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Home , Alan Ritchson, Anthony Jeselnik, Arthur Smith (producer), Carly Chaikin, Grey Damon, Kristine Leahy

NBCU Pulls Out All the Stops to Promote Summer Shows

04.02.2015

With an emphasis on content, no matter what the calendar reads, the summer season of TV has become more and more important for networks, always looking to make a splash. On Thursday, April 2, at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa in Pasadena, NBCUniversal provides the media its first glimpse into some of their new and returning summer and fall properties hoping to make its mark in 2015. Welcome to NBCUniversal's Summer Press Day, an event featuring a series of panels with stars and executives in attendance to promote and introduce their respective shows.

After snagging a Sharknado coozie and a breakfast burrito filled catered breakfast, the panels begin in the Ballroom with our first show…

Just what everyone needs to start their summer right.

America's Got Talent (NBC)

In Attendance: Executive Producers Jason Raff and Sam Donnelly; Judges Howie Mandel, Mel B and Heidi Klum; Host Nick Cannon

The hit reality competition show is celebrating its 10th anniversary season, as evidenced by its new hashtag #AGT10. The mood was celebratory from the start, with Howie Mandel kicking off the panel with a mimosa toast (at 9 AM - never too early) to the press and everyone involved with the show.

"To another 10 years," Mandel says as he raises a glass to what he describes as a bigger, better and different show. One that includes more laughs for Heidi Klum, who teased that this summer's rendition will feature more comedians who are actually funny.

Afterward, Mandel introduced a promo revealing contestants and their various talents that will "blow your mind" for the upcoming season. For its tenth season, AGT is increasing the spectacle, and widening its scope, giving the show "an international flavor." This year, "more than any other year, people are coming all over the world" to follow their dreams and aspirations. Nick Cannon admits that they've talked about doing an international version of the show, "The World's Got Talent," but Mandel points out that "if you make it in America, you're on the world stage."

#AGT is returning again to the Radio City Music Hall in New York City for its live shows this year, starting August 11.

The panel ended with Cannon announcing Mat Franco's Got Magic, a pair of primetime specials featuring illusionist Mat Franco, AGT's season 9 winner. The specials will follow Mat as he performs street magic across the U.S., traveling from his hometown in Rhode Island to Las Vegas, where he'll learn how to put on a show as the headlining act at LINQ Hotel & Casino. Mat Franco's Got Magic is produced by FremantleMedia North America and Syco Entertainment. Thom Beers, Toby Gorman and Sean Hancock executive produce. At this time, no premiere date was announced.

The 10th season for America's Got Talent premieres Tuesday, May 26, at 8/7c.

Clangers (Sprout)

In Attendance: William Shatner (narrator), Executive Producer Zoe Bamsey and SVP of Programming Andrew Beecham.

Sprout (the first 24 hour preschool network) had a bevy of announcements for us this morning. Back in New York, America's First Mom Michelle Obama is taping an appearance on The Sunny Side Up Show as a continuance of their Let's Move! Campaign for an episode airing next Friday April 10.

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Today also marks the beginning of their third annual #MomIsHere campaign, a celebration of moms leading up to Mother's Day. The campaign starts with a 30-day social media challenge #NoFilter30, where moms are encouraged to share "the real beauty" of moms in a candid #nofilter photo of themselves and their children every day for 30 days leading up to Mother's Day. Those who complete the challenge will be entered to win the $2,500 grand prize, or could win weekly prizes including gifts from Edible Arrangements. Sprout has created licensed selfie sticks for the occasion. The #NoFilter30 challenge kicks off on Sprout's The Sunny Side Up Show on April 11 and runs until Mother's Day May 10. The #MomIsHere campaign grew 119% from 2013 to 2014.

Last year at NBC's Summer Press Day, Sprout announced a shift in their programming and their foray into original content. This year, Beecham points out that they've followed up on their promise: Sprout has doubled their amount of content on air, and on September 26, for Sprout's 10th birthday, the network is premiering its first 2-D show Nina's World.

Clangers is Sprouts' newest original series, an outer-space puppet adventure. The stop-motion animated series follows pink mouse-like hand-knit puppets living on a hollow blue planet. Clangers is based on a British animated classic of the same name from 1968, described as the UK's "crown jewel" by Zoe Bamsey.

Shatner, who had never heard of Sprout until Clangers, is clearly delighted by the children's network's themes and its name, typifying children as sprouts that need to be watered to grow.

"I'd like to think of myself as part of the fertilizer," Shatner joked.

Last Comic Standing (NBC)

In Attendance: Executive Producers Page Hurwitz and Wanda Sykes; Judges Norm Macdonald, Barr, Keenan Ivory Wayans; Host Anthony Jeselnik.

Armed with a new host and a new judge in Anthony Jeselnik and Norm Macdonald respectively, returns for its 9th season this summer.

The Trevor Noah controversy was immediately addressed by the #LastComic panel. Jeselnik, who cut his teeth on Roasts, admits "I don't anymore because of the outrage I've gotten." But he believes that good will come out of it, that after this "outrage," people can't react the same way again and will calm down.

Keenan Ivory Wayans doesn't tweet, "because I don't know how. It's a form for idiots. People can heckle from around the globe. I don't know why anyone gives any credence to it. It's just somebody with an opinion."

Macdonald, armed with a Budweiser, grumbles "I tweet odd stuff." Macdonald predicts that the blogosphere won't be anonymous in the future and that "insane assaults on people will be tampered."

For Wanda Sykes, "after a few drinks, I have to block myself from Twitter."

Last Comic Standing's 9th season premieres July 22 at 9 PM.

A.D. The Bible Continues (NBC)

In Attendance: stars Richard Coyle, Juan Pablo Di Pace, and Vincent Regan.

The #ADTheSeries panel began with a sneak peek for the miniseries event. Then the trio of actors got into what it was like to tackle such iconic lines and material. Regan (as Pontius Pilate) struggled staying in character acting opposite Jesus Christ and Mother Mary.

Juan Pablo Di Pace, who played Jesus, hailed the show as "epic, action packed. I don't think it's ever been done on network TV. It's exciting and fresh."

Executive Producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey "couldn't be more enthusiastic about this project," Di Pace gushes. They had "infectious energy," Coyle agrees.

A.D.'s Easter Sunday premiere is "a special day to watch it," as Di Pace puts it. Growing up, Regan always looked forward to watching the big important movie airing Sunday night after church. That was the equivalent of event TV in the 70's, and A.D. "feels like [it] should be something akin to that."

A.D. The Bible Continues premieres Easter Sunday April 5 at 9 PM. 's 40th Anniversary Special Virtual Reality Experience (NBC)

While Saturday Night Live didn't have a panel, it was there in spirit thanks to Virtual Reality. On March 13, NBC launched a SNL 40th anniversary special virtual reality experience, working with VRSE and filmmaker Chris Milk. The equipment was on full display at NBC's Summer Press Day.

VRSE is an app for iOS and Android for Google Cardboard and in the Oculus VR Store for Samsung Gear VR. By attaching your iPhone 5s or your Samsung Galaxy to a headset, fans get dropped into the middle of the star-studded SNL audience, giving you the power of the camera man, with the ability to spot James Franco, Jack Nicholson or Larry David. It's not often you can see John Goodman crying an arm's length away. The experience launched with Jerry 's audience Q&A and has since added the broadcast's Celebrity Jeopardy segment, with plans for additional segments arriving in the coming weeks and months.

In addition to SNL, VRSE gives users access to a variety of projects, including a short horror film and upcoming works with filmmaker Spike Jonze.

Mr. Robinson (NBC)

In Attendance: Executive Producers Mark and Robb Cullen, stars Craig Robinson, Meagan Good, Amandla Stenberg, Tim Bagley, Peri Gilpin, Spencer Grammer, Brandon T. Jackson and Ben Koldyke.

Following a clip to introduce the new sitcom from the executive producers of The Office and Parks and Recreation, Craig Robinson jumped on the keyboards and sang a suggestive ode to chocolate muffins, gifting us a glimpse of the fizzy atmosphere to be found on Mr. Robinson. The show comes from Craig's own life: he was a music teacher while trying to make it with his band Nasty Delicious at clubs in . Mr. Robinson juxtaposes Craig's work with children and his playboy lifestyle at the club. Craig promises "the world that the Cullens have created is nothing like I've seen yet."

As Brandon T. Jackson puts it, the show "mixes the old school with the new school." It speaks to "how our generation sounds," in regards to millennials. The old school comes from the show's multi-camera live studio audience. It's a format that NBC hasn't had for a very long time, Mark Cullen points out. The cast and crew aren't concerned with the summer slot in the slightest. In fact, "strategically, I think it's really a brilliant move," Mark Cullen says. "We're thrilled. We're going to be behind America's Got Talent, which is a great show. You don't get lost in a lot of the fall shuffle. You get a set of eyeballs on you…NBC has been unbelievable," Robb Cullen continues. Peri Gilpin compares it to the show's lead-in: "there's a lot of music on this show, and there's a lot of music on America's Got Talent."

Robinson mirrors their sentiment: "They have been superb about getting this project correct, everything from the time it's taken to develop to get the correct surroundings and to getting my favorite band of all-time to join the show. I have complete trust in where we've been placed. Behind America's Got Talent…I couldn't be happier with where we are."

#MrRobinson has six episodes in the can so far, and Mark jokes, the "network said we're going to do 88 more." NBC surely hopes that is the case. Its pilot premieres August 5.

American Ninja Warrior (NBC)

In Attendance: Executive Producer , hosts and Akbar Gbajabiamila; co-host Kristine Leahy.

Following a rousing promo for the seventh season of the reality competition show, Arthur Smith had a few announcements.

This season, is expanding, with more cities and 24 new obstacles. Five of the six cities are new to the show. Sites include Venice, Houston, Kansas City, Universal Orlando and an all-military show in Long Beach, CA. The show is likely responding to fan demand: the first season of the show received 1,000 video submissions. Last year they got 4.500. This year American Ninja Warrior received 50,000 online applicants.

Last season, nobody completed the most challenging course on Mount Midoriyama, which would've awarded the winner $500,000. NBC has rolled over the challenge and upped the stakes: the first contestant to complete the Mount Midoriyama course this season will now win 1 million dollars.

The forthcoming all-military episode is the "perfect way for us to show much we appreciate" those in the service, and will feature all branches of the military, according to Matt Iseman. The episode is planned to air around the Fourth of July.

Smith believes that it's the "right time for the show" and trumpets American Ninja Warrior's positive message, showcasing a diverse range of contestants taking on what Iseman refers to as the "single greatest physical challenge on the planet."

Next season's challenge begins May 25 at 8 PM.

The Show (E!)

In Attendance: host Grace Helbig

Emphasizing how much control and power she has over her new show, YouTube star turned weekly comedic talk show host Grace Helbig took the stage by herself this afternoon.

For Helbig, her mission is clear: "I'm trying to create a show that isn't out there right now. I'm myself and not anyone else, and I think that sets it apart from the start."

The show is designed as a "hybrid of what I do in the digital space [and TV]." She wants a TV show that "feels interactive, personal and intimate." She also hopes the audience she's acquired on YouTube doesn't feel unfamiliar with what they're seeing, "but [they're] also seeing a TV show. They're seeing something that feels big enough, rich enough and fully thought out that it fits on a TV screen."

The show is a platform for Grace to "mix internet personalities with traditional media celebrities that you see in film, TV and commercials. Being the conduit between those two worlds is one of the things I really hope to accomplish."

Helbig isn't abandoning her social media roots; in fact, her roots are what she's counting on. "The biggest goal is trying to make the TV show interactive. What I love about the digital space…is the intimacy with the content creator, the conversations that are two-way between creator and audience, back and forth." Helbig has already reached out to her fans and followers on Twitter and Instagram, from asking what questions she should ask Aisha Tyler to what color they should paint her house on the show. "They're already excited to be a part of it. My audience is not only my friends, but they're my boss." She doesn't want to shy away with the nuts and bolts of making a TV show either, "I want to show what happens behind the scenes. I want the show to be transparent on that level."

She wants to bring YouTube sensibilities to E! "YouTube feels like a true community. I really wanted the show, from initial announcement to the first episode, to make the audience feel involved the whole time. It's not my show, it's our show," Helbig proclaims. She acknowledges the difficulty in bringing online viewers to TV, but believes keeping an open dialogue online will "compels people to watch something that they're a part of."

When asked what the biggest drivers are to the show, she responded simply, "boobs." More seriously, she believes viewers want "to feel like their voices are heard, to see their ideas tested…that they feel like it's a friend that they're hanging out with. Going out on the weekends doesn't really appeal to me…and if anyone feels the same way, they can hang in with me. I want people to really feel comfortable, that it's a friend that they come back to every week and that they have a party to go to every night."

For those worried that Helbig might not have control over the final product: don't be. "I'm very involved. Coming from the internet there's this whole idea that TV is a big bad wolf and that it's going to change me. My experience with E! has been so not that, that it's weird. I feel like I'm being pranked," Helbig gushes.

If it's a prank, it's a long con, as Helbig will be live-tweeting along with the show for its Friday night premiere April 3 at 10:30 PM.

Aquarius (NBC)

In Attendance: Executive Producers Marty Adelstein and John McNamara; stars , Emma Dumont, Grey Damon, Gethin Anthony and Claire Holt.

After a sneak peek at the forthcoming gritty 60's cop drama that returns David Duchovny to network TV (before he returns to The X-Files) the cast and crew got to talking about the show's genesis.

Aquarius was "originally going to be a quintet of novels," according to creator/EP John McNamara. Enter Marty Adelstein, who told him that was a terrible idea, because "in the novels, you can't hear the music, and that's one of your main characters." The project started in 2008 and here we are.

What makes the show different than other recounts on Charles Manson, is that "it's not purely about Manson. It's a work of historical fiction that weaves things about Manson that are true and things that are fictional" with several fictional characters, McNamara says. It's a tapestry of crime set in 1960s LA. In fact, the time period "is really a character of the piece," Adelstein adds.

"We're not trying to do a Charles Manson story. We're trying to do historical fiction with characters," Duchnovny states.

There are 13 episodes in season 1, and according to McNamara, "we have planned it for six seasons." #Aquarius premieres Thursday May 28 at 9/8c.

Mr. Robot (USA)

In Attendance: Creator/Executive Producer Sam Esmail; stars , Carly Chaikin, and Portia Doubleday.

Before the promo, Alex Sepiol, the SVP of Programming for USA, introduced the show, fresh off from its SXSW Audience Award win, describing Mr. Robot as "The Social Network meets Occupy Wall Street." The show explores the tremendous impact technology has had on the world, but had "authentic characters that felt real from minute one."

The show, from director of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and producer of True Detective, follows one man's journey from corporate puppet to joining a rebellious cult of hackers.

With Scorpion and CSI: Cyber, and countless other hacking dramas in development, Esmail was asked if it's becoming a new TV genre, like that of the police procedural. "To me a great show isn't about the genre. It's not about whether they're cops, lawyers or doctors or whatever. It's about characters…Hacking has become the buzzy thing because it is so relevant. It is so timely. I hope it doesn't become a genre, because when it's done poorly, in that procedural way, it becomes really reductive. Hacking is about the social engineering aspect of it…It's not about a guy sitting at a computer and corny graphics flying around, which is often what it gets turned into in Hollywood." Esmail would rather Mr. Robot be placed alongside the techno-thriller genre seen in literature or on BBC's .

The show, which Esmail originally conceived as a feature, has an ending planned. As such, it's not a "hack of the week kind of thing," and there won't be repetitive seasonal arcs, Esmail says. There is "one serialized through line going through the run of the series," Esmail states. But Carly Chaikin believes that you'd still be drawn in if you watched a standalone episode. Esmail adds, "you'll be confused as hell, but intrigued. Maybe I should watch the first episode."

That first episode of Mr. Robot arrives in June. But the show already has a presence online, with WhoIsMrRobot.com.

Killjoys (Syfy)

In Attendance: Executive Producer Michelle Lovretta; stars Aaron Ashmore, Hannah John-Kamen and Luke Macfarlane. Before unleashing a clip, Syfy pronounced Killjoys is another example of the network "doubling down on big, bold ambitious programming." Killjoys is a space adventure with bounty hunters from the producers of Orphan Black and Lovretta, the creator of Lost Girl.

Addressing the baggage from her previous show, Lovretta promises no succubi or vampires or aliens. Killjoys is "all about space."

Lovretta describes Syfy as an "able, willing, talented and supportive partner. And I mean that in a no bull$#*! sense. I've worked with them in the past, but that was an acquisition. This is a different relationship. They've supported that I've wanted a sense of fun and joy." It's clear that this sense of fun is the most important thing for Lovretta. "We don't take the world too seriously but we take the audience seriously," she says.

While the series is promoted as a ten parter, the show is "very open ended. The first taste is 10 episodes."

The first taste of #Killjoys premieres Friday June 19 at 9/8c.

I Can Do That (NBC)

In Attendance: Executive Producer Audrey Morrissey; host Marlon Wayans; stars , , Alan Ritchson, , Jeff Dye and .

Following NBC's successful summer reality series like American Ninja Warrior, Last Comic Standing and America's Got Talent comes I Can Do That, an all-new comedy variety series. From the executive producer of The Voice, the show is billed as "the next summer obsession." In the show, each week the six aforementioned celebrities are challenged to perform a whole new talent, training with experts.

The panel kicked off with surprise guests Harlem Globetrotters' Slick Willie Shaw and Scooter Christensen, who make an appearance on the show. After showing off their basketball trickery, EP Audrey Morrissey explained the show's setup in more detail.

Over the course of the six episodes they've filmed, the celebs discover talents that they didn't know they had. Wayans describes the I Can Do That as a fun and laugh-filled "old-school variety show."

Cheryl Burke reiterated that she has left Dancing with the Stars and couldn't be happier to remain in the NBC family. But it was "time to move on and try something new," she says. This is "exactly what I wanna do." They're not competing for a prize, Wayans says. They're competing for their pride. Wayans is continually impressed by their commitment. If he was on the show, it'd be called "Aw Hell No," he quips.

The show forces makes you "step out of your comfort zone and see us at our most vulnerable," Burke says. It's clear the show is pushing the stars to their limits, and there's certainly an element of danger, as evidenced by Nicole Scherzinger's bruised legs.

Throughout, the panelists harp on the show's positive message, and how it encourages people to try to learn things they wouldn't have previously. "We don't know how big of a fool we're going to make of ourselves, but it's so fun. It's okay to throw yourself out there," Alan Ritchson believes. "You can do anything you put your mind to after watching this show," Ciara believes.

NBC hopes that involves tuning into #ICanDoThat when it premieres May 6 at 10 PM.

The Carmichael Show (NBC)

In Attendance: Executive Producer Ravi Nandan; stars David Alan Grier, Loretta Devine, Amber West, Lil Rel Howery and star/EP Jerrod Carmichael.

From the minds of Nicholas Stoller (The Muppets) and executive producers Ravi Nandan and Jerrod Carmichael comes The Carmichael Show, an irreverent sitcom based on Jerrod Carmichael's own family and the real life tension and arguments he's had.

The sitcom is another multi-camera show, and alongside Mr. Robinson, showcases NBC's recommitment to the format. This fits with the show, because it allows the cast to connect with the crowd, to let things breathe and tackle real issues, Carmichael believes. "What serves multi-cam the best is stageplay," and Carmichael compares Carmichael Show to that medium.

The show and Carmichael's stand up share the comedian's honest perspective. Carmichael has an "intention to talk about things, [to] actually reflect conversations being had amongst living rooms." That includes topics like Obama and Ferguson.

Alongside its unflinching honesty, Carmichael wants it to emulate old-school family shows like All in the Family. Carmichael is aware of the inevitable comparisons to Black-ish in that they're both shows featuring black families, but he just sees it as a family show. "You fight as an artist to not be marginalized. To have whatever your work is compared to everything." The talented comic gets his chance when The Carmichael Show comes to NBC this August.