Celebrating TV’s Golden Eras At Chiller Theatre Expo

Still in the throes of New York Comic Con withdrawal, I traded superheroes for a trip through television history with my first visit to The Chiller Theatre Expo, held October 24–26 at the Hilton Hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey. The weekend was a who’s who of TV favorites — from Donna Mills and Morgan Fairchild to Garrett Morris, Joyce Bulifant, Steven Weber, Sheree J. Wilson, and Greg Evigan. Meeting these unforgettable figures in person was nothing short of magical.

Photo Ops, Memorabilia, and Memories

The expo was a treasure trove for fans: photo ops with television icons — and even legendary singer Huey Lewis — took center stage. Sporting my Desilu T-shirt, a perfect conversation starter, I navigated the celebrity lineup, checking off my personal bucket list.

The vendor hall was equally captivating: vintage TV posters, action figures, autographed photos, ornaments, and memorabilia from classic shows. Whether you sought a personal keepsake or a moment with a star, there was something for everyone. Among the highlights, fans flocked to the room where Donna Mills and Morgan Fairchild sat side by side, generating an electric, nostalgic energy.

Donna Mills: From Ingenue to Icon

“Coming here is really humbling,” Mills said. “I get to see how much my performances — mostly Knots Landing — have affected people’s lives. Unless you’re in theater, you don’t get that immediate reaction, so this is very endearing.”

As Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner, Mills was often called the “female J.R. Ewing,” the counterpart to Larry Hagman’s legendary Dallas character. Ironically, earlier in her career, Mills and Hagman played husband and wife on the 1971–72 sitcom The Good Life.

“What eventually got tiresome for me was playing the ingénue — the good girl who often ended up as the victim,” Mills explained. “I wanted to portray strong, resourceful women. That’s why Abby was so appealing. And who knew that Larry and I would eventually work together again as characters so different from those early roles?”

Mills has embraced her past with projects like the podcast We’re Knot Done Yet, reuniting with Knots Landing castmates Michele Lee and Joan Van Ark, and as the first guest on 2 Bitches From Texas, hosted by Morgan Fairchild and her sister Cathryn Hartt.

Morgan Fairchild: Glamour, Grit, and Connection

Like Mills, Morgan Fairchild built a career portraying glamorous, strong-willed characters — from Flamingo Road and Falcon Crest to guest roles on Friends, Law & Order: SVU, and American Horror Story, plus her Emmy-nominated turn on Murphy Brown. With over 160 acting credits, Fairchild has continually captivated audiences.

“What I love about an event like Chiller is revisiting my work through the eyes of fans,” Fairchild said. “While I’m here representing The Seduction, it’s anyone’s guess what someone might remember me for. And it’s a true thrill to see it all through people who were watching — instant gratification.”

Still active on screen — including the 2023 TV movie Ladies of the ’80s: A Diva Christmas — Fairchild has also ventured into podcasting. During COVID, she and her sister Cathryn Hartt began 2 Bitches From Texas, discussing everything from Hollywood to politics to everyday life.

“Fasten your seatbelts — there will never be a shortage of subject matter,” Fairchild said with a smile.

Joyce Bulifant: A Match Game Icon

Joyce Bulifant, known for her sunny charm as Murray’s (Gavin MacLeod) wife Marie in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, a celebrity participant in The Match Game (among other game shows), and Nurse Clark in Airplane!, greeted fans with her trademark warmth and humor. Fun fact: she was originally cast as Carol on The Brady Bunch — a role that eventually went to Florence Henderson.

“I think people recognize me most from The Match Game, but it’s always touching when someone recalls another appearance,” Bulifant said. “It’s wonderful to know people still laugh with us after all these years.”

Diana Lynn Nelson: From the Bada Bing to the Convention Floor

For Diana Lynn Nelson, a professional pole dancer who appeared on The Sopranos at the real-life Satin Dolls (the stand-in for the fictional “Bada Bing”), The Chiller Theatre Expo became a springboard to lasting fame.

Nelson, who began attending as a fan in 2016, now has her own table, selling autographed photos and Sopranos-inspired merchandise. “With the support of my husband Shane Michael Nelson (of the band HYNGD) and photographer Ted Karpovich, we learned how to market opportunities since my appearance on The Sopranos,” she said. Nelson has since appeared on talk shows like Howard Stern and Maury Povich, and acted in the HBO limited series I Know This Much Is True, and the films Lapsis, and Trick. She also creates content for social media, YouTube, and TikTok.

A Weekend Wrapped in Television Magic

From soap divas to sitcom favorites, from legends who embrace the fans to those who turned chance encounters into lasting careers, the Chiller Theater Expo celebrated the magic of television history.

For anyone who grew up glued to the small screen, the event was more than a convention — it was a warm reunion with the people who helped define an era.

“Kevin Clement, the Chiller Theatre owner, has provided 35 years of this iconic convention,” Diana Lynn Nelson noted. “It has made quite a difference for so many of us. I would not miss it.”