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Webposted: August 2002
By: Kay Kellam

Alias is a show that I have enjoyed immensely from the word very start - and the end of the first season definitely left me wanting more.  (Check out our official PopArtsPlace.com review of the show.)

J.J. Abrams (the show's creator) and Kevin Weisman (Marshall the gadget guy) were the main draws at a panel that was a tremendous amount of fun, though I have to admit it is the only panel I have ever attended at a convention where the crowd was basically invited to rush the stage!

J.J. and Kevin had brought a selection of props with them and were having great fun trying to show them to the crowd, though as they set each one down they couldn't help but say "you've just got to come see these, they are so cool!"

The panel lacked revelations with regards to the plot, but made up for them with great merchandising announcements. A Official Companion and behind the scenes book on the series is due out October 8, 2002 from Bantam Doubleday Dell Pub, as well as a trading card series from InkWorks, and a comic book series -- all of which are expected to be available in stores well before Christmas.

Which were announcements that the crowd received with great excitement and enthusiasm. (Enough so that I got curious if there was anything else out there I hadn't know about.)

What I've found is an Alias Novel that claims to be a prequel to the show. A 208 page treat that fans will thank Random House for, especially if it comes out as announced on October 8, 2002.

For those interested there is also a book already out about Jennifer Garner available at Amazon.com

Getting back to the panel, J.J. Abrams did admit that he surfs the web from time to time to see how characters and plot points are being received... mostly to make sure that he and his team of writers are doing what they set out to do. The character of Will was dealt with in a different way when he and his team realized that the audience was not perceiving him the way they had intended and now not only does he know the truth about Sydney but in Season 2 we will (if all goes according to plan) see him act as the buffer between Sydney and a very eager young reporter out to expose sd6! What a great turn of events for the character, to be throwing up those brick walls he was butting his head up again just a few months ago!

Two or three other cast members were expected at the panel, but a change in the shooting schedule made it impossible for them to come - and meant that Kevin Weisman had to leave the autograph signing session early, which is unfortunate, and yet shows the dedication to the fans of all the folks at Alias that they did everything they could to get Kevin there and keep him there as long as possible. To the point that he was waiting for his cell phone to ring and when it rang he did two more autographs and ran back to the airport.

Does the change in the shooting schedule undermine that remark? No - unfortunately someone connected to the show who was scheduled to be on set that day had to attend a funeral for a family member, so things had to be adjusted... their family comes first, and the fans their family loves to entertain come in a close second. Not bad priorities when you think about it.

 For more info on buying Alias related products

(C) Kay Kellam, 2001 for PopArtsPlace.com
Prior to having her first novel, A Life to Di For, published author Kay Kellam enjoyed a variety of jobs that helped to shape her outlook on the world, and her profession.   more...


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