Screams like fangirl…

By Kate Kotler

Day two of the 2009 International Comic Con in San Diego, California.  I had been at the SD Convention Center since 7:00 am, it was now 7:00 pm and I was beginning to weary.

The SD Convention Center is huge – at least a mile or two long – I’d done countless laps during the course of my day, with a laptop and all my gear strapped to my back, making my legs feel like rubber bands in my current state of affairs.

I’d filed two interviews – with Janina Gavankar and Hope Larson – and, I’d spent the majority of the remainder of my day stalking BBCAmerica press rep – Devin J. – trying to get an interview with David Tennant, Julie Gardner, Euros Lyn and Russell T. Davies, aka the Doctor Who contingent in town for the convention.  My stalking technique consisted of stopping every five minutes to email Devin J. saying “remember me?  Remember that we requested an interview and you said you’d try to fit us in?” and cruising the BBC booth on the floor of the con – making friends with and generally annoying the BBCAmerica staff.  (They loved me, they really really loved me… seriously… I made them laugh.)

At the present moment I was collapsed outside the doors of a meeting room where Planet of the Dead and Children of Earth were set to screen (both of which I’d already seen) in the hopes that I might grab 1:1 time with Devin J. to plead my “let me interview the Doctor Who crew” case in person.

The doors opened with nary a BBC representative coming in or out.  I got myself to my feet and stuck my head in the door to see if I had missed seeing someone enter the room.  I didn’t see anyone except for 300 + screaming Doctor Who fans.

I shrugged and turned to leave, figuring I’d go back to my hotel and try again in the morning before the Doctor Who panel, when I felt someone grab my arm.

“Kotler, where are you going?”  It was a deliciously nerdy BBCer who I’d flirted a bit with earlier.

“Oh hey,” I flipped my hair and adjusted my Timbuk2 on my hip, “Just calling it a day, I don’t see Devin J.  I’m wiped out, I’m going to try again in the morning.”

“No you’re not,” he said as he ushered me into the room, “You want to stay for this.”

“But I’ve already seen both of these episodes,” I said obtusely, “I downloaded them on Veoh right after they came out.”

“Just stand here,” he positioned me next to the sound booth, near the stage left entrance to the stage, in front of two security guards.

“Uh, okay…” I said as the lights dimmed and an emcee took the stage to introduce the DW and Torchwood episodes.  He then introduced Russell T. Davies – which made the crowd go wild, but wasn’t a big deal to me as I had slipped into a quque earlier and gotten his autograph in one of the few “fangirl” moments I was allowing myself as I covered the con for my publication.  I was delighted because not only did he sign a postcard for me, but he signed one for my editor – Cate Sevilla AND one that we could raffle off to our readers… Not to mention that he told me that he “loved the name BitchBuzz.”  !!

THEN Russell T. Davies introduced John Barrowman… exciting, but not a payoff for me… I mean, Barrowman is hot, but Torchwood wasn’t “my show.”

“Barrowman is hot,” I said to the BBCer, who nodded and turned me back towards the stage just in time for the entire room to erupt in cheers.

“HELLLOOOO COMIC CON!!!!” came the deliciously sexy Scottish brogue which I knew so well I could hear it in my dreams, “How are you all doing tonight???”

I dropped my Timbuk2 on the ground and screamed “OMAIGAWD ITS DAVID TENNANT SQUEEEEEEEEEE!!!” as I jumped up and down clapping my hands.

The security guards advanced a bit at my outburst.  My BBCer friend turned to them and said, “She’s actually with the press, fellas.”

They laughed and backed off and I started digging around for my camera.  I barely heard a word that Tennant said as I frenetically tried to snap a usable photo for BitchBuzz.  Before I knew it, the trio – my Love David, RTD and Sexy John – were leaving the stage and the lights were dimming.  I realized that I had a nano second of a golden opportunity.

I threw my bag over my shoulder and grabbed the BBCer by the shoulders.

“Thanks!” I said, as I stood on my tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek, “I gotta go!!”

I rushed out of the meeting room and with instincts that Ed Bradley would be proud of, I turned to the right in search of my story and ran down the hall… Nothing.  I turned to the right again and ran down that hall… nothing yet again.  Boo.  I was about to turn around and try the other direction when all the sudden a group of people appeared before me.

“Oh look, it’s BitchBuzz” said the delightfully Welsh Russell T. Davies, “Hallo BitchBuzz!”

And there he was, David – Doctor Phowar – Tennant.

“Hello Russell T. Davies,” I said, “David could I get a photo?”

“Hello.  Alright,” said the dreamy David, “But quickly please.”

“Of course!” I snapped one, two and three photos of Doctor Who and said, “Thank you so much – love the show!”

David nodded and went through the doors in front of him.  I then turned to be confronted with BBC’s Devin J.

“Hi Devin,” I said, “Kate Kotler of BitchBuzz, how about that interview?”

Devin J. laughed and said, “I’ll email you tomorrow to see what we can do.”

“Thanks,” I said as I turned to go.

I made it down the hall and around the corner before I collapsed with a mix of sheer exhaustion and excitement.  I whipped out my cell phone to send a fangirl like text-scream to my personal list of Doctor Who fan-friends “OMG!!! I JUST SAWWWW DAVVIIIIDDDD TENNNNAAANNNNTTT ANDDDD HEEEE SAIIIDDD HELLOOOOOO!”

*I never got the interview with David Tennant.  Sadness.  But, Devin J. promised an interview with Julie Gardner, which I’m still waiting to collect on.  I’d also accept one with Matt Smith or Karen Gillan… just sayin’.

[Photo of David Tennant courtesy of Kate Kotler, photo of Doctor Who panel at 2009 CCI courtesy of Comic Mix]