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| Highlights of the German City Con by Feli, also (c) for photos |
| Warning: this report contains minor spoilers about upcoming season 7 and 8 episodes The first German City Con takes place from November 22 to 23 in the Pyramid Hotel in Fürth, Germany - a fact which doesn't go unnoticed by Peter Williams. At the beginning of the opening ceremony he tells us to remember that we are in his house... and to put the toilet seat back down. The opening music video is a hilariously funny piece called "Party at the SGC". To the music of "Night Fever" it features Sam forgetting to actually invite people to the party, the general dancing, Apophis in a new outfit by Thor Lagerfeld, Anise as a surprise guest and on the next morning a rather confused looking Martouf wanting to know if he missed something. He doesn't receive an answer though since all of SG-1 have passed out by now. Judging from the looks on Chris', JR's and Peter's faces it's safe to assume that this is indeed the way Saturday night's are spent at the SGC. Christopher Judge First up is Chris' panel. He starts it off by announcing that he wants to be asked sexy questions. Pretty soon a guy in the audience stands up and says: "Since you wanted to be asked sex questions..." Interrupts Chris consternated: "But not from a guy!" Next Chris is given the inevitable box of Jaffa Cakes. "These are Jaffa Cakes," he informs us, then turns around and, wriggling his butt, exclaims: "And so are these!" One fan brings up one of Chris' favorite pastimes - farting. With glee rather than embarrassment Chris recounts the story of the time he almost passed out because of his own gas. It happened during the shooting of "Fail Safe", when no one had informed Mr. Judge that he would have to spend an entire day in an impermeable space suit... should we suspect a victim's payback behind this? Then we're back to the sex questions. "Does Teal'c need to take Viagra now that he no longer has his symbiote?" a fan asks. Chris laughs and reveals that Teal'c is in fact a Viagra junky and eats the pills with his popcorn. Asked about embarrassing moments while filming the show Chris admits that he used to go commando in season 1. But only until he received an official memo - that even got circulated - telling him to please put on some underwear because Teal'c's lack of appropriate undergarments was a bit too obvious. So, folks, let's pull out those season 1 DVDs and check! "If you were Urgo and could manipulate people what would you make them do?" Chris doesn't have to think long: "Everyone would run around naked and make love." Fans of "Changeling" and "Birthright" can look forward to another one of Chris' scripts in season 8. And now that we know about Teal'c's obsession with Viagra I have to ask if we willl meet the female Jaffa warriors again - surely Teal'c would like to go back to the planet? "You don't know how much...!" is the heartfelt answer. We also learn that a wedding is going to take place in this episode but Chris can't be prodded to reveal the extent of Teal'c's involvement in that event. Oh! And there's a 95% chance that Teal'c will have hair in season 8. JR Bourne JR's panel begins with a question about the craziest thing that's ever happened to him with a fan. He announces that he's still waiting...! Afterwards a girl goes up on stage to give him a present and whispers something in his ear. She's got quite a lot to say to him but comes to a quick end when JR loudly jokes: "What room?" Next it's my turn to bring up the kiss between Colin Cunningham and JR at this year's Gatecon. JR had joked that he and Colin needed to practice but in answer to my question he very firmly assures me that no practice will take place any time soon [Awwwww]. I then ask if he's aware that Colin is a bit miffed with him for implying that he needs practice. JR retorts that *he* should be the one to complain since Colin's technique is lacking and suggests that we all kiss him as well as Colin to see for ourselves who's better. Sadly, sadly he interrupts himself before we can discuss the details, as he sees me frantically scribbling on my notepad. "Are you taking notes?" he wants to know. I explain that I'm going to write a report and he exclaims: "Colin sucks as a kisser - quote me on that!" Done. Now who's going to email this link to Colin...? A large chunk of the rest of the panel is then dedicated to explaining the entire Tok'ra/symbiote concept to JR The discussion is triggered by the question whether Martouf would have loved Jolinar's new host if Jolinar had entered a male body instead of Sam's. Not remembering his first episodes on the show that well, JR is very confused - at first. His confusion quickly turns into exuberant enthusiasm when he realizes that he actually had a foursome going with Lantash, Jolinar and Rosha. Once that is clear we come back to the original question. "So you wanna know what would have happened if Jolinar had entered a man - like O'Neill?" "Yeah, or General Hammond..." "Owwww, no!" His real answer then is just as heartfelt: Love is bigger than everything, therefore Martouf would have been able to overlook the physical form of Jolinar's new host. "Of course, there would have to be an adjustment period - what goes where and when," he adds with a grin. Peter Williams Peter's is the third and last panel of the day. By now the audience has gotten the hang of things and the questions come fast. "What is the funniest thing you've ever put your autograph on?" Peter grins from ear to ear, obviously he has a good answer for that one. "I once signed a vibrator - it wasn't an anatomically correct one though." Oh yeah, good answer. Next question! "I know you don't have any special equipment.. ." "Oh, I do have special equipment!" Peter interrupts indignantly. Okay, the complete question would have read "..equipment to do a Goa'uld voice" but the laughs are firmly on Peter's side. Next Peter is given a Bob Marley t-shirt, which gives him the chance to take off his sweater on stage - and us the chance to enjoy the sight. He promises to take off his clothes at every con from now on, whenever he's given a Bob Marley shirt. If that isn't a promise we should hold him to... Auction The first part of Saturday night is reserved for the auction. When Chris and JR enter the room the excitement is already palpable - one item we can bid for tonight is a visit to the set of Stargate SG-1 in Vancouver. First though there's an entire box of signed DVDs, books, magazines and assorted other stuff to go through. Chris loses no time and promises the first bidders a kiss from JR in addition to the actual item. Soon he and Peter, who has joined the others by now, are added to the list. The flaw of Chris' plan becomes visible early on, when the winner of the first bid turns out to be a guy. But they all get through it with good grace and a firm handshake. Next up for auction are the two Stargate Companions. Chris tries to raise the bids by claiming that there are naked pictures of him in there. He shows them to some of the bidders - they show Teal'c without a shirt - and has them rub his pecs in the picture. When I win the bid and come down to collect my hugs and kisses [if you think that that's the only reason I bid in the first place you're probably right...], Chris is still busy searching the books for more pictures of Teal'c 'naked'. I get my kisses from JR and Peter, then turn back to Chris. He waggles his eyebrows in a comically lecherous move and - opens two more buttons of his shirt! I'm unable to counter that move since the buttons on my blouse are already undone. [Now don't look at me like that - I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt underneath!]. Chris is really getting into the spirit of things though and begins to roll up the leg of his pants to the cheers of the audience. I'm laughing so hard that I have to turn away from the guys for a moment. It turns out to be a bad move because suddenly I hear this roar, and a shouted warning from JR Too late! Chris charges at me like King Kong spotting Ann Darrow and before I know what's happening I'm up in the air and looking at the ceiling, as Chris plants an exuberant stage kiss on me. Afterwards I stagger off the stage - until the guys and the audience call me back because I forgot the books in all the excitement... Wait a minute! Does this mean I actually bid for something else beside the hugs and kisses? The next few items don't raise a lot of money. So Chris approaches one of the younger fans and asks him if he wouldn't like to have the DVD in question. The boy admits he can't afford it. Chris nods and tells him to bid anyway - Chris is going to pay. Before the set visit is up for auction, two more special items are announced. The first one is a game of table soccer against Peter and the bids are going high. Just as Peter is about to close the bidding Chris yells: "And Peter will be playing naked!" Peter just shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders. With a grin he closes the bid and tells the winner that apparently clothing will be optional. The second item is a game of pool: Peter and the winner against JR and Chris. Not to be outdone by Chris' constant mentioning of losing clothes, JR jokes that Peter will be playing with his own cuestick - which is extendable...! We're also reminded that a game of pool will give us bragging rights about having beat Teal'c - or in Peter's words: that we sunk Teal'c's balls. I have to say that, as much as I missed the chance to bid for a lunch/dinner with Amanda and JR, both of these items make a nice change to the usual things up for auction. Since there were a pool table and table soccer available in the hotel, the games were easily arranged, the guests had a lot of fun, and for the winners it was a great opportunity to spend some time with them in a relaxed environment. Then for the highlight of the night's auction we're in for a special treat, as Amanda Tapping enters the stage through the stargate. She holds an official looking paper in her hand and reads it out to us: it's an invitation to spend an entire day on the set of Stargate SG-1, signed by Michael Greenburg himself. The bids quickly skyrocket into the several thousand Euro range. After a while only two bidders are left, driving each other up in 100 Euro increments. Amanda and JR go up to one bidder, Chris and Peter take care of the other one, constantly telling the two about the wonders and pleasures to expect in Vancouver. The temperature in the room is rising in accordance with the bids, so when the bid is up to the unbelievable amount of 7,100 Euro, the guests decide on a time out. Putting their heads together they quickly find a solution. Since Amanda and Chris are the real stars of the show, as she informs us with a conspiratorial wink, they've decided to extend the invitation to two people - for 6,000 Euro each! Both bidders happily accept and are now looking forward to spending a certainly amazing day on the set. At the same time the European Cystic Fibrosis Foundation gains 12,000 Euro with a single auction item. Cocktail Party For the 180 VIP ticket holders the first convention day closes with the cocktail party. The guests appear about 45 minutes after we've settled around our tables - they've already played out their table soccer and pool games. Now the advantage of a small convention becomes obvious: within two hours the guests manage to spend time at every table - giving us all the opportunity to ask them questions and have our pictures taken with them. Let me insert a big compliment and a huge thank you to the guests here: although they were all clearly tired and exhausted, they spent at least a little time with everyone, answering questions, sharing funny stories and making sure everyone had a great time. I have to admit though that I don't remember much of the party after asking Amanda about the upcoming season 7 episode "Grace" and receiving a detailed description of her getting to kiss RDA "for a really looooong time". J.R Bourne and Peter Williams After the morning's photo session Sunday afternoon begins with a panel with JR and Peter together. JR is in a playful mood and nags Peter about telling us the 'Two sausages in a frying pan' joke. Peter doesn't want to because it's apparently a joke JR made up, so in the end they agree on acting out the joke together. While JR indicates that he's a sausage by holding his balled up fists in front of him [huh?] and making sizzling noises, Peter doesn't do anything. After a moment JR stagewhispers: "Say your line!" Peter starts sizzling as well. So there the two are sitting, sizzling like crazy. Another 30 seconds pass. JR leans over to Peter and once again asks him to say his line. As it turns out Peter isn't aware that he has a line, let alone what the line is. JR is baffled. "It's your only line in this whole thing and you don't know it?" He whispers it to Peter and they begin the next round of sizzling. The suspense is almost unbearable. Finally Peter opens his mouth and says: "Can I say it with a Jamaican accent?" Defeated JR drops his hands onto his knees and his head onto his chest. "Yes," he replies wearily, "you can say it with a Jamaican accent." They sizzle. Peter says nothing. When JR turns reproachful eyes his way he grins. "I'm taking a moment," he confides. "You know, I have to get into the scene...." It's just one line! Just before JR reaches the end of his tether and strangles him, Peter gives us his line: "Boy, is it hot in here!" Woohoo! JR's punchline - "Wow, a talking sausage" - is almost lost in the howling laughter of the audience. And while this may not have been the funniest of all jokes, as a lesson in how to drive JR Bourne insane it's priceless. The rest of the panel is dedicated to serious, burning questions; something JR has been campaigning for since the day before. So we wrack our brains and actually manage to come up with deeply insightful questions about their work and all its aspects. They guys appreciate the change and impress us with equally insightful and interesting answers. Amanda Tapping Amanda joins her two colleagues at the end of their panel, so for a short while we get to have all three of them on stage. Amanda has found a new way to bridge the time while most of us are taking photos: she has *us* sing "Row your boat". Which explains why most of the pictures I took are blurred - you try taking a shot and singing at the same time... First up Amanda gets to describe what an episode would be like if she wrote it. However, we never get to hear about it because she has two prompters sitting on either side of her, whispering feverishly to her what the episode should be about. So let's all look forward to an episode that features Martouf as a superhero with a mind-activated force shield (JR was really jealous when he heard that Peter's Apophis has one and the Tok'ra don't) and Apophis as a small, furry hamster. The guys leave and we get to bombard Amanda with more questions. Someone asks her about the wedding photo from the episode "Point of View" and she admits that taking the photo was pretty embarrassing, for her but even more so for RDA. As the confirmed bachelor that he is, getting all dressed up and taking the photo had him pretty freaked. They got through the situation with lots of goofing around - and kissing. Somehow our compassion for her is rather limited when she remarks that it's her job to kiss RDA on a regular basis. We also learn the real reason why fruit loops featured so heavily in the episode "Window of Opportunity": RDA likes the sound of the word, whereas oatmeal sounds boring. Ergo Jack ate fruit loops. Amanda laughs when she is asked why RDA let down his pants in front of her, as seen in the behind the scenes special "The Lowdown". With an airy wave of her hand she jokes that he does it all the time. Apparently he's an exhibitionist, always looking for an excuse to let down his pants. That time the excuse was his latest knee surgery, of course. The cast had a hilarious time with guest star Michael Welch in the episode "Fragile Balance". Michael was excellent as a young version of Colonel O'Neill and had everyone laughing about his imitation of RDA. Then later in the week RDA came on set and said: "What's he doing? I don't do that." To which Amanda, Chris and Michael Shanks replied in unison: "You so do!" When she is asked about the lack of team episodes in the first half of season 7 Amanda jokes that the crew are actually happy about that. Apparently the four main cast members use to goof around so much when they're together that it's impossible to stick to the shooting schedule and everyone has to work overtime. Last but not least the ever popular subject of 'Puff and Ruffle' is brought up, which gives Amanda the chance to imitate her male colleagues' behavior in those situations. Apparently RDA is very smooth - he just *knows* that the female guest star is falling in love with him. Chris on the other hand is very overt, while Michael tries to be the sweet guy. Something that always makes Amanda and Teryl Rothery burst out: "This is so not gonna work!" Some leftover comments With less than 300 attendees the German City Con was the smallest convention I've been to so far. I can only recommend it. The entire event had an intimate quality to it and as far as I could tell from the outside the guests seemed to enjoy that very much. The guests and the con organizers were very approachable and did their best to accommodate special requests - like my whining that I missed out on having my picture taken with JR during the cocktail party. So they let me in after the official photo shoot on Sunday and took one with my camera. JR looks gorgeous and it isn't really his fault that I look like a deer caught in the headlights... In the panels the audience was a bit more reserved and sedate than is usual at a con. Some of it may be due to language barriers but the main reason is probably that there were a lot of con virgins, who just didn't know about the importance of asking the boxers or briefs question. An importance that is debatable anyway, in my humble opinion. As I've said before, no con goes off without a glitch. In this case the mornings stretched out quite a bit because the photo shoots were the only topics on the agenda. And since the concept of the entertainment value of queuing hasn't reached German ears yet, the fans were pretty much left to their own devices. But this is just a minor issue, and one that will certainly be resolved next time. A major issue for me was that fact that smoking was allowed everywhere in the hotel except for the main hall. This is not the organizers' fault, that's just Germany for you. Some of the guests were more than happy about this but my lungs still haven't forgiven me. On a positive note the GCC was the first convention where I wasn't in fear of freezing to death! All in all the two organizers, Ute and Ulli, did a fantastic job! It was the first time they *ever* organized a convention and they as well as their staff deserve a huge compliment. A great time was had by all and I didn't hear of anyone who doesn't want to come back next year. And speaking of next year: the second German City Con has been announced for December 2004, once again in the Pyramid Hotel in Fürth. The first guest on the list is Executive Producer Michael Greenburg and he will not be alone. All four of this year's guests made it clear that they enjoyed themselves very much and would love to come back for an encore. And we would love to have them back! |
| Christopher Judge Amanda Tapping JR Bourne Peter Williams |
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| Pyramid Hotel in Fürth/Germany - photo (c) Josée Heinstman. |
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| JR Bourne, Amanda Tapping and Peter Williams |
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