Salute to Supernatural Burbank: The Jim Beaver Panels
Oh man, was Jim Beaver a sight for sore eyes. Forget the fact that I’m already missing Bobby terribly. We haven’t seen Jim at one of these cons for a while either. He’s always been someone the crowd loves and his presence was most welcomed. This panel was thoroughly entertaining but if there’s one theme that rang clear throughout most of his answers, he’s clearly not happy with being killed off “Supernatural.” There was a room full of people joining him in that resentment. He veiled that resentment through biting humor though and we loved it.
(All photos are taken by Alice Jester unless otherwise noted. If sharing Alice’s photos, please give credit to The Winchester Family Business.)
Jim came out joking about a current film he’s doing up the cold, snowy mountains of British Columbia. He was very glad to take a detour in sunny Burbank. “The next time they ask you to do an abominable snow man movie, say no.†“If you ever get offered a job involving a frozen toilet seat, don’t take it.â€
Jim looked out in the audience to see if he saw a familiar 10 year old girl out there. His daughter tweets every day and kept tweeting she’s gonna surprise him somehow at the con. He informed her he does read her tweets. She apparently says she’s going to do a lot of things, but distance makes it somewhat impossible. Oh man, this girl and my ten year old son should hook up. They’d plot world domination.
Onto the questions. Someone asked if he’d ever consider directing in TV. No, because directing is work. Acting is a much better job. The director is the first one there in the morning and the last one there at night. He likes how he can watch a movie, take a break to do a scene, then go back and watch the rest of the movie when he’s done.
What’s his favorite line? “I’m gonna fill you so far with rock salt you’ll crap margaritas.†That’s a line he wishes he’d written.
Someone asked Jim about all the recent strange occurrences in “Supernatural†and the implication it could be Ghost!Bobby. Jim had no idea. “Something came up and I stopped watching the show. They lost a major character that I really identified with.†He heard there were strange occurrences. “Maybe I should watch.†“Once they stop paying you, they stop telling you stuff. And you stop caring.†Yes, we were all laughing with him. Someone in front of me shouted something to Jim in a southern drawl. “What part of Minneapolis are you from?â€
What was his favorite episode? He didn’t like the end of “Death’s Door.†He loved doing the rest of “Death’s Door†and “Weekend at Bobby’s.†The ones where he had a lot to do.
Does he think Bobby and Jodie would have gotten together? “Got I hope so. Let me tell you about Sheriff Jody Mills…†Jim has mentioned this before, but he played Sheriff Mills in Harpers Island. “Aside from death, not getting to hook up with Sheriff Mills is my biggest disappointment in the series. It’s a close second to death.†He wouldn’t stop there though, fondly reminiscing over their kissing scenes. “I promise you that Kim Rhodes has no beard stubble. Soft, sweet, married.â€
If Bobby sang a song in karaoke, what would it be? “If you want to keep your beer real cold set it next to my ex-wife’s heart.†He doesn’t know if that’s a real song. “I don’t think Bobby would be caught dead singing karaoke.â€
Did young Bobby really kill his father, or was that in Bobby’s mind? He had no idea. “I think you’re over thinking, but then again that’s what you guys do.â€
A serviceman commended him for being a good single Dad and also thanked him for
providing an escape with “Supernatural†for those in service. Jim remembered the time years ago he was in the service. There was only one show they watched. “Gilligan’s Island. In Vietnamese.†The person did have a question, would he participate in “Dancing With The Stars?†“Does it pay? I think the real question is would Dancing With The Stars participate with me?†He’s a horrible dancer. “I’ll do anything for money…or smatterings of applause.â€
What kind of death did he imagine for Bobby? A stroke in bed. The place where Bobby was shot was the same place his character in “Deadwood†was shot. He told the producers of “Justified†that if his character dies, he already has a place to get shot. “I think it would have been cooler running toward the bad guy instead of away from him.†They don’t get to choose that in death though. He did fight off Dick Roman so the boys could get away (big crowd applause).
Does he have a take on Bobby’s uncomfortable behavior with Sam in “Like a Virgin?†“It was more that I didn’t like Jared,†he joked. No, hejust did what the script did. The first one said be standoffish, the second one didn’t.
Since Bobby is gone, who will be the next father figure for Sam and Dean? I commend him for actually coming up with a clever answer to an offbeat question. “Bobby’s twin brother Robbie. We haven’t met him. He’s just as cool as Bobby.â€
What’s the happy ending he would pick for Bobby? “It might be a run in with the law.†(eluding to ending up with Sheriff Jody Mills). He told the story about his father-in-law, Don Adams. At his 80th birthday party he said he didn’t want a big funeral when he dies. Just wants a small handful of friends to get together and bring him back to life. Jim sees that to be a happy ending for Bobby.
Does he think he’ll be back on “Supernatural?†“I’ll tell you the truth. I was hoping I would have heard something by now.†He has no idea. Usually when it happens, it happens sooner than this. “If they figure out a way to bring Bobby back on the show I’ll be real happy. If they don’t, I’ll hunt them down and kill them.â€
How does he think Bobby will come back? Fans suggested Castiel or Crowley. “Here, you guys take over,†Jim said pointing the mic to the audience. “This is a stupid confession in this part of the game, but I don’t know all the mythology. I don’t know what would be capable of something like that.†He doesn’t know how it will happen, in real life or the show. He knows they can figure out something. “It depends on the cost.â€
Actually, he did figure out a way it might work. He sat down to think it through. He came up with a possibility where it involves a demon kiss from a possessed sheriff Mills. “I’ve got something here.â€
Someone unbelievably asked the pranks question again. I mean really, does Creation put in plants each to ask that? Jim – “We get a lot more questions about pranks than actual pranks.†Jim had a great answer. “Contrary to popular opinion, we sometimes just act on the show.†He did share again the prank of Jared playing with his toes in “Dream A Little Dream of Me.†Turns out, he did it again in “Death’s Door†when Bobby was in a hospital bed. “Being comatose with your toes being snapped off is really hard.†Jared doesn’t know his own strength. He can’t think about a lot that hasn’t been talked to death. “It’s not like we’ve got secret ones we haven’t told you.â€
Did he like being directed by Jensen. Absolutely. Jensen was a wonderful director. “Prepared, skilled, insightful, communicative.†All the wonderful things he isn’t. He’s really good. “If he ever turns ugly or something he has another career.â€
What kind of death did he imagine for Bobby? A stroke in bed. The place where Bobby was shot was the same place his character in “Deadwood†was shot. He told the producers of “Justified†that if his character dies, he already has a place to get shot. “I think it would have been cooler running toward the bad guy instead of away from him.†They don’t get to choose that in death though. He did fight off Dick Roman so the boys could get away (big crowd applause).
Does he have a take on Bobby’s uncomfortable behavior with Sam in “Like a Virgin?†“It was more that I didn’t like Jared,†he joked. No, hejust did what the script did. The first one said be standoffish, the second one didn’t.
Since Bobby is gone, who will be the next father figure for Sam and Dean? I commend him for actually coming up with a clever answer to an offbeat question. “Bobby’s twin brother Robbie. We haven’t met him. He’s just as cool as Bobby.â€
What’s the happy ending he would pick for Bobby? “It might be a run in with the law.†(eluding to ending up with Sheriff Jody Mills). He told the story about his father-in-law, Don Adams. At his 80th birthday party he said he didn’t want a big funeral when he dies. Just wants a small handful of friends to get together and bring him back to life. Jim sees that to be a happy ending for Bobby.
Does he think he’ll be back on “Supernatural?†“I’ll tell you the truth. I was hoping I would have heard something by now.†He has no idea. Usually when it happens, it happens sooner than this. “If they figure out a way to bring Bobby back on the show I’ll be real happy. If they don’t, I’ll hunt them down and kill them.†How does he think Bobby will come back? Fans suggested Castiel or Crowley. “Here, you guys take over,†Jim said pointing the mic to the audience. “This is a stupid confession in this part of the game, but I don’t know all the mythology. I don’t know what would be capable of something like that.†He doesn’t know how it will happen, in real life or the show. He knows they can figure out something. “It depends on the cost.â€
Actually, he did figure out a way it might work. He sat down to think it through. He came up with a possibility where it involves a demon kiss from a possessed sheriff Mills. “I’ve got something here.â€
Someone unbelievably asked the pranks question again. I mean really, does Creation put in plants each to ask that? Jim – “We get a lot more questions about pranks than actual pranks.†Jim had a great answer. “Contrary to popular opinion, we sometimes just act on the show.†He did share again the prank of Jared playing with his toes in “Dream A Little Dream of Me.†Turns out, he did it again in “Death’s Door†when Bobby was in a hospital bed. “Being comatose with your toes being snapped off is really hard.†Jared doesn’t know his own strength. He can’t think about a lot that hasn’t been talked to death. “It’s not like we’ve got secret ones we haven’t told you.â€
Did he like being directed by Jensen. Absolutely. Jensen was a wonderful director. “Prepared, skilled, insightful, communicative.†All the wonderful things he isn’t. He’s really good. “If he ever turns ugly or something he has another career.â€
Jim doesn’t know what the future holds, but he thanked the crowd for being amazing to him for seven seasons. He got a rousing ovation.
Coming up on page 2, Jim’s Sunday panel.
Alice Jester is the founder, editor-in-chief, head writer, programmer, web designer, site administrator, marketer, and moderator for The Winchester Family Business. She is a 30 year IT applications and database expert with a penchant for creative and freelance writing in her spare (ha!!) time. That’s on top of being a wife, mother of two active kids, and four loving (aka needy) pets.
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Oh I love Psych. Shawn and Gus are my second favorite bromance (although my nephew keeps insisting Sam and Dean don’t count as a bromance because they’re brothers. But I insist not ALL brother are friends too so they DO count. SO THERE.)
Richard should definitely be on it. He’d fit right in. Zachariah is already a recurring character (Kurt Fuller). He’s freaking hilarous on it. In a completely different way than Zach who did have it funny moments.
Hi Alice
Thank you for sharing this.
Awww I miss Jim/Bobby….I do hope the writers have a script in place for Bobby’s return. I’m really not happy that they killed Bobby off. Even if the episode was beautifully written and acted they could have had him in a coma instead of killing him for “Dramatic” purposes.
Thanks for this Alice. I’m also not happy that they killed off Bobby. I’m not that much of a Castiel fan so the lack of Castiel this season hasn’t bothered me but I am really, really missing Bobby. 🙁 I’d love to see him back again somehow.
Add me to the list who want Bobby back! Loved that gruff loving foster dad. 😥 The boys need him!
Wonderful recap.
I am so glad I’m not the only one out there that thinks Psych and Supernatural need to cross. Hardcore. It would be oh so cool!
I am really excited to see Jim in Chicago. Having read his memoir, the love I had for this man has increased a hundred fold. May he have work as long as he wants it!
And may Bobby return soon and for season 8!
Killing Bobby off was the second worst mistake SN’s ever made. Not bringing him back–in the flesh– would be the worst.
Thanks for the terrific recap. JB one of the most brilliant actors and nicest guys in the industry. He does his little girl proud.
Oh, and when JB does return, he should be carrying a funny/moving script he wrote in which Bobby and Jodie fall in love. JP should produce the episode, and JA should direct. There now. Wasn’t that easy?
Ouch! “JB [i]is[/i] one of the best actors in the industry….” Certainly worth repeating.
btw, I was happy to read JB’s comment that he didn’t know if Bobby actually killed his dad or not. A little boy shooting his father for hitting his mother and burying his body in the yard would need years of intensive therapy to be anything approaching normal. To suggest he could grow up to be a man as wise and well-balanced as Bobby sends out the wrong and a very ignorant message about the incredibly destructive consequences killing a parent has on the mind of a child.