AVALON CON
 
 
 
 
 
The small, medieval town of Wells was an ideal setting for this convention, generating a positive, magical ambience, with it's cathedral and Bishop's Palace as the venues. Legends Memorabilia had a room in the town hall, which housed other local events that weekend as well. All four of Sunday's events took place at the Bishop's Palace. The bishop was having a private party on Sunday, and had a small personal orchestra playing downstairs.
 
Amanda Tapping and Richard Dean Anderson
Sunday, November 26, 2006.
 
 
The day began at 9:45 with the Q/A session; 10:30 was the tea at which Amanda and Richard came around to the tables together, and then we went back up to the small gathering room (size of a classroom) where all the main sessions were held to wait for photos, during which time Dan Shea entertained us with his quick, witty brand of humour. Photos ended at 1:30. At 3:30 we returned to the same room for the auction, as there was only our one small group that day.
 
Q/A session: Rick and Amanda came into the room through the side door. Rick had a camera that he said he'd been carrying around all week, and started (or pretended, I'm not sure) to take pictures of the audience.
 
  
 
While the following is an abbreviated compilation of the short question and answer session, I don't think I've left out more than three or four questions (those which I didn't take proper notes on, as I'd had no original intention of creating this page). Otherwise, the responses are as close to verbatim as possible, although some have been simplified and omissions made. Apologies to Amanda and Rick if I have misworded any of their responses; anyone who was at that session, feel free to correct me. (My comments are in brackets.)
 
Q/A session:
 
Q: (unknown):
 
RDA: I can't memorize lines very well. I memorize ideas to get the essence. Then if I can twist it into an O'Neillism, more power to it.
 
AT: We have to warn guest stars. They get the script, and where it says "O'Neill" there's a blank. Rick fills in the lines. The writers used to try to write what they thought Rick would say, but then he wouldn't say it because they were expecting it.
 
RDA: I'm not going to say it if they think that's what I'm going to say.
 
Q: If you could summarize this weekend in one word, what would it be?
 
RDA: Hot.
(He went on to express how hot he'd been all weekend. A bell in the corridor started ringing in the middle of his sentence, and he stopped, waited 'til it was done, and then plugged in the final word.)
 
AT: Intimate.
 
RDA: That won't be happening today.
 
AT: Intimate. This is the perfect size for a room and everything's been so calm...the photo sessions, everything. We've been able to talk to people. So, intimate. And hot. Not together.
 
Q: (something about Amanda's science background and knowledge of her lines)
 
AT: I won a science award in school and a drama award. One of my brothers is a biochemist, and the other is a computer scientist. My parents wanted me to go into science. So I have the best of both worlds; I play a scientist on TV. Yes, I do research some of what I'm supposed to be talking about.
 
(Person from audience: "And if you forget your lines, Rick can't help you.")
 
AT: Richard can't even pronounce any of the words.
 
RDA: I had sense enough to prove to them early on I can't remember any of those words. My contribution is, "...What?" (Which he used later on when he didn't understand a long-winded question.)
 
Q: What is your favourite meal?
 
AT: Sushi... sushi. That's my answer.
 
RDA: Lately... if you could see me naked you'd understand ...(tittering in the audience now, and he paused, looking confused. Amanda whispered something to him and he continued.) I've put on 15 lbs. since I left Stargate. I found this cereal ... no, not Froot Loops...Puffins. I can eat a box at a sitting. I put blueberries all over it - I have a freezer full of frozen blueberries. Strawberries and blueberries go great.
 
AT: You said "Lately".
 
RDA: Oh, lately - scones. Someone just told me yesterday that they're fattening.
 
AT: With jam and cream, who knew.
 
RDA: 12 lbs. of fat in each one. But good fat!
 
Q: If you were to bump into a 20-year-old version of yourself, what words of wisdom would you give?
 
RDA: Virgin?
 
AT: Version. (She leaned in and whispered to him again, then she repeated the question.)
 
RDA: Warn him against the future.
 
AT: Stand up for myself more. In my attempts to be nice, I used to let people walk all over me. I'm not like that now, but I used to be.
 
RDA: If I ran into a 20-year-old virgin of myself, I'd be... surprised. (AT started laughing.)
 
Q: (Something about the house RDA's building, and if it's environmentally friendly.)
 
RDA: I thought about solar panelling but there's nowhere to put it. I have a water dispersion thing in the ground... thing...(some more descriptions my pen didn't catch). The house is turning out way bigger than I intended. Sometimes I get in there with the pounding of nails and all that. It's an experience I won't do again.
 
(The session was only half an hour. The only questions I remember missing were one about Rick's favourite British TV shows, and one about a Spam Museum. There were probably a couple of others… again, if anyone who asked or remembers a question is reading this, please send it along and I'll include it.)
 
 
At the tea I asked Amanda what it was like the last day on the Stargate set (Rick looked curious to hear the answer as well, and I heard him mumble "Good question"), and she said:
 
"It was emotional. We were in denial. The last shot was of the team going through the stargate, and Chris refused to go up the ramp in rehearsal. He just wouldn't do it, he wouldn't go, until the moment we actually shot the scene. Then we walked through and Chris started crying, then Michael and myself. Then the whole crew came over... (she faded off for a moment). Chris, Michael and I went up to the briefing room and looked through the window at the stargate... we'd started off like that ten years ago, we'd just stood there looking at it going "Wow, it's big! And we get to go through it!" Now, it's ten years later, and it's over. We just stood there with our arms linked, looking down, and no one said a word. It was very emotional. We're looking forward to doing the DVD movies and hope they go well. But there were a lot of tears… Also a lot of champagne."
 
 
When I asked Rick what his last day was like, he replied:
 
"Nothing like that! They said, "That's it for Rick" and everyone clapped (he mimicked them clapping) and then it was "'Bye Rick". That was about it."
(Awww.)
 
Richard Dean Anderson comes across as a quiet, shy man (who smiles a lot). He waited to be asked a question at the table before speaking, never interrupted Amanda although they did get into a whispering match at one point (about the work she'd been doing in England), after which she nuzzled up to his cheek and he to hers. At the photo session when I commented that he had just done the equivalent of five conventions in one, he replied "Don't we know it!" and then continued talking with a half-smile and such a quiet voice that I missed most of what he was saying, and Amanda moved in closer to hear him.
 
 
 
The auction was delightful; Amanda, Dan Shea, and Richard took turns - in that order - walking up and down the aisle with the items. Rick seemed startled that bids on any given item would increase with his signature on it. Each person who won received a hug and kiss from the guest who'd been holding it; I think some people bid just to get that close-up-and-personal moment. I'm of the impression that once the items had all been sold, they could have auctioned off hugs.
 
 
The final tally for the three days was calculated, and a check written out for over £15000. Amazing, for the few small items they had to auction off, at least on Sunday. Rick made a thank you speech, then what I still consider the glory moment of the day occurred. As people were applauding, some of us rising, Amanda and Dan Shea left the room while Rick hung back for a moment. More people rose, and he hesitated going out the door. After another few moments the audience was in a complete standing ovation (I don't know if this happened on Friday and Saturday, but I hope so and I'd love to know). Rick made to leave, then hesitated again. Then he walked back to the center, bowed, and watched for another moment as the standing ovation continued. He then shouted, with a crack in his voice (real or put on I don't know), "I love you all!" and rushed out of the room.
 
 
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