TCA Summer 2017 Press Tour: Fox; HBO Renews Comedies Ballers and Insecure

Wednesday, August 09, 2017

TCA Summer 2017 Press Tour: Fox; HBO Renews Comedies Ballers and Insecure

Fox was up yesterday at the TCA Summer 2017 press tour. Among the announcements were Fox's next live musical event, A Christmas Story, will air Sunday, Dec. 17 from 7:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed LIVE on Fox. From Warner Horizon Unscripted Television, the three-hour live television event, inspired by the holiday classic feature A Christmas Story and the Tony Award-nominated Broadway production A Christmas Story: The Musical, will be executive-produced by award-winning film, television and theater producer Marc Platt (Grease: Live, La La Land). The epic adaptation will be filmed at the historic Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank. Emmy Award nominee Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live, Bridesmaids) will star as the mother of nine-year old "Ralphie Parker." Additional casting information to be announced soon.

Up next, Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated actor Peter Krause (The Catch, Six Feet Under) has been cast in a lead role in Fox's provocative new drama, 9-1-1, from creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk (the American Horror Story" franchise, Nip/Tuck). The series will premiere in 2018. Krause joins previously announced Academy and Emmy Award nominee Angela Bassett (American Horror Story, What's Love Got to Do with It), in a new series that will begin with the fateful question, "9-1-1, what's your emergency?" The procedural drama explores the high-pressure experiences of police, paramedics and firefighters who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking and heart-stopping situations. These emergency responders must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in their own lives.

Fox has ordered the new singing competition series The Four, it was announced. The Four begins where most competitions end: with the four finalists. Four super-talented and fiercely competitive singers, chosen from their auditions by the show's panel of music industry experts, will try to defend their coveted spots on the stage, as they are challenged individually by new singers determined to replace them. Each week, if any of the four are outperformed, they'll go home and their challengers will take their place. Expert panelists and additional information regarding The Four will be announced soon.

Ballers

With both series seeing record viewership this season, HBO has renewed the comedy series Ballers for a fourth season and Insecure for a third season. Looking at the whirlwind lifestyles and real-life problems of former and current football players, Ballers stars Dwayne Johnson as ex-superstar Spencer Strasmore, who has reinvented himself as a financial manager for today's players in sun-soaked Miami. The hit comedy series returned for its ten-episode third season Sunday, July 23, exclusively on HBO. Other cast regulars for the current season include: Rob Corddry, John David Washington, Omar Benson Miller, Donovan Carter, Troy Garity, London Brown, Jazmyn Simon and Dulé Hill.

Insecure

Created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, Insecure follows the friendship of two black women as they deal with their own real-life flaws while attempting to navigate different worlds and cope with an endless series of uncomfortable everyday experiences. Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis and Lisa Joyce star in the show, which returned for its eight-episode second season also on Sunday, July 23.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Friday, March 21

Happy's Place - "Alarm Bell" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Isabella requests Emmett's help getting a security system installed, Bobbie claims she can protect her sister better than any alarm or man, leading to Bobbie and Emmett having a competition over who's the better protector.

St. Denis Medical - "Buffalo Bruce and Matty the Kid" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
An emotional support animal is loose in the halls of St. Denis; Alex goes big for Serena's birthday to mixed results.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 17)

Friday, March 21

John Mulaney (Mulaney) - Watch John on on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Sterling K. Brown (Starved) - Sterling is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Fred Armisen (Los Espookys/Forever/Final Space) - Fred appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Dana Carvey (One of the Boys) - Dana is a guest on Real Time with Bill Maher at 10pm on HBO.
The Jonas Brothers (Jonas) - Good Morning America catches up with the Jonas Brothers sometime between 7-9am.
John Leguizamo (The Brothers Garcia) - John chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Tatyana Ali (Second Generation Wayans/Love That Girl!/The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) - Tatyana discusses her off-camera work of helping women have safer births and how she is creating community with her quilt company on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building/Wizards of Waverly Place) - NBC's Today catches up with Selena sometime between 7-9am.
Michael Urie (Shrinking/Krapopolis/Partners) - NBC's Today catches up with Michael in the 9am hour.
Brooke Shields (Suddenly Susan) - Brooke co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
The Cast of Harlem - Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Jerrie Johnson, Shoniqua Shandai & Tyler Lepley talk about Harlem on Prime Video on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.
Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Crazy Ones) - Sarah appears on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Tommy Davidson (The Proud Family/Malcolm & Eddie/Between Brothers) and Mark Curry (One Love/See Dad Run/Hangin' with Mr. Cooper) - Tommy and Mark are guests on New York Living on WPIX in New York at 10:00am.