Obama Gives Aziz Ansari Shout Out at Fundraiser

Obama Gives Aziz Ansari Shout Out at Fundraiser

The president said daughter Malia is “a big fan” of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.”

If any part of Aziz Ansari is like his status-obsessed character on Parks and Recreation, getting a shout out from President Barack Obama was likely the highlight of his week.

On Thursday, the comedian spoke at a New York fundraiser for Obama, where the president revealed daughter Malia, 13, is “a big fan” of NBC’s Parks and Rec.

"So having Aziz here is like the only thing she thinks is worth me doing,” Obama said. “I want to thank him for what he said earlier. I know he's backstage, but I just want to say that I have more Twitter followers than you, man."

The $1000 per-head fundraiser was organized by Ansari and other notable supporters, including Russell Brand and Deepak Chopra. Music was provided by the Roots, and proceeds went to the Obama Victory Fund, which splits donations between the president’s reelection campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

As THR reported last month, Obama’s fundraising in Hollywood was down dramatically in 2011. This year, his campaign has been courting deep-pocketed Hollywood supporters by offering donation packages priced in the tens of thousands, which give access to exclusive fundraising events.

For Ansari, being one of Obama’s Hollywood admirers does not make him a polished political advocate by any means.

“I'm the guy that makes a living saying things like ‘What's crackin' boo?’ on TV” he told Yahoo News ahead of the event.

Fall Pilots 2012: NBC

Fall Pilots 2012: NBC

Here is the full list of the NBC fall pilots.


BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE (Universal Television & ABC Studios)

An imaginative and thematically rich ensemble "what if" drama set 10 in the very near future in which families of mechanical human beings exist to service the human population -- until some of the mechanicals begin to "awaken."


BAD GIRLS (Warner Bros. Television, John Wells Productions & Shed Media U.S.)

From the producers of "Shameless," and adapted from the long-running UK hit series of the same name, "Bad Girls" follows the ins-and-outs of a group of unlikely women in a federal prison: a scandalous female warden, her new protégé and a host of inmates -- some mothers, some friends -- who struggle with loyalties to people on the inside and the outside.


CHICAGO FIRE (Universal Television & Wolf Films)

From the writing team of "3:10 to Yuma" comes this action-driven drama exploring the complex and heroic men and women of the Chicago Fire Department.


COUNTY (Universal Television)

Emmy-winning creator Jason Katims takes us into the lives of a group of young doctors, nurses, and administrators, in a frenetic, underfunded and morally compromising Los Angeles County Hospital.


DO NO HARM (Universal Television)

A brilliant neurosurgeon wrestles with his dangerous alter-ego that threatens to wreak havoc on his personal and professional life.


THE FRONTIER (Sony & Prospect Park)

In an intense tale of survival a group of disparate travelers embark on an incredible cross-country adventure through the west where danger stalks them at every turn.


HANNIBAL (Gaumont International Television)

Contemporary thriller series featuring the classic characters from Thomas Harris’ novel "Red Dragon" -- FBI agent Will Graham and his mentor Dr. Hannibal Lecter -- who are re-introduced at the beginning of their budding relationship.


MIDNIGHT SUN (Universal Television)

This thriller follows the mysterious disappearance of a group living on a commune in Alaska. Based on an acclaimed Israeli format, a female FBI cult specialist starts an investigation that uncovers a larger conspiracy.


NOTORIOUS (Universal Television/ BermanBraun)

An opulent soap in which a female detective returns undercover to the wealthy family she grew up in -- as the maid’s daughter -- to solve the murder of the notorious heiress who was once her closest friend.


REVOLUTION (Warner Bros. Television)

A high-octane action drama from J. J. Abrams following a group of characters struggling to survive and reunite with loved ones in a world where all forms of energy have mysteriously ceased to exist.


SARAH SILVERMAN PROJECT (20th & Imagine Television)

A woman returns to her old life after a breakup, ready to pick up where she left off, and finds it’s not as easy as she thought because those around her have moved on.


ISABEL (Universal Television, Kapital Entertainment & Sphere Media & Dark Toy Ent)

A comedy centering on an otherwise normal middle-class family that wrestles with the challenges of everyday life while raising a daughter who has magical qualities.


SAVE ME (Sony and Original Film & Television)

A woman who lets herself go while in a broken marriage goes through a transformation where she becomes the best version of herself and creates miracles along the way.


UNTITLED KARI LIZER PROJECT (Warner Bros. Television)

What happens between two lifelong female friends when a husband comes into the mix.


GO ON (Universal Television)

While an irreverent yet charming sportscaster tries to move on from loss, he reluctantly finds surprising solace from the members of his mandatory group therapy sessions.


ANIMAL KINGDOM (American Work & Universal Television)

A single-camera office comedy centered on a "House"-like veterinarian, who loves animals but usually hates their owners.


DOWNWARDLY MOBILE (20th)

This multi-cam comedy brings Roseanne Barr back to series television as the proprietor of a mobile home park and surrogate mother to all of the unique people who live there in a challenging economy.


HILARY WINSTON UNTITLED Project (Sony)

After being dumped by her fiancé, a shy, focused woman leans on her co-workers to help her come out of her shell and plot her revenge.


JIMMY FALLON UNTITLED PROJECT (Holiday Road & Universal Television)

Three 30-something guys enjoy the adventures of parenting despite the fact they haven't grown up themselves.


FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER

Based on the UK format, a comedy about a quirky family that has dinner together every Friday night.


NEXT CALLER PLEASE (Universal Television & Lionsgate Television)

A gender comedy focusing on a brash alpha male DJ and his new, plucky, feminist co-host set in the offices of a satellite radio station.


DANA KLEIN (UNTITLED) (20th & Kapital Entertainment)

A young woman returns home from overseas to find that her father is seriously dating the "mean girl" from her high school.


1600 PENN (20th)

What happens when you’re the most ordinary family in the world, but your father is the President of the United States? A modern-family type of show set in the White House where all the kids are far from perfect.

GLAAD Fires Back After 'Growing Pains' Star Kirk Cameron Calls Homosexuality 'Unnatural'

GLAAD Fires Back After 'Growing Pains' Star Kirk Cameron Calls Homosexuality 'Unnatural'

The actor also said during an appearance on "Piers Morgan Tonight" that he does not "support the idea of gay marriage."

Former Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron is taking heat from GLAAD after remarks made on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight.

During Friday's interview, Cameron called homosexuality "unnatural" and "destructive."

"I think that it's unnatural. I think that it's detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization," the actor, who played Mike Seaver on the 1980s TV series, said on the program.

Cameron, who is an evangelical Christian, also spoke out against gay marriage.

"Marriage is almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve. One man, one woman for life till death do you part. So I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage. And I don't think anyone else should either," Cameron said. "So do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don't."

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation issued a statement in response to the actor's recent appearance on the CNN program.

“In this interview, Kirk Cameron sounds even more dated than his 1980s TV character,” said Herndon Graddick, senior director of programs at GLAAD, in a statement. “Cameron is out of step with a growing majority of Americans, particularly people of faith who believe that their gay and lesbian brothers and sisters should be loved and accepted based on their character and not condemned because of their sexual orientation.”

Graddick also addressed Cameron's remarks regarding gay marriage: “With an increasing number of states recognizing marriage equality, Americans are seeing that marriage is about committed couples who want to make a lifelong promise to take care of and be responsible for each other and that gay and lesbian couples need equal security and legal protections. That’s not ‘redefining’ anything."

'American Idol's' James Durbin on Season 11's Colton Dixon: 'I Did the Piano Bit' Already

'American Idol's' James Durbin on Season 11's Colton Dixon: 'I Did the Piano Bit' Already

Did Dixon's version of Paramore's "Decode" borrow from Durbin's performance of "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," as the season 10 fourth place finalist implied on Twitter? Durbin explains his comment.

American Idol devotees tweeting along with the show on Tuesday night may have noticed one potentially harsh comment by an ex-finalist during Colton Dixon’s performance.

The 20-year-old Tennessee native chose Paramore’s “Decode” as his top 24 song, going up against the likes of Phillip Phillips, who delivered an acoustic rendering of Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” and Jermaine Jones, whose “Dance With My Father” got him a spot in the Top 10. Dixon started off seated at the piano but by song’s end, he was dancing on top of it, prompting season 10’s James Durbin to tweet, “Havn’t I seen a lot of that performance somewhere before? Looked kinda familiar...”

Season 10 fans may remember that Durbin also had his way with a piano last year, climbing on a red baby grand then setting its insides on fire.

So what gives? We went straight to the source and asked Durbin to elaborate on the tweet heard across the Idol world. At a benefit for the Rock School Scholarship Fund held Friday at Center Staging in Burbank, Calif., he had lots to say about the subject. So much, in fact, that we thought it best to print his comments in full (edited for clarity and length) and let the Idol Worship readers decide whether or not the tweet was warranted. Read on...

James Durbin: “I was definitely implying something. I mean, I’m not starting any fan war here, but I remember Colton from last season. He was in the top 40 and sang that same song in the sing-for-your-life round. He did it his style, which is very singer-songwriter, kind of indie rock, like The Fray. He said, ‘I’m going to surprise people.’ So he’s sitting down at the piano, and it’s kind of like, ‘Ok, this is not surprising.’ But then he jumped up on the piano. And as all my fans know and anyone who watched last season would know, I jumped up on a piano. I did the whole piano bit and set it on fire and did my homage to Jimi Hendrix during Elton John Week. By the way, the outfit that I wore for that performance is now on display at Graceland…”

“I just wanted Colton to stay true to who he is and he knows who he is, but that stage can change people. I’ve seen it happen. Like on the results night, me and my family were watching and they pan over to him in a black V-neck, brown hair with a blonde streak in a faux hawk -- that was my haircut, like, the entire season. And I’m not ragging on anyone, it’s just kind of funny. Originality is key especially on American Idol because they’ve seen it all before. You’ve got to be something different. All these kids, it doesn’t matter if it’s Colton or if it’s Josh Ledet or Phillip, they’ve got to step it up. That’s what it’s about, people want to see originality...”

“That’s another thing: I didn’t believe it. The only person out of the guys that I believed was Josh Ledet: his was a beautiful, moving performance with powerhouse vocals. I love hearing the music Colton sings but his originals are nothing like Paramore...”

“I get it, especially for the top 24, when it’s your first time on that stage, you need to wow people. This is what’s going to set the tone for your whole tenure on Idol. When I went out there, I was like, ‘I’m serious, this is my dream, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, I’m going to do something different that no one’s seen before -- I’m going to sing Judas f---ing Priest. And it was a big deal. It was something different and it made people look up Judas Priest to see who they were.”

Drew-Honey, Harmer, Djalili in 'Let's Dance for Sport Relief' final

Drew-Honey, Harmer, Djalili in 'Let's Dance for Sport Relief' final

Tyger Drew-Honey, Dani Harmer and Omid Djalili have been voted through to the Let's Dance for Sport Relief final.

The Outnumbered and Tracy Beaker stars won the first spot after topping the public vote with their homage to the musical Bugsy Malone.

Djalili was then sent into the final by judges Tim Minchin, Katy Brand and Ed Byrne, who favoured his musical interpretation of the London riots over Olly Murs and Scott Mills's performance to LMFAO's 'Party Rock Anthem', featuring a guest appearance from David Hasselhoff.

Also competing tonight were Kirsten O'Brien, who unleashed an energetic routine to Van Halen's 'Jump' despite only giving birth ten weeks ago, and comedian Arabella Weir, who channelled Kylie Minogue for a performance of 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head'.

Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards, Miles Jupp, Terry Alderton and the team of Laurie Brett and Tameka Empson previously won a place in the March 17 final.

Let's Dance for Sport Relief returns next Saturday (March 10) at 7.10pm on BBC One.

Development Update: 4th of March

Development Update: 4th of March

1600 PENN (NBC) - Andre Holland ("Friends With Benefits") has booked a role on the comedy pilot, about a dysfunctional First Family where the out-of-control oldest son (Josh Gad) returns home and becomes not only it's biggest liability but also the glue holding everyone together. He's on board as Marshall Malloy, the President's (Bill Pullman), savvy, loyal Press Secretary and surrogate son. 20th Century Fox Television is behind the half-hour, from co-creators Jason Winer, Jon Lovett and Josh Gad. Brittany Snow also stars. (Deadline.com)

AMERICANA (ABC) - Annabeth Gish ("Pretty Little Liars") has scored a role on the drama pilot, about Robert Soulter (Anthony LaPaglia), creator of the most iconic fashion brand in the world. She'll play Rachel Garano - the wife of Robert's estranged brother Martin (Ken Olin), whose daughter Alice (Ashley Greene) goes to work for said brand, Americana. Writer Michael Seitzman and director Phillip Noyce are behind the ABC Studios-based hour, which also stars Emilie de Ravin, Natalie Mendoza and Tiffany Hines. (Deadline.com)

ANIMAL KINGDOM (NBC) - Irish actress Amy Huberman has scored the female lead on the pilot, a single-camera comedy about George Coleman (Justin Kirk), a veterinarian who loves animals but usually hates their owners. She'll play his ex-girlfriend Dorothy ("an easy and disarming beauty, yet her eyes speak of a sharp intelligence"), who returns to his life as the new Director of the Rutledge Animal Hospital... with a fianceé in tow. Universal Television is behind the half-hour, from co-writers Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka and co-directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo. Bobby Lee and Tyler Labine also star. (Deadline.com)

ANTICHRIST (ABC) - Monique Gabriela Curnen ("Lie to Me") has booked a role on the drama pilot, about Carter Henderson (Max Thieriot), an astrophysics grad student who, after his father is killed, learns that he is the chosen one to destroy the forces of evil. She's set as Senior Special Agent Meyers, an FBI agent who's investigating the death of Carter's father. Gabriella Wilde, Laila Robins, Linus Roache, Martin Landau and Yaya DaCosta also star in the ABC Studios-based hour, from co-creators Roland Emmerich and Harald Kloser. (Deadline.com)

ARROW (The CW) - Paul Blackthorne ("The River") and Jamey Sheridan ("Homeland") are the latest additions to the drama pilot, a modern retelling of the story of DC Comics character Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), better known as Green Arrow. Blackthorne, whose casting is in second position to the ABC drama, is set as Quentin Lance, a gruff, determined city detective and father to crusading attorney Dinah "Laurel" Lance (Katie Cassidy). Sheridan then will recur in flashback as Robert Queen ("powerful, fearsome; a titan"), Oliver's father. Colin Donnell, David Ramsey, Susanna Thompson and Willa Holland also star. Andrew Kreisberg, Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim are all behind the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, with David Nutter set to direct. (Deadline.com)

BANSHEE (Cinemax) - Matt Servitto, Trieste Dunn and Daniel Ross have all been cast in the upcoming Alan Ball-produced drama, about an enigmatic ex-con who poses as a murdered sheriff in Banshee, Pennsylvania, imposing his own brand of justice while also cooking up plans that serve his own interests. Servitto will play Brock Lotus, "the longest-serving deputy in the Banshee sheriff's department"; with Dunn as Siobhan Kelly, "a spitfire female deputy in the sheriff's department"; and Ross as Dan Kendall, "the young, idealistic mayor of Banshee." Greg Yaitanes is helming the debut installment of the 10-episode series from a script by Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler (Deadline.com)

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (ABC) - Irish actress Ruth Bradley has scored the title role on the pilot, a drama set in a mythical city where its princess is tasked with quelling a rebellion. She'll play Grace, the stunning, brave princess of Kendan alongside the previously cast Darius Campbell as the beast Shiro, a mercenary for the rebels. Yves Simoneau is directing the ABC Studios-based hour from a script by Jonathan E. Steinberg. Chris Egan and F. Murray Abraham also star. (Deadline.com)

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (The CW) - Australian actor Jay Ryan ("Terra Nova") has been tapped as the male lead on the drama pilot, about Catherine Chandler (Kristin Kreuk), a police detective who teams with Vincent Koslow, a genetically altered Afghanistan war veteran to solve crimes in New York City. He'll play said beast ("broad shoulders, square jaw, piercing eyes") in the CBS Television Studios-based hour, which also stars Austin Basis, Nicole Gale Anderson and Nina Lisandrello. Sherri Cooper and Jennifer Levin penned the script, to be directed by Gary Fleder. (Deadline.com)

THE CARRIE DIARIES (The CW) - Austin Butler ("Life Unexpected") is bound for the "Sex and the City" prequel, which stars AnnaSophia Robb as a teenage Carrie Bradshaw in the 1980s. He'll play Sebastian Kydd ("already handsome with an edge of cocky"), her principal love interest, a childhood crush who moves to Castlebury High after getting kicked out of his old high school. Ellen Wong, Katie Findlay and Stefania Owen also star in the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, which Miguel Arteta is directing from a script by Amy B. Harris. (Deadline.com)

CHICAGO FIRE (NBC) - Jesse Spencer ("House") and Charlie Barnett have both snagged roles on the drama pilot, about the heroic men and women of the Chicago Fire Department's Firehouse 55. They'll play two of them: Matthew Casey, a natural leader whose professional skills on the job mask his personal foibles at home; and Peter Mills, a young candidate firefighter fresh out of the academy. David Eigenberg, Eamonn Walker, Monica Raymund and Taylor Kinney co-star in the Universal Television-based hour, to be directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff from a script by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt. (Deadline.com)

DEVIOUS MAIDS (ABC) - Edy Ganem is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about four maids - played by Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramirez, Judy Reyes and Roselyn Sanchez - with ambition and dreams of their own while they work for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills. She'll play fellow maid Valentina Del Barrio ("beautiful and shy"), the daughter of Reyes's character, who has a crush on the son of their wealthy employer. Angelique Cabral and Rebecca Wisocky also star in the ABC Studios-based hour, which Paul McGuigan is directing from a script by Marc Cherry. (Deadline.com)

FIRST CUT (The CW) - Justin Hartley ("Smallville") and Aja Naomi King are the latest additions to the drama pilot, about Emily Barnes (yet to be cast), a medical student who discovers that working as an intern at a big hospital is a lot like being in high school. They'll play fellow interns Will Rider ("handsome and charming; was definitely prom king; the kind of flirt who can make anything sound suggestive"), whom she's immediately drawn to, and presumably Cassandra Kopelson ("beautiful, perfect, legs-up-to-there"), the girl who made her life miserable in actual high school. Jennie Snyder Urman is behind the CBS Television Studios-based hour, which also stars Kelly McCreary and Michael Rady. (Deadline.com)

THE LIFE (ABC) - Luke Goss ("Hellboy II: The Golden Army") has landed a role on the drama pilot, about Marta Walraven (yet to be cast), the widow of an assassinated criminal who is suddenly forced to adopt her late husband's role in order to protect her family. He'll play Luther ("deadly calm, lean, muscular; he'd be sexy if there were a feeling person in there"), her father's bodyguard who is assigned to look after her and her children. Lee Tergesen also stars in the ABC Studios-based hour, from writer Melissa Rosenberg and director Mark Pellington. (Deadline.com)

MIDNIGHT SUN (NBC) - Julia Stiles, Connor O'Farrell, Emma Bell and Daniella Pineda have each joined the cast of the pilot, a drama about the FBI's investigation into the disappearance of a remote cult in Dugan, Alaska - led by Bennett Maxwell (Titus Welliver) - which taps into a grander political conspiracy. Stiles will play Leah Kafka ("exudes an effortless, urban cool"), a cult specialist for the FBI; with O'Farrell as Garth Harring, Dugan's police chief; Bell as Garth's daughter Rory ("distraught and a bit of a mess"), whose four-year-old son and his father are among the missing; and Pineda as Daria Wernahm, the police station's "sexy, half native Tlingit, half redneck receptionist." Michael Raymond-James also stars as Sam Fuller, Garth's number two and Daria's unrequited crush. Lisa Zwerling is behind the Universal Television-based hour, to be helmed by Brad Anderson. (Deadline.com)

RAY DONOVAN (Showtime) - Johnathon Schaech, Kerris Dorsey and Ambyr Childers have all scored roles on the drama pilot, about the title character (Liev Schreiber), Hollywood's best professional "fixer" - the one called in to solve the complicated, confidential and controversial problems of the city's elite. Schaech will play "a movie star with a mysterious connection to Donovan" with Dorsey as Donovan's daughter and Childers as a young starlet under Donovan's protection. Dash Mihok, Eddie Marsan, Elliott Gould, Jon Voight, Katherine Moennig, Paula Malcomson, Peter Jacobson and Pooch Hall also star, while Allen Coulter is directing from a script by Ann Biderman. (Variety.com)

SCRUPLES (ABC) - Karine Vanasse ("Pan Am") is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about the staggeringly luxurious life of a Beverly Hills boutique and the people who work in it. She'll play Valentine O'Neill ("24, cute, an ethereal sylph, Leslie Caron"), an aspiring fashion designer who recently arrived from Paris. Said casting is in second position to the ABC drama. Bob Brush and Mel Harris are behind the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, which Michael Sucsy is set to direct. (Deadline.com)

SINGLE BLACK FEMALE (BET) - Gabrielle Union ("FlashForward") has been tapped for the lead role on the drama pilot, about the work and family life of a woman who is the host of a popular Atlanta-based talk show host in the vein of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil are behind the hour, additional details of which weren't specified. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED BEN FALCONE/LARRY DORF PROJECT (CBS) - Judd Hirsch ("NUMB3RS") has signed onto the comedy pilot, about David (Ben Falcone), a single 37-year-old who loses everything he has in the real estate collapse and must move back in with his parents, Ira and Shelli. He'll play said father in the half-hour, which Falcone and Larry Dorf co-wrote for Warner Bros. Television. Shana Goldberg-Meehan ("Better With You") is on board to supervise the duo while Melissa McCarthy serves as a co-executive producer. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED HILARY WINSTON PROJECT (NBC) - Sarah Wright ("Mad Love") has booked the lead role on the single-camera comedy pilot, about a shy, focused woman who, after being dumped by her fianceé, leans on her co-workers to help her come out of her shell and plot her revenge. She'll play said woman, Agnes Little ("30, cute but nerdy"), alongside the previously cast Aubrey Dollar, Kyle Howard and Mena Suvari. Adam Shankman is directing for Sony Pictures Television. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED LOUIS CK/SPIKE FERESTEN PROJECT (CBS) - Dan Byrd ("Cougar Town") has been tapped for the principal role on the pilot, a multi-comedy that revolves around a group of young people working to achieve their creative dreams amid tough financial times. He'll play Fred, a "25-year-old bright broke film editor who can't stand stupidity and hypocrisy, but tries to remain optimistic." Said role is in second position to his duties on the ABC comedy. Sitcom veteran Andy Ackerman is on board to direct the half-hour for CBS Television Studios and Universal Television. Ashley Tisdale also stars. (Deadline.com)

'American Horror Story' Season 2: Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe and Evan Peters Returning

'American Horror Story' Season 2: Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe and Evan Peters Returning

"American Horror Story" season two is shaping up to be quite the reunion.

Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson and Lily Rabe will be returning for the Ryan Murphy-Brad Falchuk horror drama, it was announced at the show's PaleyFest panel (and reported on the series' Twitter account) Friday night.

Peters, Paulson and Rabe join previously announced returning cast members Jessica Lange and Zachary Quinto.

Peters played Tate Langdon, Rabe played Nora Montgomery and Paulson played Billie Dean Howard on the first season of the FX series. It is not yet known which characters they will play in the second season. As Murphy revealed last year, the second run of the series, while featuring some returning cast members, will feature all new characters, in a new setting.

During Friday's panel -- which was attended by Murphy, Lange and Season One cast members Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton and Alexandra Breckenridge -- it was also revealed that filming for the second season will begin in July, with a premiere in October, possibly in the second week of the month.