Comic-Con at Home: Mike Moderates the 'Phineas & Ferb The Movie' Panel

Well, it sure wasn't the same thing as being at the San Diego convention center, in front of fans, and braving the crowds of attendees in cosplay. But nonetheless, Comic-Con International went on this weekend, via an at-home edition. My small contribution this year was moderating the "Phineas & Ferb" panel, featuring reators and executive producers Dan Povenmire (also known as Prof. Doofenshmirtz) and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh (Major Monogram), director Bob Bowen and stars Ashley Tisdale (Candace), Vincent Martella (Phineas), Maulik Pancholy (Baljeet), and Dee Bradley Baker (Perry the Platypus). We shared an exclusive sneak peek of Disney Plus's upcoming "Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe" and discuss the origins of the animated series, plus a lot more. (You may recall I moderated and helped organize the "Phineas & Ferb" farewell panel in 2015.)

Watch this weekend's panel below:

Seth MacFarlane, Josh Holloway, Phineas and Ferb: Highlights of My Comic-Con Panels (WATCH)

For the fifth year in a row, Comic-Con meant preparing for a hefty line-up of panels to moderate. I don't handle nearly as many as my colleague Damian Holbrook, but I seem to end up annually with four panels (generally a pretty good amount). This year the largest of my panels was likely the one hour/45 minute Seth MacFarlane extravaganza. (The scene from that panel, above.)

The panel included cast and producers from "Family Guy," "American Dad" and "Bordertown." It was also the first time Seth was there to represent all shows on one panel. Also a part of the mix: Seth Green, Alex Borstein, Mike Henry, Scott Grimes, Wendy Schaal, Rich Appel, Steve Callaghan, Matt Weitzman and Brian Boyle.

Here are some highlights of that panel:


Most of the panel


"Family Guy" clip, Part 1

"Family Guy" clip, Part 2


"Bordertown" clip



Every year, besides our "TV Guide Magazine Fan Favorites" panel, we also organize one other panel. This year, it was "The Last Day of Summer: TV Guide Magazine's Farewell to Phineas and Ferb." Creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh were joined by along with stars Vincent Martella (Phineas), Alyson Stoner (Isabella), Maulik Pancholy (Baljeet) and Dee Bradley Baker (Perry), as they reminisced about the show and shared their favorite moments. Read more about it here.


Above, someone has posted the full "Phineas and Ferb" panel.


Holy hell! I moderated a quick panel for Fox's new procedural comic book drama "Lucifer"; here's me with star Tom Ellis. (The full pilot was screened, which just left room for a quick 10 minute chat with the cast and producers.)


"Lucifer" panel clip


"Lucifer" full panel


Fans of "Lost" and "The Walking Dead," it's the Sawyer/Lori Grimes hookup you always wanted. USA's new drama "Colony" comes from exec producer Carlton Cuse, and we had fun with the Carlton/Josh Holloway reunion.


Here, Josh Holloway joins Instagram for the first time by taking a selfie on stage.

Scenes from Comic-Con 2015: Doctor Who, Josh Holloway, Sharknado, Lego Chris Pratt and More!

It's hard to believe, but Comic-Con 2015 was already a week ago. Equally hard to believe: This was already my fifth in a row with TV Guide Magazine, and the fifth year we parked a yacht behind the San Diego Convention Center for talent, producers and executives. It was a busy five-day marathon, and once again I moderated four panels this year. (Details to come in a separate post).

As a bonus, the family came down on Saturday evening to see the craziness upclose, and also watch me moderate our "Farewell to Phineas and Ferb" panel on Sunday. Here are some images from another 'Con.


Checking into the W Hotel, greeted by chocolate Stormtroopers, Darth Vader and Spider-Man.


Wednesday night: Opening night madness!


Candid Polaroids from the TV Guide Magazine/TV Insider Yacht!


Doctor Who on the yacht!


BLING.


Conan Bingo was indeed a thing.


Back on the yacht: Josh Holloway, Sarah Wayne Callies and Peter Jacobson from USA's Colony.


My colleague Damian Holbrook shows off his Sharknado 3 cover story to Ian Ziering on the yacht.


This was surreal: We ran into megaproducer Chuck Lorre and The Big Bang Theory exec producer Steven Molaro on the way to the Warner Bros. party, and along the way fans recognized Chuck -- and asked for a photo!


Lego Chris Pratt


Now that is luggage!


Christy borrows a cosplayer's tail. I think she wants to keep it.


I'm inside Rick and Morty!


On the floor


The convention floor was still a madhouse on Sunday, but the Blogger Boys did gravitate to the video games, of course!


Phineas and Ferb signing session


Spidey!

COMIC-CON: Here's What I'll Be Doing This Weekend

Back to Comic-Con today. And as always, it's shaping up to be a busy weekend. Here are the panels I'll be moderating this year:

FRIDAY, July 10
11:30 AM • LUCIFER (Fox) Pilot screening of the DC Comics take followed by a panel with stars Tom Ellis, Lauren German, Lesley-Ann Brandt and DB Woodside and executive producers. Room 6BCF.

4:30 PM • COLONY (USA) Stars Josh Holloway, Sarah Wayne Callies, Amanda Righetti and Peter Jacobson, along with executive producers Carlton Cuse and Ryan Condal, will offer a sneak peek at the new series followed by a Q&A discussion. Room 6BCF.

SATURDAY, July 11
1 PM • FAMILY GUY/AMERICAN DAD/BORDERTOWN (Fox/TBS/Fox) Seth MacFarlane will, for the first time, participate in a SDCC panel for the upcoming seasons of Family Guy, American Dad and offer a first look at Fox's new comedy Bordertown. He'll be joined by the casts and producers of each show, including: Seth Green, Alex Borstein, Mike Henry, Scott Grimes, Dee Bradley Baker, Wendy Schaal, Rich Appel, Steve Callaghan, Matt Weitzman and Brian Boyle as well as Bordertown's Missi Pyle, Nicholas Gonzalez, and Mark Hentemann. Ballroom 20.

SUNDAY, July 12
10 AM • THE LAST DAY OF SUMMER: TV GUIDE MAGAZINE'S FAREWELL TO PHINEAS AND FERB (Disney XD) Hey Ferb, I know what we're going to do today! After more than 200 best days ever, the ride's over for Phineas and Ferb and their pals (not to mention Perry the Platypus and archnemesis Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz). For one last trip to the Tri-State Area, TV Guide Magazine's Michael Schneider will gather the creators/executive producers of Phineas and Ferb, Dan Povenmire (voice of Doofenshmirtz) and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh (Major Monogram), along with stars Vincent Martella (Phineas), Alyson Stoner (Isabella) and Dee Bradley Baker (Perry) to seize the day, one more time. Room 6BCF.

And here's the press release touting what TV Guide Magazine is up to this year:

TV GUIDE MAGAZINE YACHT CELEBRATES ITS FIFTH YEAR AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON® INTERNATIONAL 2015

SISTER SITE TVINSIDER.COM TO COHOST

Casts from top shows scheduled to attend

Sponsors include Nintendo, Nook by Barnes & Noble, Icelandic GlacialTM, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, 90+ Cellars, Sapporo, IKEA, Dylan’s Candy Bar

(New York, NY) – TV Guide Magazine, America’s authority on all things television, is celebrating five years on board the TVGM YACHT, in port at the San Diego Harbor during San Diego Comic-Con® International 2015. This year’s festivities will introduce sister site and co-host TV Insider (www.tvinsider.com), TVGM’s recently launched digital property, to the yacht.

The TVGM party returns to The California Princess, a 115-foot vessel from the Flagship Cruises and Events fleet, which will be docked at the Fifth Avenue Marina directly behind the San Diego Convention Center (July 9-11).

This represents the fifth year the TVGM Yacht has provided an exclusive VIP event for casts of the hottest shows on television, anchoring itself as the go-to destination for TV talent at Comic-Con. Invite-only guests will be offered a unique experience from sponsors including Nintendo, now in its third year on board; Nook by Barnes and Noble, IKEA, Icelandic GlacialTM, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, 90+ Cellars, Sapporo and Dylan’s Candy Bar.

The TVGM Yacht also features a full video and photography studio, where exclusive interviews are conducted and portraits are shot for use on both TV Guide Magazine and TV Insider.

Past guests on the TVGM Yacht include the casts of Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Arrow, Gotham, The Vampire Dairies, Homeland, Supernatural, Teen Wolf, Grimm and The Flash.

"Television stars, producers and executives have made our yacht one of the most popular spots at Comic-Con since we started docking at the marina five years ago. It's an oasis for them in what is typically a busy and hectic weekend, and with our sister site TV Insider on board, we look forward to hosting more TV talent than ever," Chief Content Officer Michael Schneider said.

TV Guide Magazine has a long-standing relationship with SDCC, having hosted its first panel in 2007. TVGM has created two signature panels for 2015, including the annual all- star Fan Favorites, wholly curated by TV Guide Magazine and TV Insider editors, and a farewell celebration for Phineas and Ferb, created in conjunction with Disney Channel.

TV Guide Magazine Fan Favorites (Saturday, July 11, 11 a.m., Ballroom 20)
TV Guide Magazine brings the screams to San Diego again for its annual all-star, must- see panel. Moderated by senior writer Damian Holbrook, Fan Favorites features stars from TV's hottest shows for a lively discussion filled with behind-the-scenes scoop. Panelists (subject to change) include David Anders (iZombie), Yvette Nicole Brown (The Odd Couple), Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs), Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead), Eliza Taylor (The 100), Ming-Na Wen (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones) and others.

The Last Day of Summer: TV Guide Magazine's Farewell to Phineas and Ferb (Sunday, July 12, 10 a.m., Room 6BCF)
Hey Ferb, I know what we're going to do today! After more than 200 best days ever, the ride's over for Phineas and Ferb and their pals (not to mention Perry the Platypus and archnemesis Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz). For a final trip to the Tri-State Area, TV Guide Magazine chief content officer Michael Schneider will gather the creators/executive producers of Phineas and Ferb, Dan Povenmire (voice of Doofenshmirtz) and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh (Major Monogram), along with stars Vincent Martella (Phineas), Alyson Stoner (Isabella) and Dee Bradley Baker (Perry) to seize the day, one more time.

In addition to the signature panels, TVGM editors will be moderating several panels throughout the convention, including: Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (Syfy), Supergirl (CBS/Warner Bros. TV), The Muppets (ABC), Seth MacFarlane Animation Block: Family Guy/American Dad/Bordertown (20th Century Fox TV), Minority Report (Fox), Damien (A&E), Lucifer (Fox), The Shannara Chronicles (MTV), DC Entertainment: Page to Screen (DC Comics), Colony (USA), The Awesomes (Hulu) and more.

For a full schedule, please visit facebook.com/TVGuideMagazine or TVInsider.com.

For up-to-the-minute details, behind-the-scenes peeks, exclusive video and more, please visit www.TVInsider.com, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @TVGuideMagazine, @TVInsider , #TVGMYACHT #TVISDCC.

Re-Animated: Mickey Mouse, Miss Piggy, "Gravity Falls" and More Get Zombie-fied

The creative minds at Disney TV Animation -- now celebrating its 30th anniversary -- do great work. "Phineas and Ferb," "Gravity Falls," "Fish Hooks" and so many more, have been favorites of the Blogger Kids for years. But in their down time, the animators are just as creative, and every once in a while they showcase their talents via a gallery inside their Glendale headquarters.

On Tuesday night, the Disney Television Animation crew unveiled their latest display: "Re-Animated: The Zombie Show." A mix of beloved Disney characters zombified, and some original creations (and mashups) as well. Disney TV Animation opened the event -- doubling as a celebration of their 30th anniversary -- with a cocktail reception. Here are some highlights from the show:


(It's hard to tell in this photo, but Zombie Mickey is devouring another Mickey.)


(Oh, Miss Piggy, what happened?)


(The "Gravity Falls" kids do the "Thriller" with a new friend!)


("Gravity Falls" has tackled zombies on the show, so it only makes sense it would be a popular subject at this display.)


(You always knew this was how Scrooge McDuck would end up.)


(Zombie-fied "Phineas & Ferb" characters, as drawn on sandwich napkins!)


(This may be my favorite of all, and I hope they turn it into a real book. A twisted take on "Winnie the Pooh.")

"Some Kind of Monster": Spooky Art by Disney TV Animation Artists

(DISNEY CHANNEL/RICK ROWELL)

Not too far from the Blogger Kid's school, the newly Disney Television Animation building in Glendale houses some extremely creative folks -- so creative, in fact, that when they're not creating the shows seen on Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior, these artists and producers are busy creating more art.

That's the basis for "Some Kind of Monster," a fall art gallery at the Disney TV Animation building, spotlighting art from artists, execs and staff on shows like "Phineas and Ferb," "Gravity Falls," "Fish Hooks" and "TRON: Uprising."

The Blogger Kid and I had an opportunity last week to visit the Disney TV Animation offices and take a look at the spooky-inspired art during a reception for "Some Kind of Monster." Among the items were works by the creators of our two favorite animated shows: "Phineas and Ferb's" Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, as well as "Gravity Falls'" Alex Hirsh. Some pics:


Alex Hirsh of "Gravity Falls" shows off a piece inspired by his show, "The Most Terrifying Monster of All." (DISNEY CHANNEL/RICK ROWELL)


Povenmire and Marsh of "Phineas and Ferb." (DISNEY CHANNEL/RICK ROWELL)


Mitt Romney as Roger Doofenshmirtz, by Dan Povenmire.


"Little Monster," a tribute to Lady Gaga.



"Shut Up. Everything Is Fine," by Matt Chapman. (That's a variation of Zeus, Dipper and Mabel from 'Gravity Falls.')



"B. Flores," by Josh Parpan


"2 Ghouls for 1 Buoy."


"Sick in the Head," by Lauren Rondou.

Live with the Cast and Producers of 'Phineas and Ferb'

Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty

Thank goodness for "Phineas & Ferb." The Disney Channel cartoon rivals adult-oriented primetime toons like "Family Guy" for clever asides and witty references. (As a matter of fact, one of the "Phineas" creators even spent time on "Family Guy" before setting out to recreate that vibe, without the raunch.)

"Phineas & Ferb" is easily the most-viewed TV series in our household -- by virtue of the fact that it seems to be perpetually on in our home. (I believe we have about 13 episodes on Tivo at the moment.) It's a show that my kids can appreciate, but I honestly think more of the jokes are geared toward adults.

And that's by design. Creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff 'Swampy' Marsh spent 16 years trying to turn "Phineas & Ferb" into reality -- were looking to create an evergreen series that targeted several generations.

The concept -- two stepbrothers creating mini-adventures each and every day of summer vacation -- has proved to be fertile ground. Just last week the boys built a truck stop diner on top of the family RV. They’ve milked cows on the moon. They’ve built a biodome. They’ve opened the trendiest restaurant in town. They’ve built a teleporter, discovered the lost city of Atlantis, traveled inside their sister’s stomach, traveled back in time to the Jurassic Age and circled the globe after being inspired by Clay Aiken and Chaka Khan.

It all began with episode one in 2007, when the boys built a rollercoaster in the back yard. Four years later, it’s not just the biggest thing to ever come out of Danville and the Tri-State area – yes, even bigger than Love Handel and one-hit wonder Lindana. "Phineas and Ferb" is a huge Emmy-winning success for Disney. Just two weeks ago the Disney Channel Original Movie "Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension" attracted the best ratings of any basic cable movie this year.

I had the opportunity to moderate a panel this past Saturday at the Paley Center's 2011 Paley Fest: Family Edition, featuring Povenmire and Marsh, as well as voice stars Vincent Martella (Phineas), Ashley Tisdale (Candace), Dee Bradley Baker (Perry the Platypus), Alyson Stoner (Isabella), and Mitchel Musso (Jeremy).

Among the tidbits:

-- I mentioned how the bumbling Dr. Heinz Doofenschmirtz may be the most-rounded cartoon villain ever. He's divorced and trying to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter, leading to some (yes, really) touching moments. The producers noted that they battled Disney to actually say the word "divorced" on the show -- execs were worried that it might depress kids whose parents were actually divorced. But the producers believed the opposite: "Phineas & Ferb" is all about blended families and the reality of today's parental units.

-- A theatrical "Phineas & Ferb" movie, including live-action elements, is in the works and still on track to be released in 2013.

-- The busy cast rarely sees each other, and records in their own city on their own time. Events like this one and Comic-Con represent some of the few moments where they've actually been in the same room together.

-- When asked about their favorite episode, many of them go back to the one that started it all: "Rollercoaster."

-- The mouth movement that Perry the Platypus makes when he speaks is based on how actor Dee Bradley Baker contorts his mouth when actually making that sound.

-- Why a platypus? Because there hadn't been one before. The creators shared advice they learned from DreamWorks: When "Shrek" first hit, the studio realized that it could own the phrase "ogre." Everyone knew the word "ogre," but no one could really picture what one looked like. Enter Shrek. Now, when people think "ogre," a picture of Shrek comes to mind. DreamWorks now owns that mental space. Povenmire and Marsh hope they're doing the same with the platypus. Now, when you think "platypus," doesn't Perry come into view?

'Phineas & Ferb,' 'Fish Hooks' and More at the Paley Center's Family Fest

Ferb, I know what we're going to do this Saturday!

I've moderated a lot of panels in recent weeks, from "Community" to "Falling Skies" and several in between. But I may be most excited about my next panel, this Saturday, when I moderate the cast and crew of Disney Channel's "Phineas & Ferb" at the Paley Center.

The Paley Center's 2011 PaleyFest: Family Edition is like a mini version of the organization's popular "PaleyFest" -- and with shows geared toward tykes and their parents. This year, Disney Channel shows ("Phineas & Ferb," "Fish Hooks," "Kickin' It") take place on Saturday, with Cartoon Network series ("Ben 10: Ultimate Alien," "Dude, What Would Happen," "Adventure Time") on Sunday.

"Phineas & Ferb" could very well be the smartest and most clever animated series to come along in years. It's geared toward kids, yet most of the reference fly right over those little heads and right toward their parents. (In the recent "Phineas & Ferb" movie, for example, some of the kids trade existential philosopher bubble gum cards. I doubt Blogger Kid got it.)

Among those in attendance this Saturday: Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, Cocreator / Executive Producer; Dan Povenmire, "Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz" / Cocreator; Ashley Tisdale, "Candace"; Vincent Martella, "Phineas"; Dee Bradley Baker, "Perry the Platypus"; Mitchel Musso, "Jeremy"; and Alyson Stoner, "Isabella."

Later in the day, Disney Channel's newer animated series "Fish Hooks" will also be celebrated -- and moderated by my pal Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts fame. On Sunday, my TV Guide Magazine colleague Rob Moynihan will be moderating a Cartoon Network session. So make it a weekend, people!

Tix are $10 for Paley Center members and $15 for non-members. Go to their website here for more info. Where's Perry?