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[07/29/07 - 01:03 PM]
Live at the San Diego Comic-Con: "The 4400"
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

Please note: As a courtesy, please do not reproduce these comments to newsgroups, forums or other online places. Links only please.

12:03 p.m. - Hey it's the final day of Comic-Con! Sundays notoriously are the least packed of the four days and I'm happy to say that's the case once again this year. So they've literally been playing the same three "4400" promos on the screen here on a loop for the past 10 minutes. Even the obvioulsy interested-in-the-"4400" crowd seems annoyed. Anywho, even though it's a more relaxed day you'll once again have to forgive any/all spelling/grammatical errors. I'll try and update from the transcript tonight.

12:09 p.m. - TV Guide's Craig Tomashoff is here to introduce Craig Sweeney, Jeffrey Combs, Jenni Baird, Ira Steven Behr, Conchita Campbell and Megalyn Echikunwoke.

12:13 p.m. - Ira mentions that they were asked by the network to downplay the promicin aspect of the show - only to find out later on the entire promotional campaign this year would revolve around it.

12:14 p.m. - Craig T. asks the obvious question - would any of the panelists take the shot, knowing the 50/50 chance. "I already did," Jeffrey jokes. Craig S. says no. Jenni says yes. Conchita no. Megalyn says yes. As for the crowd, they seem split as well. Ira however notes that by the end of season four, "it may not matter if you raised your hand or not."

12:17 p.m. - Ira intros a clip from episode seven this season (which airs tonight) - "Till We Have Built Jerusalem." Basically it's Jordan giving a speech about the leaps and bounds the promicin movement has made. Then there's a brief scene in which the miliatary briefs NTAC (sp?) about the Collier threat and notes they have abilities of their own (they can turn invisible). Another scene has Joel's character getting beat up by somebody else (I think?) who can turn invisible.

12:25 p.m. - More clips. This one is from the episode that airs next week. In short - the NTAC gang is trapped in some sort of lockdown at the office, apparently caused by Joran who is sneaking in.

12:28 p.m. - Craig S. reveals that very often they're still figuring out the show's plot right up to the actual production deadline, much to the chagrin of the actors.

12:31 p.m. - Even more clips! These are from episode nine and apparently will feature the return of an "old friend." Hey it's Mahershalalhashbaz Ali! He's there to beat up Tom and Diana for some reason. There's also a scene in which Tess is having another meltdown and burns Kevin's hand.

12:35 p.m. - Ira admits the whole cult book group wasn't planned from the beginning. He adds that they basically needed something to replace the Nova Group as antagonists.

12:37 p.m. - Yikes, even more clips! This one is from "One of Us." Jeffrey's character is telling Shawn that he's found a way to improve the promicin odds. It has something to do with left handed people having a 9 in 10 survival rate. He also reveals that he's found a way to use a simple cat scan to tell how someone will react to the promicin shot. Another scene has Shawn and Jordan arguing philosophies. Jordan wants everyone to take the promicin shot, saying a generation needs to sacrific itself for the future. And hey - more old friends! It's Lily! And she's young! More scenes - Tom has kidnapped Isabelle and wants to give her her abilities back. As you might have guessed, I have no idea what's going on.

12:42 p.m. - Ira promises that there will be lots of bodies by the end of the season. "It's going to be a rock-em, sock-em finale," he adds.

12:45 p.m. - An Austrailian fan complains about the show's time slot there.

12:48 p.m. - Ira admits "4400" isn't an easy show to watch. "It's a complicated show," he notes, adding that he realizes some fans aren't happy with the direction they've take with some of the characters however they should wait and see how everything plays out in the end (a la "Deep Space Nine").

12:49 p.m. - A fan asks why the promicin is the color it is - and more specifically if it's an homage to Jeffrey's "Re-Animator" days. It's a coincidence.

12:51 p.m. - Someone complains about the lack of promotion this season as compared to last when they had the NBC recap and the "essential episodes" on USA. He then creepily comments that Conchita "has grown up beautifully." Still staying classy San Diego! Ira responds by revealing he plans to record a commentary track for the next DVD release in which he'll talk openly about USA's handling of the show.

12:54 p.m. - A fan asks if he can have Jeffrey's name plate. Comic-Con at its random best.

12:55 p.m. - Ira pimps the "4400" companion book, saying the same person did the "Deep Space Nine" companion book.

12:59 p.m. - I'll just say it - people love the Combs.

1:01 p.m. - On that note the panel ends as the room clears for the "Jericho" panel up next. See you then!





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· 4400, THE (USA)
· SAN DIEGO COMIC CON (TFC)





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