A clever loon, though.

I surfed sideways from the naked onna horse pic to the one of Misha, Speight, Jason Manns, and Rob Benedict taken at the recent con in...Italy, I think?

It's had me reflecting on series sets as workplaces, and mapping that onto more mundane workplaces. Several oneshot actors have mentioned what a good set and crew SPN has. And then there are the cons, which give actors without a steady paycheck or work exposure a presence with fans. Who then follow those actors in their appearances in other shows, movies, live gigs. My point is, between the good experience on set, the good crew that's a part of that good experience, and the opportunity to interact with an audience appreciative of a single role because you appeared in a show they're fond of--plus a paycheck for the experience--I wonder if there's ever been another show that afforded both actor (writer, producer, director, FX designer, etc.) and audience such access, and such affection?

The advent of Twitter and its enthusastic and increasingly expert use by show regulars and peripheral players has changed the nature of "fandom" considerably. I don't think the producers can ever repay Misha for what his fandom interaction has done to boost both awareness and affection for the show. Even with SPN as a model of PR for a largely network-ignored show, I'm not aware of cast, staff, and crew of other shows following SPN's example. Nor do I see the affection and fan-interaction of guest actors from other shows.

I may be completely off-base due to my own prejudice, but I think "the SPN family" is kind of unique, possibly because of it's distance from the corporate machine of Hollywood. But the other Van-based shows don't seem to have the same depth of fan-interaction as SPN. Personally, I think it's mainly because of the incredible good luck of casting someone as curious and exploratory as Misha.

I confess I may be ignorant of other fandoms as interactive and involved as SPNs, and if that's so then never mind, and as you were.

My impression has always been that Star Trek fandom pretty much invented that sort of thing. Cons provided an avenue for fan interaction, boosted interest in various people's projects/careers, and provided a welcome paycheck to supporting and bit part actors between jobs. There were sci-fi conventions long before Trek, of course, but I think it's the first show where a large and dedicated fandom emerged.

And frankly, while SPN has probably done more to acknowledge/tease fans on air, I think the contact was more two-way interactive in early Buffy fandom. Exhibit A: the show-built Bronze posting board and the parties with cast/crew attendance that arose out of it.

Star Trek was the first show I know of to develop a large group of fans that interacted with each other, but that didn't really arise until towards the end of the show. The earliest Star Trek fans seemed to start getting together at the SF conventions that were already in place, and they started their own fanzines and APAs, again using something SF fandom was already doing. IIRC, the cast and crew were rather reluctant to get involved in the first conventions, thinking it would cement their being typecast, but they eventually gave into the inevitable.

There was a lot of interaction between fans and JMS about Babylon 5 on rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated and other usenet sites.

But Wash isn't still flying in canon, either.

That hurt my heart.

Son, who doesn't even watch Supernatural, is on his way driving cross country (well, to Chicago from Lawrence) with his college roommate, Sam. I'm squeeing for him. Chicago at Christmas! Well, technically Hanukkah, but Chicago with lights.

I told him to give his name as Abe Froman, Sausage King of Chicago.

ION, naked Misha on a picture on a horse is a beautiful thing. He and Colin need to do a project together with lots of set visits from ita! who can take pictures and report to her besties who promise not to spill any secrets. Ahem. I was still a little giddy from the Chicago stuff.

eta: I get so behind. Much love to Morgana and Matt.

Misha just tweeted that the winner will be announced tomorrow:

We announce the individual GISHWHES winner tomorrow! Also excited we'll be announcing the winning team just before the Mayan calendar ends!

Whee! I also hope they announce the general standings - I'd love to know how we did.

I am ashamed to admit that I zoomed in on the picture. Only to confirm that he wasn't so crazy as to include actual peen. Yeah. I just wanted to sure that he wasn't trying to show up Roche (although he's already posted a naked picture, fwiw).

Conclusion: he's craxy fit in that photo. Ileac crests and lightly toned abs and pecs, baby.

Hi Misha, you are super sexy crazy, and you fine in your black getup next to your crazy horse picture.

A fic summary annoyed me greatly yesterday. The summary included "and I'm sure you've all read so and so's [post]" in the spoilers part. Um, you could have posted your story as speculation, and it would have been all good. It's not a big one, I've been expecting it, but there may be some peeps who weren't, and who hadn't read that post, and now you've spoiled them with just a vague mention. And it was totally unnecessesary, because people have been posting similar fics all along, you could have hid in their ranks. Is this a "my fic is more relevant than yours because I now have evidence to back it up"? ::throws popcorn::

Also I think people who are as good at walking the line in playing to fandom without giving more of the themselves as they want is damn rare. Is there anyone who can play that game as well as Misha other than Misha? Probably one reason he is good at it is because he enjoys it. But probably one reason he enjoys it is that he is so damn good at it. One meta reason why there is a really good chance Castiel will be back. But the meta reason it is not certain is that Misha is unpredictable enough that it is not impossible he would decide to give up the show to spend more time with his wife and new son.

No c in Misha Collins' first name, TB.