Farewell to the Summer 2021 Virtual TCA Press Tour — Day 3
PBS closes out its turn at the Summer 2021 Virtual TCA Press Tour with a variety of afternoon panels.
AMERICAN MASTERS’ series executive producer, Michael Kantor, kicked things off by announcing the new program, “Ailey” coming to PBS January 11, 2022 at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Kantor then introduced the great EGOT winner Rita Moreno and producer Mariem Perez Riera to discuss the upcoming documentary on Moreno’s life, “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It.”
Premiering October 5 at 9:00 p.m. ET, the film covers Morena’s 70+ year career, is executive produced by Norman Lear and Lin-Manuel Miranda, and features interviews from Gloria Estefan, Morgan Freeman, Mitzi Gaynor, Whoopi Goldberg, Eva Longoria, Justina Machado, Terrence McNally, and Karen Olivo.
The cast of CALL THE MIDWIFE followed to share their experience taping the show’s 10th season, coming to PBS, Sundays, October 3 — November 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
New this season, Megan Cusak joins the cast as Nurse Nancy Corrigan. She shared the stage with Jenny Agutter (Sister Julienne), Ella Bruccoleri (Sister Frances), and Stephen McGann (Dr. Turner) as well as creator and executive producer, Heidi Thomas.
Erika Dilday, POV’s new series executive producer, followed to introduce critics to two films from its new season.
“Not Going Quietly” is the SXSW Film Festival Audience Award winner featuring the story of Ady Barkan, a new father whose life was upended when he was diagnosed with ALS. Premiering January 24, 2022, at 9:00 p.m. ET, the film follows Ady’s activism for universal healthcare following a chance encounter with a powerful Senator on an airplane.
To discuss the film, Ady’s wife and featured participant Rachael King joined filmmaker Nicholas Bruckman and producer Amanda Roddy.
Second, Dilday introduced “Fruits of Labor,” a co-production of POV and Latino Public Broadcasting, co-presented by POV and VOCES that follows Ashley Pavon, a Mexican-American teen whose family is threatened by increased ICE raids in her community. Ashley and filmmaker Emily Cohen Ibanez joined the virtual stage to discuss.
NOVA presented its new film “The Cannabis Question” exploring the research into the biological and societal impacts of cannabis in today’s America where 55 million people claim to currently use the drug and are pushing for legalization.
NOVA’s Julia Cort, series co-executive producer, was joined on stage by Kassandra Frederique, executive director, Drug Policy Alliance, Sarah Holt, writer, producer, and director, Dr. Yasmin Hurd, neuroscientist and addiction expert, Mount Sinai and Dr. Catherine Jacobson, neuroscientist, and mother of son featured in the film, whose epileptic seizures were treated with cannabis.
The program premieres on Wednesday, September 29 at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Lois Vossen, series executive producer for INDEPENDENT LENS, followed to present its film “Ferguson Rises” exploring the aftermath and protests following the death of Michael Brown Jr. set to premiere Monday, November 8 at 10:00 p.m. ET.
To discuss the varied chorus of perspectives interwoven with the uniquely intimate story of a Black father’s grief, Michael Brown, Sr., film subject and Michael Brown Jr.’s father joined the virtual TCA stage with actor and film producer David Oyelowo, Mobolaji Olambiwonnu, director and Heather Taylor, film subject, retired St. Louis Police Sgt., Homicide Division.
And to close the third day of PBS presentations, the team and cast of “WICKED” IN CONCERT: A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF THE ICONIC BROADWAY SCORE for a sneak peek at the celebration of composer Stephen Schwartz’s Tony Award-winning musical.
Luke Frazier, conductor and arranger, and Baayork Lee, director, joined Grammy-nominated performer Alex Newell, performer Gabrielle Ruiz and Stephen Schwartz to discuss the production.
