NBC started the day with breakfast with Hannibal Lecter.
Really.
Executive Producer Bryan Fuller and stars Laurence Fishburne, Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, and Caroline Dhavernas were all present to talk about the upcoming second season of Hannibal, which starts with Will Graham behind bars. The second season looks like a good place to jump on if you missed the first season, and it premieres Friday, February 28.
Here is the new promo reel:
Bob Greenblatt, the chairman of NBC Entertainment, came in to praise the show’s improved ratings, which have been good even when sports are not factored in. The Blacklist is the #1 new series in key demographics, and for that NBC is grateful. The Voice continues to be the #1 reality show on television.
Greenblatt announced that after the success of The Sound of Music Live! we will get a Peter Pan musical on December 4. They have also given a 10-episode order to Emerald City, which is about a 20-year-old Dorothy in a story that is “not your grandmother’s Oz.” Other new projects announced include a drama with Katherine Heigl and a sitcom from Amy Poehler that stars Natasha Lyonne.
He also said some positive words for outgoing Tonight Show host Jay Leno, and hopes there will still be a place for him as part of the NBC family.
Greenblatt was then joined on stage by NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke and President of Alternative and Late Night Programming Paul Telgedy. Salke pointed to Emerald City as an example of NBC backing genre programming and it was clear that the future of Grimm isn’t grim. (In other words: fans can probably expect a Season 4).
Greenblatt admits that Thursday is an “uphill battle” considering the ratings for Sean Saves The World and Michael J. Fox. Their futures depend on how much comedy will be on the schedule for next season.
Growing Up Fisher
Growing Up Fisher is about a family where the father (J.K. Simmons) is blind and has replaced his son (Eli Baker) with a guide dog, and the funny situations that happen around that family. Jason Bateman is narrating, and it’s loosely based on the life of executive producer DJ Nash. Jenna Elfman also stars, and the show premieres February 25.
Chicago P.D.
The Chicago Fire spin-off Chicago P.D. has already premiered, but it has a presence at this year’s TCA Press Tour with stars Elias Koteas, Patrick Flueger, Marina Squerciati, LaRoyce Hawkins, Archie Kao, Jason Behge, Jon Seda, Sophia Bush, and Jesse Lee Soffer. Executive Producer Dick Wolf saw Chicago as a “deliberate choice.”
The two Chicago shows will cross over with each other and even with Law & Order: SVU. The first episode of Chicago P.D., after the Olympics should feature Ice-T and Kelli Giddish, and Sophia Bush is headed to New York soon to film a SVU scene with Mariska Hargitay.
Believe
Believe, from Executive Producers J.J. Abrams and Alfonso Cuaron, is about a little girl named Bo (Johnny Sequoyah) with extraordinary abilities. Cuaron directed the pilot, which airs as a special preview on March 10, following The Voice. It will then move to its usual timeslot of Sundays starting March 16.
Future episodes will involve the exploration of Bo’s mother, who died at childbirth.
Here’s a sneak peek video from Believe:
The presentation during lunch was Hollywood Game Night with host Jane Lynch. The show returns January 20 with more celebrities playing trivia games, and there are some new games that might just blow up in their faces! It was a fun time.
Crisis
Crisis looks exciting, though it could easily get confused with CBS dud Hostages. Here’s a key to tell them apart: Hostages had Dylan McDermott; Crisis has Dermot Mulroney. Gillian Anderson is in this, which just makes us wish that FOX would do an X-Files mini-season 24 style. Either way, it could be cool.
Here’s a sneak peek:
American Dream Builders
Nate Berkus hosts a series in which a group of designers competes to give “one house at a time” a perfect renovation. The show premieres March 23.
About A Boy
About A Boy comes from executive producer Jason Katims, and is based on the book of the same name that once inspired a movie. The show stars David Walton, Minnie Driver, Benjamin Stockham, and Al Madrigal and takes a longer spin with the whole thing.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon takes over The Tonight Show in February, and NBC kicked off Jimmy’s panel with clips from Late Night. On the panel, Fallon talked about the return of “Starring” to the title, which disappeared a few decades ago. “It’s an homage to the origins of the show,” he said.
Late Night with Seth Meyers
SNL’s Seth Meyers will be taking over Late Night February 24, and NBC showed some of his SNL content to promote the new show.
