Grey DeLisle Houston Celebrity ComicCon Sept 2025

The last autograph I got on Sunday was Grey Delisle. She does a lot of shows, but like Frank Welker, her line is usually very long. Hurray for conventions with low attendance. And to be clear, low attendance is a double-edged sword. It’s great to get your work done, but it reduces the chance of coming back next year. They might fold. And if they do come back, the guest list might not be so exciting.

There was actually no one in line for Grey. In fact, she wasn’t there either.  The handler said she stepped away to get a bite and would be back soon. I waited. I don’t like hovering as I don’t want to rush the guest. Also, my mind starts spinning. I’ll end up saying something stupid.

After a short wait, she came back. She thanked me for waiting and gave a me a hug. She saw the Jara photo I had signed and told me she loved purple. Which is great as I wanted Daphne signed. Yes, she voices Daphne in Scooby Do. I’m on a Scooby roll.

She signed in purple. It looks better than I expected.

Then I said my goodbyes and made my way out to get back on the road.

I did get home before dinner.

AH

Jonathan Freeman Houston Celebrity ComicCon Sept 2025

In the late 1980’s and through the 1990’s, Disney had a slew of new successful animated features. The Wife and I saw many of them at the theater and we enjoyed then.  

If you noticed, over the last few years, I’ve picked up a lot of the Disney Princesses. And added the male leads too when the opportunity arose  Adding Jafar from Aladdin seems to be a natural addition. I 'had' to go Jonathan Freeman's table.

Jonathan was friendly. We chit-chatted but I was already thinking about the drive home.  I selected what I think was the best of the table photos he had and handed it over.

Then I was done and looking to add one last autograph and call it ‘quits’.

AH

Frank Welker Houston Celebrity ComicCon Sept 2025

Frank Welker has been on my ‘maybe’ list for a long time. I have passed on him quite often. Not because I don’t want him, it’s because his line is insanely long. Hours long. As I get older, I am less willing to wait 3 or 4 hours if he is the only one I need.

With the attendance on Sunday so light, the Frank Welker line was ‘short’. Maybe 50 people. I got in line. This was the best chance I have seen in 5 or 6 years. I was going to finally do it.

And of course, as soon as I got him line, he stepped away to do photo ops. But he wasn’t gone for long. AND I actually had a guy next to me that was nice. We chit-chatted. Not insistently. It was casual. With lots of breaks and no urgently to continue the conversation. As we waited, he suggested I get Paul Walter Hauser’s signature. Paul was at his table and no one was in line. I took my line buddy’s offer and got that signature.

Frank came back and the line started to move. Not fast, but not slow either. People were getting to converse but not give their whole life story.

I know most people would get Megatron signed from Transformers. I did not grow up with Transformers. All I know, is from the movies. Yeah, I have no street cred. But I do know Scooby Doo. And Frank voices Fred. Yes, you heard that right. And he also did Scooby. How about that?

I also did something I don’t often do; I got 2 items signed. I have been doing that more often, haven’t I?

He signed the Megatron photo. Then I handed over the Freddie. He wanted to sign in white.  I shook him off. I suggested the blue. I liked the result.  And you know what? The Wife agreed. She said it goes well with the shirt collar. It’s nice when The Wife and I agree on something.

AH

 

Paul Walter Hauser Houston Celebrity ComicCon Sept 2025

If you watched Cobra Kai, like The Wife and I have, you know who Paul Walter Hauser is. While he is a minor character, he is interesting enough to be on my list. This convention had 5 or 6 actors from Cobra Kai. And next month, a show in San Antonio will be having 5 or 6 different ones attending. It’s a good time to be collecting those autographs.

Paul looks slightly different in person but really, that is a good thing, right? But not different enough not recognize him.

He smiled as I walked up. After a bit of chatting, he signed and I moved along.

As this point, I realized, I would get my list of signatures quicker than expected and I was getting ‘happy feet’. I was already thinking of my stop at Buckee’s and filling up and getting a soda as I drove home. I was looking forward to getting home before dark. And possibly before diner time.

AH

Thora Birch Houston Celebrity ComicCon Sept 2025

I drove down to Houston on Sunday for the Celebrity ComicCon.  Google Maps and I had a difference of opinion about where this was but I got there. The event center was in the NRG Stadium parking lot. You entered (parking $25 PLUS tax and credit card only) and instead of going to the stadium you went to the building on the left. With as few cars parked near the building, I really thought I was in the wrong place. The crowd was very light on Sunday.

This was the first time I've been to this event. This might have even been the first time the event occurred.  I really had no expectations on size or arrangement.

I entered and picked up my badge and found the autograph area. The first table I walked up to was Thora Birch. She liked the photo. The guy behind her mentioned she still has that knife. She blithely replied that was to keep him in line. They both laughed.

After the normal chit chat, I moved on to the next opportunity.

AH

Lech Walesa Dallas 2025

So, I did a thing.

My oldest friend, a better friend than I deserve, invited me to see Lech Walesa speak at the Dallas Convention Center. I’m glad my friend reached out and I’m glad we went. This was a treat.

Lech is on a speaking tour of the US and Canada. It appears to be put together by a travel company and they are doing this to promote their tour of Poland. While I don’t think this impacted the presentation or the content, it was just odd.

A quick recap for people born after Y2K, Lech was the President of Poland and is a Noble Peace Prize winner. But most importantly, he said ‘no’ to the USSR and got them out of Poland. To use parlance you might understand, one does not simply walk into Modor and say ‘no’ to the USSR. He did. He is part of the reason they fell.

Lech was entertaining through his interpreter. He spoke for an hour and then took questions from the crowd. Once that was done, he sat and signed books and did photo ops.

My friend teased me about NOT knowing any Polish. Yes, my heritage is Polish. Grandmom must be rolling in her grave that I didn’t ‘greet’ or ‘thank’ him in Polish. I’m a bad Grandson. The only think I could remember was: jeśli nie masz schlitza, nie masz piwa.   meaning, if you ain’t got Schlitz, you ain’t got beer.

Maybe not the best thing to say to a President.

AH

Henry Cho Majestic Sept 2025

I have been listening to Henry Cho on the comedy channel for a long time. He makes me laugh. It was great to see him make it to Dallas.

I got to the Majestic earlier than needed but it’s been a while since I’ve been there and downtown parking has changed a lot. After I parked. I made my way to the stage door. As I waited, I was distracted by a group decorating the night club next to the theater and a religion event in the park. It helped pass the time.

When the driver stopped and let Henry out, he gathered his things and I waved. He smiled and made his way over to me. Henry asked if I was waiting for him.  I nodded with a smile and asked if I could get an autograph.  He stuck his hand out, looked me in the eye, and told me his name. Formal in a friendly way.  We shook and I responded with my name. Then worried if my grip was firm enough, did I look him in the eye enough, did I mumble my name?  I need to practice shaking hands more. It’s a lost art.

I handed over the photo and paint pen. He signed and I said I thought that was a classy photo. He said thanks. And then said he appreciated me coming out. He entered the theater and I walked back to my car.

Side note, The Wife and I thought about going to the show. I really do enjoy his humor. I’m glad I didn’t only because of how sweaty I was when I got home. The Wife sent me to the shower quickly. If I went, someone would have had to bear with that; trapped for another hour or so.

Next time he comes to town, we’ll go.

AH

 

Michelle Ang Rebel Scum Con 2025

The one actor that put this convention on my radar was Michelle Ang. She plays Omega in The Bad Batch. Yes, I have said it before, I really like that series.

Before she signed, she told me she liked that photo. It was one I printed. She said it was from ‘x’ episode. I didn’t think she was right and said I thought it was from ‘y’ episode. She told me she could tell by the hair style Omega was wearing.  Yes, I laughed.  I sure this is sexist, but of course she would notice the hairstyle. And of course, I won’t notice that.

She had several quotes at the ready. Looked down her list. I think what she picked was perfect for the photo…and especially since I think it goes with the episode that I think this image is from.

I asked if she had a favorite Bad Batch clone. She said after the first season it was Wrecker. I like him a lot too. He’s a loveable giant. She mentioned it changed after the second season. It’s now Crosshair.  He’s someone that believes in following order even without the inhibitor chip. I agree, he is a much more interesting chnaracter in Season 2 and 3. But I still like Wrecker.

I left her table, a very happy camper.

AH

 

Rena Owen Rebel Scum Con 2025

One thing the Star Wars Universe has done a lot of, is use the same actor for live action and animation. It’s not all the time, but it happens often which gives some nice emotional feels (as the young ones say).

One of those actors is Rena Owen.  She plays Taun We in Attack of the Clones and in Bad Batch and some of the video games.

The photo signed, is from her table. I liked it. She said it was printed for one of the early Star Wars Celebration conventions. It makes the photo a little more special.

She gave me a huge smile and we just chatted a little. When it was time to sign, she knew what she was doing. She told me she was using white for the signature. I’m sure the location was by design by Official Pix. It looks great.

AH

Toby Philpott Rebel Scum Con 2025

This is confusing, but bear with me.

Jabba the Hutt is not real. He is a puppet. Albeit a BIG puppet. As with all puppets, a person is needed to move the puppet. And with this giant puppet, 2 people were needed. At Rebel Scum, Toby Philpott attended. He was the man that moved the left arm of Jabba.

Toby was very outgoing. He talked about hitchhiking across the USA and MX. Being a street performer and moving back to London. Then getting a job with Jim Henson’s workshop and then being picked for Jabba. A very interesting story.  I hope you get a chance to cross paths with him and hear in person.

AH