A round-up of news on Wednesday from the Television Critics Association winter meeting, held in Pasadena, California, at which TV networks and streaming services are presenting details on upcoming programmes.
Reality TV
Jennifer Lopez and America Ferrera agree: Television is embracing diversity, finally.
“It’s been coming for many years,” Lopez, promoting her new NBC police drama Shades of Blue, said at the meeting on Wednesday. “There’s no denying what society is right now. It’s not just race, it’s gender, it’s all kind of diversity being showcased.”
She cited the ethnically diverse cast of producer Shonda Rhimes’ Grey’s Anatomy, the ABC drama that debuted in 2005, as the “turning point.”
“There’s no getting away from it anymore,” Lopez said.
Ferrera, who stars in NBC’s freshman comedy Superstore, lauded the inclusiveness of her show in particular and NBC in general.
“This is the first time I’ve been offered a role that wasn’t written” for a Latino, the former Ugly Betty star said at a separate Q&A session with reporters.
She was struck by the fact that the pilot script for Superstore didn’t specify races for the series’ other characters as well, she said. Her co-stars include Nico Santos, a native of the Philippines, and Colton Dunn, who is African-American.
Ferrera also praised NBC’s new trio of Latina-led shows — hers, Lopez’s and Eva Longoria’s Telenovela — as “ground-breaking and history.”
Perhaps it will encourage other broadcasters to “enrich their storytelling by reflecting the world we live,” she said.
Her castmate, Canadian native Mark McKinney, couldn’t resist adding a punchline. He said he applauded NBC and producers for “taking the great step of casting two Canadians,” indicating co-star Lauren Ash.
Speaking to reporters later, Longoria said diversity needs to extend to those in decision-making jobs.
“There’s a lot to be done to have more diversity in front of the camera, but it starts behind the camera.”
J-Lo throws a punch
As American Idol winds down in its final season, Jennifer Lopez has plenty on her plate to replace the reality singing competition.
She’s playing a New York police officer on the new NBC series Shades of Blue, and begins her Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood on January 20. To prepare, Lopez cut back on her gym visits so her character looked more like a regular person. But she kept the eyeliner.
“Women in New York wear eyeliner,” the Bronx native said.
Lopez gets to box in the series on which she serves as an executive producer.
“It’s always been a good workout,” she said.
Director Barry Levinson was surprised Lopez knew how to throw a punch.
“We did a number of takes because I was just fascinated, her hands were flying,” he said.
Cue the music
A live production of the stage musical Hairspray may be coming to NBC this year.
The network hopes to air the musical in December, NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt said at the TV critics’ meeting Wednesday.
NBC has made something of a cottage industry with live musicals, including The Sound of Music, Peter Pan and The Wiz.
Greenblatt, who cautioned that contracts remain to be signed for Hairspray, said NBC has started a musical trend for other networks. Fox is airing a live production of Grease on January 31, and ABC plans a TV movie of the big-screen film Dirty Dancing.
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, executive producers for NBC’s previous musicals, will have the same jobs for Hairspray, the Tony Award-winning musical from composer Marc Shaiman and his co-lyricist, Scott Wittman.
The network has scored hits — The Wiz and Carrie Underwood in The Sound of Music — and a miss with Peter Pan.
“I don’t think there’s an infinite number of these that can be done, but we’re still doing it,” Greenblatt said.
More Meyers
Seth Meyers has a secure late-night seat at NBC for another five years.
The network announced Wednesday that the Saturday Night Live veteran has extended his contract to remain host of Late Night through February 2021.
NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt told a TV critics’ meeting that Meyers’ political commentary would be especially welcome in “a crazy election year.”
In the ratings, Meyers’ Late Night bests CBS’ Late Late Show and ABC’s Nightline in direct competition, NBC said. He took over as host of Late Night in February 2014.
NBC also announced that Meyers will host a 2016 New Year’s Eve Late Night prime-time special that will highlight the year’s news.
