Comic-Con Starts Slowly on Opening Day, TV Shows Rule Schedule

The 2011 Comic-Con schedule will be quite crowded over the next four days. Of course, this gathering isn't just for comic fans anymore, as the event has become a big launching pad for movies and TV shows. Comic-Con lets future blockbusters unveil their first look while old TV favorites drop hints for their new seasons and new shows try to build up buzz for their premieres. In fact, Thursday's schedule has its best bets in television, while the movie industry gets off to a slower start.

However, the one big movie on tap for Thursday may make up for it, although the Twilight saga wouldn't seem to be the ideal Comic-Con feature. Yet although this convention is defined by fanboys, there should be more than enough fangirls to shriek at the panel for Breaking Dawn: Part 1, especially if the lead trio is around. Team Edward and Jacob supporters will find out for sure at 11:15 a.m. ET.

Yet the opening day is otherwise mostly for TV fans, as several old and potentially new favorite shows make their mark. The biggest showcase is likely to be at the Game of Thrones panel at 3 p.m., since it is now the biggest fantasy hit on television. Since Season 1 just ended, the reps can't show anything from Season 2, but they can give out teasers on what will be adapted from the second book -- or fend off fans who are still outraged about Ned Stark's death.

Many other established hits will wait until later in the weekend to have a panel, like The Walking Dead, The Big Bang Theory, True Blood, Glee and the Fox animated shows. The opening day schedule is less crowded, if only to let fans settle in before the big rushes start Friday.

Although there aren't many mega-hyped panels on display for Thursday, smaller hits and new prospective favorites will get to have a Comic-Con showcase. USA has panels for Burn Notice, Covert Affairs and Psych to start the morning, while Showtime shows off Dexter, Shameless and the upcoming Homeland at night.

As for new network shows, Fox's animated version of Napoleon Dynamite debuts at 2 p.m., while NBC unveils one of the most buzzed about midseason pilots of the season, Awake, at 3:45. In addition, new series that have just begun will try to build up buzz, like FX's Wilfred at 6:15 and Starz's Torchwood: Miracle Day at 9:30.

While the buzz and tidbits from the likes of Twilight, Game of Thrones and others will get fans talking in and out of San Diego, many eyes may still be on the crowded schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This first day is more about welcoming geeks back to Comic-Con, displaying TV favorites, and getting the invasion of Twilight fangirls out of the way early.

Sources

TV Guide- "Comic-Con 2011: Full TV Schedule, Including Vampire Diaries, True Blood and More!"

Ace Showbiz- "San Diego Comic Con 2011 Thursday Schedule: Selected Movie Panels"