On August 7-9, hundreds of people turned back the clock to the early 2000s. They went back to a place where basketball and romantic drama ruled the world and the people at the heart of it were named Scott. They went back to One Tree Hill, with a reunion convention organized by EyeCon.
It was EyeCon's Return to Tree Hill 2 event, and it featured photograph sessions, autograph sessions, events and panels. The final panel of the weekend, held Sunday afternoon featured the friends of the show — Lee Norris, who played Mouth, Antwon Tanner, who played Skills, Cullen Moss, who played Junk, Brett Claywell, who played Tim, and a late addition.
When asked about the relationship between Mouth and Brooke, Norris said he always loved that relationship, citing two moments that were among his favorite: when Mouth jumps down from a roof at a post-graduation party, marches up to Brooke and kisses her (season 4 finale) and when Brooke says to Mouth, "I'll miss you the most scarecrow."
Then someone asked McGee to recite one of his key lines, "have a nice night," (which his character said creepily to Brooke in season 9, episode 9).
He did, though he was embarrassed — probably because his character was a creep who later attacked Brooke — but the audience's enthusiasm proved they don't hold it against the actor.
The next question up was whether the actors expected their characters to have the significance that they did.
Cullen Moss answered first. "I didn't (expect Junk to be important), and I wasn't," he said, playfully acknowledging his limited role in the show.
"Since my answer is the shortest, I'll go first... you never know what's going to happen when you start shows," he continued.
Before the other actors answered, they were joined on stage by another actor from the show, Vaughn Wilson, who played Fergie, a member of the original River Court group of friends.
Brett Claywell then gave his answer. He said that he made a conscious choice to go to Wilmington to start his acting career rather than New York or LA because he thought there was a lot of opportunity in Wilmington, and that's how he got to be on One Tree Hill.
"One Tree Hill had a lot to offer local actors like me... who believed Wilmington could start our careers and it did," said Claywell.
He then noted that the description for the character of Tim was "chiseled" so he didn't think he'd get the part but he did. The character also wasn't supposed to stick around long, but the writers found a place for him as the comic relief, and he's grateful for it.
Moss spoke once more on the subject. He said that at some point during the show, in addressing why Junk wasn't a bigger part and preparing to "get rid of" Moss, executive producer Mark Schwahn told him that they lost their direction for Junk, and didn't know where he was going. But Moss suggested that Junk be the guy every town has — the loser who won't let go of high school, sticks around buys younger kids beer, etc. So, they kept Moss on in that role.
About what it means to the actors to come back to Wilmington, Norris noted that it's special because Wilmington is really itself a character in the show. The other actors agreed. Claywell added that he's really excited to go to this convention specifically because Wilmington "will always" be special to him.
"It's a really special place to work," he said.
About their favorite story line, Antwon Tanner said he liked when Skills and Deb Scott were in the pool. He said Barbara Alyn Woods actually went truly topless for the scene.
"I never loved being in a pool as much as that," Tanner joked.
Norris chose the relationship between Mouth and Jimmy, in particular when he gave the yearbook to Jimmy's mother. McGee joked that his favorite was the relationship between him and Brooke. Claywell said he liked when he and James Lafferty had a scene together in a massage parlor because they couldn't get through the scene, they kept making each other laugh so much.
Next someone asked the actors how they're like their characters.
Moss said that he can't play basketball and Vaughn said he's the opposite of Fergie.
Then Tanner said that Antwon Skills Taylor is Antwon Tanner — that everyone in real life calls him Skills. He said, laughing, that he changed the writers words and made them his own.
Norris said that he's a lot like Mouth. He wouldn't hook up with his boss but Mouth's dance moves are real — they're his own (as he'd demonstrated at one of the night time events by busting a move).
Claywell said that he's like Tim as far as the "lack of self-awareness."
"Tim has no shame, he's oblivious to the outside world, pure at heart, that's what I am," said Claywell.
About the river court being gone, Moss said "it's right here," as he motioned to his heart.
Tanner said that he's mad it was taken down because it served as a monument for fans — he'd get Tweets challenging him to a game there all the time. He said, half-seriously, that he thinks the town should have kept it but for some suspect reason didn't try. Claywell agreed that it should have been saved.
When someone asked about pranks pulled on set, everyone said that Chad Michael Murray was the prankster. Tanner said that black people don't do that stuff and he'd lock his door on set so that Chad couldn't prank him.
About their most memorable moment during filming, Moss said that he liked working with the kids because they were easy to work with, always prepared, didn't care about their hair, makeup or clothes, they were honest and the day would go by quick for them. He recalled the John Hughes-homage scene where Junk and Fergie babysit Jamie Scott and he attacks them with paintballs.
In answer to another question, the actors talked about bonding experiences.
They would hit the beach or play basketball every day — Vaughn was the best — and play flag football, so they felt like part of a real team.
Then someone asked Claywell what he thinks would have happened to Tim if the show went on and he and Bevin divorced.
Claywell joked that he'd end up with Nathan. He admitted there was always a rumor Tim would turn gay, but then said that his girlfriend at the time of the show was actually another character, cheerleader Theresa. So, he said, Tim would really have ended up with Theresa.
Soon someone asked Norris to recite Mouth's news anchor sign off, which he did happily.
"I'm Mouth McFadden and you've just heard a mouthful," said Norris.
About what actor they'd want to do a Q&A with, Tanner lustfully said "Emilia Clark... the Khaleesi (Game of Thrones)."
Claywell said that he was an extra on Patch Adams and got to have coffee one day with Robin Williams. Their conversation really influenced him, so he considers Williams to have been a positive voice in his life.
Norris chose the entire Friends cast, Vaughn said he has a long list, McGee said Morgan Freeman and Moss said Peter O'Toole and other "old school" actors.
About whether they're happy with how things ended with the show/their characters, Norris said that he was but it would be cool to see the characters years down the road when everyone has kids. McGee joked that he'd like his character to leave prison.
Soon after this question, the time came for the panel to end.
On a closing note, Tanner thanked the fans for their devotion.
"Without you guys, there'd be nothing," he said. "I can't believe there's so many people here, especially when it's not even on the air anymore... If I see you, I will try to put a smile on your face, I love you."
It was a sweet way for the last panel of the weekend to end, and in a way provided extra validation for the fans' devotion to and love for the show and its stars.