Stars come out, reporters get an earful at annual TV event
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. — The annual summer meeting of the Television Critics Association, with series screenings and more than 100 Q&A sessions held over the past two weeks with platoons of stars, producers and executives, is akin to a crash course in upcoming small-screen fare. Here are some highlights:
Stars unscripted: Some actors get by very well on their own wits, even when faced with a roomful of some 200 reporters and a barrage of unpredictable questions. Make that actresses, in particular.
“As you’re working with the kids, did it inspire you to write any new material?” was a query directed to Tiffany Haddish, host of ABC’s reality show reboot, “Kids Say the Darndest Things.”
“Yes. And take my birth control,” she said.
Sitcom veteran Patricia Heaton (“The Middle, “Everybody Loves Raymond”) was charmingly self-deprecating about her role as a late-in-life medical intern on CBS’ new “Carol’s Second Act.”
“I kept saying to (the producers), ‘I don’t think people will really believe I’m in my 50s, right? Do I need to do gray in my hair?’ They’re like, ‘No. You don’t need to do anything,’ ” said Heaton, after cheerfully pegging her age as 61.
Tracee Ellis Ross, producer of a “Black-ish” prequel about her character, Rainbow, and her unconventional parents, was asked what elements of ABC’s new “Mixed-ish” reflect her own life.
“None,” she replied. “Not a single thing?” probed the questioner.
“I did not grow up on a commune,” replied Ross. “I have way more siblings than Bow Johnson has. I am not a doctor. My mom is not a lawyer.”
At that point, “Mixed-ish” cast member Tika Sumpter jumped in to play foil, asking,