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

Wednesday, October 21

The Goldbergs - "Airplane!" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Beverly surprises the family with an end-of-summer vacation to Miami with the flight down resembling the classic film, and Geoff accidentally spills to Erica the real reason for the trip.

The Goldbergs - "The Prettiest Boy in School" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Adam, now a senior, returns to William Penn Academy as he wrestles with the fact that he is a cool kid and no longer a nerd while his original friend group isn’t as lucky. Meanwhile, Beverly attempts to have a more grown-up relationship with Erica and Barry before they head back to college.

The Conners - "Keep on Truckin' Six Feet Apart" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT)
The Conners are back and dealing with the pandemic, and life’s financial troubles loom over the family. Dan is still trying to catch up on back-mortgage payments and avoid a potential eviction, while the Lunch Box is closed for everything but takeout and delivery. Becky and Darlene are both forced to search for additional income at the newly reopened Wellman Plastics plant.

black-ish - "Hero Pizza" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT)
The season premiere of “black-ish” takes us to the beginning of the global pandemic for the Johnsons. As a first responder, Bow receives her family’s praise for her work, with Junior being her biggest fan. But over time, the family loses their enthusiasm, and Bow discovers someone in her house is breaking the quarantine lockdown rules. Meanwhile, Dre tries to convince everyone that he too is an essential worker.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Moving On" (BET, 8:00PM ET/PT)
House of Payne is the hilarious comedy about Retired fire chief Curtis Payne and his lovely wife Ella. Together the loving couple navigate the problems of life with their quirky modern day family.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Mary Jane" (BET, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Leah learns that Mr. Brown has cut down Vinny's plants in the back yard.

Family Time - "Somebody's Watching Me" (Bounce TV, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Tony and Donnie spy on Ebony and her new boyfriend; Lori is recruited to be the face of hair care.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 19)

Wednesday, October 21

Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish/Girlfriends) - Watch Tracee on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. She will also be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Eric Andre (Man Seeking Woman/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) - Eric appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Eva Longoria (Telenovela) - Eva will be on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Susan Kelechi Watson (Louie) - Susan is a guest on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Tig Notaro (One Mississippi) - Tig will be on a repeat of A Little Late with Lilly Singh at 1:35am on NBC.
Sara Gilbert (The Conners/Living Biblically/Bad Teacher/Welcome to New York/Roseanne) - Sara appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) - Sarah is a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check your local listings.
Marlon Wayans (Marlon/The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon talks about On the Rocks on The Wendy Williams Show, so check your local listings.
Lauren Ash (Superstore/Super Fun Night) - Lauren appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Brandy (Zoe Ever After/The Game/Moesha/Thea) - Brandy talks about her struggle with depression, new music and what's next on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
Michelle Buteaun (First Wives Club) - Michelle talks about raising twins, relocating to London with her family to tape next season of her hit show The Circle, her new book and more on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Cedric the Entertainer (The Neighborhood/The Last O.G./The Soul Man/The Steve Harvey Show) - Cedric talks about CBS's The Greatest #AtHomeVideos on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Tim Robbins (The Brink) - Tim talks about the Bobbo Supreme podcast on Access Daily, so check your local listings.
Teri Polo (I'm with Her/Man Up!) and Blythe Danner (Adam's Rib/Tattingers) - Teri, Blythe and the cast of Meet the Parents reunite on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
Jane Lynch (Angel from Hell) - Jane talks about Weakest Link on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.