Sunday was a shortened day at the Motor City Comic Con, but a busy day nonetheless. While we didn’t get to stay for many of the panels and were shut out of panels like Star Trek (those Trekkies show up in force!), we enjoyed the few we sat through including stars from 90’s and 2000’s sitcoms.
Home Improvement‘s Richard Karn and Debbie Dunning reminisced about their time on the set of the fan-loved comedy series as Al Borland and Heidi Keppert. Karn shared how the costume designer originally purchased a $150 Ralph Lauren plaid shirt for his character before Karn went out and purchased a $20 shirt himself that was more likely something Al would wear and how a moving violation helped him get the role of Tim’s sidekick. Stories of Bob Vila’s time on the set brought many chuckles but perhaps most surprising was the fact that lead actress Patricia Richardson almost wasn’t cast in the series. Had it not been for actor Daniel Stern (City Slickers and the voice of Kevin Arnold on The Wonder Year) backing out of a series featuring Stern and Richardson as a grown-up Kevin Arnold and Winnie Cooper, Home Improvement may have been a completely different show.
Psych stars, Maggie Lawson and Timothy Omundson – Juliet O’Hara and Carlton Lassiter on the cult classic thrilled fans as they entertained fans’ questions past the allotted time. The night prior the two hosted their podcast – The Psychologists Are In – at the convention, a first for the five season-long podcast and that camaraderie shined through during their time together on stage. Omundson talked about the lovefests on many of the sets he has acted on, but it was nothing less than a lovefest for these two beloved actors. Omundson spoke of his 2017 stroke and how the cast and crew made sure he was included in the series even when he wasn’t able to travel. He expanded on his stroke by sharing that he “beat Hollywood, a stroke is nothing.” Of the mutual admiration the two actors have for one another, Omundson said, “the way that O’Hara took care of Lassiter is the way that Maggie takes care of me.” Lawson in return spoke of Omundson being a “ray of sunshine” and how he brought a lot of his vulnerability and braveness to the role of Lassiter. Many laughs were had in response to a question about their and their character’s favorite drinks were. At the end of the panel, it was the perfect mix of laugh and tears as fans and the actors themselves opened up to those in attendance.
And while we didn’t get to see much of The Avengers and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Clark Gregg’s nor The Walking Dead and Guardians of the Galaxy star, Michael Rooker’s sessions, we were able to sneak some quick pics.
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