Angel

Capone Plugs This Month’s BUFFIVERSE Event!!

"Capone’s" not a fan of the Buffiverse?? [Herc does his best Burton Gilliam impression]: Dang, even Harry Knowles is a fan of the Buffiverse and he’s not even smart enough to watch TV! Well, the mohawked one is here today to plug the big May 14-16 Buffy-Angel to-do in his hometown. Admission will run ya from $180 (for the Sunday-only package) to $280 (for the big two-day gold package). And if you want your picture taken with Lindsey, Lilah or Amy the Witch, it’s only $45 more per Buffiverse icon. (I think. Find the actual pricing structure here.) Man, ever since the WB annouced The Whedon is co-writing the May 19 “Angel” finale, I’m dying to go to a booze-soaked “Buh Bye Buffiverse Bash.” If you know of someone who is organizing one in the Greater Los Angeles area (or want AICN to try to quickly organize one) drop us a line at versebash@yahoo.com. But hurry, it’s already May 2 in Chicago! Here’s my always-intimidating Butt-Numb-A-Thon seatmate “Capone”: Hey Hercules.

Capone in Chicago here with news about how fans of the Buffy-verse may want to honor and celebrate the winding down of the entire Buffy/Angel television phenomenon. Now I‘ll confess up front, I have never watched either show, which I’m sure is a shortcoming on my part. But I know about a million people that do watch, religiously, so by proxy I’m familiar with most of the characters, important plot lines, etc. And because of my friendship my wife and I have with George Hertzberg (Adam, from ‘Buffy” Season 4), I actually attended a Buffy Convention here in the Chicago area last year put on by the good people at Flashback Weekend (www.flashbackweekend.com). The event took place about a week and a half before the final “Buffy” episode aired, and I don’t think they’d officially announced that James Marsters was moving over to “Angel,” so the level of appreciation for the actors appearing at this convention was elevated.

They had asked me, as Capone, to introduce George’s Q&A as part of the event, since many of the thousands of attendees kept tabs on the show through Ain’t It Cool and Mr. Herc. The guy who was supposed to emcee the rest of the day’s Q&A went AWOL, so they asked me to step in and introduce all of the day’s events. My improvisational skills have never before been put to this kind of test. But I did get to meet James Marsters, Danny Strong, Mark Metcalf, and a few others whose names mean nothing to me. It was a blast, the fans were crazed, and everybody was incredibly friendly.

Anywho, Flashback Weekend is having another Buffy/Angel Convention this year, May 14-16 at the Holiday Inn O’Hare International (5440 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL) just outside of Chicago. If you’re keeping track, this is mere days before the final ‘Angel” episode airs on May 19, and the star attraction at this year’s event is David Boreanaz himself making what is said to be his only U.S. convention appearance.

This year’s convention also includes an appearance by Christian Kane (Lindsay McDonald on ‘Angel”). In addition to his regular convention duties (autograph signing, Q&A, etc.), Kane will be performing on May 15 with his band Kane at the Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge, IL, just a few minutes from the Holiday Inn and downtown Chicago. The 1,400-seat Pickwick in one of the Chicago areas last remaining movie palaces celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and you owe it to yourself to check this place out if you’ve never been. The showtime for the concert in 10 p.m., tickets are $20 and $35, available through Ticketmaster.

Other guests at this years convention include Stephanie Romanov (Lilah Morgan on ‘Angel”, Seasons 1-4); Elizabeth Anne Allen (Amy the Witch on ‘Buffy”); and Camden Toy, who played a lead ‘Gentleman,” the Uber-Vamp, and Gnarl on ‘Buffy,” as well as ‘The Prince of Lies on ‘Angel.” And if you’re lucky, you might even spot me roaming the hallways of the Holiday Inn trying to convince goth chicks to join me in the hot tub.

Check Flashback Weekend’s web site for the complete weekend schedule, ticket purchasing info, and all that other good stuff. I swear I have nothing to do with the financial success of this event. The organizers also do a horror/sci fi/fantasy film convention every summer that I’m a part of as an emcee, but beyond that, I thought this Buffy/Angel event might be a great send-off for a show that so many people love. Have fun; maybe I’ll see you there.