"Family Guy" has developed a powerful standing on FOX's animation line-up, even after two cancellations and consequent revivals because of the strong fan following. Best known for it's edgy humour, whacky characters, and cut-away gags. But with an increasingly tumultuous and rapidly evolving sociopolitical landscape, from the #MeToo movement to the refugee crisis, the question arises as to how a show like "Family Guy" can survive. The only way forward is to adapt, and the show's producers all have something to say about how the show's humour has evolved.

Rich Appel: I'll presumptuously speak first because I've been there the least amount of time. But to me, watching the old shows, there's a lot more based on the characters [now], which happens naturally in a show that's had the good fortune of being on the air this long because you know who they are. So we can tell stories that in some ways are smaller-scale about the interpersonal connections between them set in the world and tone of "Family Guy". But I think that's one way it's evolved.

Kara Vallow: Because it's an animated show, it has the ability to evolve in way that you can't really think about tangibly. We can go into a video game universe. There are endless possibilities of exploiting the medium in ways that other live action shows will invariably get stale. We have sort of an endless well to come up with ideas from.

Alec Sulkin: I think there are certain jokes that we've done in the show in the past that we just couldn't do now with the changing societal climate and I think we recognise that. We understand, things we've done in the past would not fly today. We have to adapt and come up with new, different ways to be funny.

When pressed further on this point, Sulkin asks if the line of questioning is in reference to the more sensitive societal developments like the #MeToo movement. The reporter says yes, and asks if it makes writing the show more difficult.

Alec Sulkin: I actually think it makes it easier because it gives us another thing to try and cleverly work our way around. If you can come up with a joke that's funny and that sort of somehow refers to what's going on without offending people, that's the key.

Rich Appel: The challenge is always to find fresh stories and angles on stuff, so it's good that society gives us a lot of them. You feel like, 'What will be Family Guy's take on it?' to seem a little fresh, a little edgy, but also we hope kind of progressively correct too. But that's not the first priority.

Another way that the show has evolved is the development of certain relationship dynamics that allow for greater story-telling, such as the dynamic between baby Stewie and Brian the dog. But what about developing new character interactions and relationships?

Rich Appel: Yes, we've talked to the writer's room. Gary Cole plays Principal Shepherd, the principal at the kids' school and he is so funny, and the character's just grown and grown that we're looking for ways to use him with Peter just because we think they'd be terrific together and they've had a couple of moments and it always plays. That's because [of] not only Seth, of course, but Gary Cole is just terrific so we want to do that.

Kara Vallow: We've lost a few of our main characters, Adam West, Carrie Fisher, so we're going to be coming up with some new characters to try to incorporate into that world.

Some of these new characters are already set to begin in this new season.

Rich Appel: Bryan Cranston and Niecy Nash are gonna be a married couple playing Peter's bosses at the brewery. They're not replacing, but standing in for Carrie. We don't know if or when we'd replace our mayor.

Kara Vallow: He seems irreplaceable.

Rich Appel: Carrie's irreplaceable too, but we're at the office, I mean to be fair to this show, so much more than there's a need to hear from the town's mayor that it felt like one you have to replace for narrative reasoning. The other, it hasn't felt right.

Watch our interview with "Family Guy" producers Rich Appel, Kara Vallow, Alec Sulkin here:

Mike Henry arrives at our table fresh off doing a recitation of a rap Cleveland did on his own show, for another interview on the New York Comic Con press line. He is humble about receiving the compliments our table of reporters bestow on him for the performance, saying he struggled to remember all of the words and ran out of energy at the end. Without a doubt, Mike Henry has prospered tremendously since being on the show.

Henry is best known for the role of Cleveland Brown, an African-American father and member of Peter's core friend group. At one point, Cleveland even had his own spin-off series that ran for four seasons before it was cancelled and Cleveland was quickly brought back onto "Family Guy" with a decent amount of meta jokes made in his return episode at the spin-off's expense. Henry voices a number of other recurring characters on the show, and it joined at our table by fellow voice-actor John Viener. We first ask about whether they have any other voices or impressions in the repertoire that they have yet to be able to use on the show.

Mike Henry: There was sort of this character that I used to do in the room from time to time that ended up sort of being the greased up, deaf guy but not greased up and deaf. A lot of times we'll read parts at the table read and it'll be like 'Man #2' or 'Fed-Ex guy' or whatever and for me, and I know John [Viener] does this and all the voice actors do it, we'll just sort of invent something and read the stuff as that guy. New stuff is born all the time. I'm not in the writer's room anymore but that's where I sort of invented Cleveland, and Consuela, Herbert, Bruce... like some random guys that were in it for a little bit. Not being in the room, it's harder to create characters but you still get a pretty good shot when you're reading them.

John Viener: I do mostly, they call me in for impression that aren't great but are funny. I just basically did a Joe Paterno but I did a Joe Paterno based on the Al Pacino. *demonstrates*
It was ridiculous. I have fun doing a bad imitation of something but if it gets a laugh in the room I get to do it in the show.

They remain tight-lipped about previewing specific storylines in the coming episodes, out of concern for violating contracts. But they are both eager for viewers to see all of the new content to come.

John Viener: I wish it was one of those things where you're like, 'This is a crazy idea!' But I feel like every episode, scene to scene we're just excited about people seeing what we're working on.

Mike Henry: What I love about the show is you can watch old episodes and you don't know which gags are in them. Most of the time you watch the show, repeat TV show, you know what the story's going to be and you remember the jokes but given that the non-sequiturs are in there so much you'll find yourself laughing like you never saw it before.

John Viener: The fun for me, the reason I love being on the show and want to be back there all the time is that most shows you get sick of the characters but we do so many cutaway to random things. I was in New Orleans for Jazzfest and I couldn't help but notice that all these jazz bands have like nineteen people, half of which aren't even in the band. They're all clapping along and you can't get around them so I just created a song of 'We're all just blocking the street' and I came and pitched it. Brian became a part of that gag but ultimately it was just a slice of life that you can stick in anywhere and it doesn't have to be relative to that thing. That's what I like about the show is that people can bring in real-life stuff, come up with stuff that's completely different from the show and it can land in this space.

For any who may wonder how Mike Henry has been effected by portraying an African-American character in voiceover for so long, he has nothing but respect and gratitude for what he has learned from the role.

Mike Henry: To be honest with you, playing Cleveland has effected me greatly. At first I sort of pitched a voice based on this guy that I had met and played basketball with. I just had this voice, and I like the slow voice, and there's something there immediately. But having played Cleveland now for almost twenty years and having done "The Cleveland Show" with a lot of African-American writers, actors, performers, I would always defer to them. 'Can Cleveland say this?' I don't walk in the shoes on a daily basis so playing Cleveland has made me very socially conscious so that's just a cool thing that's happened for me.

John Viener: I did one gag like ten years ago. It was opening day of the Mets, "And here's the first pitch... and the season's over." I would think that that would just go by the wayside cause you do it and move on. I just found out in New York they play that every time the Mets would lose and my friends were like, "If I hear this again I'm gonna punch you." It was the opposite of the effect of 'We love your work,' it was 'We never want to hear your voice again.'"

Watch our interview with "Family Guy" voice actors Mike Henry and John Viener here:

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Nickelodeon has a lot of great things happening at Comic-Con this year, and we wanted to make sure you are aware of the great story angles we have.

We’re going to showcase our hit animated shows through an innovative booth design, fan activations, talent-driven panels and more. Our 1800-square-foot booth (#4113), inspired by the excitement and imagination streaming out of our Burbank Animation Studio, features a bold spiraling collage showcasing beloved hits like Rugrats, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Invader Zim, SpongeBob SquarePants and more, extending down to the floor from the ceiling of the convention center.

For the first time, Nickelodeon will hold an open call during the convention for original animated project ideas.  Nick’s animation development team will be on-site from Thursday, July 24, to Saturday, July 26, with the goal of greenlighting a pitch for its global Animated Shorts Program, which is designed to identify and develop original comedy-driven content for kids. Participants must register in advance for their one-on-one meetings and will have 15 minutes to pitch their idea. Guidelines, restrictions, and pre-registration information are available at www.nickshortspitches.com.

Nickelodeon’s booth will also feature fan activations that include a voice-record room where fans can lend their own vocal talents to select scenes from their favorite Nick TV shows; a GIF Booth; a fan-art competition; and autograph signings with Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Sean Astin (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Janet Varney (The Legend of Korra) and more.

The network will also present four panels: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Sanjay and Craig; The Legend of Korra; and Nickelodeon’s New Animation Pipeline, which will give fans a sneak preview of the network’s new series, Breadwinners, Bad Seeds (working title) and Pig Goat Banana Cricket.

Below is a full list of Nick talent at Comic-Con this year:

• The Legend of Korra’s Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko (co-creators/executive producers); Janet Varney (Korra); David Faustino (Mako); Seychelle Gabrielle (Asami Sato); Mindy Sterling (Lin Beifong) and John Michael Higgins (Varrick).

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Seth Green (Leonardo); Sean Astin (Raphael); Greg Cipes (Michelangelo); Rob Paulsen (Donatello); Josh Peck (Casey Jones); Mae Whitman (April O’Neil); Kelly Hu (Karai); Ciro Nieli (executive producer) and Brandon Auman (executive producer).

• Sanjay and Craig’s Jim Dirschberger and Jay Howell (co-creators/executive producers); Maulik Pancholy (Sanjay); Chris Hardwick (Craig); Matt Jones (Hector); Tony Hale (Mr. Noodman); John DiMaggio (Penny) and Nika Futterman (Belle Pepper). 

• SpongeBob SquarePants’ Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants).

• Breadwinners’ Steve Borst and Gary “Doodles” Di Raffaele (creators/executive producers).

• Bad Seeds’ (working title) C.H. Greenblatt (creator).

• Pig Goat Banana Cricket’s J. Ryan and Dave Cooper (co-creators) and David Stacks (executive producer).

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Buffy Season 10 has finally arrived at Dark Horse Comics, and to celebrate, and really get ready for the newest season we’re looking back over the past nine seasons of the beloved show. Yep, that’s right, we’re starting back at season one, that’s back to 1997 for us!

Okay sure, there was that little movie in 1992, but we’re talking the series that eventually spawned the comic. From March 10, 1997 to May 20, 2003 Buffy the Vampire Slayer captured the heart and imaginations of many over seven seasons and 144 episodes before continuing in comic book form. If you're new to Buffy there will be spoilers!

Season One

A fresh faced Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), was introduced as the latest in a line of young women known as "Vampire Slayers" or simply "Slayers" moves to Sunnydale after a little incident that involved burning down her previous school. She hopes for a fresh start, but her plans are complicated by Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), her new Watcher, who reminds her of her duties and the fact that her new school just happens to be built atop a Hellmouth. It takes the concept of “High school is hell” to a whole new level.

Buffy becomes fast friends with schoolmates Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon) and Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), who quickly become her confidents and help her fight evil as her “Scooby Gang.” She meets and falls in love with the mysterious and very handsome vampire with a soul, Angel, and gains a frenemy in Cordelia Chase, the popular girl who gets caught up in the supernatural world much to her dismay. Together they all band together to prevent The Master, an ancient and especially threatening vampire, from opening the Hellmouth and taking over Sunnydale.

Buffy and her gang race to stop The Master before he ascends but they all have to pay a high price for it, with Buffy paying the highest price of all with her life. Although Angel tries to save her, he lacks the breath required to complete the task, but Xander has what it takes, and with that saving dynamics are changed that have repercussions felt into the second season.

Season Two

The emotional stakes are raised in season two. After spending the summer away from her friends following her death, Buffy returns. Her new self-centered attitude nearly gets her Scoobies killed, but she manages to pull herself together and get over her Master filled trauma as a new pair of vampires, Spike (James Marsters) and a weak Drusilla (Juliet Landau), roll into town. They pair intend to use Drusilla’s sire, Angel or rather his evil, soulless form Angelus, to restore her to her full health when the time is right, but until then Spike takes out the anointed one and control of the Sunnydale vampires. Also new in town is a new Slayer, Kendra (Bianca Lawson), who is sent to Sunnydale by her Watcher after Buffy’s death. They team up to save Angel, but not before Drusilla’s rejuvenation is complete, and Spike is crippled.

Love plays a big part of this season as Buffy and Angel fall deeply in love, Xander and Cordelia start an unlikely and hidden relationship, Willow falls for a guitarist Daniel "Oz" Osbourne (Seth Green) who ends up being a werewolf and even Giles has a relationship with computer science teacher and techno-pagan Jenny Calendar (Robia LaMorte). But nothing lasts forever, and on this show it implodes fantastically. Jenny distances herself from Giles after a blast from his past scares her, and Buffy and Angels relationship completely dissolves after a moment of perfect happiness causes him to lose his soul transforming him back into the evil and sadistic Angelus.

Buffy prepares to destroy the love of her life as he continues to threaten the people she loves, and tries to open a portal that will destroy the world. Jenny works to save his soul, and Willow takes up her efforts upon her death. After torturing Giles, Angelus has all the information he needs to bring the world into Hell, and Buffy loses everything. Her mother has discovered her secret and tells her to never come back, and she is expelled from Sunnydale High. Even with the help of an unlikely source she fails to stop Angelus from reawakening Acathla who begins to swallow the Earth. Willow successfully performs with a little mystical energy assistance a spell to save Angel’s soul, that leads to devastating choices for Buffy. She saves the world, again, and loses herself. Not only does this season produce an epic sword fight, but it produced more than one tear inducing episode.

Season Three

After attempting to start a new life in Los Angeles and still getting caught up in slayeresque business, Buffy returns home to Sunnydale, and is reunited with her friends and her mother but it’s a very rocky reunion with feelings of betrayal and abandonment all around. Buffy’s criminal record is cleared but her expulsion from school is not until Giles steps forward. This fatherly feeling Giles has towards prompts the watcher’s council to fire him.

Angel is resurrected by the Powers That Be, soul and all but the time he spent in hell takes a toll on is sanity. While the Scooby gang distrusts Angel, Buffy can’t help but to stand by his side and help him recover. His recovery is nearly derailed by something called the First Evil, who tries to goad him into killing himself, but the Powers That Be intervene and convince him of a higher purpose.

With the death of yet another slayer, Kendra this time, a new one is called forth. Faith (Eliza Dushku), proves early on to be unstable, and attempts to pull Buffy down a path of chaos that she narrowly escapes, Faith though isn’t so lucky. She soon joins the darkside and becomes the right hand of Mayor Wilkins who wishes to turn into an Olvikan, a giant snake-like demon on Graduation Day. After poisoning Angel, Buffy needs the blood of a slayer to save him, and attempts to feed Faith to him. Things don’t work out as planned, and Buffy is forced to put her life in Angel’s hands to save his own, both slayers end up comatose. Buffy recovers in time to thwart the Mayor’s plans, but Angel chooses to leave as the dust settles convinced that Buffy's love for him will be her undoing. Off to Los Angeles he goes with a shiny new spinoff.

Season Four

With high school behind them, Buffy and Willow enroll at UC Sunnydale and Xander joins the workforce. After a dust-up with Drusilla, Spike returns to Sunnydale and is abducted by The Initiative, a top-secret military installation based beneath the UC Sunnydale campus, led by Maggie Walsh. They implant a microchip in his head which prevents him from harming humans. He becomes a reluctant member of the Scooby Gang, though only Willow trusts him and he eventually betrays them for a period.

Oz leaves town realizing that as a werewolf he’s too dangerous, and after a horrific encounter with The Initiative. Willow falls in love with Tara Maclay (Amber Benson), another witch, and they begin dating. Xander begins dating former vengeance demon Anya Jenkins (Emma Caulfield) who is infatuated and frustrated by the human he instills in her. Buffy too begins a new relationship, dating Riley Finn (Marc Blucas) who she later discovers is a member of The Initiative. After failing to get her recruited, Walsh tries to have Buffy killed, which causes Riley to sever his ties with The Initiative.

But The Initiative doesn’t go away. It’s secret project “Adam” not only wrecks havoc on the town, but plots to create a cyborg demonoid race to overthrow humanity. Buffy must band together with not only her Scoobies but the demons and other supernatural creatures that have been captured by The Initiative to take down Adam. The government realizes their failure, and terminates the project. The Scoobies later encounter the spirit of The First Slayer, with Buffy receives a cryptic cheese filled message.

Season five

The season kicks off with a famous figure when Count Dracula shows up in Sunnydale in search of Buffy. But he breaks his own spell when he mistakenly bites her in the same place where she was bitten by The Master and Angel and she stakes him. Buffy gets a younger sister, Dawn, who suddenly appears but everyone remembers her always being there. Glorificus aka Glory (Claire Kramer) arrives on the scene in search of “the Key.” She remains on earth by her human form, Ben. In her Hell Goddess form she’s bat shit crazy, maintaining her strength by draining people of their sanity. Glory’s “key” will allow her to return to her Hell dimension by blurring the lines between dimensions, and in the process unleashing Hell on Earth. Of course that key just happens to be in the Summers’ home in the form of Buffy's new sister Dawn. The Key protectors need to make it something they knew she would protect with her life. The Watchers' Council, reinstates both Buffy and Giles and assists them in the research of Glory.

Riley realizes Buffy does not love him, and leaves joining a military demon-hunting operation. Spike, still neutered with the Initiative chip, realizes he is in love with Buffy and joins the Scoobies in earnest, but Buffy continually refuses his advances and alienates him. Spike has a Buffybot built to her disgust, but he earns a place in her life after he refuses to spill Dawn’s secret during one of Glory’s torture sessions. Anya delves deeper in human emotions, becoming obsessed with money and works in Giles’ shop. Xander eventually proposes. Tara becomes one of Glory’s victims, and Willow turns to dark magic to go up against Glory. Though she becomes significantly more powerful, her dependency on magic increases, her personality turns more sinister and she’s still no match for Glory.

Buffy’s mother’s health goes into decline, which she suspects is being caused by Dawn, but its actually a brain tumor. Buffy leaves her dorm to take care of her mother. Near the end of the season, Joyce dies of an aneurysm, devastating Dawn and Buffy. Glory discovers that Dawn is the Key and uses her to open the portal between dimensions. Buffy finally realizes the meaning of the First Slayer's message—"Death is your gift"—and sacrifices her own life to save Dawn's and close the portal. Buffy dies again and her headstone reads "She saved the world a lot".

Season Six

Willow resurrects Buffy with a powerful spell. They believe that they’ve saved her from Hell, but they later learn in the iconic musical episode “Once More With Feeling” that she was in fact in heaven, which explains her resurrection trauma and subsequent depression.  Giles leaves to allow Buffy to spread her wings, but instead she settles for a fast-food job for money and a secret, mutually abusive relationship with Spike. Dawn’s happiness to have her sister back is short-lived with Buffy's depression and Dawn begins acting out. It takes a demon trapping everyone in the Summers' house, for Buffy to realize Dawn's feelings and begin to mend their relationship.

Xander and Anya’s wedding turns disastrous when a magician intent on vengeance against Anya, tricks Xander into calling off the wedding by showing him a future of misery with her. Anya reverts to a vengeance demon but cannot find anyone who wishes vengeance on Xander. She turns to Spike in a moment of weakness and the two have a one night stand, which endangering Spike's unstable relationship with Buffy. Willow becomes addicted to magic which concerns Tara. Although they break up, she remains devoted to helping Willow with her addiction, leading to their reconciliation.

They group takes on The Trio, a group of nerds who use their technological and magical proficiency to attempt to kill or neutralize Buffy and take over Sunnydale. But after Buffy thwarts their plans multiple times and the Trio breaks apart, the leader, Warren then attacks Buffy with a gun but accidentally kills Tara with a stray bullet. Willow tries to resurrect Tara but fails. Tara's death causes Willow to descend into darkness and unleash all of her dark magical powers. Driven by grief, Willow fights against Buffy and even Giles when he returns.  They try using light magic, tapping into her remaining humanity, but it backfires. Xander’s love and friendship pulls Willow back from the darkness, and Buffy comes to terms with being alive again. The season closes with Spike traveling to Africa see a demon to "make him to what he used to be" so that he can "give Buffy what she deserves." After passing a series of tests, Spike is rewarded with the restoration of his soul.

Season Seven

With Buffy's resurrection last season, an instability formed allowing The First Evil, a spiritual entity that Buffy encountered in the third season, to begin tipping the balance between good and evil. Caleb (Nathan Fillion), a sinister and misogynistic preacher turned serial killer heads a cult called Bringers, who worship The First as a god. He is given the task of killing the Potential Slayers, normal girls around the world who are candidates to succeed the Slayer upon her death, and destroying the Watchers Council. With the Watcher’s Council gone, Willow helps track the Potentials in Sunnydale and a number of them, brought by Giles, take refuge in Buffy's house. Dawn at first believes herself to be a Potential, but she finds she isn’t.

Dawn starts sophomore year and Buffy gets a job at the rebuilt Sunnydale High. The new principal, Robin Wood, happens to be a vampire hunter and son of deceased Slayer Nikki Wood. Spike is driven mad by The First, and it gains control of him for a time. Spike is revealed to have killed Robin's mother, sparking a vendetta. Robin attempt to repay the favor, which allows Spike to regain insanity.Willow begins to emotionally heal from Tara's death and finds solace with a Potential Slayer Kennedy. They immediately hook up, before Kennedy can fully understand Willow. Their relationship is strained when Willow drains a significant portion of her life force to reopen a portal for Buffy, but they soon reconcile. Anya and Xander break up for good after a demon named Halfrek gets her to kill a group of frat boys. Buffy and Anya but after Anya requests that her latest vengeance be reversed she is turned human once more.The two remaining members of the Trio return. The First convinces Andrew to help open the Seal of Danzalthar, which leaves Levinson dead. Andrew is captured by the Scoobies, who have residual resentment towards him but he becomes a committed ally of the Scoobies.

Also returned is a reformed Faith to help fight The First. Buffy leads the Potentials against Caleb which causes several deaths, Xander to lose an eye and everyone to question Buffy's leadership skill. Faith leads a mutiny, and Xander takes Dawn out of Sunnydale, only Spike remains loyal. He tells her of an ancient weapon, known as the Scythe, that was designed for the Slayer. While Buffy fights Caleb and finds the Scythe, Faith leads the Potentials on a mission, only to find they've been tricked as a time bomb explodes followed by a Turok-Han ambush.  It’s up to Buffy to save everyone’s lives, including Faith’s.

As the Hellmouth becomes more active, nearly everyone and everything flees Sunnydale. Buffy and her allies stay behind in an effort to defeat The First. Dawn returns to help fight the First. Even Angel comes back with an amulet, that Buffy gives to Spike. Buffy manages to kill Caleb, before moving to stop The First once and for all. Willow uses a spell that activates all the Potential Slayers, granting them some Slayer powers. Heavy losses are felt all around. Spike's amulet channels the power of the sun and kills all of the Turok-Han in the Hellmouth, but Spike sacrifices himself to defeat the enemy. Buffy tells Spike she loves him; he tells her to run as The Hellmouth collapses, and Sunnydale is swallowed. The survivors gather on the rim of Sunnydale's crater but its not the end, it’s the beginning of something more.

Season Eight

Buffy the Vampire Slayer crosses over to comics at Dark Horse Comics with Season Eight which spanned 2007 to 2011.

A year after the destruction of Sunnydale, Buffy and Xander now lead command-central, in a citadel in Scotland. They lead a team of psychics, seers, witches and slayers. Of the 1,800 Slayers worldwide, 500 of them work with Buffy across the globe, split into 10 squads. The US government views Buffy and her Scooby gang as terrorists. An Initiative like branch of the government, lead by General Voll, teams with Sunnydale witch Amy Madison and Season 6 villain Warren Mears in the hopes of bringing Buffy down. Meanwhile, an evil British socialite Slayer, Lady Genevieve Savidge, plots to usurp Buffy's place amongst the Slayers, and a shrewd cabal of Japanese vampires scheme to reverse the global activation of Potential Slayers. They are all tied to “Twilight,” a masked villain who sees the Slayers as a threat to humanity and wants to destroy them, and bring about an end to all magic on Earth.

Buffy is romantically drawn to another woman, Slayer Satsu, and Xander to Slayer Renée. Willow's power grows under the tutelage a powerful demon called Saga Vasuki, but she becomes estranged from her friends, and struggles to keep Kennedy away from them, ultimately breaking up with her. Giles and Buffy have a falling out, and Giles sets out to work with Faith to prevent other Slayers from going rogue, leaving her everything upon his death. Buffy turns to Xander, but finds he loves another. Angel returns and attempts to explain his predicament, and the two lovers reunite for a short time. After yet another tragic turn of events for them, Buffy is forced to smash the seed of magic destroying everything that she knows. She becomes a pariah in the community of Slayers and former witches and moves to San Francisco to get away from it all and back to her former duties as Slayer.

Season Nine

The world is still without magic, and Buffy while fighting vampires on the streets of San Francisco learns of a new threat. Without magic, demons can no longer possess the dead, so when a new vampire is made it becomes a mindless zombie like creature. New threats rise in the form of yet another rogue slayer, Simone Doffler, and Severin who has a unique ability to drain demons and Slayers of their magic, the only magic left in the world.

Xander and Buffy's sister Dawn have settled into quiet domesticity, but as the product of magic and it being gone from the world Dawn soon sickens and begins to die, which Xander blames on Buffy and he’s easily led to betraying her in his anger. Willow desperately works to restore magic, going as far as to team up with Severin to further her cause. Buffy lives with two seemingly normal roommates, Tumble and Anaheed, but Anaheed turns out to be more than she seems. Spike, comes and goes as the season progresses, still in love with Buffy. And Buffy finds an unlikely ally in the ancient demon, Illyria (from the Angel TV series), unfortunately Illyria becomes one of Severin’s victims when a plan goes arry, giving him the ability to travel in time.

With  power too great Severin sacrifices himself to create a new seed, and Buffy is forced in an ultimate showdown against Simone and a newly awakened Maloker, the Old One responsible for siring the first vampire. More lives are sacrificed and Buffy is burdened with all new regrets over empowering the other Slayers. Magic is restored, but the aftershocks are far felt when a new kind of vampire rises, and Buffy’s wealth of knowledge disappears.  

And that my friends brings us to Season 10!

New season. New rules. The age-old battle of Slayer vs. vampire is the focus of Buffy’s life once again—it’s downright nostalgic! But with all the toying with magic she’s done lately, this girl should know it’s time for another game change . . . Shouldn’t she?

Check out a preview of the first issue below which you can purchase at Dark Horse Comics here.

 

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Tickets on Sale Thursday, July 11, 12 p.m. PDT

Los Angeles, July 10, 2013

• Nerd HQ announces the partial line-up of the panel series, “Conversations for a Cause,”  the very popular philanthropic series of un-moderated panels taking place at Nerd HQ 2013 in San DiegoJuly 18-21 in a new location, Petco Park (100 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101) Gaslamp Gate.
• This year’s panels include: “Cast from ‘300: Rise of an Empire,’” “Dr. Who,”“Haven,”“I, Frankenstein,” “Orphan Black,” “PBS Masterpiece: Sherlock,” “Psych,” “Stoopid Buddy with Seth Green,” “The Maze Runner,” “Thrilling Adventure Hour” and individual panels with Jared Padalecki, Joe Manganiello, Joss Whedon,       Nathan Fillion and Nerd HQ Founder Zachary Levi, among others to be announced in the coming days.
• Tickets will be $22 each and will go on sale Thursday, July 11 at 12 p.m. PDT athttp://is.gd/cOZPPM.
• Proceeds will benefit Operation Smile, mobilizing a world of generous hearts to heal children's smiles and transform lives across the globe.

• For more information, schedule updates and ticket information please visitwww.thenerdmachine.com.

ABOUT THE NERD MACHINE - The Nerd Machine is a multimedia company dedicated in bringing its global clientele the best of apparel, accessories, software, hardware, music, and both long and short form video content. We not only put a premium on customer satisfaction and input but also collaboration, as we believe that some of the very best ideas may come out of the very community we serve. Our goal is to nurture an environment where community interaction thrives, creating the best and most forward thinking products available on the market. And, philosophically speaking, spearheading a "mission of redefinition" that changes the global perception of what a nerd is, and thereby allow everyone to celebrate the nerd in themselves. The question is: What are you nerdy about?

VIVA LA NERDOLUTION

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Nerd HQ will returning to San Diego July 18th-21st in a new location, Petco Park (100 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101), home of the San Diego Padres.

Over the last three years, Nerd HQ has continually expanded and given fans a unique experience while in San Diego for the international comic book and entertainment festival. This year Nerd HQ will again provide fans with a home base where they can experience cutting edge technology and gaming showcases, exciting autograph signings, cornerstone events and exclusive parties, including Levi’s annual NERD Party.

“With the move to Petco Park, we can bring fans an even bigger, more dynamic experience during Nerd HQ 2013,” said Zachary Levi, Founder of The Nerd Machine. “Moving to the ballpark is a major step in the growth of Nerd HQ and will allow us to expand our tradition of offering exclusive access to new games, technology, and the opportunity for intimate conversations with some of the Hollywood’s most influential celebrities and creatives.”

Returning this year is the very popular philanthropic panel series, “Conversations for a Cause” which will stream through The Nerd Machine YouTube page, NerdMachineTV. Last year’s panels raised $140,000 for Operation Smile and consisted of some of the most talked about films, television shows and video games, including: “Chuck,” “Doctor Who,” “Grimm,” “NTSF,” “Robot Chicken,” “The Man with the Iron Fist,” “Expendables 2,” “Tomb Raider” and “Twilight.” Panelists included many of today’s top actors, actresses and film and game makers including Ashley Greene, Guillermo del Toro, Jason Ritter, Jared Padalecki, Joss Whedon, Kellan Lutz, Lucy Liu, Nathan Fillion, RZA, Seth Green, Stan Lee, Terry Crews, and Zachary Levi, among many others. This year’s panels, which will be announced in the coming days, are sure to bring fun surprises and intriguing discussions. Individual tickets will sell for $22, with proceeds benefiting Operation Smile.

Conversations for a Cause panels that will be on sale tomorrow, July 11, 2013 at 12pm PDT. Tickets are limited to 2 tickets per order and can not be transferred or resold. You can purchase Conversations for a Cause tickets at BrownPaperTickets.com. - See more at: http://www.thenerdmachine.com/nerd-hq/conversations-for-a-cause/#sthash.wSnEYizZ.dpuf

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Adult Swim Announces Annual San Diego Comic-Con Invasion

New Adult Swim Funhouse Will Dazzle and Delight

Series Panels For Fan Favorite Shows and 2014 Animated Series

Soundproof Booth Will Provide Fans a Sweet Escape

This year at San Diego Comic-Con, Adult Swim will be bringing even more entertainment, celebrities and one-of-a-kind fan experiences to their adoring fans. Adult Swim programming panels run from Thursday to Saturday, featuring creators, producers and actors from fan favorites The Venture Bros., Childrens Hospital, NTSF:SD:SUV::, Robot Chicken, Aqua TV Show Show, Squidbillies, The Eric Andre Show, The Heart, She Holler, China, IL, and sneak peeks of several new and upcoming series such as Rick and Morty, Hot Package, King Star King, and Mr. Pickles.  Adult Swim stars on hand will include Rob Corddry, Paul Scheer, Jackson Publick, Doc Hammer, Seth Green, Patton Oswalt, Amy Sedaris, Eric Andre, Hannibal Buress, and many more.  Fans can also stop by the Adult Swim booth #3721 to enjoy free mini massages and a place to escape from the hectic pace of the convention floor.

Also not to be missed, the Adult Swim Funhouse will be making its official grand opening at San Diego Comic-Con, to the delight and confusion of attendees.  The magic castle will be erected across from the convention center, in the Petco Park parking lot just over the footbridge.  Fans will have a chance to enter the world of Adult Swim and get lost within the 10+ rooms. The multiple paths and room challenges will force guests to crawl, dance, and sing their way to get to the end. Those fans who survive and emerge from the Adult Swim Funhouse will receive free custom live screen printed t-shirts. Free for fans, tickets will be distributed at the Funhouse each day starting at 4:00 p.m. and will be open Thursday, July 18 – Saturday, July 20 from 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. each night.

Below is a schedule of series panels 2013 Comic-Con International in San Diego, Calif., Thursday, July 18 - Saturday, July 20, 2013.  Panel times and room locations will be announced in the coming weeks.

ADULT SWIM PANELS

Thursday, July 18

The Heart, She Holler

The creators and stars of Adult Swim’s epic TV event, The Heart, She Holler, will explain it all at this panel.  Executive producers John Lee (Xavier: Renegade Angel, Wonder Showzen), and Alyson Levy (Xavier: Renegade Angel, Wonder Showzen) will be joined by cast members Patton Oswalt (United States of Tara, Ratatouille), Amy Sedaris (Strangers with Candy) and Heather Lawless (The Campaign). The panel will be moderated by Kristen Schaal (Bob’s Burgers, 30 Rock).

Friday, July 19

The Venture Bros.

Show creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer will discuss the original series, now in its fifth season, and answer fan questions.  They will be joined by the voice of Brock Samson, Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld, The Tick).

Childrens Hospital

Come watch a sneak peek of Childrens Hospital season 5 and hear from the show’s creative team, led by creator and star Rob Corddry (Hot Tub Time Machine, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart), executive producer Jonathan Stern (Burning Love, Newsreaders) and executive producer David Wain (The State, Wanderlust). They will be joined by members of the show’s ensemble cast of comedic heavyweights, including Lake Bell (How to Make It in America), Erinn Hayes (Parenthood), Ken Marino (Party Down, The State) and Rob Huebel (Human Giant, The Descendants).

NTSF:SD:SUV:: (National Terrorist Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle::)

Come watch a sneak peek of NTSF:SD:SUV:: season 3 and hear from the show’s creative team led by creator and star Paul Scheer (The League), executive producer Jonathan Stern (Childrens Hospital, Newsreaders) and consulting producer Curtis Gwinn (Fat Guy Stuck in Internet).  They will be joined by members of their ensemble cast including Karen Gillan (Dr. Who), Brandon Johnson (Funny or Die), June Diane Raphael (Burning Love, Ass Backwards) and Martin Starr (Party Down, Freaks and Geeks).

The Eric Andre Show and Hot Package

Adult Swim’s late night hosts will share the stage for a season preview and fan questions.  Eric Andre (Don’t Trust the B—in Apartment 23), host of the returning late night talk show The Eric Andre Show, and his sidekick Hannibal Buress (30 Rock, SNL) will be joined by Derrick Beckles (TV Carnage), host of the new live-action fictional Canadian entertainment news programHot Package.

Robot Chicken

Co-creators/executive producers Seth Green and Matthew Senreich are joined by head writers/co-executive producers Douglas Goldstein and Tom Root, actor/writer Breckin Meyer, writer/director Zeb Wells, and DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, to discuss the Emmy-winning series. Come watch a sneak peek and get your questions answered about the upcoming new season and the next Robot Chicken DC Comics Special. Keith Crofford, vice president of production for Adult Swim, will moderate the panel.

China, IL

Creator and executive producer Brad Neely and executive producer Daniel Weidenfeld discuss the second season of the animated series China, IL, which will air this fall.  They will be joined by cast member Hannibal Buress (30 Rock, SNL). The panel will be moderated by Jonah Ray (The Meltdown, The Nerdist).

Saturday, July 20

Rick and Morty

Premiering this winter, Rick and Morty is a show about a sociopathic scientist who drags his unintelligent grandson on insanely dangerous adventures across the universe. Executive producers Dan Harmon (Community, Channel 101) and Justin Roiland (Channel 101) will preview the new animated series, and will be joined by writer Ryan Ridley and cast members Spencer Grammer (Greek) and voice actress Kari Wahlgren. The panel will be moderated by Rob Schrab (The Mindy Project, SCUD).

[adult swim] Presents

Dave Willis (Squidbillies, Aqua TV Show Show) and Ned Hastings (Squidbillies, Aqua TV Show Show) will discuss the return of long-running animated series Aqua TV Show Show and Squidbillies. Christy Karacas (Robotomy) will preview season 4 ofSuperjail! and JJ Villard (Monsters Vs. Aliens) and Tommy Blacha (Metalocalypse) will discuss the upcoming new series King Star King.  Also fans will get an exclusive look at new Adult Swim series Mr. Pickles from creators Will Carsola and Dave Stewart (Funny Or Die Presents Nick Swardson's Pretend Time).

Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults.  Airing nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET/PT), Adult Swim is basic cable’s #1 network with persons 18-34 and 18-49, and is seen in 99 million U.S. homes.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

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San Diego Film Foundation Names Headline and Premiere Films for the

11^th Annual San Diego Film Festival – September 26-30, 2012

San Diego, CA, -- September 12, 2012 – The San Diego Film Foundation announced today the headline and premiere films for the 2012 San Diego Film Festival.   Sifting through 1,300 submissions from over 55 countries, the official films represent a broad spectrum of gripping narratives. Infused with new leadership and capital, the San Diego Film Festival is poised to raise this year’s profile with nearly 200 film screenings; including 11 World Premieres, 16 WestCoast Premieres, and 4 US premieres.  

Headline Films for the 2012 San Diego Film Festival include the Opening Night Premiere of Wayne Blair’s story of love, friendship, and music in The Sapphires as well as the Spotlight Film The Oranges, directed by Julian Farino, with an all-star cast including Hugh Laurie, Leighton Meester, Catherine Keener, and Allison Janey. Closing films include Grassroots, directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal and starring Jason Biggs, Joel David Moore, Cedric the Entertainer, Cobie Smulders, Lauren Ambrose, and Tom Arnold and Quartet, a drama /comedy directed by Dustin Hoffman and starring Maggie Smith. The Horror Fest at Gaslamp, an exciting addition to this year’s festival, includes Martin McDonagh’s highly anticipatedSeven Psychopaths, with Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, and Sam Rockwell. 

World premieres include Robert Kirbyson’s survival story Red Line and Alonso May’s The Story of Luke, a quirky story of an autistic boys singular mission, starring Lou Taylor Pucci, Seth Green, Kristin Bauer, and Cary Elwes.   US Debut’s includeThe Man Inside, a thriller centered on a young boxer trying to distance himself from his father’s gangster past and directed by Dan Turner, and the indie comedy Frankie Goes Boom with Ron Perlman, Chris Noth, Charlie Hunnam and Lizzy Caplan and directed by JordanRoberts, makes it’s West CoastDebut. 

The San Diego Film Festival will also be home to several unique events and tributes including a Gus Van Sant tribute and retrospective on September 27th, the first time his collective works will have been featured in a festival setting.  Also on tap are groundbreaking panels, including a discussion and screening of the documentary Trek Nation featuring Rod Roddenberry (son of the late Trek TGV/film producer Gene Roddenberry), and panel discussions with top level film executives including a Film Engine panel, a 3D panel with Legend 3D, the largest 3D conversion company in the U.S., and seminars for aspiring filmmakers – includingpackaging, selling, and distributing in today's new media market place – with dozens of respected industry leaders.  

The festival's nightlife promises to be exceptional this year as well. From September 26–30, The San Diego Film Festival will transform the entire Gaslamp district into a cinematic paradise with dozens of screenings and parties, including an "Almost Famous" Block party and outdoor screening hosted by the original Pennie Lane on Friday, September 28th and many other exciting premieres, parties, and red carpet events. For a full schedule of events, visitwww.SanDiegoFilmFest.com. 

Highlights of the Headline Films for the 2012 San Diego Film Festival include:

●      The Sapphires – Opening Night Premiere, The Gaslamp

Director: Wayne Blair

Cast: Chris O'Dowd, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens, Miranda Tapsell

Synopsis: It's 1968, and four young, talented Australian Aboriginal girls learn about love, friendship and war when theirall-girl group, The Sapphires, entertain the US troops in Vietnam.
7:00pm Wednesday, Sept. 26 at Reading Theater

●      The Oranges – Spotlight at La Jolla

Director: Julian Farino

Cast: Hugh Laurie, Leighton Meester, Catherine Keener, Allison Janney, Oliver Platt, Adam Brody, Alia Shawkat

Synopsis: THE ORANGES is a comedy about two families, who have been lifelong friends, and the hilaritythat ensues when a rebellious daughter returns home for the holidays and causes a scandal that forces everyone to re-examine what happiness really means tothem.

6:30pm Saturday September 29 at Reading Theater

●      Quartet – Closing Night, La Jolla

Director: Dustin Hoffman

Cast: Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly

Synopsis: Cecily, Reggie and Wilfred are in a home for retired opera singers. Every year, on October 10, there is a concert tocelebrate Verdi's birthday and they take part. Jean, who used to be married to Reggie, arrives at the home and disrupts their equilibrium. She still acts like a diva, but she refuses to sing. Still, the show must go on... and it does.
7:30 pm Saturday, Sept. 29^th at Museum of Contemporary Art LaJolla

●      Seven Psychopaths – Horror Fest at Gaslamp

Director: Martin McDonagh

Cast: Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell

Synopsis: Written and Directed by Oscar®-winner Martin McDonagh, the comedy Seven Psychopaths follows a struggling screenwriter (Colin Farrell) who inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends (Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell) kidnap a gangster’s (Woody Harrelson) beloved Shih Tzu.  Co-starring Abbie Cornish, Tom Waits, Olga Kurylenko and Zeljko Ivanek.

9:00 pm Saturday, Sept. 29^th at Reading Theater

●      Grassroots – Closing Night, Gaslamp

Director: Stephen Gyllenhaal

Cast: Cobie Smulders,Lauren Ambrose, Jason Biggs, Joel David Moore, Christopher McDonald, Tom Arnold

Synopsis: After losing his job, a journalist reluctantly agrees to help his oddball friend with his bid to earn a seat on the Seattle City Council.
7:00pm Sunday, Sept. 30^th at Reading Theater

Highlights of the Premiere Films for the 2012 San Diego Film Festival include:

• Red Line – World Premiere

Director:  Robert Kirbyson

Cast:  Nicole Gale Anderson, John Billingsle, Kunal Sharma

Synopsis:  Moments after departing from the Hollywood & Highland Metro Station, commuters on L.A.’s subway system experience a sudden explosion. Most passengers die on impact as the train is violently derailed and sent smashing into the tunnel’s walls.

                        6:00 PM, Saturday, Sept. 29^th at Gaslamp

5:30 pm Sunday, Sept. 30^h at Museum of Contemporary Art La Jolla

• The Story of Luke – World Premiere

Director: Alonso Mayo

Cast:  Lou Taylor Pucci, Seth Green, Kristin Bauer, Cary Elwes

Synopsis:  Luke’s world is turned upside down when his grandmother dies and he is forced to live with his dysfunctional relatives who have no patience for him or his senile grandfather, who they quickly force into a nursing home. Luke is left with his grandfather’s final semi-coherent words: “Get a job. Find a girl. Live your own life. Be a man!” For the first time in his life, Luke has a mission. He is about to embark on a quest.

7:00 PM, Saturday, September 29^th at Gaslamp

• Man Inside – US Premiere

Director: Dan Turner

Cast: Ashley Thomas, Peter Mullan, Michelle Ryan

Synopsis:  Clayton Murdoch carries a terrible darkness inside him. As a boy he was exposed, by his father, to murder and gang culture,

With his father now in prison, Clayton struggles to overcome what he was groomed to become, in a city where every day there is a constant threat of violence and death.

8:30 PM, Thursday, Sept 27^th at Gaslamp

• 3,2,1...Frankie Go Boom – West Coast Premiere

Director: Jordan Roberts

Cast:  Charlie Hunnam, Chris O'Dowd, Lizzy Caplan, Ron Perlman, Chris Noth, Whitney Cummings, Nora Dunn, Sam Anderson

Synopsis: A comedy about two brothers a girl with a broken heart, a sex tape, an angel and a pig.

7:00 PM, Friday Sept 28^th at Gaslamp and Sat, September 29^th at 8:00 PM Coast Room La Jolla

The San Diego Film Festival is scheduled for Wednesday, September 26, 2012 – Sunday, September 30, 2012.  For the first time, the Festival will be held at two venues: the Reading Theater in the Gaslamp Quarter (701 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, 92101), and the Museum of Contemporary Art La Jolla, Sherwood Auditorium (700 Prospect Street, La Jolla, 92037). Tickets start at $14 for pre-sale/$16 at the door, and go up to $75 for a one day pass, and range up to $500 for a Festival VIP Pass to all screenings, premieres, events, and panels on all days.  A dramatic expansion this year, Festival organizers anticipate hosting over 100 film screenings.

The San Diego Film Foundation celebrates the art and power of independent film by creating unique, interactive, memorable film-going experiences. The non-profit San Diego Film Foundation produces the annual San Diego Film Festival showcasing one-of-a-kind film premieres, informative industry panels, and filmmaker and celebrity events.  The organization is devoted to the inspiration and talent behind each film, and turns every screening into a must-see event, complete with after-parties.  For more information and film schedule, visit www.SanDiegoFilmFest.com. 

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