Convention Circuit - Least Favorite Person Associated With Trek?

[od0_ital]

Out of the folks I've met, I'd say Brent Spiner is the absolute worst experience ever. And from what I've heard & seen from folks who have met him, mine wasn't an isolated thing, he's always a dick at conventions.

On the positive side, I'd say that Wil Wheaton and Rene Auberjonois are the two best to meet. I've met Wil twice, two weeks apart, and he remembered me the second time. When I met Rene, it was an hour or so before his Q&A, and when I stepped up to ask a question at the Q&A, he remembered my name. Now that just put me on cloud nine right there.

Trek Folks I've Met (in order)
- Wil Wheaton
Nicest guy around, seriously.
- Brent Spiner
Dick.
- Michael Dorn
Very quiet - I didn't have a good experience, but others who were at the same convention seemed to walk away with a positive memory.
- John de Lancie
Looks like an uncle, very polite when I talked to him.
- Chase Masterson
Just drop dead beautiful, and so sweet.
- Marina Sirtis
Gorgeous woman, and totally ignored how I embarrassed myself in front of her & Margot Kidder at lunch. And she had several good stories to tell, too bad the con didn't have a Q&A session for her.
- Gates McFadden
Very polite, but quiet.
- Dwight Shultz
Found out he hates his action figures.
- Alan Ruck
So very cool, and curious about how his character has been used in Trek Lit.
- Anne Lockhart
Lovely woman, and the proceeds from her table always go to charity.
- Leonard Nimoy
Very brief meetin' at a free promo screenin' of the latest Star Trek movie, but I loved watchin' it just four seats away from him.
- Rene Auberjonois
Very cool that he remembered my name at the Q&A, and proceeds from his table go to Doctors Without Borders.
- Dean Stockwell
Nice older guy, always takin' cigar breaks - it cracked me up to see him do that.

[Greg Cox]

JiNX-01 wrote:

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I had a very nice experience with Nichelle. She was very pleasant at my autograph and photo op sessions.

The one and only time I met Nichelle, she seemed very pleasant.

[od0_ital]

Greg Cox wrote:

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The one and only time I met Nichelle, she seemed very pleasant.

I am really bummed I wasn't able to get to Dallas this past weekend to meet her & the other guests at the Women of SciFi con. I even had a TMP action figure for her to sign.

Unemployment sucks ass.

[Sal'ira]

od0_ital wrote:

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Out of the folks I've met, I'd say Brent Spiner is the absolute worst experience ever. And from what I've heard & seen from folks who have met him, mine wasn't an isolated thing, he's always a dick at conventions.

Was he really? Could you elaborate on what happened? That makes me rather upset because I have so looked forward to seeing him one day. He's one of my favorite Trek actors.

I'm glad Wil Wheaton is nice, I've wanted to meet him, too.

[TheLobes]

Wow, reading this has really put me off conventions!

Even though Ive never met him, Id be happy to punch Robert Beltran in the face, if I wasnt smaller than him, and had ever punched anyone in the face, ever. Theres this video on youtube of him saying how much he hates Voyager and Star Trek. I guess thats fair enough, his opinion and all, but go look at his filmography. Im pretty sure Star Trek has paid for almost everything the guy owns. At least Patrick Stewart is a great actor in his own right.

[teacake]

TheLobes wrote:

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Wow, reading this has really put me off conventions!

Even though Ive never met him, Id be happy to punch Robert Beltran in the face, if I wasnt smaller than him, and had ever punched anyone in the face, ever. Theres this video on youtube of him saying how much he hates Voyager and Star Trek. I guess thats fair enough, his opinion and all, but go look at his filmography. Im pretty sure Star Trek has paid for almost everything the guy owns. At least Patrick Stewart is a great actor in his own right.

Maybe it's because of people like you that some of these stars get a bit weary of cons.

[TheLobes]

teacake wrote:

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Maybe it's because of people like you that some of these stars get a bit weary of cons.

Which part of what I said do you disagree with? Watch the video:

[Removed Link]

Half of me tries to believe that this is just a joke, but there doesnt seem to be any evidence of that. Id like to go to a convention to meet people like Wil Wheaton and Nana Visitor, who seem to really enjoy meeting fans, but the idea of getting in line for this guys autograph really doesnt interest me, its not like my opinion is unfounded.

[AstroSmurf]

^ I really don't think we need to go there. This entire thread is sort of treading the line as it is without adding fuel to the fire. I have removed the video.

Feel free to state your personal opinions but lets leave the videos and other "proof" out of this. We have no real idea what perpetuated the behavior and this message board doesn't need to open itself up to libel. Remember, we do not know the full story and the particular actor or con guest in question is not here to properly defend themselves. Post with caution.

[TheLobes]

Im not arguing to get that video back up, but just to explain myself.

Isnt it better to provide some sort of proof, why is it worse when someone calls Brent Spiner a dick and doesnt provide proof? Someone said I was the sort of person that made stars not want to go to conventions. I didnt include that video in my original post, because I thought it was unnecessary, but when someone attacks me like that I feel the need to stand up for myself.

[RandyS]

T'Bonz wrote:

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-Robin Curtis. A real sweetheart. Even remembered my name hours later.

The same. She's my one and only actor encounter. I met her at a convention on my birthday in 1994 in a brief encounter arranged by my mom in advance just before she went on stage. Very nice and friendly lady. An hour later at the autograph signing session, she remembered us, stood up and led the entire convention in singing Happy birthday to me.

[AJBryant]

Saxman1 wrote:

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My wife and I were at one of Terry Farrell's first conventions and she was either high as a kite or drunk with bloodshot eyes and constantly dropped f-bombs into her talk to the crowd. One of the convention vendors said no one could keep up with her partying!

Sounds like she was channeling Dax.

[Greg Cox]

Not exactly STAR TREK, but I enjoyed meeting Ben Browder several years ago. You could tell he was a genuine science fiction fan who was well-read in the literature; he spoke enthusiastically about Larry Niven, Vernor Vinge, etc.

I later sent him a care package of Tor books and he replied with a nice thank-you letter.

[sbk1234]

I met Nichelle Nichols in 1990 at a reception in honor of the 15th anniversary of the Apollo/Soyuz mission. There were a bunch of astronauts there, and Nichelle. They were all polite, but you could feel the arrogance. Nichelle was like an old friend. She chatted a long time. Then a couple of years later I saw her at a convention. She was very distant, and "guarded" by her enterauge. Not out and out rude, but distant.

I've never really had a totally bad experience with any.

I will put my $0.02 in. Cut Walter Keonig some slack. He's had a terrible year. He's back at conventions, but everything must be hard for him these days.

[Nerys Ghemor]

sbk1234 wrote:

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I will put my $0.02 in. Cut Walter Keonig some slack. He's had a terrible year. He's back at conventions, but everything must be hard for him these days.

Yeah, definitely...I cannot imagine what it would be like to be in his position and to lose a child in that way.

[species5618]

Frontier wrote:

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Avery Brooks gets the award for being the "biggest star" who is nicest. He is so deep and philosophical, yet so down to earth and friendly. He takes the time to shake your hand, ask your name. He's a man of the people, very casual. He also levels with you: he does these shows to say "hello" to the fans. He doesn't promote any projects unless you ask him directly, and even then, he tends to keep that brief! He genuinely enjoys experiencing the diversity of the fans and to see what Star Trek means. I'm left in awe whenever I meet him, because he doesn't have to do that.

100 percent agree. Avery Brooks was great when we met him at FanExpo in Toronto--very friendly and personable.

Of the Trek actors I've met, I have to echo many posters here and say Shatner was the worst, but his ego is so friggin big I'm surprised con organizers can get him inside whatever convention centre he happens to be at.

In order from best to worst out of the Trek actors I've met:

Avery Brooks
Jonathan Frakes
Robert Picardo
John deLancie
Michael Dorn
Brent Spiner
William Shatner

Off topic, the coolest genre actor I've ever met was Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh on nBSG). Awesome, awesome guy who loved posing for photo after photo (FREE photos, not the posed ones they charge for) and signing stuff (again with no charge) for my friends and I. Oh and then he got drunk with us at the bar.