Variety and PBS SoCal Announce New Season and Talent Line-up for Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Eighth season of actor on actor conversations will premiere on PBS SoCal June 19;
clips will stream on Variety.com starting in June
Wednesday, April 18, 2018 – PBS SoCal KOCE and Variety announced today the actor lineup and schedule for the eighth season of the Los Angeles Area EMMY®Award-winning Variety Studio: Actors on Actors, a series of specials co-produced by PBS SoCal. The new season will include exclusive one-on-one conversations with top acting talent from this year’s most notable television shows who are expected to contend this Emmy season. The first episode will premiere on PBS SoCal KOCE on Tuesday, June 19 at 7:00 p.m. and episode two will premiere on Thursday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m. Both episodes will stream on pbssocal.org following their premieres.
Variety’s Actors on Actors issue will hit newsstands on June 5 with clips appearing on variety.com starting at the beginning of June. On Variety and Variety.com, this year’s Actors on Actors will be presented by Shutterstock. They will be showcasing exclusive portraits and behind the scenes images from the studio on their creative platform. Shutterstock offers a comprehensive collection of news, sport, entertainment and editorial images trusted daily by the world’s leading media.
This season’s featured conversations are:
Issa Rae (Insecure) with Michael B. Jordan (Fahrenheit 451)
Laura Dern (The Tale) with Angela Bassett (9-1-1)
Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G.) with John Legend (Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert)
Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose) with Claire Foy (The Crown)
Jason Bateman (Ozark) with Bill Hader (Barry)
Debra Messing (Will & Grace) with Sharon Stone (Mosaic)
J.K. Simmons (Counterpart) with Edie Falco (Law & Order True Crime: The Menedez Murders)
Alison Brie (GLOW) with Jessica Biel (The Sinner)
Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Deuce) with Jonathan Groff (Mindhunter)
Frankie Shaw (SMILF) with Sara Gilbert (Roseanne)
Jeff Daniels (The Looming Tower) with Laura Linney (Ozark)
Darren Criss (American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace) with Mandy Moore (This is Us)
David Harbour (Stranger Things) with Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks)
Dakota Fanning (The Alienist) with Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor)
"There's no better way to celebrate another groundbreaking season of television than with our 'Actors on Actors' franchise," said Debra Birnbaum, Executive Editor - TV, Variety. "We're proud to shine a light on this year's most remarkable performances with this series of revealing, one-on-one conversations. And we're thrilled as always to partner with PBS SoCal to share this content with their audience."
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors will be airing on PBS stations across the nation starting in June (check local listings).
“Southern California’s creative industry inspires and excites our PBS audiences like few others. And this season of ‘Actors on Actors’ is sure to please, with compelling conversations between some of today’s most popular protagonists,” said Andrew Russell, President and CEO, PBS SoCal. “It’s terrific to team with Variety to produce and share Variety Studio: Actors on Actors.”
ABOUT PBS SoCal KOCE:
PBS SoCal is the home to PBS for Greater Los Angeles and Southern California. We deliver the full schedule of PBS programs, plus content that is for, about and by the people of Southern California. Our content is available free through four broadcast channels, at pbssocal.org, on our mobile apps, and via connected TV services. And we provide the community with early education resources and cultural and educational experiences through partnerships, events and grassroots outreach. PBS SoCal has offices in Century City, Costa Mesa, and Los Angeles. Connect with us at pbssocal.org and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.
ABOUT VARIETY:
Variety remains the seminal voice of the entertainment industry for 112 years and counting. Featuring award-winning breaking news reporting, insightful award-season coverage, must-read feature spotlights and intelligent analysis of the industry’s most prominent players, Variety is the trusted source for the business of global entertainment. Read by a highly engaged audience of industry insiders, Variety’s multi-platform content coverage expands across digital, mobile, social, print and branded events and summits.
In 2015 and 2016, Variety Studio: Actors on Actors was awarded a Los Angeles Area EMMY®Award for Best Entertainment Programming. “Actors on Actors,” an interview special that features pairings of prominent actors discussing their craft, was produced by PBS SoCal in partnership with Variety Media, LLC. Follow Variety on Facebook facebook.com/variety; Twitter, @variety; Instagram, @Variety. The Variety Group – Variety, Variety.com, Variety Insight, IndieWire, LA 411, NY 411 – is owned by Variety Media, LLC, a division of Penske Media Corporation.
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Media Contact:
Tracy Smith
tsmith@pbssocal.org
310-237-4517
