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When a storyline for the TV show NUMB3RS depicted a crime at a comic book convention, the show’s producers didn’t waste time hiring extras to portray comic book creators…they brought in the real thing.
The set of the hit crime drama became particularly animated on October 24th-25th when an assortment of alternative cartoonists visited to essentially play themselves on an upcoming late-November episode. Setting up booths at this faux alternative comics convention: legendary artist Russ Heath (Son of Satan), Playboy’s Dean Yeagle, and independent cartoonists Tone Rodriguez (Violent Messiahs), Michael Aushenker (Cartoon Flophouse), Anson Jew (Vice), Steve Earnhart and Tony Fleecs (Hard-Bullied Comics Featuring Billy Blackburn, P.I.) and Dan Brereton (Nocturnals).
NUMB3RS stars David Krumholtz as mathematician Charlie Eppes, the kid brother of L.A.-based FBI agent Don Eppes (Rob Morrow). Don employs Charlie’s math genius to crack the code on unsolved crimes. Debuting in 2005, the CBS program, now in its fourth season, also stars Judd Hirsch.
“I took part because I thought it would be great publicity for my book,” says Earnhart, a.k.a. “Bald Steve,” “and because I knew I'd meet fellow creators.”
Artist Brereton, who came down from Sacramento with his 13 year-old son Hunter, created the eye-catching logo and graphics that appeared on t-shirts and banners at the mock convention.
Explains Brereton, “I have known executive producer and writer for the show, Ken Sanzel, since the early 1990's. Ken was a huge help to me when I was writing the first Nocturnals comic…Knowing what a fan of comics Ken is, I had to imagine the script he wrote for this episode would be informed in a way you don’t see on TV or in film all that much.”
“[Super-Con creator] Steve Wyatt was in charge of bringing in cartoonists,” recalls Yeagle, “and he came to a meeting of CAPS (Comic Art Professional Society) and signed a half-dozen of us for the shoot.”
Indeed, Aushenker, Rodriguez, Jew, Yeagle and Heath are all members of the Burbank-based CAPS, co-founded by MAD living legend Sergio Aragones.
“We all had to have independent comic works,” continues Yeagle, “so that it wouldn't be necessary to go through large publishing companies and batteries of lawyers to get permissions for their use on the show.”
Wyatt appeared in the show, drawing alongside Rodriguez. Aushenker and Jew occupied a booth next door to Heath (whose WWII comics imagery was famously swiped by Roy Lichtenstein) and Yeagle, both of whom caught much attention with their sexy women illustrations. Across the floor, Brereton’s booth stood nearby Fleecs & Earnhart’s table.
The NUMB3RS crew did an excellent job capturing the convention feel, down to the extras.
“The mix of extras in character costumes and others in street clothes looked just right,” says Yeagle.
“Having Steve there,” says Brereton, “meant I could relax. He set up several booths himself and it made a big difference. I have to say art director Katherine LeBlond is super-talented and managed to recreate the convention feel expertly. It felt more like another con than a TV set.”
Wyatt adds that “Certified Guaranty Company, LLC, and company president Steve Borok worked with the producers to encapsulate the main comics…they were very helpful in making this look like a real convention. Their comic work is what the main props were encased in, so they were a big part of the show.”
“What’s amazing is that crew members constructed this realistic convention floor set in a day,” says Aushenker, creator of the El Gato, Crime Mangler series and a contributing writer to Heroic Publishing’s Liberty Comics and to TwoMorrows’ Back Issue magazine. “It was pretty surreal being on the set. After a while, the extras started asking the same kinds of questions that real convention-goers ask and there were moments when I slipped into the mentality of doing a real convention.”
For some cartoonists “hawking their wares,” this faux show took on some unforeseen realism.
“The thing that made it seem most real to me,” explains Yeagle, “was that I ended up selling a good number of copies of my books to members of the crew and some of the extras...can't get more real than that!”
The NUMB3RS gang showed the visiting cartoonists incredible hospitality. Crew members were in good spirits, as were stars Alimi Ballard and Diane Farr, who portray FBI agents on the show.
Of course, there were the inevitable star run-ins.
“I was drawing my pinup-girl character 'Mandy' in Steve Wyatt's sketchbook,” recalls Yeagle, “and became aware that someone was standing to my left, watching. It was David Krumholz. He said 'nice work' and I returned the compliment, and meant it. NUMB3RS is one of the few shows I make a point of
watching every week.”
While on line for some food, Krumholz and Aushenker shared a good laugh when Krumholz informed the cartoonist that guest actor Ben Feldman had treated cast and crew to some very tasty ribs. Aushenker suggested to Krumholz that NUMB3RS have Feldman back more often.
Guest star Wil Wheaton, who portrayed Wesley Crusher on original Star Trek spin-off The Next Generation, must have had déjà vu at this comic book convention. Many extras were dressed up as Star Trek characters…and since NUMB3RS is a Paramount production, these Trekkies wore were the real thing…culled by Wardrobe from various recent Star Trek shows.
“During a break,” says Earnhart, “Wil Wheaton sat down right next to me, whipped out a copy of WE3 and started reading. We got to talking about comics, Morrison's run on Batman…some manga stuff he's writing for Tokyo Pop…It was really cool to find out that his interest and passion for this medium is completely sincere. Me and Tony even dropped our books on him. He graciously accepted and thanked us repeatedly. The guy is solid.”
Acting-wise, Rodriguez was the most experienced among the artists. Assistant Director Jeffrey Hunt even had Rodriguez take part in an onscreen shoving match.
“I figured I played a comic book artist/killer in DEXTER,” says the Bart Simpson’s Treehouse of Horror artist, “and it might even be easier to play myself at a comic book convention, so I showed up and had a blast.”
By the end of the second day, the cartoonists seemed remarkably at ease amid the hustle and bustle. Aushenker and Rodriguez were accosted by an actor, who asked if they knew how to get to the
WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB shoot.
“Without missing a beat,” recalls Aushenker, “Tone gives the guy perfect directions. I turned to Tone and was like, How the hell did you know that? Tone came off as if he had worked on this lot for years.”
At times, life imitated comics and things took on a life of its own.
“My 'Mandy' character is young, pretty, and blond, with pigtails,” explains Yeagle. “A stuntwoman came to our booth and explained that she had a stunt to perform what would take place pretty much in front of my large Mandy poster. The stuntwoman was young, pretty, blond, with pigtails...and her name was Mandy. Some sort of cosmic confluence at work…”
The comic book convention-themed episode of NUMB3RS will appear on Friday, November 23rd at 10 PM on CBS.
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