Salute to Supernatural Burbank: Jared and Jensen Panel

Jared and Jensen day at these cons is always the main event.  The room is packed, the excitement is in the air, and a thousand fan girls (and  even a few fan boys) eagerly wait for the J’s to make their way to the stage.  After Jim Beaver and Richard Speight warmed up the crowd Jared and Jensen took the stage, running late as usual of course. Jared has his beanie on, and they even paused to check each other’s teeth before going on.  I already knew from the breakfast they’re in a good mood, but they were much funnier in this panel.  

(All photos are taken by Alice Jester and sweetondean.  If borrowing, please credit The Winchester Family Business)

The boys took their seats, which instead of the usual directors chairs were two bar chairs.  The story is that Jared has broken too many directors chairs at these cons (I was there at one con when it broke on him) and they needed something sturdier.  When they sat Jared turned his chair around.  Jensen – “You make me nervous.”  
 
They didn’t waste time for questions, because the lines are usually long for them and time is limited.  The question was, after so many cons, are they still in awe of them?  Yes, definitely.  They asked how many newbies were in the room.  Jared said how integral we all are to Supernatural and loves to see newbies joining in.   
 
Flashes were still going wild in the room when it was time for Jensen to answer.  “I don’t ever get used to all the flashing lights.”  Jared even joked about how on set he follows Jensen around everywhere taking flash pictures.  Jensen finished his answer by talking about when he did a play back in Dallas a few years ago (A Few Good Men) and would get butterflies before going on each night.  He still feels the same way coming to these cons.  
 
Someone congratulated Jared on his upcoming baby (word is Gen is ready to pop any day now).  Both guys went on about how everyone in Vancouver has become their family over the last seven years.  Jensen – “The crew is our family.  A very dysfunctional family, but family nonetheless.”  They talked about this at the breakfast too, but they are floored by how they’re having conversations with their AD Brad’s five year old daughter on the set.  He and his wife weren’t even expecting kids when they started the show.  They’ve had several marriages, births, deaths, it’s been remarkable.  It’s a big family.
 
The next person asked if Sam was ever going to put on a costume like Dean.  This is eluding to of course to Dean dressing up in the forties and during the Western.  Jared – “It’s funnier when he puts on the costumes.”  
 
What character were they most excited to see come back?  Jared -  “I was most excited when Sam came back.”  Jensen – “I wasn’t.”  They’d like to see Bobby back.  Jensen had a laundry list of those he wants back. “Bobby, Cass, Chuck, John Winchester.”  Jared – “The Wendigo.  The Scarecrow.”  Someone shouts, “The clown!”  
 
What is their most awkward experience?  They had a hard time coming up with something.  Jared shared a story where he ran into someone who recognized him, they were having a great conversation, and that person eventually asks if he’s an actor.  Yep.  Gilmore Girls?  Yep.  Then there’s dead silence.  The conversation has just died.  He loves talking to people, but sometimes what he does gets in the way.  

 

Jensen’s story was hilarious!  When he was on the soap opera (Days of Our Lives) he was doing a promotional thing in the mall in the middle of nowhere.  There were two stories.  While he was standing on the bottom floor something hit his head.  He grabbed it and found it was a notepad and a pen on a fishing wire.  He looks up and there’s a girl waving at him to sign!  Everyone watching is in hysterics.  He signed and up it went just as quickly.    
 
The next fan in line had a slutty nurse costume on.  They were a bit confused but let it go.  What is their favorite board game?  Jared – Twister.  Jensen – Clue.  Jared joked how it’s really “Clueless.”  Jensen – “Sam Winchester in the bathtub with a rubber duckie.  I win!”  
 
The mics at these panels, at least for the Q&A line, were really horrible.  I couldn’t hear most of what was said and I was in the front.  I believe this next person wanted to know about Sam and Dean learning from their mistakes.  An example being the bungee on their arms so their weapons wouldn’t go flying.  Jared – “If they learned for their mistakes they wouldn’t have a very exciting show.”  That’s part of the mythology.  
 
In reference to Castiel becoming a Leviathan, “Was it weird to see Misha act in a crazy way or is that normal?”  Jensen was thrown back for sure because Misha didn’t rehearse it like that.  “To be honest, we don’t really take rehearsals seriously.”  They rolled and Jensen was shocked.  “I just peed a little.”  He had that reaction the first time they ever worked together too (“Lazarus Rising”).  He remembers turning to the camera guys and asking, “Is he really going to do it like this?”  Misha’s choices though have turned out to be good ones.  
 
The next fan wants Brian Buckley, Jason, Steve, and Louden Swain to all book at the same show so she doesn’t have to buy so many tickets.  They’ll pass it on, but they’re not booking agents.  Jensen – “Any dry cleaning I can get done for you?”


This is an interesting story about the end of “Plucky Pennywhistle’s Magical Menagerie.”  Was Jensen really laughing at the end of that episode?  Jensen – “I was acting.”  It seems that Jared wasn’t a happy camper during that scene.  He was covered in glitter, he’d been shooting all day, he was really tired and they had to do this laughter.  So, to prove what great actors they can be, they both broke into hysterical laughter right there on the stage!  Then, at exactly the same time, like on cue, they stopped and looked at serious.  Flag this as another “You had to be there” moment.  Interesting though that whatever they did in that scene wasn’t natural.    

Someone asked a question about twitter (sorry, didn’t hear it).  Jensen – “We laughed, what do you want?”  
 
The next question was for Jensen.  Jared fakes laughter.  It was about “Dark Angel” and playing two different versions of his character.  Jensen said Ben was good, Alec was cocky.  Like with “The End,”  It’s the same character just different variations.  
 
The next question ended up also being for Jensen.  Jared dropped his mic, practically dropped down, sitting on the stage pouting and pushed over his chair in the process (although I swore seeing Jensen give the chair a little help).  The question was about “The French Mistake.”  How did Jensen feel about the clip from “Days of Our Lives?”  He was embarrassed.  He didn’t even know what it was and when he saw it he was mortified.  
 
Jared gets a question!  It’s about “Born Under A Bad Sign.”  Jared explained why he got rough with Alona.  He picked her up and put her on the bar because he was a tall guy and she wasn’t.  He suggested he lift her up and put her up on the bar.  The crew is like “Really?”  Jensen – “I don’t think she minded though.”  
 
The next fan had a Batman t-shirt.  Jensen asked if she’s Batman.  Then he gave his line from “Bad Day at Black Rock.”  “I’m Batman.”  
 
The question, worst injury on the set?  Jared’s automatic answer is always breaking his wrist.  Jared did share something new though.  While filming an episode this season (he didn’t way which one, but I think it was “How To Win Friends and Influence Monsters”) he had to flip this guy around so he’d land on the ground.  Jared did the flip and in the process this guy’s legs flew around kicked Jared good in the head.  He finished the scene and when he was out of the shot he instantly dropped to the floor and was disoriented.
 
Jensen – “All Hell Breaks Loose Part II.”  When Dean got thrown into the tombstone.  It was rubberized, the base was solid stone.  He threw himself back into it.  His funny bone caught the edge.  His entire arm went completely dead.  He carried on the scene and it felt like his arm was on fire.  He still feels it a bit to this day.  He never got it checked out. 
 
Why do they think “Supernatural” has a big female audience?  Should it be all men?    Jensen messed with her a bit about that.  “The women to men ratio here is fantastic.”  He explained they tried to bring in hot chicks.  Jensen – “Unfortunately it made you all mad.”  Jensen then broke into a funny voice – “Keep those sluts away from our boys.  Gosh, the show is turning into such a slut spill.” 
 
Have they ad libbed anything?  “Son of a bitch.”  Jensen also mentioned the eating thing for Dean.  He started it in “Nightmare” and they ran with it.  They thought it would be in character that Dean would eat anything.  Jared gave this really long answer about eating salads, stumbling because he couldn’t come up with the name of things in Chinese chicken salads.  I do believe his real answer was Sam eats salads because Jared hates eating on screen.  

What reality shows do they watch?  Jensen – “I am proud to say that I have never seen Jersey Shore.  And it bothers me that I know who Sookie is.”  Jared – “Top Chef.”  Jensen does watch one prime time reality show, “The Biggest Loser.”  His buddy hosts it and they really are doing good things on that show.   
 
A fan wants the Impala back.  Preaching to the choir lady.  She asked that they take care of the squeaky doors though.  Jensen loves the squeaky doors of the Impala.  He thinks they have character.  They bothered him at first, but he learned to like it.

 

What was their first con experience?  Jared – He took part in an everything convention in season one.  He didn’t know who watched the show.  Three people who watched the show were in the audience and they were confused.  “When did you get off the Gilmore Girls?”  
 
Jensen – First one was in England.  “Aside from the flying fan that attacked me, it was pretty normal.”  Several shows were being represented including “Smallville.”  He was surprised how many were into “Supernatural.”  It was a huge “Supernatural” crowd.  Jensen called up Jared after doing the con. “Dude, we need to do more of these.  These people actually like us.”  

If their characters could go back in time, what would they change what and why.  Jensen – Dean would have not gone with Lisa and Ben and saved them from harms way.  Jared – Sam would have never let Dean kill that Ruby chick.  No, Sam would take back the soulless time.
 
What happened to the handprint?  Jensen has two stories on that.  One, when Castiel healed Dean in “Swan Song” that went away as well.  Someone shouted “Rehymenized!”   “I’m not going there,” Jensen answered.  The real story though is the crew actually forgot.  They realized they made a mistake and rationalized they were in the clear with “Swan Song” instead of reshooting it.  Jared – “Maybe that hand is now on Sam.”  Jensen shows off his ass.  “That Castiel I tell ya.”    
 
Jared loved clowns as a kid.  Thank heavens, because that was a long day with clowns.  Jensen – “Honestly, they creep the Hell out of me.”  Stephen King’s “It” scared him.  Fun fact, Becky played the little girl.  
 
If they could go back and not do an episode?  Jensen – “I’d love to have the one where I’m in the PE teacher’s outfit.”  The answer though is not really.  There’s been a lot of episodes but there’s been key points to every one of them.  
 
Do they have a signature dance move?  Jensen does.  He won’t show it.  He does demonstrate though what happens when he’s out on the dance floor and the music starts.  He leaves.  No, neither of them are dancers.   
 
Do they have theories on how the show will end?  Jared – “Yeah, a blaze of glory.  Or it was all a dream, since the Pilot.”  He further added the brothers didn’t set out to save themselves but to save others, so it likely won’t be riding off into the sunset.  Jensen – Sam and Dean retire in a home in Florida.  He’d like to end up on a beach.  

That was it for the Q&A, but the panel was far from over.  Two very remarkable events happened on the stage next, and I can say I was there.  Jared took over for the first segment.  He brought Becky and Vinnie up from Winchester Bros.com.  Jared talked about when they found out about being pregnant, they urged people to donate to St. Judes.  Jensen – “Wait, you’re pregnant?” Jared – “I know, I’m barely showing.”  I think Jensen did that to lighten the mood, but Jared was clearly nervous.  
 
Jared handed the mic to Vinnie to continue.  She said that their fundraiser for St. Judes, which started when Jared sent his message of support for the charity, has currently earned $27,432.  They present Jared with a book of all the names of people that have donated as of Feb. 9th.  The fundraiser will continue until Gen “pops.”  

(Photo courtesy of sweetondean)

This is where there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.  Jared, very emotional and choking up a little, made an announcement.  After discussing this with Gen, they are going to match dollar for dollar all funds raised!  So currently that would put the total at almost $55,000 and counting.  For an organization that makes such a difference in the lives and sick children and their families, this is quite a spectacular feat for this fandom.  
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiguiFA9pd0&feature=youtu.be
 
So, I’ll give the quick plug now.  Jared has asked Winchester Bros for all the names of people who donated beyond Feb. 9th.  The fundraiser is at over $30,830 now and counting, so to show your support to a magnificent cause go to http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/winchesterbros/fundraiserforstjudesinhonorofjaredandgenevievepada  or www.winchesterbros.com.  
 
But that was only one part!  Suddenly, up the aisle came Richard Speight Jr. carrying a large birthday cake with lighted candles on it.  “Happy Birthday Jensen” came up on the giant screen and Richard made his way to the stage.  “Somebody’s got a birthday!”  Richard did get the emails from Jensen about not making a big deal about his birthday, but those were pretty much ignored.  Richard had “the giant other guy” handle the cake, and Jared stood there on stage showing off the cake that said “Happy Birthday Jensen.”

 

(Photo of cake courtesy of sweetondean)

Richard – “What better way to make you a cake and say ‘I love you man’ than in front of a thousand other people.’”  The crowd all joined in the “Happy Birthday” sing along, and Jensen blew out the candles.  Then he smashed his face into the cake, taking a bite!  The look of frosting all over his face creates another legendary moment in this fandom. 

(Photo courtesy of sweetondean)

Then…Jared smashes his face into the cake!  Now both of them are on stage looking as ridiculous as can be.  Here, the whole thing is on Youtube.  
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpR83hOBcIE
 
They both wave goodbye to clean themselves up before autographs.  That’s another one.  Between the presentation and the birthday celebration, we fans in the room were on an emotional high.  Thank you guys for the massive entertainment.  I’m going to remember this one for years.  

(Photos courtesy of Rita K)

Here’s a few more bonus pictures, just because you can never get enough of the pretty: