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TCA

TCA: The Night Shift; Season 2 Plot Details

The Night Shift, NBC’s surprise summer hit, premieres it’s sophomore season on Feb 23. When show EP Gabe Sachs got the call from network brass that the show was being picked up and moved to the prime post-Voice time slot, he says he was thrilled. Actress Jill Flint revealed she’s happy to juggle roles on The Night Shift and The Good Wife over at CBS, but says “The Night Shift is my home.” Big news out of the TCA panel was that Rick will return in Season 2, so Luke MacFarlane fans rejoice! Brendan Fehr, whose character Drew is lovers with […]

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TCA

“One Big Happy” New Comedy from Ellen DeGeneres

During January’s presentation at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour, NBC’s Bob Greenblatt said when discussing NBC’s fall from network comedy supremacy, “We’re going to try some multi-cams.” NBC is pegging some of its hope on the new multi-camera sitcom from Executive Producers Ellen DeGeneres and Writer/EP Liz Feldman. Childhood best friends Luke and Lizzy have decided to raise a family together in an unconventional way — Lizzy, who is a lesbian, wants to raise a child with Luke by her side. Then one night, Luke falls for Prudence a free-spirited British girl and when Lizzy discovers that she’s pregnant, Luke […]

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TCA

TCA: NBC Jokes About Cosby, Says Network’s Comedy Failure No Laughing Matter

At the NBC Executive Session at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour, NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt started the morning by addressing the elephant in the room: “We’d like to announce the development of a Bill Cosby comedy and a mini-series about Hillary Clinton.” But more on that later. Of the network’s new mid-season offerings, Greenblatt says that the network intentionally held back — what are, in his opinion — some of their most exciting shows including the limited-run series The Slap, Odyssey and Allegiance. Greenblatt also touted a new show, One Big Happy from executive producer Ellen Degeneres in the prime […]

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Drama

“He’s like an alcoholic shark with a badge”: Rainn Wilson on “Backstrom”

After a lengthy demotion due to his offensive actions, Detective Everett Backstrom is tasked with running Portland’s newly formed Special Crimes Unit. Now, he’s on his best behavior (allegedly) as he tries to change his self-destructive tendencies (unsuccessfully). He’s brash, boorish, insulting and an undeniably brilliant detective who, despite his character flaws and personal shortcomings, always gets his man, or woman. “He makes a ton of mistakes as he’s trying to solve a crime but nothing gets by Backstrom. He’s like an alcoholic shark with a badge,” says Backstrom (Thursdays at 9pm ET/PT on FOX beginning Jan. 22) star Rainn Wilson. “He […]

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Family

World’s Funniest Fails: When You Fail, You Win Says Host Terry Crews

Fridays on FOX are about to get a lot funnier, and a lot fail-ier (That’s not a word — I know — Fail.) as America’s Funniest Fails brings the internet’s funniest viral videos to TV. Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Terry Crews hosts the series and explains that he’ll be bringing his high energy to the show along with a panel of hilarious comedians, who breaks down the clips — NFL-style. “It’s like sitting around with friends and watching it, and we pick it apart,” explains Crews. “These are videos that you’ve probably seen before or may have seen before, but now you […]

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TCA

TCA Panel: UCP Showrunners Discuss Their “Babies”

One of this morning’s TCA panels is UCP (Universal Cable Productions), which produces/has produced hit cable series like Monk, Psych, Poyal Pains, Covert Affairs, Suits and Playing House. UCP is a content engine for programming on NBCUniversal cable networks and other nets. They have 16 shows on air, 50 scripts in development from networks ranging from HBO and Netflix. Jeff Wachtel, President & Chief Content Officer NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, announced the inking of a new series for HULU, produced by Amy Poehler, starring Billy Eichner (Billy on the Street). Then he introduced the showrunners joining him on this morning’s panel: Natalie Chaidez (12 Monkeys), […]

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TCA

TCA: Sprout Network blooms for its 10th Birthday

Someone is about to turn 10. That’s a big number for a network geared towards preschoolers. And to celebrate its first decade, Sprout has a few new shows. President of Sprout Network Sandy Wax announced new changes and new programming for the network as it moves from a library-based network, (reruns of Barney and Caillou) to a network that can also offer original programming. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of Chica, the world’s most famous chicken, but sadly, she was appearing live on the Sunny Side Up Show. Wax explained that one of the big changes to at the network […]

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TCA

TCA Panel “The Whispers”: Kids Say the Darndest (and the Freakiest) Things

Wednesday’s TCA panel for ABC’s thriller The Whispers confirms what I’ve suspected all along: Imaginary friends are creepy. In The Whispers, someone — or something — is manipulating our most innocent and beloved asset — our children — to commit the unthinkable.  When several D.C.-area children start communicating with an imaginary friend named Drill and the mysterious games he convinces them to play turn dangerous, FBI child specialist Claire Bennigan (Lily Rabe) is called in to investigate. On the other side of the world, Defense Department operative Wes Lawrence (Barry Sloane) unearths a haunting and otherworldly geological phenomenon that may answer the question: What is happening to […]

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TCA

TCA Panel: American Crime Explores Tragedy from All Sides

This morning at TCAs, we were introduced to the explosive new show “American Crime” a dynamic drama from Academy Award-winning writer John Ridley (12 year a Slave) and Executive Producer Michael McDonald. The drama features a virtual glut of talent including Timothy Hutton, Felicity Huffman, Regina King, Benito Martinez and Penelope Ann Miller and the 11 episode series follows the fallout of a brutal crime and the shockwaves it send through the community and the racial and socioeconomic tensions that that it stirs up. A young couple in Modesto, California were brutally attacked in their home leaving a war vet murdered, and […]

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Comedy

ABC Announces Date of New Series, “Repeat After Me”

While we are sitting in a ballroom, hearing about ABC’s new midseason shows, ABC stealthily announced a new series inspired by a segment created by Ellen DeGeneres for her daytime talk show. The new half-hour reality series, Repeat After Me will be hosted by The Goldbergs star Wendi McLendon-Covey and premieres Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 8:30pm ET, following the networks freshman comedy, Fresh Off the Boat. In Repeat After Me, McLendon-Covey will instruct her celebrity friends, via a remote ear piece, to interact with everyday people in high-energy, comedic hidden-camera situations.  At the end of each half-hour episode, the best moment of the night […]