Felicia Day

With hundreds of thousands of people attending San Diego Comic-Con every year and the July 20-24 event quickly approaching, The Hollywood Reporter chatted with the big names in television to discuss their favorite memories and tips for attending the annual event. THR’s Live Feed will talk Comic-Con with actors, writers and producers in the days leading up to the event so check back soon for interviews and the latest news on panels and screenings.

Comic-Con panels: The Evolution of Web Series: The Guild to Dragon Age, Thursday, July 21, 11 a.m., Room 7AB; Eureka, Friday, July 22, 3 p.m., Ballroom 20; The Guild, Saturday 4 p.m. Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton Bayfront.

THR: What’s one thing that stands out from your first Comic-Con?

Day: Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blogin 2008 was my first Comic-Con and going out onstage in Hall H and being received by screaming fans was an amazing experience. Being able to go with Joss Whedon, Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion and walk down the convention floor and have everybody recognize us for something that just came out the week before — being greeted like that was sort of a pinnacle; it set the bar very high. I remember being uncomfortable at the panel and tweeting underneath the table, and saying, "I’m tweeting under the table," before Twitter was out. That was a viral moment and I turned pink.

THR: What are your favorite spots in San Diego?

Day: There’s a Brazilian restaurant, Churrascaria, that’s a really nice off-the-beaten-path place. And then there’s an Indian place, Marsala, I always go to for lunch because it’s right off the Convention Center. So there are a couple of little smaller restaurants that you can kind of hide in a corner, outside all the den of craziness. There’s also this Italian place, the Little Opera Café that has really good pasta.

THR: Who throws the best party?

Day: I have to say that the Syfy party is probably the best. It’s kind of a zoo to get in. You meet a lot of people in a very one-to-one atmosphere, and they always have a very nice venue, and it’s always the kind of sci-fi people that I admire their work.

THR: What makes for a good panel presentation?

Day: The best panels are the ones that have surprises, so I think it’s always good to throw something at your audience that they weren’t expecting so they feel that it’s a very special moment that other people wouldn’t really experience outside of that room. Make people come away with a memory.

THR: What questions would you recommend fans not ask during panels?

Day: Don’t ask a person about their canceled show. There’s always one person that asks about a show that has no relevance to the panel and was canceled and is probably a bad memory.

THR: What tips do you have for Comic-Con first-timers?

Day: Definitely bring snacks because you don’t want to pay $15 for a greasy sandwich. If you’re a real fan of comic books or a genre in general, there’s always going to be a smaller panel that’s not as well-attended that you’re going to be able to get a lot more personal value out of. Go to a panel that’s a little more off the beaten path; that experience is going to be more meaningful in the long term.