NBC Universal kicked off its summer TV lineup on Friday with a barrage of mini productions, panel discussions and celebrity interviews, including Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Nick Cannon, Maya Rudolph and Martin Short. A Global Lifestyle was on hand to bring you the scoop on all the new and returning reality shows, sports competitions, dramas and comedies.
The Four Seasons Westlake Village was transformed into a one-day red carpet and production facility packed with tents, entertainment journalists, TV crews, publicists and celebrities dressed to the nines.
New shows include comedy-improv-variety show Maya & Marty, starring the fabulously funny duo of Maya Rudolph and Martin Short. The Real Housewives of Dallas franchise also launches its first season while Sylvester Stallone is the executive producer on a new sports competition show, Strong, hosted by former professional athlete, supermodel and actress Gabrielle Reece.
Improv comedians Martin Short and Maya Rudolph play around on their new variety show Maya & Marty.
Maya & Marty (NBC)
Saturday Night Live executive producer Lorne Michaels may be taking improv comedy to another level with Maya & Marty. The show was described to be in the musical variety genre, akin to The Carol Burnett Show, with SNL-like players, musical acts and celebrity guests who have fun delving into the improv action. Rudolph says she “got lucky” because she was trying to “find a way to continue SNL.” And it seems she did with improv genius Martin Short by her side, Michaels’ expertise and writing team, and a lavish new set at New York City’s 30 Rockefeller Center. Martin described the show as “loose fun with entertainers who truly love entertainers.” Maya & Marty debuts on May 31 and will air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EST.
America’s Got Talent (NBC)
After a two-year on-camera hiatus, Brash Brit Simon Cowell is back as host for the next season of America’s Got Talent. Also returning are host Nick Cannon and judges Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel B. Cowell says this “wacky, spontaneous, heartfelt” show is “about the American dream.” The cast all agrees this season is more crazy, more silly and more innovative than ever before. Don’t miss the debut of a 13-year-old who sings opera like a diva, a dramatic juggling act, and a guy who lifts himself up via a meat hook through his nose and throat. America’s Got Talent launches on May 31 and will air Tuesdays from 8-10 p.m. EST.
The cast of 12 Monkeys chats about their third season.
12 Monkeys (Syfy)
The cast of Syfy’s 12 Monkeys returns to the small screen for another season. Executive producer Terry Matalas admitted that the “driving force” of this show is the three female leads played by Amanda Schull, Emily Hampshire and Barbara Sukowa. Aaron Stanford and Todd Stashwick round out the cast for this go-back-in-time adventure and romance show. “This season, the characters learn how to find hope,” says Matalas. 12 Monkeys Season Two debuts on April 18 and will air Mondays from 9-10 p.m. EST.
The executive producers and cast of The Night Shift ready for their third season.
The Night Shift (NBC)
The Night Shift returns for a third season of high medical drama inside San Antonio Memorial’s emergency room. Executive producer Jeff Judah says this hospital show tries to bring current events to the forefront with story lines about returning veterans and even racial tensions when the surgeons (played by Eoin Macken, Scott Wolf and Robert Bailey Jr.) end up treating patients in the streets during a riot. The Night Shift premieres on June 1 and will air Wednesdays from 10-11 p.m. EST.
Executive producer and hosts American Ninja Warrior return for an eighth season of impossible obstacles.
American Ninja Warrior (NBC)
American Ninja Warrior is back for its eighth season with a change of venue (Universal Studios Hollywood next to the new Harry Potter adventure) and more never-before-seen insane obstacles than ever before. Hosts Kristine Leahy, Akbar Bgajabiamila and Matt Iseman return for yet another run on this top-rated show. “It’s unbelievably empowering to see women on the course,” says Iseman, who admits his own show is the only one his family watches together. “I love the mental element” to this competition, he says, adding he gets a thrill out of watching how the competitors “improve and adapt.” American Ninja Warrior premieres on June 20 and airs Mondays from 8-10 p.m. EST.
Executive producers and hosts of Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge discuss this emotional competition.
Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge (NBC)
Taken from real-life Spartan Race obstacle challenges, this show is the “definitive team competition,” so says executive producer Arthur Smith. Course reporter MJ Acosta says not to expect superheroes from the five diverse teams. “These are regular people doing extraordinary things,” she explains. The one-mile course is so grueling that host and former NFL athlete Dhani Jones says there will be blood, sweat, tears and sacrifices to get to the “most emotional, exhausting finish line ever” and win $250,000. Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge debuts on June 13 and airs on Mondays from 10-11 p.m. EST until it moves to Thursdays from 9-10 p.m. EST starting June 23.
Strong (NBC)
Sylvester Stallone is the executive producer of what may be the summer season’s best sports competition show: Strong. “Skinny is no longer the goal,” says Stallone, who also says there’s now a shift to “being fit and getting healthy and strong.” So Stallone teamed up with executive producer Dave Broome (The Biggest Loser) and host and super athlete Gabrielle Reece to create a competition to get strong rather than skinny. The show takes 10 out-of-shape women and pairs them with an elite male trainer. Both the woman and the trainer compete together to win a half million dollars as a competitive unit. Broome calls Strong an “extraordinary competition” that focuses on obesity as a health risk and strength training as a life-enhancing activity. Reece, who is a Mom of three, says the show answers two questions women ask themselves all the time: “How can I be my best self? How do I find the time (to train)?” Strong premieres as a doubleheader on April 13 and 14 and then airs Wednesdays from 9-11 p.m. EST.
The debut cast of The Real Housewives of Dallas poses on NBC’s Summer Press Day.
The Real Housewives of Dallas (Bravo)
Bravo’s The Real Housewives franchise branches out to Dallas this season with a five-housewife cast. Former Dallas cowboy cheerleader Brandi Redmond says all of the lovely Texas ladies on this show have known each other for years or via various “social charity circles” in and around Dallas. Raven-haired LeeAnne Locken seems to be this show’s matriarch who leads the others (Tiffany Hendra, Cary Deuber and Stephanie Hollman) in doing what the housewives seem to do best: dish and drink. The Real Housewives of Dallas debuts on April 11 and airs on Mondays from 10-11 p.m. EST.
Chrisley Knows Best (USA)
The outspoken, fabulous and hilarious Chrisley family is back on USA with another season. Patriarch Todd Chrisley was just as transparent and down-to-Earth as he is on his family’s very own reality TV show. “We go through the same issues other people do,” said the elder Chrisley, who shares the spotlight with his wife Julie, his son Chase and his daughters Savannah and Lindsie. Chrisley Knows Best premieres on April 5 and airs Tuesdays from 10-10:30 p.m. EST.
Three gorgeous single women get help from a relationship therapist in this reality TV show, Famously Single.
Famously Single (E!)
Relationship expert Dr. Darcy Sterling takes on four celeb clients who need relationship advice in Famously Single. Social media stars Aubrey O’Day, Jessica White, Somaya Reece, former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Brandi Glanville all come together to learn better relationship and dating skills from the good doctor. “I was tired of making the same mistakes,” says O’Day, who also admitted that the show challenged her to love herself more with a crash course in self exploration. Famously Single debuts on June 14 and airs Tuesdays from 10-11 p.m. PST.
As the sun went down in bucolic Westlake Village, stars, producers, publicists and journalists all mingled on the Four Seasons’ lawn. While sipping on a cold Proscecco, this journalist had meaningful conversations with the gorgeous Gabrielle Reece and Maya Rudoph both of whom seemed happy and confident in their entertainment business decisions. Congrats ladies!
