Supernatural Fandom

Countdown, Meet Supernatural

On October 11 through October 13, 2024, Creation Entertainment held its latest Supernatural convention in North Carolina. During the panel session, Jensen asked the crowd to participate in a quick video, to show his Countdown family, what his Supernatural family was all about.

So, in an effort to help Jensen describe these events, lets dive in. We’ll offer up an explanation on what the show is, what this fandom is and what these weekends have in store.

These gatherings are known for bringing together assorted cast, crew members and fans to celebrate everything we love about the show and the people who made it happen. One of the biggest draws for most folks at these conventions is to see and hear from our beloved “boys” Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins.

They share with us news about their new projects, personal anecdotes, tales of their families and friendships, stories about the making of Supernatural and many other topics that get prompted by fan questions.

There are so many other cast members that are dearly loved as well. They make up a patchwork quilt of celebrities and musicians that turn these weekend celebrations into action-packed, fun-filled days. They are a marathon of activity and appreciation for the show and people that the fans admire.

They are typically hosted by our funny and charming Masters of Ceremony, Rob Benedict and Richard Speight, Jr. with musical entertainment provided by Louden Swain. Some of the cast will also sing at regular scheduled events during the weekend, which is always a nice treat.

So What is Supernatural, In Case You Didn’t Know

The show itself is an American television series created by Eric Kripke. It is a horror genre show that takes viewers on a journey into the dark world of the unexplained. Bound by tragedy and blood, the Winchester brothers embark on weekly dangerous, missions. Sam and Dean Winchester crisscross America, encountering creatures most people believe only exist in folklore, superstition and nightmares.

Check out these fun facts:

• The show ran from 2005 through 2020, for 15 seasons and produced 327 episodes.
• Its success resided firmly on the shoulders of its two lead actors, (Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles) who appeared in all 327 episodes, solidifying their dogged work ethic, grim persistence, dedication, and enduring love for the show.
• Misha Collins joined the monster-hunting duo in season four and became an immediate fan favorite.
• Part of the ever-winning formula that elevated Supernatural, was its band of much-loved supporting characters, which are too numerous to mention here, but check out this list for details.
• It survived the paradigm shift in television as it evolved from linear viewing to the rise and dominance of streaming platforms.
• The show still delights viewers with moving performances, its robust writing, awesome music, visual effects, and a kick-ass car.
• Supernatural was unafraid to swing-for-the-fences and produced episodes that challenged the boundaries of storytelling and eagerly made fun of itself, resulting in a well-awarded (37 wins, 126 nominations) show.
• The cast and crew grew to be family in the most genuine of ways. They spent 15 years working together, where co-workers became friends and friends became family. They had a long enough run to watch each other go through life changes like marriage, parenthood, birth, death and everything in between. They celebrated life achievements together.
• And they knew how to have fun.
• This wonderful camaraderie flowed into the fandom. When you have fans who have followed you for a long time, they become more than fans. They are the smiles you look forward to seeing in the crowd. There’s a reciprocal joy that just flows outward.
• There are fans who will fly across the globe to attend American conventions. For those who can’t afford it, those who can, make an effort to share. They post photos, and videos and stories on social media.
• And if you like muscle cars and rock ‘n roll music – this is the show for you.
• The sound track for Supernatural couldn’t be better if I picked it for myself, so thanks Kripke – I love you for that!
• Very early on, Supernatural and her fans, adopted ‘Carry On My Wayward Son’ by Kansas as its unofficial theme song.
• The success is in the show, in the cast, in the crew and in the fans. We fuel them, and they give us waves of joy with their visits, their time, their attention, their talent and their entertaining storytelling. We just love them to bits… all of them.
• And to pull this back to the show, Supernatural became the longest-running sci-fi/genre series in the history of American broadcast television.
• So we now have young people in the fandom who were not even born when the show started.

The Supernatural (SPN) Family

• Almost from the show’s inception, the fan base grew at an exponential rate.
• When you view Supernatural through the lens of other “firsts” like YouTube (2005), Twitter (2006), First iPhone (2007), Tumblr (2007), Instagram (2010); you can see that she has survived evolutionary changes in the way people communicate (social media) and how they show up in their world. These things have become the mainstay of interaction and connection for a fandom that is a Titan among fandoms.
• Supernatural got so big that it made its mark at San Diego Comic-Con. Their panel was in the coveted Hall H, which is Comic-Con’s largest convention room, holding upwards of 6500 people, typically only reserved for huge Hollywood movie reveals.

• Supernatural’s fandom is knowledgeable about the show’s own canon. They are dedicated, supportive and fiercely protective of all things SPN and continuously participate in its own dedicated convention circuit, powered by Creation Entertainment.
• The SPN Family has generated a multitude of writers, YouTubers, website developers. There are artisans who have built an entire cottage industry around the show and its fandom, crafting everything imaginable; jewellery, books, paper crafts, painting and sketch art, clothing, collectibles and so much more.
• There are writers who lend their talents to fan fiction, which exploded within the fandom in a multitude of genres that didn’t even exist, and all of it before the advent of AI. There are people who have built livelihoods, because the show and its people inspired them, becoming successful videographers, photographers, graphic artists, etc.
• There is a connection that runs through the fandom offering a sense of family, and inclusivity for its diverse and ever-growing members from around the globe.
• Paying homage to Supernatural and her fans could not be done without landing in the loving arms of her very own Wiki. The sheer effort that goes into this nucleus of knowledge is astounding.
• And amongst its most endearing accomplishments, the SPN Family, along with the show’s cast and crew, have touched millions of lives in ways that have championed mental health awareness, (Always Keep Fighting, You Are Not Alone), raised an immeasurable sum of resources for the needy (Random Acts, GISHWES) and strive always, to elevate kindness on a daily basis. To see a very recent example of the philanthropic work that flows in and around the fandom for it’s ability to cast a wider net for donations and helping hands, click Misha’s image below to watch his video. Similarly, Jensen and Jared stand firmly in line with the efforts underway, as humbly as they do these things. For these gentlemen to leverage their popularity and celebrity helps to rally forces that might not otherwise be there.

They Have Us for Life

SPN Family, having been around for so long, we’ve watched these actors grow into their talents and really shine. The success and hard work and growth is theirs, no doubt about that, we had no hand in it, but we cheer them on in every way possible. Supernatural has ended its reign but we watch out for our boys and our admiration follows them into any new project they venture into.

We’re Very Proud

Not only do all the cast, crew and convention staff give us pause to feel proud of the SPN family and its community, it’s also true that the show itself is cause for celebration. Not just for its consistent viewership and longevity, but also because Supernatural was groundbreaking in many of the technical and creative choices they made. To read about some of those things, enjoy the following article, from the The American Society of Cinematographers / Published March 8th 2020: Family Business: Supernatural

Update – In Closing…

So Countdown, that’s Supernatural and her SPN Family. Like I said before, we love our boys enough to follow them into all their new ventures and Countdown is no different. As a matter of fact, we are all really excited about your new show. You have a Titan of a fandom already rooting for your success. We are many, and you had us at Jensen. We can’t wait to meet you!