I’ve been going to Shore Leave since the early 1980s and it’s become a fixture on the summer calendar. And here it is, after many months of anticipation and planning. The preliminary schedule just went live and here’s what I know I will be doing:Friday7-8:30 p.m.Keith DeCandido Roast: As roastmaster, I get first crack at insulting one and all and then get repeated opportunities to poke him. It’s a charity fundraiser and when I wrote the first draft of my remarks, ringleader David Mack asked, “Are you not comfortable working blue?” then proceeded to rewrite my script making me sound nastier than I knew I was capable of being. The tech crew, Conventional Magic, is going above and beyond to dress the set, practice with their cameras and this is certain to be a show stopper which is odd since we’re the first major event of the show.10 p.m.-MidnightMeet the Authors Party: Presuming my fellow roasters are sober enough, we and a horde of other writer guests will be signing books and chatting with anyone who turns up. Shore Leave has to be America’s leading writer-friendly media con.Saturday10-11 a.m.I have my usual hour to kick off the day and will talk about upcoming books, my life, and then show movie previews (ably assembled for me by Alan Chafin).Afterwards, I’ll be emceeing the major guests, ensuring I get to say to them at least once this weekend.4-5 p.m. Comics to Movies: The Trend ContinuesI’ll be sharing the table with know-it-alls Peter David, Michael Jan Friedman, Glen Hauman, Rigel Ailur, and Allyn Gibson.Sunday10-11 a.m.The Bob & Howie ShowWhat was once programming filler has become a tradition as Howard Weinstein and I sit and gently jibe one another while chatting about news plucked from the headlines, our current projects, our families and there’s always some TV show or movie we find ourselves diametrically opposed about – what will it be this year?5-6 p.m. Mystery Trekkie TheaterPeter David, Michael Jan Friedman and yours truly continue what has become a Shore Leave exclusive since 1992 (yikes!). We have selected another Star Trek television show (no hint as to which series or season) which we will mercilessly mock in the style of Mystery Science Theater 3000. This comes complete with an opening skit, which will spotlight Mr. Chafin for a change. If you are there Sunday, you won’t want to miss this and go home happy.There are two other items on the program I call your attention to. First, as always, my hour on Saturday is followed by the Boogie Knights, which includes Kate. This year, they will have a fishbowl to collect requests and will select songs from their 25+ year catalogue.The second is the first annual Robbie Greenberger Memorial Poker Tournament, Saturday night from 11 p.m. until 1 a.m. It’s a charity fundraiser honoring one of the activities the kid usually participated in and masterminded for several years. Shore Leave decided this was a good way to honor his memory and I urge all card players to turn up.
when I wrote the first draft of my remarks, ringleader David Mack asked, “Are you not comfortable working blue?” then proceeded to rewrite my script making me sound nastier than I knew I was capable of being.Don’t worry, Bob — once you embrace your inner a**hole, I think you will find it suits you. It might even advance your political career… 😉
Mack, should I be creeped out that you embraced Bob’s inner a**hole before he has?
stupid 18 and up rule. I wanted to go. I heard about the memorial poker, is there an age limit? (not that I can really play.) I can’t believe it’s opposite the dance.