauren’s experiences have their merits, going balls out for Hall H or enjoying nearly every display and participating into those off the beaten path panels. If you were to ask me or Lauren about our experiences, they’d both be positive for widely different, but solid reasons.

With hundreds of thousands in town, there’s an argument over whether or not SDCC is worth the “Hunger Games” dash for tickets and lodging, the long waits, and the sore feet after four days of walking and standing. We at MediaMikes say it is. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that transcends all ages and turns out to be an unforgettable weekend for all in attendance. There may be times of frustration, but the moments of pure nerdy ecstasy, like watching the latest “Thor: Ragnarok” trailer in a crowd of thousands of screaming people or geeking out over Matt Groening revealing that “The Simpsons” writers have been asked to tone down their criticism of Fox News, make SDCC a lifetime memory.

For those who’ve attended before, you’ve made up your mind about where you stand on attending the world’s largest comic-con. Once may be enough, but from what I gathered from talking with complete strangers on the hall floor, on the street and at the bars, it’s a yearly pilgrimage once you’ve had a taste. But for those who have been on the fence for years about whether or not to attend, just do it. Keep in mind that you have to choose your time wisely because those five days (or fewer) go by quickly. Here at MediaMikes, we’ve gotten our feet wet and can’t wait to dive head first next time.

July 16th is an important date in my life. It’s the birthday of my daughter-in-law, Jessica. It’s also the date that one of my personal heroes, Harry Chapin, died in 1981. Sadly, the date will know be remembered for the loss of two of Hollywood’s legends as both Oscar winning actor Martin Landau and acclaimed filmmaker George A. Romero both passed away.

Born in Brooklyn in June 1928, Martin Landau began his employment career as a cartoonist for the New York “Daily News.” However, he had always dreamed of becoming an actor and, at age 23, made his off-Broadway debut in the play “First Love.” In 1955 he was one of 2000 aspiring actors to apply to the prestigious Lee Strasberg’s Actor’s Studio. He was one of only two admitted, alongside a young man named Steve McQueen.

For several years he worked steadily, both on-stage and on television, appearing in such popular programs as “Maverick,” “Rawhide,” “Playhouse 90” as well as films such as “North by Northwest” and “Cleopatra.” He even co-starred with his old acting mate McQueen in an episode of “Wanted: Dead of Alive.” After stand-out roles on such shows as “The Twilight Zone” and “The Outer Limits,” Gene Roddenberry asked him to audition for the role of Mr. Spock in “Star Trek.” The role went to Leonard Nimoy, but the same year saw Mr. Landau appear in the role that made him a star, Rollin Hand in “Mission: Impossible.” Ironically, when he left the show in 1969 he was replaced in the cast by Nimoy.

In 1975 he co-starred alongside wife Barbara Bain in the sci-fi program “Space: 1999,” a groundbreaking show that is still considered a classic. Following the show’s cancellation he continued doing episodic television along with the occasional film roles. He earned his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1989’s “Tucker: The Man and his Dream.” The next year saw nomination number two, this time for his work in Woody Allen’s “Crime and Misdemeanors.” The third time proved the charm when he took home the Oscar for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi in Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood.” He continued to work steadily, appearing on television and in films up to his death. His last film, “Without Ward,” is scheduled to be released next month. Mr. Landau was 89-years-old and his cause of death is listed as “Complications” after a brief hospital stay.

If you are familiar with the term “Zombie” you have one man to thank: George A. Romero. The New York born writer/director also passed away today after a battle with lung cancer. He was 77-years-old.

After graduating from Carnegie-Mellon college in Pittsburgh he made the steel city his home, shooting many of his films in the area. In the mid-1960s he and some friends pitched in their money to create Image Ten Productions. After a series of short films, he co-wrote (with John Russo) and directed one of the most influential films of all time, the black and white horror classic “Night of the Living Dead.” To honor the film the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress inducted it into its ranks. After a few less commercial films he returned to the horror genre with the film “Martin.” But it was his next film that cemented him into the pantheon of horror film legend, 1978’s “Dawn of the Dead.” In an endeavor to release the film away from the Image Ten company the copyrights to “Night of the Living Dead” were lost, putting the film into the public domain, which meant that when home video came around Romero did not share in any of the proceeds.

I was a teenager in Tampa when a friend of mine called me and said I had to get to the theatre he worked at by 7:30. They were holding a sneak preview and, even though he couldn’t tell me what it was, he said I would hate myself if I missed it. Gathering a few of my friends we made it to the theatre in time to be admitted to the auditorium. This was back in the days when a sneak preview was just that – the filmmakers just showed up at a theatre with a print and showed it to an unknowing audience. Well my friend was right. I would have been pissed to learn I had missed out on the first screening of “Dawn of the Dead.” Shot in color with incredible effects by make-up legend Tom Savini, the film gave me nightmares for weeks. Made for $1.5 million, “Dawn of the Dead” went on to gross over $40 million, making Romero a much sought after director. He followed the film in 1981 with “Knightriders,” starring Ed Harris and another horror classic, the 1982 anthology “Creepshow.”

In 1985 he delivered “Day of the Dead,” but it was not as well met by fans or critics as the previous two. He also directed “The Dark Half,” based on a Stephen King story and wrote the script for the Tom Savini-directed color remake of “Night of the Living Dead.” In 2005 he directed “Land of the Dead” and followed it up with two more films, “Diary of the Dead” (2007) and 2009’s “Survival of the Dead.”