Last month I ventured down to Austin, Texas for the third year in a row for Season 6 of the ATX Television Festival. This is a much smaller and more intimate convention for those who love TV. It features a mix of panels for older and newer shows, as well as industry-centric panels with writers, directors, actors and producers.
A week before the convention, attendees submitted their top 8 choices for Fast Passes, and were guaranteed four of those. These guarantee you entrance into a particular panel as long as you arrive 20 minutes beforehand. I ended up with “The Mick”, “The Comeback”. “THE HOUSEWIVES and OFF DUTY: Script Readings” & “Battlestar Galactica Reunion”.
Cut to a week later and it was time to fly out to Texas—after arriving at the airport, I took a Super Shuttle to my hotel, quickly dropped off my stuff and headed to Trinity Hall to pick up my badge and fast pass tickets.
Day 1 – Thursday June 8, 2017
Ghosted
Date: Thursday 6/8
Time: 12:30 PM
Venue: Alamo Ritz 1Panelists: Tom Gormican (Creator/EP), Cast: Craig Robinson, Adam Scott
Moderator: Marisa Roffman (TV Guide)
After getting my stuff, I booked it over to the Alamo Drafthouse to get in line for the screening/Q&A for Ghosted, a new FOX comedy that will premiere in the Fall. I arrived in plenty of time and was one of the first few people in line. The premiere was a lot of fun, and there was an entertaining Q&A with series creator and stars.
The Leftovers: The End
Date: Thursday 6/8
Time: 1:45 PM
Venue: SFA BallroomPanelists: Damon Lindelof & Tom Perrotta (Creators) & Mimi Leder (EP)
Moderator: Maureen Ryan (Variety)
Next up for me was a panel to talk about the series finale of The Leftovers. While this was my second panel, this was considered the first “official” panel of the season.
Snowfall
OPENING NIGHT SCREENING
Date: Thursday 6/8
Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Paramount TheatrePanelists: John Singleton (Creator), Dave Andron (Showrunner),
Thomas Schlamme (Director), Cast: Damson Idris, Carter Hudson, Juan Javier Cardenas
Moderator: Sarah Rodman (LA Times)
After that I headed around the corner to get in line for this season’s Opening Night event. Each year, there is a big opening night series premiere, and this time it was FX’s Snowfall, a drama set in the 1980s, following the rise of the crack cocaine epidemic in South Central LA. They aired the pilot on the big screen and then brought out the the producers and some of the cast. I was shocked to discover the main actor was British—his American accent was perfect.
After the screening/panel, some friends and I headed out for dinner at Torchy’s Tacos.
Day 2 – Friday June 9, 2017
Playing House
Date: Friday 6/9
Time: 10:00 AM
Venue: Alamo Ritz 1Panelists: Jessica St. Clair, Lennon Parham (Creators/Stars)
Moderator: Chris Harnick (E! News)
Even though I had a Fast Pass for the Playing House panel, I got up early, had the breakfast buffet at my hotel and got in line extra-early at the Alamo Drafthouse.
They showed us the season 3 premiere, “Cookie Jar”, and there was non-stop laughter throughout. Then the women took the stage for a hilarious and heartfelt discussion about the series and the tough, real-life topic the show tackles this season. These women were just as fun in person as they are on the show—dancing, jumping into characters, etc. Afterwards, I made my way to the front to get a photo with the stars.
October Road
Date: Friday 6/9
Time: 11:45 AM
Venue: Alamo Ritz 1Panelists: Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Scott Rosenberg (Creators), Cast: Odette Annable, Geoff Stults, Rebecca Field, Lindy Booth, Jay Paulson
Moderator: Sara Osburn (Mix 94.7)
After that panel, I headed outside to get in line for the next panel in the same theater…an October Road sreening/reunion. After showing us episode 106, “Best Friend Windows”, the series creators and cast came out on stage. It was amazing how much they still remembered and revered the show. If someone said they were willing to pick up the show right now, I think the cast/creators would jump at that opportunity!
The Mick
Date: Friday 6/9
Time: 3:00 PM
Venue: Alamo Ritz 1Panelists: Dave Chernin, John Chernin (Creators), Cast: Kaitlin Olson, Scott MacArthur
Moderator:
Leanne Aguilera (Entertainment Tonight)
It was an Alamo Drafthouse day for me, because next up was the third panel in the same room. After screening episode 117, “The Implant”, of The Mick, the series creators and two of the main stars came out to talk about the series. It was a fun chat, and it was also interesting to hear how Scott MacArthur, who was a writer on the show, landed his role.
Next I tried to head back into the Alamo for Midnight, Texas, but it was already full—this was the only thing I got shut out of this weekend! So I headed off to the Paramount to see if I could get into the Fargo panel.
Fargo
Date: Friday 6/9
Time: 4:15 PM
Venue: Paramount TheatrePanelists: Noah Hawley, John Cameron (EPs), Cast: Michael Stuhlbarg, Mary McDonnell
Moderator: Dan Fienberg (The Hollywood Reporter)
I was surprised that I was able to just walk right in minutes before it was about to start, and get a nearly front-row seat. As episode 309, “Aporia”, began to show on the big screen, I quickly realized I hadn’t yet watched the previous night’s episode due to being at the festival. However, I still enjoyed the episode, as well as the discussion that followed with the executive producers and cast members.
PARKS & REC Outdoor Screening
Date: Friday 6/9
Time: 6:00 PM
Venue: Hotel San Jose
Each year, the ATX Television Festival holds a special outdoor screening in the parking lot of the San Jose Hotel. In the past it has usually been Friday Night Lights, but this year it was Parks & Recreation. They had set up a giant inflatable screen to show the episodes and had various other things going on—a live band, vendors, and some photo op stations, including one with L’il Sebastian! There were also some things there to celebrate Nickelodeon’s Pete & Pete—an ice cream truck handing out Popsicles and pins as well as a photo op with the stars of the series.
Afterwards I met up with some friends and we wandered about the city. This weekend was also the weekend of a big biker convention, so many of the streets were closed, allowing us to get some great shots of the capitol building.
Day 3 – Saturday June 10, 2017
From Actor to ‘Action!’
Date: Saturday 6/10
Time: 10:00 AM
Venue: Google Fiber SpacePanelists: Kyra Sedgwick (Story of a Girl), Patrick J. Adams (Suits), Adam Arkin (Justified), Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica), Ken Olin (thirtysomething)
Moderator: Mandi Bierly (Yahoo! TV)
My first panel of the day was an industry panel where various actors talked about their experiences going from acting to directing, and the challenges they had directing their peers. I had been to the Google Fiber venue in past years and had no trouble seeing the stage. However, this year they used a couch instead of director’s chairs (which would have been fitting for this panel!) and it was difficult to see the participants.
I’m Sorry
Date: Saturday 6/10
Time: 12:30 PM
Venue: Alamo Ritz 2Panelists: Andrea Savage (Creator), Jessica Elbaum, Joey Slamon (EPs), Cast: Tom Everett Scott
Moderator: Sarah Rodman (LA Times)
Next, I decided to check out the screening/panel for the new TruTV series I’m Sorry. I knew nothing about the show going in, but really enjoyed the pilot—It’s definitely not for kids! It was surprising to learn that the stuff that happens in the first episode was actually based on things that really happened to creator/star Andrea Savage. I was also pleasantly surprised that they had popcorn waiting for us when we entered the theater, and gave us the option of two different alcoholic drinks—what a way to start off the morning!
THE HOUSEWIVES and OFF DUTY: Script Readings
Date: Saturday 6/10
Time: 2:15 PM
Venue: State TheatrePanelists: June Diane Raphael (Writer, The Housewives), Jason Mantzoukas (Writer, Off Duty), Cast: Jon Glaser, Kulap Vilaysack, Lennon Parham, Jessica St. Clair, Scott Aukerman
Moderator: Paul Scheer
Next up was a pair of script readings. I had been to script readings in the past at the ATX Television Festival, and they are always a highlight, so I knew I wanted to use one of my Fast Passes for this. Paul Scheer moderated the panel and the scripts were performed by a talented cast of comedians. Scheer ended the panel with a shocking, downer of a story that had one of the panelists storming off stage.
The first script The Housewives, written by June Diane Raphael & Casey Wilson, was never produced. The premise is that this was a script written in the 1960s that was deemed too racy for TV. It follows a bunch of housewives—some who love their gender role at the time and some who do not—who are in a desperate race to find a missing recipe in time to impress the boss of one of their husbands.
The second script Off Duty, written by Jason Mantzoukas, had actually had a pilot produced, but it was never picked up. It follows a wild, never-follows-the-rules, disgusting, perverted cop who is partnered with a much more straight-laced, by-the-books kind of officer.
The Middleman
Date: Saturday 6/10
Time: 12:30 PM
Venue: Alamo Ritz 2Panelists: Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Creator), Sarah Watson (Co-Producer), Cast: Natalie Morales
Moderator: Maureen Ryan (Variety)
I headed back to the Alamo and was shocked that I was able to get into the screening/panel for The Middleman. This was the tiny theater and I expected it to be full.
After they showed episode 111, “The Clotharian Contamination Protocol”, the panelists took the stage along with surprise guest Sarah Watson, who wasn’t originally scheduled to be there but happened to be at the festival for her Freeform series The Bold Type. There was lots of alcohol (and other substances) and this led to some fun behind-the-scenes tales and interesting stories about the show’s demise.
Battlestar Galactica Reunion presented with Entertainment Weekly and SYFY
CLOSING NIGHT EVENT
Date: Saturday 6/10
Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Paramount TheatrePanelists: Ronald D. Moore (Creator), Cast: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, James Callis, Michael Trucco
Moderator: James Hibberd (Entertainment Weekly)
At the ATX Television Festival, the big closing night event is usually some major reunion, and this year it was Battlestar Galactica. I had a Fast Pass, so was able to get a seat close to the front. It was a lot of fun seeing these folks back together on the stage. At one point they tried to Skype in Jamie Bamber, but things didn’t really go as planned, and Edward James Olmos was trying to do tech support live on the stage. There were some fun stories shared, and everything ended in a big audience-wide “So Say We All” chant.
Bajillion Dollar Propertie$
Date: Saturday 6/10
Time: 9:00 PM
Venue: State TheatrePanelists: Kulap Vilaysack (Creator), Scott Aukerman (EP), Cast: Paul F. Tompkins, Drew Tarver, Tawny Newsome, Dan Ahdoot
After the Battlestar panel, I immediately headed for the theater next door to try to get into the Comedy Bang! Bang! Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ screening/live improv show. I was one of the last people to make it in—they had just cleared out some reserved seats, and that meant I had a great view! I had never seen the Seeso series before, but knew it was a send-up of those property shows on Bravo. They showed an episode from the third season and then the cast took the stage to perform a fun improv show.
Day 4 – Sunday June 11, 2017
Fear The Walking Dead
Date: Sunday 6/11
Time: 10:00 AM
Venue: Alamo Ritz 1Panelists: Dave Erickson (Creator), Gale Anne Hurd (EP), Cast: Kim Dickens, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Colman Domingo, Dayton Callie
Moderator: Matt Fowler (IGN)
For the first panel of the final day of ATX Season 6, I decided to check out Fear The Walking Dead. I got there extra early since I didn’t have a Fast Pass, and there was already a big line of Alycia Debnam-Carey fans there.
In the panel they showed us that night’s episode, 303 “TEOTWAWKI”, and then had an interesting chat with the creators/cast. Cast member Frank Dillane was supposed to be there, but unfortunately he had had a late night of shooting and was unable to make it. I was expecting most of the questions to go to Alycia, but was surprised to find it to be quite a balanced Q&A.
Instead of trying to squeeze in another panel, I decided to head over to my final panel extra early to try to secure one of the coveted couch seats up front.
Also, throughout the weekend the Hulu Lounge had been hosting these free themed food events, and I hadn’t had a chance to make it over to any of them. So I was finally able to partake in one—the Nashville BBQ.
The Comeback
Date: Sunday 6/11
Time: 1:45 PM
Venue: SFA BallroomPanelists: Lisa Kudrow, Michael Patrick King (Creators), Dan Bucatinsky (EP), Nick Hall (former SVP, HBO), Cast: Laura Silverman
Moderator: Abigail Spencer
My final panel was one that I was looking forward to all weekend. I loved The Comeback and was excited to hear the cast/creators talk about it. Moderator Abigail Spencer was a super-fan herself, so she had lots of great questions.
The panelists were teary-eyed talking about the actor who played Mickey, who had just passed away the week before. They talked about his return in the second season even though he was already sick at the time, and his character’s arc/friendship with Valerie.
The participants also shared lots of fun stories and memories about working on the show. I was disappointed to see Lisa Kudrow ushered off the stage immediately when the panel ended as I would have loved to have spoken with her (and get a selfie).
Overall, I once again really enjoyed the ATS Television Festival experience and will be going back again next season—I already bought my ticket. The small event feeling is nice—you see the celebs just walking around and in the other panels with you. They are happy to be there as TV fans themselves, and are readily willing to talk with fellow fans.
There is still some work that needs to be done for this festival. Some of the venues are too small or impractically laid out—the stages need to be higher so that folks more than a few rows back can actually see the panelists. Also, they scheduled some really popular panels in the smallest venues and I saw quite a few upset folks walking away disappointed that they were shut out—some even had fast passes! I don’t think they should make folks who miss their 20-minute Fast Pass cut off window go to the end of the regular line. While they still may not be guaranteed entry, they should just go to the head of the normal line and be the next people to be let in. These venues are spread far apart and there is little time between the panels. It’s a bit of a hike, and not always easy to get there 20-minutes beforehand. Another issue I had this year was some inconsistencies in policies. For example, even though I was first in Fast Pass line for The Comeback, there was only one couch seat remaining when I walked in—they had let other people who were already in the room with Fast Passes stay there instead of clearing the room after the previous panel per the stated policy. And in another venue, a lot of the prime seats were already filled by the friends/employees/relatives of the panelists. These people can see these folks every day—it would have been nice to leave those seats for the attendees so they could have a better view.
That said, I’m definitely looking forward to spending another weekend in Austin next summer!
