Image Credit: Art Streiber/NBCThe Television Critics Association Press Tour kicked off Tuesday with a visit to the set of NBC’s second- best drama (after Friday Night Lights, natch), Parenthood. The entire Braverman clan, save for Mae Whitman, who was at the premiere of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, was on hand to answer questions, including one about balancing story lines for the sprawling cast. “We’re planning on killing them off one episode at a time,” executive producer Jason Katims joked in response. “I wanted to start with the [premiere], but [NBC president of prime-time entertainment] Angela Bromstad wisely encouraged me to wait until sweeps.”
All joking aside, here’s some intel we gathered on the new season…
- Adam, Sarah, and Gordon: Adam will be getting some new co-workers, as well as an expanded workplace set, next season. One of those new employees? His own sister, Sarah! “I’m sure she’s going to make a lot of mistakes and annoy her brother,” said Lauren Graham. Further complicating matters will be Adam’s boss, Gordon (the newly cast Billy Baldwin), who will begin to date Sarah. Graham described Baldwin’s character as an “appealing yet dangerous” playboy with a heart.
- Sarah and Amber: As previously reported, Amber will be getting a new, upper-crust BFF, which brings out Sarah’s jealous side. “We’re doing a story line where Amber’s always at her friend’s house and Sarah’s trying to figure out a really cool thing to take the kids to,” Katims teased. But this new friend won’t be as perfect as she sounds. “There’s the question of whether this girl might wind up having some stuff going on that starts to challenge the friendship.”
- Julia and Joel: A second child? They’ll consider it!
- Crosby, Jasmine, and Jabbar: “What we want to explore in the second season is the challenges of a long-distance relationship,” Katims said of the trio. “Is it going to work out for this family?”
- Haddie, Amber, and Steve: Steve won’t be back with Amber when the show returns. Haddie, meanwhile, will get a new love interest from the other side of the tracks.
- Zeke and Camille: The heads of the Braverman clan will be working on saving their marriage, which starts comedically in marriage counseling.
- The ex factor: There are no plans to bring back Sarah’s ex-boyfriends Jason Ritter and Mike O’Malley, who are busy with The Event and Glee, respectively, but the door remains open to them.
I was wondering about that !!
Yes they have one kid, Sydney. Unless they have been busy over the break?
Mike, True Blood is the Best show on TV, please correct your typo
He said on NBC
He said second best drama on NBC- not on TV
True Blood is still the best show on TV how can you argue that
I can with one word: GLEE
I adore Glee, but the writing is uneven at best, and the plots are inconsistent and sometimes contradictory. Even so, I love it, but True Blood is easily the best thing on television at the moment.
True Blood might be the best show on t.v. right now, because it’s summer time. But it definitely wouldn’t be the best show during the regular t.v. season. Personally I like Mad Men and Dexter more then True Blood. True Blood is just too inconsistent for me.
Oh, please True Blood is entertaining but it’s nothing I take seriously. It’s more like a guilty pleasure.
You know, I enjoy FNL . . . but in many ways Parenthood has definitely surpassed it for me (with just 13 episodes!). I feel more connected to the Bravermans. Natch. Second best – NOT SO MUCH.
Julia & Joel only have one kid now….
Hence why he said they’ll CONSIDER a second one…
When the article was first posted, it was riddled with errors, one being that Julia and Joel were considering a third child. It seems as if EW doens’t want you to know about all the errors because they have removed all the posts blasting the article.
Loved both Mike O’Malley and Jason Ritter with Lauren Graham’s character, so hope they will make return appearances at some point.
Jason Ritter’s off playing with Lauren’s former BF Luke Danes on “The Event”…
I am so psyched for next season. I can’t wait!
Why does evey family s/l sound positive except Crosby/ Jasmine/ Jabbar?
racial discrimination?! haha jk…
I fell in love with the Braverman’s during their first season and was very disappointed at how they were shunned in the Emmy’s. Can’t wait for Season 2 to begin!
I guess no one cares about Drew, Sarah’s OTHER child. He always gets the short end of the stick. I’d like to see him get a few storylines of his own next year.
looking forward to my next Lauren fix!!
True Blood is one of the best shows on tv. Season 3 has been outstanding. A show can improve from season to season.
AMEN. thank you, jake! people need to stop hating on true blood, it’s simply amazing
Wow! I’m glas someone else thinks FNL and Parenthood are the two best dramas. (The jury is out on Madmen after the incredibly long hiatus!). Billy Baldwin as Sarah’s love interest!!! Please! He looks as sleazy as ever. I love Sarah (aka Lorelei).
Apparently Sarah’s son (I can’t even remember the characters name) has no storyline this season at all.
His name is Drew
Julia and Joel considering a second child ? Is that it ? Are they going to be kept as the bland part of the show ?