Shipper's Life.

*Again, if I forgot something, this time I didn't really have time to write notes, and I don't remember everything.

And another important thing- since that day was so long, I bolded each name and part of the day, so that you (and I) can get wherever we want quickly. Enjoy :)

Also, I know it's late, but with the flights, the Jet Leg, and school, I barely had time to write it.*

So, day II of Creation's Stargate convention in Chicago is also over. And that was one heck of a day.

We started the morning really early, since we didn't stay at the Westin O'Hare, and had to be there in 9am for the Saturday Breakfast. Okay. Fine. We're good for now.

We got to the Westin in 9am. Just like the day before, we saw the line the moment we stepped into the hotel. It was from the other side now, since they were all waiting to get in the breakfast. We stood in line as well, waiting until we can finally get to breakfast.

In about 9:10 they finally let us all in. We sat down in a table near the stage in the front of the room and waited for the special guest, Ben Browder. Some people went to get some food, but a lot stayed in the room and waited. I, personally, couldn't eat anything. Seriously? When I'm about to meet Ben Browder?!

While we waited for Ben a few people got up and went to a table in the other side of the room. I was curious, so I got there as well, and only when I saw all the items there I remembered the Silent Auction. They had two big posters there (One of Cam, and one of John (Sheppard, not Crichton!)), three signed Envelopes plus some other stuff, and the poster of the Breakfast with Ben Browder. We didn't try, though. That was kinda expensive.

Anyway, in 9:25 the door opened and Ben went inside. The cheers started immediately, of course. We were all really happy to see him. I took a couple of photos, but they weren't really good. Nevermind.

Anyway, he went on stage and told us that he doesn't really know what to say. He thanked us for coming and then said he tends to be chatty, so he's sorry for the last tables. (Ouch. I mean, just imagine how long it'd take him to get to them...).

Then he went down to the nearest table to stage and sat down with them, and the people started eating again. Everyone who didn't take food earlier went to do so. I just kept looking around and at Ben.

We were the third table, and he got to us pretty fast (9:45, about 20 minutes after he came in). He sat down next to my dad, and said Good morning. We said good morning back. There were two empty seats (except for the one he sat in), so he asked what happened to the ones who sat there. Someone told him they went out and didn't come back, and Ben joked and said they saw it was him and decided to leave. "Oh, it's him? Bummer."

We laughed. Then someone asked him if he watched SG1 before joining the show, (I know he did, he told GateWorld), and he said he did, and that he sat down and finished it all in a week. He said he watched it in video tapes, because for some reason they didn't have DVDs. Weird.

Then someone told him they liked the "Bullets Bounce" line (from "Avalon, part I). Ben thanked him and told him that it's all his line, and he added it since he grew up around weapons, and knew you mustn't fire in closed space, because the bullets can hurt you. He said that Mitchell's original line was, "okay", but he couldn't understand how someone's shooting in his ear and he's totally calm. It didn't make sense to him. He added that most lines they improvised didn't get in, except for RDA's. He said that Rick always said what he wanted, and usually it had something to do with cheese. "That looks like cheese!"

Then my dad told him we came from Israel all the way to the convention, and that I was responsible for this. He thanked us for coming, and I said that I've been watching Stargate since... well, forever. He laughed and said that I was in diapers when Stargate aired. When he's right, he's right.

Then someone came and told him he should move on. He thanked us all for coming to meet him and then got up and left. I looked after him, of course, for a few more minutes, and then we left to the vendors room, to see what they have today.

This breakfast was the best breakfast ever. It was so fun, and funny, and Ben is such a lovely man. He was nice, and looked like he really enjoyed hanging out with us. And, just for future reference, he drank Coke. Diet. Always diet. Interesting.

Anyway, we bought 2 more patches (for the next con I can make me an SGC uniform!), 6 of the Stargate audio episodes (one in 12, 6 in 50. Totally worth it. I took the first four (Danny, Elizabeth, Vala & Danny, Carson), and Teal'c's and Lorne's. Nice, isn't it?), one Stargate Atlantis book that I hope that will be good and a shirt for my dad. Then we went back to the theater.

When it was finally the time for Kavan's panel (Which, unsurprisingly, started late), they started with a really cute video about Lorne [You can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQD974-FZU4]. After that- Kavan Smith went onstage!

Now, of course the moment he started talking they had some problems with the microphones. It, unfortunately, continued throughout much of the day, so I sometimes had some trouble understanding what they say. What a shame.

Anyway, Kavan didn't really talk much. He mentioned that he just landed here a few hours ago, and that he's really tired, so we need to give him some time to wake up. We didn't mind, of course. [Of course, if they'd just make the panel longer, it could've been even better :P]

Anyway, then he started taking questions.

Someone asked him if he got to say "Eureka" while he shot the show. Kavan said that he didn't, and he's sorry about that. But next job he gets- the first thing he says will be "Eureka"!

Someone asked where do they shoot Eureka. Kavan said it's a little town near Vancouver. He said it's a really nice place, and everything is just like it is in the TV show. Then, remembering a story, he asked if he can tell us a nasty story. When we said yes he said that one day they were shooting late, and so he woke up in the morning after, tired and everything. He went outside (they were near a lake, if I remember correctly), to eat his breakfast, when a couple arrived. While he was still eating, the woman went to the side of the lake and left there something from her body. Now, Kavan, all tired and everything, couldn't do anything but watch. Sounds lovely, doesn't it? Yeah, that's what he thought.

Someone asked Kavan if they planned "The 4400" movie. He said they didn't. The moment it was over, it was over, that's it. He also mentioned that it's funny that the show's called "The 4400", when they only showed, like, 20 of them. It's not like they were going to have 4400 episodes, right?

"X-302 VS. The Orion", was another thing that was brought up. Kavan said that, basically, it's the small VS. the big one, isn't it? Guess what he chooses.

Someone asked who is the most talented person he's ever worked with. He opened his mouth to response, but before he could the one who asked the question added beside him. He didn't seem very happy about that [yeah, that was funny]. Anyway, he replied that talent can be expressed in many ways. There are people he worked with who were talented in one thing, and a lot in other things.

He also mentioned the Stargate Atlantis cast. He said they were really talented people (he mentioned a couple of names, I kinda forgot them by now), and that he liked working there. Then there was silence, and he said that he'll stick with himself, anyway.

Kavan mentioned that he's reading a lot, and that he also wrote a kids' book and a "book book". He said that he thought it was brilliant, but then he finished it and read it and realized that it made absolutely no sense.

Someone asked if we'll get to see him as Detective Cavanaugh in Sanctuary again. He said that they actually asked him to come again, but since he was doing Eureka, he couldn't do it. But if they ask him again, maybe he will.

Kavan was also asked how was it like to come to the set of Eureka after four years, when everybody knew each other and everything. He joked and said that after four years, everybody hate each other, so when he came, they all loved him [lol!]. Then he said that really, it was very fun. Everybody there is so funny, and he really enjoys working with them.

In response to the question "Did you take anything from the Stargate Atlantis set / Eureka set?" Kavan said that he took one thing from set. He mentioned the episode where he was General ("The Last Man", 4X20), and said that he had that "General Lorne" sign. That's what he took from SGA. Eureka... Well, from Eureka he said he's going to steal anything he can.

He also mentioned, I don't remember when exactly, that his part in Eureka is the Robot Cop. He said that way he gets to be faster and stronger than everyone and nobody can kill him. Obviously he really likes that. Though (and he said that, not me!) he needs batteries, so that's kinda takes some of the fun away :P

Kavan also talked about the "Lorne's painting Atlantis" scene from "Sunday". He said the writers asked him what talent does he can do for Lorne's day off, and he said he's a great artist (And he was lying, of course). They believed him, and at first they tried that, but that was really horrible, and Paul kept making fun of him, so they took someone else to do that. He said that whoever drew the bones of it is the real artist, and that he just colored.

Someone asked him about connection with his online fans and Twitter. He said (I'm not sure if it's the first thing or not) that he did have Twitter. Colin Ferguson [Eureka's Sheriff Carter] opened one for him, and when he found out he decided to join in. [His Twitter description, by the way, is "Never let someone open a Twitter account for you.] Anyway, they really enjoyed laughing about each other, but apparently a few Colin fans didn't get the point and took it seriously. He said that he started getting all sorts of bad messages, life threats and stuff, and, of course, he didn't like that, so he decided to stop with Twitter. He said he never really saw himself as someone sensitive, but maybe he's just more sensitive than he thought.

Earlier during the panel, I don't remember when, Kavan mentioned a bike accident he had, near a little town called Eureka (Guess that's how we got there in the first place). Someone asked him to tell us the full story, so he did. He said he was riding his bike, and somehow, I don't remember how, he fell near a cliff and slid into something, I don't remember what. Anyway, later he found out that was the only one not of metal in miles- if it would've happened someplace else, his injury would've been much worse.

Anyway, he broke one of his arms, and hit his head. Someone found him and helped him get to a city. Kavan asked him to get him to L.A, I think, where he knows where to go and everything. He said he knows someone who can help him. As you can guess, it didn't end very well.

Someone also asked him something about his (beautiful) smile. Kavan said they really like seeing how long he can smile without blinking, and so he finds himself smiling for as long as he can. After that his eye starts twitching. Not fun. 

After that it was his time to go, so he thanked us and left. After this was over we left, deciding that this is going to be a long day and we can use a break (We didn't know how happy we'll be after the day is over...), so we sat outside the Grand Ballroom. I wrote some of what I remembered from breakfast and what I had the time to write of Kavan's panel (which unfortunately wasn't much). I also bought me an Autograph ticket for Kavan Smith's autograph (Should've done that online like the others, but I kinda didn't notice it wasn't in the Gold Pass...) and a photo for him to sign on (Should've made my own, like with the others).

By the time we finished everything, Chris Judge's panel started, so we hurried back into the theater. Needless to say, I was incredibly excited. He was the only member of the original cast of SG1 there, and I heard that he's funny onstage. It couldn't be better, right?

So, just like with the others, they showed a video about Teal'c, which was pretty funny. Then, finally, Christopher Judge came onstage!

Chris opened with "I am in The Dark Knight Rises. That's all I can say". He added about three more times that he can't say anything about that, no matter how much he wants to. After the last time he added that he can't say anything about it simply because he doesn't know anything. We all laughed.

Then he started taking questions from the audience.

Someone asked Chris about what it's like being a Jaffa and using their helmets and everything. Chris told us that the guys developing that stuff didn't test the helmets on anyone before giving it to him, and the result was that he was the one who found out how extremely heavy it is. He said they had four guys who took it, and when he asked them what will support it when it's on his head, they told him, "Your neck". Obviously he wasn't too happy to hear - and later try - that. I gotta agree it doesn't sound really fun.

He also said that they've worked with another model. Now, Chris's features are big- he's got big head, big lips... and big nose. So he said that in the first time they shot with it, (In "Children of the Gods", of course), when the helmet opened, it actually cut his nose. He said that if we watch the original Pilot (And not the new one, since they probably fixed it) frame by frame, we can actually see it cut his nose. Ouch.

If Teal'c a Ronon would've continued their fight in "Midway", who do you think would've won? Well, Chris thinks Ronon would've won. I don't remember what exactly he said about that, but I do remember he talked about Jason himself... quite a lot.

Then Paul suddenly came onstage, wearing a Cubs shirt. We were psyched.

It took a moment before it was finally quite, and Paul could talk. The only thing I remember was that he told us how he had his Meet & Greet, and since he wanted to be closer to the people of Chicago, he bought that Cubs shirt. Now, he had no idea Chicago has two baseball teams, the "Cubs" and the "White Sox" (He accidently said "Red Sox" in the beginning... Oops). So when he got to the Meet & Greet, half of the people went like, "Get that thing off!". Poor Paul!

He talked a little more about sports, though I don't quite remember which. Then he went off stage, letting Chris continue his panel. Chris's response was, "Who was he?". We all laughed.

Chris also got a question about pranks on set. Whoever asked that mentioned that a few people on set said how Chris liked pranking people, and wanted to know what Chris can tell us about that. Chris, surprisingly, didn't say much. He talked about one time he pranked someone (Sorry, right now I don't remember who it was or what Chris did), and a little about other pranks, and that's it. He did talk about how actors tend to be really childish. Why? That's a good question.

Someone told Chris that other people from the SG-1 set mentioned that he was farting a lot, and they wanted to give him the opportunity to defend himself. Chris started (Or rather, tried to) defend himself... but eventually gave up. He admitted that yes, he was. But he said it's a necessary, and everyone has to do it.

He also talked about a couple of stuff he did (Shows, movies, can't remember). In both places they knew he had some part in SG-1, but they didn't actually know what it was (One of the four leads? Gotta say I find that kinda lame). What they did know was that he was the farting guy on Stargate.

He also talked about how they all had eyeshadow, since "Nothing says Egyptian like eyeshadow". (Which, I've gotta say, is kinda true). Anyway, that was hilarious.

And of course, how can you not talk about Stargate Atlantis? Chris talked about how in the beginning the SGA crew was really serious and how they really wanted Atlantis to succeed, but they grew more relaxed through time. He said that there was also some tension between the two shows- obviously they wanted SG-1 to succeed more than SGA, and the other cast wanted the opposite thing.

He talked about each one of the cast. Rachel and Torri, he said, were really good. And Rainbow was really cool (They still talk on Twitter every once in a while, by the way). He said that David was in SG-1 first, so he was basically "One of ours". And Joe... well, "Joe is like scotch: he's an acquired taste". [Someone asked him if we can tell Joe that when he gets to the Westin tomorrow, and Chris didn't mind. Fun? Possibly.]

Anyway, then it was Chris's time to leave (Yeah, I really don't remember much of it). So after he left stage we hurried downstairs to the place where the Photo Ops were.

You see, after Chris's panel we had two things going on- Autograph Session with Kavan and Photo-Ops with Chris. In the schedule they said they prefer we take the Photo before we take the Autograph, so that's what we did. As said, we went downstairs (Our first photo-op!)... and found this huge line. We honestly had no idea it's going to be that long. I mean, the panel was just over a minute ago!

Anyway, since both my father and I had tickets, we both stood in line. At first it didn't move anywhere, and my dad started getting annoyed, but as they said, the moment the line starts moving, it gets moving really fast. From the moment they started, it didn't take long before I got into the room. My dad stayed outside guarding our things, and the moment I was out he was going to get back to line.

The Photo with Chris was the longest one, I think. Some why, they had some problem with the lights and them reflecting on my glasses. So we stood there, and then we had to take that again, and in the third time Chris smiled and went like, "Would you stop doing that?!". I couldn't not to smile. "I'll try," I think I managed to say.

Anyway, the third photo was okay (without glasses, of course it was), and I waited for my father to take have his photo with Chris. After that was over, we went back upstairs to the Vendors Room, to get Kavan's autograph.

I've got one thing to say- the line was crazy. Almost every person in the room was there for Kavan's autograph. Now, this thing started in 1:05, and we got there closer to 2AM. And there were still a ton of people there! (Later we decided that maybe we should've gotten the autograph before the Photos, but it was too late).

Anyway, eventually (near the time Paul's panel was supposed to begin) we got to Kavan.

Kavan was really nice. My dad told him we came from Israel, and he thanked us for doing all this way. My dad mentioned that it was thanks to me that we did it, that I planned everything, so Kavan smiled, "With their money?". We laughed and said that yes, with their money. (Though now that I think about it, it's not completely true? My Gold Pass and My Photo-Ops Tickets? I paid. About 800$, but I paid. Alone.) Anyway, on the photo he also wrote, "Thanks for coming all this way!". Oh, isn't that awesome? :D

We shook his hand, (I ped the photo. Genius me.), and we headed back to the Grand Ballroom.

Note: he was still wearing that hat. Weird. Though now he didn't look anywhere like Michael Shanks. Hmm.

Anyway, we got back to the theater right on time. About a minute after we entered the room they dimmed the lights and showed a cute video about Carson. Then Paul McGillion went onstage!

I don't really remember the order of the questions / or the stories, and some of the questions I don't remember at all. So forgive me if it's a little messy.

I do remember, however, that Paul was very sweet, very funny guy. He was really nice to everybody asking question, and it looked like he really enjoyed being there with us - almost as much as we enjoyed it!

Anyway, unlike when Paul came to say hi during Chris's panel, this time he was wearing a blue & white plaid shirt, above his Cubs shirt. After all, how was he supposed to know there are two Baseball teams in Chicago?

Paul talked a little about his new TV show, "Captain Starship". He said that they've just presented the Pilot to Space (the Canadian Sci-Fi channel), so now it's in their hands. Of course, he hopes they'll like it. He also told us about the movie about J. K. Rowling's life, where he played her father. He said that he really likes Harry Potter, and he was surprised to see how much she's been through. He also mentioned he got married last year (September, if I remember correctly).

Then Paul started taking questions.

The first one who asked a question was a kid, who ran to the mic. Paul went like, "Sprint!", and when the kid got to the mic, told him to "Give me ten pushups!". The kid did it (We were all laughing) and then (after Paul made sure he's breathing) asked Paul how hard was it to be a doctor in a TV show. He said it was hard. He always got those pages of alien language, and he didn't understand anything. Since his brother is a doctor, he always went to him and asked him how to say these words and what they mean.

Another question was who the most evil character he's ever played was. He said that he'd have to say Wexford, from Sanctuary. All he wanted was power. The audience, of course, agreed. (Wexford was such an annoying, evil character. I've got to say it was really weird, hating Paul's character. I mean, after Carson?!)

They also asked about making Carson Scottish. They asked if it was his choice or the producers'. Paul said that that was his choice, but they didn't really like it. He said he just read the first script, and Carson looked Scottish to him. And besides, there are educated Scottish people. They have doctors too! Eventually his agent got them to agree, so he went to the set deciding Carson will be Scottish.

The casting trailer on the set of SGA is very small, and half of it is another room with chairs, for the ones auditioning, so everyone could hear what went on inside. Paul waited outside to be one of the last ones. When he went inside, the casting director asked him how he's going to do Carson. He said Scottish. The casting director didn't like it. It didn't start very good to him, but he hoped it will work anyway.

Anyway, he did the first scene (he had three). The C.D said, "that was good". He did the second scene, and again, "That was good". He did the third scene and got, "That was very good, now get out of here!". Eventually, as we all know, he got the part.

He continued from there and told us how excited he was when they did the first reading with all the Syfy executives. He wasn't a regular on Atlantis, yet because of his part in the episode, he got to be there and meet all the executives and everyone. He said that when they got to Carson's first line, he read it with the Scottish accent, and everybody looked at him like, "Ha?! What the hell...?!". He said that after that Joe [Flanigan] asked him, "Is your character Scottish?", and he said yes.

And in the fifth season, "Your character is Scottish?!". "Yes, Joe, I've been playing it for five years!". Yeah, that was funny. Especially his famous Joe Flanigan imitation. It was just hilarious!

Someone asked Paul how was it to be a woman, in David[Hewlett]'s movie, "A Dog's Breakfast". He said that the hardest thing about it was the heels, and that he salutes all the women, who can walk on that. He also told the story about him and David shooting the scene outside, when David's naked and he's dressed as a woman. He said that they had some problems with the camera, and it was raining, so he was standing there, in the mud, holding an umbrella above David. And he went like, "Are you sure this will be funny?". A few moments later, he realized it's going to be funny.

Someone asked if he'd like to do a "Doctor Who" episode and Paul said that he'd love to. He said he loved watching Doctor Who, and that he even got something from one of the past Doctors, from the original series. He also told us how on the set of his new TV show there's a kid who's a huge Doctor Who fan, so he gave him that. The kid was totally happy. Isn't Paul just amazing?

Then someone asked if there's a question that Paul would like to be asked, but he was never asked. He said it's a good question. He doesn't think so, he was already asked everything.

He told us how he did a convention in Germany. Now, the Germans are very intent listeners. So he was standing onstage, and, you know, nobody laughed of anything he said. After the panel someone went to him and told him that Carson's got a killer sense of humor, and so does he. He told him that's what he likes to think. After him there were a few more people who told him they laughed their heads off. "Really?! I didn't see that! I didn't get that part!"

Paul also talked about a picture someone showed him. He said that they said it's for him, and he was excited and everything, and then they showed him what they was - a picture of him and Joe (as Carson and John, of course), shirtless and holding each other, in a way that he might hold his wife. Paul asked why they were shirtless, and the answer was, "What's the problem with that?" (no problem, that's for sure :P). He added that he doesn't think John and Carson would hold each other like that, so they said that they were comrades, so it makes sense. Paul didn't push it. He laughed and said that Joe, weirdly, liked it.

Someone asked Paul to talk like Scotty, saying "I didn't change the Laws of Physics", or something like that. Paul, of course, did it. The audience loved it.

He talked about the 2009 "Star Trek" movie that he did. He said that they refused to tell him what's the movie before he signed a Confidentiality agreement. They also mentioned that his fans really wanted that he'll do it. [Aren't we awesome or what?]

Paul also told us about the time when he went to watch it in L.A with his family. A few rows in front of him, sat a friend of him. They were really happy to meet again and everything. After the movie ended, his friend went to him and told him that it was a really good movie and he should've been in it. Paul went like, "Yes. I should've". After a couple of weeks, when he found out Paul was in it, he called to apologize.

He also mentioned it was really cool, because he was the first Stargate actor doing Star Trek. He said that they had a lot of Star Trek actors who were in Stargate, but he was the first to do it the opposite way.

When a woman from Scotland went to the mic to ask him a question, he called her to go onstage. "Come on up for a house call with Doctor Beckett". She did so, and he hugged her and let her use his mic (while he's still got one arm around her, of course). The woman was totally nervous (understandably. I don't think I'd have managed to talk if I'd be there instead of her), but eventually, still slightly shaking, she managed to ask her question- how different was Carson's character in after they find him in "The Kindred, Part I" than Carson in the first three seasons. Paul, instead of answering, just kept looking into her eyes and said, "God, you've got beautiful eyes". Oh, Paul!<3

Anyway, after that he answered that he asked the writers the same thing, but they told him to play Carson in the same way. He said that he seems different in "The Kindred II" because of how the other characters reacted to him, but he played him in the exact same way.

Anyway, eventually it was his time to leave stage (even though nobody wanted him to). Paul said that he'll just tell us one last story, that he thinks we'll like, and then he'll leave. And indeed he did.

He told us that before thinking about acting, he studied in college and got a degree in teaching. He was offered a job as a teacher, but he turned it down. When his father asked him why he said he's going to be an actor. His father, of course, didn't like that. He wanted Paul to be a teacher. But Paul decided not to, and went to the U.S.

Anyway, when he got the job on Atlantis, he called his parents. He told his father he got a job and everything. His father, of course, was very happy about that. Now, his parents didn't have cables, so they didn't know Stargate SG-1. So when his father asked him what he's doing and Paul told him he's doing Stargate, his father immediately corrected him, "Star Trek", and told his mother that. "No, Stargate." "Star Trek." "Stargate." "I watched it, I know what I'm saying. Star Trek." "Stargate!" "Don't you yell at your father!". Eventually he gave him his mother, and when she asked, "Are you doing Star Trek", Paul just gave up and said, "Yes, I'm doing Star Trek". Oh, poor Paul!

Then he thanked us all and went off stage, going to the Photo Ops's room, for the Photo Op with Paul. We, of course, hurried there as well, trying to get better place in line. We did, by the way.

Anyway, while we waited in line Paul suddenly started walking by the line with his cell phone (guess it was an iPhone, but I'm not sure), and videotaped everybody. "Say hi to Doctor Beckett!". Then he walked back, still videotaping. That was so sweet!

Then the Photo-Op started. Paul was very sweet, just like in his panel. He didn't mind talking to people a bit, and he hugged every woman who came to take a photo with him, and was really nice to everyone who took a photo with him. He kept smiling through the whole time. What a beautiful smile he's got!

We finished there quickly, so we went back up to the theater and waited for Ben Browder's Panel to begin.

As usual, they started with a music video, about Cam Mitchell. Then Ben went onstage. Ben, just as in our breakfast, was totally awesome. Like everybody else, Ben was also very open with us.

He started with telling us that recently they started looking for a college for his daughter. He said they went to a few colleges in California (Where they live, in case someone doesn't know that), and that when he saw all the cool stuff they have in college now, he really wants to study in college.

He talked about a movie he's doing, "Bad Kids Go to Hell". He stood up for a moment. "That's my part". Then he adjusted the mic and stood there for another moment. Funny indeed.

Ben also talked about two hard things that happened to him this year- the death of someone close to him (of cancer) and his wife also getting cancer. He assured us all that she's fine now (and later mentioned that her hair was different now, after the chemo, but that's not important). Then he added (jokingly) that it would seem that he's the cause for cancer, since everyone around him appears to be getting this. He said that all that's needed is to send him away, and everybody will be okay. We protested, of course.

He mentioned a dance in Carolina, called Shag. He said he was in a dance class, and they asked each one of the people which dance they can teach the class. Now, that was the only dance Ben knew, so he told them he can teach them how to Shag. The silence was predictable.

Anyway, he said that like it that case, sometimes you say one thing and people understand something else. He said that if that happens during the panel, he apologizes, and that we'll tell him.

Then he asked if someone (I don't remember her name) was in the audience. The audience said there are a few women with that name in the audience, but he said that she knows it's her. Well, apparently she didn't. He added she's from BenBrowder.net, and when she said she's there he said he was asked during breakfast what charity does the money from the silent auction goes to. She replied it's going to an organization about cancer.

After that Ben said that's all the entertainment he's got, and now it's time to take some questions.

Someone asked Ben what was his favorite and least favorite episodes of Stargate SG1. Ben replied that his favorite episode was "200" (Great episode), and his least favorite episode was "Off The Grid". He said that Mitchell was wearing leather, and therefore acted like an idiot. He quickly added that he doesn't have any problem with wearing leather - Crichton did it all the time - but it Mitchell starts doing stupid heroic things when he wears leather.

Then someone said they've got two questions, and Ben immediately asked if the first is "Can I get a hug?". Without even waiting for a response, he went off stage and hugged whoever asked the question. Then he added it's the last hug for today, and everybody were like, "Ohh! :(". So he changed his mind and said it's the last hug for his panel.

Anyway, I don't quite remember what the question was, but I do remember the answer. Ben talked about how in the beginning all the physical scenes were made using stuntmen, but later the ones who did them were actually him and Chris. Someone also asked him later on the panel about pranks on set, [and mentioned that Chris didn't say much about it], and he said that there was something, in "Avalon I", in the end. And as the ceiling slowly comes down to them, suddenly Chris starts getting his pants off. And all the camera sees is the ceiling coming down... and Chris's butt. Ben went like, "What the hell?". That was hilarious.

Someone asked Ben to do Farscape's intro. Ben went like, "Help me... I'm just looking for the way home". It was much funnier than it looks like in here, but I bet you can find it online. Anyway, he also mentioned that they changed it later, since he stopped trying to get home. [True. Season 3.]

Ben also mentioned how Amanda[Tapping]'s pregnancy allowed Cam to be the leader of the team. He said it doesn't make much sense for the characters and the audience, since Cam is new and the others are already experienced and know not to get into some stupid situations, but it allowed Cam to get them into the same stupid situations. The writers, though, did it very well, as much as it doesn't make sense.

Someone asked Ben who's a better kisser- Claudia [Black] or Michael [Shanks]. Ben smiled, and asked everybody to turn off any recording device they have on. Then he said that personally he thinks Claudia's a better kisser. Michael's lips were kinda stiff when he kissed him.

Then a kid named Brady came on stage. He was also in the Breakfast with Ben, and when Ben heard his name there he asked him if anybody mentioned "The Brady Bunch" when they heard his name, and when he said no Ben said that he'll remember that he was the first one who did it. So when he went to the mic Ben recognized him, and asked the audience if we know "The Brady Bunch". Then he led everybody singing the theme song! That was funny :)

Then Brady asked what advice he has for someone who wants to be an actor. Ben asked if he's talking about himself, and he said yes. Ben said that usually he doesn't recommend anyone to be an actor, but he's not going to crush such a young kid's dream. He said that what he needs is a good commercial agent and a twin. If he doesn't have a twin, his mother already destroyed his dream. The audience laughed. Then Ben said that, really, what he needs is a good commercial agent.

Someone told Ben he has a Farscape question for him. Ben immediately told everyone in the audience who hasn't watched yet to cover their ears so that they won't hear it. The question was if he had any ideas for a season 5 episode (he wrote two episodes before, one in season 3 (which was totally awesome) and one in season 4 (which was kinda weird)). He said that he actually did have an idea for an episode. He said that TV writers know that you don't put your two leads together, because it kills the sexual tension, and usually it also means the end of the show. But he doesn't think so. He thinks that having them together adds to the sexual tension, and that makes everything more fun. He said that that's what they did in the end of season 4 of Farscape, and in season 5 John and Aeryn were going to be together, trying to work out their relationship with the baby and everything. He loved that idea of writing an episode where he could actually explore their relationship as a more domestic relationship. [Great idea. Too bad they cancelled Farscape! =\]

Someone asked Ben who decided that Daniel and Cam will call each other Jackson and Mitchell. He replied he doesn't know about the Mitchell, but he was the one who thought about Cam calling him Jackson, and suggested that to the writers. He said he thought it made sense, since they didn't know each other in that time, and that's usually what happens on the military- you call people by their last names. But then he found out the audience thought it was stupid to do that, because they felt Mitchell thought he knew Daniel, not the opposite. "That's not even what I meant!". Yup, once again, he meant one thing and everyone else thought the other.

Someone asked Ben about the sword scene in "Avalon II". He said the sword was heavy. Basically, if it looks like he's struggling with the sword, it's because he was. It was really heavy.

Someone asked Ben what was his favorite thing about Australia. He said that he hasn't really let go of it. He said he's excited every time he gets there, and that he's still wearing the shoes that used to be the national shoes of Australia, and he's got a supply of them.

He also said that they used to live somewhere in Sydney, and his kids went to school there. And they used to say that Australia is the best country in the world, and Sydney is the best city in Australia, and this place was the best in Sydney, and the school was the best there. So basically, his kids went to the best school in the world!

Someone asked him what he took from the set of Farscape. He replied that he took Winona (John Crichton's pulse pistol). He said that he thought Winona was a good name for a weapon (she was named after Winona Ryder), and he decided to use it. He said they started referring to it as Winona ("Get Winona!" and lines like that), and in the beginning no one understood what the hell they were talking about.

Someone asked Ben how he got into acting. He replied, smiling, that he had a good commercial agent. He said he did a few commercials, one of them was for the Ford Pinto. He said it was a great car, but it had one design flow- it exploded every time it touched something. Ben said he thinks it can be totally cool to take his kids to school in that car. "Don't crash into me, I will explode. No, really." He asked if there's anywhere he can get that. ebay? Cars.com? [lol]

Someone asked him what colleges did he and his daughter check. He replied with a couple of names of colleges in California. Then he talked about how kids today want to get as far as possible from their home. (Standing in the middle of the stage) "If we're here (pointing down on left, sort of East-South) no, here (Pointing down on his right, as in West-South) then she wants to go there (still with his right hand pointing to the corner, he's pointing out up on his left). 'Why there?!' 'Because Australia is too far away!'".

Some why, I don't remember why, Ben suddenly started asking the audience questions. "Who watched Stargate live on TV?" *Raising hands* "Who watched Stargate on DVDs?" *Raising hands* "Who watched Farscape live on TV?" *Raising hands* "Who watched Farscape on DVDs?" *Raising hands* "Where have you been when it aired?!" *laughter* "Who hasn't watched either and has no idea what he's doing here?" *laughter* [lol!]

Then (I don't remember the question, sorry!) Ben talked about how to talk to the writers of a show. He said you don't normally pay attention to the dumb - you don't see him as a threat - so that way you can give a lot of ideas. He talked about how he used to pretend he's dumb and let the writers to something he wanted to suggest in a way they thought it was his idea. [Seems that he really liked messing with them!]

He talked a little about Claudia and how their friendship hasn't changed in the transit from Farscape to Stargate. He mentioned how in some pics they look like they've got some more to their relationship, but really they're just really good friends.

Then someone (from Creation) signaled him "five" with his hand. "Five... hours? Fifteen minutes?" And then, when they kept saying no, he said, "Well, you're not going to kick me off stage, right?" And when they said no again, he went like, "Okay, so we can continue!". What a funny man!

But even he realized he has to go (too bad for us... all of us). So he took one last question, about the "Bullets Bounce" line from "Avalon I". He mentioned that he already told it in the Breakfast, so everyone who already heard that- he's sorry. [The story you can find in the Breakfast part, I'm not going to write it again.]

Anyway, then he went off stage, and we all hurried to the Photo-Ops's room, for the Photo Op with Ben. The Photo-Ops went pretty quickly. Ben was really nice to everyone and didn't mind taking pictures in any way the people wanted. There's one I remember in particular- one girl who asked Ben to carry her in his arms. He didn't mind, but after that he said it's the last time he's doing that. Every woman in the room went like, "Oh! *disappointment*".
After the Photo-Ops we left to get some food. It was the first time we had a free moment that day, and we decided to spend it in McDonald's.
There's something you should understand about Rosemont (And if there's anyone who lives there and reads that- I apologize)- the place could as well be the middle of nowhere. The traffic lights there are horrible, you can barely walk there, and the only source food near the Westin is McDonald's. So that's where we went.
Anyway, we finished there earlier, so after that we went back to the Westin. The Photo-Op with Ben and Chris were about to start, and we knew if we can get there earlier we can get a good place in line. So we did. Even though we got there before we needed to, there was already line there. So many people!

Then the two came and the Photo-Op started. Both men were really nice. They shook everybody's hands and said hi to everybody. Just like in the other Photo-Ops, they didn't mind doing special poses. One of the photos was with two kids, who had Staff Weapon and Zat Gun. They asked Ben and Chris to stand in the middle, with their arms up and scared looks on their faces, and then pointed the weapons at them. That was so funny!

Again, we finished with the Photo-Ops quickly, so we went back upstairs to the Grand Ballroom. It didn't take much longer before the Autographs Session began.

Before the Autographs Session began (While we all waited for Ben and Chris to finish the Photo-Ops!), Paul went onstage and showed us the trailer for his new TV show, "Captain Starship", which he talked about earlier in his panel. The trailer was really cute, and it looks like a good series. Let's hope SPACE will pick it up! [By the way, Michael also appeared in a trailer. He had beard. And, of course, everybody cheered when he appeared!]

Then Ben and Chris arrived, and they started calling row by row to get Ben's autograph, and after him Paul's and Chris's.

I'm telling you, Autograph Sessions are of the most boring things in this world. Basically, you sit in your seat and wait for them to call your row. If you're row one or two, that's fantastic for you, but if you're row nine (and yes, we're still on the Gold!)... well, that's a long, boring wait. As I mentioned more than once, we were Gold Patrons, and even we had to wait for over an hour and a half just to get in line for Ben's autograph. Don't get me wrong, though. It was totally worth it.

The moment they called our row we went to the line for Ben's autograph. While on the line, one of the volunteers in this convention stopped us, marked our Gold Weekend Pass and gave us a post-it with our names (if we wanted). We, of course, took it and kept moving in line.

Behind the table two people are seating- whoever gives the autograph (Ben, in this case), and someone who counts how many autographs the man signed. When you get there you give that person the item you want the guest to sign, and he passes it on to the guest. They sign pretty quickly, and sometimes talk a little to the people, and it's over. It's not moving as quickly as the Photo-Ops, but it's good enough. And it's more fun, anyway.

Anyway, Ben signed our photo pretty quickly. When he saw my name he asked, "Shir? As in Shirly?". I started saying yes, but without the "ly", but my dad cut me off and said that it's similar, but no. It means "Song". Ben said the name is good for me. [At this point I was already in high, so imagine how I felt after that :D] [And by the way, he drank Diet Coke. Again.]

After that we went to the line for Chris's and Paul's autographs. The line was longer - they left the room more than once - but the process was still the same process, though the waiting wasn't quite as long. Well, we did spend most of it in our chairs and in the line for Ben's autograph... Nevermind.

By the time we got close to Chris and Paul we found out Paul's taking his time. He already had his own line. Chris signed every photo very fast, and we didn't really talk to him. He did seem really awake, though, like it was morning, and not closer to the middle of the night. But maybe I'm saying that 'cause I woke up at 7AM. Maybe.

Paul... Paul was a completely different deal. I'm pretty sure I already mentioned that, but he's probably one of the sweetest people on this planet. He looked at the photo for a moment before signing, "To sweet Shir". Oh! I reached out for a handshake, and Paul went for a high five, so it ended up as something in between. Then he kissed my hand. Oh, how happy I was in that moment! [And yes, I don't think I can ever forget that. One of the most beautiful moments ever.]

Then I put the photos back in my bag and we went outside. Since it was really late (About 10PM) and it was raining (Again!), we took a taxi back home. I've just got to say it's a wonder I actually managed to sleep after that day... and with all the excitement for Sunday.