The Black Panel, by Michael Davis – Straight No Chaser #127

July 31, 2009 Michael Davis 20 Comments

The Black Panel

Michael Davis, Tatiana EL-Khouri, Ludacris, Michael Jai White, Kel Mitchell, Stacey McClain, Prodigal Sunn, Reggie Hudlin, Jimmy Diggs, Nichelle Nichols, Denys Cowan

‘Nuff said!

Comments

Martha Thomases
July 31, 2009 - 5:46 am

Yes, it was awesome. Also, there was live music, something I’ve not seen before at a Comic-Con panel.
Alan Coil
July 31, 2009 - 8:59 am

Good that you got a group picture, but how about some closeups, especially of Nichelle Nichols, one of the most beautiful women in the world. I got to speak with her briefly in Chicago in the mid 90s, and I was stunned by her beauty.
Jeremiah Avery
July 31, 2009 - 11:46 am

Wonderful articles about the panel, though two of them had you named “Michael David”. It seemed like it was a lot of fun (that being the understatement of the year). Between this and Comicmix having the flyer to your Con party, I really wish I had gone to SDCC!
Reg
July 31, 2009 - 12:32 pm

Soooooo…. Tatiana is your ‘daughter’ now it seems?? Curioser and curioser. I now understand the power that she wields. As scion to the mighty one… the extent of her abilities were to be expected… and her true identity hidden.

But alas! Now that her mask has been ripped off and her lineage exposed, who knows the havoc that will result??

But you, Michael Davis can still avoid the risk if you but agree to my terms. Come, let us reeeaaasoon together!

Bwaaaahaaaaahaaaaaa Ha.
Tatiana EL-Khouri
July 31, 2009 - 2:51 pm

There are more photos in the Michael Davis World Fan page, including a close-up of Nichelle.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=284436&id=114077690331
Reg
July 31, 2009 - 5:34 pm

Great pics Tatiana! Definitely gonna need a bigger venue next year!

Nichelle Nichols….sigggh! I remember youthful nights spent…ahem..extolling her belly cut out uni in Mirror, Mirror. Whew! 😀

In all seriousness, Ms. Nichols deserves major props for her talent and beauty. Cause she was THE Nubian representation of that era.

Everybody on the panel looked great…and the mOTu rocked his cap.

Psssst. Two cases of Steel Reserve if you boost it.
Russ Rogers
August 1, 2009 - 2:51 am

Wish I had been there. Sounds like a great time was had at both the panel and the party!

But Tatiana got treated badly by Ryan Jones in his coverage. OK, so he mistakes her for being Michael’s daughter. What gave him that idea? And the impression I got from Jones’ article was that Tatiana’s presence at the table was an act of nepotism by Michael. Like once he noted that Tatiana was Michael daughter, he didn’t need to mention what her job or projects were. He writes as if her only job was to run the AV equipment for the panel. OK, she might have done that. But my guess is that intro video wasn’t just played by Tatiania, she probably had a major stake in producing the video and assisting Michael in producing the entire Black Panel. It’s too bad, because otherwise Jones’ coverage of the Black Panel was seemed pretty thorough and detailed.
Tatiana EL-Khouri
August 2, 2009 - 3:46 pm

For all that couldn’t be in attendance, Comic Vine posted footage:

http://www.comicvine.com/news/full-black-panel-footage-at-san-diego-comic-con/139025/
Reg
August 2, 2009 - 5:05 pm

A Tatiana Production. That’s what’s up! Many, many thanks for posting this!

Wasn’t the same as being there, but I can still taste the love.

Good stuff indeed.

mOTu Rules!
MOTU
August 3, 2009 - 4:01 pm

Anyone with any sense knows that Tatiana could not be my daughter…She’s in her early 20’s and so am I…
MOTU
August 3, 2009 - 4:15 pm

FYI-NO ONE (even me) works harder at putting together the Black Panel every year than Tatiana
Vinnie Bartilucci
August 4, 2009 - 3:19 pm

A very interesting column here about the panel – I’d be curious of your thoughts, Michael.

http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/vince40.html
MOTU
August 4, 2009 - 4:34 pm

Vinnie,

Here’s what I posted on the site:

I respect everyone’s point of view. As far as how I roll and my antics-I’m not losing any sleep over you or your words. in fact-I sleep VERY well.

There is one thing I just don’t get-is your only reason for attending the panel so you can damn it?

That is your choice but your time may be better spent somewhere else-maybe instead of complaining about the LACK of Black panels you put one together. MAYBE you get the Hell off the sidelines and do something, anything to further the ’cause’ of which you say you care about.

Me?

As Tupac said; “Picture me Rolling” Because that’s what I’m doing.
MOTU
August 4, 2009 - 4:39 pm

I ended it with:

BTW-How’s the view from the sidelines?
Jeremiah Avery
August 5, 2009 - 10:07 am

It seems like some people just want to stir stuff up to get attention. It is bewildering how people will attend events they know they will dislike just so they will have something to complain about.

It seemed like he took offense to you actually defending yourself, for shame!

There are those that see a void and create something to fill it and bridge the gap and then there are those who complain about the void and don’t do anything about because it’s too hard.

Thank you, MOTU, for being the former.
Vinnie Bartilucci
August 5, 2009 - 10:27 am

I shall paraphrase a line from “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge”, which did more to convince me that Halle Berry was a strong actress than anything else she’s done…

“They’re not gonna give us another black panel…we already GOT one.”

I always took the nom de panel as ironic – taking back the name that I’m sure many fen would call it even if it had an empowering name like “The advances of African-Americans in the entertainment industry”.

That, and I always think back to the panel in Chasing Amy.
MOTU
August 5, 2009 - 6:37 pm

Vinnie, Jeremiah, Russ…

Check out Straight No Chaser Friday…I get a tad bit…upset.
Vinnie Bartilucci
August 6, 2009 - 6:32 am

I’ll say this about Michael Davis…

He does “upset” goooood.
Jeremiah Avery
August 6, 2009 - 1:26 pm

My guess would be that the MOTU will be right out of Shakespeare: “Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war”
Tatiana EL-Khouri
August 7, 2009 - 7:11 am

@Jeremiah Avery – Woof!!!!

Comments are closed.