Saturday, August 7
It’s day two of Creation’s Official Star Trek Convention Las Vegas 2010, and the place is buzzing, as today is the big day: Jeri Ryan, Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner and Jonathan Frakes are in the house, as are many more fan faves -- and one giant surprise waits in the wings.
The morning starts off right with a Voyager breakfast featuring Bob Picardo, Ethan Phillips, Jennifer Lien and Garret Wang.
At 9 a.m., Creation boss Gary Berman is in the DeForest Kelley Theater, leading the charge in an effort to break the Guinness Book of World Records for Most Star Trek Costumed People In One Place. The old record of 507 was set in Germany only recently. The group here gets closer and closer… 492, 501, but time is running out. An idea? Grab some of the people still at the Voyager breakfast. Sure enough, it works. 543 people are gathered in the room. Berman stands before the room, with video cameras rolling and cameras flashing, and he says, “What was the record? I can’t even remember.” The crowd yells “507.” “They’re nice people in Germany, but, well, we just broke it.” The new record? 543, officially set once everyone is gathered for 10 minutes. “You,” Berman proudly announces, “are all a part of history.”
Jeri Ryan packs the main room. She’s far from Seven of Nine in appearance and attitude, looking relaxed and playful, with a happy, giggly voice. “What’s the best thing you’ve seen so far?” she asks. The audience roars, “You!” “Wow, thanks,” Ryan says. “I didn’t even try to tee that one up.” She then tweets pics of the crowd. Then, who pops onto the stage to surprise her? Garrett Wang. They hug, tweet each other’s pictures and, after he exits, Ryan spends 45 minutes talking to the fans and answering questions.
Over in the dealers’ room, William Shatner shocks everyone by entering with a film crew and zipping up and down the aisles at warp speed, stopping at several booths to check out their wares. At one point, TOS guest Celeste Yarnell stops him to say hello. Shatner wraps her in a hug and they chat for a minute or two as a crowd gathers all around them. He stops at more booths, including one with TOS guest stars Sally Kellerman and Gary Lockwood. They chat and pose for photos, and Shatner and his camera crew dash out as quickly as they arrived.
It’s the afternoon and the main room is filled all afternoon long. First, there’s a Voyager reunion panel with Phillips, Wang, Picardo, Lien, Tim Russ and Scarlett Pomers, who’s now all grown up. Then, it’s time for Shatner and Nimoy. Nimoy goes fist, then is joined by Shatner. Then Nimoy leaves for a while, letting Shatner have a window of solo time on stage, and then he’ll return later to close out the session with his old friend. Among the highlights, Shatner begs Nimoy to guest star on his upcoming CBS show, $#*! My Dad Says, but Nimoy won’t bite. Shatner promises the crowd that he’ll keep trying. Shatner also explains why he was in the dealers’ room earlier: he’s filming a documentary called Captains, about the Star Trek actors who have portrayed Starfleet Captains. And during Shatner’s solo time, the big shocker we mentioned earlier occurs: Patrick Stewart steps out on stage. Stewart gets to his knees and bows to Shatner, who in turn pretends to knight Sir Patrick. They then hug, chat for a moment or two, and then are joined by Nimoy. It’s the first time they’ve ever been on the same stage at the same time. The crowd goes nuts, of course, soaking in a moment may never see again. Stewart departs, blowing kisses to Shatner and Nimoy and the audience, and Shatner and Nimoy then close out their session.
Other highlights
Frakes takes the main stage, acknowledging that acting roles are growing fewer and far between, so he’s happily pursuing his passion for directing. Lately, he’s done a lot of the show Leverage.
Among those posing for photo ops with fans: Ryan, Russ, Grace Lee Whitney, Chase Masterson, Martha Hackett, Jonathan Del Arco, Nimoy, Shatner, Nimoy and Shatner together, Lien, Wang and more. A lot of people take advantage of the chance to pose together, all at once, with Phillips, Pomers, Wang, Picardo, Russ and Lien.
Brannon Braga, former Star Trek writer and producer, takes the stage.
Nimoy, in the evening, holds his photography seminar.
Creation hosts its Saturday Night Gala, with Star Trek music performed by the Nevada Pops, under the direction of conductor Richard McGee.
And the evening ends well into the morning with a dessert party. There are loads of cookies and cakes and ice cream and fruit, not to mention karaoke. And you host for the evening is Garrett Wang, who unleashes his killer George Takei imitation.
