The cast of 9-1-1 feels tailor-made for fan conventions.
With megawatt smiles, infectious laughter, and a down-for-anything attitude, the core 4 of the 118, made up of Oliver Stark, Aisha Hinds, Kenneth Choi, and Ryan Guzman, came to The Garden State on a cool April weekend and turned that ballroom into a celebration.
It was an afternoon to remember with the stars of a celebrated first responder series.
Creation Entertainment, founded in 1971 by Gary Berman and Adam Malin, is a traveling convention that provides fans across the country the opportunity to engage with television personalities from some of the most beloved series of all time.
From Star Trek to Supernatural to The Vampire Diaries, the convention offers guests the chance to meet their favorite actors through panels, photo ops, autographs, and more, creating an environment where fans can interact directly with them.
For the 9-1-1 cast, RescueVerse: A Salute To TV’s First Responders was the company’s second convention with the cast, following a trip to Chicago earlier this year.
The New Jersey weekend was jam-packed with opportunities to meet the cast, with several photo-op options, allowing you to get a solo photo with a cast member or a twosome.
There was also a wildly popular option to get a photo with all four, which I can confirm was just as dynamic and fun as you’d expect.
The cast seemed to have a blast engaging with fans and striking fun poses, with some fans bringing props to include in their once-in-a-lifetime photos.
There was also a very unique and creative selfie option for some, in which you’d get to snuggle up close to one of the 118 and get an up-close-and-personal picture captured on your phone.
The day also included autograph sessions and Q&A panels, with Hinds and Choi teaming up for one panel and Stark and Guzman teaming up for another.
The panels are often the highlight of a Creation Con weekend, as fans get to ask questions, which may reveal some behind-the-scenes factoids, as well as giving you a chance to see the dynamics you see played so wonderfully on-screen play out in front of your very own eyes.
While Choi engaged in a little impromptu dancing during his panel, Guzman and Stark learned the fandom’s theme song for their pairing and answered a delightful question about whether Buck or Eddie cuts the better sandwich shapes.
Spoiler alert: Buck won handily.
While 9-1-1 was one series represented, the weekend also featured appearances by Dylan McDermott (FBI: Most Wanted), Michael Weatherly (NCIS & NCIS: Tony & Ziva), Cote De Pablo (NCIS & NCIS: Tony & Ziva), Austin Stowell (NCIS: Origins), Kyle Schmid (NCIS: Origins), and Katrina Law (NCIS).
It also featured Diane Farr (Fire Country), Jules Latimer (Fire Country), and was hosted by Matt Cohen from Entertainment Tonight and Supernatural.
The weekend was spirited, full of laughter, and an ode to the power of connecting fans with the actors who bring their favorite characters to life.
There’s a real joy that permeates Creation Conventions. Hallways are filled with laughter and squeals, and the vendor rooms are crowded with folks looking to take home a t-shirt or mug emblazoned with their favorite first responder logo.
It’s a wonderful scene, made all the better by the obvious attention and care the staff puts into making the day an enjoyable experience for both the talent and the guests.
I talked with Choi, Hinds, Stark, and Guzman about their expectations heading into the convention and how they felt after experiencing the frenetic fervor of a convention day.
For Stark, he was unsure at first about what a convention would bring, but he loved the fans’ passion.
Interactions throughout the day showed him how invested the fans were in the show.
He also recounted fans screaming out to him when the cast was in Chicago, recalling a past episode of the series, and loved that kind of energy.
All of those moments enhanced his experience.
Similarly, Choi and Hinds had nothing but glowing things to say about their first 9-1-1 conventions.
For Choi, this was his second Creation con, and he found it to be a lot less intimidating the second time around.
Conversely, Hinds was unable to attend the Chicago con, and, being her first, she enjoyed exchanging love with the fans who came out.
She was especially excited to get the chance to connect with people in person.
Having attended conventions earlier in his career for past projects, Guzman already had experience with the concept and came into this one with no expectations.
But he was blown away by it all.
Much like his castmates, he loved meeting people in real life, sharing stories, and hearing about their connection to the show.
He’s walking away with everything he could have wanted from the experience.
While getting to see the actors is a large part of the fun, there’s a real sense of community fostered in convention spaces, with friends meeting up for the weekend, or longtime online pals finally getting a chance to hang out and talk about the latest 9-1-1 lore in person.
It was a weekend seeped in positivity, the kind that lingers long after the cameras stop clicking and the panels have wrapped.
What makes an event like this resonate even more than just proximity to the talent is the shared understanding that the stories being told and the characters entering everyone’s living rooms matter.
The 9-1-1 cast was having just as much fun as the fans.
They were open, playful, and deeply appreciative of the fans who’ve helped make their series one of the longest-running currently airing on television.
As Saturday came to a close and the noise finally began to settle, one thing was very clear: RescueVerse was more than just an event; it was an experience.
And it reminds you why fandom, that community, can be such a beautiful thing.
Oh, and Stark had a lovely little message for all the fans who made the day so memorable.
Getting to attend Creation Con was a wonderful time.
Want all the details about what’s coming up with Buck, Eddie, Chimney, and Hen? Don’t forget to check out our exclusive 9-1-1 Creation Con interviews with the stars of the series!
Have you ever gone to a fan convention? If so, which ones, and how did you enjoy them?
Let me know in the comments below!
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The post More Than a Convention: 9-1-1 Fans and Cast Connect at RescueVerse appeared first on TV Fanatic.