In just a few hours, almost 200,000 people will meet in San Diego, CA at the annual gathering of all things geek and pop culture. The Flickcast has gone every year since the site began in 2009 (with many of us having attended before that). To help jog our memories and get things started, WallE and I kicked things off at Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles last week and talked about some of our favorite convention moments.

With the first story happening to Joe back in 1989 and featuring Stan Lee to WallE’s Hall H line nightmare to my encounter with Raptor Jesus (Yes, that’s a thing, watch the video), this trip down memory lane got everyone ready to experience the “grand daddy of them all” again.

Additional speakers and keynotes have been announced for VidCon 2014, taking place June 26-28. More than 18,000 fan, creators, YouTube personalities and entertainment industry executive are expected to attend the annual online video conference at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.

The newly released list of keynote speakers includes New York Times bestselling author John Green, NBCUniversal executive Lauren Zelaznick, and Fullscreen founder George Strompolos. YouTube content creators Grace Helbig, Freddie Wong and more are also slated to speak. The Industry track, which is geared toward online video creators, including topics on launching a channel, knowing your audience and earning revenue.

VidCon will also feature programming for fans such as Q&As, signings, performances, concerts, and the expo hall.  Many of YouTube’s most popular personalities are confirmed to attend the 5^th Annual VidCon including Philip DeFranco, iJustine, The Gregory Brothers, Hannah Hart, Tyler Oakley, Charlie McDonnell, Toby Turner, Jack Harries, and many more. For a complete list of speakers, guests, and more, visit www.vidcon.com

Founded in 2010 by online video personalities Hank and John Green, VidCon is the world’s largest industry conference and fan event of its kind. Event sponsors for the 2014 conference include YouTube, Kia Motors, Maker Studios, Awesomeness TV, Fullscreen, HGTV, Dolby, Tubestart, and Penguin Publishing.

This year’s LeakyCon is shaping up to be the most geeky and exciting yet with special guests including Harry Potter film actors, New York Times bestselling authors, and plenty of web video stars. Quickly become a catch all of fans’ favorite things, like Harry Potter, Doctor Who, the Whedonverse, The Hunger Games, and more, the four-day convention will run from June 27 – 30 in the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR.

The 4,000 expected attendees will enjoy both formal and informal programming such as live rock shows, panels, workshops, guest signings, talent and costume competitions and the Esther Earl Rocking Charity Ball. This event will be held on the final night of the convention in honor of Esther, an avid Harry Potter fan who lost her battle with cancer in August 2010. Performers for LeakyRock include Hank Green, Alex Carpenter, The Whomping Willows, and Harry and the Potters.

Among the Harry Potter celebrity guests are Devon Murray (Seamus Finnigan), Scarlett Byrne (Pansy Parkinson), and Ellie Darcy-Alden (Young Lily). Of course theatre troupe Team Starkid will be bringing their unique musical productions to the stage again at LeakyCon. This year they will be performing their entire catalogue of music from all three of their wildly popular Harry Potter spoofs. Confirmed performers include Brian Holden, Joe Walker, Joey Richter, and many more.

One of the great film critics of our times has passed away. Roger Ebert died today of complications due to cancer. He was 70 years old.

For one of the best articles about the man, his talent and his legacy, read this one by Rick Kogan from The Chicago Tribune. For Ebert’s feelings on his own death, a piece he did for Salon in 2011 shows his attitude and his courage.

Rest in piece Roger. The balcony is, indeed, closed for good.

You will be missed.

Today Nerdist Industries kicked off it’s Doctor Who-eekend with an episode of All-Star Celebrity Bowling featuring Team Nerdist vs. Team Doctor Who. It is the best showdown of geekiness in all of Time and Space. There are fezzes. There are TARDIS bowling balls. There’s Wil Wheaton! This is the episode whose preview brought down the house at San Diego Comic-Con. See for yourself it is lives up to its hype.

The rest of Doctor Who-eekend includes the series premiere of Dork Fork with Alton Brown where he’ll be cooking up Time and Space themed dishes. Later on Saturday, the Nerdist Channel will feature Chris Hardwick’s Q&A with Smith, Gillan, and Executive Producer Carole Skinner from the New York Doctor Who premiere. The Who-eekend concludes with cosplay coverage from Gallifrey One on Just Cos.

Of course you need no more prompts from us to watch the season premiere this Saturday, we have beat that info well into your head. Stay peeled to The Flickcast for any more slivers of Doctor Who info in the coming weeks while part one of the new season gets underway.

Also watch the full episode of All-Star Celebrity Bowling after the jump.