Lance Avery Morgan
Its 14th Anniversary Is Celebrated By Both Fans & Talent
Photography courtesy of ATX TV Festival
Welcome to the 2025 ATX TV Festival, where television isn’t just watched—it’s worshipped, dissected, quoted, debated, and above all, celebrated with the kind of gusto usually reserved for brisket and SXSW wristbands. Now celebrating its 14th year, the ATX TV Festival has grown from a gathering of die-hard TV fans and creatives into a full-blown cultural happening—equal parts industry think tank, fan lovefest, and storytelling symposium.
This isn’t your average Comic-Con-meets-convention-center affair. It’s Austin, after all—where the tacos are hot, the talent is hotter, and every panel feels like a living room hang with your favorite showrunner. Here, television is treated with the reverence of cinema, and fans stroll side-by-side with Emmy winners, indie auteurs, and cult series stars without ever breaking a sweat (well, maybe just a little—it is June in Texas after all).
As streaming wars rage on and the golden age of television keeps re-inventing itself, ATX has become the Switzerland of the small screen—a place where creators, critics, and connoisseurs gather not just to premiere the next big hit, but to deep-dive into the art of storytelling, explore the evolving business of entertainment, and toast the shows that changed our lives.
So, whether you’re here to reunite with the cast of your favorite nostalgic 90s drama or comedy, discover the sleeper hit that’ll dominate your next group chat, or sip iced lattes while debating the finer points of a bottle episode—get ready. ATX TV Festival isn’t just keeping the television conversation alive…it’s turning up the volume, according to our entertainment devotee Lance Avery Morgan.
Let the binge begin.
Thursday, Day One marked the start of ATX TV Festival Season 14, buzzing with a vibrant lineup of panels, premieres, and engaging conversations across downtown Austin.
The festivities commenced with the Welcome to TV Camp event, where ATX TV Co-Founders Emily Gipson and Caitlin McFarland, alongside special guests, shared their insider tips for making the most of the festival experience.
Throughout the day, attendees immersed themselves in a diverse program, starting with pilot screenings at the TSTV Student Pilot Showcase. Highlights included an insightful conversation with Andor creator Tony Gilroy and writer Beau Willimon, panels featuring Lang Fisher and Kerri Kenney-Silver from The Four Seasons, and discussions with Clean Slate’s creators George Wallace and Dan Ewen, along with EP Brent Miller.
A major highlight was the world premiere of Netflix and Universal Television’s The Waterfront, set for its official release on July 19th. Following the premiere, creator/showrunner Kevin Williamson and cast members Holt McCallany, Jake Weary, Melissa Benoist, Rafael L. Silva, and Danielle Campbell joined Hunter Ingram (Variety / TV Insider) for an engaging discussion about the series.
Closing out the evening, Seth Meyers made his debut at ATX TV Festival with “Late Night, Day Drinking, and Closer Looks with Seth Meyers.” The session offered an inside look at NBC’s Emmy-nominated Late Night with Seth Meyers, exploring the evolution of key segments, Meyers’ approach to political satire, and the creative process behind crafting late-night comedy.
Here are some of our favorite Seth Meyers quotes from his appearance: Seth Meyers on his writing habits and SNL mindset:
“When I started the show, as I would be, you know, if we had a bad show at the end of the week, I would think about it all weekend because I had come up through SNL where if you had a bad show on Saturday, you should think about it all weekend. And so once I gave myself permission to just like [move] forward, forward, forward – it’s a better show.
“My favorite story is one time I was walking – I mean, this is a bad habit I have – but I was walking down the street in New York, and I was talking to myself. And, coming the other direction was John Mulaney, also talking to himself. So, we literally look up and we see that we’re both talking to ourselves and Mulaney goes, Lorne? And I go, yeah. We’re literally both having an argument with Lorne in our heads that was so intense.”
On starting the Family Trips podcast with his brother Josh Meyers:
“My brother and I have a podcast called Family Trips. But the great thing about the podcast is we just get to be ourselves… I think in general, you know, a lot’s been written recently about how bad men are at friendships past a certain age. And so, I think that’s true of brothers as well, and I literally mean this when I say, like, any man over 40 should just start a podcast. And I know and I know most of them have, but for those who haven’t…
“Now I get together with my brother once a week, and part of the fun of the podcast is, obviously, talking to the guest, but like, we have fifteen minutes just to catch up on our lives. And so, I haven’t called my brother in two years, because I’m like, oh, we got a podcast. We’ll save it for the podcast. It’s brought a lot of joy into our lives as well.”
It was a day filled with excitement, insights, and memorable moments, setting a high bar for the festival ahead. Until Friday…
Friday, Day Two of ATX TV Festival Season 14 carried the momentum forward with a powerful celebration of storytelling. The day kicked off with the presentation of the “Impact of Storytelling Award,” given in partnership with Human Rights Watch, to acclaimed writer and producer Debora Cahn. The award ceremony was followed by a screening of The Long Long Night and an insightful Q&A with Mark Duplass.
Later, legendary television creator David E. Kelley was honored with the prestigious “Showrunner Award,” recognizing his extraordinary contributions to the industry.
Behind the scenes of One Chicago took center stage at the Windy City Wednesday panel, where Steven Weber and Marina Squerciati revealed the exciting launch of the One Chicago Podcast. Meanwhile, over at the Kevin Williamson Career Retrospective, the iconic creator teased his next big project—Scream 7.
Fans also got an exclusive first look at Anne Rice’s Talamasca during the Inside AMC’s Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe panel, which featured a sneak peek of Jason Schwartzman in a mysterious new role.
Throughout the day, attendees were treated to compelling and unexpected moments—from heartfelt conversations in Muslim Matchmakers: Unscripted Stories of Real Connection, to a surprise appearance by Oscar Nuñez at FUNNY AF, and a delightfully quirky Mystery Guest panel featuring The Pitt’s Nurse Dana herself, Katherine LaNasa.
The evening wrapped up with a highly anticipated King of the Hill reunion and a sneak peek at the upcoming revival. Festivalgoers capped off the night with a lively BBQ gathering and A Late Night Show with Greg Iwinski and Jim Fagan.
It was another standout day packed with celebration, nostalgia, and a few unforgettable surprises. Until Saturday.
Saturday, Day Three was a day that began on a high note as Christine Baranski was honored with the ATX TV Festival’s Achievement in Television eXcellence Award, celebrating her illustrious career and indelible impact on the medium. The momentum continued with a screening of the new series You Belong Here, followed by a lively panel discussion featuring Steve Zahn, Rick Gomez, and Ouita Michel.
Among the standout moments was The Leftovers Reunion, reuniting co-creators Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, director Mimi Leder, and beloved cast members Carrie Coon, Amy Brenneman, Ann Dowd, and Kevin Carroll for a robust conversation that revisited the series’ legacy. Fans were also treated to MAD MEN Revisited, featuring Jon Hamm and John Slattery in conversation with Noah Hawley—the creative force behind Fargo and the upcoming Alien series.
The evening concluded with laughter and insight at Bill Lawrence & Friends, a dynamic and wide-ranging discussion on comedy and television, featuring Brett Goldstein, Zach Braff, Josh Hopkins, and Phil Dunster.
The day’s robust programming also included:
- Pitch Finalist Breakfast with Mentors, presented by Houston Television Lab
- Achievement in Television eXcellence Award: Christine Baranski
- Showrunner State of the Union
- You Belong Here screening & panel
- Member Q&A with Special Guest (featuring Oscar Nuñez, presented by Plex)
- Voice Actors panel
- Roundtable: Pitch Finalists
- Inside the Writers Room: Shrinking
- Casting a Spotlight: Unsung Actors
- Ladies of the Law: Crime Dramas and the Women Who Run Them, presented by Pluto TV
- The Leftovers Reunion, supported by the Austin Film Commission
- Happy Hour, presented by Microsoft Copilot
It was another unforgettable day filled with star power, behind-the-scenes stories, and bold conversations that celebrate the art and heart of television. Until Sunday.
Sunday, Day Four marked the cool finale of Season 14 of the ATX TV Festival. The day started with engaging panels like “Bad Advice, Great TV” featuring Bill Lawrence and Zach Braff, “Close Up: An Actor’s Conversation,” and “The Future of Queer Storytelling” with Dan Bucatinsky, Jeffrey Bowyer Chapman, Ben Roy, and Nathan Lee Graham.
A highlight was the presentation of the inaugural “Texas Made Award” by Media for Texas to the cast and creators of Landman, including Christian Wallace, Billy Bob Thornton, and Jacob Lofland, celebrating their Texas connections.
The festival concluded on a high note with The Golden Girls 40th Anniversary Script Reading, featuring Constance Zimmer as “Dorothy Zbornak,” Carrie Preston as “Blanche Devereaux,” Yvette Nicole Brown as “Rose Nylund,” and Pamela Adlon as “Sophia Petrillo.”
