Next month, the city of San Diego will be populated by the fanatical and fantastical for Comic-Con 2011. With a complete list expected in the coming week(s), today the first set of TV panels were announced.
Coinciding with the announcements of what TV shows we will see at the ‘Con, it was also revealed that 5 previously attending series will not be returning this year.
Comic-Con staples Chuck, The Big Bang Theory, The Vampire Diaries and The Walking Dead are all slated to return. Along with these familiar series, ABC will also be bringing fan-favorite Castle back to Comic-Con for its second year. Accompanying Castle will be ABC’s new fantasy series Once Upon A Time, starring House alum Jennifer Morrison, and the Paranormal Activity-esque thriller The River. Rounding out the new fall series in attendance will be the highly-anticipated (and continuously delayed) Steven Spielberg Fox series, Terra Nova.
For those that attended Comic-Con 2010, you will remember that Fox canceled last year’s Terra Nova panel less than a week before Comic-Con was set to begin. Since Terra Nova is once again slated as a mid-season replacement, fans should expect to see a generous presentation by this long-awaited series – perhaps even a screening of the pilot.
Speaking of screenings: With Comic-Con being a favorite location to present upcoming titles (Jon Favreau’s Cowboys and Aliens is set to premiere at Comic-Con this year), one should expect many of television’s new fall series that will be attending to screen their respective pilots. While it’s likely that The River will not present its completed pilot (you’ll know why this September), one can only hope that ABC presents the pilot for Once Upon A Time. Considering I’m unable to review the actual pilot at this time (rules are rules), all I’ll say is that it would be a treat for everyone in attendance.
Along with the 13 announced television panels, it was also revealed that 5 of Comic-Con’s previously attending shows will not be returning. While some of the losses are bigger than others (In Plain Sight – really?), fans of USA will be disappointed to hear that Burn Notice and White Collar will be sitting out Comic-Con this year. Even though Bruce Campbell is considered a proverbial God amongst Comic-Con attendees, perhaps its best that Burn Notice takes a step back. Since Comic-Con 2009, Burn Notice has been a familiar face in the hallowed Ballroom 20, but with Bruce Campbell being the only attending main cast member, it often left fans expecting more. Not to mention Campbell’s inability to hide his displeasure of working with… Well, let’s just say that Burn Notice skipping Comic-Con may not be as bad as it sounds.
In contrast, the announcement of White Collar not attending Comic-Con does come at a bit of a shock. Last year, White Collar made its Comic-Con debut and for all intents and purposes, it was hit with the crowd. Even though White Collar is currently in the middle of filming season 3, it’s unfortunate that they couldn’t find some time in their production schedule to attend. Also announced as non-returning series are Hawaii Five-0, Royal Pains and the aforementioned In Plain Sight. Considering the fanatical nature of the audience at Comic-Con, I doubt that many will miss these three series.
Make sure to keep an eye on Screen Rant, as we’ll be bringing you live coverage of the panels, and interviews with your favorite stars, over on our Official Comic-Con Coverage Page.
You can find a full list of the recently announced TV panels (and non-returning series) below:
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Thursday, July 21
Covert Affairs
Psych
Friday, July 22rd
Falling Skies
Saturday, July 23rd
Power Rangers Samurai
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TV Shows That Will Be At Comic-Con 2011 (Day/Time TBA)
The Big Bang Theory
Castle
Chuck
Once Upon A Time
The Nine Lives of Chloe King
The River
Terra Nova
The Vampire Diaries
The Walking Dead
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Non-Returning Shows
Burn Notice
Hawaii Five-0
In Plain Sight
Royal Pains
White Collar
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Comic-Con 2011 begins July 21st.
Follow Anthony on Twitter @anthonyocasio
