SiliCon with Adam Savage announced their initial guest list several weeks ago. Dirk Benedict, Starbuck from the 1970s “Battlestar Galactica,” was the most notable guest. Most of the other guests were the usual suspects who showed up for Silicon Valley Comic Con. A new guest got added the next day.
William Shatner, Captain Kirk of “Star Trek: The Original Series,” will appear on Sunday only. He hosted the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” panel at SVCC 2017. That was the best run show the organizers for SVCC and SiliCon has ever put on.
Can William Shatner save SiliCon with Adam Savage?
WILLIAM SHATNER 2017
A year after Steve Wozniak bought out Big Wow ComicFest, Silicon Valley Comic Con 2016 got off to a rough start in its first year. The organizers weren’t prepared for the 50,000 attendees who showed up. That’s over ten times the attendees that any Big Wow show ever had.
I got off the light rail, saw the epic disaster at the San Jose Convention Center, and got back on the light rail. Never mind that I bought $250 USD in general admission and autograph tickets. The organizers later gave me a 2017 VIP Gold pass in lieu of a refund.
William Shatner was an early guest announcement for SVCC 2017. Shortly thereafter, the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” cast got announced: Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Jonathan Frakes, Denise Crosby, and Marina Sirtis. Shatner moderated the 30th anniversary reunion panel at the Civic Center, across the street from the convention center.
The 2017 show was the best run show in the four-year history of SVCC.
WILLIAM SHATNER 2021
William Shatner is the guest for SiliCon with Adam Savage 2021. I’m expecting the organizers to repeat what they did four years ago. Shatner will moderate a Star Trek panel and have his own panel at the Civic Center. Everything else will fall into place to become the best run show.
Who would show up for a Star Trek panel in 2021? The cast of “Star Trek: Discovery”. Patrick Stewart, Jeri Ryan, and other cast members of “Picard”. Or Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis for their cameos in “Star Trek: Lower Decks”.
Or Shatner could host a Star Wars panel with the cast of “The Mandalorian” instead.
REPEATING HISTORY
Silicon Valley Comic Con and Silicon with Adam Savage could be repeating history.
SVCC 2016 was an epic disaster with an unplanned 50,000 attendees.
SVCC 2017 had William Shatner and became the best run show.
SVCC 2018 had Stan Lee who was too ill to attend, and Steve Wozniak flew in and out of his own show.
SVCC 2019 laid the groundwork to become SiliCon with Adam Savage in 2020.
SiliCon 2020 went virtual from COVID-19 for its first show.
SiliCon 2021 has William Shatner and could be the best run show.
SiliCon 2022 could suffer blowback from the sexual abuse lawsuit filed against Adam Savage by his sister.
SiliCon 2023 could lay the groundwork for a new show with a new host in 2024.
History so far repeated itself with the first-year shows; and Shatner as a guest for the second-year shows. Although Shatner is 90 years old, he’s still in good health and we shouldn’t have a repeat of what happened to Stan Lee.
If William Shatner does moderate a Star Trek and/or Star Wars panel, expect to pay an $30 USD to attend. His own panel, of course, will be free. As for autographs and photo-ops, expect to pay for the privilege.