Maya Rudolph in A Christmas Story, Peter Krause in 9-1-1 and singing competition The Four
FOX made a series of announcements at the Television Critics Association press event today. First off, Emmy Award-nominee Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live, Angry Birds) has been cast as Ralphie Parker’s mother (played by Melinda Dillon in the 1983 film) in the upcoming live musical broadcast of A Christmas Story. Additional casting is expected to be announced soon. From Warner Horizon Unscripted Television, the three-hour live television event, inspired by the holiday classic feature A Christmas Story and the Tony Award-nominated Broadway production “A Christmas Story: The Musical,” will be executive-produced by award-winning film, television and theater producer Marc Platt. The epic adaptation starring Rudolph will be filmed at the historic Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank. A Christmas Story will premiere on Sunday, December 17.
Meanwhile, Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated actor Peter Krause (The Catch, Six Feet Under) has been cast in a lead role in the new FOX drama 9-1-1, from creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The series will premiere in 2018. Krause joins previously-announced Academy and Emmy Award nominee Angela Bassett (American Horror Story, What’s Love Got to Do with It), in the new series. The procedural drama explores the high-pressure experiences of police, paramedics and firefighters who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking and heart-stopping situations. These emergency responders must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in their own lives. Emmy Award nominee Tim Minear (Feud, American Horror Story) has joined the series as executive producer and showrunner, and McG (Supernatural) will direct the series premiere.
FOX has also ordered The Four. The singing competition begins where most competitions end: with the four finalists. Four super-talented and fiercely competitive singers, chosen from their auditions by the show’s panel of music industry experts, will try to defend their coveted spots on the stage, as they are challenged individually by new singers determined to replace them. Each week, if any of the four are outperformed, they’ll go home and their challengers will take their place.
Are you excited to see Maya Rudolph in A Christmas Story? What about The Four and Peter Krause in 9-1-1? Let us know in the comments.
