ATX Television Festival Announces Additional Programming For Virtual Festival, “ATX TV…From The Couch!”

ATX TELEVISION FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING
FOR VIRTUAL FESTIVAL, “ATX TV…FROM THE COUCH!”

New Additions include a Marquee Panel for HBO’s “Perry Mason,”
And Conversations with Cast and Creatives from
FX on Hulu’s “Justified,” Peacock’s “Psych,” Pop TV’s “One Day at a Time,”
HBO Max’s “Legendary” and “Search Party,”
Hulu’s “Little Fires Everywhere,”
Peacock and Wolf Entertainment’s “OneChicago” Franchise, and More


AUSTIN, Texas – ATX Television Festival has announced additional programming for its first-ever completely virtual festival, which will take place June 5-7, 2020. Register for the festival HERE.

“ATX TV… from the Couch!” will include three days of conversations with cast and creatives from various series, industry-forward panels with showrunners and executives, sneak previews of upcoming series, and virtual events such as TV trivia and a music showcase. The event will stream for free on ATX’s official YouTube channel, with an option for viewers to donate to fundraising efforts for​ Direct Relief and​ The Actors Fund ​in an effort to benefit those affected by COVID-19.

“In choosing to go virtual, we knew this was also an opportunity to raise awareness and support for those who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. It was important for us to partner with organizations that support the industry we are celebrating and the healthcare workers that are on the front line. That’s why we chose The Actors Fund and Direct Relief respectively to support. We are in awe of the work these organizations are doing to help those in need, and are honored to be partnering with them during ATX TV…from the Couch!” said Emily Gipson and Caitlin McFarland, Co-Founders and Co-Executive Directors.

Longtime ATX partner HBO will present a marquee panel conversation with the cast and creatives of “Perry Mason” in a first look at the network’s new summer drama, which premieres Sunday June 21. Set in 1932 Los Angeles, the series tells the origin story of famed defense lawyer Perry Mason, based on characters from Erle Stanley Gardner’s novels. The series is executive produced by Tim Van Patten, Ron Fitzgerald, Rolin Jones, Amanda Burrell, Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey, and Joe Horacek. Participants will be announced soon.

Showtime will return to ATX with a look at the upcoming sports docu-series, “Outcry,” which examines the gripping story of high school football star Greg Kelley and a quest for truth and justice in central Texas. The five-part series follows Kelley’s conviction for sexual assault of a four-year-old boy and sentence of 25 years in prison with no possibility for parole, and the subsequent groundswell of support that emerges, calling into question the investigation, the prosecution’s tactics and ultimately, the validity of the conviction. Emmy award-winning director and executive producer Pat Kondelis (Creative Director, Unscripted, Bat Bridge Entertainment), will join the festival for a conversation about the making of the series, and its significance to both a local Texas community and national conversations on justice reform.

ATX will also feature a panel “Extravaganza” with the cast from the new HBO Max original series, “Legendary.” Pulling directly from the underground ballroom community, the series showcases voguing teams (aka “houses”) who must compete in unbelievable balls and showcase sickening fashion in order to achieve “legendary” status. Panelists will be announced soon. “Legendary” premieres May 27 on HBO Max.

In addition, the festival will feature a virtual table read event with the executive producers and cast of “Search Party” ahead of the show’s debut on the new streaming platform HBO Max. Previously aired seasons one and two of the comedy thriller “Search Party” will be available when HBO Max launches on May 27, and the all-new third season premieres June 25. The “Search Party” producers and cast will perform a script reading of the dramatic season two finale, followed by an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming season. Confirmed talent includes series creators and EPs Charles Rogers and Sarah-Violet Bliss, as well as stars Alia Shawkat, Meredith Hagner, John Early, John Reynolds and Brandon Micheal Hall.

FX Networks will present a “Justified” retrospective to celebrate the series’ recent addition to the expansive FX on Hulu library. The panel will include a look back at the series with creator/showrunner/executive producer Graham Yost, director/executive producer Michael Dinner, executive producer Sarah Timberman, and stars Timothy Olyphant and Joelle Carter. “Justified” is available to stream now on FX on Hulu.

Peacock and Wolf Entertainment will host a ​“Live with OneChicago”​ conversation with “Chicago Fire” showrunner/executive producer ​Derek Haas ​and cast members​ Jesse Spencer​ (“Chicago Fire”) and LaRoyce Hawkins​ (“Chicago P.D.”) from across the hit “OneChicago” franchise ahead of the platform’s July launch. The group will discuss the increasingly interconnected world of the three series, and the larger Wolf Entertainment world established by prolific creator/executive producer Dick Wolf. Additional panelists will be announced soon.

Peacock will also host a “Psych” panel with creators Steve Franks and Chris Henze, as well as cast members James Roday, Dulé Hill, Kirsten Nelson, Maggie Lawson and Corbin Bernsen ahead of the premiere of “Psych 2: Lassie Come Home” on the platform this summer. “Psych 2: Lassie Come Home” is produced by UCP in association with Thruline Entertainment and will be available to stream July 15 upon the official launch of Peacock.

ATX will include a conversation with the women of the critically acclaimed “One Day at a Time,” which is currently airing its fourth season on Pop TV. Showrunner/executive producer/director/actor Gloria Calderón Kellett, and cast members Justina Machado, Rita Moreno, and Isabella Gomez will join viewers for an informal brunch conversation to discuss the series’ upcoming animated special, “The Politics Episode,” which will air June 16th on Pop TV following a marathon of the current season.

The festival will highlight the ways in which women support one another in television and extend their own networks to lift one another up with a special “Torchlighters” panel, led by Pacesetter principal and executive producer Jessica Rhoades (“Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story,” “Sharp Objects,” “Utopia”) and creator/showrunner/executive producer/director Marti Noxon (“Sharp Objects,” “Dietland,” “To the Bone”). Inspired by a speech from Natalie Portman at Variety’s 2018 Power of Women luncheon, the panel will bring together five established creatives to introduce five up-and-coming voices, in a discussion about the importance of forming a support system and using one’s own network to empower other women. Rhoades and Noxon will be joined by creator/showrunner/executive producer/director Tanya Saracho (“Vida”), creator/writer/executive producer Nichelle Tramble Spellman (“Truth Be Told”), Francesca Orsi (Executive Vice President and Head of Drama at HBO), writer Lindsey Villarreal (“Vida”), and writer Erika L Johnson (“The Village,” “The Good Lord Bird”), with additional panelists to be announced soon.

The festival will also take viewers inside the writers room of “Little Fires Everywhere,” the Hulu original series based on the novel by Celeste Ng. Showrunner/executive producer Liz Tigelaar, co-executive producer/writer Attica Locke, co-executive producer/writer Raamla Mohamed, co-executive producer/writer Amy Talkington, co-executive producer/writer Nancy Won, writer/producer Shannon Houston, writer/producer Harris Danow, and writer/producer Rosa Handelman will discuss how they worked together to broach issues of race, sexuality, and class in ways that both built on and departed from the themes of Ng’s novel, and how their own life experiences informed how they brought the story from book to screen. All eight episodes of “Little Fires Everywhere” are streaming now on Hulu.

ATX will also bid farewell to series that have ended or will end in 2020 with “The End,” a panel conversation about what it means to say goodbye to our favorite series and characters in a particularly tumultuous year. Creator/showrunner/executive producer Jason Rothenberg (“The 100”) and showrunner/creator/executive producer Martin Gero (“Blindspot”) are confirmed to participate. Additional panelists will be announced soon.

Previously announced programming includes:

Registration for the virtual festival is now open. For the latest developments and information on “ATX TV…from the Couch,” visit the ATX Television Festival official site atxfestival.com and follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

For co-promotion, please tag @ATXFestival #TVTogether on Twitter.

Panelist appearances/schedules are based on availability and are not guaranteed. All Programming and Events are subject to change.

ABOUT ATX TELEVISION FESTIVAL
ATX’s focus is the celebration of the television medium – looking back at its history, where it is now, and where it is headed. Our festival consists of events in which attendees can interact with actors, writers, directors, creators, showrunners, music supervisors, casting directors and studio executives involved in all stages of bringing their favorite shows to the small screen. We have all the functionality of a traditional film festival – spotlighting classic shows, never-aired pilots, cancelled too soon series, cult favorites, current hits and premieres of new series. In addition, we feature episodic screenings and Q&As with series cast and creators, topical panel discussions, parties, live music, meet-ups, social media events and “super-secret happy hours.” ATX’s goal is to serve both fans and industry professionals equally, by giving them the opportunity to discuss and celebrate all aspects of TV as one community.

ATX’s podcast The TV Campfire features one-on-one conversations with some of TV’s top creatives, and panel conversations recorded live at the festival. All episodes can be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and at atvxp.com/podcasts.

ABOUT DIRECT RELIEF
Direct Relief improves the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies – without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay.

Direct Relief is working in overdrive to get protective gear and essential medical resources to as many health workers as possible, as quickly as possible, with emergency deliveries leaving daily for nurses and doctors across the U.S. and globally. Direct Relief has delivered millions of masks, gloves and other critically requested items to thousands of health facilities in more than 60 countries and all 50 United States. Direct Relief is also providing financial support to cover gaps and ensure continued services at primary care sites, and conducting analysis in collaboration with infectious disease experts and data scientists to inform public health efforts. More information is available here.

ABOUT THE ACTORS FUND
The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that fosters stability and resiliency and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan. Through offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Fund serves everyone in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance with programs including social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and secondary employment and training services.

Since March 18, 2020, The Actors Fund has provided more than $10.3 million in emergency financial assistance to over 8,729 people who work in performing arts and entertainment. With shutdowns on Broadway and in film and television, theater, concerts, dance, music and many other areas of entertainment, the need is great and growing. This emergency financial assistance is helping our most vulnerable and those in financial crisis with assistance for basic living expenses such as essential medications, to help prevent evictions, and to pay for food or utilities.

As the situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, The Actors Fund has temporarily transitioned to online and phone-based services, which remain available for everyone in the performing arts and entertainment community. These services include: Artists Health Insurance Resource Center,The Career Center,Housing Resources, Addiction & Recovery, HIV/AIDS and Senior Services, Counseling and Emergency Financial Assistance, as well as The Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. To make a tax-deductible donation to The Actors Fund, visit www.actorsfund.org.