TCA Archives - Page 9 of 23 - StayTuned Magazine

Parks & Recreation’s Aziz Ansari Reveals What he Wanted to Steal From Set…But Didn’t

January 16, 2015 Kellie Freeze

At the conclusion of the hilarious Television Critics Association winter press tour panel celebration the finale season of Parks and Recreation, I grabbed Aziz Ansari and asked him if he’d ganked anything from the P&R set at the series’ conclusion. Surprisingly, the comedian hadn’t. “I always meant to,” he confessed. “But I forgot.” When I asked him what he wished he’d taken, Ansari said that Tom had an Entertainment 720 Rubik’s cube that he really liked. The prop had the faces of the Entertainment 720 peeps on it. Ansari thought for a moment and then said that maybe he should contact someone […]

TCA: NBC’s “The Slap” goes deeper, darker than the slap itself

January 16, 2015 Ryan Berenz

Turns out that NBC’s eight-episode event drama The Slap really isn’t about “the slap” at all. It’s about something much deeper and darker. At Hector’s (Peter Sarsgaard) 40th birthday party, his hotheaded cousin Harry (Zachary Quinto) slaps another couple’s misbehaving child. The stunning incident sets off a chain of events that divides friends and family, and uncovers long-buried secrets. Thandie Newton, Uma Thurman, Melissa George, Thomas Sadoski and Brian Cox also star. At the NBC Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, the panel downplayed the importance of the slap itself, saying that there is a ton of existing tension and […]

TCA: The Night Shift; Season 2 Plot Details

January 16, 2015 Kellie Freeze

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 […]

“One Big Happy” New Comedy from Ellen DeGeneres

January 16, 2015 Kellie Freeze

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 […]

TCA: “Oh my gosh! Did my mom just say that?” Kate Gosselin’s kids critique her on “The Celebrity Apprentice”

January 16, 2015 Ryan Berenz

Kate Gosselin‘s kids watch her on NBC’s The Celebrity Apprentice, the reality TV star says at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour. “My kids watch this, they see me in life, and just being myself is really my goal,” Gosselin says. “My little kids watch like it’s just another show,” she says. “They’re more interested as they get older. And my teenagers critique what I’m wearing, how I look and, “‘Oh, my gosh! Did my mom just say that?’” As for her flagship reality show Kate Plus 8 on TLC, the show returned Tuesday with an uptick in ratings. […]

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

January 16, 2015 Kellie Freeze

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 […]

TCA: NBC’s “Allegiance” is not “The Americans” … maybe

January 16, 2015 Ryan Berenz

NBC’s TCA panel for upcoming spy drama Allegiance (Thursdays beginning FEb. 5), starring Hope Davis, Scott Cohen, Gavin Stenhouse and Margarita Levieva, didn’t do much to quell the notion that the show is too similar to FX’s The Americans. Given the lukewarm reception to NBC’s other spy drama, State of Affairs, we’re thinking Allegiance‘s cover will get blown quickly. Now onstage at #TCA: cast of upcoming NBC spy thriller series #Allegiance, Israeli import with similarities to FX’s The Americans. — Channel Guide (@ChannelGuide) January 16, 2015 “Allegiance” EP George Nolfi says difference between this show and FX’s “The Americans” will […]

Arlen Escarpeta on being Bobby Brown to Lifetime’s ‘Whitney’

January 15, 2015 Lori Acken

When Arlen Escarpeta arrived for his first audition to play R&B star Bobby Brown in Lifetime’s Whitney Houston biopic Whitney, he was surprised to discover his scene partner was none other than the film’s director, celebrated actress Angela Bassett. RELATED: Lifetime’s ‘Whitney’: Angela Bassett on telling Houston’s love story in her directorial debut “My first audition was a blessing,” smiles Escarpeta, 33, during a chat at a press breakfast for the film during the Television Critics Association press tour. “I’m reading opposite Angela Bassett — she’s in the room! That in itself was an accomplishment for me.” He made an impression. The Oscar-nominated Bassett, who makes her […]

TCA Panel: UCP Showrunners Discuss Their “Babies”

January 15, 2015 Kellie Freeze

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), […]

TCA: Sprout Network blooms for its 10th Birthday

January 15, 2015 Kellie Freeze

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 […]