The Winchester Family Business

(All photos taken by the Winchester Family Business) 

After a little delay in which the natives started getting a bit restless (and cheering loudly to @mainegirlwrites holding up her “Jared For President” sign), we saw the shadows of our two guests of honor and bodyguard Clif work their way backstage.  Finally, Adam Malin our host announced Misha Collins.  He came out, basking in all the loud cheers.  

It should be mentioned, Misha is a very big celebrity at NJ Con.  He’s the only headlining guest that’s come to this con all four years and the crowd here really loves him.  He’s kind of their native son.  So, a lot of the questions at the panel end up being for Misha.  

Misha was trying to bring Jared out, but then Jared interrupted along the side of the stage, telling  all of us we had Misha to ourselves for a little bit.  He joked he wanted Misha to feel good about his height.  Jared apparently had some business backstage, so Misha carried on the first part of the panel himself.  

Misha went into improvising mode, mentioning among the flashbulbs how his first convention was here (I was there!).  He mentioned that we’ve all grown so much since then.  "The memories are flooding back and I'm having a panic attack."   He was intimidated at first by the crowds, not knowing what to expect, but now he knows what he’s doing.  

The Olympics, for anyone who read the breakfast report, has been a popular topic.  Not sure how the topic of horses and Dressage came up, but it did.  Some people were confused, so Misha decided to explain Dressage to us.  “Dressage is when you put a dress on your horse.  It’s like putting on drag, but for horses.” 

Misha changed the subject to GISHWHES, which got huge applause.  The website for the next hunt is going up soon.  Probably around October.  Some people didn’t know what that meant, so Misha explained.  “It’s a scavenger hunt where people humiliate themselves and I get to look at the pictures.  It’s just like college.”  

Misha at this point was struggling a bit with attention span.  He saw the guide dog sleeping in the front row.  “This is the most exciting part of the day and he’s sleeping.”  That’s when he realized he was rambling and there was an extremely long line on both sides of the ballroom for questions.  

Someone wanted to know about the woman wearing a dress made entirely of bacon for GISHWHES.  At the printer, needed to get in a extra photo.  He had a friend, a muscular friend, wearing nothing but bacon.  Everyone thought it was him.  “Not me, I looking much more feminine.”  

A silhouette of a very tall guy could be spotted through the screen backstage.  A fan yelled, “Jared you’re fabulous!”  Misha would take none of that.  “He can’t hear you so don’t waste your breath,” even though Misha was clearly looking at Jared backstage.  He went onto the next question.

Someone wanted to know what was happening on the Gag Reel when he said there’s a foot on my balls.  Misha said it was just that, Jared had his foot on his balls.  He was doing his scene and there was Jared off screen trying to break him.  He explained that while anyone on set could see Jared with his foot on his balls, the director is in the other room only seeing what’s on the camera.  He doesn’t realize Jared is doing things off screen and trying to get Misha to laugh.  Misha naturally is struggling with trying not to crack up during the scene. The director comes in wondering why Misha can’t do his lines and Jared straightens up and acts all innocent.  “It’s always Jared’s fault.”  Except when Jared goes to the bathroom, Misha confesses.  Then Jensen puts his foot on his balls. 

All weekend, a fan has been asking the same question, inspired by “Inside the Actor’s Studio.”  What is his favorite cuss word?  The audience this time booed that fan as soon as she came up.  Misha - “Can’t I get a fresh question?  I don’t like hand me down questions.”  So she asked what were his three favorite Cuss words.  “Shucks, dagnabbit, and golly!  Hopefully there are no children in the audience today.”  Then he wondered, “I hope you did not ask Sebastian that question.”  The entire room erupts in “YES!”  Misha was sorry to hear that.  “We should put together a therapy fund for the young ones.” 

A young male fan came up with a comment about the GISHWHES scavenger hunt.  His girlfriend did it.  “I want you to apologize for ruining my life.”  Misha won’t apologize but he did enjoy seeing the results of his agony.  He wondered what the young man had to do.  He ate the sandwich of mint chocolate chip ice cream and meatballs.  Misha asked how he’s doing after that.  He’s still trying to get over it, therapy, that sort of thing.  Misha loved seeing all the pictures and videos from those disgusting food combinations.  People would get all grossed out and wretch, then they would go back for more.  He loved it.  “The ones that were most humiliating were the most satisfying to watch.”  He wished the young man well.  

The next person came up to ask her question while reading notes.  Misha asked if she wrote those notes.  No, her friend.  Naturally, Misha wanted to know who scripted it.  He eventually got her to ask the question.  “When Supernatural ends and the fandom moves on...” He stopped her there.  “The fandom won’t move on!”  It was right around this time that Jared popped up on stage.  After the enormous cheers, she was able to finish her question.  “How will Random Acts go on when the show is over? Will fans still support it?  After all fans, raised $20,000 for the cause.”  Jared ended up jumping in on that one.  “No, that was $200,000.”  Misha started taunting her friend for not fact checking.  To be honest, I’m not sure she ever got an answer, other than the fandom won’t abandon them.  

Jared takes his seat while people start shouting things like “You’re fabulous” to him.    He sees @mainegirlwrites hold up her “Jared for President sign” and laughed.  “Jared for President?  I’m not old enough!”  At this point, it’s Misha’s turn to go backstage for a small bit.  Fans try to get him to stay, but no dice.  

Jared carries on with the questions, but the next person had a question for Misha.  She thinks Jared can answer it.  What is it like speaking a different language?  Jared took Latin in school, but doing it on the show took a lot memorization.  

Another question about Misha, this time all the makeup and stuff he had to wear for “Meet The New Boss.”  Jared answered, “Misha has to wear a lot of makeup anyway.  You should see him in the morning.”  He thought Misha in the first season seven ep was awesome.  But yes, the makeup was really rough.   

Who are Jared’s favorite actors?  Geoffrey Rush, Gary Oldman, and Tom Hanks.  He really loves Tom Hanks.  He doesn’t want his fame, but would love the range of roles.  

In “Yellow Fever,” was it hard for him to keep a straight face?  Oh yes.  “There are so many times I just walked off.”  The scene with the snakes especially got him hard.  “And I practiced my speed walking.”  

BIZARRE QUESTION OF THE DAY.  If Jared across a unicorn what would he do?  He didn’t even have to think about it.  “I would ride that unicorn.”  He would also sing a “Man’s Road” from The Last Unicorn.  And he would watch a movie with it.  What movie?  “Fast and The Furious.  And New York Minute.  Thank you for the strangest question of the day.” 

What’s his favorite “Supernatural” being?  “I like that Ruby chick,” he answered with a goofy smile.  “If I couldn’t choose someone I’mmarried to, I’d have to say Lucifer.”  It was just an interesting character to play and play off with Mark Pellegrino. 

Here’s a fan that actually saw The Christmas Cottage.  Jared - “I haven’t seen it yet, don’t ruin it for me.”  Did he have to do all that painting?  No, he didn’t.  He did some outlines with the chalk.  He’s an horrendous artist, and had to do it with his left hand, and he’s right handed.  He got lessons from the mural artist and he has respect for people who do it.  “I found out I do not belong in front of a canvas.” 

Did he have a growth spurt like his character?  Yes.  When he was a Freshman he was 5’ 6” or 5’ 7”.  He quit sports to do acting and then had a growth spurt when he was 16.  Then Misha appears on stage, stands behind Jared and starts stroking his hair.  Jared lets him, like he’s a dog being petted or something.  “I only let him do that.”  

Next question, it’s for Misha.  What’s his favorite part of growing up in Boston?  “Well, I love the sewer system.”  It was an awkward time for him.  He was fat.  Jared wondered if he meant fat or “phat,” but it was the former.  He recalled wearing plaid pants and plastic boots.  “I got beat up some, but I don’t think it was terribly satisfying to anyone.”  Jared got up and gave him a big hug.  

What from “Supernatural” has really surprised them?  There was a month period where everyone on set was saying “Nutcrackah!”  Jared loved that Japanese guy, who did his lines with that thick Japanese accent and in between takes spoke perfect and normal English.  “He was whiter than I am.”  Jared personally went with finding out he had to be Lucifer and soulless.  “Okay, what does that mean?”  For Misha - Playing God. 

What are their favorite stunts that they’ve had to do?  Misha - “Throwing Mark Sheppard into the wall really hard.”  Jared loved jumping through the second story cathedral.  Jared loves squeezing Mark Sheppard whenever he sees him.  He does it for America.  

Who’s the most influential person in their lives?  Jared - “When I see Misha, I know exactly what I don’t want to do.”  Then Jared gave the serious answer.  His parents.  “I hope I can do the same for little Tommy.”  (He called his boy Tommy!)  Misha was at a loss after that answer, because he didn’t want to copy.  “What do I say now? You hung me out to dry,” he joked.  Misha’s is his mother, and a lot of what she did for him he tries to use now that he’s a parent.   

(I know it's the back of the head shot, but look at that wave!)

The next person wanted Misha to say something in Russian.  He asked where she was from.  The Republic of Georgia.  “Is that near Missouri?  Jared asked.  Misha said he absolutely loves their peaches.  Back to the question, can he say something in Russian?  “Da,” Misha answered.  The fan then asks something in Russian and Jared quickly answers “Da.”  She’s happy about that, so Jared wants to know what he just agreed to.  He has to give her a hug.  He climbs off stage and gives her one, for he did say “Da.”  

Jared anticipates the next fan question.  “If there was a Castiel beer would you drink it?”    Misha say yes.  Great, next question!  

I’m not exactly sure what the question was, but it all led into a fan little exchange between two frustrated fathers over a DVD called “Signing Time with Alex and Leah.”  It was a rather sore subject with Misha!  He gave Jared some good warning.  “When you’re about 7 or 8 months into it and you’ve heard it about 10,000 times and there’s this little person going, ‘More, more...’” Jared equated it with the zombie apocalypse and laser eyes, but he’s only just getting into that stage with Thomas.  Misha - “I’m so glad we can talk openly about this.”  

What would be in their survival kit for Purgatory?  Jared - “Signing time with Alex and Leah.”  That way he could just look at it and realize Purgatory’s not that bad.  He also said camouflage paint.  That and some books.  

Oh, this is too hilarious for words!  I don’t know what gave this fan this idea, but it’s one of the best damn things I’ve seen during a con panel.  She has scripts in her hands from the scene from “Free To Be You and Me” between Dean and Castiel.  She was hoping Jared would play Dean and Misha would play Castiel.  Of course, they are granted permission to take liberties with the script.  They stand up and get into character, except Misha is playing Sam doing the role as Dean, and Jared is playing Castiel.  Before they get started, Jared brings up Misha’s resume.  “One of the special skills listed on his resume is acting on camera.”  Jared even puts on Misha’s jacket, when is super funny since the sleeves come up the the middle of his arms!  

The re-enactment begins, complete with stage directions, which they’re having trouble following.  They read their lines in different voices, and then Jared stops to critique the grammar of the lines.  It’s about then that they begin taking their creative liberties.  Jared - “I don’t think Castiel would be sitting down.”  Misha “I don’t think Dean or Sam would be wearing pants at this point.”  They keep changing lines, and when they get to the part where Castiel admits he hasn’t been with any women, stage Castiel (aka Jared)  changes his line to say he’s been with lots of women. The person who gave them the scripts begins cracking up so hard I thought she was going to fall on the floor and pass out.  Come to think of it, most of the room was that way.  

Here’s the video, it does this more justice:


ArtCreative Design and Custom coding

Any embarrassing audition moments?  Jared auditioned for a Mandy Moore movie.  Mandy Moore answers the phone and read lines with him at the same time.  Needless to say, he didn’t get the part.  Misha recalled several bad ones.   “Why didn’t I just tell them I hated them and wanted them dead.”  Jared’s advice to the person who “wants to be an actor when he grows up.”  “Say you’re an actor now and continue to be one when you grow up.  

Another question for Misha  Who tortured him gefilte fish for GISHWHES?  Misha tried to explain what that stuff was, which is spongy, jelled fish of some sort.  It sounded really gross.  Somehow, it came up in the overlapping conversation how people had to do portraits of Jared with swedish fish.  Jared was stunned.  He didn’t know this.  Misha pulled out his iPhone and started sharing a few pictures.  Jared was impressed and had no idea.  Anyway, the answer to the original question.  It was his father.  He had to do Passover with his father, they always had some there.  He was ten and celebrated both Easter (with his mother) and Passover (with his Father). Since he had the Easter Bunny, he invented the Motza Monster for his younger sisters.    

BTW, here’s a picture of a Jared swedish fish portrait done by our very own Elle for GISHWHES. 

What’s Misha’s favorite Castiel to play?  Jared answered Hippie Cass.  Misha - “You’re just saying that because of the drugs and orgies.”   

Third question in a row for Misha!  Misha is throwing it in Jared’s face.  Jared starts snoring as the fan asks the question.  Then Jared tries to go to the next question but the person is wearing a Castiel outfit.  “This doesn’t look promising.”  He picks out a fan halfway down the line with the moose horns. Now the fan can’t get her question out.  “I’m trying,” she said.  Misha - “Well, it just doesn’t seem like it.”  Jared keeps interrupting her, then Misha, and they go back and forth every time she says a word.  She laughs so hard she really can’t say anything.  Eventually, it happens.  Would Misha change anything about Castiel?  “I would definitely go back and change the voice of Castiel.”  He thought he was doing that for only three episodes.  “Now my voice hurts.”  Jared told the story that Misha had a buzz in his voice.  They couldn’t figure out what it was, and the sound guys got new mics and everything.  Turns out Misha ruptured something in his vocal chords.  

Misha question.  How did he train to do that evil laugh in “Meet The New Boss?”  Misha - “I just wanted to throw up.”  He was sicker than he’d had ever been filming that episode.  So there wasn’t much prep.  

Another odd, wasted question.  What’s the state of their wenus?  They explain, it’s the skin, underneath the elbow.  Both check, theirs is good.  Question over. Misha -  “Thank you, I hope it was worth the wait.”  

How long did it take to develop their working relationship?  Jared - “I really didn’t like him from the get go, and nothing’s really changed.”  Misha, the end of season four.  “I was the freshman being hazed.”  Jared told the story (which Jensen has told before) about how Jensen thought Misha was weird.  They were talking about Misha while walking on the set.  Jared wanted to know about the new guy and Jensen stopped talking about how weird Misha was when they saw him, so they waved with a smile.  

Can they share a dream they had?  Like when they sleep dream.  Misha - “I don’t think that would be appropriate.”  Jared - He flies, but he has to run and jump really hard. Misha started talking about the movie Waking Life.  Misha wanted to learn how to lucid dream.  Jared - “Are you Sebastian?”  There’s a lot involved in learning how to lucid dream.  You have to train yourself, like flipping light switches.  Or read during the day.  He did all this and then he finally had one.  He went for a jog.  He couldn’t believe it, since he does that every day.  He called himself an idiot.  Jared thought that was cool and should try that. 

Last question, and it’s priceless.  A sweet little girl comes up, and in her sweet voice asks what’s their favorite animal.  Jared has the easy answer,  “A moose.”  Misha, “Ponies at the moment.”  They ask what’s hers?  In that super sweet voice she answers,  “Vampire bats.”  The look on Misha and Jared’s face was priceless!  They had this “they’ve been had” look by this little comical genius and were left speechless.  Everyone in the ballroom was dying from laughter.  

They took one final question from the big bald guy with the goatee.  Clif - “I would like you guys to get off the stage.”  Panel over.

Here's a few more photos from the panel for those that just didn't get enough:

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