April 12-14, CHICAGO, IL Donald E. Stephens Convention Center FR $1700 Gold $1025/1075 Silver $629/679 Copper $429 GA 340 PA Sun 160 GA Sun 145
SPNCHI 2019 J2 Gold Panel – Gayled_it
Jensen: Forest Gump here has a date tomorrow so apologies that the second half of the day you're stuck with me. This is your third one in six months. You don't HAVE to run marathons, you can just sit on the couch.
Jared: We joked with Misha his autobiography should be "it seemed like a great idea at the time", but I blame/credit his aunt also, who is from Boston, and said there's a great charity, and I said that sounds awesome
Jensen: I said I've already run a marathon, I ticked that box,there's no other boxes.
Jared: I joke I'm a shadow of who I was, so thanks for letting us change the schedule a little bit, it's for a good cause, and I'll be suffering tomorrow. So questions –
(Jensen: tell us about this radio company you posted)
Jensen: we're working on a project. My buddy Steve Carlson, I've helped him write some music for some of his albums, we've got together these past 8 months and have been writing all the original tunes, he convinced me to get in there with him. .. more to come.
(what are you guys' best memories of each other's wives?)
Jensen: Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Jared: We've all had some fun times, the four of us went to a bar in Aspen, having some 80's music dance contest.
Jensen: Hmm. I vividly remember this, what sent the friendship the way it went, one of the first times we were all hanging out, before we got married, the two of them got over-served, let's put it that way, we were trying to get them home, it was like herding cats, it was a snowstorm in Vancouver, and we were trying to get them up the stairs and they got half way, then went backwards, luckily it was padded full of snow, so they didn't hurt themselves, they landed in this big pooof of snow, and we couldn't get them to stop laughing. I was like if this is any foreshadowing, this is going to be trouble.
Jared: I'm glad you didn't say "killing her".
Comdey – why do they never laugh at each other's jokes?
Jared: A classic brother thing/guy thing, it's storytelling, comedy.
Jensen: It makes comedy funnier.
(Gilmore girls characters hunting.)
What would you tell your younger selves at the pilot?
Jared: Don't do it!
Jensen: Buy a house in Vancouver, you're going to need it.
Jared: Sell a house in Vancouver to Jensen, he's got a lot of money.
Jensen: Not at the beginning.
Jared: He'd already been shooting for years in Vancouver, and I was a little resentful at the start, I wish I'd enjoyed it more from the get go, I wish I had a journal or more pictures of the memories. I wish I'd appreciated it more, but youth is wasted on the young, right.
Jensen: Settle in more, that was the problem our industry is so fickle shows don't normally go 14 years, for 5 years every season we were wondering if we were back, so there's always one foot out the door, ready if they canceled the show. So it was esentially like putting our lives on pause. I did it before, when I went away for DA, I'd just go and come back when it was over, continue with my buddies and girlfriend at the time, whatever. But Jared was 22 when he got moved up there, and it was not knowing whether to settle in or not, it was difficult, if I could have gone back, no need to worry about it.
Jared whispers to Jensen – Jensen: Nothing, just a way to enjoy ourselves when we were young.
(I'm Autumn will you come back and do the karaoke next Chicon?) Jared: I'm not going to fall for that….dadum, it would have to be in hiatus (it will be) we don't know what we'll be doing, but fwiw, you're my favorite season.
German: Would you do a con in Germany?
Jared: (speaks German) we've both vacationed there a few times and had a con there years ago, my grandfather is 100% German.
Jensne: We just don't know if there's a company that does this there, or if Creation is going international, but we're always willing to entertain the thought, for sure.
(What episode that got you excited reading the script?)
Jared: Episode 300, the last one in 2018, a lot going on it felt like a chance for us to.. we have a duty ot make sure Sam and Dean are Sam and Dean, even the French Mistake, we played Sam and Dean as ourselves. 300 felt more outside the box, we spoke as fans as well, to make sure it made sense for our characters.
Jensen: The milestone and also the ace in the hole, bringing Jeff back, we all wanted to make sure it was done right. Scheduling was tight, he did as much as he could with his availability. Also the season finale this year, I was excited about, not just the filming but what it sets up.
Jared takes off his beanie and Jensen makes a comedy face.
Jared: It's our last ever cliffhanger, we've al diead.
Jensen: I think they are absolutely gonna cliffhanger next seasons, it's going to be a big door slam, and the just before the end a little crack open, metaphorically speaking, it's all over, or is it?
Would Sam and Dean get more tattoos?
Jared: Like "I'm with stupid?" They don't want too many markings to make them identifiable to law enforcement, so no neck tattoos,
Jensen: It doesn't serve the story, but yea, when they get a vacation, I see Sam getting a tramp stamp.
Nashville: Jared you forgot something, did you remember this time?
Jensne: How did that happen, oh yea, it was left in the car, only you, where's my suitcase? You packed it right, did you bring it with you.. no.
Game of Thrones: Winter is here.
Jensen@: HBO went out with the weather.
Jared: I am team White walker.
Jensen: I'm still hoping Drogo comes back. My parents are binge watching it right now, this is my Dad: all this hype behind it we figured we'd get in on it before it's over. (Jensen) What do you think? (Dad voice) Well, there's a lot of pornography. Ha, wow, I could never watch it with you guys, … because you're right.
Who was your celebrity crush growing up, apart from your wives?
Jared: Kelly Kapowski
Jensen: (played by) Tiffani Thiessen, Jennie Garth. When I was on DOOL, I was 19, I had one poster in my dressing room, Ashley Judd.
Jared: I liked Elisabeth Shue.

SPNCHI 2019 J2 Main Panel – Gayled_it
Jared: Y'all have some jacked up weather, April.
Jensen: I'm not convinced it's not HBO, winter is here. Interesting spring showers. Glad we got here before the weather did, not sure if we're getting out.
Jared: Anyone else running the Boston Marathon at 6am tomorrow?
Jensen: No. You might not be, there's been a lot of canceled flights.
Question is do you think you'll do anything BTS this season 15?
Jensen: Yes, as I understand I will be directing, I would imagine there will be a lot of BTS things going on, we don't know yet, but the PR department are probably cooking up ideas.
Jared: I've run into a dozen family friends who asked to come to Vancouver this year, we can come and visit, right? You've had 14 years, NOW you want to come? I tease my Mom, as she leaves, she says oh, I have these 15 autographs for you to sign, you've had all..
QUestion: will Cas sign his initials on the table.
Jared: No, he's not a Winchester, what would his initials be, the vessel he killed? JN?
Jensen: One day we'll walk in and every character's initials will be on the tale, like a guest book. We used to have a book like that, a guest book on our table, whatever it's called, it had a phrase, 'Guests are like fish, they being to smell after 3 days', it worked, they'd leave.
I think it changes that image of the initials, some people are conflicted, I guess I am too, it changes the iconic image. I bet next season there will be a lot of those iconic images brought up and changed, because it makes good TV.
Jared: He could sign the underside of the table.
Jensen: Or a chair, then we could bring it back if he came back.
Any question you'd like to be asked that hasn't been, and then answer it?
Jared: My brain hurts, I always hoped someone would ask me that. Is there a question other than what is your favorite question is?
I can tell you a q I never want asked, …
Jensen that's a longer list. I don't know there's a question I'm dying someone to ask me, where is the end of the universe…
Is there a question you wanted to have been asked, like why would you choose that character to dress as?
Jared: As married men, we've been programmed to say to the question: what do you want, whatever you want.
Question: No q, just thank you for the last 13 years.
Jensen: Thank you for sticking with us this long, the famdom is the main reason we've gone this long, so thank you.
Question – acting advice?
Jensen: Don't actually break your leg, a common misconception. Have fun, enjoy.
Jared: Instead of worrying about trying not to mess up, just roll with it, there will be mess-ups, know that there will be something unexpected that you didn't rehearse, and embrace it as opposed to being hesitant.
Jensen: Someone asked me in the M+G why do you do what you do? And I thought and because it makes me feel alive, understand that you will feel nervous, and that's beautiful, that's feeling alive, embrace that and remember it.
Question: pranks you remember?
Jensen: we're opportunist pranksters, rather than planning.
Jared: One is when Misha kicked us off set and one is when Nina kicked us off for making Alex laugh.
Jensen: recently he was kicked out of the room, not off set, I was giving my lines off camera, and someone else was giving Jared's lines, and I look over Misha's shoulder and Jared is army-crawling onto set, Misha can't see this, I leaned to the camera and said 'tilt down' … Jared crawling like a shark in the water, and Misha continues and Jared grabbed Misha's leg, where's the tenderest spot, there were markings on both their bodies after this scene, it looked like they'd gone to some like odd bondage party.
Jared: Which we did, afterwards. Later I feel fingers in the inside of my upper arm, and I think, I deserve this.
Jensen: He showed me his arm afterwards and it looked like he'd been flogged, the pranks are not elaborate, it's target practise, but he's certainly committed.
What would you ask a fan if the roles were reversed? And what's on your spotify?
Jared: I've never had so many questions what would the question be?
Jensen: They've run out of questions, see what's happening here?
Jared: It would be 'is there a question you want to be asked'…
Jensen: I do have questions for you guys, but I'd have to think. Music, Lukas Nelson, Willie Nelson's son.
What's your favorite part of Chicago?
Jared: This was the first place I worked in professional acting, my first pilot, but I also came here for a school team, I asked to walk to take photos for my Mom, to Rock and Roll McDonalds. And I'd never been asked for money on the street before and someone asked me for $5, and I said, I'm sorry, I only have big bills. So that area holds a special memory.
Jensen: I like the Wicker Park area, it's changed a bit but it's still one of my favorites, it's tacos and Bourbon, you'd never think to put them together, but they found something beautiful. I took my wife there and Misha, and she likes spicy food, she ordered these peppers, and she ate one and immediately she started crying, sweating, and she said these are the hottest things I've ever put in my mouth, and I said what!? and she said food, food!) and Misha didn't wait to see how it turned out, he grabs one and cut to – they're pouring water on their faces, I've never seen her react, and whatever they served was not what they said it was. And to this day, it's still one of my favorite places.

How have you guys grown up?
Jared: We've aged, I'm not sure if we've grown up.
Jensen: We hit pause on the maturity level 15 years ago,
Jared: From a 20-something, I'm married, live in a different city, state, I went from a never-was to a has-been.
Jensen You peaked about 6 years ago.
Jared I was going to say 8, Misha and I had this conversation, you're young, your life is full of promise and suddenly you're past your best. I'm trying to look back and quantify objectively all the show has given me.
Your life perception?
Jensen: The change is inevitable, life was quite different but really this has been the journey of a lifetime, playing this character, alongside friends that will be friends for life, the legacy we've created with the crew, my character has affected my life, not just the show, but just taking this emotional journey he has gone through has gone into my real life in certain aspects, it's an escape, forget all about Jensen for those moments the camera is rolling, and use emotions I have bottled up, as this character, like a therapy session, so it's affecting professionally and personally, telling these stories, it's one of the greatest experiences of my life.
Jared: Not only do I learn from Sam, but I also feel like Jared has learned to forgive himself too, like Sam.
(blah blah) What is your earliest childhood memory?
Jared: I was in a swimming race, against millions. Last thing I ever won.
Jensen: Congratulations, you won. The earliest, nothing before that?
Jared: Nothing appropriate. I remember learning to ride a bike, about 3 or 4.
Jensen: I don't know, but I know for a while, I did this every single day, put my sheriff's hat, boots and guns on. I had a bowl of cheerios and went outside to play whatever kids did all day, outside all day, climbing fences, with my cap gun shooting squirrels and stuff, and eventually my Mom yell for lunch, I remember that time period. Kids have ipads nowadays but that was special in an era without electronics.
What do you think about the new pairings, Sam and Cas and Dean and Jack spending so much time together.
Jared: It was like fleshing out the Sam and Cas relationship. We talk about what we'd like to do, like doing their laundry, love me some Gain.
Jensen: You use softener?
Jared: Yes, you like cardboard?
Jensen: I'm soft enough.
Jared: I did like the new dynamic with Jack, because he hasn't been around 10 years.
Jensen: You get to see different aspects of those characters, like real life, you are a certain way with some friends, different personality when you put them with different people, it's always great for character development. So we can relate to the other characters better, better opportunities for story-telling.
What is the naughtiest thing your kids have done that makes you laugh?
Jensen: Somethinghappens on a bi-weekly basis that I go: "NO! (trying not to laugh) I'm serious!" A friend came over with a present for JJ, he gave her a toy and she stares for a minute and goes "There's no pink on it".
Jensen: I was like What! Full Daddy lecture, blah blah, it doesn't matter what you get, you say thank you. But what if there's no pink on it, why would I say thank you?
Jensen: (stands up) Listen kid! I will march upstairs and every pink thing I find I will throw in the garbage if you don't say thank you right now. (she of course was like ..mmm thank you) Mean it! Thank you…but it doesn't have any pink. Shut up – kidding I would never say shut up, it's such a kid thing, this thing is no good, why.., but it was a teachable moment and I had nothing to teach her.
Jared: Tom is in first grade, he is six, he said a word in music class that wasn't welcome in the school, started with f, ended with uck.
Jensen: Wonder where he heard that from (me).
Jared: Tom was at school and Tom was very .. so did you get in trouble? Tom: I said something, one of my friends called me stupid stuff, so Gen and I discussed and said you can say it to us, we need to hear what you said, but you can't say it anywhere else. Tom looked like "was this a trap?" So he says it, and Gen and I could hardly stop laughing. We don't baby-talk around the kids (Jensen – Clearly!) so they know the anatomical words, trying not to make a big deal, but now our two-year old will say it when she wants to be provocative. But you have to remain stone-faced. So that's the only thing I can think of G-rated.
Jensen: Pretty sure there's a word that makes it R-rated.
Jared: That's PG-13 now isn't it?
Jensen No, and Tom said it twice, three times.
What car would you drive if you two were hunters?
Jared: A tank. A James Bond car with missiles and goes underwater, and invisible, gadgets.
Jensen: I can't think of the name – those big German things, four-wheeling vans, what's it called I wanna say like U-boat, ahh no-one else has heard of them. The Impala is really hard to beat. A really good pick up truck with a cover over the bed, where it opens up to a big stash of weapons. Yea,like John's truck, and Sterling's.
How do you get so tall, and what's the most fun on set?
Jared: I eat a lot, a lot of milk, and just genetics. I had a lot of fun falling in love with my wife, and meeting some of my friends.
Jensen: To get tall, Jared has a contraption to stretch him out, and sometimes he hangs from his feet. The most fun we have is between takes, we have a ping pong table, or flying drones, or throwing football, we used to have these little motor bikes. We get a lot of downtime during set-ups, we try to fill it with entertaining things.
Last question: How much of the time do you eat the food on set compared to not?
Jensen: I have had to get good at this, if you watch earlier seasons I'm shoveling food into my mouth throughout the scene, which is awful after 5 takes, but now I have one bite and it in my hand. And I do a huge mouthful and (acting it out) I just chewed air.
Jared: He is masters level at fitting his teeth into the same marks as last time.
Rich: We had a scene and I asked you what you wanted to eat and you said spaghetti taco, – well OK, it's your show!, and the whole scene you were making it and never actually did the bite. The comedy was in what you were making but you never ate it.
Jensen: very occasionally I have to commit to eat it, but very few times I have to use a spit bucket.