SDCC 2015: Nerd HQ’s ‘Supernatural’ Panel Featured An Incredible Donation!

Popular CW show Supernatural returned for another year to Conversations for a Cause on Sunday. It was the second to last panel for Nerd HQ and arguably one of the most anticipated. The small room that holds 200 was so packed that some fans had to stand against walls as they waited to see actors Jared Padalecki (Sam Winchester), Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester) and Mark Sheppard (Crowley) take the stage, with Aisha Tyler (The Talk) as the moderator. Absent from the panel was everyone’s favorite gullible angel, Castiel, played by Misha Collins. Jensen tried to FaceTime him during the panel, but he did not pick up.

At the start of the panel, Tyler told the crowd that Padalecki is a fun drunk and that he was dancing around the room an hour prior to the panel starting. Padalecki then explained that he was only having fun since it was a solo trip with his wife and kids at home.

The Q&A portion of the panel began with a donation to Operation Smile in Padalecki’s honor for his birthday. An out of country fan announced to the room that she had been collecting donations from Padalecki’s fans and raised $1,400 which she presented to him as a check. Padalecki was overwhelmed with appreciation and came down from the stage to give the woman a hug.

Padalecki wasn’t the only one to leave the stage and jump into the crowd. Sheppard came down as the next fan asked if the cast could wish his wife a Happy Birthday. The woman received a hug as well and “sexy dance” from Sheppard while her husband watched and the crowd laughed.

The next audience question was more directed to the cast. Since Ackles had recently taken the directors chair, did Padalecki or Sheppard have any plans to direct future episodes? Padalecki expressed that directing does interest him, but he simply can’t commit the time to it with his family responsibilities and his current role on Supernatural. Sheppard on the other hand, replied that he would love to one day get the chance to direct, but he’s not sure if it will be soon.

Another fan asked, “What ideal universe would you live in?” To the crowd’s applause, Jared answered Stars Hollow (the fictional town from the show Gilmore Girls where Padalecki played good guy Dean Forester). Ackles answered Salem 2040, while Sheppard would like to live in his own fictional sitcom coincidentally titled Oh Crowley.

Another question was “Who inspires each of the men to ‘Always Keep Fighting?” This was in reference to Padalecki’s foundation with the same name to help those struggling with depression. Padalecki cites his family as his main inspiration, as well as the support from the fans. He also adds aside from the fantastical elements, Supernatural is just a show about two guys doing the best they can to survive. Sheppard states he believes the show is an allegory for life’s struggles and that is something he and everyone else can relate to. To him, things that are done with love and a helping hand during dark times is what inspires him. Ackles agreed with both his cast mates adding that the interaction and strong connection to the fans is one of the biggest things he is inspired by.

The moderator points out an audience member dressed at The Doctor (Doctor Who) for the next question. Sheppard jumps down into the crowd to greet the noticeably tall fan and straighten his bowtie, claiming he gets to do this since he has appeared on Doctor Who. Padalecki then goes into the crowd and stands next to The Doctor, who happens to be surprisingly taller than the 6’4” actor. Sheppard shouts, “Jared, welcome to my world!” as the crowd claps and laughs. Aside from being taller, Padalecki also points out that the fan has longer hair than him as well.

The crowd’s laughter continued as the next fan to come up to the microphone was wearing a unicorn head. The unicorn’s mouth got stuck in the microphone as she asked her question, resulting in many ‘That’s what she said’ jokes. The crowd and cast finally settled and she was able to ask her question.

Padalecki and Sheppard later recreated a scene per a fan’s request with Ackles directing. The panel continued by discussing the absent Collins’ GISHWHES scavenger hunt and whether or not they’ve submitted challenges. Since Misha Collins was not present, the guys told stories about pranking him and throwing pies in his face. At this point, Zachary Levi came out and joined the cast briefly talking about his new show Heroes: Reborn. He also spoke about Operation Smile and how much it means to him that there have been so many donations.

As if the panel couldn’t get any funnier or weirder, a young girl dressed as Harley Quinn asked what the weirdest fan encounter each of the guys has had. Jensen told the audience he has had spells sent to him with foreign soils and bones among many other creepy things. Mark told a story about how he went to New Zealand and had an encounter with an excited fan. Upon trying to calm her down, she told him “I’m just trying not to shit myself!” The room erupted into laughter.

The entire panel was full of silliness and fan interaction, leaving the audience anticipating the eleventh season of the show.

Supernatural returns with its eleventh season to the CW on October 7, 2015.

For more information on Jared Padalecki’s organization Always Keep Fighting visit represent.com/jared

For more information Misha Collins’ GISHWES and how to join visit gishwes.com

For more information on Operation Smile and how to donate visit operationsmile.org